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

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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
Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines
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
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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Octoberfest 2014

It's time for Octoberfest!  This is a celebration of all things fall, hosted by Rita at Toltec Jewels.  I have a ton of pictures for you; so grab a drink, sit back, and get ready to scroll.

October this year was incredibly busy.  I went to a Bears game, celebrated Octoberfest here in town, went to a big craft fair with my sister (we go every year), and went to a bead retreat.  At the craft fair, I bought a piece of lawn art that I have been talking myself out of for the past 3 years.
Isn't he adorable - he's a bobble head as well.  I have some company for him on the front porch.
 This is my Cinderella carriage, also bought from that same craft fair a while ago.  I keep it out until Thanksgiving, mainly because I can (it does have a pumpkin inside).


Here is my spider, (yes same craft fair).  It does have eyes that go with it that you can stick into the pumpkin, but I thought it looked better this year with the Frankenstein pumpkin. 
 
Here are all of them together on the porch.  And Frank over there in the corner.  

Part of the reason I get excited for Fall is the different types of wine and beer that are only sold during this time.  Here is Frank with 2 of my favorite spiced fall wines and the best pumpkin beer I've ever had (and that is saying a lot).


 
I've also got a picture of the window clings on my front door. Love them!

Fall cards I've been working on:


How about some adorable Basset Hounds in costume?  

 This is Gunter, he is at the bridge now, but this is one of my favorite pictures of him.
 Sir Halfred, in the bow-tie my sister bought for him.
 This is Wulfgang.  You may need to look away before you overdose on cuteness.
And earrings I made using the picture above.  I've been doing these for Basset Rescue.


Last weekend was the bead retreat, it was at a beautiful location.  Here is a shot of the view we had inside the main room where everyone was working.
 They had a walking trail, these are pictures I took when we were taking a break from beading.  It was just gorgeous there, and we had beautiful weather Saturday and Sunday. 


And finally, here are a couple of pictures my husband took while he was at a nature preserve not too far from us.


I hope you've enjoyed my post, please take a look at the other participants, click here for the list.  Have a very happy Fall!!!

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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Pearl Challenge #3

 
Once again, I am participating in a challenge hosted by Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures - as I'm sure everyone knows, I love her challenges!  This one is a little different though, it's on the Facebook group she runs.  This one was all pearls, I had two colors, blue and white.  I love pearls.  Real pearls, glass pearls - I just love pearls.  I forgot to take a before picture, but here is my beading board while I was working on the necklace:
 
The necklace pattern is called Coronation Day Necklace by Evelina Palmontova, featured in the Aug/Sept issue of Beadwork Magazine. 

Here are some pictures of the finished necklace, here is a full shot of the front:

 

And a shot of the back of the pendant.  I plan on wearing it both ways, I love that this side shows off the pearls a little more.

And a closeup of the front of the focal:
I LOVE this necklace, I've worn it 3 or 4 times so far, the drape is lovely and it is so pretty.  I am really glad I decided to try the pattern.  It was much easier than I thought it would be.  I used 4mm and 6mm blue glass pearls, 4mm blue Swarovski bicones, 3mm and 4mm gold Czech fire polished beads, and size 8, 11 and 15 seed beads.  Clasp is a simple hook clasp.  Everything except the pearls is from my stash, .

Now I needed to do something with the white pearls.  I had this gorgeous leaf chain from Bead and Button and I came up with these.  
 

I just love that chain.  I really should have bought more. I appreciate your comments, let me know what you think!  Please hop on over to the Facebook group to see what everyone else did!
 


 

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Blue Fantasy Blog Hop

Once again, I am joining up with Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures for a blog hop.  This one is called the Blue Fantasy Blog Hop and since blue is my favorite color I was really happy to join her. 

Here are the beads Lisa sent:
Can you say Heaven?  I was thrilled to say the least.  Just look at all of that blue.  And the paw print bead - you can't get more perfect for me than that.  Lisa is always very generous with her kits.  There were a ton of beads.  And I also have a ton of blue beads, so I had no shortage of ideas for them.  I ended up with 4 necklaces and a pair of earrings.  I still have beads left but I'm not sure what I want to do with them just yet.  Lets start the pictures, hope you have some time and something to drink!

The ceramic paw print was first. I paired it with some sea glass that I'd gotten from Lisa previously, and I some Czech crystals I had.  From the kit I used the spacers, the pretty silver links and some of the round beads.  

Here is the back, I used some really pretty blue peanut beads here.


And a detail shot of the front
 Here is a full shot of the necklace. 
The paw print is from Firefly Design Studio 

For the next piece, I went into my stash and found a Goddess focal that I'd gotten from Glass Onion before they closed.  I've been trying to decide what to do with it.  I used some sari silk, also from Glass Onion and some beautiful Larimar Blue Crazy Lace Agates that I had recently gotten from Lima Beads.  From the kit I used the spaces and the teal crystals.  



I had a lampwork bead that I'd also been saving for a while, trying to come up with something that did it justice.  I used a lot of the beads from the kit in this one, and some white chain that I had.
Here is the back:
 The focal is double sided and will turn on the headpin so either side can be seen. 
 Here is my favorite side:

 I almost added some blue rounds to the ends of the chain but my husband said stop, so I listened to him.  I think he was right.  Here is a full shot of the necklace.
 

Next up is a polymer clay focal that I had gotten from Barbara Bechtel.  It is just gorgeous.  I used some gold colored spacers and gold chain, the crazy lace agates from Lima Beads again and from the kit I used more of the teal crystals.  I had it done with sari silk instead of the chain, but I took it apart because it didn't hang right.  Here is a close up of the focal so you can see how beautiful it is:
 And the whole thing.  The back is a simple lobster claw clasp with a chain so it's adjustable.
 Finally, here are the earrings I did.  I had the birds from Lisa in a previous hop.  
Thanks for staying with me for this long post, I hope you enjoyed seeing what I came up with.  Please take a look at what the other participants did with their beads:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue  ----------------->>>>>> You are here
Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads
Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog
Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Raissa de Guzman, Abloro
Jill Bradley, Jilly Beads


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Monday, August 25, 2014

Answer Me This? 8/25/14

Tammie at TTE Designs has been doing an Answer Me This post on Monday's.  I thought I'd join her this week, it's the third one and I played along in her comments the first two.  I really like the idea and I'm glad she decided to continue it. 

 Please consider playing along. You can answer on your own blog and link in the comments or just put your answers in the comments below for everyone to read.

 Do you like reality TV, what shows do you watch?  Do you think  reality TV has gone too far?-
Yes I think it's gone way too far now.  But there are a few reality shows I still watch.  Hell's Kitchen, I did watch American Idol 2014 and I loved the combination of judges they had.  Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr were hilarious.  I also watch Bar Rescue.  My husband loves all the house flipping shows and Storage Wars.  However, there comes a time when your brain should say NO - that is bad, very, very bad.  We should not do that.  When they decided that Naked and Afraid was a good idea, I think the switch must have broken in the off position.     


What is your favorite alcoholic drink? 
Beer, the darker the better.  If I can chew it a little I am happy.  I also enjoy really dry red wine. 

Have you ever met any celebrities? 
Yes!  I met Ryne Sandberg at a Timber Rattlers game a few years ago.  I was so excited I couldn't talk, but he signed my Cubs hat and a picture I had of him.  I love the Cubs, and he is one of my favorite players!


Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset, I am not a morning person and would really prefer not to be awake when the sun comes up. 

Worst present you ever got [and how did you react?]?  I have to say that I am very easy to buy for.  I don't get bad presents.  I am very fortunate that way.  I've had the odd thing I will never use from a grab bag, but that is about it.  
 
Most unusual forms of transportation you have ever used?  I don't have a good answer for this one, I haven't been in anything unusual. Cars, Train, Plane, Boat.  That's it.  My Mom and I watched the fireworks from a boat on Lake Michigan in Chicago for the 4th of July one year.  That was amazing. 


I can't wait to see what your answers are, thanks for playing.  Please take a look at Tammie's post here

 And to thank you for reading all those words with no pictures here are two basset photos:
 Hal and Heidi

 Hal and Wulfgang
 


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Sunday, August 3, 2014

Summer Carnival Blog Hop

I am participating in the Summer Carnival Blog Hop hosted by Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures.  I love Lisa's hops, she always sends a ton of beads and this one was no exception.

I actually remembered to take a picture of the beads she sent before I started playing with them!  I was sent cultured seaglass, crystals and two pretty bird charms that for some reason are not in the picture.  The colors really make me think of summer.  And blue is my favorite color, I can never go wrong with blue. 



 

I really wanted to do something with the crystals first. Jill Wiseman has a bunch of youtube videos, and I love the way she explains things, she is so easy to understand.  I had wanted to try the flat spiral stitch, but to do it I needed a lot of crystals for the middle.  Since I now had a lot of crystals thanks to Lisa, I decided to try a necklace.  I think it came out really well.  A friend suggested I try my pictures on a black velvet background because it would make the beads stand out more.  She was right - I think it helped. 


 This used all but two of the yellow crystals I was sent (I saved those for earrings), and size 11 purple seed beads  and some 3mm purple bicones from my stash.   I used a Vintaj clasp and size 15 gold seed beads to connect the clasp.  Here is another picture, I tried turning the necklace so you could see the edges better.


It lays just beautifully and I love it.  Now I am trying to decide if I should do the same thing with the blue crystals or if I should try something else.  I will put up a part two post when I've finished with the other beads, I think the yellow cultured seaglass wants to be a bracelet.

Thanks Lisa as always for hosting the blog hop and thanks to everyone for stopping by to see what I've done.  Please take a look at what the other participants have come up with:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines
Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry
 Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations
Marianne Hurley, Reads and Beads
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Marci Allen Koziolek, Krafty Max Originals
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