Friday, August 17, 2012

The Charm Barn - Link Challenge Reveal

Sweet Peggy from The Charm Barn organized a pretty cool challenge!  I'm always up for a challenge, so I immediately signed up.  Peggy sent all of us these cool  links.  I was giddy when they arrived, but upon opening the package there they sat taunting and mocking me.

I had no clue what I could create.  My beading/designing experience didn't include anything like these...and there the links sat on my studio table for a good couple of weeks.  I finally decided that they weren't going to get the best of me!  I knew I wanted something for autumn...Something to wear with bulky sweaters and jeans.  Here's what I came up with:



I used a good helping of the links (drilled a hole in each end), patinaed a brass filigree stamping turquoise, and added a molded polymer clay flower in a yummy pumpkin hue accented with copper finish.  From there, I wanted to mix metals and selected brass chain and a large copper hand forged swirl/clasp.  Simple, yet enough of a statement piece to catch the eye...even with all of those bulky autumn clothing.

Please check out Peggy's blog for all of the participants and vote for your favorite creation!

Thanks Peggy!!!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

6th Bead Soup Blog Party - 2nd Reveal

FINALLY!!  The 2nd reveal of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!  

Just a refresher...My partner is Jenni Connolly of Victoria, Australia! Jenni sent me this fantabulous bead soup!  I was giddy when I saw this focal:


And I'm not a red girl, or a heart girl now that I think about it...but this resin & copper heart is gorgeous!


And the rest of the delicious ingredients:


Jenni's own lampwork, copper chain, clasp, cord ends and red coral, labradorite and gray sari silk.


Now, on to the main event!!

The day my soup arrived, I had just come back from a girly outing which consisted of picking up the dress shown to wear to my next show...as soon as I opened my soup package, I knew "other forces" were at work and that I had to create a piece to wear with this dress!

Oh, where do I start?  Jenni's gifted labradorite, coral rounds, gray silk and connectors.  From there things went a little crazy, and everything but the kitchen sink wound up on this piece.  Branch coral, druzy, pearls, tribal charms, souvenir spoon bowl, antique lace, Zambia coin, quartz point, salwag, tree branch from a fallen tree in my back yard, and lots of waxed linen!!  

Big, bold and not for wallflowers!  I know it's not everyone's taste or style, and it's a little busy to say the least, but I love HUGE jewelry and I'm in LOVE with it!!  Did I mention I live in a tiny-rural-farmland-southern-the place that time forgot-town?  Guess where my next show is?  As my husband so kindly stated:  "Baby, you are going to get a lot of strange looks, prayers said for you, and too many "Bless your hearts" to count!"  My reply was "How is that different from any other day?"  Him..."you win!" ;)



Next up was using the focal...


Again, I wanted different...and this WIDE cuff  bracelet was born!  I drilled another hole in to the focal and went to work sewing and beading.  There's some more of Jenni's sari silk, coral and labradorite, as well as quite a few antique buttons, lace, copper chain/charm.  I love the tattered feel of it!


I couldn't neglect the awesome lampwork beads, copper chain/clasp that Jenni sent me.  After two "busy" pieces, I toned it down a bit...but kept it large (I usually only ever wear one piece of jewelry at a time, and tend to gravitate towards a bold piece).

My own floral polymer clay focal in gray & terracotta & Jenni's lampwork bead hangs on a tree branch from my yard (fell during those nasty storms that affected almost the entire east coast) that has been dried, painted, sealed and drilled.  I added the hand forged chain and clasp from my soup.  I've already worn this and received LOTS of compliments!  


And a simple pair of copper/lampwork earrings:


I had a bracelet put together that used the remaining lampwork, but I just wasn't happy with it, and took it apart last night...it just didn't do Jenni's beads any justice!!


So, that wraps up my BSBP reveal.  As always, it was so much fun!  Thank you Lori for all the hard work and attention to detail a swap of this size entails!! 

Now, run along and check out all of the other participants in the 2nd reveal!!



Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 
Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead


Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio


Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads


Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae


Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders


Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place


 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs


Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle


Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads


Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 


Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art