Introducing Dear Jupiter

Yesterday partners were announced for the 

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop.

So it is my pleasure to introduce you to...

Peggy Johnson
of Dear Jupiter &

Charm Barn. 

Oh course I got distracted at her online shop, but if you

are in Minnesota you can visit her bead shop.

For those of us too far away we can give her facebook page a "Like".

I have to say even though I've never worked with Peggy before 

I have heard of her work thanks to

 this big beautiful online beading community. 

The chunky chain challenge she hosted caught my eye a while back.

Remember that?

I remember thinking all the participants (and the host of course) were incredibly clever 

because I actually thought on it and came up with exactly zero ideas.

.

.

.

Yep, got side tracked checking out all the pretties Peggy has.

I love her custom stamping pieces! I haven't stamped anything in a while.

This thought just occurred to me...

WHAT THE HECK DO YOU SEND TO SOMEONE WITH THEIR OWN BEAD SHOP!?!

Oh and her aunt owns a bead shop too.

Side track #2 the preview for Love Lust of Run (with Stacy London) has a girl with

 a huge metallic pink link strand hanging from one ear.

Okay, now off to learn more about Peggy and play with my beads.

I have to say this lady seems like a fun gal. 

I am really looking forward to this Swap N Hop.


---All these pictures are Peggy's.---

Bit About Me

I am officially "IN" the upcoming Swap N Hop so 

as instructed I'm going to share a bit about myself.

Here we go...

1. Why or how did you get started making jewelry?

I started making jewelry 8 years ago 

when I fell in love with Swarovski crystals and 

could not afford what people were making with them.
I am 90% self taught.

Humble Beginnings

2. What style(s) of jewelry do you like to make?

Wow, I really don't know. I prefer bracelets to anything else, but I'm the sort that would wear an ornate bead embroidery collar or a simple chain and pendant with a tee and jeans so there are no limits. I've used $40 beads and stuff my son picked up off the ground for me to make jewelry.
3. What materials do you prefer to use (and which ones do you avoid)?

I prefer seed beads, lampwork, polymer clay, sea glass, found objects, almost every metal finish...I'm sure there's more.

I do not prefer things that have to be sealed to preserve them, fibers, size 15 seed beads, big beads (10mm and up)...not sure what else.
4. What techniques do you prefer (and are there any you don't like)?

 I love RAW (right angle weave). I spent years avoiding anything that said RAW only to find out I'd been doing it not knowing the name of the stitch I'd fallen in love with. I also love peyote, drilling and soldering too, stringing for an easy day, soutache, bead embroidery, polymer clay and stamping for custom sentiments. I could go on forever here.

Most of the things I would say I don't like are things I'm still afraid of, but like bead embroidery and RAW I'll probably love them if I ever give them a go. I might even be surprisingly good at it. Who knows. The top of that list at the moment is memory wire, shibori ribbon with bead embroidery and cutting curves for soldered pendants.
5. What colors do you use most, and which do you run screaming from?

 I love almost everything BLUE. After 4 years on a tropical island teals, oranges and corals are now among my favs. I HATE pink. I had pink glasses as a kid...you can guess where this story goes.

Alright well it's Carnival season here 'round New Orleans 

so I've got to catch up on "have-to's" so I have enjoy the upcoming parades.