Partner Intro - Woot woot!

Hey Y'all - So, while it appears I've been a little slacking in my blogging, I've really been having a rough few weeks.  I'm thankful I've come through them - still have lots to deal with - but that's life, isn't it?  Stress is tough on me, I tend to kinda crash out from my feeling well, to feelin' crumby.  But, I'm surviving and for that - I'm thankful.

SO - on to the great stuff!  This year, my partner is Christina Marie Hickman of http://vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/ .  It's been SO INCREDIBLE to get to know her.  It's like we were old friends or something.  One of the crazier things, I realized AFTER we'd been paired and talking for a bit, was that - had my mother had HER way....I'd have been Kristina Marie...not Linda. LOL  We have had some good chats and I look forward to continuing to get to know her.  I love her sense of humor.  She's a great gal to be partnered with and I'm so thankful that I had chance to have her!

On to what we sent each other.  I started with 2 pieces for her.....1 set of lampwork beads and 1 pendant.  I had REALLY hoped to get a great package together and focus on the fox, more than the lampwork - but I just couldn't find things I really liked, to go with it.  I wanted to challenge Christina, because she said that she doesn't work with beads bigger than 10mm, so my goal was to get her some bigmamajammas, just didn't happen.  She, also, wanted to work with purples - which I was proud were part of the lampwork set.  Her talk of nature walks really inspired me to want to get her things that she might see out and about...which is where the SummerWindArts fox came from, and the birds from the lampwork set.


SO - I went with the lampwork set, as the set for the swap part.  (Yes, I have a set of lampwork stuffs too....so I'm excited to see where I go with it, too).  So, here's what *I* sent....

Christina's photo

Now, here's what SHE sent....























Notice anything similar?  Birds?  Color palate?  LOL!  She sent swap things and stash goodies, too!  I was SPOILED!  She found out I love mookaite and happened to have some that she wasn't going to use - so she sent it to me!  I drooled all over the bags and had to use a wet wipe to clean 'em up.  Also, pearls, sparklies, spacers...all kinds of goodies.  My SWAP goodies included czech glass, humblebeads birds, hand dyed silk, russian amazonite, Swarovski and a whole bunch of other yummies!  I'm SO EXCITED!

Check back April 8 to see what we both made!


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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 get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Week #43 & 44 - Ruffles and Pearls and Rox - Oh MY!

Doesn't *every* girl love ruffles and pearls?  Is it inherent within us?  They just make me swoon. 

So, Week #43 is dedicated to them. =)  I've had those AWESOME lampwork ruffles for some time now, just waiting for the right application.  I noticed that they had a smidge of silver on the edges....and the platinum pearls pulled it out PERFECTLY.  SO - here we have week #43 - Ruffles and Pearls

Week #44  

Last weekend, was the annual Twin Cities Bead Bazaar.  I've never been to it and since I haven't been to 1 wholesale show this entire year, I thought I'd give it a go.  It was held in a great location - just big enough for the number of vendors to have plenty of space.  Lots of treasures were to be found.  Among those treasures I found a few things I'm STILL excited about.  The most exciting treasure I found were 2 new friends! =)  We've been facebook friends for a while, but hadn't ever connected - so it was OUTSTANDING to meet folks face to face. =) 

The other exciting find, is a new product - at least to me - that allows you to kinda 'create your own druzy'. So, I picked some up - watched a video and went to town.....here are the results.

Just so cute little stud earrings that I'm COMPLETELY in love with!  What do YOU think?  Cool?  Not cool?



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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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Week #37 - SO BUSY!

This has been kinda a whirlwind week for me....and it's only going to get more crazy.  So, these earrings are a bit simple, but that's ok.  They can't all be showstoppers, right? 

I'm getting ready to head to DC to get my belongings moved FINALLY!  I'm INCREDIBLY overwhelmed right now.

Anyway, here are the earrings and a matching bracelet to go along. =) You can also find these in my store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247947403/pearly-verse-earrings-srajd-white-pearl?ref=shop_home_active_1

 Pearls with teal colored wood. Short, sweet and to the point. =)

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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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Week #11 - OooOo Sexy Lady!

This week, I decided to go the more.....sassy sexy route.  I've seen other earrings similar to this and couldn't figure out how on EARTH they connected the chain to the earring.  Well, I KNOW how they did it, but not sure which method is the best.  SO - I did it 2 ways.

 Aren't they HOT?!  Also - AWESOME for brides and bridesmaids.....don'tchya think?

The first..... featuring Powder Rose Swarovski Pearls:

The 2nd...featuring Jade Swarovski Pearls:

These earrings are also a lesson in recycling - the pink ones, I used an old necklace that had broken (thus the fear of breakage), but already had the connections attached.  I didn't have anymore appropriate size or color of those connectors, so I used the crimp cups.  =)  

The consensus was that the 1st pair were preferred over the 2nd...... I'm not sure which I like more - to be honest.  I like them both.... the 2nd set, in my mind, is more secure, but who knows.  I wore both of them to see if one might break - and thankfully - no such luck. 

Another week....another "What do YOU think?"

"The Color of Dreams" Blog Hop!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Several weeks ago, I signed up for a very EXCITING and CHALLENGING blog hop.  It's called "The Color of Dreams".  The organizer (Rita of Toltec Jewels) posted this on her blog: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2014/03/the-color-of-dreams-participant-list.html and I responded!  I wanted to try to put my dreams into a piece of jewelry. 

Here was the challenge as stated by Rita: 

You may share a dream that has come true, one you are working on now, or one you hope for in the future. The one goal of the hop: we'll focus on our dreams as entirely possible, with the idea, "If we can dream it, we can achieve it." So, try creating "from the end" -- as if your dream has already come true -- using your jewelry design to do so.

My inspiration came from a BEAUTIFUL, handcrafted flower bead made by Color of Dreams Boutique.  It features the amazing pinks and purples that I just happen to LOVE!  =)

I tried to approach this challenge as a story of my jewelry career, for now...and what I dream will happen in the future.  The first bead, a long pink, glass piece symbolizes the very beginning of my jewelry making journey.  I started making pieces with these types of beads and they turned out pretty well.

From there, I moved on to learning other techniques including pearl knotting (which is my favorite thing to do, but doesn't seem to sell well so I don't do it often).  My mother loved pearls and passed that love on to me.  (It's all her fault! =) )

Next, I used a beautiful piece of crystal and brand called "Thunder Polish".  It was my first experience with crystal and I was hooked!  Until very recently, I used nearly exclusively, Thunder Polish.  I love their colors, their shapes, sizes and was the perfect price point for someone starting out and not really ready to invest in premium items.  

As I moved to the next section, I used some of my absolute favorite beads, mother of pearl shells.  I use them in so many ways, it's ridiculous!  I LOVE them!  They're INCREDIBLY versatile, unusual, come in a variety of shapes and sizes and lend themselves perfectly to nearly any application you can dream of!  I also used these beads in my 2nd piece of work that was published by BeadStyle magazine!  =)

So, next we have the pretty little lime green ball.... this piece also holds HUGE significance for me... it was a bead used in my FIRST published piece...also in BeadStyle.  When I made the necklace, I wasn't a huge fan of it.... but apparently it's pretty special because another editor asked for the same piece for her magazine. =)  Because it's already been published, I can't use it...but it REALLY changed my life.  It gave me industry validation that what I'm doing is....good.  I felt like a ROCKSTAR!

Which leads to the flower bead....it fits so perfectly with the way this last year has been.... a year of excitement, opening myself up to new opportunities, learning new things, building my business, meeting people and blooming into the person I believe God made me to be. 

The next bead is called a "Divine Rock", which fits perfectly in to my story.  I truly believe that God has given me this gift.  He has used the good and bad (notice the matte section which is somewhat fractured in the middle) in my life, including chronic illness, to turn my ashes into beauty for myself and others.  It symbolizes the fact that prior to 4 years ago - I had NO IDEA I had a lick of talent in designing jewelry.  I give ALL the credit to God for this.  I'm SOOOO excited to see where He's 

going to take this!

AND FINALLY - I used Swarovski pearls in blackberry and gold.  I went with Swarovski because one of my dreams is to become a Swarovski Ambassasdor.  I have NO IDEA how to go about this....but it's a dream!  I would just LOVE to be known as someone who is an expert and does fantastic work with their beauties!  I chose the purple (not just because of the flower) but also because it represents royalty, innovation and creativity.  The gold, because it represents opulence, success, generosity, wisdom and knowledge - all attributes of Swarovski Ambassadors =).   OH!  And if you're an Ambassador and could pass some info on...that'd be AMAZING! =)

I CANNOT WAIT to see what my future holds, but I know who holds it.... and I know I'm excited about the ride!

Check out my other friends here:

Honorary Guest and Featured Artist: Patricia Handschuh
Patricia's blog:              The Color of Dreams        
Patricias Etsy:               The Color of Dreams
Hostess: Toltec Jewels   Jewel School Friends

Kay Thomerson            KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger           Toki No Hourousha

Alicia Marinache           All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter                 TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider              Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach              Wonder and Whimsy
Asri Wahyuingsih          Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma               Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan               Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen        A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone          Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke               Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle               Mowse Made This
Heather Richter             Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe                   Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean

Jayne Capps                Mama's Got To Doodle

Andrea Glick                Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding         99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake             Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez              Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley          Mirandack

Penny Houghton           Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson           Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg            Wanderware
Christie Murrow          Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart        A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby                  Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain                 Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel               Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith                   NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy               SueBeads
Jean Yates                   Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers             Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich             A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore              Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams             Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer           Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson           From the Bead Board
Judy Turner               Silver Rains
Gloria Allen                Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood              Ginas-Design
Robin Reed                Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars            MLH Jewelry Designs  (please visit after Wednesday, April 9)
Marlene Cupo             Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka              4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack        The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole          Sparkles and Sweets

Jael Thorp                 Jael's Art Jewels

Renetha Stanziano       Lamplight Crafts

Putting the FUN Back In My Life

Holy Crickets has it been a loooooooong winter here!  Just this week - we had another FOOT of SNOW!!  THIS is why I moved to DC!

As you can imagine, gray skies and a bunch of personal drama (You can help by clicking here) has REALLY damped my spirits.  I've been struggling with depression for most of my life and after being here just 1 winter, I know why.  It's just SO dark, gray and dreary for SO long!  I miss the sun, I miss playing in the Cherry Blossoms and I miss the freedom of SPRING!  This has also been evident in my jewelry...pretty boring or not even happening at ALL.  SO sad and making me feel even worse about things. 

A few days ago, I'd had enough.  It's time to start putting some FUN back in to my life.  SO....here is the fruit of that labor. 

You WOODn't Know It's Spring....

I Went To A Craft Show and Came Home Hammered

I SAW her standing there..

 No Need To Be Crabby, Linda!

You are an Obsession....Your my obsession...

Pearls.  It's true.  I can admit it.  Pearls are my obsession.  Why?  They're beautiful.  They're classic. They NEVER go out of style.  Did I mention they are beautiful?

I've got a show tomorrow and this last week I took out all my pieces to decide where to put what (after removing Christmas-y pieces) and it was like a sea of pearls!  (HAHA!  A SEA of Pearls!)  I didn't realize how many pieces I had made with them in it...matte pearls, big pearls, little pearls, colored pearls, white pearls... Pearls! Pearls! Pearls!  Could be worse I guess...could be poo!