Quick but fun freeform necklace

I had fun making this. I kept seeing really interesting freeform crochet necklaces on Flickr and just decided to give it a try. Now I'm already plotting colors and shapes for the next one... isn't that how it always goes? The center button is an antique boot button that a friend passed along to me. Here's how the necklace looks unfastened (awkward photo--hard to pose for the webcam and click "snapshot" at the same time):
The pink and black center element is on one side, the button and gold frill are on the other.

UPDATE 4/30: I went and made another one, in blue and turquoise. And I'm working on a third that's black, red, grey, and silver. I think I've found another pleasant addiction. ;)

Mocha Antlers Hat

Um.... I think having both kids on spring break is hazardous to my sense of maturity. Witness this week's hat. And I look like I'm enjoying it a little too much, when really I'm just sleepless and in a bit of a stupor. Spring break ends, though. Right? Please?

Here I am!

Thanks for doing this, and I'm glad to see such a strong response.

I'm pretty much a constant thriftshopper--it's cheap entertainment with my kids, and it's how I get raw materials for my art purses, so I can justify it (kinda). Recently one of our local shops had a ton of yarn, including a big bag of vintage Italian mohair--all "tangerine"--for $1.99. This hat was made from some of that, and from a skein of even brighter orange acrylic yarn I found at a yard sale. I've been wanting to play with hyperbolic crochet more, so.... I think this will be the start of my Halloween costume -- I'm planning another crocheted creation, like last year's garden, but this year I'm thinking "wearable coral reef." Stay tuned.