Garden Stripes String-Along

Garden Stripes String-Along finished about a month ago, but time is all of our hardest design elements.  Some people are still working on their first necklace and a few have finished both necklaces.  I'm retired and I find I have even less time than when I had a family, job and large house..... It happens.

My first necklace had a light background - now see how others colored the patterns.

Wendy Pagent used very similar colors and did a nice bright spring-like necklace. I especially like the pop of light lime in the trellis sections.

We had a few members get overly ambitious. It amuses me as I can see myself doing the same and starting 3 necklaces in different color combinations.  The impulse didn't last too long, but will grow over time, I'm sure.

Susan Kirby did a dark background and although it's all the same patterns it has a totally different feel to it.  The two necklaces together make a nice statement piece.

Then we have Marsha Brown's necklace, singular.  She crocheted both of the necklaces together as a single piece.   She's enjoying being able to have a variety of lengths by how many times she doubles it over her head.

This is also a beautiful set of colored patterns in a mix of light & dark backgrounds.


I seem way behind finishing up things to get an e-book of the patterns done.  I'm not complaining, but RA health issues as well as cumulative years on this planet sure slows a body way down.  Meanwhile, enjoy these excellent examples of what people can do with beads, thread and a crochet hook.

No dogs, No cats, No birds

I say that I don't have pets, but this Cactus Wren sure makes herself right to home.  If I happen to leave the back door open she flies in, down the hall and gets a drink from the kitchen sink.  Then she diligently checks all of the window sills for spiders and bugs.  

Yesterday she visited and saw the tray of seed beads on the work table.

 She landed, pecked and went scratch, scratch, scratch - oh my, seed beads all over the place!
       I yelled
              she left in a hurry
                      I cleaned up!
Guess they were not good to eat but, sure looked like a pile of seed.

These are new etched size 8/0 Czech seed beads from Bead & Glass.
Aren't they beautiful beads? Amy panders to my seed bead needs.



I Should have been working on this, the next section for Garden Stripes String-Along.  I just had to see if the etched 8's looked like I envisioned when they were strung and crocheted.

Yes, I do get easily distracted, however at least I didn't reorganize my underwear drawer this time.

Garden Stripes is closed

The String-Along is fully subscribed and is closed.  

Now we begin.....

We are all looking at colors and trying to come up with a set that we think will work.  I said "3 graduated light or dark colors for the trellis".  One participant said her work table looked like it exploded with green bead colors and she still couldn't find what she wanted.  

How often do you look at the beads you own and determine that a shopping trip is needed because you don't have the right color? 

Garden Stripes Registration

It's time to sign up for this journey of discovery.
Gremlin/problem with PayPal button fixed - 12:30 AZ time

Sign-Ups are now closed as of Friday, October 23, 2015

Check out more information as to what we are going to be doing on this flyer . . . .

Garden Stripes Flyer

It will cost you $38 to join and crochet two ropes that have no patterns yet.  What do you think . . . a dark background or a nice pearl background?  You get to make all sorts of color choices - or use my colors.

This is a ten week project for the intermediate to advanced slip-stitch bead crocheter.  There will be no how to bead crochet instructions. However, when we're done, you'll be very comfortable adding in thread and beads as well as working from sectional graphs or charts. 

READY.........                  

                                .... then let the fun begin

Garden Stripes ~ String-Along

We are about to embark on another String Along.  This string-along will take its inspiration from a cottage garden. There will be two 45" necklaces, designed, strung and crocheted in multiple sections over an approximate 10 week period. I have ideas, but nothing has been designed yet - that's why this is a "string along with me" as I create week by week.

Find out the details in this PDF Flyer

Garden Stripes Flyer

There will be trellises to hold up vines and serve as a background for all the flowers. Then there will be flowers, lots of brightly colored flowers to plant on one of your necklaces.

Will you make a pale necklace set, a bold dark background set or create your garden in never before seen neon colors? We are going to talk about our inspirations, ideas and colors on a FaceBook Group.

So mark your calendars to sign up on October 20, 2015.  We'll be starting the actual crocheting on Halloween weekend, October 30th.  Room is limited to 40 participants, with preference given first to the last group of crocheters.

Garden Stripes

 I know I want a pearl background but am having trouble finding the right colors for a graduated trellis.  If I can get it all worked out, and the hands continue good, there will be a Garden Stripes String-Along.

Picking colors is always the hardest thing to do.  There are times that I think I'll just sort and re-sort beads rather than make anything with them.

I'd better hurry up as I have to take the car in for a recall fix tomorrow and I need something to crochet while I'm waiting.

I'll keep you updated as I get closer to having something ready to go - hopefully starting around Halloween.   Watch the Blog and FaceBook.