Don't Do It

If you ever think maybe you should roast coffee beans at home...stop thinking.  Don't do it. 
I figured that I'd successfully roasted my own beans. Maybe I am being too...well, I'll be honest, the apartment really stinks. I think the fire alarm reverted to a stink alarm, and that's why it kept going off. I wish I could say that it smells strongly of yummy coffee in here, but it doesn't. It smells strongly of stinky burning something...something terrible. I opened the patio door, and the window in the craft room, hoping for a cross-breeze that would clear out the stench. Didn't really work. I lit a lovely vanilla candle (ix-nay on sticking it in a container of coffee beans, just the vanilla candle on its own, good GOD no more coffee beans for awhile); hopeful that before bedtime my living quarters would smell sweetly of vanilla.  I have to say, it didn't work quite as planned.

But then I discovered (again what I already knew from before) that I was very VERY low on Cinnabon creamer. Tragedy. I tried to monkey with my latte, adding milk and cinnamon-sugar. Oh dear. My latte, which is really an important part of my day, was sub-par. The cinnamon does not dissolve like the sugar does. It stuck to my lips. I am very dissatisfied on all accounts.

And the poor cats.  Really, I think if I had birds, it would have killed them.  Here's Bella's reaction to the whole thing:

 

Well, actually that's Bella's reaction to just about everything.  But it still stinks in here.  I think I will leave the coffee roasting to the baristas.  Also, as a side note...did you know that coffee beans "pop" like popcorn?  Yes, they do.  Not all of them, and they don't morph into anything fluffy, but it's unnerving to hear that coming from the oven.  Yuck.

 

Coffee Roasting at Home (and other embarrassments)

When I made my way to the kitchen this morning, I discovered what I already knew from yesterday.  I am out of my favorite French Roast coffee.  Very nearly out of my favorite "Cinnabon" creamer (so very bad for me, but so very delicious), too.  What to do, what to do?  I'm having such a difficult time with my first-of-the-month-and-no-more paychecks...I am constantly reminded of something my grandmother used to say: "There's too much month at the end of the money".  Yep.  Very true, Grandma.  No French Roast coffee beans until tomorrow.

I remembered the bag of generic almost-beige coffee beans I bought awhile ago...I like to pour the beans into a tall glass container, then insert a taller vanilla-scented candle; it smells heavenly while the candle is burning.  But I would never DREAM of actually grinding and brewing those almost-beige coffee beans; by the time I put in the creamer, I might as well just have a cup of hot sweetened milk.  However, who's to say that only a certified barista can roast beans?  I can probably roast beans.  It's worth a try, right? 

So I found those almost-beige coffee beans, and poured some of them into a heavy baking pan:

 

Yes, I know the picture is blurry.  This was pre-caffeine, remember?  (Or should I have had the camera on the macro setting?)  I set the oven for 350 degrees, and inserted the pan.  An hour later, I stirred the beans.  I saw progress, I really did.  Another hour later, I stirred the beans again.  More progress...but not enough.  Screw this, I said to myself...and I set the oven for 450 degrees.  Within 15 minutes, while stirring my significantly darker beans, one of the several fire alarms in my apartment began to scream, and a robotic voice announced that there was a "fire".  This process repeated itself every few seconds.  And apparently there is a notification system, since while I was fanning the air under the alarm, the office called to see if my apartment really was on fire.  That's nice, right?  Really, very comforting.

 

After stirring the coffee beans every 15 minutes, and having to deal with the same process with the fire alarm, I decided they were plenty dark, and removed them from the oven, which really did upset the fire alarm.  I had no idea that coffee beans would give off some sort of essence (there was no smoke) that is toxic to smoke/fire alarms.

 

However, here's the result of my experiment:

 

I could hardly wait for them to cool so I could grind them up and have my coffee!  And although I had to monkey around with milk and cinnamon and sugar to eke out the pitiful amount of Cinnabon creamer, I am very satisfied with my cup of coffee.  Even though it is after 3:00 p.m.  Better late than never.

 

 



 

Bead Soup Partner!

My Bead Soup Blog Party partner for this year is Brenda Sigafoos...and let me tell you, Brenda is an amazing lady.  Brenda is a true multi-tasker: she's a mom of three, whose kids are all high achievers; she creates beautiful jewelry and in fact designs for the Cousin Corporation; and she teaches wire wrapping to people like me...people who love to make beautiful things, and who never want to stop learning new skills.

I know that Brenda and I are going to be friends; we've already shared a bit about our lives (past and present), and have discovered that we have more in common than a love of creating jewelry.

I was blown away by some of Brenda's lovely creations, like this:



And these:
 

Is she amazing, or what?  Let me give you the answer: she is amazing!  I hope the soup I send to Brenda in Minnesota is something that she will like, and can use to make something as pretty as the pieces I've seen so far. 

Many, many thanks to our hostess, Lori Anderson, who has a knack for teaming her "cooks"! 

Renewed Interests

I always find the last weeks of January to be a bit of a downer...the excitement of the holidays has passed, along with the thrill of making resolutions for a better life.  Instead, it's just the reality of daily life, and the realization that (once again) the list of resolutions has been conveniently put aside! 

I've turned to thoughts of pleasurable activities of the past, and I'm wondering why I ever stopped doing those things that gave me so much pleasure.  I have new things that fill my creative tank with joy, but there are many hours in each day, and I've been finding that full retirement is not as exciting and fulfilling as I'd hoped.  I do make jewelry, but not for myself.  I don't go to the office every day, so there's no need.  And I have been very busy crocheting (at night, while watching previous episodes of "Boardwalk Empire"...where have I BEEN?...it's riveting!) and making artist trading cards. 

After Christmas, while putting away the ornaments and holiday decorations, my sweet son-in-law took pictures of the Christmas stockings I cross-stitched for my daughter (in 1992) and my granddaughter (in 2005), and he e-mailed the pictures to me.  I've been looking at those pictures and wondering why I ever put aside my cross-stitching...so many hours of stitching joy! 

Now I can't wait to get started again...I certainly have plenty of wips (works in progress) from months and years ago.  Isn't it funny how the brain works?  This productive pursuit feels new to me again!  Here, take a look at the stockings...they come out every year to hang on the mantle, and are very much loved by the ladies they were made for.

 

 

These are old patterns, from the now-defunct "Cross Stitch and Country Crafts" magazine.  Every year they offered a pattern for a different Christmas stocking.  The patterns are very involved, extremely detailed, and loaded with fractional stitches.  But the result is so, so lovely.  I didn't realize that I'd used even-weave fabric with more stitches to the inch for Lisa's stocking...it's quite a bit smaller than Emma's stocking.  (I don't think Emma minds...)  Back in the day, I also made needlepoint Christmas stockings for my two boys, and they are still in use today. 

 

I think I might spend this evening with a needle in my hand!

 

Off to Tucson!

Okay...well...I'm not actually going to Tucson, but two of my bracelets are going to Tucson!  I received a lovely e-mail from Bill at Znetshows.com this morning, telling me to pat myself on the back, and to package up the bracelets and send them to him.  What a terrific way to start the day! 

Seriously, Bill...thank you so much for the fantastic opportunity, for the beautiful box of beads (some alliteration, free of charge!), and for introducing me to a group of lovely ladies with talent to spare.  I am so honored, and so grateful. 

Here they are again...

 

 

I'm thrilled.  Thanks again to znetshows.com!

 

 

 

Playing!

Yesterday I spent several hours at my bead table, playing with the super-pretty cultured sea glass beads from znetshows.  I can't remember the last time I played like this...and I had so much fun!  Yesterday I showed pictures of the sleek-and-chic beads sent by Bill Zhang, and although I didn't use all of them, I made quite a dent!

I started with earrings.  I always start with earrings; they are small, relatively easy to put together, and I love making earrings because I love wearing earrings!  Here's what I made:

 



I used the two long rectangular top-drilled pieces, attached them to small crystal and bead components for a bit of sparkle and shine, and added them to a pair of elegant silver-plated ear wires. 

 

All charged up from the earring business, I moved on to a necklace, which you see here:

 

Although I started with silver chain, I could quickly see that it wasn't giving me the look I had in mind.  So I pulled out some beading wire and strung a series of black and white beads (the larger white beads are cultured sea glass, as are the round black beads).  I attached a simple crystal and sea glass teardrop dangle to one of my favorite black resin roses for the pendant.  This necklace hangs beautifully...it's about 18 inches long, not including the pendant, and will be beautiful worn with summer whites and brights.

 

I couldn't help but notice a strand of double-hole black cultured sea glass beads, and definitely wanted to showcase them, as they are unusual and eye-catching.  I used two pieces of memory wire and began beading...

 

This bracelet is beautiful on the wrist...and it was so much fun to make!

 

On to yet another bracelet.  You might remember the starfish bead from the selection sent by Bill...I really wanted to use it...so I did!  Here's the result:





 

I paired it with some of the asymmetrical black beads, a few shiny silver glass beads. and more of the round white beads.  It definitely needed a counterweight, so I made two dangles to hang from the toggle. 

 

By this time, I was running out of steam, and figured that I should finish the day with another pair of earrings.  Those smoky gray beads...so sleek...I had to use them!

 

For this group of beads, I chose to create simple, sleek pieces without a lot of ornamentation.  The beads have a matte finish, they are simple geometric shapes, and I wanted the cultured sea glass to be the focus.  I hope I've succeeded in my mission.

 

Bill, thank you so much for the opportunity to create some designs for you, using your beautiful beads.  It was truly a pleasure.

 

 



 

Znetshows

Several months ago, I purchased some cultured sea glass beads online, from a company called znetshows. The beads are truly lovely...I chose aqua, white, and orange matte glass beads in a mix of top-drilled curvy beauties and tiny little rondelles.  I made several pieces of jewelry using the beads...like this one, for instance:

 

   

 

I recently received a letter from Bill Zhang at Znetshows, complimenting  me on the use of their beads in a blog hop I'd joined, and asking if I'd be interested in joining their design team for their Tucson gemshow booth.  Oh, my!  Why...I'd be delighted! 

 

Bill sent me a box of lovely beads and metal components, asking only that I try to make the sea glass the focus of my jewelry designs, and to use the crystal, pearl, and metal components (plus items from my own stash, if I feel inclined) for the rest of the design.  They are looking for simple and elegant designs with a summery vibe.

 

Here you can see what Bill sent to me:

 

 

 

I don't usually think of black and white when I'm thinking of summertime...but why not?  There is nothing crisper and more elegant that a black and white ensemble any time of the year...it's a truly seasonless color combination.  And black makes a perfect accent to cool white cotton, which is most definitely a summer staple.

 

On this note, I'd better take myself to the beading table and see what comes to mind.  I have some ideas, but what's in my head is not necessarily representative of the final result!