Saturday, December 13, 2014

Jasper and Pearl Challenge

I have another challenge for you today, from Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures.  She sent us a yummy package of jasper and glass pearls, and we had to make something with it.  I remembered again to take a before photo, I believe I am on a roll:

 I love that burnt orange color of the jasper, it's one of my favorite colors.  I thought the white pearls were too small to pair with the larger jasper beads, so I found some larger cream colored pearls (also from Lisa) in my stash.  They were just the right size.  I made a necklace with them.

Then I used the white pearls along with the faceted jasper rondelles in a bracelet.  

Here are the two pieces together.

 And here is the collage I did for the Facebook group:

Please check out the Facebook group to see what the other members did. Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop 2014

I am joining Lori Anderson at Pretty Things for the Bead Hoarders blog hop.  This is the second year we've done it, and I was really excited when she announced that she would be doing it again. 
We are supposed to make something with some of our special beads that we've been hoarding.  Lori said it was ok to use something you'd made in the past with special beads.  That was perfect because not long ago I made a couple of necklaces with Earthenwood Studio focal beads that I'd been saving for 3 years.  I bought them from her at Bead and Button.  Nothing that I had looked right for them and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do with them. They were some of my favorite beads though, and I wanted to do them justice. Then I received some beautiful agates from Lisa at A Grateful Artist.  As soon as I saw the agates, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I ended up making two necklaces with them, one for a Facebook challenge that she hosted in her group, and a second one that I finished right after the first one. I didn't put that one up on the group because the deadline was past once I finished it.  Here is the one I made for the challenge:
 And here is a close up shot of that beautiful focal.  I love it.


I also made a lariat, which was a first for me, I don't usually like them.  It was the only way I could think of to show both the bird and the wing off together.

Close up of the bird and wing:


And a shot of both of them together.  
 I really love those agates.  they look good enough to eat!  I love how they matched my hoarded beads so perfectly.  And I also had waxed linen cord that went perfectly with everything that I'd been waiting to use for a while.  I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Please see what all the other bead hoarders were able to create with their treasures!

Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com  (Hostess)


Audrey Belanger


esperianterra.blogspot.com
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Dee Elgie http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Rebecca Ednie Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com
Lili Krist http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Hannah Rosner http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/
Nicole Prince http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/
Deana Hager http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Jackie Ryan http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/
Terri Gauthier http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/
Patti Pruhs http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
K Hutchinson https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Marci Brooks https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/
Jo-Ann Woolverton itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Jasvanti Patel Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaar Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Lisa Knappenberger LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Lindell marylindell.com
Niky Sayers silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Sandra McGriff skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Patricia Handschuh thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz treasures-found.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kathleen Breeding www.99bobotw.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Jackie Locantore www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar
Sheryl Stephens www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Mona Arnott www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Michelle Escano www.cabbycraft.com
Denise McCabe www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Sheila Prose www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak www.cianciblue.blogspot.com    ----->You are here
Iveth Caruso www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog
Deborah Apodaca www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Bunn www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com
Janine Lucas www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Kari Asbury www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Inge von Roos www.ingetraud.wordpress.com
Divya N www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Debbie Rasmussen www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
KJ www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com
Ghislaine Kruse-van Erp www.kruseartllc.com
Ginger Bishop www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Kelly Schermerhorn www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com
Mischelle Andrade www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com 
Sue Kelly www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz
Susan McClelland www.mistheword12.com
Mary K McGraw www.mkaymac.blogspot.com
Tania Spivey www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie Perry www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Mitzie Crider www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com
Nicole Rennell Www.nicolerennell.com/blog
Nicole Valentine www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell www.overthemoon-design.com
Tammy Adams www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Patty Miller www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Blanca Medina www.peru-medesigns.com
Stephanie Haussler www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Roxanne Mendoza www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com
Claire Fabian www.saraccino.blogspot.com
Bridget Torres www.shears58.net
Donetta Farrington www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Deb Fortin www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Susan Walls Www.susansartcircus.com/blog
Cece Cormier www.thebeadingyogini.com
Heather Otto www.thecrafthopper.com
Lizzie Clarke www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk
Elizabeth Hodges www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden www.torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com
Nan Smith www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Jayne Capps www.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com
Robin Kae Reed                                      http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Melissa Trudinger                                   https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

2014 Art Charm Exchange Auction

Today is auction day and reveal day for the charms!  The whole event is organized by Jennifer at Glass Addictions.  I can't even begin to imagine how much work it is to coordinate this.  Each person that joined the exchange sent in 11 charms.  They got 10 back - one of theirs and 9 others.  The 11th charm from each person is either up now on eBay or will be later today, and all of the proceeds go to Beads of Courage. Jennifer unpacks all of the charms, then sorts and packs them up again to ship them out.  After that, she takes pictures of each charm, edits them and creates the eBay listings.  She is amazing. 

This year, our theme is Soar.  This is my first year and I had a lot of trouble coming up with something that matched the theme.  I tend to over think things a bit.  Here is what I came up with.


I kept thinking about leaves.  Trees are majestic and beautiful.  They sleep every winter and are renewed in the spring.  In the fall they celebrate with a gorgeous display of color and the leaves Soar gently through the air.  Always renewing and ever beautiful.  My favorite color for an autumn leaf is scarlet, I just love to see the trees full of them.

I drew the leaf onto shrink plastic, then colored it in with alcohol inks and punched holes for the jump rings.  Then they were baked.  I colored them again if they needed a touch up.   Then I coated them on one side with resin and let it cure overnight.  The other side was coated with resin and I let it cure again.  I filed any spots that needed any touch up and another coat of resin.  Some of them have bubbles from the resin, I left them because it really reminded me of the spots that the leaves get on them.  I am pretty happy with the way they turned out.  I was really happy to have them done!

 Here they are on my beading board before I sent them to Jennifer.


I received some lovely art charms.  I haven't done anything with them yet, but I have ideas floating around in my head.  I will do a post or two later this week to show you what I received.  In the meantime, here is the list for the blog hop.  I've put a ** by the charms I received, but please go and take a look at everyone's reveal post.  Please also check out the auction, it's for a very good cause.

Please share the link to the auction if you can.  The more publicity, the better the total donation will be for Beads of Courage. 

2014 Art Charm Exchange Participants:

**Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca
Jenny Davies-Reazor: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Lennis Carrier: http://www.windbent.net
**Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Clay and Metal Blog Hop


Today I am joining up with Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures for another blog hop!  We were sent yummy components from Metapolies, along with some coordinating beads.  I did remember to get a before shot.


I had a hard time with this one.  I wanted to do earrings, but that wouldn't have used a lot of beads, and I wanted to use them all or close to it.  I kept looking at them and couldn't decide what to make.  Then I finally thought wrap bracelet.  I tried memory wire, but the holes in the small beads were pretty small, I had trouble getting stringing wire through them too.  So I pulled out some coordinating seed beads, and my needle and Fireline, and here you go:

I think it turned out pretty well, and I used up just about all the beads.  I had to take a few off to make it fit right on my wrist.  I finished early, used up almost all of the beads, and remembered to get a before shot.  Better check the sky, it might be falling!

Thanks for stopping by, please check out the other participant's posts:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings
Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Carol Briody, A Beads Life
Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck
Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor
LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design
Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry