Andra's Joyful Journey: 2012

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Stitch of Time 2 Blog Hop

I am currently working at Gallery 107 in Seaford, DE, relaxing for the first time this week and waiting for Hurricane Sandy to arrive.

The porches at the house are cleaned off, plants tucked away for safe keeping, and plans in place for my car to be protected. I have purchased my extra supplies in case the electricity goes out and I am charging my laptop and cell phone. This evening, I think I will plan out some projects to work on so I don't have to search for stuff if the electricity goes out. Yippee, I think I am ready.

Now on to better and bigger things--- The Stitch in Time 2 Blog Hop. I am late posting for the hop, please forgive me, everyone.Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller are wonderful to host the Blog Hop and I have so much fun with their first Hop. This Hop challenged me to create using a new stitch (for me), St. Petersburg. I have often looked at patterns using it but never considered creating with it. I have a book, Cube Bead Stitching by Virginia Jensen and found the neatest earring pattern. Thank you, Virginia, your designs are fantastic.
My earrings are made using 1.5 mm cubes in matte aqua & rainbow lt. topaz/seafoam lined and 3mm cubes in transparent copper and copper delicas. I think they are yummy and fun.

Next I made a royal blue and white bracelet using tila beads, 11 and 15 seed beads and vintage czech crystals. I found the pattern in Great Designs for Shaped Beads by Anna Elizabeth Draeger. Her patterns are always great. I adapted the pattern using the czech crystals instead of bicones just because I had them.

I have used RAW before and prefer to use it in ropes. The pattern was originally a three strand bracelet published in Beadwork mag, June/July 2003. It is an embellished double needle RAW stitch which I thought would be hard to learn but ended up being extremely easy to create.

Thank you Therese and Christine for hosting the Hop. I look forward to the next one! Everyone on the East Coast, Stay safe with Sandy coming to visit!
Please visit everyone else involved with the Hop. Their work is fantastic, interesting, and different!

Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller

Nikki Byers

Kristen Stevens

Shirley Moore

Cynthia Machata

Shannon Hicks

Lola Surwillo

Maryanne Gross

Alenka

Mandy

Andra Weber

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Bead Soup 2nd Reveal

Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening, Everyone. It is now time for my reveal. As I told you in the last posting, my partner is the marvelous, wonderful Bryna Lumb. She is a delightful lampwork artist who specializes in creating unique beads for her partners. I was blessed with a beautiful focal bead which has a palm tree on the front side yet the back is equally as beautiful. The back reminded me of a tidal pool just after the waves washed out to sea. I wanted my necklace to do justice to both sides of the focal, something I had never tried before so it presented a challenge for me. Hmm interesting thought pattern here!! She also made a hammered silver clasp and several spacers that matched the colors in the focal. I still have earrings to make and a matching bracelet but ran out of seed beads-- Oh shopping this weekend in Newport News, VA.

So with out further chatter here is my necklace.

THE CLASP

THE FOCAL

THE NECKLACE

AGAIN THE NECKLACE

THE TIDAL POOL SIDE

THE TIDAL POOL SIDE OF THE NECKLACE

ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE TIDAL POOL SIDE

As you can see I now have two lovely necklaces in one to enjoy and wear. Thank you, Bryna for your skills, your artistic talent and for allowing me the opportunity to showcase your work.

Thank you Lori for pulling this giantic Bead Soup Blog Hop together. Thank you everyone who visits my blog during the Second revel. Now PLEASE hop over to Bryna's blog and check out what she made with the soup I sent her. Also check out everyone else's!

Here is the list of the souper's for the 2nd reveal, have a gander at all the creativity that's in this reveal:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure

Amy Severino, Amy Beads

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey <~~~~ YOU ARE HERE!

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry

Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box <~~~~YOU NEED TO VISIT MY PARTNER!

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads

Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations

Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Monday, August 6, 2012

6th Bead Soup Blog Hop Soup Ingredients

Wow. Time has gone to fast or else I have a major problem with procrastination. Probably both. This weekend is my revel date for the Bead Soup Blog hop and I am just getting around to post the lovely soup that I received from Bryna Lumb. She read over my blog and through our e-mails, Bryna was able to create the perfect soup for me. Travel back in time a bit.... In Feb. I went on my first cruise! Mom, my brother, Tom, and I went to the Bahamas. I had a wonderful time and have such fantastic memories of the trip, the island, the sand, and the palm trees.... Fast forward to now... When Lori set up the partners for the hop, Bryna was in Cozumel. I was so envious and told her to put pictures on her Facebook page. They were beautiful!
So with out further ado----- My soup!

Bryna lampworked the focal and the spacer beads. She also made the clasp in the first picture. The sea shells are by Suburban Girl Studios. Then she threw in some Swarovski crystals, S.S. beads, soldered jumprings, peace beads and coordinating ribbon.

Take a closer look at the focal!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my soup have been simmering and it is almost done. See everyone on SATURDAY!!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Giveaway on Lorelei's Blog

Lorelei is having an awesome giveaway.

The 3 Giveaways

You didn't think I was going to come home with all those beads and not share any of them with you, did you!? No way, gotta share this B&B love! Coupla cool vendors offered to donate beads for a giveaway. I know you're going to love these! To read the rest go to her blog----

Lorelei's Blog: The 3 Giveaways

The revel for A Time To Stitch Blog Hop!!

Recently, I decided to join the "A Time To Stitch" blog hop hosted by Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller. It was an easy hop, all we had to do was create something in peyote or herringbone stitch, take pictures of it and blog about it on June 12th. Easy, right? Well, I found that I really wanted to do something different in peyote stitch, so I found a great flat spiral peyote stitched bracelet, made the bracelet, promptly forgot to photograph it, and sold it at my last show.(Guess I should not wear cool jewelry to shows. This lady bought it off my arm.) DUH!! dummy me! The pattern was in Beadwork mag., June/July 2010 called Color Swirls by Marcie Abney. It was is three different shades of teal and sliver. I just might have to recreate the bracelet.
So next idea, I would finish a couple of projects, all that had peyote stitch in them. The first two are necklaces that have a peyote stitch slider on them.

Bugle beads, czech crystals with a multi-strand bugle bead necklace.

8/0, 11/0, seed beads, 4mm and 6mm czech crystals with a dutch spiral necklace.

Then I finished the pendant for a new necklace. Since I love (mild word) bead embroidery, I realized that every piece I do has a peyote stitched bezel for the frame work.

This necklace will be finished off with necklace of matte hematite and bronze seed beads.

Finally, I finished a freeform peyote stitched bracelet. In March, I took a class at Tada Artisan"s Boutique and Bead Store The owner, Tammy Bacot, was in the process of just opening the store and honored my Mother and me by hosting a class for us when we in Williamsburg, Va visiting my brother. Her store is wonderful and she is a fantastic person.

I think that this challenge has made me realize how much I enjoy relaxing and working with peyote stitch. I now need to challenge myself and learn the herringbone stitch.

Please take the time and look at the wonderful jewelry that everyone else made for the hop. They ar all fantastic artists!!

Thank you Therese and Christine for hosting the hop.

Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller

Lisa Stukel

Mandy Duffy

Cynthia Machata

Shirley Moore

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Vocal Focal part 2

Bonnie, Thank you! Thank you! Yesterday was the revel day for the Vocal Focal Swap. I posted that Bonnie Coursole sent me a Goddess focal bead by Louise Ingram. I also promised that I would post what I created from the focal. I have to admit now that the necklace is finished I believe that it is the best strung necklace I have ever made. Recently, Lori Anderson wrote in her blog about an article she wrote for Bead Trends- May issue. I knew I had to read it so I ordered the Magazine the minute I finished reading Lori's blog. The article entitled "The Art of Simple Strung Jewelry" sparked the creative juices in me. I realized that I have become so wrapped up in beadweaving and bead embroidery I was losing the beauty of strung jewelry. I felt that stringing jewelry no longer present a challenge for me. Boy was I wrong! So thank you Lori for writing a fantastic article! Everyone should read the article!

So without further ado. The focal bead with the beads I though I would put with it.

The Necklace!!!

I looked up the meanings of the stones I used for this necklace and found out the following bits of information. Green Kyanite balances one with nature. It brings loyalty, honesty, and tranquility while diminishing anger and confusion. Hemitate is know as the "stone of the mind.: It brings mental organization and is very calming and grounding to the wearer. Mother of Pearl is said to attract prosperity. It is purported to protect the wear from negative influences and transmute negative energy.

I hope that you enjoy this necklace as much as I do. Thank you again Bonnie! I will have great pleasure wearing this necklace.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

The Vocal Focal Bead Swap

This month I have been involved with a Vocal Focal Bead Swap with Bonnie Coursolle Bonnie matched us up with a partner and we exchanged a focal bead. I was totally surprise to have Bonnie as my partner. She sent me a fantastic Goddess focal bead by Louise Ingram

I searched my beads and found some 4mm Mother of Pearl and 6mm dark green kyanite. I am thinking that these might work for a necklace but I want to add a touch of hematite to accent the moon she is holding.

Bonnie, Thank you so very much for this lovely Goddess! I look forward to designing something extra special and worthy of her!

Please check out all the partners in The Vocal Focal Bead Swap:

Cindy Wimmer
http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/
Ginger Bishop
http://www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.ca/

Bonnie Coursolle
http://jaspersgems.blogspot.ca/
Andra Weber
http://www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com

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/

Total laziness:(

I realize that I have gotten either very lazy or just overwhelmed over the past month. When I last posted I had just had my hand surgery and realized how annoying it was to try to type one handed. I am all better now and have lots to tell everyone. The end of March I went ot Newport News, VA to spend my last week of recuperation at my brother's house. While there I took two classes. The first was a refresher on free-form peyote stitch at TaDa Artisan's Boutique & Bead Store in Williamsburg, VA and I made a bracelet which is almost done. I will post a picture when it is done .Tammy had just opened the store and held a special class for Mom and me. Next I took a bead loom class at Beadworkz in Suffolk, VA. with Cindy Yost. Five years ago I bought her book, Copper Loom A New Approach to an Ancient Craft, co-authored with Kat Allison. Then two Christmases ago Tom bought me the loom. Finally I can use it! Wow what fun!

I chose to make a bracelet out of purple #8 seed bead soup. So the finished project --

I also chose these beads to match a necklace I made this year. It has a spiral rope and a hidden clasp focal slider.

I had a such great time in Newport News, I went back on April 21st and joined the Southeastern Virginia Bead Society. The members are wonderful and so welcoming. They meet the third Sunday of every month and Mom and I figure that we will just plan on visiting Tom that weekend each month.

I was asked to contribute to the Silent Auction at Georgia Shakespeare's Bard's Bash 2012. My daughter, Donna, is their Development Manager and is in charge of the show. The theme is Oscar Wilde, so she asked for something wild, flamboyant, Victorian, steampunk, etc.

I made a necklace set, Victorian Splendor

and Beauty In The Eyes Of The Beholder

The auction is tonight so I will post tomorrow what they sold for. Georgia Shakespeare is a not for profit theater in Atlanta, GA located on the campus of Oglethorpe University.The company does a lot with the surrounding school systems promoting the development of the theater. This gala event is their major summer fund raiser and helps to mark the beginning of their summer season. This year they will also be performing The Tempest at Shakespeare in the Park, an event for the community. Please check out their web site here.

Enough for now so Good Night Everyone.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Giveaway by Agi

Yesterday I was exploring and hopping around and found this fantastic blog Moon Safari Beads, www.moonsafaribeads.blogspot.com Agi is having a wonderful giveaway. If you have the chance go to her site and check it out.

Add caption

Saturday, March 3, 2012

BEAD SOUP IS HERE! YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The revel day is finally here and I am so excited. First of all, apologizes are in order I haven't written all month and I will explain why in another post. My wonderful partner, Christie and I were made for each other. Thank you Lori for your wise and great pairing! Christie and have several things in common not only our love of beading and Christ, but the joy we have in our daughters. It is wonderful to see the love and happiness that shines in Christie's photos.
Now on to the soup--- I received a fantastic soup from Christie.

Wow, the selection I had to chose from. I attacked the blue beads and chain first. I have had an idea floating around in my head for awhile about using chain, beads, and a donut. I have a large rose quartz donut for four years now crying for a home and Christie gave me the perfect home for it.

I do not work with chain so this project stretched my imagination. I was challenged to figure out how to work the donut, beads and chain together. I used the chain, blue beads, and clasp that Christie sent and added the pink beads and donut from my stash. Next came matching earrings. These got reworked four times because I could not figure out how to get the donuts to hang straight.

I have already worn the set to work and everyone loved them!

Next, I pulled out the seed beads and all the Brown and cream beads Christie sent. This was the project I took on my cruise. While everyone else was reading a book sunning on the deck, I was cheerfully beading away. My project started out as peyote stitch bracelet which morphed into a freeform netted bracelet embelished with the creams and brown beads. I only added the briolettes. I was going to bead the clasp, then decide to use a magnetic clasp and finally made the bracelet into a bangle. I love the results! (Mom's response was "This is really great but I can't wear it. It is too big for my wrist." Ha Ha There was logic to me madness!

Finally, I realize this morning that I had not used the focal pieces Christie sent. So back to the chain, the focal pieces, headpins, the rattail cording, and the bead caps she sent along with a few lampworked beads I had.

This was a quick project because I had hand surgery yesterday afternoon and knew I would not be in shape to bead this evening. I like how it turned out and was very pleased how confident I was working with the chain.

Lori, thank you so very much for the chance to meet Christie and to be a part of this Bead Soup Blog Hop!

For my followers, HOP around and see what everyone else created!

1. Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3. Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4. Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5. Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6. Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7. Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8. Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9. Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10. Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery