Special Surprise!

Several weeks ago, I received a very special surprise.  Kathy from ZnetShows e-mailed me concerning my blog.  She had read it and asked if I would be interested in designing for their March newsletter.  Of course, I said Yes!!!! A couple of days later I received a fantastic collection of beads to design with.

I was on the way to Newport News, VA to see my brother so the package went with me and the imagination kicked in.  I visited two of my favorite bead stores The Bead Store and Bead Retreat.   At the Bead Store, I found the perfect sea glass blue seed beads (along with a bunch of other beading supplies you can never just buy one thing at a bead store), then off I went to Bead Retreat.  She doesn't have a web site but her address is 1105 William Styron Sq. S., Newport News, VA (just in case you live down in the area)  I found the coolest sea charms and chain at her shop (and more extra beading supplies) and she is a wonderful person to visit.  Back to Tom's house I went and started creating.

The sea glass shell pendants and crystals are from Znet and I combined it with a spiral rope. I was so excited about this necklace I finished it in just two hours.

 Next, a simple chain necklace with a shell pendant and charm with matching earrings. Note the earring have shell chain drops.

I then made a RAW (right angle weave) bracelet  using three of the sea glass nuggets, a third necklace with the daggers, three pairs of earrings, one with daggers, one with sea glass bottle top rings, and the third with pearls and crystals.

Of course I help loads of help with my designs from two very critical inspectors--

 Marvin and Emma.  Somehow every once in a while one or the other would join me at the table and as usual lay right on top of my work. Sigh, oh well.

Finally, a picture of everything I created.  I had so much fun with this design project.

I would like to thank Kathy and Bill for this chance to design using their sea glass and crystals.  They have a very interesting blog on how the sea glass is created, please visit it. Znet blog on sea glass.  Also please visit their web site

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

Katherine Gale

Emma Andrews

Karin Slaton

Kim Bender

Lola Surwillo

Amy Severino

Bobbie Rafferty

Sally Russick

Tanya Goodwin

Paula Kramer

Sarah

Karen Williams

Shannon Hicks

Andra Weber

Beth

DW

Marla Gibson

Lisa Stukel

Mandy Duffy

Cynthia Machata

Shirley Moore

Challenge Check In

     This week has been crazy.  Mom and I have been busy every night except for Monday.  Opps, I forgot Monday was Weight Watchers for me and I lost another 2.6 lbs.  I have a long road to go but every little step counts. Tuesday and Thursday, I had to work which totally destroyed any hope of beading. Wednesday was the pot-luck dinner at our center.  It was a lot of fun and lots of good food was available and I was very careful not to over eat.  We had a good friend over on Friday night, Marlene and the three of us played around with clay to make cabs for bead embroidery.  I would love to learn how to fire and glaze my own cabs so I really need to see about a clay class.  Marlene had the new Best of Bead Style mag. and  I borrowed it for a bracelet idea- 'Hip to Be Square' by Marilu Morency.  The bracelet pattern is a square stitched design using two needles, cubes #8 seed beads, and montees (which I did not have) So I adapted the pattern using the cubes, pearls, and #11 seed beads (only because I didn't have #8 to match the pearls).  I also stabbed myself too many times so I made the cubed squares using a single needle.  Once the bracelet was done,  I played with the idea of a matching necklace.  I am pleased with the results.  Tell me what you think, please.

     The cubes are frosted amber, almost a rootbeer color, copper pearls, and copper seed beads.  I finished it off with a magnetic copper clasp on the bracelet and copper chain and lobster claw for necklace.

     If you get a chance, stop by and check out Lori Anderson 's blog.  Her  book cover design is posted and it is awesome!  I can't wait until the book is here!

    My New Year challenges are coming along.  I am taking more pictures with my camera and learning different techniques with it.  I have met several wonderful people on the net and am learning so much from them.   I am also doing something that I thought I would never have the chance to do.  On Feb. 11th ,I leave for a seven day cruise to  the Bahamas.  I am traveling with my Mother and brother, Tom and hopefully we will have wonderful cruising weather.

   I am off to bed.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week