Scratching a very old itch!

I think I was bitten by the miniature bug when I was about 4 years old. I remember standing in front of a gumball machine at the drug store with my hand full of pennies. I was willing it to give me the prize I wanted. The prize that kept me awake at night.  It was a tiny folding pocket knife. There were always a few of them in the machine. They were real metal and had different colored pieces of plastic riveted on them. It never happened. All I got were gumballs and prizes like a plastic magnifying glass or tiny figures. :-(

Today, I found the pocket knife of my (age four) dreams and bought it. I have a good reason at this late date. I want to make a charm necklace out of all sorts of tiny things I have had since childhood. Lots of sterling silver charms, old New York subway tokens, ancient 2,000 year old Egyptian beads, antique coins, the list goes on and on. Plus there are a few things that have caught my attention while I was looking around the internet to add to my stash. One requirement, if it isn't sentimental, it has to be a functional working miniature!

 In my search I found the world's smallest pistols! YES, real working ones that either fire blanks or 2mm lead bullets! I spent hours looking around at all the options for a pinfire pistol. I couldn't believe the price range there is. They go from $6,300 American dollars for the ultimate (made in Switzerland) to $30.00 I decided on a price range and found one I liked. I found them irresistible. OK... Maybe you are anti gun... but seriously, you can do more damage to yourself with your X-ACTO blade than one of these little things.

The one I bought is just like the one above, except it has a ring at the very back of the grip. So I will be able to add it as a charm to a chain.

Here is a video of a guy shooting one of the world's smallest pinfire pistols.

  

 It occurred to me that other people were probably making this sort of necklace so I started looking for them. Here are a few of the crazy ones I found. 

The title of this necklace is.... "I am who they were" These photos are the makers ancestors.

 Edith Head typically wore her famous necklace of antique ivory theater tickets. The late Elizabeth Taylor loved the necklace so much that Edith bequeathed it to her at her death.

 I have no idea yet what mine will look like. It is a work in progress. This has had me on a merry search through the house wondering.... What the heck I did with THAT thing? Things, I haven't seen in years are being found.

Another finished petit point cushion for the bed.

 I have finished another cushion for the bed. They look very happy all together don't you think? ;-)

 

I have also started a small runner carpet on 40 count silk gauze. Anyone who stitches will understand that despite the fact there are hundreds of colors sometimes you can't find just the right one. Some of the colors I bought were dipped in a dirty water mix I made with transparent inks, in an attempt to tone them down. Then the skeins were rinsed in clear water. Since this dye method it worked so well when I ran out of the thread I was using for fringe on my Aunt Olga carpet, I decided to try it again. I don't think I was aggressive enough though. Which may mean I am going to spray a diluted ink on it when it is finished.  GULP!  What is that expression... No guts no glory.

 

 

They also look nice on a gold silk sofa I made.

 

 

I am just getting started with the carpet runner. Sadly, I don't like it much so far. Maybe when I start stitching the borders I will change my mind.