Summer crafting, easy style

It's summertime and it's very hot & humid in N.C. So what is a girl to do? Spend all day in a rather hot crafting room - ummm, no. Instead I have been doing several crafty things by freehand often on the comfort of the sofa (with ceiling fan above).
To start I've been on a sort of jewelry binge, bent on making my own stuff. I do have pierced ears but I've been wearing ear cuffs for most of the summer now. I purchased one on Etsy in rose gold and decided "I could make something similar!" and boy did I ever! Singles and pairs, I've been making shapes and designs from things I've seen or simply tried my hand at.

Silvertone loop ear cuff

My handmade ear cuffs: loopy heart, simple double cuff, goldtone long twist and silvertone long twist

That is one of a pair in silvertone (pic with me in it), I much prefer goldtone myself but either works. It's very easy to play and design your own with limited supplies. All I use to make my own is: small jewelry pliers, 24 gause beading wire (any shade you love), a pen and time to play. The pen I often use to shape the curve of the ear cuff then I adjust it as needed with pliers. And you should have time set aside to play with this, I spent time just figuring out designs or how to shape the wire. The 24 gauge wire is not very stiff but will keep it's shape nicely.

I also have been sewing small things by hand with freehand drawn patterns. If you are anything like myself you have loads of random sized scrap fabric. I love to make small charms to put on things (purses, zipper pulls). And after making a bunny plush for a niece due in October *congrats to my brother & his girlfriend!* I decided to make a smaller one for a charm. Ok, so I also made a heart one too!

Bunny for my soon-to-arrive niece

Fabric charms of bunny & xo heart

Not just fabric charms and ear cuffs I've made but also anklets. Ribbon, leather, beads - anything goes for a fun anklet. I purchased simple metal jewelry clasps and links (see below pic) to put these on/off with ease. 

Ribbon anklet in green with blue glass bead & navy leather anklet with waves bead



I hope everyone has been enjoying their summers! And a big "Hello!" to Kat over at Zakka Inspired blog :D

Felt foodies, what inspired me

"Where do you come up with such things?" I often get asked and usually by family members *laugh* Well my newest adventure is felt magnet & charms inspired by real food. It all started last year after our big vacation trip {cue flashback music... }

Last year we had a big vacation, at least for us. We had planned it for over a year and saved up to go on a big adventure. We would travel 6 hours by plane from NC to CA. And the big trip you ask? To visit San Francisco! We planned it during the Sakura Festival in Japan town plus to explore just a fraction of the surround areas. We stayed near the Pier and everyday must have walked miles and miles. We used public transportation like cable cars, trolleys and buses. Visited the likes of China town, Japan town, Alcatraz Island and so much more.

During this big trip we had a chance to try new foods, which is still new for me. I'm a picky eater, I have picky taste buds, I eat only what I like. I try new food if I want to but I won't if I'm pressured {I don't know what it is... embarrassment if I don't like it?}. We had good eats in China town and took a tour of the area. We tried wanton and I can say this: they were ok but I didn't like the BBQ pork flavor... I need something more mild. While in China town we had  chance to see where they make fortune cookies! It was a small alley with a very small shop. They had doors and windows open, it smelled delicious.

Another place with tasty new foods for us: Japan town! We didn't even explore all these 'towns' had to offer because they were quite large. My noodle bowl bead is modeled after a wonderful dish I had there called 'kitsune' noodle bowl. We also tried mochi for the first time which I have to say goes best with tea. We paid a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden while there which was magically to me. I've never seen anyplace like it before, I would visit every weekend if I lived near it! Here is just a glimpse of what the garden had to offer for visitors. It's also where I tried dorayaki for the first time with Jasmine tea.

Ah yes, someday we shall travel again to San Francisco. There was so much to explore and see and do. And new things always inspire me craft-wise!

The big 4000 fans fanpage on Facebook!

It's big, it's huge, it's the largest thing I have ever seen! My friend Melissa tipped me off to this huge collection of sponsors on one little fanpge on Facebook. They are called 'Bless Others With Cards' and are trying to reach 4000 fans. They hope to have enough fans to do a huge giveaway with products from sponsors. I decided to become a sponsor by donating my lime green Kiko plushie from my craftiness by Bethanee line of handmade goods. Here is the cutie, I tried to show it has a fluffy rabbit tail and is fairly big and huggable.

* to enter the grand giveaway start at Bless Others With Cards photo albums, go to 'step 1' then my item is in album 2 here

With this amazing challenge going on I was able to gain over 190 fans within 4 days! I started with just friends and 7 fans on my page, now I have so many I will do a giveaway also. {here is my fanpage on Facebook} I want to give people a chance to see what I make and a giveaway is a blast anyways. But no myster grab bag from me, I will be sharing pictures of exactly what is up for grabs. I'm going to have 2 goodies set up for grabs which include: a felt made item like charm or coin purse, some hand stamped stickers, handmade bookmark from recycled goods, origami spring color ornament and a special discount to use in my Etsy shop. So I hope more people stop by and explore my line of handmade goods and join my fanpage. More details on the giveaway coming soon!

A crafty life

It's been wet, rainy, windy, humid and alternates between cold & hot. So what is a girl to do in this crazy winter(?) weather ~ craft of course! I've been working on a dress from my 'Japanese winter one day sewing' pattern book. It's actually meant to be a jumper sort of top, but I added length and it will fall to about my knees. It has two tiers to it, a yolk and no sleeves. I made my own bias tape for it to use at the neck and arm holes, I must say I like making that stuff.


So beyond sewing I'm getting ready to list new items on my Etsy shop. I made some cards for Valentine's Day that are already up, you can see them here. I have some cute felt food magnets and charms inspired by Asia to list soon. When I'm in the mood (and usually with hot tea) I enjoy mochi, dorayaki and various other yummies. So I figured why not make cute food inspired felt crafts?


** the Japanese pattern book was purchased from Pomdaour24 ~ find her shop here

from B blog to sewingBee

Well it's a new year and fresh starts abound! So I decided it was time for a new blog, new location, new title. My previous blog is on my webs.com page, and you can still view the past posts here {just pop on over to the B blog tab}. 


After a year of reading blogs, reviewing how they are composed and falling in love with a few ~ it was time to start anew. I hope to share with you about my line of handmade crafts I make, craftiness by Bethanee {also goes by craftiness by B}. To share about my collection of pattern books that is steadily growing. And of course whatever crafty thing that tickles my fancy.