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Saturday, December 15, 2012

HBBH #2

Wow, what a busy holiday season!

First a little info on HBBH:

Shelley Graham Turner & Marlene Cupo are amazing, outstanding, phenomenal women. Who's combined genius have lead me and many others to create beautiful pieces for not one but TWO "Holiday Bling Blog Hops."

This is the reveal day for the second as I'm sure you've deduced by now.

On the first reveal day all I could show you was what I had sent since I didn't have a gift to reveal.

Well, I think Marlene and Shelly must have felt bad for those of us with partners who didn't follow through because this time I was paired with someone who could be my wiser, prettier more talented twin. We're both Navy wives, crafters and moms. She's much more active in sharing her work than I am, but I've made a great big leap forward recently. I had my first craft table on the first of December. I'll post more about that later.

So take the time to meet...

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs. She's an amazing partner.

She sent me an ornament, a set of beads and a gorgeous necklace and earring set.

She considered my favorite colors when making these pieces.

(orange like the sunset and teal like the sea)

The mermaid is in fact something we both shared having lived in the Hampton Roads area before.

The city of Norfolk has many mermaids. There is even a tourist map to find them all. I believe surrounding cities have gotten involved now as well. The last time I lived in the area I lived in Ocean View and this is the mermaid from the library there.

You can see more Norfolk mermaids here.

click "the mermaids" then photo gallery

Here's a few more close ups of Tammie's amazing clay work:

Here's a quick peek at what I sent...

but please take time to visit Tammie's blog as well.

sea urchin "tree"

washi paper to cover the opening

This is the Bella Necklace design by Maria Teresa Morgan. Beadwork done by me and pattern found in the December 2012/January 2013 issue of Beadwork magazine. I loved how this one turned out so much I made 2 more with other color combinations. But more on that another day.

Now it's time to go check out everyone else's "bling."

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Shirley Moore	http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Catherine King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Elaine Ray	http://elaineray.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Ginger Bishop	http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley	http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts
Sandra McGriff	http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Melinda Abrahamson	http://www.firstreetcrafts.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels	http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Chandra Merod	http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars	http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Kelley Fogel	http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith	http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Heather Rats Otto	http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.leelucreations.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

My partner for HBBH #1 actually did ship me something about a week after the blog hop.
Better late than never right. SO thanks Melinda.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Art Charm Auction benefiting Beads of Courage

Okay maybe you're like me, and wait till an auction is about to close before you bid. Well, get ready because our charms from the Art Charm Swap will end in less than 24 hours.

Check them out HERE.

One of my fellow charm swappers, Monique of A Half-Baked Notion, made some great photo collages of the charms up for sale. Like this one which features my bead. See mine bottom left? I'm still very honored to be a part of a group with all this talent.

Now take a minute, and head over to eBay to place a bid for a great cause.

You'll be glad you helped out, and be the proud owner of a wonderful, tiny piece of art.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Well Worth the Wait

I won a giveaway from Eileen of Dorset Hill Beads back in August. Check out some of her work in my post about winning and her blog. She's a great lady and a truly creative spirit.

She even sent me a second gift since the mail system decided to hide the original package from the two of us. That was above and beyond since it was simply a giveaway. I received the package weeks ago, but only when I was under my beading table cleaning rouge beads from the tracks of the sliding glass doors did I finally find the tag that must have slipped out when I opened it. So now I can thank her properly. Thank you for the awesome gift. There are no better coasters in the world! I love coasters by the way, and am never in possession of less than 4 sets.

they're super absorbent.

they're over-sized which means great for hot bowl of soup too.

and best of all...

Thanks again for the great gift Eileen. I love gifts I can use.

DorsetHillBeads on etsy

Monday, November 12, 2012

Art Charm Exchange 2012

The wonderful and talented Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions took on the enormous task of organizing a charm swap for Beads of Courage. Thank you, Jennifer, for allowing me to be a part of this project.

Beads of Courage is a program many hospitals use to brighten the outlook of their pediatric patients by giving them a fun, colorful bead for each surgery, procedure, etc. that they endure. It gives them a playful visual of how far they've come in their treatment and a tactile reminder of what they are capable of overcoming.

I like almost 50 other participants, I made 11 charms which I mailed to Jennifer back in October.
Then she sorted them all, and sent each of us one of our own charms plus 9 different charms from other participants. The last charm from each batch is being auctioned off on eBay for BOC.

The theme was LAUGHTER which immediately brought children to mind. While trying to figure out what to do I ran through dozens of ideas with metal stamping and polymer clay, but when I went to put my son to bed an idea hit me and held on. So here's my inspiration:

See my silly little man? Look behind him. See the Mario shaped planet? He has a game with gardens in all sorts of shapes, but his favorite part of the game is running around and around on the planets. Like I said this idea took hold, but I couldn't figure out how to translate it into a charm. Then I was tending my flowers, and it hit me. A round garden! That idea still makes me laugh. SO I set to making some.

I was trying to decide what color to make them in. Then I read in the Facebook group Jennifer had set up for us that they didn't all have to be identical. That's when this really got fun. Here's what I submitted.

Well, I kept the red one because I had forgotten we'd get one of our own back.

click any picture for a better look

I'd never made cards before, and I waited till after 10 at night to do them so yes I wrote lilmummylikes@blogspot.com instead of lilmummylikes.blogspot.com. Honestly I didn't catch that mistake till I'd made about a dozen cards for earrings too. Oh well, it was good practice.

I have to say packaging is something the Japanese are very good at. I love these cards and baggies.

(In case this is your first time here I live in Okinawa, Japan. Oh and welcome!)

All bagged up and ready to go.

Now without all the waiting I went through, we'll take a peek at the fabulous charms I received. In no particular order because I couldn't possibly choose a favorite.

first impression

http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/

Love the back of the card on the faux sea glass!


I've bought a few of these from Jeannie in the past. I even sent one to my last BSBP partner Debbie.

/http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/

blue bottle with tiny book

one of the many great page spreads in this tiny book

another great set of pages

See how tiny next to the business card.

Sandpail by Sundown Bead Design

Cupcake and smile by Jean P Designs

From our fearless and fabulous leader

This cutie from Studio Marcy may make it's way to Sam.

love the image on this card

http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Tell me please 'cause it's driving me and my kid crazy. "Find a happy place, find a happy place, FIND A HAPPY PLACE!" What kid's movie is that from? As I write this I'm watching Finding Nemo because that's my guess. Update: I was r-i-g-h-t! When the "fish killer" child taps on the glass of the aquarium till the starfish falls off the starfish says the line.

The one of mine I got back.

Alrighty, off to visit the BOC auction this whole swap was about. Please take the time to visit the eBay listings Jennifer set up, and feel free to outbid me because it's for a great cause.

Auction Site: http://www.ebay.com/glassaddictions

Then check out the other participants' posts. There is a lot of talent involved in this swap.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Burst of Energy and Beachcombing

Just a quick update from the best time of the year here in Okinawa. It's still warm enough to be out and about, but cool enough people stop asking you to things that require a swimsuit. I love it!

I've been walking with another mom from the bus stop for a while now, and we've added in a bit of ~~running~~ slow jogging. It's totally zapped my energy, but I'm gaining it back slowly. And I know the best is yet to come.

Well, as a treat we decided to go beach-combing on our walking day yesterday. 'Mind you, we walk past two beaches on our regular path, but we hopped in the car for an adventure. We visited 3 beaches including one she calls "Secret Beach." Boy was I ever bummed I didn't bring a camera, but I had a blast. She calculated it as 4 hours and 45 minutes of walking. So I earned a nap yesterday. But I also brought home a few surprises.

For your viewing pleasure: (click any picture for a larger view)

reminds me of what the water looked like

shiny things

spiky things

tiny things

bit of a big thing

variety of sizes

variety of colors

this side is not so pretty but...

...the other side has a MOP look to it.

another one deceptively beautiful underneath

new to me-orange and purple sea glass

these are a few of my favorite things

fav find of the day

group shot

And no I don't have plans for all of them yet. The tiny bits will go into tiny vials for necklaces. The coral will be come wind chimes, and the I'm still waiting on the rest to speak to me.

Anybody know how to get the sea smell off? We've had a lot of storms. Not sure if that's the problem, and as you can see they've been washed. That just isn't enough this time.

That's it for me. Just reminding you to enjoy what you do when you aren't creating.