Sunday, April 24, 2011

Lovely Satin-finished Copper Beads


In mid March, Rings & Things had a design challenge contest and for 15 lucky participants, these beautiful, satin-finished copper beads were the prize. 
 
Brushed copper beads
Guess what? I was one of the lucky participants chosen to receive a packet of these beauties! I love copper and texture, so I was in hog heaven when I opened my package! I've had a great time creating and now it's time to share some pictures.

For the first piece, I used the two 27mm, oval copper beads.  These beads are gorgeous, with wonderful texture, but still have a shinny finish.

For the necklace below, I dapped a couple of the striped disks to make bead caps.  Throughout the necklace I used some of the satin-finished copper rounds and wavy disks.


 For the ring pictured below, I used one of the lovely, copper puffed flower beads, with one of the striped disks for the base.


 I have a couple more designs in the works and will post those pictures this next week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Easter and I Heart Macro

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday!  It's also I Heart Macro Sunday!  Join Lori at Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro and post your up close/macro photos! 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Addedum to Heavy in Your Arms Post

This is currently one of my daughter's favorite songs.   She plays it umpteen times a day.  I go to bed with this song playing in my head and wake up with it still playing in my head....So, I decided to share it with you. 

Also, does anyone know a good way to remove a song from your head?  Please tell me before I go crazy!

"Heavy In Your Arms" - Florence And The Machine [OFFICIAL]

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I Heart Macro

Lori of Studio Waterstone is hosting a weekly blog hop called "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups": Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged.  Each Sunday the participants will post on their blog and share their close/macro picture of the week. There's even a very cute button that you can add to your blog to show that you're participating.

studio waterstone

Here is my Macro shot for the week.


Friday, April 15, 2011

~~ Bracelet Blog Hop -- 7000 Bracelets of Hope ~~

Hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things

The bracelets made for this blog hop will be sent to  The Global Genes Project, an advocacy group who launched "7000 Bracelets for Hope", a children's rare disease campaign.  The bracelets are given to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support. I'm very proud to be part of such a worth while project.

Pictured below is the bracelet that I made for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope project.

For my bracelet, I chose a strand of round, blue, rivershell beads and added two strands of TOHO hexagon seed beads in matte raku teal/blue. I had a beautiful antiqued brass goddess charm that I want to use for the bracelet and I painted the flower on the charm blue, to match the beads. I finished the bracelet with a Vintaj brass clasp and etched cable chain and attached a Montana blue, Swarovski crystal dangle.

Thank you so much for stopping by and please visit the blogs below to see the bracelets that others have made for this wonderful project. 

Bracelet Blog Hop

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym < You are here!
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Woohoo! I just gained three days!

So, not my idea of fun, but I'm taking some vacation days from work in order to finish our taxes, that I thought were due tomorrow.  Not how I want to be using my much needed, very rare, free time.  I keep looking over at my bead table....ideas popping into my head....I don't have time for you now....where were you this past weekend, when I had beader's block?

So I decided to take a break from taxes and read a couple of the blogs that I follow.  Guess what I found out on Lori Anderson's blog?  Taxes aren't due till the 18th this year!!!!!  I actually had known this, but had forgotten.
 
I was so happy, I decided to take time for a post.  Three more days!  I may just have to use some of that extra time to work on one of those ideas that kept popping into my head, at what I thought was the most inopportune time.  I should at least get them on paper....since I have a little bit more time :-)

Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Lori Anderson's Bracelet Blog Hop

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is hosting a Bracelet Blog Hop, to promote The Global Genes Project, an advocacy group who launched "7000 Bracelets for Hope", a children's rare disease campaign.  The bracelets collected will be given to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support.

Please visit Lori's blog for information on how you can participate in the blog hop and assist with this wonderful campaign.