What do you think? These items are all sold, except the leopard patterned necklace, this was a gift to a relative. I had so much fun doing these pieces. Nowadays I just don’t feel the bead-crochet bug. I guess I need a little brake from this craft, and it will come back. This is why I shifted to knitting, and even if I crochet, I crochet bags instead of jewelry. I do not want to think I’m burn out on this subject. I know I still have a lot of ideas to make. It just takes a little time.

Spring is definitely here in Hungary, the trees are all green, and fresh. I love this time of the year. We decided to visit some friends and family this weekend, so not much of knitting or crochet for me, unless I do it in the car. I usually try, but knitting or reading in the car makes me dizzy or nauseated, so I have to stop from time to time. And usually I fall asleep from the tablets I take against nausea. Hah.

And of course we take Chili, the dog with us, and she would not let you knit or sleep.

She loves travelling, and looking out of the window, but we have to protect her from jumping out of the closed window for a little pidgeon hunt.

Here is a picture of Sara and Chili, taken by a friend. Aren’t they just the cutest thing on Earth?

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I have received the coral beads for the necklace I’ve designed with the turqoise round beads. It is going to be very interesting, I know. And I have a few more plans for bead-crochet jewelry, which I can’t wait to start. Now that I’ve seen the customers and their interest on Budapest, I know I can make more outstanding pieces, and they will love it. I can be brave with the colors and the styles, which I was trying to avoid until now. The people I was selling to – mostly in my town – preferred the more muted fashion and colorway.

 Now I can let my imagination go wild. This is inspiring! Instead of the boring single color ropes I will make something like this, by Judith Bertoglio-Griffin:

And I was thinking about a green rope, with orange loops. Orange, or lilac. I’m still collecting inspiration from all around the web.

Ah, and just in case Santa Claus is reading this blog: I so much would love to have this book!

And Norah Gaughan’s Vol.2. from Berrocco.

Thank you, Dear Santa. I’ll be a good girl.

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No wonder. We got married when I was 7 months pregnant, and didn’t care too much for it. We just needed the paper, for administrative purposes. We have finished in the registry office in 5 minutes. But we enjoyed this 5 minutes, and remember it often.

Now I’m collecting items, preparing things for a month now for the WAMP (www.wamp.hu) and it is still a lot to do before the big day.

- I’ve just printed out my brand new business cards. I’m going to laminate them, and put a hole in them, and with some ball chain I will turn them into keychains, to give away as business gifts on the fair.

- I’ve printed out some earring holders, with my logo.

- My husband (Dear Soul!) helped me to sting more beads for more crocheted bangles. We heard a rumour that bangles sell more then anything else. I’m planning to crochet and sew together 5 or more things tomorrow, and if I will still have time, I want to make a few more earrings too.

- I will have to check and undust my jewelry display.

- We have to wake up 4 am on Sunday, to get to Budapest in time. This is because of the time change from Saturday to Sunday.

I do hope that I will make enough money for the art clay silver course. I’ve talked the course organising lady, and she is a doll! So nice and helpful! I’ve already booked my room in a hostel nearby, with her help. The course will be in Sopron, a wonderful town I love so much! Last year we went together there, and took Sára with us.

I think I’m all ready. If I will have some stuff left (I hope not ) I will put them up in my etsy shop, and hope for the best. Otherwise I won’t be able to make it to the course.

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The Easter holiday was spent with toooo much knitting instead of crocheting for the fair.

I wanted to finish the Jane crossover sweater from Perl Grey Studios, but I remembered that only one half of the front is missing. WRONG. Both. I was knitting like a banshee, but could not finish it. On Monday I felt too guilty, and switched to crochet, and finishing off the crocheted pieces. I did quite well, finished three necklaces, and three bracelets. And I even crocheted a few more inches on a new project.

Time flew, and I’m back to work today. I can’t wait to quit this job, and do what I really want to do.

If you are interested in bead-crochet, I highly recommend the ultimate, the one and only complete bead-crochet site: www.beadcrochet.com, from the wonderful Beadwrangler.

I’ve learned the most from this site. And if you want inspiration for your future work, you must check out this great German site:  www.perlenhaekeln.de . This site contains the most amazing library of bead-crochet patterns, for absolutely free!

I also love to browse Etsy for inspiration. Not only the beadworks, or bead-crochet, but all the fine jewellery one can find there. And so many other things! I was really tempted once to order some cupcakes from the US, they were looking so fantastic! I could feel it in my mouth…. Then I thought of the distance, and the postal services, and said naaaaah.

I guess you are right, I’m a shop-a-holic, especially when it comes to online shopping. No wonder. What is more exciting than seeing a whole world of goodies, delivered to your door?

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Let me list what I can expect, and what should I send out, before I forget:

- There is a book swap, which was a great idea: You choose something (book, booklet, pattern) your partner wants badly, and send it out to her/him. The coolest thing is that you choose a project, and send the necessary yarn along with it. Now this is a great excuse for every knitter to buy books, yarn, and we will even have a project from our favourites list to knit!!!! Not that if any of us needs an excuse to buy more and more yarn or book….

DH just went out to the post office to pick up a parcel from the US, so I might have received it already. My partner is a young mom, who loves to knit garment for her child, so it is relatively easy. But I haven’t yet chosen the book. Must do it this week, the deadline is the end of the month.

BREAKING NEWS – BREAKING NEWS – BREAKING NEWS – BREAKING NEWS

Look what I’ve got from Granger, US! Elizabeth, YOU ARE A STAR!!! I got a long-wanted Norah Gaughan booklet, a fab bead crochet book, an absolutely stunning HABU KIT!!!! A Kidsilk Haze. All these things I wanted for so long!!! I was screaming and dancing around, my DH thought I went mad.

And there is still more: a sweet little notebook with magnetic closure, and a chunky bit of olive oil soap, and a stunning stone button.

I’m so very happy, and excited, that I actually took photos, and posted one here!!!

Isn’t it just wonderful? Now let me pamper them for an hour or so, and I will continue my list.

I just have to play with my new treasures now.

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This is exactly how I feel when I log in here to put my first post up. Talking – or even thinking – about knitting is the ultimate relaxation for my mind. And when I actually get my hands on it, and knit something, now, that is Nirvana. Peace. Concentration on something without any effort. When I knit, life seems perfect in every way. Even it is not.
No matter how pissed I felt when I started, it smooths my nerves.

If you are a knitter, you know what I’m talking about. If not, you probably have a hobby which gives you the same feeling.

In knitting, my favourite part is to cast on for something new. This is why I have at least five UFOs (unfinished objects) on my needles. Working on the same thing for days or even weeks, makes the fun fade away. Now I have a biiiig project – Norah Gaughan’s Caftan Pullover from IK, and a few smaller projects like:

1. A sock for my brother (sits there for a year now).
2. The Anthropologie inspired capelet – made with the most unusual yarn I’ve ever came across: Skacel’s Cheerio. Now discontinued, it is a paper-like, patterned ribbon, which is quite harsh to feel and knit. I checked, and after washing, it became softer. For a long time I had no idea what to do with this yarn, but I loved it so much, I had to buy it. I have high hopes for this piece, if I ever going to finish it, it will be a hit.
3. Jane Crossover sweater: I had to order some more yarn for this – I’m making it from Mountain Spinnery’s Sylvan Spirit – a great yarn! Only one half of the front is missing, and I can’t wait to finish it - but there is so much to do, and I can hardly get there. I will, soon, because I want to wear this before the really hot summer sets in.
4. The vest I’m making for a workmate – this is going to be a fast project, because she is so tiny. Not like me. I got used to make the biggest size  from every pattern, and this is a nice change to make something small.
5. The crocheted rug for my DD’s room. It is coming together, and I pull out this project from time to time, when I need something colorful and easy on my hands.
   It is made with worsted weight cotton, in every existing color, and I’m sure it will light up her room.
6. Not to mention that I’m preparing for the WAMP, the Sunday Art Market in Budapest, and I want to make/finish a lot of bead-crocheted jewelry. If I will make enough money there, I will pay for an Art Clay Silver instructor course.

See? So much to do, so little time! Now you understand, there is really no time to do the dishes…

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