More Donated Bracelets for the Rare Project Organization!

I am sharing more pictures of the completed bracelets I made for the Global Genes / Rare Project Organization's Gala to be held at the end of this month.  All of the lampwork beads used in the bracelets below were handmade by Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.  This batch of pictures also includes pearls and lots of man-made sea glass beads.

Click on pictuures for a larger view

Man-made sea glass and two sterling silver beads.

This was the first bracelet I made - sterling silver chain and LOTS of wrapped pearls.

I punched holes in this "Hope" ring and attached Sue's beads, along with some coordinating tiny Czech glass beads.  I really love the shape of these beads that Sue made, and the colors are so bright and pretty!

Sue's beautiful pastel beads went well with some sea glass, two pewter heart-shaped beads, and a sterling silver "heart" charm.  I added a handmade, sterling clasp.

Man made sea glass beads, a Bali silver bead, and a sweet sterling PMC charm by the lovely Lesley Watt of THEAtoo

Sue used a beautiful deep green in these lampwork beads - I wrapped them in sterling silver and added a handmade sterling silver clasp by Joanne Tinley of Daisy Chain Extra.

Along with lampwork beads, I added some wrapped clusters of Czech glass flower buds, and a handmade sterling clasp and "Believe" charm

Turquoise glass beads and fringe chain

Man-made sea glass beads, and a handmade bronze sea-shell charm by Lesley Watt

Sue etched these lampwork beads - I love this effect - which coordinated well with some man-made sea glass beads, and a handmade sterling clasp

Two sets of Sue's lampwork, with some sterling spacers, chain, and a handmade clasp

Sue's pale lampwork beads, flecked with silver, looked so pretty with some turquoise chunks.  I added a Green Girl Studio pewter "Guardian Angel" charm.

More of Sue's etched lampwork beads in varying hues of soft blues, wrapped in sterling with a handmade clasp.

Sue's lampwork beads, a sterling Bali bead, and light blue glass beads, with a handmade sterling clasp

Beautiful deep green lampwork beads by Sue - these beads have flecks of purple and are so pretty in person!

Well, that it my picture show for today!  As always, my thanks to Sue Kennedy, and the other artisans noted above, for making my bracelet-making project so much fun!

 

If you would like to find out more about the Global Genes / Rare Project Organization, please visit the link below.

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by - I love reading comments!

75 Donated Bracelets - Check!

If you have read any of my past blog posts, you'll remember that I committed to creating 75 bracelets to be donated at the annual Rare Project Organizations Gala, to be held on September 27th.  (If you would like to read my original post, click here).  

I made each bracelet adjustable by attaching a length of chain to one end of the bracelet.  Each bracelet also contains an inspirational charm, ("hope", "faith", or "believe").  It is my hope that the wearer of the bracelet is prompted to remember that they are not alone, and someone out there (me!) is sending prayers to help them get through their roughest days.

 

Picture taking, well, actually, it's the editing, is not my favorite thing to do.  So, I will use this space to show you a few bracelets at a time. 

 

(Click on the images for a larger view)

 

 

Lampwork Beads by Susan Kennedy and Bronze Bracelet Connector by Lesley Watt 

Lampwork nuggets by Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens - the colors of these beads are amazing

 



Lampwork beads by Susan Kennedy I love the veining she created in the beads!

Two sets of lampwork beads (LOVE!) by Susan Kennedy

Turquoise rounds and Inspirational Bronze Bracelet Connector - by Lesley Watt

Gold filled findings, chain, etc. and Peeled Paint Polymer beads by Jeannie Dukic

One of just a few bracelets with Swarovski Crystals

Lampwork Beads by Susan Kennedy (these are gorgeous in person!)

The majority of the artisan beads were made by Sue - 50 sets of lampwork beads!  I HAD A BLAST each time I went to my mail box to find more beads!!  At first I thought I would be limited by the design (adjustable, which meant no toggle clasps or other cool clasps), but I made many of the clasps myself, or used a lobster clasp.  BUT THE BEADS...the gorgeous beads....they kept me going and I was NEVER BORED!  Every time I would finish a bracelet, it would become my new favorite!

 

Donations to the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign are ALWAYS appreciated and welcomed.  If you would like to learn more about the organization, or donate a bracelet of your own, please clink on the link below.

 

 

I will be posting more pictures in the weeks to follow.  Thank you so much for stopping by!

Look what Lori Anderson sent me!!!

I have been absent from here for a while - still feeling raw from the loss of my pup, Sam, and still trying to heal my hip.  But in the meantime, I received my Bead Soup from the wonderful Lori Anderson yesterday!!  She generously gifted me three pretty two-toned pink boxes, neatly wrapped with a purple ribbon (as well as a nice card, too) that contained these beauties (click on the pictures for a larger view):

This is a BEAUTIFUL color palette to work with: turquoise, purple, silver tones, neutral, and a splash of red!  I happened to have received my copy of this book on Monday which I have paging through for ideas in using the cording and faux suede ribbon:

This book is awesome - as I knew it would be!  So many wonderful design ideas by some extremely talented artists!

These are my favorite beads received from Lori:

Look at that gorgeous focal from Juli Cannon!  My picture does not capture the beautiful colors and the stamped texture on the glass - just love it!  And, Lori made the coordinating lampwork beads and the wire-wrapped silver hook clasp!  I love this combination and am so appreciative of the handmade aspect of that clasp and her beads!  I have several ideas floating in my head and cannot wait to get started!

I sent Lori 2 different beads sets:

The first set includes stunningly gorgeous lampwork beads by the extremely talented Donna Millard, and an awesome focal bead by Marsha Neal.  I recently commissioned Lesley Watt to make me some sterling silver PMC clasps.  Lesley's work is just gorgeous, and Donna's beads deserved that clasp for sure!  I also gave her some cool lampwork head pins from Havanna Beads and Nadin Art Glass - love these!

The second set includes 5 beautiful, chunky lampwork beads handmade by Lea Avorch, antique gold pewter beads, Swarovski pearls, freshwater pearls, blue silk, and wonderful bronze components - by Lesley Watt (can you tell I love her work!) and the wonderful LeeAnn Weih of Summers Studio.

I had a good time putting this soup together and I cannot wait to see what Lori has created!  My reveal date is July 28th.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Week in Review

This is going to be a very long post for me.  It has been a very trying week, that finally ended on an upswing.

I do not have children - I had dogs, the key word here is "had".  My Best Friend Forever - Sam the Man - had been ill.  He was born on April 19th, 2001, and had a sister named Abby, born the same day.  Sam and Abby came to live with me in June 2001 and they brought me such joy! 

Abby was quite sickly - 7 surgeries in her barely 9 years of life - all bone-related. When I had to put her down on April 12, 2010, I did not think I would recover from the sadness. 

My dear, sweet Abby

But I still had my Best Friend Sam to keep me company.

Sam and Kimberly - his pet sitter and one of his many Best Friends Forever

Sam had surgery for melanoma cancer in August 2011 - 48 staples in his stomach/right side.  It was awful.  Then on February 4, 2012, he tore his cruciate ligament (knee) and had to have yet another surgery.  This surgery was the one that "did him in".  He never fully recovered from these two surgeries.  About 3-4 weeks before he passed, he developed massive lumps in his side - the same site of his surgery from August 2011.  The cancer had returned...with a vengeance.  So, the decision was made to put him down this past Monday.  Sammy was surrounded by love - me, my mother, my sister, and Kimberly.  It was quite peaceful - but unfortunately, two dogs in two years is a bit much for me.  My heart is literally broken and it will take some time to mend.

Then, while dealing with my baby Sammy, I had started to develop a severe pain in my hip that was affecting my walking, sitting, sleeping...you get the drift.  By Wednesday morning, I had decided I would call my doctor on Thursday if I did start to feel better.  I could not make it that long, so ended up in the emergency room at 1:30 AM on Thursday morning.  I have never experienced such excruciating pain in my life - at least, not that I could remember. 

I had been diagnosed with a bulging disc in my back in March 2012.  I truly thought - as did the ER doctor - that I was having a severe sciatica nerve attack.  So, x-rays were taken, shots and drugs were given, and I was instructed to return to my Orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. Luckily, I was able to see him late Thursday morning. 

My surgeon reminded me that in March, my MRI for my back indicated bursitis in my right hip.  I had to go to Wikipedia to remind myself what that ailment is all about.   Let's just say I am feeling a lot older than my 51 years.  He gave me a cortisone shot, some Percocet, and some steroids to hopefully bring down the swelling.  I have been tyring to take it easy - icing my hip and drugging myself to sleep.  You never miss walking, sitting, or lying down until you realize that it cannot be done comfortably... Anyway, I figured my week would just end on a downer.

But, I got an email from Lori Anderson last night that, although did not remove my physical pain, it sure did boost my morale.  I signed up for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party last week and I have been paired with the Queen herself!  Yes...Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is my BSBP partner!  I think Sam had something to do with my fortunate good luck...don't you?!

Lori Anderson (picture from her blog)

Pantone Bracelet - Photo and Design by Lori Anderson

For those of us in the Jewelry Making World, Lori needs no introduction.  Lori's blog was one of the first blogs I happened upon years ago, and I have been "hooked on her" ever since.  She is not just a jewelry designer - one of the best in my humble opinion.  She does not just "write a blog post" - she shares all tidbits of her life, which I so enjoy reading!  She was blessed with a wonderful "kidlet" (love that word) named Zack, who obviously brings such joy to her life, as well as a supportive husband named Rick.  She writes from the heart, and her words are inspiring.   

I have only purchased completed jewelry from two artists - the first is Lesley Watt of The Gossiping Goddess and Thea Too .  Lesley is a another wonderful designer out there who not only creates stunning jewelry, but she started selling her handmade bronze and silver components a little over a year ago.  An absolutely lovely lady - so talented, and witty, and a heart of gold!  She posted a link to these earrings on facebook a few months ago, and I made that impulse purchase so quickly!

Earrings by Lesley Watt - they are mine now!

I don't even wear tangerine/orange, but I had to have them!  Well, I wear it now, as I immediately went shopping for tops to match!  Thank you Lesley, for adding color to my life!

I have also purchased two pieces of jewelry from Lori - most recently, this stunning bracelet she made for Jeanne Dukic's Echo Creative Club reveal:

Vintage Glam Bracelet - Design and Photo by Lori Anderson

I wore this bracelet to my niece Rachel's wedding in May - I had the best dressed arm in the church!

So, my email last night was a true pick-me-up that I so desperately needed!   I will spend the next few days picking through my huge stash of beads to send to her, and I hope she enjoys working with them as much as I do. 

Please forgive this long, rambling post - it was cathartic to write - but I am afraid it is a little "all over the place".  I am just glad this week is over and has ended on such a positive note!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Lori!

And, thank you for stopping by!