Memorial Day-Thank You

As the day ends here many of you are still enjoying your day off work.  I hope you have a wonderful time today, but don't forget to take a moment to remember what's been sacrificed to protect the warm, secure feeling we enjoy on days like today.  There are some of us who are often reminded how truly blessed we are.  Be thankful if you have someone to say good night to.  Generation after generation men (and now women) protect us and sadly sacrificed too much.  Today we remember and honor that sacrifice. 

Curious Inspiration & Frustration

Ok, my blog is so new I've never used the "old"interface before, but since I have only the "white screen of death" for days on the "new" interface I've given this a try.

All I wanted to do was show you my Alice in Wonderland miniatures in the hopes that I can pull myself out of this quagmire.  I've hit a road block with my challenge piece so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) this might help. 

the box

Time for tea?

flamingo head at table base-love it!

white chocolate Hatter

pocket watch serving tray

bread-and-butterfly on the frame plus chocolates inside the tiny door

Where's the key now?

tray features the hedgehog
(you'll remember him as the crochet ball)

Alright, thanks to technically difficulties this was the most difficult and time consuming post to date.  But boy isn't it cute.  I know we don't always take the time to comment when we read others blogs, but please make time if you can.  I've been in the land of children and chores and would be so happy to hear from a creative adult.

Pretties

So lots of great things have been in my mailbox recently.  Since I didn't immediately tear into these I actually have some pictures to show you.  The first batch is from one of Lori Anderson's fb swaps where I was paired with Stefanie Teufel from Cologne, Germany.  In addition to some much needed size 15 seed beads she also sent 3 fabulous postcards for our postcard collection (which is lining the walls now-thank you postcrossing), but only one is pictured. 

  

I was so excited to receive seed beads in a swap because they are my go-to item and because it was a first for me to find in a swap package.  Plus 2 fantastic rivolis!  Then I read the letter and find out the beads in the dish are vintage and from the 1940's.  My own little piece of not so ancient Europe.  What more could a seed beader ask for?  I sure can't think of anything. 

I must say Stefanie is an amazing lady who reminded me look for the proverbial silver lining.  When is the last time you made an effort to see the bright side of a difficult situation?  I can proudly say, TODAY!  Thanks Stefanie!

No matter how much I loved this package, seed beads aren't all that photogenic till you do something with them so will move on the to the mother-load.  

If you remember in the last post I showed you the goodies I gathered only to discover I accidentally  cleaned my work space.  Those went to Lisa Lowe from Hampton, VA. (I've been there!) Anyway, Lisa spoiled me rotten.  She hosted a CBC Supplies Swap.  Yep, I was paired with the hostess!  Pressure.  Oh yeah, but it worked out great.  I swear you never know what to expect from swaps, but no one could have anticipated all this.  I'm going to learn so many things trying out all these pretties.

click the picture to enlarge

big beads soup

love the rough tumbled detail

tiny beads soup & crystals

I've wanted some of these for a while now

color, color color!

These is also some pressed flowers, fibers, glass tiles, copper blanks w/rivets, but I'm sure you're visually overwhelmed so I'll leave you with one last image.  

 This is my latest experiment with seed beads, and I am impressed with myself this time.  This is the same dish used for the tiny bead soup & crystals above.  Yes, it's one huge beaded bead. Pattern by Diane Fitzgerald and found in The Art of Beaded Beads by Jean Campbell.

Yep, I am one lucky (spoiled) girl!

It's clean!

I just wanted to take a moment to say swaps have cured my clutter.  I was paired with a swap hostess recently, and so I thought I had to pull out all the stops.  So I went through absolutely everything I had, and sent a nice mess of stuff to play with. 

 I'll show you what I received in a future post, but when it was all boxed up I realized I had cleaned my work space in the process.  I've been feeling really crappy since then.  And yesterday my body just shut down.  I think I was only awake a total of 4 hours.  Now that I've had my 20 hour nap I'm back to my old self again.  So I wanted to show you my clean workspace before I mess it up again.

Oh yeah and I tried my hand at Soutache last week.  Boy that was fun.  I really like just making it up as I go.  And since I glued the ends where you can see them it's reversible.  I was told it looks like one of those hidden Mickey Mouse things, but my Disney expect didn't comment so I don't know for sure.  I like it either way.  It's over 3 inches though so it's huge for my standards.  Now I just have to figure out what to do with it.

Jeannie Dukic does amazing work.

You should check out the fantastic work of the Jeannie Dukic either on her website or her blog.  I found her work on Facebook, and then shockingly won these fantastic earrings!  I am very grateful to be given such a lovely gift.  

Can I just say I am impressed with the business card holder.  I know that is trivial to most people, but I love the business card holder.  I've stored all my favorite designers in there.  

The first pair of earrings are in my son's teacher's favorite color so they became part of the Teacher Appreciation Day gift bag.

She loves them.

These are all mine.  I wore then the other day and they are light and a perfect length for my face.

Now a lesson in branding.  Not only was her business card included, but check out the back of the packaging.  Even if you remove or change out the paper top, the bag has her info too.

Ok I must tell you photos do not do her work justice.  It is one of those that if you saw it up close you'd have to have a little piece of that creativity for your very own.  So take the time to check out her work.  You wont regret it. 

Vocal Focal Reveal

Bonnie Coursolle who writes the blog Jasper's Gems invited us to join her in a focal only swap a few weeks back.  This was my first swap to the US and though slower than my gift the focal I sent did arrive in time to it's recipient the amazing Cindy Wimmer.  Her blog Sweet Bead Studio has not only inspired me, but also taught me to keep my eye out for buttons.  I never knew they could be extraordinary.  Before exploring her blog I thought a button was a flat piece of metal or plastic with 2-4 holes in it.  So thanks Cindy for opening my eyes, and for your exceptional kindness.  I was very fortunate to have you as a swap partner.

Here's what I made with the focal:

Love the focal!

Wish I could remember who made this lampwork pair

lampwork encased by Martina's flower pattern adaptation.

connected with bits of Helena's four leaf clover pattern

Cindy also sent me some great lampwork beads that are red with a center that looked like stone with gold flecks in it.  I literally just finished my necklace, and now I can't find the card Cindy sent with the info on where the beads & focal came from.  So that's all I have for you today.

 Here's a list of all the participants.  Please take the time to check them out.  

Oh and thank you kindly Bonnie for hosting this for us.

Cindy Wimmer	http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/
Ginger Bishop	YOU ARE HERE :)
Bonnie Coursolle	http://jaspersgems.blogspot.ca/
Andra Weber	http://www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.ca/
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Lori Finney	http://lori-finney.blogspot.ca
Shirley Moore	http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.ca/
Kashmira Patel	http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Maybeline Tay	http://thejewelrylarder.blogspot.com
Dee Torcherer Elgie	http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Bonnie Coursolle	http://jaspersgems.blogspot.ca/
Rhonda Baird	http://dizzyinchains.wordpress.com/