Cathi Milligan opens "The Glass Studio" and crafty links

My super talented glass artist friend Cathi Milligan has opened up a "bricks and mortar" studio called what else? The Glass Studio

You can take classes, buy beads, and glass art.

5052 York Blvd. in Highland Park, CA 90042!
323- 257-0764

She had an opening party that included glass make and takes (that's what I'm sporting on my wrist made in the colors of her logo.)

If you are in Los Angeles check it out!

Now on to craftastic links especially the first one if you are interested in winning a sewing machine.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
At Craftside this week you can enter to win a new Singer sewing machine and a copy of 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and Tips, see how to draw 12 facial expressions, use and clean a kneaded eraser, make a silk lotus flower and a bunch of fun fashion sketch poses.

About Family Crafts
If you are thinking of having a Halloween party this year, Sherri has some great ideas and resources for you.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers a little fall inspiration with her Day of the Dead Fiber Necklace.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's latest art cards feature an accidental colour palette.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy talks about crafting for charity and the simple "thank you" concept.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
The Artful Crafter receives lots of questions about whether different media can be used together. Here are some tips for sorting out the issues yourself.

Mixed Media Artist
Foil lettering adds a nice touch to your altered books or collage projects!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Check out a cute origami penguin in Plaid from the new book Origami World by Didier Boursin.

The Crochet Dude
Drew throws a wrap tour to celebrate his whirlwind blog tour! Check out his list of stops along the way and discover "new to you" crafty bloggers!

Skull and cupcake necklace using "Chaos" Wire wrapping from the cool new book: Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections

I had posted a while back that I had some cool skull and cupcake buttons from Cathi Milligan's BeadsBrains and I was saving them for a "special project". Well, here it is. When I saw the "chaos" wire wrapping technique in Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections I knew just what my first project was going to be. This technique really worked well to feature the pretty little shank style buttons.

The book is packed full of more formal link style projects that I will most certainly be trying in the new year! And if learning how to make all sorts of chain jewelry is on your "to-do" list you will love this book.

Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections: New Techniques for Wire-Wrapping and Bead-Setting

By
Scott David Plumlee

Far from its original utilitarian use—to create armor—the chain-mail technique has been adapted over time to create beautiful, unique jewelry. In Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections, chain-mail expert Scott David Plumlee shows jewelry makers, beaders, and crafters at all skill levels how to incorporate beads into a variety of chain-mail weaves to create showstopping pieces.

First, Plumlee walks readers through basic skills and provides detailed information on traditional chain designs. He then presents more than 20 wire-wrapping and bead-setting techniques that incorporate beads seamlessly into a variety of designs, from the creative “Chaos” wire-wrapped bead to the sinuous Snake.

With step-by-step instructions for assembling age-old chain patterns—from simple to complex—and gorgeous designs that can be executed using only simple hand tools, Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections is sure to inspire jewelry artisans at all levels to expand the creative possibilities of their work.

Scott David Plumlee has led more than 140 workshops on chain jewelry at crafts venues nationwide since 2001. His work has been featured in Bead&Button and Art Jewelry magazines. He is an authority on ancient chain designs, has created more than sixty unique chain designs based on mathematical formulas. His chain-making workshops have been presented throughout Washington State. He now lives in Manhattan, Kansas.

www.davidchain.com

Cathi Milligan's fabu new book- Mod Knots

A "knot" to be missed new book from my super fun friend, Cathi Milligan:

Mod Knots: Creating Jewelry and Accessories with Macrame

A fun and hip re-introduction to the nostalgic craft of macrame, Mod Knots features inspirational projects and a variety of fun, “knotty” techniques. Once you’ve mastered all of the basic knots, you will be able to create a number of wearable projects using those knots, including jewelry, personal accessories and even a halter-top. A variety of materials such as cotton fiber, recycled materials, silk cord and waxed linen go beyond the standard hemp cord to create a whole new look for macrame.

Cathi Milligan has been making jewellery full-time for several years. She teaches workshops around Southern California, demonstrating macrame, glass fusing and other jewellery processes. Television appearances include Slice of Life (the Learning Channel), Operation Style (Lifetime), Jewelry Making (DIY - six episodes) and Craft Lab (DIY).

Cathi Milligan is "knot" to be outdone! She has created a book of some of the coooooolest projects ever! Like this one:
Are those "knot" to coolest earrings? Well flipping though this yummy book, I got inspired and I just had to go and make something.

Being the crafting with a re-purpose person, I went to my recycle bin and found a soda bottle. I know your thinking cute little earrings....soda bottle? hu? Well this is where my wacky brain went to:


It is the same concept of the half hitch knot used in the earrings just done on a really wide band. And in addition to adding the beads to the outer edge a threw a few big round ones on the "across" strings.I used a 16 oz. green Sprite soda bottle. I have pretty tiny wrists so that is what fit over my hand. You may want to test drive your base cuff size. I cut it with a wavy edge.

I also had to use a large eye needle to get the Coats Aunt Lydia's Fashion Crochet Thread color black and silver #00125 through the beads, Blue Moon Beads Enchanted Planet #BM14352 Zebra round Black and White

Bringing macrame back in a cool way!

Click on Cathi's name below to see us bein' all wacky and her cool cupcake buttons.

Crafty Bloggers and more crafty peeps from CHA 2009

WOW! CHA was fun!


CHA was great this year. I got to see lots of old friends and meet new people that I had either read their books or articles about them and their creative pursuits, such as Faythe Levine of Handmade Nation.

Then there were the Crafty Bloggers like Drew Emborsky, the author of The Crochet Dude's Designs for Guys that I got to catch up with (and get him to "strike a pose")
Then there was the lovely Vickie Howell who gave me a copy of her new Knit Aid book.


Then back on the new people I got to meet list, Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching! We had a great conversation about indi crafting which was a hot topic at CHA.

Then some silliness occurred. This is a tutu I sewed for the Wrights booth out of black plastic garbage bags. Here Cathi Milligan of Beadbrains.com is striking a pose with me and the tutu.
And just in case you doubt me, here I am posing in it before it was shipped out! I had to test drive it!

Then our friend Maria got in on the act and we did a pose with our "gang sign".

Another Crafty Blogger, Margot Potter has a new book out, Beyond the Bead, oh so pretty!


And Cathi Milligan was also premiering her new book Mod Knots!
This was such a treat, I got to meet Mary Engelbreit! I have been a fan of her since before I was a professional craft designer.
Whew, what a great time. To see more pop on over here for pictures from my make and take and signing and lots more authors events.

Playing with Fire

Is this HOT or what!?
This is Tina, Leela's daughter Hula hooping on fire!

What a cutie!
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And speaking of fire, check out these cool buttons made with fire by
Cathi Milligan of www.beadbrains.com
Cathi is a really talented designer-such a fan!
I haven't decided yet how I am going to use these little beauties.
Any ideas that are super unique????