Sunday, May 31, 2015

Week #22 - Beach theme continued....

What an AMAZING trip!  Puerto Rico was divine!  We had SUCH an amazing time!  I can't wait to write down all the details and share them with you!

In the mean  time, though, I'll just share week 22's earrings.  They feature BEAUTIFUL hand made, glass rounds on top and adorable little star fish charms on the bottom.  Just looks like a beach on a headpin. =)  *sigh*

I miss you, Mr. Ocean!


Saturday's View from the Beach - *swoon*


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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Week #21 - Phone It In

So, while YOU are seeing this lovely posting - *I* am on my way back from PUERTO RICO!!  my bff's husband wanted to do something AMAZING for her upcoming birthday - and he decided that *I* would be that something amazing!  SO - we're all heading to PR - we're meeting up in Chicago, since that's where they live - and going together.  He's got a work conference down there - so our hotel is "free" to us - so an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING chance to see my bff AND an INCREDIBLE part of the US! =)

So, this week's pair of earrings are bright and bold - just like Puerto Rico!  They feature handmade glass rounds with a plethora of fun dots.  The bottom charms are pieces I made, handpainted - with resin - on wood - so they are SUPER lightweight!  They're bright, fun and BEAUTIFUL! 
 


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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Monday, May 18, 2015

Week #20 - Curly - Girly

Week 20!!!  Holy Canoli!

This week brought me to a bead store that is closing.  I'm SO SAD!  Since I've lived in MN, at least 3 bead stores have closed, that I *know* of - that doesn't include the ones I don't know.  It's KILLING ME!  Thankfully, this one is closing for retirement, but still - it's crushing to lose ANOTHER place that I could learn and see things in person before purchasing.  SO awful. 

As part of their closing - of course they are selling things at rock bottom prices.  I picked up some new wire gauges (to me), some new hammers and a block for pounding.  I also picked up a new set of Tronex round nose pliers, so here's a little pair I made with the new pliers. 






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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Monday, May 11, 2015

Week #19 - Sweetly Swirly

This week's installment is brought to you by Czech glass and some fun new beads! =)

I'm still kinda in love with Czech beads and just can't seem to get enough of them! 

I also, added something new for me - bead caps.  I'm learning that bead caps can add some texture and depth to earrings, so thought I'd give them a whirl this week. 



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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Saturday, May 2, 2015

It's the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop TA-DA! Party!

  Welcome to the #BeadPeepsSwap N Hop!!

 Wooooweeeee!  What an INCREDIBLE few months!

Just to recap:

In January the Bead Peeps Team sent out a challenge to those in our group to pair folks who signed up, with a partner....exchange beads.....make something.....and then all post on the same date, what we made.  Quite a CHALLENGE!

As the hostess, it was something I've never done before and it was certainly an adventure for me.  But more on that another day.  The task at hand is - soooo....what'd ya make?

Lemme introduce my partners again:

Because I was the hostess, when I was finished matching everyone I had 1 gal left over.  So, I took her as an extra partner - and boy am I glad I did!

I had Marica of Bead Lovelies who happens to live in Malta. (An island nation off the coast of Sicily)  She creates polymer clay components and makes beautiful jewelry!
 
You can find her here, too:
http://www.facebook.com/beadlovelies
http://pinterest.com/beadlovelies
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadlovelies
Blog: http://beadlovelies.com
 AND
Jessica lives in Alaska.  She has a family of 6 children (#6 was born during the challenge!) and they are gold miners. She is a lampworker, metal worker and jewelry designer.

Here's what we went sent each other:

(Please note: You may click on any photo to enlarge it)

From Marica:


A sampling of the beads she sent + some suede cording





Yeah - these went into the "Private Collection"


To Marica:


From Jessica:


To Jessica:


Here are the final pieces:

Piece #1
This is the first piece I made of the 3.  This was a real struggle AND triumph for me.  So, as the hostess, I had a REALLY good reason for choosing Marica.... while we both have outstanding personalities and can really mess with each other in good fun, we have VERY different styles.  She's earthy and clay-y, while I'm more....Rainbow Bright.  So, while I figured she'd be a *fun* partner, I knew it'd be a SERIOUS challenge for me. (I had *NO IDEA* how much of a challenge I'd face!)

Being someone who works in bright colors, opening my package to see brown, copper, tan and khaki with a pinch of gold and green thrown in - nearly made me cry.  What the flim-flam would I do with THAT?!?!

I sat on it - for a looooong time.  I'd pull them out.... mix and match this and that....put them away.  I'd pull them out....mix and match this and that.....put them away.  You get the idea. I consulted friends, who offered great suggestions!  I just couldn't get "into" it.  (I realized I was trying to match the accent gorgeous seafoam green accent color on the tiki - nearly impossible when you're purchasing online) Until one day, it finally hit me!

Tiki's are typically found around beaches...... how's about some amazonite?  JACKPOT!  I pulled those babies out, put them with the STUNNING little copper, fire polish beads Marica had sent and WHAM! I have a piece!  Except.  It's heavy.  REALLY heavy - both in physical weight and in visual weight.  Curses!

So, I kept the 1 side of the amazonite and started playing with the other goodies she sent me, including the little jaspers and glass bicones.  The lampwork beads added just enough visual weight to make it PERFECTION! (there were a few other iterations as well, but I won't bore you with the details)  DINGDINGDING We HAVE A WINNER!  So, now you see..... piece #1. (And I pretty much LOVE IT!)
Asymmetric piece with Marica's Tiki head



Details (Click to enlarge)




Piece #2
I REALLY wanted to use some more of the beads Marica had sent.  She sent quite a large bag of the little round jaspers.  So, I set out to make a multistrand piece - mostly because they are beautiful and frankly - a challenge.  I played and played and played.  I didn't want the spacers to be all copper, since the other piece I made was all copper - so I pulled out some seed beads (gasp!) that were a free gift, in all different metals and alternated them.  It gave the piece mixed metals, and added a little drama.

I used one of the clasps that she had sent (which I think is tre-chic!) in the leaf shape. So, I wanted something that would compliment it, on the other side. The acorn was a piece I had in my stash and thought it went really well with the leaf shape of the other clasp, so the acorn it was (hey - kinda earthy - huh?).  And yes - you can detach the necklace part and use as a bracelet.  BOOM!



Jessica's Piece!

Jessica's package was also, quite a challenge for me.  I had chosen Jessica for several reasons...1. I thought it was AMAZING that she lives in Alaska 2. We have a very common thread of faith that runs through us 3. She just seemed like a sweetly cool chick.  

As I mentioned earlier, Jessica is a metal smith, lampworker and dabbles in many other things that have to do with fire.  I was QUITE excited when my package arrived from Alaska.  So VERY cool!  

I think my largest challenges with this package was that it's asymmetric (as we have seen earlier, I've not done anything like that before) and featured both opaque AND transparent glass.  It's tough to mix the 2 different types and get a great result.  SO, I had to figure out something that would speak to both the opaque heavy and the transparent lightness.

I thought long and hard about this one. I had this idea to use some of the connection pieces that I've started making, and see if somehow I could tie everything together with them.   SHOCKINGLY, I had already purchased the colors that happened to be in her piece!  So, I set out to make different shapes and sizes that would compliment and tie the shapes and colors together.  Each is hand painted (including the flowers to mimic her piece), hand resined and I punched the pieces with my new handy-dandy itty bitty hole puncher.  I've never made a piece like this and I've NEVER made (or used) a 3 way connector before.

I'm REALLY proud of this piece and LOVE how it came out!


Jessica MADE the focal bead
The whole piece




















Overall - I'm SO PROUD of myself for rising to the challenges.  One thing, that's been REALLY important to ME with these challenges, is that I learn something new with each one.  I feel like I'm robbing myself of the experience, if I don't do something new to me.  Beyond that, it helps me to feel comfortable trying something out of the box and not being afraid to fail and try again.  THAT is why I love challenges like this.  You NEVER know what you're going to learn and how you're going to be stretched.

I pray that the rest of you pushed yourselves, tried something new, branched out and that most of all - you had a GREAT experience!  THANK YOU for playing along with me!  See you next winter for Round #2!  Don't forget to check out your partner's blog and comment on it!  =)

Your Fearless Leader!,
Linda

Check out all my friends who participated!

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2015 
Partner List  

 Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com (You are HERE)
Marica Zammit http://www.beadlovelies.com
Jessica Hocutt https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
Kristina Hahn Eleniak http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Debbie Jeffries http://wordpress/debrasdivinedesigns/blog.com
Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/
Shalini Austin http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Annica Larsson http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/
Janice Warden Bergeron http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com
Deb Fortin http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Inge von Roos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Karen Mitchell http://overthemoon-design.com
Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com
Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca
Nan Smith http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Johana Nunez http://artincendi.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Sue  Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com
Niky Sayers http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Candida Castleberry http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Erin Guest http://www.renlish.com
Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Ien Temaluru http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Sam Waghorn http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
Marianne Baxter http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.com
Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jayne Capps http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Marti Conrad http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/
Tina Bosh http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/(Injured reserve)
Eleanor Thomas http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
Jeanne Steck http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Stamper http://skwds.blogspot.com
Chris Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Betony Maiden http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Colleen Foley http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Marcy Lamberson http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Ginny Lones http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Louise McCormick-Glazier http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/(Injured reserve)
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Seed Beaders
Susanne Stelljes http://pearlify.blogspot.de
Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Pallavi Asher http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
Jami Shipp http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
Peggy Kosier http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
Andra Weber http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Krafty Max http://kraftymax.com
Sierra Barrett http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
Lois Sherwood http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
Rebecca Robertson   (White) http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Brandy Collier http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
Stephanie Haussler http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Tami Norris https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
Peggy Johnson http://charmbarn.blogspot.com


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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Friday, May 1, 2015

Week #18 - Sweet, Simple Copper and Teal Butterflies

 Week 18 is the week of reveals for the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop, so I'm gonna keep it short. 

These sweeties feature copper firepolish beads, copper butterfly filigrees and wood dangles.  Sweet, simple and adorable!  Classic, too!


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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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