Saturday, April 20, 2013

Merry Unbirthday Reveal

If you are looking for the Bead Soup Blog Party post click the BSBP7 button just to the right-->

For whatever reason you are here...WELCOME!

I'd like to start by thanking this swaps hostesses.  Without you lovely ladies this wouldn't have been possible.  So THANKS!!! Marlene Cupo & Shelly Turner have teamed up to create many excellent swaps for us creative types. In addition to their own blogs they have THIS one just for their swaps. 

I joined this swap not only because I love these two gals, but the title immediately drew me in.
Sometimes I sing that Disney song to get my son out of bed in the morning.  
I have on more than a dozen occasions given people gifts and said, "Happy Unbirthday!"
I even have the song stuck in my head at the moment.

For this unbirthday celebration I was paired with Alicia Marinache of Ontario, Canada.  She's a jewelry designer and mom like me, but she also seems to be a crack shot.  We've become fb friends too.  So I've really learned more about her.  Visit her BLOG or facebook page to find out more about this great lady.

So now for the treats.  Here's what I sent her for her May birthday since a 3 day search of all my supplies came up with 1 single emerald crystal and 5inches of emerald ribbon.
 Just kidding.  Sort of.  This is it all wrapped up ready to go in the box.
I'd never made anything like this before so I took extra care to see it arrived safely.
Here's the actually necklace.
The sea glass was found here in Okinawa and drilled by me.  
I finally put that sea glass drilling lesson I took a year ago to use.

And I've saved the best for last. This is what I received from Alicia.
 A beautiful pair of silver earrings with blue crystal butterflies.
Yep, my favorite color is blue.
And a great pendant.
I have many excellent memories of those smooshed penny machines.
It think it's too funny that it reads, "Escape to Paradise" and she sent it here to me who lives on this gorgeous sub-tropical island.  I just keep thinking the penny escaped to paradise.

Well, off to doctor the sunburn I got today at the beach.
My best to you!

Oh crud, just about forgot.  
A very special...
THANKS so much to Alicia!
 I had a lovely time being partnered with you for this project.

Here's the others who joined Marlene and Shelly's challenge.

Ali McCarthy

Alicia Marinache

Anzia Parks

Audrey Belanger

Cheri Reed

Cheryl Dunham

Chris Eisenberg

Christine Schlicht

Cynthia Machata

D Lynne Bowland

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell

Gina Hockett

Ginger Bishop

Gloria Allen

Janeen Burlingame

Joana Perez Stribel

Lori Schneider

Mary Govaars

Mischelle Fanucchi

Paula Gaskill

Renetha Stanziano

Robin Reed

Sherry Baun

Shirley Moore

Sierra Barrett

Susan Bowie

Susie Harris

Mowse Doyle

Cindy Muse

Ellie Grossman

Marlene Cupo

Shelley Graham Turner
www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Saturday, April 13, 2013

BSBP7 2nd Reveal Day



This was my 3rd opportunity to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party.  
It's the brilliant idea of Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, and the reason I started a blog.

This year I was paired with the fabulous Aussie Erin Guest 
whose truthful writing is delivered in such a clever and humorous way 
that even her frustrations can't help but brighten you day. 
So make sure to check out Renlish.com.

Here are the fabulous beads she sent me,
and here is what they became.

I tried desperately to make some design other than the one I saw when I opened the package.

I tried adding pearls. 

I tried seed beading a bead cap for the focal with a bail.  
It looked like a sea creature was trying to devour it.

I asked for help, and a friend suggested Chinese style from the Victorian era.  After a hour detour in Victorian gowns and accessories I remembered that was in Europe.  So I figured out she meant Imperial style, and studied a bit on that.

I tried gold wire.  I was going to use the clasp for something else.

I tried ribbon/fiber what ever you want to call that $8 piece of string.

I tried seed bead spirals, multi-strands and...well, honestly that's all I can remember.

I did all of this & pulled it all out before Erin suggested I take photos of my Oh Heck No attempts.
my chair
Armed with my camera and a clean work space I spent hours at the table avoiding the temptation to create other things and basically fussing with my soup or simply staring at it.  This lasted a few weeks.  Then I was down to watching them taunt me from their bowl every time I past my bead table.
You should know my work space is just off my side of the bed so that was a lot of taunting.

So Thursday night I had to do something...anything...so I gave in and made what I saw in my mind when I first opened the beads.  It turned out better than it did in my head.  It's not remarkable, but it's beautiful.  Even though I've seen this style before I have never created a piece like this which makes it even better. 
Most importantly those beads aren't mocking me from the bowl anymore.  Hooray!
Thanks to Lori for all the incredible hard work she does to coordinate such a huge event, and a special thanks to Erin without whom my life would not be as cheery.  
the focal
I'm so lucky to have the online beading community. 
Here's a slice of that community.
One third of this party's participants all have new pieces to show you today.

TIP:  For those of you who want to visit everyone Print out the list below and line them out as you visit.  This gives you the paper's edge to doodle ideas or mark shops you want to revisit.  Others take the list to Word and remove them when they've visited.  That might work for you.  I love the satisfaction of having a fully crossed out list though.  Let me know if either worked for you.


Agata Grygiel
Ali McCarthy
Alice Craddick
Amy Severino
Ana Krepel
Andra Weber
Andrea Glick
Andrea Trank
Anitra Gordy Boyers


Annette Rivers
Anu Tuppurainen
April Grinaway
Audrey Bélanger
B.R.Kuhlman
Barbara Bechtel
Barbara Mason
Becky Pancake
Beti Horvath
Billi RS Rothove


Bobbie Rafferty
Brandi Burdick
Candida Castleberry
Carol Dillman
Carolyn Gebert
Carolyn Lawson
Caron Reid
Catherine King
Cathy Jakicic


Chandra Merod
Charlene Jacka
Cheri Reed
Cherrie Fick
Cherrie Warzocha
Cheryl Brown
Cheryl Dunham
Cheryl Foiles
Cheryl Gangle


Chris Eisenberg
Chris White
Christina Miles
Christine Hansen
Christine Murrow
Christine Stonefield
Cindy Ritchie
Clare Etheridge
Cory Tompkins


Cris Peacock
Cynthia Abner
Debbie Rasmussen
Debi Levine
Deborah Brooks
Deborah Read
Debra Behrends
Dorota Żerańska
Elaine Robitaille


Elsie Deliz-Fonseca
Emma Todd
Erin Guest
Evelyn Shelby
Evie and Beth McCord
Francy Inman
Ginger Bishop
Gloria Allen
Hajer Waheed


Hope Smitherman
Ilenia Ruzza
Ilona Hegedűs
Ine Vande Cappelle
Jackie Ryan
Janine Lucas
Jean Peter
Jean Wells
Jeanne Steck


Jelveh Jaferian Johnson
Jennifer Cabic
Jennifer Reno
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Kyrlach
Jenny Robledo
Jessica Brower
Jill MacKay


JJ Jacobs
Jo-Ann Woolverton
Joanne Tinley
Johanna Rhodes Nash
Judy Robinson
Juli Cannon
Julia Gerlach
Julie Bowen
Julie Panusis


K Hutchinson
Karen Martinez
Karen Vincent
Karen Williams
Karin Slaton
Karyn Bonfiglio
Kat Douglas
Kate Dufour
Kate Mulligan


Kate Richbourg
Kathleen Gallant
Kathleen Lange Klik
Katie Nielsen-Nunez
Kay Bolton
Kayla Potega
Kelli Jacobson
Kelly Patterson
Kelly Ramstack


Kiersten Kern
Kim Sparks
Klaudete Koon
Klaudia Tóth
Krista French
Kristin Oppold
Kym Hunter
Lana Kinney
Laura Guenther


Lauren Fenty
Leah Curtis
Lennis Carrier
Linda Murphy
Lisa Johnson
Lori Anderson
Lupe Meter
Lynn Jobber
Mandi Effron


Marcia Dunne
Margareta Saari
                     
Marianne Baxter
Marie Covert
Mary Ellen Parker
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens
Megan Milliken
Melissa Meman
Melissa Mesara


Michaela Pabeschitz
Michelle Tucker
Mimi Gardner
Mischelle Fanucchi
Monica Phillips
Mowse Doyle
Nancy Boylan
Nancy Dale
Pat Haight


Patina Queen
Patty Miller
Pia Kaven
Rebecca Anderson
Rose Johnson
Roxanne Blanc
Sarah Goode
Sarah Singer
Sarah Strover


Shalini Austin
Sherri Stokey
Sherry Baun
Sheryl Stephens
Silvia Sernicola
Solange Collin
Stacie Florer
Stacy Alderson
Stephanie Haussler


Stephanie LaRosa
Sue Burleigh
Susan Bowie
Susan Kelly
Susan of Libellula Jewelry
Susan Sheehan
Suzanne Fragiacomo
Tammi Sloan
Tammie Everly


Tania Hagen
Tania Spivey
Tanya Goodwin
Tanya Wiles
Tari Kahrs
Terry Carter
Theresa Buchle
Tiffany Smith
Tina Holden


Tracey Nanstad
Tracie Dean
Tracy Bell
Tracy Kruse
Veralynne Malone
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom