Here’s how it goes. I start a crafty project, get enthused, make heaps … and then I move on. So the old project gets finished up and the associated bits and pieces get packed up and put away.

I do this all the time. So my studio is full of little tubs of things like extra macrame string (remember that project) and a few tea towels (a good box full) for upholstering with …

And blue beads I made with Japanese transfer paper that have been sitting quietly in the cupboard for a whole year.

But then, inevitably I come up with another new idea that sees me digging into my leftover supplies … and thanking my lucky stars that I had just the right thing on hand when I needed it.

Hello blue beads! I was so glad to see you this week. You were just what I was wanting for my new star dangles* project.

I bought the stars at the Bed, Bath and Table factory outlet on Lygon Street, East Brunswick. Big fat chunky wooden stars painted white. I was instantly attracted. With a metal loop in the top. They were Christmas decorations. But they had all this fussy ribbon on them, which had gotten tangled and frayed. So they were on the bargain table and I got them for 50 cents each.

I came home and took all the ribbon off and threaded the now tidy stars on a long piece of wire. And I added a touch of me with beads. The white ones were my first addition. I bought them at an op shop on a necklace. I just knew they’d come in handy. Then I added the blue beads for a bit of colour. And finally I added some grey polymer clay beads. Just for a bit of interest (only blue and white is boring right?).

I am pretty happy with the outcome. What do you think?

* well it’s not a suncatcher and it’s not a kids mobile …