Andra's Joyful Journey: Lori Anderson

Showing posts with label Lori Anderson. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2014

The 8th Bead Soup Blog Hop Revel!!!!!!

The 8th Bead Soup Blog Hop Revel began on Saturday, May 10th. I have been out of town this week and left my adapter for my camera at home. Darn, this year I didn't even have to struggle about finishing my pieces the night before or my blog, I just couldn't upload my pictures. So done with the excuses and on to the Revel!

My partner is the amazing Andrea Beth Trank. Andrea is one of these extremely busy ladies. A Professor of Education who has just finished the dreaded finals and college graduation ceremonies (I don't know if the ceremonies are harder on the graduates or the professors), has two wonderful sons (one who is a new driver here comes the grey hair), a designer for ZNet Shows and artist extraordinaire. Andrea living in Florida and is now in her busy season with shows and she is working at a friend's gift shop on Sanibel Island. I still haven't figured out when she does normal stuff like eat and sleep.

Pleased visit her blog spot-- there was a mix-up in Lori's posting about Andrea's address. It is www.heavenlanecreations.com This is just a sample of what I sent her:

What she created is fantastic!!! Be sure to check it out.

Now to show off what Andrea sent me. YUMMY!!

I was so excited I started with the bronzite bead then remembered that I needed to take a picture so the leather strip is something I added. I was going to make a cuff using the focal but it didn't want to go in that direction. Instead I have created (I think) the most elegant bead embroidery necklace in my collection.

I paired the focal with bronze 11 and 15 seed beads, 3mm bronze pearls, 4mm bronzite rounds, and bronzite ovals.
The second necklace I made was a complete switch for me. I don't make metal components but the beads, clasp, and chips she sent just screamed at me to add some copper wire. So I started bending and twisting, cutting and hammering, and this is what I made.

I added the copper wire, some bumble bees and three lampwork beads I found in a shop about three years ago (yes, I am trying to use some of my hoarder stash! )

I still have lots of beads left so who knows what will show up on my blog page next.

Please take the time to visit all the extraordinary artists in this years Bead Soup Blog Hop. With 500 artists in the hop the talent is fantastic. Bead Soup Blog click on the link and it will take you to a posting with everyone listed.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

7th Bead Soup Revel --- Second Revel

Well as usual I am running a bit behind in posting my blog. I received a fantastic Bead Soup from my partner, Judy Robinson She turns plain ordinary wood into beautiful Native American flutes, vases, beads, and cabochons. I have had much fun reading her blog and learning about her skills.
As I said Judy sent me a fantastic bead soup. In case you didn't see my earlier blog, here is a picture of what she sent me.

The first item I played with was the number 11 seed beads. I set up my loom and began a bracelet which I love!!

Then I kept staring at the two cabs she made. The larger one is beautiful but the smaller cab made out of splatted maple just kept calling me. The markings looked so much like the beach and ocean horizon. So I dug into my stash found a sea shell and two fossils and went to work. (Let me tell you although I am not happy that Lori has been so ill I was thankful for the extension last week). This piece just grew on it's own. A friend asked me where do you get your ideas for the bead placement and my response was "the beads go were they want to." I think that this is one of the best pieces I have made and the first I have titled- A Walk Along The Beach. I know there aren't too many lavender boardwalks but in my bead world there is.

The focal piece from Judy.

The fossils

The seashell

The clasp from Judy

I still have lots of goodies left from my soup mix and ideas are forming but for now I need to explore what everyone is posting. Happy Blogging friends and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Pleas check out Judy's blog and visit the board on 7th Bead Soup Blog Party board. The Jewelry art is fantastic!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINKS ON LORI ANDERSON'S BLOG TO VISIT ALL THE GREAT ARTISTS IN THE SECOND REVEL!!! http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2013/04/the-7th-bead-soup-blog-party-second.html

Thank you Lori for a wonderful fantastic job with this Bead Soup Party. I know it have been an act of love for you!

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!!!

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, 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