Victoria...

I went to visit my beautiful sister and her husband last weekend, well actually an extended four day weekend. We had so much fun and it was so nice to get away from the cold. The weather in Victoria was exceptional - sweater weather. We just had such a good time, shopping (yes for beads), touring the sites and going out for totally awesome meals (oh yum) and just having a good sister fix - it was great. Although I didn't do any beading (just lots of planning) I had some incredible photo opportunities. I went to my favorite store in Victoria, Aurea Gems and Essential Luxuries, I picked up some to die for crystals and a gorgeous turquoise cab - talk about spoiling myself. I can't wait to start creating. I messed up on our flight home (like I was 12 hours late!) but that provided extra time for my husband and I to do some up island sight seeing.  We had to rent a car to drive back to Alberta ($$$$) and we had to fight mother nature all the way - she was throwing everything at us, but we finally after driving for 15 hours made it home. I have updated my photos page with pictures from Victoria and some from on the way home.

I did finish this piece before we left and wore it while in Victoria and received lots of compliments. I have to say that this is a Jean A. Wells inspiration,  Jean's jewelery is gorgeous. Jean had made a necklace and used a rattle bead made by Sharon Driscoll. I fell in love and had to have one and this is what I made.

What to do during a blizzard...

Snuggle up and bead of course. Winter has really arrived, it's been snowing and blowing and snowing and blowing....but that's what it's like in Edmonton and you just get used to it. I have to say with all the snow the trees are really pretty and I couldn't resist braving the elements to snap a few pictures.

Winter Wonderland
 

Buried Berries

....and once all the picture taking was done, the beading began. I have been busy with the Holiday Bling Blog Hop 2 and I am super excited to send my little gift off to Sonja. I hope hope hope she likes it. I also decided I needed something new for the pending holidays so I spoiled myself with a couple of pieces.

Lone Star

My partner from the last Bead Soup Blog Hop, Ginger had sent me a beautiful rivoli that I hadn't used and the colors in my bead crochet rope called out for it to be the center of attention.

I am a silver girl and I found these wonderful silver balls at a local bead store that I couldn't resist. I have not worked in RAW very much but gave it a try and really like the outcome, so Christmassy. I am going to work on some earrings to go with it and maybe even a necklace...why not.

Silver Balls

Is it me or is it in the air...

Christmas, it is almost on top of us and I am getting in the spirit. Especially with  Holiday Bling Blog Hop 2 happening very soon. I have just found out my partner is the lovely and talented Sonja Stille.  Sonja is the mother of two young boys and loves making jewelery as much as I do. I am so excited that Sonja is my partner and feel through our correspondence I am getting to know her. WOW, another wonderful friend for me to cherish.

Even though we have had snow that is here to stay, I still have that fall feeling....the leaves are pretty much gone now and the only crunch is the crunch of snow underfoot. I made leaves from polymer clay for the October Fest hop, and I couldn't resist another pair of "Fallen Leaves" earrings.

Fallen Leaves

I have also been busy finishing up a project that I had started but wasn't feeling good about it until I pulled it out and took a critical look at it and came up with a simpler design. I like what it came to be so "Berrylicious"

And what would a day be without the love I receive from my two little fur babies

MoJo and Rockstar

October Fest

Happy, Happy Birthday Rita!

What a wonderful gift for all of us and I hope we all make your day special. This was so much fun.

When I saw the post for this challenge, I was super excited because autumn is my absolutely most favorite time of the year. I love the colors, I love the smells, I love the crunch, I love the crisp mornings and warm afternoons, I love getting that cozy snug feeling under the extra quilt, oh,  I could go on and on. October is so special for me because both my beautiful daughters were born in October. It is an incredibly busy time with birthday celebrations and Thanksgiving feasts. It is a time for getting together with family and a time for being thankful for all you have and all you love.

I challenged myself even further by trying some new techniques for me, bead crochet and polymer clay.  I had so much fun with both and I like how the pieces turned out.

Autumn Colors

Polymer clay earrings

Polymer Clay pendant and earrings

This is Autumn

Tell take sign autumn is here!

Golden Glory

A big thank you and a big happy birthday to our hostess Rita,  and without further ado on to the rest of the participants.

Tanty Sri Hartanti              http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/
Colene Waltermire            https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts
Lee Nova                         https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts 
Paula Hisel                         http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Jeannie Dukic                    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog   
Host Toltec Jewels          http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
Heather Otto                   http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Mischelle Fanucchi         http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo                  http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shaiha Williams              http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com ;
Shelly Graham Turner      http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/ ;
Shelly Joyce                   http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com/
Charlie Jacka                  http://clay-space.com/blog/
Pam Sears                    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Margareta Saari              http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com/
Marita Suominen             http://momentofjewelry.blogspot.fi/
Lisa Posthumus              https://www.facebook.com/lisa.posthumusharper
Jeannie Dukic                 http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Cheri Reed                     http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Arlene Dean                   http://aglassbash.blogspot.com/
Duffy Blevins                  http://bubbasjewels1.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy             http://suebeads.blogspot.com/
Dita Basu                      http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/
Sonya Ann Stille            http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/
Audrey Allen                  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrapped-Up-In-Magic/145456948869148
Kashmira Patel               http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer              http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kris Mattingly                 https://www.facebook.com/kris.h.mattingly
Lennis Carrier                 http://www.windbent.net/
Shannon Hicks               http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel                    http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Karin Slaton                   http://backstorybeads.blogspot.com/
Shirley Moore                 http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache             http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Valeria G. Rome             http://fancysphynxdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lo                                  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com/
Zoe Marcin                     http://beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson              http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Kimberly Booth               http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com/
Sherri Stokey                  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com
Tanya McGuire                http://www.tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/ ;
Debbie Rasmussen          http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/
Christine Stonefield          http://sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com/
Tanty Sri Hartanti             http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/
Sandra McGriff                 http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano           http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby                  http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Colene Waltermire            https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts
Lee Nova                         https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts

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