Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Free Beads for Blogging - the Reveal

Tonya of Fusion Muse blogged back in June: "After sitting and playing with my lovely gemmies and metals a little of late I want to share. It is my hope for as many of you who ask, to be able to play as well. Starting this week we will give away up to 5 parcels of beads to those who have a current, active blog. As time goes on depending upon interest this number may increase." I encourage anyone who would like to join the fun to go to her blog and sign up!
Remember these? They are the goodies I received from her, and I apologize for not getting the finished items posted sooner (Has anyone had a calm and relaxing Summer?)

So without further ado. here are my completed pieces.

I edged the pink briolettes with the delicate seed beads she sent, and added an opaque pink round as a topper. After that they really didn't need anything more than ear wires.




Then I finished wiring my gold edged lucite leaves and I combined them with the ruby rounds she sent separated by smaller garnet rounds for depth. and a large asymmetrical garnet pendant to create my first necklace.




 
As I noted in my previous post, Tanya's black and gold Japa Mala beads were the perfect compliment to gold leafed beads I had done. So I combined them in a rugged necklace.


It needed a little something to bring it out, and I had gotten a whole bunch of 10mm jump rings that I wasn't sure what I would use them for, until this necklace called for that little extra.


So I batched 5 rings together and crimped another oval jump ring around them to keep them in place, and attached each set as spacers.















It was just the touch needed to complete my third and final creation.



Hope you enjoyed seeing what I did as much as I had making them.
Thanks and Hugs to you Tanya!










Sunday, August 26, 2012

Holiday Bling Blog Hop - Partners Picked


Shelley Graham Turner of Tori Sophia and I have come up with a novel way to start off the busy holiday season with a Holiday Bling Blog Hop.

To recap –
The plan is for partners to contact each other and you'll decide between each other what you would like to exchange – could be handmade ornaments, jewelry, decor, whatever – just has to be Holiday themed.  As our backgrounds are so diverse it can be any holiday you choose, but it should be a winter holiday. Examples are,Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa , Ashura, Bodhi Day, or  Boxing Day – to name just a few!

The official date for the Holiday Bling Blog Hop (HBBH) is October 6th.  All items should be shipped out by September 15th at the latest, to allow for international deliveries.

Partners have been selected and you should all have received an e-mail from us with your partner’s e-mail address. Here are the participants and partners:

Dee Elgie
Lo/ Lynn Jobber

Michelle Fanucchi
Shelly Joyce
 
Monique Urquhart
Jo-Ann Woolverton
 
Therese Frank
Alicia Marinache
 
Heather Otto
Lori Bowring Michaud
 
Sonya Stille
Lennis Carrier
 
Linda Florian
Gina Hockett

Mary Shannon Hicks
Stephanie Stamper (Woods)

Dyanne Cantrell
Marla Gibson

Melinda Orr
Ginger Bishop

Linda Younkmann
 Shirley Jones Moore

Tanya Boden
Shai Williams

Debbie Rasmussen
Leanne Loftus

Charlie Jacka
Lori Jean Poppe

Rita/Toltec Jewels
Shelley Graham Turner

Jeannie K Dukic
Michelle Black
 
Mary Howell Govaars
Marlene Cupo


Looking forward to seeing all of your creative bling!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party - Third Reveal




The third and final reveal for Lori Anderson's 6th Bead Soup Blog Party is today.
Going to keep this as short as possible, here (There are too many other blogs to hop to!). My partner, Michelle Burnett, sent a TON of beads for me to work with (If there is a shortage of turquoise out West, you can blame it on her.).
See:


I sent her a much smaller selection of black and off white components, with which I am sure she has worked wonders.
With the Southwest in mind I started out to make a turquoise and copper necklace and earring set, using the focal (actual, I used all 3) she sent.
 

Too many beads left over, so I added a bracelet.


Still too many beads left over! So I made another bracelet to use the pewter toggle clasp she also sent.


Then, I had enough beads left over to make another necklace and earring set.


OK, now you can either go back to Lori's link, or click on the next one below for the other participants and keep blog hopping. Enjoy!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'
Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage
Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads
Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog
Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
 
Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents
Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen
Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space

Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog

Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels

Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum

Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas

Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs

Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN
Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading

Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs  <YOU ARE HERE
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival <MY PARTNER
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals

Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry
Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs

Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse

Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs


 



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

October Fest Courtesy of Toltec Jewels


 
 
Toltec Jewels of Jewel School Friends fame is hosting an
October Fest: A Jewelry, Craft, Bead, Home and Hearth Blog & Celebration
 
It is definitely time to be checking those Halloween decoration, recipes, jewelry items, for this year. Maybe adding a few, improving on them, or just planning for next month.
So then it is also time to think about joining her Celebration.
Click this link for more information.

 
 
Jewel School Friends: October Fest: A Jewelry, Craft, Bead, Home and Hearth Blog & <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Facebook</span> Challenge & Celebration

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Calling all Ashura, Bodhi Day, Boxing Day, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa celebrators!

Hey, have you looked at the calendar? It’s August already. You know what that means: the trees will be going up in the stores any day now! So, let’s beat them to it. Shelley Graham Turner of Tori Sophia, and I have come up with a novel way to start off the busy holiday season with a
Holiday Bling Blog Hop.

We were discussing the idea of exchanging one of our handmade ornaments with each other and we thought "Wouldn’t it be fun to open it up to anyone who wants to join in the fun?!”
We decided the best way to do this would be to match up partners, and each pair can decide what it is that they would like to exchange: handmade ornaments, holiday jewelry, etc.

Sign-ups will run now through August 16th, with partners being matched up by August 25th.
Of course, there will be a Blog Hop involved to showoff what you sent and/or received - it will take place on October 6th.

So, if you want to join the party, please leave a comment below and then e-mail MarShellSwaps@gmail.com and include your name, address and whether or not you’d be willing to ship internationally.

Watch your email on August 25th to see who your partner is, or just come on back to either Shelley's or this blog for the list.




Saturday, August 4, 2012

Meeting the Mailman at My Door!


The other day the mailman had a package for me. It was my bead mix for the next Lisa Lodge Challenge, October 13th. She is calling it My Bead Table Blog Hop and I believe she still has one entry spot left. Check the details through this link.












The next day he had my gift package for being randomly picked on the live monthly giveaway on the Facebook Forum: Creative Bead Chat hosted by Marla James. My gifts were from Heidi Kingman of My Bead Therapy. She is an awesome metal worker, and I am going to have fun with my goodies!










He had another two packages in his hands today, and one was on the small size, which got me very excited. Thought my Strength bead from BOC had arrived, but no. Instead it was this yummy mix from Tanya at Fusion Muse, with my free bead mix.
Why free? Well beside her being a sweetheart, she offers these with a challenge to blog about them, when you receive them, while making something with them and then when the creation is finished. So, more to come on these. Pretty cool, right!

The second were supplies I am gathering together for the polymer class I am teaching in September. Super psyched for this one, and hoping I have a good response.

As if that isn't enough, I also won the Christmas In July Giveaway from Sarah Goode of Pookledo, and waiting for Amethyst Coffins (Well, that's what Sarah called them, but to me they are beautiful faceted gemstone pendants) and a Sage colored pearls on white leather bracelet! It certainly has been a fantastic Christmas in July, and to all those perfectionists out there, yes, I know it is August already, but whose counting!