It's here, it's here, Saturday is here...

...and that means Sequintastic September reveal day has arrived. I am so happy to have participated in Sarah of Saturday Sequins blog hop. It has been so much fun creating with sequins.  I loved working with the them, my design morphed so much along the way  and the finished result is so much different than what I had started with. I had thought it would be super easy working and creating with sequins but it is not quite as easy as it looks, hats off to the very talented Sarah. Thanks Sarah for hosting such a fun blog hop, I hope you have more!

Here is my creation....

Glory

close up of the clasp

close up of the focal which can be worn separately as a brooch

Happy sequin hopping!

Participants!!!!

Host: Sarah... http://saturdaysequins.com

Dita... http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Ambra... http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com

Audrey... http://hotpinkquilts.blogspot.com

Stacy... http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk

Karen W...  http://baublicious.blogspot.com

Lori...  http://www.prettythingsblog.com

Lisa... http://lisabinkley.typepad.com

Carmi... http://resincrafts.blogspot.com

Dawn Marie...  http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com

Jeannie... http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog 

Shirlee... http://www.shirleestuff.blogspot.com

Linda... http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewerly.blogspot.com 

Corrine... http://www.sparkledaysstudio.com

Gutukas... http://atradimutakeliais.blogspot.com

Shannon... http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

Mallory... http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Cyndi... http://www.beading-arts.com

Maneki... http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com 

Maryanne... http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com

Ine... http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com

Karen... http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Kepi... http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com   

Jennifer... http://jenniferstumpf.blogspot.com

Misty...  http://thejollyfatelf.blogspot.com

Dot... http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com

Hope... http://craftyhope.blogspot.com

Cynthia... http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Micheladas... http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Shirley...  http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Karla... http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Eleanor... http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com

Therese... http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com 

Rita... http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com 

Robyn... http://rcponders.wordpress.com

Stepha... http://skwds.blogspot.com

Sue... http://suebeads.blogspot.com

Cate... http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Amy... http://Loraamyjames.com

Wow, what can I say...

This week much like last week still has me struggling with the "super bug" I picked up somewhere along the way.  But in my delirium and my thinking - is there a point, the point came home in three glorious ways. First I was the lucky winner of earrings made by Shai Williams, way to make me see a light at the end of the tunnel Shai,

Gorgeous Earrings (photo by Shai Williams)

Gorgeous again (photo by Shai Williams)

then if that wasn't enough I was again lucky enough to be the winner of a bracelet made by Nancy Peterson, super duper made my day, oh I can't wait to be wearing this...

Woven Wonder Bracelet (bracelet and photo by Nancy Peterson)

I then can you believe it I was awarded the "Newbie Award" by Bobbie. I feel incredibly humbled and oh so lucky and oh so much better. Thank you to all my new blog friends for making my day, my week, my month.

 My choices for these categories are as follows:

Artistic

Jean A Wells Handcrafted Artisan
I love everything Jean does and constantly go to her blog for inspiration and just to view the eye candy. Jean offered me sage advice once that I will always appreciate .... when I was trying to come up with name for my Etsy Store, Jean said "just use your name, you can never go wrong with that". My problem was instantly solved and I have never looked back. Thank you Jean.

Educator
Nancy  and Amy both get my vote
I love what Nancy creates and find her tutorials informative and easy to follow. Amy is so much fun and always includes a pattern on her blog. Her Summer Lovin' challenge was my first challenge and one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had. Thank you both!

 Sarah from Saturday Sequins
Sarah is fantastic and I could actually give her all the categories. I feel Sarah and I have become good friends. She always has good advice and supplies incredible links with almost every post. She is in everyone's corner and has a way of making them/you feel so good. She is uplifting and I look forward to reading her blog, and usually more than once. Thank you for being you Sarah, you rock!

Style
Rosemarie is an artist,a photographer and a friend and does exceptional work in both fields. Her blog itself is a piece of art and worth the experience of visiting.









And last but not least

Newbie
Leanne Loftus is a new blogger but has already made an impression. She is my partner in the Holiday Bling Blog Hop and I am excited to see what she has created. Her pieces from the Challenge of Travel Blog Hop were exceptional and worth taking a look see.







And here are the "rules" for this hop, pulled directly from Antiquity Travelers: THE BLOG HOP RULES: there are no rules, but we do have some suggestions. These awards were designed to point out some of the great blogs out there. And you can choose to pass on your award to as few, or as many as you like. So if you've been tapped on the shoulder and given one of these awards, we would love to see you display it proudly on your blog. Join the blog hop and show off that lovely blog of yours. We would, of course, love to hear why you like to blog, and why you chose a fellow blogger for an award. So let's get hopping!
This is a Blog Hop!

1. Antiquity Trave

2. OneKissCreation

3. AllPrettyThings

4. Sadafulee

5. Bikbik & Roro

6. NewEndStudio

7. Thereses Treas

8. Beadsong

 You are next... Click here to enter
This list will close in 100 days, 4 hrs, 45 min (12/31/2012 11:59 PM North America - Eastern Standard Time)

Beading Babes Project 6 Reveal...

I had wanted to do the Beading Babes challenged for some time but always seemed to miss the date and then it was to close to reveal date to start....this time I made it. I was happily beading away thinking 3 projects isn't to bad and with the extended reveal date I should have no problem meeting my goal of doing all 3 projects. And then I read the project description once more and in my rush the first time completely missed the 4th project...okay now I had my work cut out for me because I had also joined the Holiday Bling Blog Hop and had to have that in the mail no later than Sept 15. But I did it and here are my takes on the four projects. Oh and add to this we went on holidays....something to be said for beading on the road and I got terribly terribly sick, so sick we had to come home early.

Retro Daisies by Janice Chatham
Super fun to make, so much so I had to make the earrings too!

Ripple Effect Cuff by Sherry Serafini
Oh I do love bead embroidery and this pattern is gorgeous. I used a abalone shell as my focal and although larger than what the pattern called for it still worked out nicely....and having another abalone tucked away I just had to make a pendant to go with it. It's the first time I have used silk ribbon but it certainly won't be the last. 

 

Soutastic Soutache Earrings by Amee McNamara
The soutache earrings were my biggest challenge, I thought I could easily master this but  not the case, I think I made these earrings three times before I was kind of satisfied. I am even more impressed by Ginger and her submission to the Summer Lovin' challenge..she didn't even use backing! I thought these needed a little extra so I added the dangle.

The Almost Josephine's Collar by Jill Devon 
 ....and last but not least the almost missed project....OK I did take a lot of creative license on this one, the crystals I picked just weren't working in the pattern so I made a few adjustments. I can only hope I did it justice.

I can't reveal the Holiday Bling surprise yet but it's in the mail and I hope my partner Leanne really likes it.

 

...beading, beading, beading

I have been madly beading to get all the projects I have on the go done in time, the pressure is on because I am also leaving on holidays so I have to have everything ready before I go...yikes! I am almost done the Beading Babes projects, on the last one. I am done the Holiday Bling Blog Hop project and I'm super excited to send off to Leanne my partner. Then on to complete the Sequintastic September project....whew!

I made this project a while ago and gifted it to my daughter (she took it and I relented). She did say I could borrow it though. The pattern was from one of the beading magazines (just can't remember which one) and I immediately fell in love with it....she did too!

Meagan

....i can feel it in the air....

Yes FALL and it's just around the corner but before then .... my holidays are only a few days away. Lately I have been busy making the projects for Beading Babes. In my rush to join in I scrolled through projects and was very excited..hmm three projects by Sept 1 - no problem.  Well it's not three projects it's four and thank goodness the reveal date has been moved to Sept 16.  I went back to the site and realized I hadn't scrolled to the bottom of the projects. I am close to being done three of the projects and will start on the 4th this week sometime. I learned that soutache is way harder than it looks and requires a great deal of patience. Did I mention I am on holidays very soon!!!! We are spending three weeks on the west coast, visiting family and friends. I can't wait to go to Victoria and  visit with my sister. We don't get to see each other much so I just can't wait. My brother lives in Vancouver so I will be getting a double family fix to sustain me for a while. Below are a couple of photos I took in Victoria on my last visit. I love taking photos and then I love manipulating them into what look like a paintings.

Victoria, British Columbia

Tug boat in Vancouver harbor

The last BSBP reveal day has come and gone. I am working my way through the hop and I must say I am impressed with all I see. This was such a great adventure and I hope Lori will let me join in January again. I have joined the Holiday Bling Blog Hop and found out that my partner is Leanne Loftus from Pennsylvania. From our first introduction I can tell we are like minded artists and have already decided what we are going to do. Leanne does beautiful work, check out her blog and see for yourself.

Copper and Blue

First, I would like to thank all the BSBP family for their comments on the pieces I made from the soup Ginger sent, it is so gratifying to be part of a large family of like minded, extremely talented artists. I have such a swelled head from all the wonderful praise I received.  I hope I didn't miss anyone when I did the hop, if I did miss anyone please accept this as praise for an exceptional job by all. This was such an incredible experience it is quite indescribable. Last reveal is just a few days away and I find I am just as excited this time as the last two to see what's been created.

I just finished my pieces for the August Challenge from Operation Tackle that Stash.  I haven't often worked in copper but found that when paired with royal blue, it is quite striking. I had purchased the focal sometime ago and knew that someday it would take center stage. This was the perfect challenge for this piece. The necklace was made using dyed fresh water pearls, brilliant blue swarovski crystals, copper spacers  and clasp and copper seed beads.

Indigo Treasure

The earrings are made with some beautiful copper leaves, copper findings and dyed fresh water pearls. The colors are so striking they are hard to miss. Hope you enjoy!

Elementals

BSBP Second Reveal Day …yeah that’s me and Ginger…..

I was so excited to sign up for the Bead Soup Blog Party and was thrilled when Lori partnered me with Ginger my new BSBPBFF.  I was about to embark on a new adventure and thankfully Ginger walked me through the process. I have a lot to learn but next go round I will be a seasoned BSBP person.  I already can’t wait!

When Ginger’s package arrived I knew right away it was from her, the box was beautifully and uniquely decorated with pictures and even a map of Okinawa - how cool is that.  Inside everything was individually wrapped and sealed with Hello Kitty stickers and then surrounded by beautiful purple tissue paper; a treasure trove of beads, sea shells and gifts. 

My package to Ginger was sadly lacking except for one lone maple leaf sealing the package – how sad. Next time my package will definitely be more thought out. It will include a little bit of Canadiana and definitely a little something extra for my partner because I so appreciated receiving these from Ginger (oh but she spoiled me)!

Ginger's gorgeous gifts!

 Surprise #1

Surprise #2

Ginger made this pendant and used pictures I had taken, truly a thoughtful and wonderful gift!

I loved the challenge, the  camaraderie, the excitement and hope I have done justice to some of the treasures Ginger sent me.  Thank you Ginger, you are an awesome partner and I will treasure your friendship. 

Thank you Lori, you are an awesome hostess and oh so much appreciated.  

Bead Soup 2nd Reveal - please enjoy and make sure to visit all the sites!

Without further ado here is what I made with the delicious soup Ginger sent!

Beach Beauty

               Sand Dollar Focal, Okinawa Pearls, and Clasp (from Ginger) added seed beads and crystals

 

Rosamund

Large pink focal bead (from Ginger)I  added copper leaf, pink jade beads and silver findings on an 18 inch silver chain)

 

The Sea and Sand

                 (Glass focal bead, white shells, blue glass beads (all from Ginger) added blue jade, gold clasp and gold leaf)

 

Empress Eleanor

Peach resin flowers (from Ginger), White bone flower, peach fresh water pearls, tiny pink pearls, peach crystals and peach amethyst drop

When I started this adventure and agonized over the soup I was sending to Ginger, I wanted to be sure that something could actually be made, so I decided I would use the same mix of beads I sent and create something as well. I was curious to see what we would each come up with. Ginger's creations are so beautiful and so completely different. So much fun!

what I sent to Ginger and what i made with the same mix

 Wild Thing

 Zippy

 Must say this was the most awesome experience, thank you again Lori!!!!!