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/

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:

Jennifer Cameron: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Alenka Obid: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

**Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk

Cassi Paslick: http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/

Cate van Alphen: http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg: http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

**Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Auld: http://www.beadsforbusygals.com

**Genevieve Gabbert: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

**Jami Shipp: http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

**Jill Bradley: http://www.jillybeads.blogspot.com

Kim Dworak: http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com  ------------>>>>>You are here!

Lee Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lennis Carrier: http://www.windbent.net

Lesley Watt: http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger: http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/

**Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Smith: http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

Niky Sayers: http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

**Perri Jackson: http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/

**Renetha Stanziano: http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Shai Williams: http://www.shaihasramblings.com/2014/11/art-charm-exchange-auction.html

Sheila Prosterman: http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Susan Delaney: http://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com

**Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Terri DelSignore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

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

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!!!

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!

 

 

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