Inspiration & Collaboration; the social artist: Giveaway Time!!!!!

Inspiration & Collaboration; the social artist: Giveaway Time!!!!!

Genea Beads and Staci Louise of Artisan Accents are offering this great giveaway of beautiful green polymer clay and lampwork beads. The beads are in a great fall color palette and will add a touch of handmade artisan to your jewelry designs. Head over to their blog and take a chance on winning.  Inspiration and Collaboration ; The Social Artist

6th Bead Soup Blog Party Third and Final Reveal!

I have been lucky enough to be able to participate in the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party! This is the third reveal. My partner in this party is Loretta Carstensen. Loretta sent me a beautiful patriotic bead mix. The mix included blue agate, freshwater pearls, red Chinese crystals, German silver, lapiz chips, seed beads, a beautiful heart clasp, a "love, mind, heart, soul" charm, and a lovely blue and white china focal pendant.

So many beautiful beads! I wanted to create a piece with the patriotic red, white, and blue theme and decided on a memory wire bracelet. This is the first time I have played with memory wire and it was great fun. I used the red Chinese crystals, the red, white, and blue seed beads, German silver beads, and the silver lined triangle seed beads from the mix, adding blue ceramic beads and white faceted crystals. I like the way it turned out and will definitely design more memory wire bracelets.

 My next design started with the white and blue china pendant. I wanted to focus on the beautiful yet simple blue floral design in the pendant. So, I kept to a blue and silver color palette, using silver plated chain. The chain was very shiny and I wanted a softer look, so I wove waxed cotton cord through the chain. It needed some movement and a little more to make it interesting so I added blue ceramic beads on knotted head pins.

A close up of the beautiful pendant, clasp, and the knotted head pins.

Next, I chose the lovely fresh water pearls and the "love, mind, heart, soul" charm. I used rosary chain wire wrapping for the freshwater pearls and added sterling silver circle chain, a second drop with a single freshwater pearl, and a third drop with the charm. I wire wrapped the lobster claw clasp and jump ring to the chain with two tiny seed pearls. It is very delicate and simple.

Finally, I selected a beautiful blue agate nugget and added a tulip Vintaj bead cap and Vintaj chain. I added six gorgeous borosilicate beads from Beingbeads. I really like the nugget peeking out from the bead cap and have similar plans for the other four nuggets. 

Thanks to Lori Anderson for all her hard work organizing and managing this blog hop! It is a wonderful way to expand your designing skills and meet other amazing jewelry designers. Please check out her blog Pretty Things where you can read her excellent blog, see her outstanding designs,  and purchase her book "Bead Soup".

Here are the links to my partner Loretta and all of the other creative participants in the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party Third Reveal:

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
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

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
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
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, Simply Mod Jewelry
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

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
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
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Bead Soup Reveal is Saturday August 25th!

Are you ready for the next and final reveal of the Summer 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party?
I am getting there! I received a beautiful red, white, and blue themed bead soup.

I have been playing with all the major components for weeks now. I have challenged myself to use all of the beads in multiple pieces and am having fun with that. I have two pieces completed and have my next two pieces designed. Only a few more days to complete the work and there is one component that I am struggling with. Wish me luck! You will see how I do next Saturday.
Have a wonderful week! Lisa

Bead Soup Reveal - Check it Out

I just finished looking at all the designs from the first reveal of the Summer 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party. What a talented group of women! I saw so many unique designs and so much enthusiasm and support for each other. If you haven't checked it out, go to Lori Anderson's Blog Pretty Things and have some fun looking at all the great bead work.

Here are some pretty bead soups for inspiration before you go!

 Hollow lampwork glass, Tibetan beads, pearls and more!

Lampwork discs, Mamacita Beads Pewter Heart, Czech glass flowers!

 Bumpy lampwork glass, Ruby Zoisite, bronze toggle and charms!

Donna Millard focal, amethysts, resin flowers!

Beads Soup Blog Party Reveal Number One!

Happy Caturday! Today is the first reveal in this summer's Bead Soup Blog Party. Yeah!!! I am hopping as fast as I can to see all the amazing designs our beady sisters have created. Head on over to Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Blog and check it out! Here is another shot of my soup for inspiration. I am participating in the third reveal August 25th.

And here is the soup I sent my partner Loretta.

Have fun hopping!

Second Surf Pendants

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to win an auction for jewelry from Barbara Bechtel whose website is Second Surf .This is the beautiful ring I got along with matching hair pins.

I had been following Barbara's blog and admiring her work for some time. In May, I purchased a set of small pendants from her and was so happy to get them! Her designs are very unique and organic.

I was immediately inspired to combine leather and freshwater pearls with the nautilus pendant and the leaf pendant. I have always worked with wire, so this was a big challenge for me and I went for simplicity.

I really like the way they turned out! Check out Barbara's other designs at her website Second Surf .
You might get lucky and snag one of her cool Sampler Sets! 

BEAD SOUP IS HERE!

It's Bead Soup time again! I received my package from my partner Loretta and what a beautiful collection of beads!

She sent me a patriotic mix of red, white, and blue beads. :) What fun! Look at the pretty blue and white pottery shard pendant, sweet little pearl charm, and "love, mind, soul, body charm. She included a heart clasp too! I <3 hearts!

The rest of the soup includes a lampwork bead, Sodalite chips, Blue Agate nuggets, red Chinese crystals, German Silver, seed beads, and some sweet little pearls. I tend to work with blues and greens or earth tones like tan, gold, and green. I am looking forward to playing with this lovely mix! Please visit Loretta's blog Designs by Loretta and her Etsy store Loretta's Boutique

Happy Caturday!

Wow! It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted, but at least I have something to show for my time way. :) My husband, Dell, and I renovated our master bathroom. Yeah!!! Truthfully, he did most of the work and I handled design and procurement. Here are a couple of pictures of my coastal cottage style bathroom.

My beautiful new pedestal sink! It was a bargain too. Home Depot has discontinued offering the Kohler Devonshire line in the store and will only have it special order. So I got the last sink for 80% off! We used bead board for the walls and Dell installed lots of molding to give it that cottage look. The walls are painted "antique linen" with white trim. The antique linen paint has a hint of green and a hint of yellow depending on the lighting.

See the frosted edge around the mirror? It has a cool retro look that I really like.

This little alcove was originally the shower. It was so cramped and cluttered. Now I have all my girlie supplies organized in this cute cabinet. It helps me keep the space neat and tidy!

My beautiful new shower. This space was a mirrored closet that had the water heater in it. We moved the water heater to the utility room and that made space for the perfect size shower. It has a nice shelf for shampoo and soap and a beautiful brushed nickle faucet.

I have had this mermaid and dolphin sculpture for many years. They are a soothing verdegris with hints of warm bronze. Perfect for my coastal style!

The little compass was a gift from a neighbor. It is from the 1930s. My Mom gave me the little ceramic flip flop. It was made by students at the Brevard Achievement Center.

This lovely watercolor of a dory is by Ruth Wilton, a Nova Scotian artist. I really like the cool greens and yellow in the painting and am so lucky to have this original piece of art.

Sorry I don't have before pictures. I disliked the room so much, I refused to take the pictures! It was a sad 1980s disaster with too much mirrored wall and Hollywood style lighting. Now it's a soothing retreat! Tomorrow, I will be back to beads! Happy Caturday from the Beach Cats!

Bead Soup Blog Hop

Today is the day!Let's all do the  Bead Soup Party Blog Hop! First a picture of the beads I received from my partner Menka Gupta. Menka sent me an amazing agate focal, some tiger eye, jade, freshwater pearls, lovely toggle clasp and more.

I really love the beautiful greens and carnelian colors in the focal and wanted to show it off properly. I tried several different designs and wasn't satisfied. I knew I wanted the focal to be displayed horizontally and wanted some sterling wire. After several false starts, I ended up with this.

I hammered a sterling frame and wrapped it with finer gauge wire adding three pretty briolettes. I used tiny silver seed beads for the necklace and included carnelian chips, agate rondelles, amazonite rondelles and tiger eye lozenges and squares. I am happy with the design and will create some earrings and a bracelet with the left over pieces.
Well I am heading off to Menka's blog to see what she made with the beads I sent her.

Hostess, Lori Anderson Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

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 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

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

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

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

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

I won!

I can't believe it! I won the giveaway from Jean Wells on Love My Art Jewelry.  She drew my name randomly from those who commented on her beautiful jewelry and I received this lovely heart necklace

.

I wanted to thank her for the giveaway and get another piece of her work. So I was off to her store Jean A Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry and I selected these great earrings! They are made of recycled Aqua Glass, Copper and Sterling Silver and I love them too! Thanks Jean!

Goodbye for today. Come back tomorrow for the Bead Soup Blog Hop!

Happy Caturday!

This beautiful Bobcat was spotted enjoying a sunny  day at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. As NASA is transitioning from the Shuttle Program to the Commercial Crew Program and other exciting adventures, various facilities are being decommissioned and fewer humans are working in these areas, so the wildlife is reclaiming some territory. 

Kennedy Space Center is located on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and provides a safe home to many wild creatures including Bobcats, Bald Eagles, Alligators, and Manatees to name a few.  Here is another picture of the Pad B Bobcat.

 

Trixie's Garden

I have been playing with Vintaj Brass today. What fun! I did my take on one of their published butterfly necklace designs. I like a little simpler design, fewer bead connectors, more chain, and a few dangles. I had a major stamping disaster with the butterfly, but I like how I hid my mistake.;) I planned to stamp "Dream" on one side and "Do" on the other, but I hit the "M" poorly. So I sanded off as much as I could, dinged it up with my trusty hammer, and stamped "Dream" over and over. A little green Sharpie to bring out the letters and it doesn't look bad. I named the necklace and two earring group "Trixie's Garden" for my sweet feral tabby, Trixie. In her honor, the proceeds of the sale of "Trixie's Garden" will go to a local spay-neuter group. Have you ever had a stamping disaster?

My Bead Soup is Here!

My Bead Soup arrived Friday and I couldn't wait to see it! A beautiful oval Agate Focal in shades of green and caramel. I had forgotten how much I love Agate. Menka added coordinating lovely Tiger Eye, Carnelian, Jade, and Fresh Water Pearls to the mix along with a Silver Toggle, Silver Bead Caps, and Gold Beads. It is a wonderful collection bringing out all the different colors in the Agate focal. My mind has been swimming with design ideas.

The first jewelry class I took at the Down the Street Bead Show featured a round agate pendant. I still have the necklace and will post it soon. I have to go now. It's time to play and my Bead Soup awaits.
Happy Caturday!

I am so excited that I was selected to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party. I finally finished my Bead Soup and it is on the way to my partner, Menka ! I hope she has as much fun designing with the beads as I did putting it together.

Caturday Morning

Happy Caturday from the Beach Cats! It's a beautiful day in New Smyrna Beach and all the Beach Cats were up as usual at 5:30.That's Bobby in bed and Gamble in his favorite chair.  They never take a day off. :)
That's fine with me. It gives me some quiet time to work on my Bead Soup. I am putting the package together for my Bead Soup partner Menka Gupta from Menka's Jewelry blog! Menka makes beautiful jewelry with gemstone beads, pearls, Swarovski crystals and more. You can see her designs at her blog. I hope you have a wonderful Caturday!

5th Bead Soup Blog Party

I am so excited! The 5th Bead Soup Blog Party is coming soon. Thanks to Lori Anderson at Pretty Things Blog for organizing and managing this fabulous event!
I am sorting through my bead stash in anticipation of the fun to come. Here are a few soup starters that I picked today. I included lampwork beads, ceramic beads, pewter, bronze, and sterling silver charms, gemstones, and czech glass. All of my favorite things!