Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts

Friday, May 9, 2014

Welcome to the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party!

It's finally here!

The 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party starts today!

I was paired with Pat Haight of Wigglebutt Creations. She is a talented polymer clay artist (wait till you see the focal she sent me!) as well as a talented jewelry artist. Here's a reminder of the very generous soup she sent me:


She sent me tons of natural materials to complement her polymer clay; mother of pearl beads, black onyx, pearls, lava beads, shell hoops, serpentine and more!

My original "plan" was to use the focal and handmade brass clasp (she sent two!) in a single piece. But my muse wasn't having it...so I grabbed one of my more neutral lampwork focals, and started adding some clay disks...pearls...onyx...mother of pearl beads...and came up with a cool necklace I love!


And here's a photo that shows the neat clasp and the colors a bit better!


Next, I had to do justice to the amazing clay focal Pat sent me. It looks like real Jade--I couldn't have guessed it was clay by looking at it! I knew the focal was so gorgeous, it shouldn't have too much to compete with it. I decided to make the focal a pendant on a simple silver curb chain, and added some dangles made out of more polymer clay flowers Pat sent. I just love this necklace, too!

Here's a shot of how it hangs:


And a closer pic of the amazing focal!


Finally a made a pair of earrings with the shell hoops and the lava beads. I love the look of lava beads, so I had to make *something* with them, even if it was just earrings!


So much natural beauty! I didn't even use all the beads Pat sent, she was so generous with her soup! Please make sure to check out her Blog, so you can see what she made with the soup I sent!

Now sit, back and relax, and have hopping the rest of this amazing group, and be sure to visit our Hostess, Lori Anderson first! Click on the link below to see the complete list!




Monday, April 21, 2014

Bead Soup Preview!

The HUGE Bead Soup Blog Hop is still a couple weeks away, but I have started to play with the amazing soup sent to me by my partner, Pat Haight of Wigglebutt Creations. Here is just a little teaser of the soup she sent; she beautifully labeled all of the delicious beads she sent me!


Yeah, I know the picture doesn't show the pretty beads...you'll just have to wait for the blog hop, happening Sunday, May 3rd!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party #8 is up and running!

One of the best things to ever happen to my creativity was to stumble upon the Bead Soup Blog Parties that Lori Anderson hosts. The Blog Hops have gotten so popular, that they are now a once a year major event in the beading community!

This year is the 8th exchange, and I have been lucky enough to be paired up with Pat Haight of Wigglebutt Creations. First of all, how can you not just *LOVE* that name? Her clay creations totally make me smile!

How can you not love this? :)


Secondly, her clay beads and jewelry are simply beautiful! I especially love when a clay artist can create a bead that reminds me of my beloved glass. It is so cool to see!

I can't believe this is clay! Gorgeous! :)
I will be sending out a very special soup to Pat this week, so she can hopefully have some fun creating for the Blog Hop come May 3rd!

Until then, you can find Wiggblebutt Creations online in the following locations:

Blog: http://wigglebuttblog.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WigglebuttClay
Main Website: http://www.wigglebutt.com/


Friday, July 5, 2013

ZnetShows Partner Picks Summer Challenge Reveal!

Well, it's been a heck of a few weeks since I signed up for this challenge! I selected some beads to be sent to my partner, Kay of Kayzcreationz, and she sent me a very pretty grouping of beads!

I knew I would be busy with the end of school, but figured once it was out, I could design my heart away...then, I broke my right hand. Yep, I'm right-handed.

This is what can happen when you take on a sidewalk and gravity at the same time, kids.

Before I even really had time to adjust to my new left-handedness, my mother had to be rushed to the hospital and was very ill for a few days with a nasty infection. She's still there, but is supposed to thankfully come home Monday--4 weeks later! So to say that I have been busy with non-jewelry matters is an understatement.

But I'm also stubborn. ;)

While I can't do any great wire work right now, or too much knotting, I can make basic loops and strung pieces with my left hand, using my right as little as possible. Who knew?

So without further delay, here are the pieces that I was able to create for the ZnetShows Challenge. I apologize for the pictures, which I had to take on the fly (like most everything these days!).

I loved the orange sea glass diamonds, and they reminded me of a blazing sunset. Since the theme is built around summer and the beach, I added the blue large hole crystals, and one of my own iridescent clear drops for sparkle. I love how these turned out!



Next, I wanted to use more of the green crackle agate, which I love, love, love! These earrings can be worn any time of year, not just for summer.


My final piece, which took a bit longer than normal, is the necklace built around the focal chosen for me by my partner. When I saw it, I immediately had a vision for it, and I came pretty close! I used the pewter fish and sea-foam green pebbles to accent the focal. For the necklace, I paired some glass rice pearls in a sandy brown with more of the pebbles. I finished it off with some copper chain, because I wanted to keep the brown theme...but now I am wondering how it would look with silver?

Complete necklace
 
Close up of the focal
 I'd like to invite you to see the rest of the designers' reveals on the ZnetShows blog. A special shout out goes to Hope Smithermen, of Crafty Hope, who helped to organize this swap and blog hop!



Sunday, May 19, 2013

Earring Swap & Blog Hop!

Who doesn't love earrings? Well, maybe people who hate fun, but for the rest of us, earrings are both fun to make and fun to wear!

Jessica Murray, of Whimsical Monkey, organized a wonderful artisan earring swap and corresponding blog hop. We were paired up, received a list of "likes" from our partner and were charged with creating a pair of earrings for that person.

I was paired up with Shellie Grady of Creative Ecletica, who was faced with a move during all of this, so she has been one busy woman!

Here are the earrings that I sent to Shellie, who said she loved both purple and turqouise:


In the pic above, you get both the front and side view of how they look. The pic is a smidge blurred, because they wouldn't stop swinging! Here they are, nice and still.


Sadly, I haven't yet received my earrings from Shellie...fingers crossed they are in today's mail and I can update the blog pronto!

In the meantime, please check out the rest of the participants:


Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com
 Nancy Smith: wirednan.blogspot.ca
Marianne Baxter: http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/
Leah Tees: mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca
Andrea Trank: www.heavenlanecreations.com
Miranda Ackerley: http://blog.mirandack.com/
Cheri Mitchell-Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy: www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Michele Dotson: http://star-jewels.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox: www.deannaaki.WordPress.com
Shelley Graham Turner: www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue: www.wrappedinsilver.com
Lennis Carrier: http://windbent.wordpress.com
Ginger Davis Allman: http://thebluebottletree.com/
Mary Anne Flesch: www.handcraftedserenity.blogspot.com
Nicole Valentine Rimmer: www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Stephanie Weiss: uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/
Silvia Sernicola: http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Karla Morgan: www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson: http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Carol Dillman: http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Spun Sugar Beadworks: Spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Tara Plote: http://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/
Rachel Baron: http://rbarondesigns.blogspot.com/   <----You are here! :)
Laurie Keefe: http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Kashmira Patel: http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett: http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Shellie Grindy: http://www.creativeeclectica.com/  <---My partner
Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell: http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Mimi Gardner: www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Jessica McMullen: http://pheonixgatedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jennifer LaVite: www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Laura Medeiros: http://zoeowyn.blogspot.com/
Alenka Obid: www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Elsie Fonseca: http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Dunham: www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Sandra McGriff: http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tania Spivey: http://moobiegrace.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle:  http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com





Sunday, April 14, 2013

Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge Reveal #7!

I am finally caught up with this challenge! Woohoo! Life was incredibly crazy in March, but I was finally able to find some time to work on some new earrings using my own lampwork and some ceramic beads from Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Beads. So let's see what I came up with!


Here are simple silver hoops with Diana's ceramic drops. Love these for their simplicity and their movement!


 Next, a pair of my lampwork beads, with some wire-wrapped glass briolettes.


Fun spiraled lampwork, pair with opalite, one of my favorite beads!

Click the picture to go to the Etsy listing!

Love this pair a LOT! My lampwork, gorgeous peachy-amber crystals, and handformed copper ear wires.

Click the picture to go to the Etsy listing!

Finally, a simple pair of mosaic-look beads in all sorts of neutral shades, paired with goldstone and more copper.


Please be sure to check the rest of the entries for the challenge by clicking on the thumbnails below!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Bead Soup #7 Reveal!

The time for some bead soup has arrived once again!

As a refresher, I received my soup from Bev Breisinger of Country Frog Creations. This is the 7th serving of Bead Soup organized by Lori Andersen, hostess with the mostess!

Here is a picture to remind you what Bev sent to me:



The rules of the soup are that we must use the focal and the clasp...the rest of the beads are an extra bonus. This time around, I used the focal and the clasp in the same piece...here is what I was able to make with her soup!


As you can see, I didn't use the heart focal in the traditional way. I also moved the clasp around to the front, since it seemed to lend itself well to continuing the square motif of the blue ceramic beads.

Here's a close up of the heart pendant:


And another shot of the whole necklace:


Due to craziness at work, I didn't have time to make anything else out of the soup. :(  I have plans for some earrings using the cool shell drops Bev sent, as well as some ideas for using the old key.

Want to see the rest of the soups? Of course you do! Follow the links below to see what other concoctions were created with soups from all over the world!

First and Last Name
Blog URL
Alicia Marinache
Amber Dawn Goldish
Barb Solem
Bev Breisinger
Birgitta Lejonklou
Breana Fry
Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Bridget Torres
Carol Dee Myers
Carolyn Chenault
Cassi Paslick
Cece Cormier
Cheryl McCloud
Cindy Wilson
Crystal Thain
Cynthia Riggs
Dana Hickey
Dana James
Darlene Fortier
Deana Hager
Deanna Cox
Deb Brooks
Debra Behrends
Denielle Hagerman
Denise McCabe
Diana Frey
Diana Welte
Dini Bruinsma
DiYana Alcalde
Dolores Raml
Donna Millard
Dot Lewallwn
Duane Clark
Dyanne Cantrell
Eleanor Burian-Mohr
Elisabeth Auld
Elizabeth Owens Dwy
Emily Greer
Enikö Fabian
Erin Grant
Eva Kovacs
Eva Sherman
Gina Hockett
Grace Rotenberg
Gretchen Nation
Hannah Rosner
Heather Davis
Heather Marston
Heather Powers
Ingrid McCue
Jacqueline Marchant
Jan Petek
Janeen Sorensen
Jane-Michael Stallings
Jasvanti Patel
Jayashree Paramesh
Jayne Capps
Jean Yates
Jennifer Cameron
Jennifer LaVite
Joan Williams
Jodie Marshall
Judy Riggs
Julie Anne Leggett
Kat Barron Miller
Kathy Lindemer
Kim Hora
Kim Houston
Kim Sparks
Krafty Max
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Krista French
Kristen Stevens
Kristi Harrison
Kumi Fisher
Laren Dee Barton
Laura Bracken
Laura Demoya
Laurie Hanna
Laurie Keefe-Cecere
Lea Avroch
Leanne Loftus
Lee Anne Messerschmidt
Leslie Schenkel
Linda Anderson
Linda Djokic
Linda Murphy
Linda Sadler
Lisa Liddy
Lisa Suver
Liz DeLuca
Liz Engriser
Lola Surwillo
Loretta Carstensen
Lori Anderson
Lori Bergmann
Lori Bowring Michaud
Lori Poppe
Lori Schneider
Lyn Foley
Maddison Langford
Magdalena Sikora
Mallory Hoffman
Marcella Austenfeld
Marcy Lamberson
Maria Clark
Maria Rosa Sharrow
Marianna Boylan
Marie Covert
Marti Conrad
Mary Ellen Merrigan
Mary Harding
Molly Alexander
  Nan Emmett
Niky Sayers
Pam Chesbro
Pam Farren
Pam Sandy
Pam Traub
Pamela Gangler
Patricia Buchanan
Patricia Johnson
Patty Miller
Paula Hisel
Peggy Gabrielson
Perri Jackson
Rachel Baron
Rachel Stanley
Rain Hannah
Rana Wilson
Renetha Stanziano
Robin Reed
Rochelle Brisson
Rose Rushbrooke


Ruth Szapa
Sally Russick
Sandi Volpe
Sandra Pendragon
Sandy Richardson
Sarah Small
Shannon Hicks
Shari Replogle
Sheila Daniels
Sheila Davis
Shiraz Biggie
Shirley Moore
Skylar Bre'z
Staci Smith
Stacie Florer
Stacy Pomerleau
Stephanie Weiss
Sumi Rani
Susan Sheehan
Suzette Bentley
Tamera Norris
Tracy Choy
Tracy Stillman
Valerie Norton
Vicki Holliday