3rd Annual Challenge of Color

I am joining Erin and Brandi this year for the Challenge of Color blog hop.  Erin sent us all two palettes that were created by Brandi, and our job was to create a something using at least one of the palettes.  This year the palettes are from the Earth as Art image gallery.  Please check out the link, all of the images are simply stunning.

Here are the two I was sent:

This is

 Guinea-Bissau, which is a small country in West Africa. The website describes it as:  Complex patterns can be seen in the shallow waters along its coastline, where silt carried by the Geba and other rivers washes out into the Atlantic Ocean.  I think it is just beautiful, and I love the colors.

This is the Mississippi River Delta.  The description from the website is:  Turbid waters spill out into the Gulf of Mexico where their suspended sediment is deposited to form the Mississippi River Delta. Like the webbing on a duck's foot, marshes and mudflats prevail between the shipping channels that have been cut into the delta.  I love this one too, the blues and greens together are gorgeous.

I combined this project with another one I've been working on.  I've been creating and donating jewelry to Ivelolharele Retirement Sanctuary, for a silent auction they are having.  They are a horse sanctuary located in Chilton, Wisconsin that I've recently become involved with, and it is a wonderful place.  I used one of Marti's running horses cuff beads for the focal on this bracelet and the first palette for my colors:

I was a little worried that the colors wouldn't look as good in the bracelet as they did on the picture, but I really like the way it turned out.  If anyone is interested, the auction items are on Ivelolharele's Facebook page, I have a few pieces of jewelry and there is a painting as well.

Please take a look at what the other participants created with their palettes! 
Erin Prais-Hintz    http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer    http://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks    http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso    http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk    http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone    http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington    http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette    http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak    http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/  <------------- You are here
Beth Emery    http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren    http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington    http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer    http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank    http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin    http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli    http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green    http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson    http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman    http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman    http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord    http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed    http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa    http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan    http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville    http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake    http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson    http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega    http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price    http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid    http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs    http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross    http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein    http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman    http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sherri Stokey    http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo    http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson    http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley    http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd    http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins    http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub    http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker    http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart    http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen    http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt    http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White    http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/Lynn_White_Jewelry/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog.html
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com

Kalmbach Bead Soup Party

I signed up to participate in the Kalmbach bead soup party.  They mailed each of us out a package of bead soup from different bead retailers.  Mine was from Beadalotta in Fond du Lac.  Here is what they sent me:

 I just LOVE the colors in this soup!!  The focal is from Earthenwood Studio.  The green and brown beads are Czech glass, the coral beads are shell pearls, and the blue are Czech pressed glass. 

I really have a thing for long necklaces lately.  I used up almost all the beads in my soup, and added leather cord from my stash.  I put the clasp on the side because it was too pretty to get stuck in the back.  
Thank you Kalmbach for hosting this fun event and to Beadalotta for donating my soup! 

You can see what everyone else created here.

Echo Creative Club October 2012

I am in the Echo Creative Club this month, I was lucky enough to get a guest spot.  Jeannie sends us one of her beautiful beads and we create a piece of jewelry with it.  I told her I'd be happy with anything she sent and I wasn't disappointed.  Spiders usually make me run far away screaming but I'll make an exception for this one:

And here is the necklace I made with it.

I used Czech crystals and glass beads I bought at Bead and Button this year, and a Kumihimo rope that I had done but not finished and used in anything yet.  I'm not sure I like the clasp, I may change it if I find something that I like better. 

Thanks for looking, please check and see what everyone else did:

Michelle Buettner http://www,misheldesigns.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Kim Dwork  http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/

Cindy Cima Edwards http://www.cindycima.com

Beth Emery http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Charlie Jacka http://clay-space.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

6th Bead Soup Blog Party - Reveal 2!!

Welcome to the 2nd reveal for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things!!  I have really been looking forward to the reveal.  My partner was Linda Murphy of Bonita Bead.  Can you believe out of the 400 people in this blog hop (world wide) we both live in Wisconsin - I'm about 2 hours north of her.  If you want to see what I sent her, click here.  She sent me such a wonderful collection of beady goodness, here it is:

I just love the pendant and the clasp she sent.  The pendant is a hand painted water color, under glass, with a sterling silver frame.  The clasp is sterling silver, and it's from Israel.  LOVE!!

 These are glass from India (upper left), faceted carnelian (lower left) and 2 different colors of swarovski bicone crystals.

These are a lot of really pretty czech glass in different sizes.

And the prettiest strand of jade.  YUM!

I know you want to see what I made with it:

 From the soup, the glass from India and the carnelian nuggets.  From my stash, I used a goldstone focal, amber chips, sari silk, and paprika links from Missfickelmedia. 

 I used glass leaf beads from my stash that were just screaming to be earrings, and some of the czech glass rounds.

 Here I used the beautiful clasp, some of the jade, Czech glass rounds in different sizes and green glass chips that I bought at Bead and Button.

 For the focal, I wanted to do something simple that wouldn't compete with it since it is just gorgeous on it's own.  So I did a kumihimo rope with nylon rattail, used sterling silver end caps from my stash, and a magnet clasp. 

I hope you like what I did!

Please go and see what the other participants created with their soups:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 

Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Beading Babes - Project 5

I recently joined a group called Beading Babes.  It was started by Karyn.  She picks a couple of projects each round, everyone makes one and then does a blog post or posts on the Facebook group on the reveal date.  This is the first project I've done for our group, I joined just as they were doing the reveal for the last one.

This time we could choose from two projects, Echos of Nefertiti (Bead and Button June/July 2012)  or the Four Leaf Clover Cuff , both created by the very talented Helena Tang-Lim.  I did the Four Leaf Clover bracelet, the pattern is available at her website, as well as kits for the Nefertiti necklace.

Here is the one I did, I used Swarovski Coral Pearls, matte forest green and gold seed beads.  I love the way it turned out. 

The pattern for the cuff is very easy to read and works up pretty fast, even for a beginner.  I loved working with it and I'm doing another one right now.  I can't post a picture though because it's a surprise for someone that reads my blog, and she will know it's for her as soon as she sees it.

Thanks for coming to visit, I will leave you with some puppy love for the rest of your weekend!

 

 That is my Gunter a few days after we brought him home (he is 6 now).

 

Challenge of Literature

If you are here for the Tiny Tin Challenge, go here.

I am very happy to be participating in the Challenge of Literature Blog Hop hosted by Erin from Tesori Trovati Jewelry today.  I have always loved to read.  Books were my own private world when I was growing up, I can't remember a time when I wasn't reading everything I could get my hands on.  It seems to run in my family too, my Mom, one sister and my Aunt all love to read.  Books fly between all of us, sometimes it's hard to keep straight what home they should go back to!  When Erin announced this challenge, I didn't hesitate to enter for one second.  I even knew which books I'd pick.  

One ring to rule them all

One ring to find them

One ring to bring them all

And in the darkness bind them

I read the Hobbit in 5th or 6th grade, then The Lord of the Rings in 7th.  They were and continue to be my favorite books.  I could probably recite most of them from memory.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to make for this challenge, but I kept going back to the leaf brooch they were given in Lothlórien by Galadriel.  That and Galadriel's ring have always been my two favorite pieces of jewelry from the books.  I didn't think my wire wrapping was good enough yet to try the ring, so I went for the brooch.  It's the first thing I've made from polymer clay.  It is bigger than I wanted it to be, so I think I'll be making another smaller one, but I'm pleased with the way it turned out for my first attempt in a new medium.  

I used translucent clay with the mix I did for the green and pearl ex watercolors to paint the veins and around the edge.  I wish we would have had some sun today because it does sparkle nicely.  

Here is the brooch from the movie Return of the King.  They did a wonderful job capturing it the way it was described in the books.

Image from http://www.allmoviephoto.com

Thanks to Erin for having such a wonderful idea and for hosting this, and thank you for visiting me.  Please visit the other participants to see what they created for the challenge:

Erin Prais-Hintz

Rebecca Anderson

Rose Binoya

Lori Bowring Michaud

Shannon Chomanszuk

Marlene Cupo

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Kim Dworak

Beth Emery

Therese Frank

Amy Freeland

K Hutchinson

Jennifer Justman

Susan Kennedy

Linda Landig

Lisa Lodge

Lisa Lowe

Kirsi Luostarinen

Beth McCord

Melissa Meman

Sharon Misuraco

Tracey Nanstad

Melinda Orr

Kashmira Patel

Alice Peterson

Sally Russick

Niky Sayers

Pam Sears

Amy Severino

Tracy Stillman

Emma Todd

Melissa Trudinger

Lesley Watt

Shai Williams