Pearls Blog Hop

It's time for another blog hop!  Today it's Pearls and I am joining up with Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures.  Lisa always sends very generous kits and I really loved the colors in this kit.  I even remembered to take a before picture.  

I tried a couple of things, but couldn't make them work.  Then I was showing a friend of mine this pattern from a magazine and thought - the beads for the pearl hop would be perfect for this!  The pattern is called Coronation Day Necklace by Evelina Palmontova, featured in the Aug/Sept 2014 issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I have made the whole necklace before and it is one of my favorite pieces.  You can see it here if you are interested (funny it was for another Pearl blog hop by Lisa - at least I am consistent)!  This time I only made the chain, the beads are bigger so I had to play with it a bit, but I love it.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I made, please stop by the other blogs to see what everyone else did with their kits!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

UFO Blog Hop Number 2

Today I am joining Karen at Baublicious and posting another UFO that is finished.  I know that last time I posted a picture of the item I wanted to work on next, but I have not been able to get that one done.  I have a friend, and she's been waiting for a long time for me to finish this for her, so it became a priority.  And now it's finished!

It is the Celtic Trefoil pendant from Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork book.  I love this pendant, it is my favorite piece from the book  I forgot to take a before picture - it was almost done, just needed 1/3 of a row, then I zipped it up and added the jump rings.

There is no necklace, she wanted the jump rings to hang it from a chain. I am so glad to have this one finished!!! Please take a look at what everyone else was able to get done:

Karen Williams, Baublicious

Francie Broadie,  FAB

Christine Van Dyke Altmiller, One Kiss Creations

Therese, Therese's Treasures

You are here ------>>  Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Liz Hart, Treetop Life

Liz En, Bead Contagion

Amy Severino, Amy Beads

Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers

Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

Christi Carter, Sweetpea Path

Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry

Margo Lynn Hablutzel, My World and It's Full of Books

Bead Soup Blog Party - Bead Hoarders Edition

The day is finally here and I am so excited!!!  Welcome to the reveal for the Bead Hoarders Edition of the Bead Soup Blog Party.  The fabulous Lori Anderson has done a lot of hard work to bring us to this day, please see her blog for all of the participants.  

My partner is Lucy Clasen, she will be posting on Pinterest here.  Her Etsy shop is here.  She has some lovely pieces there and is very talented.  I had such a great time talking with her.  I never imagined that out of all of the people to be partners with, she would live in Chicago and we would both be Cubs fans!

Here is what she sent me:

I took another shot of the little bird, because I love him.

 

 

This is what Lucy said about the beads she sent.  "I chose these beads because I love the bar and found a couple of lampwork beads to coordinate with it.  Have fun!"  The orange bird was made by Simone Lange, and the lampwork rounds were made by Jennifer Powers.  She doesn't have a record of who made the acorn and leaf bar, but she bought it to make something for herself with and has been hoarding it.  hmmmm that sounds like something I would do (and have done).  Thank you so much Lucy for these lovely beads.  I had a great time with them!

Here are the beads I pulled out to work with:

I had to change out the orange beads for different ones in the necklace, because the holes weren't big enough for the wire I was using.  I did use them in the earrings.  

I ended up with two pairs of earrings and a necklace, here are the earrings.  I was just going to do the one pair, but I had set the leaves aside when I was looking for coordinating beads and they kept calling me, so I made a second pair:

Here is the necklace:

Another view:

The little bird:

A close up of the beads Lucy sent:

 One more closeup of another part of the necklace:

Thank you so much Lori for hosting, I have missed having my Bead Soup!!!!  Thank you to Lucy for sending me these wonderful beads.  

Please take a look at what the other participants did, you can get to the list on Lori's blog.  

And a big Thank You to everyone for stopping by and reading my post!

UnFinished Objects Blog Hop

About a month ago, I joined a support group.  I finally admitted that I have a problem.  Sometimes when I'm beading, something goes wrong - I miss a loose thread, or a wrong stitch, and get frustrated and it goes in a drawer.  Sometimes I get bored with whatever I am working on, or have a deadline for another project and the current one goes in a drawer.  My UFO (unfinished object) drawer is almost full.  So when Karen Williams at Baublicious sent an email out asking for people to join a support group for unfinished objects, I jumped at the chance.  I do so much better when I have a deadline.  I am hoping that my drawer will empty soon (or at least less full).  Today, it has one less item in it! 

Here is what it looked like when I took it out of the drawer, I am making a rope to go with a pendant my husband bought for me.  I am embarrased to say this has been sitting for over a year.  I was bored, put it down to make something else, and it went into the black hole - I mean drawer.

And here is the (finally)! finished piece:

I am so glad to be finished and able to wear it! 

Here is the piece I will be working on next (it hasn't been sitting long, but I had to put it aside to finish my UFO):

Thank you for stopping by to see what I did, and thank you Karen for organizing this group and the blog hop!! 

Karen Williams, Baublicious Francie Broadie, Francie Broadie Custom Jewelry Christine Van Dyke Altmiller, One Kiss Creations Amy Severino, Amy Beads Therese, Therese's TreasuresYou are here ----->>>   Kim Dworak, CianciBlue Liz E, Bead Contagion Margo Lynn Hablutzel, My World and It's Full of Books Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers Cathi Salzarulo Kent, The Cat's Meow Liz Hart, Treetop Life

Color Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!!  Today I am joining Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures for the Color Blog Hop.  We all purchased a kit from Lisa and were able to choose a color for the kit.  Of course, I chose blue.  I even remembered to take a before picture:

All that beautiful blue - thank you Lisa, these beads are gorgeous and a great mix!

The first thing I did was decide that I was going to learn how to wire wrap those briolettes.  I have tried several times before and wasn't successful.   So I kept trying, and then it clicked, so I made some earrings.  I still need some more practice since they are a little wonky, but I am happy to wear them.  

Then I went looking for beads to go with that pretty aquamarine.  I found a focal, some cord, and a few other beads.  And I had this design screaming in my head to get out.  So I started.  

And then I had to work 60 hours this week.  Unfortunately, that is all I've been able to get done.  I will post it when I finish in Lisa's Facebook group and here on the blog.  I have plans for the rest of the beads too, more ideas swirling around in my head that I can't wait to get to.  Please take a look at what the other participants did with their kits;

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Gloria Allen, Gloria AllenDesigns

Marde Lowe, FanciMar Designs