Friday, November 13, 2015

The Superstition Blog Hop Is Here.....


Superstition Blog Hop Badge   

First off I would like to thank Tammy Adams from Paisley Lizard for not only hosting this blog hop, but for being ever so kind and generous and offer the first 13 people who signed up for a FREE pendant. I just so happen to be one of the lucky 13.

Here is a list of the participants.....

    

Tammy Adams (Hostess)http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Renee Hong http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com
Betony Maiden http://beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Coral Law http://abcoraldesign.blogspot.com/
Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jeanette Belmont http://www.onecanvasatatime.com
Shai Williams http://www.ShaihasRamblings.com
Beth McCord http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/
Robin Lynne Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard https://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/
Deb Fortin http://www.mhotistudio.blogspot.ca
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Karin Grosset Grange http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr
Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Rebecca White http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/#sec-blog
Shawneen Fagnani http://blondespotpinkshoe.blogspot.com/
Catherine King http://Catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Brook Bock http://artisticendeavor101.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog
Nan Smith http://wirednan.blogspot.ca
Carolyn Lawson http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Ann Schroeder http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Melissa Trudinger https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
Kathy Lindemerhttp://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

 

I must admit I have lost some of my jewelry making gumption lately. My life has been a whirlwind lately, I'm so busy that the other day my husband asked how I can do what I've been doing  and my answer was caffeine and mommy juice (a.k.a  wine or Rumchata that I drink out of my Wonder Woman mug so my teenage son doesn't think his mom has a drinking problem lol!). I am forever saying I am so busy, I know that nobody really cares how busy I am, I just feel the need to justify it when It seems that I am slacking on making pretties or even posting to my sad,neglected blog. But, such is life and maybe it will slow down someday, no matter how over extended I am, I am truly fortunate and blessed in so many ways.

So needless to say I was so excited to be one of the lucky 13 picked for this hop I went all in full force, then my muse and ambition ran for the hills. I started to run out of time, so my ideas, which in the beginning, by the way, were GRAND ended up, not so grand and a tad bit rushed. But when I make a commitment I have to stick to it. I refused to disappoint my super sweet,generous and talented hostess but not participating, so I whipped out this......





  Not too shabby because about an hour ago all I had done was the handmade, by me bail (1st one I have ever made). So the rest were bits and bobs that I chose to make this necklace. Some matte glass beads, ribbon, and chain and here she is. 

 Please note that I will rework this at some point in the near future to include the hand stamped 13 blank (that somehow took about that many blanks for me to get it right), the horse shoe, Italian Corno, the 4 leaf clover and the hamsa hand. My original idea was to make a necklace that would have the theme of good vs. evil or I guess technically luck vs. unlucky. I did sneak in a little evil eye ward dangle that hangs in the back of the extender chain of this necklace, I needed to keep some bit of that theme.

 Sorry if I have disappointed anyone else, besides myself, with my lack of a wower piece of jewelry but once again it just simply is what it is. But I can't wait to see what you talented artists came up with for you black cat beads/pendants. 

 Have fun hopping. I work a super long day tomorrow, but I will hop when ever I get a spare minute.

 

 

    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Bead Peeps Swap Blog Hop Is HERE!!! And A Giveaway Too.

I think that most people know what this is and what to do but I  will give a little info in case you don't. Bead Peeps is a facebook group that I belong to and Linda Anderson cooked up a little fun for the members who wanted to join in and exchange some beads and create something from those said exchanged beads. 

My partner for this exchange and hop Loretta Carstensen If you give her name a little click it will take you to her blog. Okay a quick bit of info on Loretta she's retired, likes to travel with her hubby, lives in Utah and creates beads and pendants with polymer clay.

Okay also I will show you again what we swapped. This first picture is what I sent to Loretta all 4 pendants were made by me 2 are soldered butterfly wing pendants,one soldered peacock feather pendant, a pendant made from cutting and doming a vintage tin and adding that to a hand painted wooden bezel, then of course matching beads glass,crystal,ceramic and loads of vintage beads that I LOVE!

 This is what Loretta sent to me to work with wooden beads,leather cording, a couple of tiger eye beads, some beautiful lamp work beads and her polymer clay pendant and matching beads.



Okay to be honest here I was way beyond stumped with what to do, as I seem to always be whenever I do a swap like this. I will share my obstacles with you.  First of all I adore color the brighter the better and these happen to be very neutral in color. Secondly I don't often work with animal prints but I love and often use elements of nature. Third I have been off the chart busy so finding time to create was a little tough.  So I decided to hustle and get everything I needed done so that I could stay home all day Sunday and work on making some jewelry for this hop.

I will tell you that when I was working ideas just started  coming to me some good, some not so good at all. The necklace with the pendant that Loretta I'm sure painstakingly made was the one that gave me the most trouble, Oh I had ideas  3 to be exact and I was not at all happy with a single one. Yup that means the necklace you will see is my fourth try,but I LOVE the way it turned out!
So I was able to use the polymer pendant and the leather I was sent and some added beads and chain from my beady stash.



 Next up is how I used the tiger eye yup just one for the next piece oh and the clasp I was sent too. I was so inspired by the necklace that I had to make earrings (I was able to use the handmade ear wires Loretta sent me in these) and a bracelet to match.
This is how I used the Tiger eye bead and the Clasp.



Earring made from coordinating beads that I used in the necklace and the handmade ear wires Loretta sent me.
Bracelet has coordinating beads  and a brass tube that I added patina to so that it looked a touch weathered and not so shiny new.


And then two more bracelets one using a very pretty lamp work oblong shaped bead and the other with two leopard printed lamp work beads. I'm not a huge fan of most Lamp Work beads but these were very lovely I now have a new appreciation for them and will be using them a touch more. I especially love the one with the oblong shaped bead that bracelet is totally going in my personal jewelry box.

This is my keeper. I made it to fit me.




You can see those lovely leopard beads up in the front and then a spattering of added beads




I wanted to give a great huge thanks to Loretta for sending me beads that would stretch my creativity, as this is a challenge based swap, meant to put beads not typically used by your partner into their hands. I still have some leftover beads that I am going to tuck away until the time they call to me a beg to be made into a pretty little something!


Oh I almost forgot about the giveaway the rules are simple all you have to do is comment and when you do follow my blog and you will be entered to win this necklace. Please leave me a way to get in touch with you in case you are the winner. I will draw on May 20th.



 This is the list of the other participants:

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Marica Zammit http://www.beadlovelies.com



Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Jessica Hocutt https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com



Kristina Hahn Eleniak http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Debbie Jeffries http://wordpress/debrasdivinedesigns/blog.com



Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/
Shalini Austin http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/



Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Annica Larsson http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/



Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com



Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com



Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/



Janice Warden Bergeron http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com



Deb Fortin http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Inge von Roos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com



Karen Mitchell http://overthemoon-design.com
Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com



Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca



Nan Smith http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Johana Nunez http://artincendi.com



Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com



Sue  Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com



Niky Sayers http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com



Candida Castleberry http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Erin Guest http://www.renlish.com



Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Ien Temaluru http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com



Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Sam Waghorn http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk



Marianne Baxter http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com



Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com
Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com



Jayne Capps http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Marti Conrad http://marticsclay.blogspot.com



Tina Bosh http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Thomas http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com



Jeanne Steck http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com



Rachel Mallis http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/



Stephanie Stamper http://skwds.blogspot.com
Chris Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com



Betony Maiden http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/



Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Colleen Foley http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com



Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Marcy Lamberson http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com



Dyanne Everett-Cantrell http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Ginny Lones http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com



Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com



Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com



Louise McCormick-Glazier http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com



Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com



Seed Beaders



Susanne Stelljes http://pearlify.blogspot.de
Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com



Pallavi Asher http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
Jami Shipp http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com



Peggy Kosier http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
Andra Weber http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com



Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Krafty Max http://kraftymax.com



Sierra Barrett http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
Lois Sherwood http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com



Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
Rebecca Robertson   (White) http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/



Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Brandy Collier http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com



Stephanie Haussler http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com



Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com



Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Tami Norris https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/



Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
Peggy Johnson http://charmbarn.blogspot.com






Thursday, April 16, 2015

Show And Tell Of Bead Peeps Swapped Beads....

This post is long overdue. Life has been a crazy nonstop whirlwind and I just don't seem to have time for anything at all. I carved away a few minutes today to post a few pictures of what my swap partner Loretta sent me and of what I sent to her.

 This is what I sent to Loretta. All 4 pendants were made by me included is 2 soldered butterfly pendants, a soldered peacock feather and a pendant made from a vintage tin and set in a painted wooden setting. This pendant was a prototype for me as it was the first that I have made. But I have more in the works.

 And then of course I had to find coordinating beads to match each pendant, so we have some crystals,czech glass,ceramic,vintage glass,vintage lucite,vintage acrylic,vintage wood beads and a silver plated toggle.

This is what Loretta sent to me. There is some leather cording,wood beads, a couple of tigers eye beads,some lamp work beads, polymer clay beads and focal handmade by Loretta, some nylon coated brass colored wire,glass beads, ear wires and a clasp.

Now the hard part I have had zero time and when I say zero I mean zero to work on this swap. I may have a little time today to work in my studio but not much. So please wish me luck in trying to come up with a design and then get it done before the reveal.

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

                               

Meet My Partner For the Bead Peeps Swap 'n' Hop.....

Loretta Carstensen Her blog can be found HERE. She does such lovely work. She works with polymer clay, I have all the goods to start with polymer clay but need to carve away a good long weekend to play. I just can't see that happening anytime soon, but I can't wait for when it does.

 

Another neat thing is that she moved from California to Utah to be near her children, I can't believe anyone leaves California, but I would for family too. She and her husband are retired and like to travel, they even have a travel trailer. To me that is living the dream!!!

 

She also has a shop on ARTFIRE. So go and have a look at her goodies. 

 

I can't tell you how excited I am to participate in this swap. I always seem to be more creative and productive after a swap or challenge.

 

I am almost done putting the finishing touches on what I am sending Loretta and will post a teaser picture when I have finished gathering it all.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Somethings About Me Most Folks Don't Know.....

I Have seen folks do a 10 things you didn't know about me blog entry and I have always enjoyed them so I thought with my Bead Peeps Swap and Hop Coming up that this would be a perfect time to do this I'm not exactly sure how many I have but here goes...

 

1. I am bilingual.

2. My major in college was biology.

3. I am a little afraid of squirrels. Those little suckers freak me out.

4. I practice yoga and love it. If you know me,you know I am not a very calm person and yoga helps me to unwind and relax.

5. I hate the color red.

6. I love to cook. I can't bake for squat but I've been told I am a very good cook.

7. I detest crowds.

8. Love coconut water. Could drink it all day everyday. Don't but could.

9. Love loud music.

10. I enjoy singing and dancing. But I don't think anyone else enjoys my singing.

11. Being cold infuriates me. Yet I live in Michigan.

12. I love Jeopardy. Also pretty good at it. I'm awesome at remembering useless facts. Lot of good that is!

13. I am a bit of a neat freak, except in my studio where I think the mess helps me to create better????


 

Okay now for a little idea of the things that I make. This is mostly for the pairing of partners in the Bead Peeps Swap and Hop...









I make soldered pendants. If it can go between glass I will put it there and them solder that sucker! As you can also see I love nature inspired designs, religious designs, I love incorporating vintage bits in my jewelry making and working with gemstones. Sorry for the limited pictures as I am in a bit of a hurry, if you want to see more my website is HERE.