Oh Glorious Fall

Fall, my favorite time of the year. Everything about it just makes me happy. I even like listening to the background noise of the football game my husband is watching....I don't actually watch the game, I just listen to the noise...I have no understanding why this would evoke such a happy feeling.  Thanksgiving is in the fall and I have much to be thankful for maybe that is one reason. Perhaps it is because I have always fancied that I look great in fall colors, I love the oranges, golds, yellows, reds and rusts of the fall season. The only thing that would make it so much better is if it were to last a little longer, say a couple of more months.

In honor of my favorite season a tribute. I ordered on a whim from Fusion Beads (love Fusion Beads) large crystals focals .... gorgeous. I also ordered the delightful Rizo beads and added them as fringe around the crystal focals. I had just finished a rich coppery brown viking knit rope and they paired so well.  Oh so so pretty.....I absolutely love this necklace, it has become my new go to piece...perfect for fall!
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Happy Fall.

oh what a wonderful surprise

"Two someones" near and dear to me just returned from a river cruise in Europe and by all reports they had an excellent time. This is something I would like to try someday, to just roll along historic site after historic site...how exciting. I hinted a few times about sending my shopping list but I really wasn't serious. What a wonderful surprise it was to receive this beautiful fused glass pendant. It came from Bratislava, Slovakia ...what a treasure. The pendant needed a rope.... something made just for it and so after several attempts....eureka; this came to me. I combined twin hole seed beads, miyuki drops and size 8 seed beads in the colors of the pendant. I am so happy with how it turned out.
Thank you dear friends for such a wonderful gift.

Beading Babes Project 9 Reveal

It has been what seems a long time coming but today is reveal day at last. These projects are exactly what I needed at a time when my life was turned up side down. Things have evened out and life is pretty much back to normal.....just in time to start hibernation. 

I would have to say my favorite project this time around was the Four Points earring. They were so much fun to make and I have now developed a very healthy appetite for two hole seed beads. Love them. I made a pendant and bracelet to go with the earrings and they have become my go to set.

 Next favorite although I made some adjustments is the Sari Pendant. It is so 3d and really stands out as a statement piece. Strung on pink sparkly ribbon takes it over the top!

The Succulent Garden Bracelet again featured two hole seed beads, my new favorite. I used two colors quite by accident but love how it turned out.

I love the petal earrings and have worn them a lot. Definitely statement earrings!

I struggled with the Radiant Pinwheel and just did not like how it was turning out. The pendant was too bulky and just looked odd to me. So with a little creative license I made it into what I liked, I find it much more wearable and a real eye catcher. Because of the detail I strung it on a simple Viking knit rope.

Last but not least is the Seed Bead Nova. I am not particularly crazy about this as a bracelet and I think I will turn it into a pendant. I love the design and think it would make a beautiful necklace. The earrings are gorgeous.

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks Karyn for organizing such a fun group!
 

Sequintastic Reveal Day...

Sarah of Saturday Sequins is hosting the 2nd annual Sequintastic September and I am so proud to be part of it.

Sarah has such a fun loving person and has such a wonderful blog, who could resist being part of this whimsy.

Although this has been a hectic time for me I felt sure I could come up with something really incredible and spectacular. Well add up all the chaos and then add in being away for the last two weeks on vacation....I must admit I was in a bit of a panic. The project I had planned (which will be revealed later) was way bigger than I had anticipated and being on the road I didn't have everything I needed. Oh what to do....

Plan B anyone........Our vacation was to take us to the Columbia River Gorge and then up along the coast to Seattle. Well 9 km from the US boarder I realized our passports had expired.......on to PLAN B for both vacation and sequin project. Not to be daunted we camped in Southern BC wine country. It was absolutely glorious and so relaxing. It also gave me inspiration and my little Tawny Owl came to be.

Owls seem to be everywhere right now and so as not to be left out of the craze and because it brings back found memories of when my girls where Brownies and I was one of their Brownie Leaders (Tawny Owl) and because sequins work so well........

Tawny Owl

 

Enjoy this wonderful sequin filled adventure. Sarah you are one of the best! Thank you for hosting.

 

Sarah Louise Gordon

Dawn, http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com

Mandi, http://www.beadcircle.com

Skylar, http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com

Cyndi, http://beading-arts.com

Karen, http://baublicious.blogspot.com

Lily, http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Eleanor, http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com

Kepi, http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Maneki,  http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.se

Tammy, http://innermusejewelry.blogspot.com

Therese, http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Liz, http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Jasvanti, http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Mischelle, http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Dee, http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com

Labweorc, http://labweorc.wordpress.com

the count down has begun...

This has been a hectic past few days and next week will be as well. Trying to get ready for vacation is tough when you have so many people to worry about. Although my daughter is doing really well, we may still be faced with more surgery...I just hope it is not until after we get back.  Work is hectic, home is hectic....I need a vacation. We plan on leaving Friday for 2 glorious weeks. I am packing my beads and getting ready to hit the road. I will also be doing some viking knit, because it is so easy to do while driving and I love the look. I will be on a bit of a break but when back I have to hops to post for. See you then.

Quick Silver

...missed a day somewhere and now it's Monday..

Summer is rapidly disappearing and I wonder where the time has gone. This summer has been pretty stressful but thankfully things are looking up and a vacation is just around the corner.  A much needed vacation.....This year we are planning a tour of Washington and Oregon in particular the Columbia River Gorge and the west coast highway from Portland to Seattle, just can't wait. I have researched places to go and shops to shop-Shipwreck Beads here I come.

My love of twin hole seed beads continues and in between getting ready for the hops I have signed up for I have played around a lot with these beads. I just finished this beauty. I love how the rope drapes so elegantly and making it really special is the pendant that can be removed to wear the rope plain or with a different pendant.

To Russia with Love

 

Pepita's 1st Anniversary Blog Hop

The extremely lovely and talented polymer clay artist Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade asked people to help her celebrate her 1st blog anniversary. I just had to join the fun. Alenka asked people how they would prefer to participate and the decision was unanimous....a blog hop. Alenka sent out polymer components made by her to each participant. She wrapped and packaged each piece and then mixed them up and addressed them...even she did not know exactly what each participant would receive.....way to add to the excitement!

These are the components Alenka sent out

I have worked with Alenka's components before and just love her work. I was also lucky enough to be the recipient of one of Alenka's give aways and I knew right away that some of these would be incorporated into my creation for this hop. 

The prize I won, each piece made by Alenka

The package arrived and I was thrilled with the piece I received. Alenka asked us to post a picture of the piece when we received them.

Love love love this clasp and it works so well with the other pieces I have used in my creation. I stepped out of my comfort zone on this one, and after taking it apart and redesigning several (quite a few several) times I came up with "Little Red Bird",  the final result. As I was making this I thought I would give it away once done, because it is something that is out of my norm.....my mind has changed and this will be staying with me unless it mysteriously disappears into one of my daughters collections, which seems to happen quite frequently.

rdeči ptiček

Happy 1st Anniversary Alenka, thank you this hop and for letting me be part of the celebration!