Ohhh nooo, say it isn't so ....

....we've had our first snow but thankfully it didn't stick around. I don't know, there is just something wrong with snow that comes and stays before Halloween. I will keep my fingers crossed for the next week.  I have been busy, busy, making the projects for October Fest and for Beading Babes, such fun,  I can't wait for reveal days; but in the meantime I have learned a new skill (for me at least) and that is "bead crochet". I am quite proud of myself for mastering this technique,  and even though I am only in the beginning phase I enjoy it so much I can see more designs just waiting to happen.  The crocheted rope is so flexible, works up fast and feels really good to wear.

Olathe, means beautiful in Native American and I think a very appropriate name for this piece. I used size 8 seed beads in my favorite colors  to make the rope then added a slider bead (made using tubular peyote) in the same colors with just a hint of silver. Love, love, love it.

Olathe

..as I walked out on the streets of Laredo...

When I first saw this focal I knew I had to have it and I knew exactly what I was going to make. I love the southwest look, and larimar is one of my favorite stones to work with.  I mixed tiny blue pearls, turquoise beads (blue and green), seed beads and silver findings and my inspiration came to life. I didn’t want to take away from the beauty of the larimar focal so I kept the bezel simple and understated. The silver leaves just added that extra bit of zip. As I made this necklace the song “Streets of Laredo” kept running through my mind, I’m not sure why and can’t think where I would have heard that song but the name stuck.....Laredo.

If you believe in folklore, larimar is believed to have powers to help us view events from different perspectives, to soften and enlighten, to heal the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual body. Larimar stimulates the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras promoting inner wisdom. It represents peace and clarity, healing and love. Larimar is reputed to be helpful for those experiencing stress and anxiety (I guess I’ll be wearing it everyday!)

Laredo

 

 

 

close up of Laredo focal

Holiday Bling Blog Hop

Christmas came early in the north country, oh what fun, oh how exciting ... waiting for the parcel was exactly like anticipating presents on Christmas morning. I was so fortunate to be partnered with Leanne Loftus. She hails from Pennsylvania and is relatively new to blog world just like me. Leanne and I opted to just let our creative juices flow and surprise each other. I read Leanne's blog front to back (more like top to bottom) to get a feel for what Leanne might like and I hope she is pleased with her little gift. It was so much fun participating in the Holiday Bling Blog hop, knowing that what I made was going to someone far away and would be received as a little gift from a like minded individual. A big holiday wish and thank you to Shelley and Marlene for hosting such a fun hop. It made winter's coming so much cheerier.

This was my amazing and beautiful gift from Leanne. She spoiled me! I have already worn the set and received many compliments.  Thank you Leanne!

Now let’s check out what others made:

Michelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart	http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Therese Frank	http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Heather Otto	http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com
Linda Florian	http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Ginger Bishop	http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Lo/  Lynn Jobber	http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Rita/Toltec Jewels	http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Shelly Joyce	http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com
Shai Williams	http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lennis Carrier	http://www.windbent.net
Marla Gibson	http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Howell Govaars	http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Linda Younkmann	www.lindysdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Jones Moore	http://​www.beadsandbread.blo​gspot.com
Melinda Orr	http://www.orrtec.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Anindita Basu	http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie	http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Lori Jean Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com
Charlie Jacka	http://clay-space.com/blog
Stephanie Stamper (Woods)	http://skwds.blogspot.com
Mary Hicks, Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

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