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!