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In This Newsletter
One morning I was trying hard to complete a set of hand-dipped paper-pulp and wire ornaments for a manufacturer. I just wasn't getting it right. I needed to wrap the wire around itself and then dip the formed ornament into paper pulp. The effect was like a glistening snowball. I was ready to give up when my dog Mr. Bee came barreling through the kitchen catching me off guard. The wire flew out of my hands and ended up wrapped around Mr. Bee. It was a sight to see him covered in wire from head to toe.
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This ornament I found in Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Projects for Every Occasion is similar to the project Mr. Bee and I worked on together. |
I gathered up the tangled wire in a huff, getting ready to pout about my bad luck when I realized that in my hands was a perfect ball of wire. A perfect ball ready to be dipped! I was finally able to make the project. All I could do was laugh and give Mr. Bee one of his favorite dog treats to thank him for being my creative muse. I decided to use Mr. Bee's approach to crafting. I took a little break to relax, enjoyed my pet's company and soon returned to my project, getting it done with less frustration and a little more joy.
I've had all kinds of pets including fish, birds, cats, dogs, lizards, frogs, rabbits and turtles. I have three other dogs -- Moe, Edison and Emma; plus, we have saltwater aquariums and a lovely outdoor pond. There are at least six birdfeeders in the backyard, usually attended by some kind of bird or some very fat squirrels. Animals and nature are important creative inspirations to me.
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Mr. Bee: a very creative pet that always inspires his lucky owner. The nose knows! |
Last year, Mr. Bee lost his sight to glaucoma. I worried: Would my sassy pal still have a high quality of life? I didn't need to stress because Mr. Bee is the same old rascal he has always been; I'm not sure if he even knows he's blind!
After he lost his sight, I tried to think of creative ways I could help him. The first was creating sachets for different rooms in the house. Dogs rely on smell more than vision, and by scenting rooms differently, Mr. Bee can stay oriented. Vanilla for doorways, lavender for his dog bed and citrus for the living room, his favorite place to nap.
I made jingle-bell collars for my other dogs and an ankle bracelet for myself, so Mr. Bee can hear us coming and going. I'm always amazed by how much creativity can help us cope. Just making the projects for Mr. Bee calmed me, and I felt like I was being proactive by letting him adapt to a different way of life. Creativity can help us turn negative situations into positive solutions to overcome just about anything!
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Tips When Crafting for a Pet
- Be careful of the supplies you use when crafting for a pet. Read labels carefully and use only nontoxic materials.
- When dyeing toys for birds, use Kool-Aid or other brightly colored drink mixes.
- Don't use anything that can be easily chewed off and swallowed like pompoms, small buttons, craft gems or wiggly eyes.
- Not sure what to craft for your pet? Try making toys, collars, beds or some casual attire.
- Undomesticated animals enjoy a little crafting too. Craft a birdhouse, birdbath, toad hut, butterfly house or fountain.
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And All the Little Birds Go ... Tweet, Tweet, Tweet!
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I found this cute blue-footed booby card when I was in the Galapagos Islands. The bird is made using leaves. I thought it a great Tweet! |
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Free Project: Beaded Bottle Charms
You can easily adapt this bottle charm to include a variety of pet charms. I used dog charms for the one I made for my kitchen.
Beaded Bottle Charms
Design by Candie Cooper
Soaps, lotions and bath salts never looked better in these clear bottles embellished with simple beaded ornaments!
Materials
- Glass bottle
- 6 (6-7mm) silver flower spacers
- 12 (4mm) Indian sapphire Swarovski crystal bicone crystals
- 79 lavender seed beads
- 7 (5mm) silver daisy spacers
- 3 paua shell bird beads
- 2 (13 x 10mm) quartz oval beads
- Silver leaf charm
- 1.3mm silver crimp bead
- 2 (4.5mm) Scrimp findings
- Silver pendant bail with ring
- .015-inch-diameter 7-strand nylon-coated flexible beading wire
- Mini screwdriver
- Chain-nose pliers
- Wire nippers
Birds of a Feather
Instructions
| 1. |
Cut a 5-inch length of beading wire. String one Scrimp finding and leaf charm 1 inch from wire end; insert short wire tail back through Scrimp finding. Tighten Scrimp to secure. |
| 2. |
String one seed bead and a daisy spacer. |
| 3. |
String one seed bead, bird bead, seed bead, daisy spacer, quartz oval and a daisy spacer; repeat once. |
| 4. |
String one seed bead, bird bead, seed bead, daisy spacer, Scrimp finding and a daisy spacer. Thread wire tail through pendant finding and back through daisy spacer, Scrimp finding and daisy spacer. Adjust wire and tighten the Scrimp finding to secure. Trim excess wire. Set aside. |
| 5. |
With wire still on spool, string six seed beads, bicone crystal, flower spacer and a bicone crystal. |
| 6. |
String 12 seed beads, bicone crystal, flower spacer and a bicone crystal. Repeat four more times. |
| 7. |
String six seed beads; slide bird dangle piece on top of seed beads. |
| 8. |
String a crimp bead. Cut wire off spool, leaving a 2-3 inch wire tail. |
| 9. |
Thread the wire tail through crimp bead going in the opposite direction from other wire end so wire forms a circle. Use chain-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead. Trim excess wire. Slide pendant finding over the crimp bead. Slide charm over top of glass bottle. |
Sources: Beading wire, Scrimp findings and bail from Beadalon; bird beads, flower spacers and seed beads from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads; glass bottle from IKEA.
Copyright © August 2008 Simply Beads magazine. All rights reserved.
Click here for printer-friendly page. |
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- Making your own pet treats saves money. There are plenty of recipes on the Web, and you can use cute pet-themed cookie cutters. Also use the cookie cutters to create gift tags if you give the pet treats as gifts.
- Stitch up some pet toys. The fabric and stuffing for pet toys is less expensive than most toys found at the pet store. Just make sure not to use any small embellishments that might be swallowed. Buy old blankets from a thrift shop to save on the fabric costs.
- If you don't have time to make your own pet toys, check out garage sales for small plush toys. Remove any small chewable embellishments, and you have a new toy for your special pet.
- Save money and an animal's life by visiting your local Humane Society next time you are in the market for a pet. Local organizations have pets large and small.
- Get out your animal and pet-themed rubber stamps and stamp some postcards for yourself or to sell to raise money for your favorite animal causes. Postcards use less paper and postage!
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