DIY Happenings at Search Magazine!

 

It's wild to realize that my Legacy of Sewing piece was so long ago in the Winter 2025 issue of Search Magazine! 2026 has been a tough year but there were plenty of DIY, outdoor, and television happenings from Yours Truly at Search!

A normal person doing a composting piece probably would have taken simple day increments of a decomposing banana. I am not that person and my Easy Composting DIY in the Mother Nature Summer Issue of Search features my bemusing and gory composting photography to entice the kiddles interested in gross things! Fortunately the Hidden Gems issue offered my much more pleasant Stargazing 101 Tips alongside my retrospective television feature on my favorite show Blake's 7.

Fitting for Fall, my current DIY column in the #EverydayMagic issue of Search Magazine is on Jewelry Making Basics. You can bling yourself out this holiday season because why not?

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For the latest Kbatz Krafts news, join me on Blue Sky or re-visit more Search adventures in the Kbatz Krafts Archive including: 

DIY Vintage Trunk

Luxury Looks with Thrift Florals

Antiquing on a Budget

Autumnity Accessories! 🍂🍂

I received this grab bag of assorted enamel leaf pins as a gift and adore mixing and matching cascades of leaf pins on my hats and shoulders. However some of these adorable leaves were also broken and not totally my colors or style – so I decided to put them to good use as new brooches, hair clips, and more findings for complete autumnity delights!

Naturally the torti cat supervised as I sorted the pins, leaving the orange and maple leaf pairs that I already wore most as is. The more feather-esque designs, green leaves, and yellow charms were earmarked for new use as hat stick pins, alligator hair clips, and barrettes. Jewelry pliers made it easy to bend the original pin backs, sometimes I could even press them down to lock onto the new clips before hot glue did the rest. Surprisingly, Dollar Tree super glue that I usually use on metals didn't seem to work as well, but the hot glue created a smooth layer binding the unusual black leaves to gold jump rings for a sophisticated statement ring. A duplicate pair of orange maple leaves was re-purposed with new stud earring backs – although I did make them asymmetrical to go in different spots in my back ear piercings. Because, why not? The broken chestnut style leaves anchored two alligator clips alongside red oaks, again mismatched as sisters rather than twins in number and color. Four different colors and leaf shapes were combined on a larger pin back for one large brooch while two more single leaves became fun rings. Single maples became the stick hat pins before one larger barrette used up the last of the broken yellow leaves. Huzzah!

I prefer accessories to match, usually with one accent color per season. The similar reds and oranges maybe, but black and green and yellow at the same time?! Keeping these accessories as somewhat random leaves just looks a little more natural than if everything was absolutely coordinated. Besides, this helps me get out of my darker whimsy comfort zone and if they're in my hair, I don't have to look at them! If these were all accumulated, differently styled and textured pins, the look would be messy; but since they are all of the same enamel and theme, everything makes a statement together. Is wearing all of this all at once a bit too much for my bigely age? Maybe. Fortunately, the possibilities for an autumn hair accessory, brooch, and a ring are now endless. There's a certain illusion between what's a hat pin or a pin on the hat or multiple leaf pins together or just one leaf brooch, and I appreciate the double take when people notice something unusual in my hair and say I look “festive.” Since I had the glue gun at the ready, I also fixed several other broken accessories – including a black folding fan and white and red flower clips I usually put in my bun. Did I fix these summer pieces in time to use them with my Black and White and Red Dress? Of course not! A previous set of red and gold buttons that had been re-invented as hardly worn earrings, a pin, and a ring was also re-purposed as another barrette. A sliver from my Polka Dot Scrap Skirt likewise became a little Scrunchies hair tie. I thought about doing an even bigger one or a polka dot headband and barrette, however that did indeed seem too twee with all the gray infiltrating my hair.

Perhaps this is a silly write up; I feel the need to explain how I did these risk free accessories despite this being a simple have glue gun, will travel day project the whole family can do together. As I wrote in my forthcoming DIY Jewelry column in the #EverydayMagic Fall issue of Search Magazine, go ahead and put a pin back on anything. Is it cheap and tacky? Absolutely! Do I believe nothing is too cheap or so basic a DIY? Also absolutely – because it is customized by and for you and that's worth celebrating. There's no reason not to bling it up with the autumnity vibes. The term “autumnity” itself means “the quality or condition that is characteristic of autumn” and it needs to come back into the mainstream lexicon ASAP.

Join me on Blue Sky for more or visit Kbatz Krafts on Facebook and Instagram for more project photos and more jewelry shenigans including:

White Jewelry Bling

DIY Holiday Jewelry

Black and White Bobbles

View more of my recent autumnity appearance at the Hit the Stars Learning with Horses Apple Festival! 🍂😁🎃🐴

"Oh yeah, you blend." 🤣

White Bling? 🤨🤔😁

 

So-called “white” jewels such as diamonds and pearls are not my favorites, but last year I made Black and White Bobbles to match my Polka Dot Dress. Could I further venture into more white accessories to go with my August black and white ensembles thanks to a pack of $10 howlite beads?

More of the clearance black wood bead garland used previously and some large grab bag gold beads alternating with the smaller howlite beads made for a very chunky, actually somewhat gaudy necklace. Big earrings and a thick bracelet complete the tacky set, but if I'm going to ritz up my Black and White Polka Dot Tank to beat the heat I may as well go big or go home, amirite? A handful of black fireball beads mixed with the howlite and the last of the black wood beads made for more simple dangle earrings with a matching gold cross necklace as I inched further from my black wheelhouse. I have noticed that some black beads or fake metals discolor and rub off with sunscreen at higher temperatures. However, that's what one must expect if you're going to work with cheap, fun, found materials, and I'm not about to give up my SPF 100!

The howlite beads and their matching white cross spacers made for more bracelets alongside cheap gold beads taken apart from another Goodwill garland. Here, I went bold for a mirroring majority howlite collar necklace with gold teardrop beads and small cross earrings. Because I also wear red accents with my black and white for a dash of fifties style pop, vintage thrift red and gold beads were next to join the howlite. Like my previous Bling Binge, I went a little crazy in finishing these red beads with three bracelets, earring bobs, and a necklace with a dangling howlite cross pendant. Determined to use all this howlite to fill the white accessories hole in my collection, I continued with more aged gold chunky beads and leftover rose shaped beads for another necklace. The small white crosses and more cheap gold beads made for the last of the howlite beads in a matching bracelet. There are still some of the small sideways howlite cross beads in two sizes which can be used for future bracelets – my own spiritual trademark against this so-called Christian yet totally corrupt regime that has forgotten Jesus's actual teachings on compassion. Otherwise I've pretty much made all the white and gold jewelry combinations I'll probably need. Huzzah!

Does some of this me-made jewelry look the tacky and junky that it truly is? Absolutely! Apologies to Dolly Parton, but it only cost pennies to look this cheap. I have fun, seemingly lightweight looking accessories thanks to the white howlite color – a new concept to me, a long-time wearer of black. I'm looking forward to mixing and matching these bright, summery sets with my black and white clothes, a moderate success with an alternative white stone, if I do say so myself!

Visit the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more jewelry made by me or see more bling photos on the Kbatz Krafts Facebook.

DIY Holiday Adventures

Still catching up post-Covid, I didn't get to all the DIY December ideas on my list this year. No scrap ornaments nor holiday banners like my Celestial Banner for Search Magazine! What I did do came down to the wire, and the reactions to this trio of festive projects were...mixed?

The Jewelry Treasure Chest

I saved this top opening gift basket several years ago but forgot what I had wanted to do with it – until I saw it again this year, that is! I thought the flip top made it the perfect treasure chest for my niece. She's been sorting through some of my jewelry making supplies for the beads she likes, so I made as many bracelets and necklaces as I could with her favorites, the pink bead discards I don't like, and all the odd, low quantity, fun beads that don't match anything else. Many of the bug and butterfly charms and unique bobbles came from three cases of beads I found at Goodwill earlier in the summer for $8 each. Unlike some of my seemingly elaborate Black and White Bobbles, these were all done with simple elastic cording that can grow with her or can be taken apart later if she wants to do her own creations. More plastic Mardi Gras necklaces and fake pearls removed from other cheap costumes supplemented the chest along with her play masks, tiaras, and folding fans. I also put some of the jewelry sets I made in smaller boxes or little velvet bags within the chest to make them seem even more fancy. This was seemingly the biggest hit of the holiday when my niece didn't want to open anything else on Christmas morning because she had to go through the entire chest claiming she wanted to wear twenty pieces at once. Unfortunately, she only wanted the pink and later red jewelry – refusing to consider any other color even when playing with the mask and fan. So... I guess it was worth it?

Potter Scrap Pumpkins!

I got a pair of Gryffindor pajama pants for my husband that turned out to be quite long. Upon hemming them, I saved the excess inches intending to make something, but what? Once I knew making personalized scrap ornaments for each of my family wasn't feasible this holiday season, I realized I could still at least make Stuffed Pumpkins for my older niece with these pant ends. Once upon a time she was a big Potter lover, but this print is mature and subtle enough to just be regular autumn décor without screaming boy wizard. One end is gathered closed before the stuffing with fabric scraps and plastic bags. Rustic twine for the pumpkin sections, dollar store leaves, curly pipe cleaner vines, and a cinnamon stick stem topped off this gourdy pair. Upon seeing them on Christmas Eve, my niece first asked where I got the fabric and if they had been worn before they were pumpkins? Which I guess I could see as humorous because they hadn't been, and likewise, they weren't stuffed with dryer lint – although that is a perfectly viable stuffing option in a pinch. All gathered were very bemused and said that I was a very resourceful person. I'm not sure, however, if that resourceful was meant as a positive or just being polite, for I was also teased for saving all the holiday package shipping paper. Hey, man, it's good for painting drop cloths and scrap sewing patterns!

It's a Christmas Vacation Pillow

I get my husband a lot of character shirts at the thrift shop that he may like until they wear thin but sometimes the sizes aren't right. Usually I give away the too bigs and too smalls immediately or make pillows for the bean bag. This National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation shirt, however, I found again wrapped around loose ornaments when I opened my ornaments tote bin this year – meaning I must have intended to make it a pillow last year. Fortunately, unlike my Wonky Halloween Pillows, this was in good condition and easy to cut out the design square before running it through the machine. Again scraps and plastic bags were my stuffing – this is only a decorative pillow rather than needing to be soft and cozy. Its hockey playing Santa pillow companion was an earlier upcycled thrift find – I only have two Santas in my house and both are left shooting hockey players! There are more ready to retire shirts that I would like do as a quilt like my Memento Mori piece, but only my husband would probably get all the pop culture shirt references, for no one seemed to get, care, or notice the Christmas Vacation quote on the pillow. Oh well. Thankfully, everyone did eat all the pizzelles of course.

Visit Kbatz Krafts on Facebook for more photos or follow us on Blue Sky for the latest craft adventures! Peruse the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more projects including: 

Carving and Baking with Real Pumpkin

Mini Pumpkin Garland

Going Green Jewelry

Black and White Bobbles!

 

In addition to my Black and White Polka Dot Dress, I made more assorted black and white bling – bang for my buck that looks a lot more classy and sophisticated than for what these totally cheap jewelry sets actually cost.

First came the seventy-five cent clearance cameos from one of my spring Joann Closing Hauls. I was finally able to utilize some flat black faceted beads in addition to dangling black bobbles and cheap gold beads that came from either a thrift grab bag or beaded holiday garland that I cut up for the beads. I don't remember which! The cameos made for earrings, a necklace pendant, and a bracelet with a small dangling cross to match. Obviously nothing here is more than plastic yet it's a posh looking set that adds instant elan to any little black dress.

Next I made two odd, ball style sets by supplementing a handful of unique but low in quantity beads. Two random white fireballs were done up with gold crosses for a pair of earrings shiny enough to match some of my heirloom pearl and gold pieces. More creamy pearl-esque balls of several assorted sizes combined with more cheapy black and gold beads for a full suit of earrings, necklace, and a sideways cross bracelet. These faux pearl beads ended up being very tricky thanks to a very small threading hole, forcing me to use a lesser gauge beading wire for the necklace. I have trouble crimping the ends of such wire properly, thus I generally just twist, knot, and wrap the wire but it always seems to hold. Jinx! When I wore this graduated ball set, my dad asked why I was dressed so fancy. I said, “Thanks. I made it!”

All of these random grab bag beads came from the sadly now closed local Carnival of Collectables Antique Mall and have been in my stash for sometime. In my previous Bling Binge, I was trying to use as much of my stash as possible to make jewelry sets whether they were in my seasonal colors and wearing window or not. Here however, I used miscellany pieces to make what I wanted and needed right now – filling in gaps with black, white, and gold that I only wear in August. Regardless of outdated Victorian and Edwardian classism, I don't believe in wearing white after Labor Day. It's autumn people move on to fall colors! Of course, that's not going to stop me continuing to use up many of my black bobbles as well as the black wood bead garland seen in my Haulloween 2024 video.

Simply cutting this bead garland strand made for a long, opera length necklace before a matching bracelet and ear bobs. In contrast to the imitation pearls, because these string holes are so large, I was also able to use up some smaller millimeter beads to finish the earrings and prevent the larger beads from sliding off the ear wire. Because who doesn't need more black wood bead necklaces, I continued with a smaller collar style necklace – this time alternating with other black beads for a tone on tone set again with a matching bracelet. Next, leftover silver Christmas garland beads combined with more of the wooden beads made for a sophisticated cross necklace set. Finally it was time for some large plastic gold beads with the black wood beads, matching dangling earrings, and a cross bracelet. Whew!

Believe it or not, I still have MOAR of the black wood beads, and I'm tempted to experiment in alternating them with more autumn colored beads. September was formerly my time to wear red (a color understandably retired for political reasons), but moving up silver and black or all black in chunky, cool tone sets goes well with this transitional weather, crisp black and white buffalo check scarf, or my black and white plaid skirt. I love thinking outside the box in making accessories that go with any outfit or season but don't break the bank. The most expensive materials here were probably the elastic cordings, beading wire, and earring hooks that a jewelry maker should always buy in bulk and have on hand for when colorful inspiration strikes.

Visit Kbatz Krafts on Blue Sky for more crafting or follow our Facebook and Instagram for project photos. Revisit the Kbatz Krafts Archive for more bobbles including:

Green Holiday Jewelry

Jaunty Autumn Hat

Jewelry Making Basics

Drab to Glam Lampshades

Joann's Fabric Haul Round 3! 🛒

 

Kristin Battestella aka Kbatz scores fabrics and jewelry findings on another excursion to a third Joann's Liquidation sale with discounts now between 40 and 70%! Because you can never have enough black or orange fabric, amirite?

Thank you for watching!

For more sewing project photos, jewelry making, and thrift haul videos, follow Kbatz Krafts on Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky! Browse our Kbatz Krafts Archive or peruse more including: Sewing on a Budget for Search Magazine Glam to Drab Lampshades Halloween T-Shirt Pillows Damask Blanket

Bling Binge!

 

2024 was a busy year of writing, podcast, and video commitments and not a lot of sewing or crafts until the holidays. However, there's always time for some handmade bling!

The best of part of jewelry making is being able to fill a gap in my wardrobe or accessories with new earrings, necklaces, or bracelets – a dangle or pop of color to suit any neckline, sleeve length, or mood. I wear certain accent colors per season, so it's easy to see a purple gap in the winter, a red gap in the fall, or the need for festive holiday green and make something accordingly. I know what I want, make it, and wear it immediately! It feels good, I get compliments in public, so it's all win/win, right?

This January however, my jewelry-making process changed drastically when I began bling binging non-stop. This one bead at a time catharsis is something I can control now that the world has become so out of control. Instead of doom scrolling I've made dozens of new jewelry sets in a variety of combinations and colors. Upon realizing that some of these pieces were very similar to each other and some past me-made bling, I also created a spreadsheet chart coordinating which colors and metals had been done in each earring, necklace, or bracelet. Because I put a cross somewhere on most sets, I also made a checklist for what color sets have a cross where. It sounds silly as well as complicated, but apparently my prior handwritten list of what combinations I needed was not enough to avoid duplicates! There were more sideways cross charms then pendant styles in my bead stash, so I continued to make a cross bracelet in every combination possible. I wear a cross solely for me, yet thanks to the current administration, I also don't want to wear a more prominent cross necklace anymore lest people think I am one of these fake “Christians” who doesn't understand compassion for the suffering and marginalized as Jesus intended. Thankfully, a bracelet with a small cross facing inside the wrist is a creative comfort in such trying times. I give my bracelets a touch when encountering such ignorant people in the wild. It keeps my mouth shut!

Instead of seeing the need for something I wanted to wear right now, the goal of this binge became filling in all the color and style gaps in my handy chart regardless of my accessory season. Making my summer blues during the March gray? Gasp! Rather than going to buy specific beads, this forced me to use up the supplies in hand – including thrifted glass beads, broken vintage pieces in need of repair, and findings that have toiled around in the plastic sorting boxes for years. I did end up using a holiday Amazon gift card for some new wire and elastic supplies or lacking bead colors. Strangely however, this pattern meant that there are some me made pieces that I kind of don't really like. The sets that are too similar to one another frustrate me, and by time I get to wear the autumn orange, I suspect I may end up re-doing the items I dislike. February is my purple month yet one fireball purple set I made right on time to wear actually looks kind of pink, and I hate pink.

This did give me brief pause on my bling binge, hesitant to make a no good disappointment despite my current need for more silver and crystal style beadwork. Creativity is such a give and take these days! I work on something pleasing yet question it's worth. Fortunately, after the pink lackluster lull, I got my groove back recently with two sets made from Dollar Tree beads. Wood bead orange Easter garland was transformed into a fun autumnity set with a fifties vibe, and a bag of assorted tear drop plastic beads combined with leftover vintage glass beads and beaded Christmas garland form a dramatic necklace. Obviously iridescent rainbow plastic looks are not a replacement for a high end occasion, but it's a fabulous feeling to take it up a notch by wearing something totally unique. Further scoring some Joann liquidation jewelry findings has also replenished my stash, revitalizing my need to bling it every time political events make me want to scream. Slowly but surely I can check an item off my list and give myself a new elan inside and out.

You can still find my Kbatz Krafts Facebook Photo Albums and Instagram page, however I'd like to post more project photos here on the blog and move craft updates to Blue Sky. Peruse our Kbatz Kraft Archive for more bling including:

Joannand Thrift Finds 2.0

Going Green Holiday Jewelry

Jewelry Making Basics

Fashion and Jewelry YouTube Playlist