Bead Swap - with Moobie Grace Designs

After the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things hosted a quick "Bead Swap" via Facebook - submit your name, she pairs you with a partner, and you swap beads. (Thank you, Lori!)  For some reason, the starts were aligned and the Bead Gods were shining down on me, as I was paired with Tania-Chris Collinson-Spivey, of Moobie Grace Designs.  The idea was to swap some beads, hopefully spiking creativity, and meet a new friend.  Boy, did I hit pay dirt!.

I was a little concerned when she mentioned on Facebook that her "box" was too heavy for "regular mail".....I did not receive "some beads"....I received ten (yes....10) individual packets of thoughtfully chosen beady ingredients.  And let me tell you, Tania's right brain was really working the day she put these soups together, because her eye for color and texture is absolutely amazing!  Here are some pics of each packet of goodness, not shown in any particular order:

Tania made these blue polymer clay lentils - these are quite possibly my favorite from the thousands of beads she sent! (They are Mom's favorite, too!)

Look at these charms...and that awesome toggle clasp!  SHE MADE THESE!  I still cannot get over the intricacies of each element on those beads!!  Aren't they just gorgeous!  That toggle has to end up as a front closure/focal on whatever I end up making!

Golem!  I swear, these exact beads were in my shopping cart at one point in my past...I just love red and black...and that pop of yellow....well, it is just perfection!

 

She made that floral focal...and look at the lampwork owl!!  These soft greys and yellow....just yummy!

She also works in copper clay...and look at the hand forged hearts!

This focal - again made by Tania - is ridiculously gorgeous! 

I really love how this little birdie sits in this toggle base - again - a front closure/focal just waiting to happen!

Golem...again!  Look at these colors!

She made the polymer clays lentils - near the front of the bottom picture, as well.

Her assemblage of colors, textures, and shapes for each soup is just stunning to me, and I am so humbled to receive these gifts! I will update in future posts what has been created...I only hope that I can do them justice....

Thank you so much Tania (and you, too, Lori)!  Thanks for stopping by!

I Won!!!

I recently participated in Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Party....an awesome blog hop, in and of itself.  In addition to wracking my brain in how to use my bead soup received from my partner, I got to hop around and see all of the wonderful creations by designers located all around the world.

I visited every blog, read each post (that was the fun part for me.....reading about everyone's "design process"), and I left a comment on 98% of the blogs (my attempts to leave comments for the remaining 2% proved fatal...blogger just did not cooperate)! 

While visiting a designer located in Germany, Ms. Sabine Dietrich, I left a comment on her wonderful design.  (Side note- Sabbine was Sally Russick's 5th BSBP partner-she is also multi-talented!) She was also hosting a give away of a lovely necklace that she made, including the lamp work beads! Shortly thereafter, I received an email that I was selected as a winner!  This is what I received:

The necklace was neatly packaged in the most awesome envelope!  I am simply assuming that she made this - regardless...it is so cool!  It's made out of some sort of heavy duty felt-type fabric that has been embossed with a sweet flower design....great protection for the contents:

Look at the bead made directly on the antique key!!!  This just blows my mind!

Not only are Sabine's lamp work and wire work skills (hand made bail!) exceptional....she included silk fibers....I CANNOT do this!  I am so impressed by the color matching of the beads to the silk! Isn't this just beautiful!!?

Last but not least, she attached a handmade lamp work bead onto a zipper pull, and included this on her business card.  I found this to be an extremely nice touch!

Thank you so much, Sabine!  Your attention to detail is phenomenal and I am most grateful for your generosity!

Thanks for stopping by!

Color of Spring Blog Hop, with Sally Russick - enhanced by Donna Millard and Summers Studio!

Sally Russick, of The Studio Sublime, is an extremely multi-talented artist...she not only creates fabulous jewelry, but is also a mighty fine photographer!  She created these fantastic enameled bisque beads, and offered up a blog hop.  I purchased some of these beads last year and fell in love with them - they acquire a cool crackle finish during the enameling process.  She used the Pantone Colors of the Year for her color inspiration - I chose purple (Bell Flower) because it is my Mom's favorite color! These are the beads I chose:

I  recently purchased the most beautiful lamp work beads from Donna Millard - her work is fabulous!  I mean, look at the swirls of color in these beads!

So, after much pondering, I retrieved my wire and everything sat on my table for a week. I vacillated between silver and Vintaj....Vintaj won, though the effect is much darker than I wanted....not very spring like in my eyes!  I also wanted to use the purple, enameled lentil bead  as a focal in a necklace....and finally the design came to me. Without further ado, here is what I created!

I chose some beautiful, bronze star bead caps from Summers Studio to further enhance the focal bead. 

Thank you for hosting this blog hop Sally!  And, I love my beads!!!

Please visit the other blog hop participants, listed below.  Thanks for stopping by!

Host: Sally Russick
Margarita
Therese Frank
Kim Bender
Cabaret
JLynn Jewels
Christine Altmiller
Sweet Lilac
Cherrie Fick
Jenny Vidberg
Driftwood
Sabine Dittrich
Hope Smitherman
Solar Power
Nicole Rennell
Erin Fickert-Rowland
Bell Flower
Patti Vanderbloemen (You are Here!!)
Kristi Bowman
Starfish
Shannon Chomanczuk
Elisabeth Auld
Cockatoo
Alice Peterson
Donna Bradley
Sodalite Blue
Kristi Harrison
Cilla Watkins
Tangerine Tango
Lesley Watt
Maryanne Gross
Susan Kennedy
Courtney White Breul

Creative Bead Chat on Facebook - Giveaway!

I belong to a awesome group - Creative Bead Chat - on Facebook, comprised of creative component and jewelery designers  to share new creations, tool tips and help build our creativity and sales.  There is a fantastic giveaway going on right now with 15 lucky winners - total retail value of giveaway is over $400!  Winners to be chosen next Tuesday, March 27th!

As one of the prizes, I am offering these earrings! 

This gorgeous pair of earrings features a pair of polka dot copper discs, handcrafted by the talented Kristi Bowman (http://www.etsy.com/shop/KristiBowmanDesign). The discs measure 3/4" and have been topped by a fabulous pair of glass lampwork crystal/diamond shaped beads, made by Daniel Janelle (http://www.etsy.com/radiantmind). These handmade beads, aptly named "Paprika" blend apricot with cobalt, teal, and powder blue, fine silver blended in ivory, and dazzling goldstone aventurine sparkles. The earrings have been wrapped with copper wire and tiny copper beads, and hang from handmade, solid copper ear wires with a 3 ball focal, made by Melinda Orr (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ORRTEC). These one-of-a-kind earrings measure 3" from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the earring and have a retail value of $55.00.

Please follow the link below to visit Melinda Orr's blog for more details on how to enter the giveaway! 

http://orrtec.blogspot.com/2012/03/invitation-to-creative-bead-chat-group.html

Thanks for stopping by!

New work!

Sam...on the mend!

In between taking care of Sam - who had knee surgery on Feb 7 - I managed to make a few new things...

These gorgeous ivory and black polka dots lamp work beads are made by Davinia Design. 

Raku starfish pendant by Suburban Girl Beads and lamp work beads by Blue Seraphim. 

Bracelet, Earrings and Necklace - The starfish pendant (necklace) and awesome shell connector also by Suburban Girl Beads and sea foam green lamp work and starfish lamp work beads by Lyndas Lampwork - both on Etsy. 

Gorgeous violet flower lamp work beads by Susan Kennedy. 

Enameled beads by Susan Kennedy (sold!)  I changed out the ear wires to antique brass, at the customer's request.

 I LOVE these red stripe and black lamp work beads by Sue Kennedy! 

The last item is a custom bracelet - it's for a 12 year old girl for her birthday. 

That's it for now....thanks so much for stopping by!