Sunday, September 23, 2012

I Heart Macro September 23, 2012


Despite the hot, dry summer, the trumpet vine is still blooming


Lovely orange trumpets, welcoming the first day of autumn

 
I'm joining Lori Plyler of Studio Waterstone for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged".

studio waterstone

Please click on the link above to view photos by other participants, or to join in the fun with your own macro photo.
 
Enjoy your week!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

I Heart Macro 08-26-2012



A family friend had given me several dried seed pods a few years age.  I came across them about a month ago and almost threw them away, but decided to take a chance and plant some seeds in an empty pot.  They sprouted very quickly and I couldn't believe that I had flower buds so fast.  The picture of the closed bud was taken Friday night and the majority of the pictures were taken throughout the day on Saturday and the final bloom picture was taken this morning.  The beautiful, white flowers are large and very fragrant.

I'm joining Lori Plyler of Studio Waterstone for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged".

studio waterstone

Please click on the link above to view photos by other participants, or to join in the fun with your own macro photo.
 
Enjoy your week!

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Gossiping Goddess is hosting a Celebration Giveaway!

To celebrate two wonderful achievements, Lesley is hosting a giveaway!  The winner can either choose components to the value of £25 to use in their own creations,


  Or they can choose a piece of ready made jewellery - entirely their choice to the value of £25 (the pictures are just examples of Lesley's work.  See her blog for details). 


  The giveaway will end at 8pm British Summer Time on Saturday 25th August, so you better hurry!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

6th BSBP 2nd Reveal

Hosted by Lori Anderson of PrettyThings

This is my second time to participate in Lori Anderson's BSBP and each time I had so much fun! This year I was blessed to be partnered Lola Surwillo, of Bead Lola Bead. Lola's generous soup ingredients, in beautiful shades of blues, greens and a dash of red, included her gorgeous hand made polymer clay beads and a lovely wire crocheted pendant. I was immediately inspired and couldn't wait to start creating.

My first serving of bead soup is a necklace made with the crocheted pendant. I extended the pendant by wire wrapping one of Lola's polymer clay beads and some Swarovski crystals. I attached the silver clasp to the front of some chain and dangled the pendant from the clasp.

I made some matching earrings using the 4mm Jasper and turquoise rounds and Swarovski crystals.


My second serving of bead soup is a bracelet made with Lola's polymer clay beads with the ceramic and jade rounds. I use black waxed linen to string the beads and the gunmetal toggle to finish. When it came time to attach the clasp, I had some how miss place the bar part of the toggle.  I love these colors together!

My bead soup ingredients were so generous that I was also able to make this simple beaded necklace


These dangle earrings


And with the Jasper drop pendant, I made this wire and bead necklace

And I still have a few beads left to play with!

Thank you, Lola, for being such a wonderful partner! I can't wait to see what you made with the soup I sent!

 
Thank you, Lori, for taking time to organize the BSBP and making it so much fun!

Now hop on over and visit all of the Bead Soup Blog Party participants!

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 
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
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
--->You are Here 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

Blessings and have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

I Heart Macro 07082012

Bead Soup Blog Party style!
 Beautiful Jasper drop pendant
 Fun, colorful ribbon (that was very hard to photograph)

And a gorgeous crocheted fiber and wire pendant, made by the talented Lola Surwillo of Bead Lola Bead!

Today I'm joining Lori Plyler of Studio Waterstone for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged".

studio waterstone

Please click on the link above to view photos by other participants, or to join in the fun with your own macro photo.
 
Enjoy your week!

My Soup Ingredients Have Arrived!

My Bead Soup ingredients from Lola Surwillo of Bead Lola Bead arrived last Monday and I'm so excited to start making my soup!

 I love the ribbon that Lola used and will be incorporating it into one of my Bead Soup pieces!  This also sets the tone for the beautiful soup ingredients inside the box.


The box contains a generous portion of Bead Soup ingredients and I'll be able to make several BS pieces!  I love the colors that Lola picked!  Blues and greens and just a dash of red.  And look at the colors in the Jasper drop!


And the pièce de résistance!  Lola's beautiful fiber and wire crocheted pendant and a set of her handmade, polymer clay beads!  Lola also included some vintage seed beads that came from a 1920's era dress.  They're a gorgeous mix of greens and I would have loved to see the dress that they came from.


My yummy Bead Soup ingredients also include Swarovski crystals, Australian Jasper rounds, Turquoise rounds, Jasper drop pendant, Jade rounds, ceramic beads, gunmetal toggle, gunmetal jump rings, silver toggle and a silver jump ring.


Our reveal date is August 11th, which will be here before you know it!  Yikes!  That only leaves me 4 more weekends to work on my soup and one of those weekends I'll be out of town!  I better start pulling out my Bead Soup mixing utensils and get to work!

Enjoy your week!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

My BSBP Partner


I'm very excited to be participating in Lori Anderson's 6th Bead Soup Blog Party and even more excited to be partnered with the talented Lola Surwillo of Bead Lola Bead.

Lola makes beautiful jewelry, like this romantic bracelet
Source













And this gorgeous necklace and earring set with crocheted wire and bead focal.
Source
She participates in Jeannie's Echo Creative Club and has been featured in Bead Treads Magazine.

 Visit Lola on Etsy, where you will find more of her jewelry, along with handmade polymer clay beads
Polymer Clay Beads -- Purple -- Rondelle
Source
and lovely crochet scarfs 
Beaded Skinny Scarf and/or Belt -- Night Black
Source
 My bead soup ingredients are on their way to Lola's and here's a sneak peek of what I sent.
 
Lola's soup ingredients to me are also in the mail and I'll post pictures as soon as they arrive.  We signed up for the August 11th reveal date and I'm grateful to have a little extra time to design my piece.

Enjoy your week!

I Heart Macro 07012012

I really miss working with clay
 I miss the way it feels, wet or dry 

I miss the way it smells
I miss the hand building, wheel throwing


Muddy mess of it



I miss the feel of satisfaction when the finished piece comes out of the kiln
I'm joining Lori Plyler of Studio Waterstone for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged".

studio waterstone

Please click on the link above to view photos by other participants, or to join in the fun with your own macro photo.
 
Enjoy your week!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Macro Monday 06252012

Snapped a quick picture of a visitor in our garden and then it fluttered off to visit else where.


I'm joining Lisa's Chaos for Macro Monday.

Enjoy your week!

I Heart Macro - 06/24/2012

Taking a few moments to get in a quick, little post for I Heart Macro. 


The above eggs are on the underside of an asparagus fern leaf, if that gives you some idea of how tiny they are.  My camera had a very hard time focusing on them and I finally decided that this was the best shot I would be able to get.


Little dove feather in one of my potted plants.


And this is one of the tiniest mushrooms (or toadstools) I have ever seen!  They have been popping up in one of my potted plants.  I see them early morning and they don't last very long.  Not sure if it's their life span, or if they are very tasty and something is eating them.


I'm joining Lori Plyler of Studio Waterstone for "I Heart Macro" slash "I Heart Close Ups: Up Close Photography for Macro Makers and the Camerologically Challenged".

studio waterstone

Please click on the link above to view photos by other participants, or to join in the fun with your own macro photo.
 
Enjoy your week!

Regina's Writings: Hot Summers and Fish Beads and a Giveaway!

Regina of Regina's Writings is having a giveaway on her blog post Regina's Writings: Hot Summers and Fish Beads and a Giveaway!: Visit Regina's blog post to check out the beautiful necklace she made and for details on how you can win a cute brass fish bead.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Kick Start for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party

  I am so excited that I remembered to sign up for Lori Anderson's 6th Bead Soup Blog Party!  I participated in the 4th BSBP in September 2011 and was partnered with the talented Laura Sanger 
 

A couple of the pieces that I made with my bead soup from Laura


I wasn't able to participate in the 5th BSBP, this past February, but I enjoyed visiting everyone's blogs and checking out what everyone created.  So many wonderfully talented people!

To kick start the current BSBP, Lori suggested that the participants tell how/why we became a jewelry designer and what about it we like best.  

About 15 years ago I signed up for a woman's retreat and one of the workshops was jewelry making.  We had a wonderful instructor, who taught us how to make a multi-strand bracelet and matching earrings.  I was hooked!  I started signing up for every jewelry design magazine I could find and became a regular at our local Hobby Lobby.  I few years later I discovered various online jewelry supply stores, Etsy and Blogger.   

At first I enjoyed the fact that I could make jewelry for myself, in the style and colors that I wanted to match my outfits.  Now, I love making jewelry to share with others.  I have had a few consignments, but most of my pieces have been given as gifts and a couple were donated for silent auctions.  My hope is to be able to retire a little early and make enough money to supplement my pension and social security income.

If you haven't signed up for the BSBP, today is the last day.  Click on the button at the top of the page to go to Lori's blog and the sign up instructions.

Enjoy your week!