Blueberry Cove Beads: April and May Boxes

I realized I wrote this back in May, and still had not posted it. Me thinks my laziness chrysalis needs to crack off soon, leaving me an energetic butterfly.

I am listening to "The Bells" by Lowell, and it sounded like they said "where'd the heat go?" So, I thought I'd share it. Not that we need more heat... it was apparently 97 in Seattle over the 4th weekend!

On to the beads! I combined my April and May Blueberry Cove Beads box reviews, because I still haven't made anything with my April box. The theme was from an abstract painting, and while I did start several projects, I have only just completed a wrap bracelet using the Superduo beads.

April, Box 5: Abstract Colour [list of contents from site]

• One string of 8mm round grey glass beads with black detail (approx 65 beads)
• 10 blue grey teardrop glass beads, 13mm
• 1 oval white shell pendant, 36mm
• One strand of 4mm white round glass beads (approx 84 beads)
• 5 copper tone butterfly charms, 21mm
• 2 round disc white porcelain beads, 21mm
• 6 porcelain glazed white/grey ‘pumpkin’ beads, 13mm
• One string of natural gemstone 23mm oval beads, red line jasper (approx 16 beads)
• One string of natural gemstone 8mm round beads, red wood lace stone (approx 50 beads)
• 3 packs of approx 10g of Japanese seed beads – grey, frosted white and periwinkle blue
• 1 pack (approx 5g) of Superduo beads

April Blueberry Cove Beads Box

I liked the theme of this box! It was curated around a color theme, and I quite liked the original abstract painting the inspiration came from. Superduo beads were something I was seeing a lot, but had not yet used, so it has been fun experimenting with them [though it looks like I forgot to photograph them]. Seed beads in a variety of colors are always something I can use more of. Especially since I would like to start making some bead embroidered necklaces! While I was unsure of the periwinkle seed beads at first, once I put them into a bracelet with other colors, I enjoyed the effect.


May, Box 6: The Crystal Cave [list of contents from site]

• Aluminium Wire, 20 guage [10m]
• Strand of Sky Blue Faceted Round Glass Beads, 40 [8mm]
• Strand of Fluorite Gemstone Chip Beads
• Round Electroplated Glass Crystal Beads. 4 [18mm]
• Strand of Dark Purple Faceted Rondelle Crystal Beads, 100 [6mm]
• Agate Slice Pendant, drilled 
• Gray Druzy Crystal Pendant, drilled
• Burgundy Bicone Crystals, 30 [4mm]
• Beige Bicone Crystals, 30 [4mm]
• Faceted Champagne Drop Crystal Pendant [28 mm]
• Small Crystals, 2

The May box, as one Tweeter put it, made me "squeeee" with delight when I opened it! I love rocks, stones, and sparkles. Last time I was at my parents' home I cleaned out a small collection of rocks I had collected since childhood, and of course about a month ago I brought home a small pile from a beach. I can't help it!

Looking over the rest of the contents, I was really excited to experiment with the wire in this box! I see wire wrapped items all the time on Pinterest, and while I'm not really interested in doing the crazy intricate stuff, simple wire wrapping is fine. This guage of aluminum wire is a little too thin to do some of the ideas I'd tried, so I am not sure what to use it for now.

Overall, I loved this whole box, but I just wasn't wild about the chips because they're dull and scratched. I am guessing they're glass or plastic, but at any rate I've started a box of craft supplies for my nieces, and there are several strands of beads in there for them to create with!

My asymmetrical necklace made with the champagne tear drop stone, and wrapped with aluminum wire.

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Awesome Pack: Big Kids April Box

I read the My Subscription Addiction newsletter every day--it's my morning ritual. There are several boxes that I've found out about and tried because of the site. McBoyfriend took a look at MSA and said there were no subscriptions on here for him, and I had to agree! He's an electrician who does yardwork, doesn't cook, is picky about his tools, prefers hoodies and t-shirts, and paints and plays miniature tabletop games. Finally, a box appeared that sounded perfect, and there was a lot of customization available. We both love board games, so  I was super excited to sign him up for the big kids box from Awesome Pack!

To McBoyfriend, I get a box every single day. Not really, but when Awesome Pack arrived with his name on it, he didn't even bother looking at it, and just threw it in the house and went off to do yardwork. It was really hard to keep this a secret, but when it arrived my cat was going nuts on the box, and he stood there and filmed it for a while, not even realizing it was his box. I got home and asked why it was on the floor unopened, so we opened it together. When he pulled everything out I realized Bella was going nuts because there were two cat toys for her =)

What I Won and What I Made

A bit late, but I was waiting to post this until I was happy with a piece, and even though I'm still on the fence I thought I would post anyway. My next Blueberry Cove Beads box should be coming this week hopefully!

Last month I found out I won the Blueberry Cove Bead box challenge! I got the March box for free, which was pretty exciting.

Blueberry Cove Bead Box #3: Vintage Tea Party Review

Hello! I haven't posted in a while, despite my having composed posts in my head on several commutes home from work. At first I was a little disparaged that I hadn't physically typed anything up. But, the book I've been listening to, The Upside of Irrationality, had a good point--most blogs are written for and read by the writer and are seldom read by anyone else. Which, to me, means that it doesn't matter when I write because I'm writing for myself. =)

February wasn't too terribly busy--I started my second semester of grad school, and was only able to take one class as I had taken my other three required classes last semester and have to have all four finished to start in on the real classes. Taking one course is way less stressful! I now have time to make jewelry. Which is great because I have been spending excessive amounts of money on beads!

My newest bead source also happens to be a subscription box. I'm not even sure how I came across it earlier in February, but I am glad I did! Blueberry Cove Beads is a new monthly bead subscription box that sends out beads [loose and strung], findings, and pendants for $22 a month + $5 S&H. The box ships from Nova Scotia, Canada and I got my first one within a week. They also recently opened up the first [Woodland] and second [Art Deco] boxes for purchase for $30 [$25 + $5 S&H], and I had to get the Art Deco box.

The subscription box that arrived was a thin rectangular book-shaped piece containing a black silky bag with the Blueberry Cove logo etched on a wooden tag. I was very impressed by the presentation, and the info card [which I forgot to photograph] of several ladies sitting down to a tea party.

Not Just Funny Business Anymore!

While I am still interested in humor writing [though at this point I have loads of ideas and rarely write them out anymore], I want to add more to this blog. I do a lot of crafty things and cooking, plus I'm addicted to subscription boxes, and I know there are approximately 80 centrillion blogs like that out there, but I also know that writing is supposed to be good for you. I don't have many friends out in the PNW, so this is a nice way to share things and ideas with others.

First off, I found out a few months ago that I have anxiety and ADHD. Which makes a lot of sense, actually. This morning I got out of bed around 11am [having gone to bed at 3.30am] and the following is my path throughout the house:

• desire to do pilates
• room smells like boy stink, so light candle and open windows instead
• decide to wash sheets as well
• accidentally leave sheets in bedroom when going out to the garage [where the washer/dryer is], and instead work on planter started previous night
• respray paint rocks for planter
• go inside to grab something, forget, remember sheets, put them in wash
• work on planter 
• make bed
• work on planter
• remember I wanted to do pilates
• have breakfast
• work on planter
• take a nap
• make dinner
• go to the store
• finish planter
• work on homework for first week of class

I never actually got around to doing pilates, and it's now past midnight. I wanted to sort of give you an idea of my day so that future posts make a little bit more sense. Following through, being on time, remembering anything, and listening are my giant weaknesses! Right now there are like 30 half finished projects in my craft closet. Though, I am rather proud of myself for finishing off my planter / Darby Smart Pebble Terrarium! Obviously I couldn't leave it completely white, so I did some spray paint [pictures soon].

As for my craft closet, right now it's filled with past hobbies like collage materials, card making supplies like stamps, papers, inks, etc., buttons for projects, a sewing machine and some fabric, yarn for crocheting and arm knitting, letter from penpals along with a large supply of paper, envelopes, pens, and envelope-making supplies, and now my new hobby is jewelry making. I started on a stacking ladder bracelet last night, and I also bought a mini beading loom that I've made a couple of bracelets on. I don't understand how people do some of the crazy weaving projects out there... I cannot stay on task for that long, though I do enjoy doing fine motor activities.

That looks like a good start. Okay, break! I'll leave you with this picture that describes me perfectly, and I may or may not ever continue writing on here =) Let's go with may.

from Everyday People Cartoons

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Golf Nazi

I'm no grammar Nazi, but sometimes I wish I were. Especially on Facebook.

For instance, there seems to be a lot of confusion about to/too/two, your/you're, its/it's, or any spelling error that Firefox is generous enough to point out.

When I see a sentence such as,

"Hey bro.. golf is a great hobbie but it can be very frustrating as well.. its the thoughest game in the world by far!"

I want to go in and make a comment pointing out their idiocy. Well, idiocy and point of view. Golf? Really? Has he tried every sport in the world? Because I'm pretty sure all of the dead gladiators would disagree. Pff... golf...

Pretty sure my comment would end up something like this, which is why I don't say a thing,

"Hey bro... grammar is a great hobby but it can be very frustrating as well. It's the toughest thing you have to encounter after a hard day of working at Taco Bell!"

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