Earrings

Remember these earrings? I loved the stones, but from early on had trouble with them, as the hole in the center of one round bead (pink jasper, I think) was too large for the headpin and tended to slip off.

They've been unwearable for at least a year or two, but I still had all the pieces so I snipped them apart and put them back together with wire left over from my Christmas ornament hooks and extra earwires purchased for the the Japanese maple earrings I bought last fall.*
I'm pretty happy with how they turned out--and extra inspired to buy real tools (especially small, round-nose pliers) for future crafting.












*I really thought I had blogged about these. I LOVE them, though, as mentioned, I did change out the earwires for the more graceful ones pictured above. She also has other jewelery made from real leaves!

Accessories

I finally bought a belt for that half marathon medal that was actually a belt buckle! I opened the package and wrapped it around my waist while still wearing four layers of clothing, one of them my thick wool jacket, and was disappointed at how small it was. Thankfully, it fits fine when I wear it under my coat. If you're in the market for a buckle-less belt, I suggest this Etsy seller.

Also on display in this picture is the ring made me for me by the lovely and talented Becca. I call it my Big Rock.

Necklace

Today we hit the student art sale at MCAD, and I got this fabulous "cellular pattern" necklace.

The artist has an Etsy shop here. I suggest checking it out!

Things That Are Awesome IV

Things That Are Awesome (IQD Edition):

• For IQD, David gave me not one, but TWO secret compartment books!


• The first one was actually the second of the two he'd made, because he hadn't been happy with the first one. It was beautiful. Note the endpapers, which are a map of Mpls and its suburbs. I live in the left crook of the Y. Both books have magnetic closures that make the covers snap satisfyingly shut.


• The second one was the earlier one he'd made, and although it wasn't quite as pretty, I still loved it. The endpapers on this one are a bigger vintage map of the Midwest, with some cities circled (Lincoln, Wausau, Marshfield, Stevens Point, Prairie Du Chien). Plus, this one came filled with two little boxes!


• In the first box was a pair of handmade earrings from Etsy--little black beads making a cute fan at the base of a delicate gold hoop. I put them on immediately.
  


• In the second box was another pair of handmade Etsy earrings, this time an elegant gold pair with long graceful lines. I wore them out that night.


• There were all sorts of runners out Saturday morning during our frozen adventuring, both at Minnehaha Falls and at Lake Calhoun! I have a witness that I do not just make this stuff up!
  

More of David's IQD pictures are here, if you're feeling brave.