2018 Swap N Hop!

Well, another April - and another Swap N Hop!
First - a HUGE shoutout to my girl, Kari Asbury for her help, this year.  Y'all should really be sure to thank her, as well. =)

Now....for my partner!
This year, I had Inge Van Roos and I was one SPOILED girl!  Holy CANOLI!  Inge makes her own lampwork beads and absolutely OVERWHELMED me with not 1....not 2...but 3! different color schemes.  Blue/greens (YES! She made that bead with the goldfish!!!), rainbow beads and my FAVORITE the pink/purple family.  Y'all - I could HARDLY choose which palate to go with!  I've got some big plans for the rainbows.... but for Hop purposes - I wanted to go with pinks/purples.

Click to enlarge and see the details in all these beads! Dang girl!!

If you've followed my challenge adventures, you know that I LOVE to give myself an extra challenge within a challenge.  This year, I decided that I wanted to make a piece that could be worn at least 2 different ways.

In addition, I've noticed a real trend in jewelry with using curves.... be it a false collar with chain or using seed beads to create swags... I REALLY wanted to incorporate this somehow into my own piece.  So...here we are!

Y'all - I picked through all the beads that she sent and pulled all the ones that I LOVED out *y'all LOOK at the details on these beads!* and put them on the strand with the wavy tubes.  It was tres-importante to keep the lampwork beads the focus.  The chain was there to enhance the lampworks.

As for the challenge within a challenge - I made this piece such that I can wear it short OR I can wear it long.  By using the round links, as connectors, it makes sense to see them in the long version.  I can wear whichever strand I'd like in the front.  I kinda love it!  Ok - I REALLY love it!

Click to enlarge and see these CRAZY COOL beads!

Another cool shot

AND.... I also put together another set with her pinks and purples.  This one is pretty and classic.  I used Swarovski pearls and added in a GORG pendant.  *** The story of the pendant is that I created it at the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar, during "Coffee with Candie".  We had the chance to play with the new pearl Vintaj patina paints. EEK! I REALLY loved how this pendant came out.  A few weeks later, I ordered the paints for myself and used them to paint the dangles on the earrings that you see, as well.  

THANK YOU, Inge!  I can't WAIT to see what you've made!

Tell me what YOU think....



Hostess
Linda Anderson http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com


Linda Anderson http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com (You Are Here)
Inge von Roos          https://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Kari  Asbury https://kariasbury.com/blogs/design-challenges
Nadine Edris http://instagram.com/moondancemaine

Kathy Lindemer         https://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Hope Smitherman http://CraftyHope.com

Marde Lowe         http://fancimardesigns.blogspot.com
Christina Hickman         https://www.instagram.com/laughingsalmon/

Terry Jeanette Carter https://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com
LISA JOHNSON https://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/

Catherine La Vite         http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/
Joanne Bell                 https://joannetinks.wordpress.com

Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.bg/
Bonnie Robbins https://www.instagram.com/brobbins_wireandwonder/

Natalie Davidson        http://www.northshoredays.com/
Robin Reed                 http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com

Karin King http://www.maverickbeads.blogspot.ca
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com

Erika Price https://www.instagram.com/erikapricejewellery/
Sarah Reid http://www.instagram.com/sarahreiddesigns

Divya N                      http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Nicole Rennell https://www.instagram.com/nicolerennelldesigns/

Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
Shai Williams             http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

andrea frank https://instagram.com/andreazeef
Cheri Reed                 http://creativedesignsbycheri.wordpress.com

Seed Beaders

Deborah Apodaca         https://deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/
PALAK UDESHI         http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/

Penny Houghton      http://www.forgottentrack.com.au/blog
Paulina Russell         Http://www.instagram.com/thewildbead

Heather Canepa         http://www.instagram.com/canepaheather
Tina Hemr                 http://instagram.com/mariecaroldesigns

NAOMI KNAFLA      https://www.instagram.com/naomiknafla/
Michelle Marson         https://www.instagram.com/ellecountry/

REbecca White            https://morganafeycreations.com/blog/
Laura Bosch https://www.instagram.com/lauraboschmultibeadia

Kathleen Breeding https://www.instagram.com/99bobotw.kb/
Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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 Instagram or Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ghosts, Ravens and ZomBEEs! Oh my!

After a small hiatus, I'm back for a new challenge and a little fun!  A few weeks ago, I was sent a DARLING little bead.... a zomBEE!  Isn't that ADORABLE made by the outstanding - Laney Mead.  It's part of the Art Elements Blog Hop and I'm SO EXCITED!!  This is the first time I've played along with the Art Elements gals and it was SUCH an adventure!

I received the zomBEE a few weeks ago and as soon as I saw it I thought to myself - I know *exactly* what I'm gonna do!  Oh the plans of mice and men.  LOL!  So... being honest.... I put it off.  After all, I knew what I was doing - just had to do it.  You're laughing, aren't you? =)

Yeah - it just didn't do what I wanted it to do.  I ended up breaking a bead (I nearly cried) and that made me COMPLETELY revise what I had planned to do.  SO - the idea of making an adorable talisman with the zomBEE and some other adorable themed beads was out de door.  I struggled getting the black I have to work.... so I went for "pretty" zomBEE...if that exists. LOL!

Instead, I decided to go with a sweet little ghost (which was made by Val Moser), a "raven" (Bo Hulley) and my sweet zomBEE (Laney Mead).  I added a flower (because bee's need flowers, right?), some GORG blue czech beads, some *expensive* czech petals and a custom made silver clasp.  (I like to challenge myself to do something new to me, whenever I partake in a challenge - so the clasp was my 'new to me' challenge).  I do love this piece and I'm quite proud of it.  What do YOU think?

Yes, it's bright and cheerful.  Yes...it's a little more "fancy" than usual... but I kinda love it. 

THANK YOU Laney Mead and the Art Elements team!  I had a BLAST, was stretched and ended up with a pretty great piece.  (If I do say so, myself ;) ) Check out every one's pieces, too!





Guests

http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/ - Linda

http://www.beadsforbusygals.com/ - Elizabeth Auld


Team

http://www.lesleywatt.com/ - Lesley Watt

http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog - Jennifer Cameron

http://dianaptaszynski.indiemade.com/blog - Diana Ptaszynski

https://jdaviesreazor.com/blog/ - Jenny Davis-Reazor

http://suebeads.blogspot.com - Susan Kennedy

http://blueberribeads.co.uk/ - Caroline Dewison

http://phantasmcreation.blogspot.co.uk/ - Lindsay Starr

http://cmendola.blogspot.co.uk/- Cathy Spiey Mendola

http://saraccino.blogspot.co.uk/ - Claire Fabian

http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/ - Niky Sayers

http://laneymead.co.uk/ - Laney Mead

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here we go again.....

Hey Y'all -
I took a break from blogging so that my AWESOME Swap N Hop pieces would have some of their own time and space... well...the time has come to move on. =) 

And now for my next trick!  Not really - but you know - gotta make it exciting.  I was involved with an AWESOME challenge where we were sent handcrafted ceramic beads and a mystery bead in clay.  Our job was to combine all the pieces into a necklace, earrings and bracelet. 

This set was a struggle for me, mostly because I felt a little "ocean themed" out, which I didn't even know was possible.  BUT! I think I did a pretty smashing job, if I do say so myself. 

Beads were provided by Firefly Design Studio and Tealwater Designs

What we were sent (I chose the sandy brown set)

All of the pieces I made

The necklace features Amazonite and white AB seed beads, which spell "Ahoy" in Morse code

This little guy was an adventure.  Never use embroidery floss to crochet beads.  UGH!

These little friends were the most popular of my pieces.  Swarovski crystals make ANYTHING more awesome!

And finally.....a key chain.  Byzantine chainmaille

Thanks for checking out my pieces!  I'm pretty happy with them and I can't wait to wear them!  Hooray!!



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She got HERS

Well, well, well.... here it is, March 23 and my partner received her beads yesterday.  I'm kinda jealous. =)  As a reminder, my partner is Natalie Davidson - who lives in the BEAUTIFUL country of New Zealand.  She lives on the northern island and has a little shop where she sells crafts and goodies that she makes.

I will be honest here....for some reason,  this was a tough season for me.  I had a really hard time finding something that would challenge Natalie, but not overwhelm her.  Even more importantly, I just felt like I was "off track".  I think it's just been my general feeling for the last few months - just kinda BLAH.  BUT I'm really proud of how it came together and am SO GLAD that she loves each item I carefully and thoughtfully included. 

So..... here's what I sent.  If you'll remember - this was the teaser......

And.....here's what she received.....

For the Swap N Hop!

Focal: STUNNING handmade, lampwork focal by The BeadFairy

Clasp: GORGEOUS flower, handmade by ArtIncendi

Metals: Copper filigrees, copper flowers, bright copper daisies and dark copper daisies, headpins, eye pins, jump rings and ear wires  -
So you're probably wondering why all the bits and bobs in copper...well.... in New Zealand it's pretty tough to get copper findings, so I figured I'd send them to her so she didn't have to worry about trying to find them, or order them.

Coordinating Beads: Czech firepolish beads in a "Luster Mix" both in transparent and opaque, purple druzy agate, Czech pressed beads including, but not limited to flowers, leaves, bicones, table cuts and saturn beads.


In addition to some goodies for the Swap, I also sent some goodies for her stash.

For Her Stash

Knowing her love for the beach, I wanted to include some beach themed pieces - they include: Swarovski bicones, starfish and mini rounds; blue/grey blister pearls, Czech saturn beads, hand painted (by me!) cabachons, kyanite coin beads, some seahorse beads (which didn't make the photo shoot) and my FAVORITE beads acrylic/rubbery beads - they feel as smooth as a babies butt.  Just AWESOME!  I also sent some extra clasps and odds and ends - and some purple hemp.

All together now!

Whatchya think?  I'm (im)patiently waiting for mine to arrive, although I suspect it'll be at least another week.  So, until then....I'll keep working on my organization (see post below) and twiddling my thumbs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

ZNetShows Summer 2015 Creative Spark!

What do get when you take a bunch of designers, lovely sea glass beads and tell them to go crazy?  Why a magazine, of course!

This Summer's Edition of the ZNetShows  Creative Spark Magazine

As a part of their design team, I was chosen to make some pieces with their INCREDIBLE Sea Glass Beads (seriously DROOL worthy!)  My favorites include the Purple tubes, which I used in my earrings:

Love the components on the bottom?  Contact me for more info!

I also fell in LOVE with the crystal barrels and the turquoise lava beads - OMGoodness!  A-MAZ-ING!  I used both of these in my necklace, as well as a starfish I, also, made. =)

 You can read more about my pieces and their inspiration in Creative Spark! 

A few notes about ZNetShows.com sea glass beads section:

- You can browse by SHAPE or COLOR
- They offer several strands when you purchase
- I like that I can even search for something I can't find right away
- They also have INCREDIBLE lava beads!
- They have an OUTSTANDING selection of different colors
- They even offer pendants!

I hope that you will try out some new designs with this GORGEOUS Sea Glass from ZNetShows.com - BEAUTIFUL sea glass, indeed!


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Disclosure:
I was compensated with free beads for my time and design skills.  My opinions of the products are STRICTLY my own and were NOT influenced by the company or the fact that I received beads from them.