There was a tutorial posted on Lampwork Etc on making beads using sewing machine bobbins. I really liked the idea so I thought I’d try it myself. Here’s my first necklace which is similar to the ones that Mary Noelker makes. Mary sells her bobbin bead necklaces here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/marynoelker.
Still making push pins, though I’ve taken a break on them for a while. Hope this will be enough to sell for right now.
Also been working on stringer practice. Thought it was time I stepped it up a bit. Here’s a few practice beads.
I know a lot of them look dotty but there are two in there that have lines. It’s hard making lines with hair thin pieces of glass. Some people can do it like they are drawing. I have a long way to go.
I’m glad the push pins are selling well, though I am getting tired of making them. I still have to make some to sell at the fall craft shows so I’m trying to get enough done now. Here’s some that I made this weekend.
A couple new designs are the grapes and the hibiscus flowers. I guess I’m going to have to break down and make more turtles. People seem to like turtles, I just don’t like making them.
I finally figured out how to make bigger faces for magnets. My method isn’t the best way to make them but for the few I have to make, it’s good enough.
I know the last bunny is missing it’s pink in it’s ears. I totally forgot to put it on. Oops!!
I also did these miscellaneous beads.
The black bead is pretty big compared to most beads I make. I really was going to make another bead but I accidentally put too much glass on the mandrel and didn’t want to trash it.
These are the first two cabochons I made out of glass for possible refrigerator magnets. I made them on a cab mandrel so the profile of them is kind of flat and quite a bit larger than the push pins. I’m going to have to come up with some new designs for these.
I bought a new lot of keys and they were really rusty and dirty. I ended up throwing them all into my tumbler and they came out all clean and shiny. I had to test one in the flame to see if it’s actually steel. I made a simple bead and the key held up so it’s definitely steel.
Yes!! Finally something new!! These are the first two bottle cap beads I made. I don’t have a very good selection of bottle caps yet so I used what I had which was some craft bottle caps and a virgin olive oil cap.
This is one side of them.
Another view. They don’t look as scratched up or dented in person. It’s hard to see the tiny blemishes.
And of course, more push pins!!
More push pins!! I tried a few new designs this time. A cherry, apple and pear. Not sure how popular fruit is so I probably won’t be making a lot of them. Just getting tired of doing the same designs over and over. I’ve been working on the turtle and I still don’t like it but other people do so I’ll probably make a few more turtles. 
You guessed it!! More push pins. I did try a new design. The turtle. It still need work. Might make it like the smaller one but a little bigger. The big on is too big. Need to try to ladybug in another red color too. This one looks too orange.
The fundraiser was a success!! I sold all the push pins. I got an order for more too. Here’s the results.
The buyers wanted blue ones.
I’m trying to come up with some new designs. I tried a ladybug. It still needs some work but I think this will be a keeper.
Lastly, some push pins all made up into sets.
I think I’m going to be making push pins for a while. It looks like they are going to be a good seller for me this year.
Mewkittie Creations 