Nice t-shirt

I had a parent conference today afterschool.  The mama was a little late so I got a nice, clear view of her walking into the room.  She was wearing this t-shirt:

Bead Soup Blog Party: Reveal 2

This is the 4th time I have participated in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party.  The first time BSP was held, I saw the list of participants who had already signed up and was too intimidated.  The next time I just held my breath when I clicked the send button and hoped for the best.  Here I am a couple of years later and I couldn't be happier that I decided to take up Lori's challenge and work outside my comfort zone.  The BSP has morphed into a worldwide event - 400 jewelry artists from 25!  The BSP has grown so large Lori Anderson divided the reveal into three separate dates so that it would be possible to travel around the virtual world and visit all of the blog.

my soup

This BSP my partner is Emma Todd of A Polymer Penchant.  Emma sent me a beautiful selection of beads she made and added some seeds, stones, and crystals to the mix.

El Pavo Royal

I used some of the sari silk to make a bail and used 16g brass wire to attach it to the necklace

I knotted the beads with regal purple waxed Irish linen

the clasp

finally I added brass chain and lentil beads to complete the earrings.

Take at look at the others participating in today's reveal.

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure

Amy Severino, Amy Beads

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry

Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads

Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations

Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town? -----you are here

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Summer Lovin' Challenge

At the end of May, just before school was out, Amy Severino of Amybeads announced she was hosting the Summer Lovin' Summer Chanllenge.  This was perfect timing for me because I was looking for a few projects for my summer free time.

the start

As soon as I saw the Summer Lovin' Challenge Kit I knew I wanted to participate. I love the Tree of Life pendant from Penny's Lane Polymer Clay.  I thought I was going to stitch little herringbone ropes with little fluted ends to hold pearls, but somewhere along the way I purchased some gold leather and Jamie Cloud Eakin's book Beading with Cabochons.  So the piece became bead embroidery.

The pendant is just under 2.5"

the result

This is my first bead embroidery piece.  I've played around with stitching on leather before, but never have I actually seem anything through from beginning to end.  My edge stitching is a little wonky in a couple places, but I think that I'm getting a feel for how to better space beads so that I don't finish and need to leave a gap or squeeze a last bead into a space.

Take a look and see what the other participants made:

Amy Amybeads --- our hostess
Renetha LampLightCrafts

Lori B.

Kepi A little of this, a little of that...

Shannon Falling Into the Sky

Maryanne Zingala's Workshop

Shirley Beads and Bread

Dawn Designs by Dawn Marie

Therese Therese's Treasures 

Vimala The Bead Diaries

Ginger lilmummy likes...

Linda Lindy's Designs

Kristen My Bead Journey

Lois ¿Que Onda Q'town? ----- you are here

Lucy K. -------see Amy's blog

Debbie Beechy Beetique

Tanya A Work in Progress

Audrey Dreams of Absolution

Sandra Stories from the City of Brass

Mary MLH Jewelry Designs

leather and beads

I had to give the style a try, but the bead weaver in me finished this bracelet with a picot edge and a woven toggle clasp.  I started with a beautiful strand of aqua  Czech roundels, added a layer of silver 6/0's that look like mercury glass because they are not holding their finish, and ended with a row of warm gold picot.  I'm about to see if rubbing on some Renaissance Wax will hold the finish on the silver beads.  

I distressed the leather and used 8 lb. Fireline

Soups Exchanged

Although I haven't been posting much, I have been beading.  I'm just about done with my piece for the Amy Beads Summer Lovin' challenge and I'm working on my Bead Soup Blog Hop piece.

the reveal is August 1st

Emma Todd of A Polymer Penchant and I exchanged beads.  As Emma mentioned in her post, Lori Anderson, our BSBP hostess, must have a crystal ball to work some kind of beady magic when she pairs off beaders.  Here is the gorgeousness I received from Emma.  I adore the focal and am loving those three-lobbed teal beads which I believe were also made by Emma.  I've been looking at (and buying) some larger beads this year so this soup is perfect for me.  We reveal on August 11th, but there are actually three reveal dates and the first is July 28th - this Saturday!

from Emma's blog - find Emma's beads here on Etsy

Here is what I sent off to Emma in Canada.  The soup started with the ceramic focal by Tracee Dock at The Classic Bead.

a slightly internationally flavored bead soup

I had a bit of trouble deciding if I wanted to accent the blues or the greens in the pendant, but I realized maybe I was not the one who should make that choice.  I sent along beads to pull out both colors and also really liked them together. The pink Czech beads with gold accents came from Two Scoops in Sweden, the Czech faceted olive beads (which I called matte crystals above) are from Yashmacreations in London, England.  The amazonite rounds are from a stash I used to made a pearl, amazonite, and sterling rosary for my mother-in-law.  The rest of the amazonite now lives in Mexico and is in the hands of one devout lady.  The blue quart came from Marcie Abney Carroll's (La Bella Joya )destash shop and I loved it so much I search and found some more.  It is a pretty good kyanite imitation.

Marcie was my first BSBP partner and I'm pretty sure Lori partnered us because we both seed bead and we are both Spanish teachers.  The party is definitely great for sales because I've been buying patterns and beads from Marcie since then.  Although I don't sell on-line, the BSBPs have helped me to pick up blog followers.  I think I had a grand total of nine going into the first party.  I can't for the first reveal on Saturday. 

Click here for the list of BSBP participants.

Dragon

I found this bookmark pattern on Pinterest and turned it into a bracelet.

a very friendly looking dragon

Here is the link to the pattern which I completed in peyote and brick stitch instead of completely in brick stitch.  Here is a link to my Pinterest board which has loads of peyote, brick, and other flat stitch patterns.

I was motivated to get this baby done because of all the jokes about pinners never making anything they pin.  I think I'll stick with making jewelry from Pinterest ideas because the few recipes I've tried have been total fails - including the peach cobbler I tried yesterday (recipe already deleted from my food board).  I usually make peach galletes, but I was looking for something a little different.  If you have a great recipe for a fruit cobbler or crisp, send me a link.

Bead Soup Party Season

Emma Todd's Poppy Beads

Our wonderful hostess Lori Anderson has finished the monumental task of pairing beaders from around the world for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party and beads are being exchanged.  This will be my fourth BSBP.  A few years ago I had just started blogging about jewelry designing and making when I spotted an invitation to join the very first BSBP, but I was too intimidated by the big names who had already thrown their hats in the ring to give it a go.  The next time around I decided I was ready.  I have been paired with three fabulous  artists and my current partner, Emma Todd of A Polymer Penchant, is wonderfully talented. You can find her work on Etsy.  Reading her blog, I discovered Emma and I share a love of poppies and peacocks.

Emma Todd's Peacock Beads

Here is a little sneak peek at the soup which is on the way to Canada.