Evening Elegance Blog Hop

Hi!  Today I am joining Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures again for the Evening Elegance Blog hop.  

She sent us gorgeous beads - I just loved my kit.  LOVED IT.  Lisa is always very generous with the beads in her kits. 

I kept playing and playing with them, but didn't know what to do.  Nothing I tried looked right.  And then the other day I got a picture in my head.  Here is what I came up with:

I added size 11 and 15 seed beads for the chain, everything else is from the kit.  Here is another shot so you can see the clasp.  The snow makes a good background, I'm glad it's good for something lol.

I am still playing with the beads I have left with a bracelet in mind.  Please take a look at what the other participants did with their beads:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

You are here ------>>  Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Jacqui Kipfer, Seven Oaks Jewellery

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Marde Lowe, Fancimardesigns

Charmed I'm Sure Blog Hop

Hi!  Today I am joining up with Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures for the Charmed I'm sure hop.  We all ordered a kit and here is what I received.  As always, Lisa was very generous with the kit:

I really need another bead board.  It didn't really hit me until I looked at the picture.  I loved all of the bird charms.  All I could think of when I looked at these beads were earrings.  

Must. Make. Earrings.

And so I did:

Thank you for stopping by, please take a look at what the other participants created with their kits!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karin Grosset Grange (France), Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Superstition Blog Hop

 

 

Today I am joining the Superstition Blog Hop.  I have been so excited for this hop!  Our hostess is Tammy Adams at Paisley Lizard. She made these beautiful black cat beads, and the first 13 people to sign up received a bead.  Are you wondering why I am so excited?  Well first, the beads have black cats on them, and then the hop is about superstitions. When I saw the reveal was on Friday, November 13th, (which is my birthday) - I had to sign up.  

 

 I was very lucky and was the last (13th) person to sign up.  Tammy was so nice and sent me extra beads since I was lucky number 13.  Here they are in the center, I haven't had a chance to make anything with them but I did pick out some beads to get started with.

 

 

I love the focal Tammy sent, it's beautiful and black cats have a special place in my heart.  I have been lucky enough to be owned by two of them Onyx, who is at the Rainbow Bridge and Ninja, who is 6.  Black cats are special, I love my other cats just as much but the black ones just seem to have more personality and a lot more attitude.  Here is Ninja, in the doggybox.  

 

 

 

He bosses the basset hounds around as much as they let him, and plays catch me if you can with them.  He loves the dogs.  He is a sweetheart and loves to lay on your lap and will even roll over for belly rubs (I think he learned that from the bassets).  Onyx was very special, I miss him every day.  He was an amazing jumper and could jump from the floor to the top of a door and run along the top of the door.  He was not afraid of anything and had more personality than any cat I've ever known.  Ninja looks just like him.  

 

I am really superstitious, but it's more of a sports thing for me.  I am a Cubs fan, and trust me we wrote the book on being superstitious.  We brought a goat in to remove the curse at Wrigley Field!  More than once!  When they were in the playoffs this year I couldn't get up during the games.  If I did, they lost, so I stayed put for the entire game.  My cousins didn't wash their Cubs shirt until they lost against the Mets.  (I would have done the same thing).  I don't know many sports fans that aren't superstitious.  Most people have a lucky shirt or shoes - something that they feel helps their team win the game.  Cubs fans just take that a little farther.  And we will win, next year.  

 

I should probably show you Tammy's bead and what I did with it.  Here it is, I asked for a cab, and I bezeled it with seed beads.  I was working on a beaded necklace, but there was no way I would have finished it in time for the hop, so I did a chain with some really pretty Czech beads.  

 

 

 

Here is the beaded necklace I am working on, I attached the chain with split rings so I can change them out when I'm done with the beaded necklace.  The pattern for this is from the book Beadweaving, beyond the basics by Kassie Shaw.  It's a great book.

I hope you like what I made, please take a look at what the other participants did with their beads, the link list is below.  Thank you Tammy for hosting a wonderful hop and for the lovely beads!!

Tammy Adams (Hostess)	http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Renee Hong	http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com
Betony Maiden	http://beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Coral Law	http://abcoraldesign.blogspot.com/
Lee Koopman	http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jeanette Belmont	http://www.onecanvasatatime.com
Shai Williams	http://www.ShaihasRamblings.com
Beth McCord	http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/
Robin Lynne Showstack	http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard	https://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/
Deb Fortin	http://www.mhotistudio.blogspot.ca
Michelle McCarthy	http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow	http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak	http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/             <------- You are here
Divya N	http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Karin Grosset Grange	http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Rebecca White	http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/#sec-blog
Shawneen Fagnani	http://blondespotpinkshoe.blogspot.com/
Catherine King	http://Catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Brook Bock	http://artisticendeavor101.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury	http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog
Nan Smith	http://wirednan.blogspot.ca
Carolyn Lawson	http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Linda Anderson	http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Ann Schroeder	http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Melissa Trudinger	https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

1st Annual Danse Macabre Blog Hop

Happy October!  I love this season, it gives us so many things to celebrate.  Halloween, the way the trees put on their beautiful colors, the fresh crisp scent in the air, apples, pumpkins, I could go on and on.  Today I am joining up for the Danse Macabre Blog Hop hosted by Strega Jewellry.

Danse Macabre is the dance of death.  We all end up dancing with death sooner or later.  We are celebrating life, by laughing at death and the fear of things that go bump in the night. Our task was to pick a theme and make something with it.

I picked Sugar Skulls.  I love them and the tradition behind them.  They are works of art and they always make me smile.  If you are not familiar with them, this is a good resource.  I love the belief that our ancestors come back and visit us and the idea of a time set aside specifically to honor them.  I had a sugar skull made by Andrew Thornton that I have been saving, and I knew I needed to make a bright chunky necklace with it.

Here is a close up of the sugar skull, isnt' he beautiful?

I am sorry about the bad pictures,  My good camera is not working so I had to take them with my phone.  

I am at a bead retreat right now and one of the things we were supposed to bring if we wanted was a coloring book.  I found one with Sugar Skulls last week when I went to Barnes and Noble.  

Isn't it awesome?  I can't wait to get going on some of these pictures!  

Thanks for stopping by, please take a look at what the other participants did!

Lee Koopman                           Strega Jewellry

Sam Waghorn                           Pale Moon Creations

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Mowse Doyle                              Mouse Made This

Lori Blanchard                            Alainn Jewelry

Robin Showstack                        The Crazy Bead Hoarder

Amy Jorgensen                           Hoarders Corner

Nan Smith                                    Wired Nan

Tammy Adams                             Paisley Lizard

Catherine King                              Catherine’s Musings

Michelle McCarthy                         Firefly Designs Studio

Betony Maiden                             Beadwenches Blog

Becca White                                  Morgana Fey Creations

You are here ------> Kim Dworak    Cianci Blue

Tami Norris                                   Tamis Creative Spot

Inge Von Roos                               Inge’s Blog

Terry Jeanette Carter                    Tapping Flamingo

Deb Fortin                                       Mhoti Studio

Melissa Trudinger                           Bead Recipes

My Favorite Things Blog Hop

Today I am joining up with Lisa from Pine Ridge Treasures for her My Favorite Things blog hop.  She sent us a wonderful collection of beads, all of her favorites, and I can't wait to see what everyone made.  

I of course forgot to take a picture of everything before I started.  I received a lovely mix of rose quartz, crystals and pearls.  I also received these beautiful beads, but I have no idea what they are. 

 They are pink and grey and just sparkle.  The pictures don't do them justice. I have 2 of them left, I think they want to be a bracelet.

I hurt my neck and shoulder 2 weeks ago and it's been very hard to sit and make any jewelry.  I did manage to finish one piece, but I still have so many ideas floating around in my head for the rest of the kit. I can't wait until it is better and I can make some more pieces.

Here is the necklace I made.  I wrapped the focal with black steel wire.  I was going to do a tassel at the bottom, but I really think I like it the way it is.

And another view

Thanks for joining me, please take a look at the other participant's blogs to see what they created with their kits!

Your Hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue  <-------- You are here!

Jacqui Kipfer, Seven Oaks Jewellery

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera 

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings 

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design 

Carolyn Lawson,  Carolyn's Creations

Jewelry and Memories

Do you have any jewelry that brings back memories when you wear it?  I think we can all think of something that we love to wear, not only because it's beautiful but also because of the wonderful memories it invokes when we see it and wear it.  For me, it is this necklace:

My husband bought me the beads.  He spent hours online looking for them.  He knew how much I love druzy focals, and my favorite color is blue.  They were an I love you gift, not for any specific occasion, and that makes them even more special to me.  Every time I look at this I think of him,  how wonderful he is and how happy he makes me.  

Recently, I was introduced to a website called Invaluable.  They are an auction site, with lots of jewelry:  vintage, costume, fine jewelry, and loose beads as well if you prefer to make your own pieces.  It only took a few minutes for me to find pieces I love and I encourage you to go and take a look.  Here are a few of the pieces I found:

This gorgeous Miriam Haskell piece is in their vintage section. I just love it.

I love this bracelet. the colors are gorgeous. 

This one is very simple and elegant.  

I could definitely do something wonderful with this cab.

And these amethysts are lovely.

I would love to hear the story behind your favorite piece of jewelry!

Beach Blog Hop

I am joining up with Lisa at Pine Ridge Treasures for a blog hop once again, this time the theme is Beach.  

Our kits had beautiful cultured seaglass, crystals and beach themed findings.  I was so eager to start, I forgot to take a picture of everything before I started.  I ended up with two bracelets and a pair of earrings.  I tried some different things with the pictures, please let me know what you think and if they are better than my previous posts.

 I just loved the little dolphin charm that came in my kit.  He is adorable.

The pink crystals make me think of a sunset over the water.  The focal reminded me of a tide pool.

My sister loves turtles.  I think she is going to have a new pair of earrings.

Thank you Lisa for hosting and being so generous with the kits! 

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoyed seeing what I made.  Please go and look at what the other participants did:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue ----------> You are here

Margaret Pelech, Margaret Pelech's Blog

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Rosee Floss Hanemaayer, Silver Penny Artisans

Saundra Farren, Something by Saundra

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

MaryAnne Kelly Hobbs-Fernie - TBD

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kelly Fletcher – TBD

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

Diana Chavis - TBD