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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Today is First Reveal for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup 7

Yaayyyy!  Bead Soup 7 Reveals Have Begun!   Today is the 1st Reveal.  Here are links to the other shops. 

Alicia Marinache All The Pretty Things
Amber Dawn Goldish Inventive Soul
Barb Solem Vivi Magoo Presents
Bev Breisinger
Birgitta Lejonklou
Breana Fry Vault 31
Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Carol Dee Myers
Carolyn Chenault
Cassi Paslick

Cece Cormier
Cheryl McCloud
Cindy Wilson
Crystal Thain
Cynthia Riggs
Dana Hickey
Dana James
Darlene Fortier
Deanna Cox Agape Creations

Deb Brooks
Denielle Hagerman Some Beads and Other Things I Like
Denise McCabe Cabewoman
Diana Frey Tattered Adornments
Diana Welte
Dini Bruinsma
DiYana Alcalde Agape Creations
Dolores Raml CraftyD's Creations
Donna Millard Donna Millard Art Glass

Dot Lewallwn Speedie Beadie
Duane Clark dc'z bizzy bead adventures
Dyanne Cantrell Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Eleanor Burian-Mohr The Charmed Life
Elisabeth Auld
Elizabeth Owens Dwy 1996 Shabby Lane
Emily Greer Gaia Copia
Enikö Fabian
Erin Grant

Eva Kovacs
Eva Sherman
Gina Hockett Freestyle Elements
Grace Rotenberg Rivka's Mom
Gretchen Nation Art Food Lodging
Hannah Rosner Good River Gallery
Heather Davis
Heather Marston CSW Designs
Heather Powers

Ingrid McCue
Jacqueline Marchant
Jan Petek Pepper Tree Designs
Janeen Sorensen Wild Vanilla Designs
Jane-Michael Stallings Craft Vacuum
Jasvanti Patel
Jayashree Paramesh Nchantme
Jayne Capps
Jean Yates Snap out of it Jean, There's beading to do!

Jennifer Cameron
Jennifer LaVite Dry Gulch Beads & Jewelry
Joan Williams lilruby jewelry
Jodie Marshall Jodie Marshall
Judy Riggs Rigglettes
Julie Anne Leggett
Kat Barron Miller Midnight Kat Productions
Kathy Lindemer Bay Moon Design
Kim Hora KimmyKats

Kim Houston The Pink Martini Boutique
Krafty Max Krafty Max Originals
Kris Lanae Binsfeld Cherish Designs
Kristen Stevens My Bead Journey
Kristi Harrison It's a New Day
Kumi Fisher Malie Kai Designs
Laren Dee Barton Laren Dee Designs
Laura Bracken Laura Bracken Designs
Laura Demoya The Bead Therapist

Laurie Hanna Laurie's Jewelry Box
Laurie Keefe-Cecere Tree of Life
Lea Avroch lajewelrydesigns
Leanne Loftus First Impression Design
Lee Anne Messerschmidt Adventures in Jewelry
Leslie Schenkel Twisted Chicken
Linda Anderson From the Bead Board
Linda Djokic Lutka and Co.
Linda Sadler Ida Louise Jewelry

Lisa Liddy Metal Me This
Lisa Suver Fanceethat
Liz DeLuca Creative Arty Facts
Liz Engriser Bead Contagion
Lola Surwillo Bead Lola Bead
Loretta Carstensen Designs by Loretta
Lori Anderson Pretty Things
Lori Bergmann Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Bowring Michaud Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
Lori Schneider Bead Addict
Lyn Foley Lyn Foley
Maddison Langford Maddy's Stitching Corner
Magdalena Sikora Poranna Gazeta
Mallory Hoffman For the Love of Beads
Marcella Austenfeld Good to Go Jewelry
Marcy Lamberson Studio Marcy
Maria Clark Sweet Willow Designs

Maria Rosa Sharrow Willow Street Shops
Marianna Boylan Star Girl Shop
Marti Conrad Marti's Clay Blog
Mary Ellen Merrigan Mary Ellen Beads
Mary Harding Mary Harding Jewelry Bead Blog
Molly Alexander Beautifully Broken Me
Nan Emmett Spirit Rattles :: Spirited Earth
Niky Sayers Silver Nik Nats
Pam Chesbro A Fortunate Soul

Pam Farren
Pam Sandy Pam's Eclectic Stuff
Pam Traub Klassy Joolz
Pamela Gangler She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Buchanan Bracelets Too
Patricia Johnson Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Paula Hisel Simply Stated
Peggy Gabrielson Georgia Mountain Arts

Rachel Baron R. Baron Designs
Rachel Stanley Catching Hummingbirds
Rain Hannah Honey & Ollie
Rana Wilson Rana Lea Designs
Renetha Stanziano Lamplight Crafts
Robin Reed Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson A Creative Chelle
Rose Rushbrooke The Art of Rose Rushbrooke
Ruth Szapa New Things

Sally Russick The Studio Sublime
Sandi Volpe Sandi Volpe
Sandra Pendragon Pendragon Jewelry
Sandy Richardson Sandy's Coloring Box
Sarah Small blog by salla
Shannon Hicks falling into the sky
Shari Replogle Plays With Paper
Sheila Daniels Cheeky Magpie
Sheila Davis Stone Designs
Shiraz Biggie Secret Song Designs

Shirley Moore Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z Brising Beads
Staci Smith Staci Louise Originals
Stacy Pomerleau Craft En Ville
Stephanie Weiss Uniquely Me - Beads, Wire, and Desire
Sumi Rani Hundred Colors
Susan Sheehan Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzette Bentley Ellie's Bijoux
Tamera Norris Beads and Things

Tracy Choy BumbleBeads Designs
Tracy Stillman Tracy Stillman Designs
Valerie Norton Hot Art
Vicki Holliday Flop Cat Design

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Can I Now Call Myself a Seed Beader? - Of course, I'm Kidding....

Even though I have been busy working on a big jewelry project, I have been distracted a time or two along the way and have actually made something of interest to me.  Not that the big jewelry project isn't interesting - it is, but I just needed a distraction a time or two.

I have long admired the seed beaders out there - and I have been collecting seed beads for quite some time -- I guess I thought that if you had to have a huge inventory of seed beads, then you would automatically know what to do with them.

I have been playing around with two things - first some beaded beads that I want to somehow incorporate in my Bead Soup project and some simple bracelets.

 I made the first one in the earthy rustic ancient looking seed beads of which I have many, many because I love them so much and can't say no to them.  Then because I also love, love the southwest color palette and horses, I made the second one.

I have been wearing the earthy one now for about two weeks solid and I can't believe it is still holding together.  I tried very hard to be cognizant of how I finished and began my threads so hopefully I got it right.

I like them and they are very, very easy to wear.  I will probably be offering them in my etsy store soon.

I am finally putting my Bead Trends Sept. 2013 feature designs into a box for shipping out.  I am now very excited to begin working with the Bead Soup I received from Jelveh Johnson.  Even though I am in the second reveal group, time continues to tick by and it is getting closer.  I can't wait.


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Bead Trends March, 2013

Today I want to share with you my contributions to the Bead Trends March 2013 issue.


This issue has some beautiful jewelry in it - I especially love this piece that is on the front cover.


















 My first piece is a hammered copper choker style with a fantastic shell bead by Marla James.  It is framed by flowers by Marti Conrad and I wrapped some Bali-sterling beads and picasso fire polished beads to decorate the front.


For a clasp, I made large loops and wrapped one side with another fire polished bead to make the loop.
















Marti made this gorgeous owl pendant as well.
I made copper bead caps and used small turquoise fire-polished beads and fringe chain to make the hair over the owls head.

















The matching earrings were published in the Winter 2013 issue of Jewelry Stringing.

















I am just about finished designing the jewelry for my September spread in Bead Trends.  I have one more piece to make and then I have to write all the instructions, etc.  That is the paperwork and I hate paperwork.  Well, not really, but it is not my favorite part.

And before I go, I want to send out a special "THANK YOU" to the component artists that make beautiful jewelry possible. None of this would be possible without you and I appreciate you all.  

Enjoy Looking!


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Race Horses.......

Who doesn't love race horses?  But, how many of us are ever lucky enough to know one -- let alone own one?

Well, I'll tell you who ---- my sister-in-law, Janie Rogers.  I only have one brother and he managed to marry one of the coolest women I know.  She has a Harley - and you should see her in her leathers --, she has raised three wonderful sons (but man let me tell you, she is one tough Mom - she is definitely not a coddler.)  I joke that if you are her kid, when you turn 18 years old she throws you a big birthday party, then sets you out on the curb so a word to the wise -- have a place to sleep on your 18th birthday because she will already be redecorating your room by nightfall.

She is an accomplished painter and I am patiently waiting my turn for one of her paintings.  She loves to make things about as much as I do.

She also owns a race horse.  In her younger (pre-sister-in-law days) she was actually a professional jockey.

She just won her first race! and I wanted to share her joy (and mine) with you.  Marti I know you will enjoy this and I hope many others of you do too.







The top is a picture of the win and that is Janie standing at the head of the horse in the bottom picture.

Isn't that about the coolest thing!



Congratulations Janie! and give Officer's Desire a hug for me - oh, and an apple.




Monday, March 4, 2013

The Snow is Leaving, but.....

Before it does, I want to leave one more picture of a unique snowman.  This one is just to the south of our house on the corner.  Yesterday and today have been so warm we didn't even need to wear coats and when I drove by this one this morning on the way to the market, it was almost gone.  About all that is left is its feet.


In our neighborhood, when you have stuff that you don't want any more, you just set it out on the curb and someone will usually take it before the sun sets on it.










I was walking Jebadiah and Sophie when I took this one's picture.  She found it very interesting - worthy of closer inspection.




Spring will be here in no time. 









Okay, now back to work.


Saturday, March 2, 2013

My Contribution to Stringing Spring 2013

Today I wanted to share my contribution to the Spring 2013 issue of Stringing Magazine.  The version that was published is actually my second version of the necklace. 

For those of you that haven't tried being published yet, one of the things you have to do when you submit your piece for consideration is to also write instructions on how to make it and make a complete list of each piece, down to every little jump ring and crimp, with a description of size, color, material, and where you acquired it.

In the first version, I used a wider variety of African Trade Beads and more sections of macrame.

After completing the first version, I realized it was going to be impossible for me to actually write instructions on how to make it. 
 So, in the necklace, I used a bag of Greek Mokonos Heishi Beads that I purchased from Rings-Things and kept the connections simpler.  I love the way it turned out and if you want to give it a go, it should be easy enough to follow the instructions published in the magazine.

The earrings drops were made by Marla James and are a beautiful compliment to the necklace.

I purchased the pendant on eBay years ago, but the colors in it were perfect for this issue and this necklace.
And, if you haven't purchased your copy yet, here is a picture of the front so you will know what to look for.



















The pendant that I used in the first version was a "parrot wing" jasper.  It was very pretty, but there is a spot on the front of it that didn't look out of place until I took its picture.  I thought the more purple piece looked better in the end and it photographed better.

Disclaimer:  For those who keep track of this type of thing, these pictures were used with Stringing's permission.