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.