2016 Christmas Gifts

My Christmas Gift post from last year was so popular, that I figure I better share the awesomeness that I received this year as well.

My main big-ticket item was a sewing machine!

This Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine that will replace my old machine that had some bobbin issues neither Pat nor I could figure out how to fix. It was an issue that rendered the machine useless unfortunately and made it hard for me to learn to sew better. I'm looking forward to creating lots with it and have already started. I'll be sharing something soon I hope!

Pat also gifted me these bracelet bending pliers.

They make it easier to bend metal pieces into a curve to fit wrists better. Clever, right?

In addition, the big surprise was this Wanderlust 2017 membership from Everything Art.

It's a year-long mixed media art class membership. I'm smitten with it so far, and there's only been one class! Hopefully, I'll share some of my creations before too long. We'll see. I love this gift as it's one that will keep giving all year long!

Finally, my mom got me a bit teary-eyed with her gift.

Check out the Victrola Turntable and albums. The sentimental part of it was the records. She gave me a selection of nine of my most favorite albums from the collection I grew up listening to. As an added bonus, I had free access to the rest of her collection to pull out some other best-loved ones. I was listening to them before we ever left her house!

So that was my Christmas. How about you? Get anything good?

BTW: Earrings, Kumihimo, and Buttons

Yikes, how did it get to be Wednesday already?

Oh right, I remember. I took a Kumihimo class with a friend of mine at my favorite local bead store on Monday and that fun lasted almost all day. Then, I spent yesterday trying to catch up. So here I am today all primed and ready for Bead Table Wednesday!

It rained ALL weekend here, meaning we were stuck in side ALL weekend. The gloomy weather did very little for my motivation, but when we had to unplug all the TVs and computers for fear of lightening strikes, I decided it might be best to get in the craft room and create. With low motivation on my side, earrings seemed like the perfect choice.

Completed earrings just need ear wires added

I've even got a few more beads set aside to make into earrings as well.

You can see the six other pairs of beads that want to be earrings.

As I said, on Monday I took the Kumihimo class. Actually, the class was supposed to be something else, but since it was just my friend and I talking it, the shop owner (who is good friends with MY FRIEND) persuaded us to try Kumihimo. Oh my goodness, look what I made!

My completed kumihimo bracelet

Of course, when I got home I had to make MORE

These are just glimpses of the three patterns I've made. They're still incomplete as I have finished the ends yet.

Perhaps it wasn't just the class that has me trying to catch up. . . .there's something to ponder.

Lastly, yesterday afternoon we visited with my mother-in-law and she mentioned that she was donating a bunch of arts and craft supplies, mostly quilting supplies. She asked if I was interested in any of it. At first I told her no, but then I realized that there might be some buttons. So I asked. Before long, she had pulled out this large tin.

Buttons, button cards, beads, fasteners. . .OH MY!

I still haven't sorted through it. Dang Kumihimo pulling my attention away from the BUTTONS!!

There's more Bead Table Wednesday in the Flickr Group.

Before I head out, here's a heads up that I've got a few more items in the On Sale section of my CraftyHope Etsy Shop.
That's it for me. I've got plenty on my plate to work on. Here's hoping you enjoy your day!