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!


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 
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 
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 Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
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
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 Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
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 Finney, Using My Beads
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
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
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
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----

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.


































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
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)
21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs
32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley
35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig
 
61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver
68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna
 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons
76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)
87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne
89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)
100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum