Here’s sort of a sneak peek. It’s made of glass beads, using a peyote stitch that makes use of different bead sizes as well as increasing and decreasing rows to create texture. I was originally trying to create a pendant, which looked quite different in my mind’s eye. So when that wasn’t working out for me, I continued straight onward to make it a bracelet.

I ended up going out for dinner this evening, and thus, did not have enough time to complete it tonight. It’s close though! I just need to weave in thread ends and come up with some sort of clasp. I shall post a more attractive, complete image when I finish it up. I think I need to come up with a name for this concoction too…

I don’t have time to complete any crafty goods this evening, so I’ll regale us with another tale of my old book collection! haha

This bunch includes 11 little composition books which I purchased en masse for $12 at a local mall antique show. They are labeled for Concordia College (in Milwaukee, WI - now Concordia University), and all once belonged to a Chas H. Fark. I assume this is short for Charles, as he places a period after Chas occasionally.

Our friend Chas was a serious student of languages; four of the books are filled with Latin exercises, four more of German, one of Hebrew, and two of Greek vocabulary. Looks like perhaps he dropped out of Hebrew… only a handful of pages are filled, whereas the rest of the books are completely full. Some of them even have more writing on loose bits of paper stuck in between pages.

Some of the books are dated and some are not. The dates range from 1889-1892. Like my Vagrant Record, these books are in good shape for their age, and probably didn’t see much light. I have many books from the same era that are beginning to disintegrate due to having been poorly stored in musty, pest-ridden attics and basements (or simply because they were well-loved.)

Good night interweb friends. I’ll post something crafty tomorrow evening!

If anyone is actually reading yet, and wanted to make a comment… you can now. I fixed it.

With Shifty Red Laserbeam Eyes!!

Penguins have wicked tendencies (shown again and again in examples such as this video, this video, and this shirt …) Today on the way out of work, I got into a discussion about how penguins have red laserbeam eyes (Don’t ask! haha) So for a project today, I made this little pattern for a penguin:

Give it a try if you want to make a penguin too. The pattern shows black eyes, but feel free to substitute with shifty red eyes if that works for you.

Edits I would make after having made a penguin:

1. I think I say something about using matching thread, but it’s probably cute with contrasting thread, so forget about that.
2. Forget about trying to use the eyeball templates with pins! Just use them as guidelines to cut your own circles.

I love collecting things. My mom always called me a pack rat when I was a kid because of all my collections, and how I couldn’t get rid of anything. I’ve gotten better about getting rid of stuff that I don’t need, but I still have lots of collections. One of my favorites these days is my collection of antique books, scrapbooks, and journals.

This book is a favorite because of its age, contents, and condition. It is a “Vagrant Record” from the Municipal Court of the City of Minneapolis. The earliest entry in the book is May 12th 1899. I think it is beautiful for how old it is. It is leather bound with some gilt and branded details, it has marbled edges and endpapers, the binding is tight, the paper has very minimal yellowing, and it is completely filled with beautiful handwriting. The size is approximately 16 x 11.5 inches (40.6 x 29.2 cm). Big, heavy book!

My mom presented me with this great book last Christmas, and she had found it at one of our favorite thrift stores for $75. As with most all of my secondhand purchases, I am so curious about the history of this book. After the pages were all filled up, how long did it stay at the court? Who had it after that, or where was it kept? How did it end up at the thrift store? Because the binding is so tight and the pages are so clean and nice, I’m sure it had to be in some sort of storage. It was kept away from sunlight and moisture. I hope I’ll be able to keep it as nice for many more years.

Each entry is filled in with the name/s of defendant/s in question, the name of the judge that saw the case, the defendant’s plea, details of the court proceedings, names of representation for both sides, results (guilty/not guilty), fine/bail to be paid, and days to be served in the state workhouse if fine is not paid. There are men and ladies, and groups of teenagers accused of vagrancy. Vagrancy, in this book, is defined in print in each entry:

“…the defendant then and there being, did willfully, unlawfully and wrongfully without any visible means of support, then and there live idly without lawful employment, and did then and there wander about the streets of said City; and not then and there having any known place of residence or abode, and was then and there found traveling about said City begging for the purpose of gain; and was then and there loitering about saloons, gambling resorts and houses of ill fame without giving a good account of his/her conduct, contrary to the provisions of an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Minneapolis, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Minnesota…”

Oh, to be alive in those times! Gambling resorts and houses of ill fame in the City of Minneapolis! Imagine…