Sunday, 28 April 2013

...I love it when a plan comes together..

You know how sometimes an idea begins to form in your mind and you love it right from the beginning.....you love the idea, you love the design, you love the focal and accompanying beads you've picked, you love how it looks right from the first bead strung and oh you love the finished results.......that is Aurea!  I purchased the turquoise from my favorite store in Victoria and although I have had it for quite a few months, now was the time to create something special.  I am off to Victoria in a couple of weeks to see my beautiful sister (and of course I will go to my favorite store) and I wanted to wear my creation. I am not sure they will know this was the birthplace of my latest creation; maybe I will mention it or maybe not. I will buy another fabulous gem, of that I am sure and in the meantime I will have the greatest pleasure wearing this piece. I may be partial but I absolutely love this piece. I even named it after that store...Aurea.

Aurea


Oh and spring has finally arrived in the north country and here is the living proof!

Crocuses in my garden!

Saturday, 20 April 2013

..Spring is here...well if you don't count the snow we just got

Today is the day to reveal my creation for the "Spring Fling Challenge".  Amy from amybeads had put out the call of another challenge and I couldn't resist, they are so much fun. Thanks Amy, your spring fling kits are so beautiful!   I absolutely love the colors of this kit and  since receiving mine  I have added a few coordinating wardrobe items, what fun!!

The kit Amy sent:


 .....and what I have created

Flutter

Close up of Flutter

Hopefully Amy will continue with this wonderful tradition.

Sunday, 14 April 2013

...it seems like it been forever....

If you are looking for the Bead Soup Blog Party, please visit here.

And now on to the Beading Babes Reveal. We were given 6 lovely projects to work on by Karyn. You could do one or all...and once I got started and before I knew it, wow I did them all. So much fun! The only challenge I had was getting peanut beads, for some reason they are not be found in my neck of the woods so I had to order. My first order got lost along the way but Kandra graciously sent me a new order and had them rush delivered. I didn't have quite enough so I had to be inventive but I think it worked out and the bracelet turned out gorgeous. My absolutely favorite project was the fish pendant, the way they move and ripple makes them so hypnotic! I will soon have a fish bowl full.

Without further adieu here are the six projects:


Button Up Bracelet by Leslie Frazier



Last Kisses of Summer by C J Bauschka


Royal Chains Lariat by Kelly Wiese


Fish Pendant by Linda Richmond
Lace Pendant by Linda Richmond

Three Graces Collar by Jill Wiseman

Saturday, 13 April 2013

12:01 am


1st reveal complete and now on to ...


The 2nd Reveal day for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party has arrived and I am so excited although a little intimidated.  After hopping through all the party goers on the first reveal, I was completely and utterly blown away by the craftsmanship, the artistry and the creativity of each and every one.  Lori has done an amazing job yet again, this time more amazing than ever because not only were there over 500 participants worldwide but she hasn’t been feeling well and she is in all three reveals. Lori you are incredible, thank you for hosting this really really really really fun party!

My partner this time around (being my second BSBP I feel seasoned) is the amazing Amy Severino. I think it must have been the bead fairies at work because just before Lori announced who was partners with who, I had commented on facebook to Amy that it would be neat if we were partnered and wow a few days later we found out we were. I had participated in Amy’s Spring Challenge and enjoyed the experience so much, that I have signed up for her next Spring Fling Challenge (reveal date April 20).  I realized we were kindred spirits and was totally thrilled we were paired together for the BSBP.  Please visit Amy’s blog and she what she has created with the soup I sent her. 
 
The Soup I sent to Amy
Amy sent me a wonderful soup, very challenging, oh I do love a challenge!  Here is the soup Amy sent me.  I really wanted to use as much as possible if not all the soup sent and yeah I did.  
The Soup Amy sent me
So here is what I made; first up "Dragon in the Garden".  Amy included in her soup a beautiful clay focal. It so reminded me of the garden and that made me think...what's in a garden but dragon flies.....I used the clay focal, an antique brass dragon fly, some carved bone flowers, some of the pearls, some of the seed beads and a crystal or two. The necklace begged for matching earrings and a bracelet.



Dragon in the Garden
 

Next up "Turkish Delight"
The agate beads Amy sent where the inspiration for this, but as I started beading the agates didn't fit. They were still used, just not in the necklace. I used a jasper focal, a rivoli, cube beads, magatamas, more of the crystal's, more of the seed beads and the clasp although I did put a patina finish to the clasp to reduce the brightness.

Turkish Delight
I have received many compliments on this and the earrings I made to match.
Oh and not to forget the agate beads, a simple but beautiful bracelet.

So I still had a small amount of seed beads and a few crystals and the pale green silk ribbon. I don't normally work with silk ribbons but I have started to incorporate it more and more into my work. I took my little remaining pile of beads, added a few and came up with this. I love it, it is so summer breeze!

Summer Breeze



 So that is it, Amy I hope I did you proud, can't wait to see what you made.
Thank you Lori, you're the best.....this is the greatest party there is.

I have the Beading Babes Challenge reveal tomorrow so please come and see what I have done for that as well. Whew busy, super fun weekend!
 
Please visit all the other party goers listed below...
Agata Grygiel
Ali McCarthy
Alice Craddick
Amy Severino
Ana Krepel
Andra Weber
Andrea Glick
Andrea Trank
Anitra Gordy Boyers


Annette Rivers
Anu Tuppurainen
April Grinaway
Audrey Bélanger
B.R.Kuhlman
Barbara Bechtel
Barbara Mason
Becky Pancake
Beti Horvath
Billi RS Rothove


Bobbie Rafferty
Brandi Burdick
Candida Castleberry
Carol Dillman
Carolyn Gebert
Carolyn Lawson
Caron Reid
Catherine King
Cathy Jakicic


Chandra Merod
Charlene Jacka
Cheri Reed
Cherrie Fick
Cherrie Warzocha
Cheryl Brown
Cheryl Dunham
Cheryl Foiles
Cheryl Gangle


Chris Eisenberg
Chris White
Christina Miles


Christine Murrow


Cindy Ritchie
Clare Etheridge
Cory Tompkins


Cris Peacock
Cynthia Abner
Debbie Rasmussen
Debi Levine
Deborah Brooks
Deborah Read
Debra Behrends
Dorota Żerańska
Elaine Robitaille


Elsie Deliz-Fonseca
Emma Todd
Erin Guest
Evelyn Shelby
Evie and Beth McCord
Francy Inman
Ginger Bishop
Gloria Allen
Hajer Waheed


Hope Smitherman
Ilenia Ruzza
Ilona Hegedűs
Ine Vande Cappelle
Jackie Ryan
Janine Lucas
Jean Peter
Jean Wells
Jeanne Steck


Jelveh Jaferian Johnson
Jennifer Cabic
Jennifer Reno
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Kyrlach
Jenny Robledo
Jessica Brower
Jill MacKay


JJ Jacobs
Jo-Ann Woolverton
Joanne Tinley
Johanna Rhodes Nash
Judy Robinson
Juli Cannon
Julia Gerlach
Julie Bowen
Julie Panusis


K Hutchinson
Karen Martinez
Karen Vincent
Karen Williams
Karin Slaton
Karyn Bonfiglio
Kat Douglas
Kate Dufour
Kate Mulligan


Kate Richbourg
Kathleen Gallant
Kathleen Lange Klik
Katie Nielsen-Nunez
Kay Bolton
Kayla Potega
Kelli Jacobson
Kelly Patterson
Kelly Ramstack


Kiersten Kern
Kim Sparks
Klaudete Koon
Klaudia Tóth
Krista French
Kristin Oppold
Kym Hunter
Lana Kinney
Laura Guenther


Lauren Fenty
Leah Curtis
Lennis Carrier
Linda Murphy
Lisa Johnson
Lori Anderson
Lupe Meter
Lynn Jobber
Mandi Effron


Marcia Dunne
Margareta Saari
                     
Marianne Baxter
Marie Covert
Mary Ellen Parker
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens
Megan Milliken
Melissa Meman
Melissa Mesara


Michaela Pabeschitz
Michelle Tucker
Mimi Gardner
Mischelle Fanucchi
Monica Phillips
Mowse Doyle
Nancy Boylan
Nancy Dale
Pat Haight


Patina Queen
Patty Miller
Pia Kaven
Rebecca Anderson
Rose Johnson
Roxanne Blanc
Sarah Goode
Sarah Singer
Sarah Strover


Shalini Austin
Sherri Stokey
Sherry Baun
Sheryl Stephens
Silvia Sernicola
Solange Collin
Stacie Florer
Stacy Alderson
Stephanie Haussler


Stephanie LaRosa
Sue Burleigh
Susan Bowie
Susan Kelly
Susan of Libellula Jewelry
Susan Sheehan
Suzanne Fragiacomo
Tammi Sloan
Tammie Everly


Tania Hagen
Tania Spivey
Tanya Goodwin
Tanya Wiles
Tari Kahrs


Theresa Buchle
Tiffany Smith
Tina Holden


Tracey Nanstad
Tracie Dean
Tracy Bell
Tracy Kruse
Veralynne Malone
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom


Facebook Participants


D’Arsie Manzella     
Claire Brannigan Hasemeier
Robin Showstack
Melanie Lemen Swope
Beccy Peterson
Kelli Nelson
Chris Schlicht
Shelley Cole-Kuduk