*****Looking for my Bead Soup Piece? =) Click here!****
A few weeks ago, I posted about being part of Bead Soup Blog Party (This party has taken a hiatus) where I exchanged beads with my partner, Lisa Johnson of http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com and made some pieces with what she sent me. As part of the "party", I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to go to each blog to see what was made and I DID IT! I commented on most (probably 400+) and tried to make personal comments vs something generic like 'nice piece'. After visiting all those blogs (including folks from 30+ countries), I started to notice some things and wanted to share with the class...
- Sometimes it's hard to comment on things that you just don't get or like (that's ok and part of the fun)
- MANY tried something new - either a technique, a color palate or style
- LOTS of pieces featured asymmetry
- LOTS of pieces featured cording of some nature (i.e., linen cotton, leather, rat tail, etc...)
- I was exposed to all SORTS of new ideas and techniques
- I found myself downloading ALOT of pieces in my "inspiration" folder - I wish more had put a watermark on their photos so I know whose pieces I'm looking at again
- The average comments per post was about 35
- Of those who participated, many are collecting pieces for next years soup already
- There weren't as many seed bead pieces as I expected
- I LOVE seeing the international pieces
- I feel like i have to use ! for everything!
- It's interesting to see how folks overcame their challenge
- It's interesting to see what folks considered a challenge and/or thought their partner would be challenged with
- Photo backgrounds can make or break how a piece looks =)
- If the person is an active blogger, it was REALLY helpful to have a link near the top directly to their pieces so I didn't have to scroll through everything to find it
- I was surprised at how many hadn't posted something (especially since we had an extra week). It made me sad that they didn't post and that there were many who would have given their eye teeth to be able to participate. More than that, that Lori worked so hard to pair people up and it was like her work didn't matter. =( That hurt my heart. And I know things come up, life happens...but post *something* - I stubbed my toe, my order was lost, my dog ate my piece...just something.
- Of those who posted nearly every.single.one. mentioned how much they appreciated how much work Lori Anderson, and her AWESOME support team, did!
- CAPTCHA blows when you're commenting on 400+ blogs
- The creativity of the people in this group is ASTOUNDING
I've been honored to be a part of this group of EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED jewelry designers. They have encouraged me, challenged me and made me a better designer. If you're a designer - JOIN.THIS.GROUP. You'll be amazed at what you'll learn!
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courage. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Allow Me To Introduce You To A Special Girl
**** BSBP 8: Here's My Bead Soup Piece! =) ****
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Friends - Several months ago, I saw a reporter was looking for some great people from the Dayton, Ohio area. I sent the writer an email and told her about this wonderful girl who has purchased jewelry from me for homecoming and prom (and has even said she wants me to do her jewelry for her wedding if she gets married someday!) . I sent her story in and today it was published in the Dayton Daily News
This piece requires a subscription and I paid for a day pass to see the article.
If you know someone going to Prom, Homecoming, Graduating, Getting Married or otherwise have a special occasion coming up - please contact me! I LOVE custom orders! =)
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Friends - Several months ago, I saw a reporter was looking for some great people from the Dayton, Ohio area. I sent the writer an email and told her about this wonderful girl who has purchased jewelry from me for homecoming and prom (and has even said she wants me to do her jewelry for her wedding if she gets married someday!) . I sent her story in and today it was published in the Dayton Daily News
This piece requires a subscription and I paid for a day pass to see the article.
If you know someone going to Prom, Homecoming, Graduating, Getting Married or otherwise have a special occasion coming up - please contact me! I LOVE custom orders! =)
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| Kyra's Prom Piece |
Cinderella’s Closet donates prom dresses
Church program helps girls afford their big night.
By Beth Anspach - Contributing Writer
The prom dress a girl chooses often becomes as important as prom night itself. But for many girls, the expense of the dress, coupled with the accessories, hair and makeup, makes prom night something about which some can only dream.
Carlisle High School senior Kyra Utech, 18, says her senior prom on May 9 ended up being “the best school dance I’d ever been to,” thanks to an organization called Cinderella’s Closet.
The group donates prom dresses and accessories to needy girls who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend.
Linda Anderson of St. Cloud, Minn., a longtime friend of Utech’s mother, Janet Johnston, said Kyra is deserving for many reasons. “I have known Kyra since she was a newborn and have watched her grow up,” said Anderson. “Her family has struggled with a sick child (Utech’s younger sister Zoe) and they nearly lost her. Kyra has sacrificed so much for her sister. She gave up marching band — something she loved — her senior year, because her family couldn’t afford to pay for both girls to do it. As an older woman looking at a young lady, I see that it’s such a sacrifice she made during her senior year for her sister. She has a loving heart.”
And though Anderson doesn’t see the family often, she and Utech correspond often, and Utech has purchased some of Anderson’s handmade jewelry, which she has worn to several school dances. “I’ve been so honored that she would trust me to make some jewelry pieces for her,” Anderson said. “She is a special young lady.”
In addition to marching band, Utech has been involved with Winter Guard and performs in four different choirs. She has also played the piano since the age of 7. Her sister, Zoe, now 17, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when she was a sixth-grader.
“Zoe was in the hospital for about three weeks when she was first diagnosed,” Utech said. “She has to have surgery this summer because she is sick a lot.”
Utech also has two younger brothers, Evan, 14 and Joah, 9.
Anderson said the family has overcome many struggles, but Utech has a “wonderful stepfather” now. Still, money is tight, and Utech worked a job to help out. “I started working at Dairy Queen to help pay my sister’s band fee,” Utech said.
According to some published reports, average prom expenditures are now surpassing $1,100, with the majority of this spent on that special dress.
Utech found her “fairy godmother” in Cinderella’s Closet. “My choir teacher, Mrs. Shively, heard about Cinderella’s Closet at Center Pointe Church and nominated me and two of my friends, and we were chosen to go and get free dresses, shoes and accessories,” Utech said.
Utech and her friends went to the church on April 12, met her “fairy godmother,” Lisa, and was given the royal treatment, until she found the perfect dress for her special night.”
“Junior and senior high school girls are referred to us by a school staff member, social worker or community liaison,” said Sara Mosteller, director of Cinderella’s Closet in Liberty Twp. “Girls come to us for all different reasons, and we don’t require proof of need. They are paired with a ‘fairy godmother’ who shows them love and makes them feel like they are smart, talented and pretty all day long.”
Girls coming to Cinderella’s Closet go home with a prom dress, shoes and jewelry of their choosing, all of which are theirs to keep. Each also receives an 8-by-10 photo taken in the dresses.
“We have more than 1,500 dresses here, either donated or purchased with donated funds,” Mosteller said. “Prom costs a lot of money and I can tell you that many of these girls just wouldn’t get to attend unless they could get assistance. I have watched countless girls come in with their heads down and they put on a formal dress and we compliment them and it makes them feel good. The most rewarding part is to watch the girls change on the inside because of what is happening on the outside.”
Utech and her friends enjoyed a wonderful prom night at Yankee Trace Golf Club on April 9 as a result of the dress donation. And on May 31, she will graduate from Carlisle High School and has plans to study nursing and also attend cosmetology school.
For more information about Cinderella’s Closet, go online to www.cinderellasclosetusa.org.
Linda Anderson of St. Cloud, Minn., a longtime friend of Utech’s mother, Janet Johnston, said Kyra is deserving for many reasons. “I have known Kyra since she was a newborn and have watched her grow up,” said Anderson. “Her family has struggled with a sick child (Utech’s younger sister Zoe) and they nearly lost her. Kyra has sacrificed so much for her sister. She gave up marching band — something she loved — her senior year, because her family couldn’t afford to pay for both girls to do it. As an older woman looking at a young lady, I see that it’s such a sacrifice she made during her senior year for her sister. She has a loving heart.”
And though Anderson doesn’t see the family often, she and Utech correspond often, and Utech has purchased some of Anderson’s handmade jewelry, which she has worn to several school dances. “I’ve been so honored that she would trust me to make some jewelry pieces for her,” Anderson said. “She is a special young lady.”
In addition to marching band, Utech has been involved with Winter Guard and performs in four different choirs. She has also played the piano since the age of 7. Her sister, Zoe, now 17, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when she was a sixth-grader.
“Zoe was in the hospital for about three weeks when she was first diagnosed,” Utech said. “She has to have surgery this summer because she is sick a lot.”
Utech also has two younger brothers, Evan, 14 and Joah, 9.
Anderson said the family has overcome many struggles, but Utech has a “wonderful stepfather” now. Still, money is tight, and Utech worked a job to help out. “I started working at Dairy Queen to help pay my sister’s band fee,” Utech said.
According to some published reports, average prom expenditures are now surpassing $1,100, with the majority of this spent on that special dress.
Utech found her “fairy godmother” in Cinderella’s Closet. “My choir teacher, Mrs. Shively, heard about Cinderella’s Closet at Center Pointe Church and nominated me and two of my friends, and we were chosen to go and get free dresses, shoes and accessories,” Utech said.
Utech and her friends went to the church on April 12, met her “fairy godmother,” Lisa, and was given the royal treatment, until she found the perfect dress for her special night.”
“Junior and senior high school girls are referred to us by a school staff member, social worker or community liaison,” said Sara Mosteller, director of Cinderella’s Closet in Liberty Twp. “Girls come to us for all different reasons, and we don’t require proof of need. They are paired with a ‘fairy godmother’ who shows them love and makes them feel like they are smart, talented and pretty all day long.”
Girls coming to Cinderella’s Closet go home with a prom dress, shoes and jewelry of their choosing, all of which are theirs to keep. Each also receives an 8-by-10 photo taken in the dresses.
“We have more than 1,500 dresses here, either donated or purchased with donated funds,” Mosteller said. “Prom costs a lot of money and I can tell you that many of these girls just wouldn’t get to attend unless they could get assistance. I have watched countless girls come in with their heads down and they put on a formal dress and we compliment them and it makes them feel good. The most rewarding part is to watch the girls change on the inside because of what is happening on the outside.”
Utech and her friends enjoyed a wonderful prom night at Yankee Trace Golf Club on April 9 as a result of the dress donation. And on May 31, she will graduate from Carlisle High School and has plans to study nursing and also attend cosmetology school.
For more information about Cinderella’s Closet, go online to www.cinderellasclosetusa.org.
Friday, May 9, 2014
BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!
Here it is!!
As a reminder....here's what I sent Lisa (plus some round quartz, silver stardust rounds and a few strands of czech glass not pictured. I felt like my soup was a little....thin...needed some more ....'veggies', if ya get my drift) The oranges are some of my favorite beads and the focal was hand made glass discs.
Here is what Lisa from http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com sent! So beautiful, I cried. Yep - it's true. Tears.
Let me start by saying this was a CHALLENGE. Not because I didn't have gorgeous soup - because HOLY CANNOLI! LOOK AT IT! I felt inadequate. I wasn't familiar with Czech glass and I was really becoming discouraged. But let me say this...... I am SO.PROUD. of the pieces I made. Seriously, I haven't been this proud in a LONG time. Lisa - I hope I did YOU proud!
One challenge I encountered was scale. Scale is the size of things and how they relate to each other. Typically, big things go with big things...little with little. Well, you'll notice that the coordinating beads are itty bitty while my gorgeous Owlivia (the ADORABLE owl) is a little... on the plus size. =) So, I was REALLY struggling to make it all work together until one day it hit me.... make 2 pieces. (And Lisa thought my biggest struggle would be working with copper...heh heh) I'll dig into these pieces a lot more, later. Without further delay...
The first piece features the beautiful itty bittys and the GORGEOUS clasp! I made the connector out of copper.
The second piece features my adorable Owlivia! I wired wrapped her (my first real wrapping experience) and made the clasp, carrying the theme of the flower through the clasp. =)
Then.... I needed earrings of course.....
For these little gems, I made the pins with the swirls on the bottom, to mimic the swirls on Owlivia.
AND I made these little guys - including the pin, ear wire and the flower on the bottom! Aren't they AWESOME!?!? (If I do say so, myself)
I had a little fun doing a selfie session with my new pieces.... enjoy! =)
Check out what the rest of my 499+ friends did here:
As a reminder....here's what I sent Lisa (plus some round quartz, silver stardust rounds and a few strands of czech glass not pictured. I felt like my soup was a little....thin...needed some more ....'veggies', if ya get my drift) The oranges are some of my favorite beads and the focal was hand made glass discs.
Here is what Lisa from http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com sent! So beautiful, I cried. Yep - it's true. Tears.
 |
| Click to enlarge |
Let me start by saying this was a CHALLENGE. Not because I didn't have gorgeous soup - because HOLY CANNOLI! LOOK AT IT! I felt inadequate. I wasn't familiar with Czech glass and I was really becoming discouraged. But let me say this...... I am SO.PROUD. of the pieces I made. Seriously, I haven't been this proud in a LONG time. Lisa - I hope I did YOU proud!
One challenge I encountered was scale. Scale is the size of things and how they relate to each other. Typically, big things go with big things...little with little. Well, you'll notice that the coordinating beads are itty bitty while my gorgeous Owlivia (the ADORABLE owl) is a little... on the plus size. =) So, I was REALLY struggling to make it all work together until one day it hit me.... make 2 pieces. (And Lisa thought my biggest struggle would be working with copper...heh heh) I'll dig into these pieces a lot more, later. Without further delay...
The first piece features the beautiful itty bittys and the GORGEOUS clasp! I made the connector out of copper.
The second piece features my adorable Owlivia! I wired wrapped her (my first real wrapping experience) and made the clasp, carrying the theme of the flower through the clasp. =)
Then.... I needed earrings of course.....
For these little gems, I made the pins with the swirls on the bottom, to mimic the swirls on Owlivia.
AND I made these little guys - including the pin, ear wire and the flower on the bottom! Aren't they AWESOME!?!? (If I do say so, myself)
I had a little fun doing a selfie session with my new pieces.... enjoy! =)
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| Whoooooo! |
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| Too much? (both pieces on) |
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| Fishface! |
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| Not bad, kid! |
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| Proud and SO GLAD I did this, again! Thanks, Lori! |
Check out what the rest of my 499+ friends did here:
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Uhhh- WHOA! That's HUGE!
SO..here I am again with some very EXCITING NEWS!
Our local newspaper came out in July to interview me about my jewelry and my story. After the pieces were published in BeadStyle, I sent an email to our local press and they were interested in the story. SO...August 25 my piece was published! Check it out! They did SUCH a great job and I'm SO proud to be able to share my story with thousands of people!
Here's the official link:
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130825/BUSINESS01/308240026
Our local newspaper came out in July to interview me about my jewelry and my story. After the pieces were published in BeadStyle, I sent an email to our local press and they were interested in the story. SO...August 25 my piece was published! Check it out! They did SUCH a great job and I'm SO proud to be able to share my story with thousands of people!
Here's the official link:
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130825/BUSINESS01/308240026
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Exciting News!!!
I'VE BEEN PUBLISHED!! My very first piece that I ever sent in to be published, was picked up and published in the September 2013 BeadStyle Magazine!!
I made this piece a few years ago, when I was pretty young in my jewelry making. I found this strand of adorable glass beads - for $1/strand. I wanted to make a bubble style necklace, but being that I didn't have or really know where to find, the prefab pieces - I set out to make my version of the necklace. THIS is what came out.
Now, I have to be honest....this piece was just ok, in my eyes. I didn't really wear it but kept it around because it was cute and something I thought was a good learning experience. It was a pretty deary day and a galpal and I stopped at the Post Office to mail some packages out. While there, a woman who worked there saw my necklace and just raved about it. My friend immediately said 'She has other stuff in her purse'...which I did. SO, I finished my business with the PO and walked back to her to give her a biz card, when she walked us over to another coworker who loved jewelry, too. This necklace started a beautiful friendship with these women - it also got me thinking that maybe this was a better piece than I thought.
On a whim, I decided the week before Thanksgiving to send a photo of this piece in to BeadStyle to see if they may be interested. Within a week, I had an answer and it was YES! I FREAKED! =)
Fast Slow Forward to June when I receive an email telling me that MY piece will be the first piece featured in a BRAND NEW SECTION of the magazine! *I* would set the bar!! EEEEKKKK!
I don't know what will come of this, but what I DO know is to NEVER discount your own work. Had I not pulled this little piece out on a rainy day - it might not have given me exposure on a world wide scale and even more importantly - put me on the radar in jewelry world. SO excited to see where this goes!
I made this piece a few years ago, when I was pretty young in my jewelry making. I found this strand of adorable glass beads - for $1/strand. I wanted to make a bubble style necklace, but being that I didn't have or really know where to find, the prefab pieces - I set out to make my version of the necklace. THIS is what came out.
Now, I have to be honest....this piece was just ok, in my eyes. I didn't really wear it but kept it around because it was cute and something I thought was a good learning experience. It was a pretty deary day and a galpal and I stopped at the Post Office to mail some packages out. While there, a woman who worked there saw my necklace and just raved about it. My friend immediately said 'She has other stuff in her purse'...which I did. SO, I finished my business with the PO and walked back to her to give her a biz card, when she walked us over to another coworker who loved jewelry, too. This necklace started a beautiful friendship with these women - it also got me thinking that maybe this was a better piece than I thought.
On a whim, I decided the week before Thanksgiving to send a photo of this piece in to BeadStyle to see if they may be interested. Within a week, I had an answer and it was YES! I FREAKED! =)
I don't know what will come of this, but what I DO know is to NEVER discount your own work. Had I not pulled this little piece out on a rainy day - it might not have given me exposure on a world wide scale and even more importantly - put me on the radar in jewelry world. SO excited to see where this goes!
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