My Bead Table Blog Hop soup has arrived

Lisa Lodge has gathered 25 creative people to share her stash with.  We each paid a very small fee to receive a part of her stash to create with.

"The idea is to combine the beads in your bead kit with extra/leftover/miscellaneous bead from your bead table (and bead stash, if absolutely necessary) to make creative pieces of jewelry.  Please do not buy more beads to augment what you have.  Try to use as many beads from this kit as you can."

Well, challenge excepted, and I've already created 3 pieces.  One inspired by the big chunky jewelry Dr. Temperance Brennan wore in the first season of Bones.  I wish they hadn't removed that part of her style in the following seasons.  I'll show it and the other pieces to you on October 13th. Until then take a look at what I've been given to create with.

And the Winner is...ME!

I won a special surprise from Eileen at Dorset Hill Beads!  It's on the way.

Check out her lampwork beads, flowers and bottle caps on etsy.

Happy Birthday Lil Sis and the Winner Is...

Looking for the Bead Soup Blog Party post click the button on the right-->

Today is my little sister's birthday, and she's in the full swing of newlywed life.  Her brilliant husband is diligently working on a major home addition of his own design.  She not only works to help him, but make herself comfortable in the first home where she will build a family instead of just being part of one.  They both have full time jobs in addition to this of course.  Oh and my sister was just selected for a new job with better pay (CONGRATS!).

Today is the day those of us who know her celebrate her life, and how blessed we are for how she's touched our own.  We're siblings so we've had our ups and downs over the years.  I doubt she really knows how much she means to me.  That is the reason I chose the giveaway deadline I did so I could  tell all of you I am so proud of my sister. 

Happy Birthday Karen!

And the winner is...

Margareta
Congratulations!

Bead Soup Blog Party 6

Alrighty, Bead Soup Party reveal #2 for me today.  Not only am I a part of the second reveal day of the massive group's 3 reveal days, but this is the second time I've participated in the famous Lori's brilliant blog hop.  It is an international event with about 400 participants this round.  Lori's even turned this into a book.  We're paired up, send beads to our partner, post about the beads we receive, create something with them, and most importantly post on our blog on the assigned reveal day.  That's today for me and all these bloggers listed below.  I highly encourage you to check out as many of these as you have time for.  I learn so much from blog hops.

Hostess The Queen Bee of Bead Swaps...the one the only, 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

 Before we get to what I made I'd love for you to check out my post about my partner, Debbie Rasmussen.  She is amazingly multi-talented, generous, and a brilliant bead weaver from Canada.  Oh and for those of you like me who use blog hops to find interesting new pieces check out her new etsy shop. 

I do not have a shop, so sorry for that, but here's what you've all been waiting for.  

Here's what I started with,

Soup from Debbie

and here's what it became.

Deb's focal and my last "Life is Good" clasp used in the necklace

Since the Alice Blog Hop, I can't get this piece made by one of it's hostesses,
Staci Smith, out of my head.

Alice Blog Hop piece by Staci

Though I was not aware of it at the time, I now believe my soup pieces are an unconscious interpretation of my favorite parts from that piece.  My pieces were created by acting without thinking.  While trying to pull myself out of a long beading slump, I brought the beads over to where I was watching the 2nd season of Sherlock.   It's a great British show with one of the co-stars being from a family go-to movie, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

my necklace, bracelet, and earrings for this BSBP

my favorites are always bracelets

This set is really funky for me.

I think this piece from Debbie's shop was floating around in my inspiration well too.

Whimsy by Debbie

love this magnetic clasp-it's actually big enough to get a good hold on

love these lever back earring findings

No need to follow my blog unless you really want to, but by leaving a comment before August 16th you have a chance to receive these earrings.  Make sure there is a way I can contact you, and yes, I'm willing to ship internationally. 

WINNER Margareta!!! HOORAY!

I took a picture from random.org, but it's still in my camera.

Oh and I understand that Debbie has created a piece with this same soup so take a minute to compare two creative soul's jewelry creations with the same beads.

  Next stop A little of this, a little of that, Debbie's blog.

More pictures of new pieces

The two bracelets below are a created from a pattern by Arlene Reller.  It's a Glass Garden Beads kit called Tango I received as a Christmas gift, but came from Fusion Beads.  Then I made a second one in more classic colors.  The grey crystal seeds where larger than the others and really messed with the tension on of my own attempt at choosing beads.

I have a thing for buttons after being paired with the lovely Cindy Wimmer for a focal swap this past spring.  Here are two less than fine examples, but they worked great with these pieces.

Here are a few other things I created. Excuse the poor lighting and photo quality.

long drop earrings

Still trying to find something for my Mom...I wonder if she'll like these.

actually a lovely pink color

Finally, the book I won from Craft Gossip arrived!  It has a very glossy cover, and is a great drop it in your purse size.  I'll share more rave reviews later when I've had time to create something from the book.

New pieces

I'd like to show you the little productive spurt I was fortunate enough to have after finishing my BSBP pieces.  My reveal is all ready to go, but it's not till tomorrow.  Who says I have to post things in the order they were made?  That's right, nobody!

Below you'll see the pink one I made for a Beading Babes reveal for size comparison.  One thing I learned with this experience is that the same pattern's ease can be dramatically effected by bead choice.  The pattern is by Helena Tang-Lim and is linked under the photo.

Four Leaf Clover Cuff

I have more to show you, but blogger wont load any more photos at the moment.

So until next time...what have you been up to?

Summer Lovin' Challenge

Visit Amy's blog

Ok as I write this I have 4 bandages covering 3 fingers on my right hand.  I should have taken a picture of that.  Despite that I am finished, and I am quite proud of my piece.  I can't tell you much about my process other than I tried to go with the flow and let the pieces decide what it wanted to be.  For a person who's greatest beadweaving fear is free-form peyote this was a big leap for me.

I used blue and green trim to symbolize the colors I felt best represented nature since the focal is a tree.  It began to look like roots and branches to me with underground water flowing below as well.

And a branch style clasp to tie it all together.

I must say I was impressed with the finishing of the ends which is not one of my strengths.  The image below shows 3 places I finished ends.

And the back is really great in my opinion.  I was hoping I wouldn't have to cover it because I love the free spaces.

Well, I guess I explained it just fine.  Click any of the pictures to see a larger image.

Ok, now this fabulous piece must also acknowledge Amy at Amybeads because the challenge and the kit were all her inspiration.  Check out her work with this kit and the many other talented participants by clicking the link to their blogs below.

Amy Amybeads

Renetha LampLightCrafts

Lori B. (no blog as of the time of this post)

Kepi   A little of this, a little of that...

Shannon Falling Into the Sky

Maryanne Zingala's Workshop

Shirley Beads and Bread

Dawn Designs by Dawn Marie

Therese Therese's Treasures 

Vimala The Bead Diaries

Ginger lilmummy likes...

Linda Lindy's Designs

Kristen My Bead Journey

Lois ¿Que Onda Q'town?

Lucy K. (see her creation on Amy's blog)

Debbie Beechy Beetique

Tanya A Work in Progress

Audrey Dreams of Absolution

Sandra Stories from the City of Brass

Mary MLH Jewelry Designs

Oh and if you read all this way I guess I should tell you I hurt one finger with a door, one with a drawer and the last on the floor.  Boy I wish I was making this up.  I could have just said from being clumsy, but what fun would that be.