Hair Bows Needed

[kathiann.livejournal.com]

I love making hair bows for my daughter, but I feel like I've become a bit stale in the fabric flowers and such that I make.for her. I have a ton of fabric scraps and want to find something else I can make for her hair with them. I usually do the four or 5 point flowers (like the ones shown here) and yo-yo's. I've played around with the flowers made with stacked cuts outs that vary in sizes (like these), but I can't quite get them to look right.

My normal Google foo seems to be failing me because I can't seem to find any tutorials or examples for new hair things to make and it's driving me crazy. So I was hopping that you wonderful talented ladies could point me towards some tutorials or give me some ideas for waht ic an do to make clips or hair ties or things like that.

Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Fun with corals handmade lampwork glass beads

[lampworkbyamy.livejournal.com]

Hi all, I haven't posted in a while but I am making beads once again and thought I would share some of my new creations! These beads are handmade in a torch, out of glass. I have been into corals a lot lately, so many different ways to use these sun-kissed peachy/orange toned glasses. Thanks for looking, pictures are behind the cut!
( cut for pictures )

Another awesome reversible bag

[just-jane-doe.livejournal.com]

Made this bag for my 10yr old cousin Maddy -- she loves kittycats!

feather sterilization?

[mamamarlea.livejournal.com]

Hi, folks :) My brother and his wife have a pet duck...right now it's been hanging mostly inside their house (wears ducky diapers), but in late spring through early fall it's outside in their pond most of the day. Right now she's molting and I asked bro to save the feathers for me since I am all about free crafting supplies ;) Do I need to sterilize them? I wouldn't really worry much, but she hangs out with wild ducks and geese for most of the year so I guess my questions are: Are there awful things to be caught from duck feathers or wild waterfowl in general? and What would be a good way to sterilize them. Would freezing work or maybe microwaving? I'm kind of afraid of that one...could the shaft or quill (whatever it's called) explode in the heat?
Any help would be much appreciated...I just know there is someone here who'll have answers!
Mar