as the saying goes

....in like a lamb out like a lion....April Fools day on us! As I sat outside enjoying a blissfully warm spring day listening to the birds chirping  I didn't believe the weather man but I should have.....woke up this morning to snow and a fair amount. Oh well we know spring is just around the corner....we hope! 

I am really hoping for this to clear by Saturday because my wonderful husband is taking me on a photographic adventure....we are just heading out no destination in mind. These are from my last adventure so I would really like a little less snow and maybe a lot more horses.

I have been in a bit of an artistic slump lately, not beading much, not drawing, not even knitting...what to do...I had ordered Kate McKinnon's book "Contemporary Geometric Beadwork" and thought I would give it a try. Love love love it, the possibilities are endless.The bracelets are 3D and can be reversed, so very cool and easier than one thinks. Here are my first two bracelets and there are more on the beading table.

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

It's been awhile

I just don't where the time goes but it certainly flies by. In great anticipation of my very soon to be here granddaughter I have spent most of my time knitting, crocheting, shopping  and planning baby showers.

This is such an exciting time but has left very little time for beading or anything else.  I did make time for this little beauty though- my favorite colors! So peaceful, so serene!

And I did have time for some photographing!

A Time to Stitch 6

Objective: use a graphed chart, word chart, or picture chart using peyote, square, RAW or brick stitches.

Our wonderful talented hostesses, Therese and Christine are at it again…for the sixth time to be exact. I love these challenges and this one came at a perfect time. I had just finished the Beard Hoarders Blog Hop and was at a kind of at a stand still…perhaps not stand still, more like dead stop…I just didn’t feel like beading and had no inspirations. I hate it when that happens! Then I saw the signups for this challenge… perfect! I love doing peyote from a pattern so relaxing and so many really cool designs out there. It seems whenever I have a slump I go to a graphed peyote project and this gets the creative juices flowing again. I prefer working with word patterns, I never seem to get the starting rows right reading from the graph but I do like to challenge myself and have been successful with smaller graph projects.

For this challenge I have made several peyote cuff bracelets (Greendragon9 and Anabel27 patterns), a brick stitch cuff bracelet (Bead and Button Magazine pattern) and a RAW bracelet with embellishments (pattern by Marcia Decoster).

Thank you Therese and Christine for hosting this challenge, it has helped me get over my beading slump and has given me some very gorgeous bracelets.

I should mention that although I was in a bit of a beading slump, I have been knitting up a storm……so excited for my sweet little granddaughter’s arrival at the end of March. I was so thrilled to be allowed to attend the 3D ultrasound and actually see the little munchkin in action. Spring can’t come soon enough!

Now for the other participants!

1-Therese Frank  (Host)    

2-Christine Altmiller  (Host)

3-Cynthia Machata

4-Samantha Wescott

5-Karin Slaton

6-Wendy

7-Dagi (Kokopelli)

8-Lola

9-Paula

10-Karin G.

11-Becky Pancake

12-Ana Cravidao

13-Alenka

14-Debbie (Kepi)

15-Nelly May

16-LiliKrist

17-Sally Russick

18-Maryanne

19-Kim

20-Amy

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop is here!

I am so excited to be participating in the Bead Hoarder’s Blog Hop and yes like all of you I am a hoarder.  I never started out to be one but it is pretty much impossible not to become one…there are just so many beautiful little pieces of art out there.  I am particularly excited about this hop because it is a party hosted by Lori Anderson and I am so glad she is back. There is excitement in the air and it’s because the wonderful Bead Soup Cafe is open once again…I never realized how much I would miss it until I didn’t have it. I know Lori has a long road to recovery ahead of her but this is such a positive step and we will all be there in her corner cheering her on.

I love the Bead Hoarder’s Blog Hop…it makes one visit tucked away treasures and remember design ideas and then come up with new design ideas.  And let’s face it I just love bead blog hops…such positive reinforcement for creative minds.

A dear friend gifted me with her mother’s little treasure box of jewellery, knowing I love beading she thought that perhaps I could use some of the beads in the necklaces for my projects. I tucked away these treasures for another day and now that day is here. Isobel’s treasure box was filled with many pieces but most noticeably there were several strands of pearls. Some were obviously favorites because there were old and well worn, some were newer but all suggested Isobel’s love of the finishing touch.   “Isobel’s Pearls” combines all the pearls from these necklaces in one piece. Gold lace became the backdrop to showcase the precious pearls enhanced with tiny gold seed beads and a crystal drop as the final touch.  It is old world charm reinvented, a vision of love, age and wisdom.

Isobel's Pearls

I had in my stash several Raku beads that were crying to be seen but I had no idea what to do with them. I love Raku, the deep earthy richness and the obvious love put into creating them. When creating a Raku piece one never knows the outcome, hence the meaning “happiness in the accident” … so unpredictable and unique.  I also had some beautiful shibori silk ribbon…what a wonderful combination of two very natural elements coming together. I had never used a brass collar insert but had one on hand and the design process began…by this I mean I had a dream.  I needle felted a piece of lacy stiff stuff with some gorgeous silk hankie and then added the shibori ribbon, Raku beads, crystals and seed beads; encased the brass insert by adding crystals along the edge for a wonderful earthy neck collar… “Elemental”

Elemental

Thanks Lori, you are the best and now for the fun…let the hopping begin!

Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com  (Hostess)
Audrey Belanger	esperianterra.blogspot.com
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Dee Elgie	http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Rebecca Ednie	Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com
Lili Krist	http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Rich	http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/
Nicole Prince	http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/
Terri Gauthier	http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/
Patti Pruhs	http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com
Shai Williams	http://www.shaihasramblings.com/
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
K Hutchinson	https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Marci Brooks	https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/
Jo-Ann Woolverton	itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Jasvanti Patel	Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaar	Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Lisa Knappenberger	LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Lindell	marylindell.com
Niky Sayers	silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Sandra McGriff	skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Patricia Handschuh	thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz	treasures-found.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow	willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kathleen Breeding	www.99bobotw.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart	www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Jackie Locantore	www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar
Sheryl Stephens	www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Mona Arnott	www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Michelle Escano	www.cabbycraft.com
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Sheila Prose	www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak	www.cianciblue.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso	www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog
Deborah Apodaca	www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Bunn	www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com
Janine Lucas	www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Kari Asbury	www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Inge von Roos	www.ingetraud.wordpress.com
Divya N	www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Debbie Rasmussen	www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
KJ	www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com
Ghislaine Kruse-van Erp	www.kruseartllc.com
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Kelly Schermerhorn	www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com
Mischelle Andrade	www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Sue Kelly	www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis	www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz
Susan McClelland	www.mistheword12.com
Mary K McGraw	www.mkaymac.blogspot.com
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie Perry	www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Mitzie Crider	www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com
Nicole Rennell	Www.nicolerennell.com/blog
Nicole Valentine	www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell	www.overthemoon-design.com
Tammy Adams	www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Patty Miller	www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Blanca Medina	www.peru-medesigns.com
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Roxanne Mendoza	www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com
Claire Fabian	www.saraccino.blogspot.com
Bridget Torres	www.shears58.net
Donetta Farrington	www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman	www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Deb Fortin	www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Susan Walls	Www.susansartcircus.com/blog
Cece Cormier	www.thebeadingyogini.com
Heather Otto	www.thecrafthopper.com
Lizzie Clarke	www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk
Elizabeth Hodges	www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden	www.torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson	www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com
Nan Smith	www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Jayne Capps	wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com

Robin Kae Reed                                       http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                   https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Bead Hoarders Unit

OK, now officially super excited!!!!!!!

Falling off the edge.....

Today is the Sparkling Rocks reveal.....sort of.

 

Our wonderful hostess Rita was met with disaster recently and had a most devastating event occur in her life. Can you belief her roof fell in, I am so sorry Rita. As Rita called it a "wild and radical change". I know Rita has moved and it sounds like her new place is just lovely, but we all know what a big job moving is and then getting settled. My little sparkling rock never arrived but I am not one to show up to the party empty handed. When I realized what happened to Rita it was to late for me to order some sparkling rocks and have them arrive in time, so I improvised. I am still excited to get some sparkling rocks (they are so gorgeous) and when I do something wonderful will be posted but for now please enjoy my version of "sparkling rocks".

These little beauties have streaks of vibrant sparkly colors running through them and though you  can't see - the edges are a deep shiny purple. I paired them with small garnet (my birth stone) beads and gold findings.

Please enjoy the hop. I wish Rita well and hopefully things will settle down for her.

Featured Artist: Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens
Maryse's blog: Glass Bead Art
Maryse's shop: Glass Bead Art Lampwork

Toltec Jewels  (hostess)            Jewel School Friends

Sherri Stokey                          Knot Just Macrame
Lindsay Starr                           Phantasm Creations
Kelly Rogers                           Beadin' Black & Blue

Jennifer Reno                          Musings of a Crafty Jenny 

Melissa Trudinger                    Beadrecipes
Marybeth Rich                        A Few Words from Within the Pines
Andrea Frank                         Andrea Creates Jewelry & More
Sondra Jackson                      Sondra Jackson
Robin Reed                             Artistry HCBD
Kathleen Breeding                   99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Heather Richter                       Desert Jewelry Designs
Gina Hockett                           Freestyle Elements
Mindy Shell                             Kitty's Cache Beading Blog

Tammy Adams                        Paisley Lizard

Carolyn Lawson                      Carolyn's Creations
Nan Smith                               Nanmade Handmade Jewelry
Evelyn Shelby                          Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Jasvanti Patel                           Jewelry by Jasvanti
Linda Anderson                       From the Bead Board
Dini Bruinsma                          Angaza by Changes
Margareta Saari                       Mags~koruja
Lori Schneider                         Bead Addict
Robin Showstack                    The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Karin Grosset Grange             Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Chris Eisenberg                       Wanderware
Heather d-Entremont              Frugal MacDougall
Linda Younkman                     Lindy's Designs
Janine Lucas                            Esfera Jewelry
Sheila Prosterman                    Cheap Charms
Veralynne Malone                    Designed by Vera
Kelly Hosford Patterson           The Traveling Side Show
Divya N                                    Jewels of Sayuri
Deb Fortin                                Studio 24
Klaudete Koon                         Only Road
Carol Briody                            A Bead's Life

Shaiha Williams                        Shaiha's Ramblings