Weeks #45 & #46 - Stumped

I think it's safe to say I've been........

 Week #45 - Snowmen

 Week #46 - Handmade lampwork beads with Swarovski crystals to accent

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Superstition Blog Hop

Very Super-stitious!

I'm excited to say that I've completed the Superstition Blog Hop Sponsored by Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard Designs!  WOOHOO!

I decided to make a video to talk about my piece....just easier that way as I'm not feeling well.

Tammy Adams (Hostess)	http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Renee Hong	http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com
Betony Maiden	http://beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Coral Law	http://abcoraldesign.blogspot.com/
Lee Koopman	http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jeanette Belmont	http://www.onecanvasatatime.com
Shai Williams	http://www.ShaihasRamblings.com
Beth McCord	http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/
Robin Lynne Showstack	http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Lori Blanchard	https://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/
Deb Fortin	http://www.mhotistudio.blogspot.ca
Michelle McCarthy	http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow	http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak	http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Divya N	http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Karin Grosset Grange	http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Rebecca White	http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/#sec-blog
Shawneen Fagnani	http://blondespotpinkshoe.blogspot.com/
Catherine King	http://Catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Brook Bock	http://artisticendeavor101.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury	http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog
Nan Smith	http://wirednan.blogspot.ca
Carolyn Lawson	http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Linda Anderson	http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Ann Schroeder	http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Melissa Trudinger	https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

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 #42 - More Scarabaeus Green - OOooOoo

Umm...what'd you say?  Scar-a who?  And what's that got to do with earrings?  Glad you asked. =)

Swarovski has released their latest line of products, and included is a new color called Scarabaeus [skar-uh-bee-uh s] green.  It's an INCREDIBLE new color that's been inspired by.......

Copyright http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/

you guessed it.....the scarabaeus beetle.  Isn't it interesting?  God's creation just makes me swoon - it's so incredible!

The color is amazing and has green, blue, and purple..... and really you could use it with most anything.  I've been having fun with it - I used it 2 weeks ago for the purple and copper earrings (you can see here:http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/2015/10/week-38-39-and-40-from-sea-to.html ) and this week, I've used them with some teal pearls and silver bead caps.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the versatility of these beads.  (I've made other things too, which you'll see soon)

I have a feeling that this color is gonna show up in a looooooot of my pieces.  We'll see though!  I can't wait to keep playing with it! 

What do you think?   Hot or not so much?


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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 #41 - Custom Order Earrings - woot!

Something many folks know about me, is that I lived in the DC area for 13+ years of my life.  It was perhaps, the most amazing time in my life.  I LOVED living there.....the things to do, the incredible chances to see things that most don't get to see, the memorials and monuments, the history, the closeness of big city life and above all these things - the friendships I developed there are some the strongest and longest lasting, in my life. 



When I first moved to DC, I got involved in a small group Bible study where I met some AH-MAZ-ING women.  We did life together.  Meaning, if someone had an UP we ALL had an UP, if someone had a down.....we all had a down.  It was an incredible group of women and a few of them are still my friends.  This group truly was a portrait of #friendsAreFamilyYouChoose .  I had the honor of staying with one of them, for my latest trip to DC.  (I FINALLY got my things moved across the country! WOOHOO!)  While there, my gal pal saw these earrings and said......

"OH I love them! But they just aren't my color.  Could you make them in silver?"  OF COURSE! =) 


SO - I present to you....week #41 - in *Silver*.  They feature Swarovski crystals in lovely shades of blue and I even added in a special bead that will pick up purples, greens and yellows, too!  *so proud* I wanna make a pair for myself! LOL!

Which do YOU prefer?  Silver? Copper?  Can't wait to hear your thoughts!



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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 #38, #39, and #40 - From Sea to Shining....Storage Unit?

What an INCREDIBLE few weeks I've had.  You probably didn't realize that I've been a bit behind on my adventure of doing the Year O Earring Project.  Well...the reason is because after *3*+ years....I've FINALLY MOVED HOME!!!  WOOHOO!  I flew to DC mid-September and had all my belongings packed into "Relo-Cubes", put on a truck and brought across the country....to be unpacked into a new (MUCH MUCH CHEAPER) storage unit that's only about 8 miles from my house vs 1000!  WOOHOO!!

Rental car in front of my Relo-Cubes - yes I used *3*

I learned WAY too many lessons to list right now, but am just SO THANKFUL it's OVER!  And for the record - U-Pack Moving was OUTSTANDING!  Customer service was AMAZING! Pricing was better than UHaul or PODs (who don't deliver to my town of 100,000+) and cubes were bigger.  HIGHLY recommend!  3 thumbs up!


So...... here are my earrings.

Week #38:
GORGEOUS Orange Sunstone with Swarovski Crystal clusters.  These were purchased within about 30 min of my first showing. =)  I've never used Sunstone before, but I purchased it at one of the shows that came to Minneapolis.  I LOVE how it appears orange, but is REALLY a neutral, when it is close to your skin.  It also has a flash of electroplating so every once in a while, you'll get a blue to pop out or a purple flash - they're just really COOL earrings!  Janice Eileen LOVES them! =)  *I do, too*  I, also, added some Swarovskis just to add one more punch of brightness and sparkle.  Yum!

Week #39:
While I was in DC, I visited one of my favorite stores - Stars Beads.  Kay ALWAYS has great products there and this trip was no exception. =)

I saw these adorable beads while I was poking around..... aren't they cool?  Seed beaders love these little guys, and I do too, despite not being a seeder.  I just love the zig-zag design!

Week #40:
These little gems, also feature some goodness from Stars - the raspberry beads and copper bead caps.  Aren't they delicious?!?!  The color just makes me swoon. =)  On the bottom, I wanted to add a little something else....and then I realized that the NEW Swarovski Colors are OUT and I had a few!  So, I grabbed the NEW Scarabeaus Green color bicones and what do you know....they have a flash of raspberry in them!  WOOHOO!

I love these earrings - both in the style of them and the fact that the green metallic is kinda unexpected....especially the little purple pops here and there.  Hope YOU love them as much as I do! =)

Pretty proud of the fact that while I hadn't BLOGGED about my new pieces - they WERE made on time!  Thanks for playing along!

Which is YOUR favorite pair?

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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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Leather Feather Blog Hop (and Week #36 of Year O Earring Project) by Rachel Mallis

Several weeks ago, Rachel Mallis of mintmonarch.com, put out a call for designers to use her new leather feathers in a fun and exciting way!  I was one of the lucky designers who answered the call. =)  Rachel sent GORGEOUS sage colored leather feathers, to me.  I was over the moon!  SO GORGEOUS!

I went straight to work - thinking..... comparing.....sampling.....thinking.....and more thinking.  I decided that the beautiful leather called for something just as gorgeous - Swarovski crystals.  So, with a custom combo - I put these AWESOME earrings together.

They feature 8 different colors of crystals, hand made head pins, hand made ear wires - that feature Swarovski rondelles, and bright copper bead caps that I smooshed down to make a custom cover for the feathers.  I LOVE them!  Tell me what YOU think?


Check out what my friends did!

Rachel Mallis (host) http://www.mintmonarch.com/

Inge von Roos https://ingetraud.wordpress.com/

Lori Blanchard alainnjewelry.WordPress.com

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com (You are HERE!)

Deb Fortin www.mhotistudio.blogspot.ca

Rebecca Robertson White http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/#sec-blog

Lucy Bejarano http://lucybejaranojewelry.blogspot.com

Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/

Marina Rios http://fancifuldevices.blogspot.com/ 

Georgie Marcu https://instagram.com/nearlylostjewelry/

Christina Taylor www.dreamcatjewelry.wordpress.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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Week #35 - Burning in my brain

Ever had one of those ideas that just keeps stewing and brewing in your brain?  Just something you WANT to do, but not really sure HOW or with WHAT?  Well, that's what this week's earrings are all about..... an idea I've had for eons and FINALLY figuring out how to do them with the appropriate beads. 

I picked these gems up at an Intergem Show.  Living in MN - they only come once a year - where in DC they come every 3 months.  What a change!  =(   Anyway, I picked up these little crystal drops from one of my favorite vendors, Ina and George, and have looked at them for FAR too long.

The holes are SMALL so 20g wouldn't fit through them.   I didn't have the right color in 24 and honestly, wasn't sure they'd even be strong enough with 24g wire....so I started digging through my bag o wire.  I found this wire that was twisted....and guess what?!  It fit through the holes!  The twisted wire gives more stability than a single wire and while some didn't fit - the majority did. 

Here they are!

 

They can be YOURS! 

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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 #34 - Fun with Fibers!

Whatdya get when you take 1 girl who has 52  pairs of earrings to make, a package of bead caps and some wool?  A pair of earrings that include bead caps and wool. =) duh! ;)


Somewhere out my brain, I thought to myself "Self, what if you took some ribbon or something and wrapped it around a round frame? That'd look kinda cool"  Enter bead caps that I'd ordered from an online store, with some sweet fuschia Swarovski cubes and BLAM! HOT EARRINGS! =)
In all actuality, I was inspired by this photo from Munsinger Gardens, here in St. Cloud, MN.  I love the color of the purple plants and was excited to find my Swarovski crystal and wool matched!

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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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