Bead Soup Blog Party 8: Reveal

It is time again for Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party. I’ve been so very privileged to be involved in 5 out of 8 of these parties. They are always fun, and it is so inspiring to hop around the globe and see what everyone created with their “soup” ingredients.

My partner for this 8th party was the lovely Jami Shipp of Celebrating Life! She has been so gracious through this entire process. I was late to send beads because I just couldn’t make any of my ingredients work together, and she was very understanding. She doesn’t know that it’s only through sheer, stubborn determination that I managed to make the deadline this year. There have been many things going on and demanding my time.

Since I didn’t manage to blog about my ingredients ahead of time, here is what Jami sent me.

The wooden beads and focal are vegetable dyed. The floral print and mind behind the beads are Marie-Noel Van Camp. I wasn’t able to find a website for Marie-Noel Van Camp, but when I do, I’ll update with a link. Jami created the clasp herself.

And now for the reveal. This is what I put together with the ingredients that Jami provided.

I can take very little credit for this design. It was inspired by the work of Rejetta Sellers in the Spring 2014 issue of Stringing Magazine. Her piece was called Juicy.

Here is another view of the piece.

Closer view of the clasp.

Since the floral print was a rose, I wanted another element to bring in the idea of roses. I remembered another magazine project that I had to dig around for in my very organized piles of magazines. In the Summer 2010 edition of Easy Wire, Cindy Wimmer created a piece called Spiral Roses, and I thought those little roses would be really nice with this piece.

I was only able to put together one piece for this hop. There were some pearls that I thought would make a very nice romantic bracelet, but I couldn’t settle on a design.

Please visit my partner, Jami Shipp and see what she created with these fun beads from me.

When you are done visiting Jami, please check out Lori’s blog for the complete list of participants in the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party.

Thank you for stopping by!!

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Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

There has been lots of cooking all over the world for Lori Anderson’s 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.  Today is the first of three reveals.

As a refresher, here is what my partner, Susan Sheehan, sent me.

{also a link for the goodies}

And without further ado {because I know you have lots and lots of visiting to do}, here is what I created.

If you look closely, there are four pieces there.  I will start with the necklaces.

I really wanted to create a long necklace.  I just have one in my waredrobe, and I find that I’d like to wear more.  The main necklace {on the left} is about 21-inches long.  I found some perfectly coordinated Czech Glass rectangles that I wire wrapped together.  I added the beautiful glass beads Susan created and the yellow rectangle stones.

I wanted the focal to shine in the center.  I didn’t like the feel of adding dangles to the bottom, so I created a spiral that wraps slightly up over the bottom of this lovely pendant.

If you haven’t taken a moment to examine this focal, then scroll back up to the top and see the closer view in my main image.  The detail work on this pendant is gorgeous!  And you can’t see it from my pictures, but the flowers are repeated on the back in the same design.

As I was wrapping this first necklace, I had the idea of creating a second one that would be complementary.  The second necklace {on the right} is about 18-inches long.  I made it so the two necklaces can link together via lobster clasps and create a single necklace that’s nearly 40-inches long.  I think I’m too short for such a long necklace, but they also layer beautifully and are fun as separates too.  I am all about versatility in my pieces.

Since I decided to link the necklaces together, I did not use the lovely clasp Susan sent me.  I wanted a piece that would feature the clasp, so I created this simple bracelet.

I had a few remaining rectangle yellow stones that were just begging to be used, so I created a second bracelet.  I loved the yellow and pink of the Blood Quartz together.

I think four pieces is the most I’ve ever created for a Bead Soup Blog Party.  I had so much fun with the ingredients Susan so generously sent me.  I could go on and on, but I’ll let you travel on to the other participants.

First, don’t miss what Susan made with the ingredients I sent her at Strands of Thought.

Then, please take a few moments to visit some of the other participants.  I know these talented designers will knock your socks off with their creativity!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Alicia Marinache ~ All Pretty Things
Amber Dawn Goldish ~ Inventive Soul
Barb Solem ~ Vivi Magoo Presents
Bev Breisinger ~ Country Frog Creations
Birgitta Lejonklou ~ Create with Spirit
Breana Fry ~ Vault 31
Brenda Sue Lansdowne ~ B’sue Boutiques
Bridget Torres ~ Shears58
Carol Dee Myers ~ Carol Deezigns
Carolyn Chenault ~ Carolyn Chenault

Cassi Paslick ~ Beads: Rolling Downhill
Cece Cormier ~ The Beading Yogini
Cheryl McCloud ~ One Thing Leads To Another
Cindy Wilson ~ It’s My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain ~ Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Riggs ~ Cynth’s Blog
Dana Hickey ~ Wind Dancer Studios
Dana James ~ Dana’s Jewelry Design
Darlene Fortier ~ darliciousrejuvenations
Deana Hager ~ Just Deesarts

Deanna Cox ~ Beaded Dreams
Deb Brooks ~ From the Heart Creations
Debra Behrends ~ Hopeful Journeys
Denielle Hagerman ~ Some Beads and Other Things
Denise McCabe ~ Cabe Woman
Diana Frey ~ Tattered Adornments
Diana Welte ~ Lily Weeds
Dini Bruinsma ~ Angaza by Changes
DiYana Alcalde ~ Agape Creations Jewelry
Dolores Raml ~ CraftyD’s Creations

Donna Millard ~ Fyre Beadz
Dot Lewallwn ~ Speedie Beadie
Duane Clark ~ dc’z bizzy bead adventures
Dyanne Cantrell ~ http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr ~ http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld ~ www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy ~ www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer ~ http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian ~ http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant ~ http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com

Eva Kovacs ~ http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman ~ http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett ~ www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Grace Rotenberg ~ http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation ~ www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner ~ http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis ~ http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston ~ http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers ~ http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue ~ www.wrappedinsilver.com

Jacqueline Marchant ~ Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jan Petek ~ Pepper Tree Designs
Janeen Sorensen ~ Wild Vanilla Designs
Jane-Michael Stallings ~ Craft Vacuum
Jasvanti Patel ~ Jewelry by Jasvanti
Jayashree Paramesh ~ Nchantme
Jayne Capps ~ Mama’s Got To Doodle
Jean Yates ~ Snap out of it Jean
Jennifer Cameron ~ Glass Addictions
Jennifer LaVite ~ Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry

Joan Williams ~ Lilruby Jewelry
Jodie Marshall ~ Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads
Judy Riggs ~ Rigglettes
Julie Anne Leggett ~ The Peaceful Bead
Kat Barron Miller ~ Midnight Kat Productions
Kathy Lindemer ~ Bay Moon Designs
Kim Hora ~ Kimmy Kats
Kim Houston ~ The Pink Martini
Kim Sparks ~ Beadabunch
Krafty Max ~ Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld ~ Cherish Designs
Krista French ~ Express Your Faith Jewelry
Kristen Stevens ~ My Bead Journey
Kristi Harrison ~ It’s a New Day
Kumi Fisher ~ Malie Kai Designs
Laren Dee Barton ~ Laren Dee Designs
Laura Bracken ~ Laura Bracken Designs
Laura Demoya ~ www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna ~ Laurie’s Jewelbox
Laurie Keefe-Cecere ~ Tree of Life ~ rooted in my soul

Lea Avroch ~ lajewelrydesigns
Leanne Loftus ~ First Impression Design
Lee Anne Messerschmidt ~ Adventures in Jewelry
Leslie Schenkel ~ Twisted Chicken
Linda Anderson ~ http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic ~ www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy ~ www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler ~ http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy ~ http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver ~ http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/

Liz DeLuca ~ http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser ~ http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo ~ http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen ~ www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Bergmann ~ www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud ~ http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe ~ http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider ~ www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley ~ www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford ~ http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com

Magdalena Sikora ~ http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman ~ http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld ~ Good to Go Jewelry
Marcy Lamberson ~ http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark ~ http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow ~ www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan ~ www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Marie Covert ~ http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad ~ www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan ~ http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com

Mary Harding ~ www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander ~ http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett ~ http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers ~ http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro ~ http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren ~ http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy ~ http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub ~ http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler ~ http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan ~ http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo

Patricia Johnson ~ http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller ~ http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel ~ http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson ~ http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson ~ http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron ~ http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley ~ http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah ~ http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson ~ http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano ~ www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Robin Reed ~ www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson ~ http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke ~ www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa ~ www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick ~ http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe ~ www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon ~ http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson ~ www.SandyColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small ~ http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks ~ http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Shari Replogle ~ Plays With Paper
Sheila Daniels ~ http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis ~ http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie ~ www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore ~ www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre’z ~ http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith ~ www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacie Florer ~ http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Pomerleau ~ www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss ~ www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com

Sumi Rani ~ www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan ~ Strands of Thought
Suzette Bentley ~ http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris ~ www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy ~ www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman ~ www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton ~ www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday ~ http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/

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Craft Month with Fusion Beads: Day 1, Earrings

I kept seeing little mentions of the Fusion Beads 30 Day Challenge and for some reason, I assumed it was for the month of February or had already started. When I realized the first day was today, I thought, ok, I’ll check it out.

The challenge is to make a specific-themed jewelry item each day. Today’s theme is Earrings. I had a pair of earring I was imagining to go with a bracelet and necklace set I’d created earlier this week, so I started with planning to create that. But it just wasn’t working out like I’d envisioned.

As I was digging around in my Swarovski stash, I came across some components I’d bought probably two years ago {from Fusion Beads} to make into some simple earrings. I found the matching crystal bicones and decided to go that direction instead.

They’re simple, but cute, and I like them.

Oh, and will I do this challenge for the whole 30 days? Certainly not. But it’ll be fun to pop in and be inspired from time to time during the month.

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Bead Soup for My Partner

I decided to make the focal and clasp for my bead soup.  I wanted a new metal flower that was a little more tropical feeling, so I searched the web for some pictures until I found a flower that I liked.  Then I sketched it out and set to shaping the copper into my vision.

I’m really, really happy with how this flower turned out.  It’s 2 1/4 inches in diameter because that seemed like a good size to me.  I textured the petals and colored it with a plum patina from Metal Me This.  It’s the first time I’ve added a patina to metal, but it will certainly not be the last.

I also included one of my heart clasps.  I wanted to create a flower one, but I was already running behind and the purple one from my stash seemed to go really well with the other ingredients.

The one thing I didn’t do with this focal was punch the petals for stringing.  I had several ideas on where to punch, but I didn’t want to limit Susan’s creativity by selecting for her.  I did include my punch ideas in my card to her.

I promise that I had already decided on a purple and yellow theme for this soup before I opened Susan’s package.  You know what they say about great minds and all.  You might also notice that the yellow rounds on the left are strikingly similar to the rectangles that Susan sent me.

The only thing I really wish I’d done differently was make the focal smaller.  I seem to have something for the large flowers, but I’m worried that she’s going to be limited because of the size.  I am so very excited to see what Susan does with these soup ingredients.

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Soup Ingredients from Susan Sheehan

My Bead Soup Blog Party partner for the 7th swap is Susan Sheehan.  When I saw her name in the email from Lori, I thought, I know this gal.  But it took me a little bit to figure out how and why.  For now, I’m just going to keep that my little secret…

Susan’s beautiful soup showed up on my doorstep a full three days before I even shipped mine to her!  She was quite on top of the whole exchange, while I had been mired in a week of stomach flu immediately followed by five-year-old birthday party preparation.

I would like to say that I showed tremendous restraint and waited until I’d shipped her package, but in a move much unlike me {I blame the illnesses and stress ~ I needed a fun little break}, I tore open that box and went through all the lovely ingredients.

Susan is a glass bead artist {something I hope to learn one day ~ probably after I have all three kids in grade school}.  And she sent me some lovely creations and supplies from her stash.

I’m not sure I can specifically name everything she sent me.  But there’s a string of olive pearls, some Swarovski crystals, some fun green waxed linen, a set of yellow stones I can’t identify {but have some in my stash and love}, and some glass discs I’m pretty sure she created.

The pendant reminds me Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night even though it’s flowers.  The painting was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw it.  The clasp is a fun style of clasp that I’ve admired for a long time.  I just hope I can do this soup some justice!

I’m looking forward to letting some ideas simmer in my mind while I gaze at these lovely ingredients over the next couple weeks.  I’m certain our March 30th reveal date will be here before I know it.

Make sure you take a few moments to browse Susan’s shop for some other really lovely beads.  She and I seem to share a love for flowers.

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Happy House Earrings

There are 100 reasons why I haven’t had time to work out any of the jewelry ideas swirling around in my head, but there are at least 101 reasons why I should.

On Sunday afternoon, I decided I would spend some time on an idea that I’d been thinking about for several weeks.  I wanted to see if I could cut glass.  I’d had all the components for a bit, but just hadn’t sat down to try it out.

I figured out how to take a 1″ by 3″ piece and cut it into four 3/4″ by 1″ pieces.  I wanted to test it out and see if they’d work into good soldered pendants, but as I looked at the four pieces of glass, the idea of earrings popped into my head.

I grabbed the nearest tablet of scrapbook paper, flipped back the cover, and viewed these cute little houses.  I selected a pair that coordinated, but did not match and tested it out.

I’m really pleased with how they turned out!

I also added this cute little coordinating paper on the back, which I almost like better than the houses.  That gave me another idea, but I’ll have to save it for another day.

I can’t tell you what a joy it was to take something from vision to finished piece in about an hour or so.  I need to be doing this more often.

 

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Are You Ready to “Cook”?

It’s time for the lovely Lori Anderson’s 7th Bead Soup Blog Party sign up!

Sign-ups are going on right now until Sunday the 27th on Lori’s Bead Soup Blog Party page.  All you really have to do is have a blog and sign up for the party.

Lori will assign you a partner around February 3rd.  You will need to send your partner a focal piece, a nice clasp (no plated lobster claws) and some coordinating beads by February 10th.  That’s all there is to it.

Once you receive the ingredients from your partner, you have a few weeks to create your piece and then all of the participants will reveal on one of three different dates: March 30th, April 6th or April 13th.  You just decide on the date you prefer when you sign up.

I’ve participated in three different exchanges (pictured above) and it’s just so much fun every time ~ picking the ingredients, waiting for your fun package, figuring out what to make, seeing what your partner created, and hopping around for days (and days and days) to see what everyone else created.

It’s a seriously so fun and so creatively inspiring.

So what are you waiting for??? Sign up already!

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Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal

Today is the big reveal for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party.  Lori Anderson of Pretty Things was our hostess for this fun and creative swap.  Today is the 3rd and final set of reveals that have been going on for the past 4 weeks.

You might remember my partner Donetta Farrington of Simply Gorgeous sent me this fantastic collection of beads…

My task was to take the focal (which Donetta did create {wow!} ) and clasp and design at least one piece of jewelry.  I love what she sent me and the colors were so fun to work with.  I was going to drag out the reveal, but there is a lot of blog hopping to do, so I’ll give you the payout first and you can decide if you want to read all the nitty-gritty details. 😉

I knew I wanted to create something that incorporated the lovely silk ribbon Donetta sent me.  The original thought behind my design was to have the ribbon be towards the clasp, but I decided to switch it up a bit and use the ribbon to hold the focal.

Mustard yellow is so popular right now, but not a color I naturally gravitate towards.  Since I knew it would be more of a creative challenge and it looked so lovely with the aqua, I decided I had to use it in my necklace design.  I did struggle to find beads in my stash to compliment the yellow, but I am very pleased to report that I did not buy one new thing for the creation these two pieces.

I have a spool of Vintaj wire I’d picked up when I was designing my piece for the Fusion Beads Vintaj challenge, so I created several large jump rings and linked them together in kind of ring components.  I started with them at the focal, but used them in several places on the necklace.

With the lovely Chalcedony ring Donetta sent me, I knew I was going to create an asymmetrical design.  I love the ribbon bow on the ring.

I wanted to keep the design simple on the ring side of the necklace, so I just used a couple different seed beads and randomly added some silver toned rings I had.

On the other side of the necklace, I wanted a more chunky design.  I loved working with the Kyanite sticks {and I liked saying the name in my head ~ Kyanite, Kyanite}.  I had some semi-precious yellow-toned rounds to mix with the Kyanite and aqua stones.

And, of course, I finished up the necklace with the sooo pretty clasp from Donetta.

For the bracelet, I have to admit I was very inspired by all of the floss, ribbon and string designs from the Arm Party Exchange earlier this week.  I took the orange silk ribbon cord and used a knotting technique I learned back in the days of friendship bracelets.  I just had to make myself another fun heart clasp like I did for the bracelet I created for my partner in the Arm Party Exchange, AmarieBeauty.  Then I played with more of the beautiful aqua stones for the second strand.

I love everything Donetta sent me.  And I have quite a few components left.  I’m so excited to have more silk ribbon to play with!

Make sure you check out what Donetta of Simply Gorgeous did with the soup I sent her.  I can’t wait to see what she’s created!

And, here is the list of the other participants! Hope you have a *b.i.g.* pot of soup all prepped to sustain you through the hop.

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin’
Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage
Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads
Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
Ann Sherwood, Ann’s Blog
Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents
Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory
Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen
Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie’re

Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth’s Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure

Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, AngelMoose Enterprises

Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging
Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier

Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul’s Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo’s Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce’s Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads

Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy’s Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori’s Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem’s PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN
Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi’s Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka’s Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival

Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny

Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca’s Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry
Rose Binoya, Ahtee’s Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do

Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin, Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin’ of Beads

Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

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It’s Time for an Arm Party!

Just over a month ago, I posted about the Summer Time Arm Party being hosted by Leonora of Yellow Heart Art and Ilene of Much Love, Illy.

My partner in this exchange is Angela Barnes of AmarieBeauty, and she was very quick with sending my package. She was so quick that I think it was in the mail before I’d even started her bracelet.

I planned to make her a couple bracelets, but I panicked a bit about time, so I only sent her one. And to be honest, I didn’t want to see what she’d sent me before I mailed her package.

{because I would have peeked…}

I’ve been having all sorts of fun with my own little arm party the past couple weeks courtesy of Angela, and it’s been hard not to be able to share my new, fun bracelets.

But I don’t have to wait any longer!

Here is what Angela sent me…

These bracelets are so fun! I love the braided rag bracelet made from tee-shirt scraps. It’s different than anything else I have. The colors are great too. I wearing a lot of that coral/pink color and the blue is perfect with jeans.

I’m also really digging the vintage button bracelet. It makes great clinking noises on my wrist and I’m constantly playing with moving the buttons around. It’s super light-weight and the colors are exactly what I need. Orange one of my favorite splashes of color right now.

Here they are in action…

Now that you’ve seen mine, be sure to hop on over to Angela’s blog and check out what I sent her. I design jewelry, so I had a lot of fun making her bracelet with no parameters other than a bit of color direction. Here’s a little sneak peek…

And when you’re done there, go over to Much Love, Illy and Yellow Heart Art to check out the other participants.

This has been a blast, and I hope there are more exchanges in the future!

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Link Challenge Reveal!

Today is the reveal for Peggy’s Blogging Link Challenge.  As a recap, Peggy sent us 25 of her acrylic links to play with and challenged us to create a piece of jewelry using those links.  We’ve had about 3 weeks to work on our designs, and today is the day we show off our creations.

I received 25 tortoise-shell colored links.  I really like fun, chunky chain, and there are a couple of jewelry ideas I’ve been working on where chunky chain would be fun to have.  Unfortunately, these lovely brown-toned links weren’t quite the right color for my vision.  So I worked on something new.

For my first piece, I knew I wanted to create a bracelet.  I love working with bracelets, and these links almost naturally form into a cuff.  I played around with the links a bit and figured out how to best link them together.  I wanted to make sure the openings for each link went in the same direction.

The links don’t seem to have a difference between the front or back, so it doesn’t really matter how you link them together, but I wanted them to be the same direction because that sort of thing matters to me.

Once they were linked, I decided I wanted to weave a ribbon in the links.  I raided my mom’s stash of trims and ribbons and found several I loved.  I first wove in the mustard and then figured out how to work the turquoise into the weave.

For the ends, I just tied a simple overhand knot and tightened it as best I could.  I’m going to add a small dab of glue just for security.  I cut the ends to my desired length {then I wore it for a bit and made them shorter}.

I created a simple hook clasp and a couple of large sized jump rings out of 16-gage copper wire to finish off the piece.  I love how this turned out!

Then I looked at my remaining links and realized I had 15 left!  So I had to make something else.  I really need {ok, want} some more long length necklaces.  I decided to create beaded segments and use some of Peggy’s links between them.

This time I used fabric ties to attach the links to the wrapped wire.  I liked the idea of the fraying fabric.  I started with long ties and it just didn’t look right, so I kept making them shorter and shorter until the are almost down to just the knots.  These will also get glued for added security {I have a 14-month-old who loves momma’s jewelry}.

The thing I really, really liked about creating this piece was the ability add and remove links.  Did I want 3 links here?  Click, click.  There you go.  Maybe I really wanted 5.  Click, click.  No, 4 is perfect.

Then there was the section of beads that I realized were facing the wrong direction.  Just a couple of clicks and it was all fixed.  With standard chain I would have been re-wrapping and wasting wire.  I really liked that flexibility.

Here is the completed necklace.  It ended up at 29 inches, which is pretty decent for a longer necklace.

Now for the fun part!

Here is the list of other designers who tackled this challenge…

Shelley Graham Turner ~ Fabric of My Life
Tania Spivey ~ Moobie Grace Designs
Ambra Gostoli ~ Chick and Frog ~ Jewels with Love
Kashmira Patel ~ Sadafulee…always in bloom!
Linda Florian ~ Lily’s of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Jami Shipp ~ Celebrating Life!
Terri Gauthier ~ Blooming Ideas
Miranda Ackerley ~ Everything Fabulous!
Mary Govaars ~ MLH Jewelry Designs
Sarah Goode ~ Pookledo
Paula Hisel ~ simply stated
Shai Williams ~ Shaiha’s Ramblings
Jennifer Reno ~ Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Kay Thomerson ~ KayzKreationz
Denielle Hagerman ~ A Blog About Some Beads and Other Things I Like
Janeen Sorensen ~ Wild Vanilla Designs {you’re here}
Emma Todd ~ A Polymer Penchant
Audrey Bélanger ~ Dreams of an Absolution
Mischelle Fanucchi ~ Micheladas Musings
Ilenia Ruzza ~ Ilenia’s Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry

You can see all of our creations on Peggy’s blog, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite design!

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