Some Shore Birds

Whoa... it's really, really windy here. But there are some shore birds on the beach. The Royal Tern is in it's winter foliage. It's black crown is usually all black. Right now, they look like they are having a bad hair day. The Sandwich
Tern has just a tip of mustard color on it's beak.

I guess it's obvious where the Ring-Billed Gull gets its name.

And the Willet, really does have two legs! But they were all standing on one leg and even hopping around on the one leg, rather than walking with both.

Mini Fairy Tea Set

I started collecting tea pots a couple of years ago, but soon realized I was going to run out of room for displaying them. I still collect larger ones here and there, but have been looking for the miniature sets now too.
We found this Fairy set in a store in NC on our way down here. It's so cute.

Trip to Fla

We have arrived. Woke up this morning to watch marathon runners from our balcony while we had coffee.
There were several gals dressed in this elf outfit.
Watched them all run by and after the police opened the road again, we headed out to the flea market.

Book Review - Classic Chain Mail Jewelry

Classic Chain Mail Jewelry by Sue Ripsch
I like this book too. Just a couple of pages on the basics and then on to the techniques.
Projects are rated from Beginner to Advanced. There are some really neat ones like this
Checkerboard Bracelet.
And this Graduated Full Persian Necklace with crystals. And there are other projects
incorporating beads.
$14.93 at Amazon
I haven't ordered my supplies yet, but I'm dying to get started in January.

Paper Ornament

Ok, so I soooo cheated with this one. This is a pad of pre-punched paper ornaments that I found
at Michaels or AC Moore, I forget which. All the ornaments are double sided so you have a choice of color schemes for them. Everything is pre-punched so you just pop them free. All the folds are pre-scored, but a ruler is handy for some for nice sharp lines. Some already have touches of glitter and you can add more if desired. Others have extra paper embellishments to add.

Book Review - Your Seed Bead Style

'Your Seed Bead Style - Accents, Embellishments and Adornments' is published by Bead and Button Magazine. Bead and Button has several books like this with a good selection of the best of the best projects previously published in the magazine. There are complete directions for 27 very lovely projects in this book. The basic stitches and tools are covered, along with sizes of seed beads and various other shaped beads.
I thought this necklace was particularly neat. The chain and half the components can be found at the hardware store. It includes wing nuts, o rings, washer and nuts, small springs and a Quick Link is the clasp.
The book is a good deal if you aren't a regular subscriber of Bead and Button.
You can find it at Amazon for only 12.21 - I love a bargain!

Christmas Tree Earrings

These are just so darn easy and you see them in so many variations.
Swarovski Margarita Beads come in 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm. I used one of each here. But you can vary the size of your tree by using less of the larger sizes, making a tiny tree with 6 and 8, or 6, 8 and 10. I used a cube bead for my tree base, but you can use any round bead also. And I used a red topper here (3mm) , but that's changeable too. I think a white tree with silver base and top
will be my next set.
You need 1 head pin to match the finish of your earring wires. Add cube or trunk bead, one each of the Margarita's in the size you are using. Add your topper bead and a simple twisted loop, and add to your ear wires. Being Swarovski beads, they really sparkle. Enjoy!