It was An Interesting Day, it was...

I really feel fortunate.  I have a Christmas show coming up in a week and a half.  I have been hitting the thrift stores looking for possible decorations.  I hit the jack pot today!  I love these angels, and the big one, was the most expensive prop costing $1! The only problem I have is that I don't know how I'm going to make the tall angel stand up straight since it has no stand.  Maybe I could glue a cardboard stand on the back of it to prop it up?  I'm not sure.  I'll give it a try, but I do think these lovely ladies will add a wee bit of the Christmas spirit to my table.

Today was bleak and snowy.  I needed some "comfort" food, so I stopped at Taco John's for lunch.  Normally, I wouldn't complain, but when I see a smoker, and this person was a chain smoker, holding their cigarette out the window, I have to wonder why.  Do they think they will keep their car cleaner or not get the smell of smoke on themselves?  I don't know, but after being behind the person for 10-15 minutes, my car stunk of smoke.  (The wait was long.) I'll explain why in a minute.  That really killed my appetite.  I am not a smoker, and I have only smoked once in my life.   (That's another story of my teenage angst years.)  However, I don't get holding the cigarette out the window thing.  If you don't want to smell up your clothes or car, don't worry, it's too late, and yes, you smell.  I don't want to endanger my health, and I don't want the smell of smoke on my clothes or in my car.  Keep that cigarette in the car.  Stepping off my soap box now.

The reason the line was so long at Taco John's today was because their computer system failed.  The good thing, even though I was stuck behind the smoker, is that because their computer system was down, lunch. was. free!  I thought that was very nice of Taco John's.  I will return and the next time, I will buy my lunch!

Plastic and Pearls!

I found these at a local thrift store.

As you can see, I paid $1.61 for this entire bag of beads, I mean toys.

Here's a better look.

I sorted the bag into what I thought would be useable beads, really beads.

Cubes

 

 

Spheres

Body parts

Flower discs

Here's what happened.  This necklace looks great as I wear it!

The body parts add that special touch. 

I also used glass pearls as spacers.

Love this!  It's a choker.

A bracelet with glass pearls and a "charm" I found in the toys.

Last but not least, the flower discs with pearls make great earrings!!

So, what do you think?

Have you ever done anything this silly before?

A Quick Trip to the Thrift Store

You'd think that after my foray into the world of the 

Bead and Button Show 

in 

Milwaukee this past weekend,

you'd be seeing my stash from there.

Well, that won't happen for a bit because I had to mail so much of it home.

What I mailed was what the TSA would not allow in my carry on luggage.

So,

today, I went to the local thrift store, 

and

I came home with some goodies.

I found these 3 necklaces.

They each cost $1.99.

I thought the ones with the orange tags were ceramic beads.

 I think they are plastic, but they sure do look like ceramic.

I took the two necklaces apart.

Here are the beads.

I did a couple of remakes, and here are the results.

It's a 5 strand cord knotted bracelet

and

a single stranded knotted necklace!

I like,

and they still look like ceramic beads!

Thrift Store Finds

I drove past the thrift store today, and I knew I had to stop.
It was on my list anyway.
I wanted to find chains, and, maybe a few beads that were too good to resist.
Even though I didn't find as much as I would have liked to find,
the treasures I left with are wonderful!
I found a few chains.
I'm happy with what I found, but I'm thinking I'll have to go back another time to find more chains.
Along with the chains, I found a knotted pearl bracelet.
I took the tag off because I've already worn it.
I'm not sure if they are "real" pearls or not,
but the bracelet is lovely.
I don't think I'll take it apart any time soon.
Oh, I paid 75 cents for that bracelet.
I also found that bright, plastic necklace.
The clerk who waited on me kept saying that the necklace was "interesting and bright."
Yes, to both statements.
In the right place, one of the those beads would make a design pop.
This necklace will be saved for that occasion.
So, have you found inspiration in your local thrift store lately?
If so, what did you find?

New Toys, I Mean New Tools

Like Deb Batten of Firebird Flamework, I recently purchased some new tools. I also purchased the tools from CG Beads. Donna also has a store on Etsy where the buyer can purchase these wonderful tools!



These are the tools I purchased. I bought the large oval and the donut maker. Did I say that I love these tools? They are so easy to use and they work like a dream come true! As I make more beads, I will show photos of these beads! I am in love!

The other tool I bought is one I found in a local thrift store. I paid 25 cents for this tool! Take a look, I have a new masher!

So, what do you think? Have you tried CG Beads tools? If so, how much do you love them? Do you like my new bead masher? I love it. It works so well, and I don't have a tendency to loose it!