Free Laura McCabe patterns.

You are probably aware of my love for many of the designs by Laura McCabe. I still have several of her kits waiting in the wings to be worked up. The flowers from my last post are part of the Cherry Blossom Bracelet kit.

Her instructions are always fantastic. If you'd like to see for yourself, her redesigned website includes many free patterns, such as this Amethyst Crystal Pendant.For two years I've been planning to make this bracelet around the holidays.

The site also features some pieces available for sale. I like to look at them for eye candy and inspiration.

Happy beading!

Blossoms.

I picked up my beading needles over the weekend and did some more work on the bracelet that's been on my bead tray for a while now.

Pretty little blossoms make me think of spring. If only the view outside did, too.

Soldering.

My mom came over one day and we soldered away the afternoon. It was fun to try something new. This piece is too large for a pendant, so it will be a small wall hanging. On the bottom I attached some beads that had already been wired together into a little doodad; I'm not sure if I like it on this or not.

Mark's birthday was on Monday and luckily we celebrated over the weekend because we spent Monday at the doctor's office. He had developed a cellulitis infection in his foot. I must admit, I panicked a little bit when he got up that morning with a swollen foot and a long red line leading from his toe to the top of his foot. Thankfully it seems to be responding to the antibiotics and this morning his foot was finally back down to its normal size.

We hadn't planned on doing much for Valentine's Day, but I decided to make dinner reservations for us. I think we need a date night after this long week.

♥