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

Friday, April 12, 2013

Wow! It's almost time.

My reveal is tomorrow!

I am very excited because I finally finished my piece.

I'm now waiting on the sun to burn off the morning clouds so I can take photos.

Until then check out the map Lori and her husband made for the hop.  

521 participants all marked globally.

I'm the little pin below the words South Korea.

Okay it's turning out to be a beautiful Friday here in Okinawa so I'm going to enjoy it. 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

And the winner is...Kepi!

This fun trio of springy fun will be on it's way to 

Debbie or Kepi ;)

She's an amazing seed beading artist and jewelry designer and a fantastic lady.

Congrats Debbie!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A few things...

Before I tell you about the pile of 3mm crystals above, 
I want to show you the great things I received from Miranda
 in her advent hop.  Yep, before Christmas. 

The kumihimo necklace in the center
was my Christmas gift.
I've had all the daily advent gifts together to be photographed, 
and it's time to use them.  So here are some photos.
Thanks you so much M!  
I truly adore the amazing variety of the lot.
Love the stone butterfly.  
I've never held a chain like that either.
It has great fluidity.
Here are some clasps, big fat pearls, shells and beautiful glass flowers.
Oh and some neat ear wires too.
 This shows many of my favorites.
It was a brilliant idea for the 24 little gifts and one handmade gift.
I hope to remember to sign up again this year.
 
Okay now to the pile...
I wanted to make some rainbow earrings.
So here's what I came up with:
 Then I wanted to make a similar necklace, but I did not want them to match.
 When I made the necklace I was so use to making pairs 
that I made pairs of green and purple for the necklace. Ooops!
So I threw in a gold and my Mardi Gras colored necklace came to be.
Still have a little pile of 3mm Swarvoski on the bead mat 
so patriotic (red, white & blue) will be finished up soon.
Just trying to decided if I want earrings or a necklace and bracelet set.

Hope you are enjoying things around you today too.