Lotteries, Gambling, and Giveaways....

I know it varies around the country, but I live in Kansas City, MO.  About twenty years ago, our state legislature voted to allow legalized gambling on river boats.   There are now several such boats in Kansas City.   I was not glad to see that being of the opinion that gambling is a detriment on a society and not a help, but the legislature didn't ask me for my opinion. 

Most of my opinion on legalized gambling is a direct result of my Mother's opinion.  She says that the worst thing that can happen to a person at one of these river boat gambling casinos is to win.  Because once they win, they think they can win every time and will usually lose much more than they can afford trying to win again - which is where it becomes a hindrance on society. 

But, I did not intend this post to become Jean's Treatise on the Ills of Gambling.  No, indeed!  Now on to the purpose of the post......

I have won two - not one, but two giveaways in the last couple of weeks!  Okay, in case you didn't hear me, let me shout it.  I HAVE WON TWO - NOT ONE, BUT TWO GIVEAWAYS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS!  Now, let me say that I hope you won't interpret this post as being braggy - I don't intend it to be braggy -- in fact, I never (can't say that anymore) win anything -- but rather I intend it in the spirit of getting these artists names before as many of you as I can.

The first that I won was from Jo, owner of Daisy Chain Extra on Etsy on January 23.  You can visit her etsy shop here.  Jo lives in Southampton, England.  She is a jewelry designer and tutor and makes the sweetest jewelry components from sterling and copper.  I didn't even know I'd won until February 6 when she posted on my facebook.  Don't you just love facebook?  She was giving away 20 (is it English pounds - I don't even know) in free products from her shop.  I went online to try to find a money changer and I think it is about $32.58 in US Dollars.  Hey folks - that's a lot.  Did you hear me?  THAT'S A LOT!  I really don't know why I think all of you are hard of hearing today....

Anyway, these are some of the items I picked from her shop, along with about that much more that I purchased.  I just can't pass up free shipping....

This is a daisy.

These are poppies.

The second giveway was from Pippa PipsJewellery.  She lives in Bath, United Kingdom.  She makes jewelry and jewelry components from polymer clay.  She is a true artist with color and I believe I am going to love her beads.  She describes her shop as Handcrafted.  Unique.  Special.  She sure has that right.  They are beautiful, in fact they are beautifully gorgeous.

She gave me my choice of a set of polymer beads.  I chose these --

And to go with them, I purchased this....

And then because I love free shipping, I purchased these.

Also, because Pippa is so generous and because she was so pleased with the huge response to her giveaway she also gave a set of beads to Cilla of TellYourGirlFriends on etsy.  Cilla makes beautiful artisan jewelry - and she is also a customer of Ingrid Mueller's which proves in my book that she has good taste in jewelry makin's.  I can prove she makes beautiful artisan jewelry if you will click here.

I can't wait to receive all this booty.  These women are very generous to have offered such spectacular giveaways.  I would encourage all of you to check out their shops and consider their contributions to your jewelry designs. 

Anyway, thank you Jo and Pippa for making the opportunity to win these gorgeous components possible.  Now, I have to go do another happy dance.
P.S.  Apparently, the English spelling of jewelry is jewellery.  We American's we want to take the shortcut on everything don't we.

Kristi Bowman Blog Hop Reveal Day

Well, today is the reveal day for Kristi Bowman's Blog Hop challenge.  I was excited to participate as I really love Kristi's copper clay components.  She has developed several wonderful textures and this is one of my favorites.  She gave us a choice of two bracelet connectors with which to participate - one with an ammonite design and one with a sea urchin design.  I love them both but I chose the ammonite.  Just a word on the beads that I used.  Some months ago, I received a packet of bead soup as a free gift with an order that I placed on etsy.  I don't remember who gave it to me, but I wish I could show them what I made with it.  Using the bead soup was not a challenge as it was exactly the type of beads I love working with.  I also wish I had taken a picture of the bead soup before I started, but again, I didn't.

These beads were included in the soup:  One etched evil eye barrel agate, one lampwork glass heart, five nugget shaped crackle fire agates, four wild horse jasper coins, and an assortment of light and dark amber seed beads with silver lining, and a small supply of very small matte black seed beads. 

I used everything in the bead soup except the few seed beads shown in the photograph.  They are in a copper bowl that Kristi made also with an ammonite texture design.

From my own stash, I added only a few red and orange lentil glass beads, a dark red African trade bead, the green trilobite Czech pressed glass bead and the brown leaf Czech pressed glass bead.

I hope you like the bracelet.

Click on the links below to see the bracelets of the other participants.  What fun this is!

Kristi Bowman Design http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/
Lana Kinney is sharing on Kristi's blog above

Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE

Melinda Orr http://orrtec.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Pam Brisse http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cable http://createrecklessly.blogspot.com/

Cindy Wimmer http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/

Mary Harding http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/

Jan Molten Mayhem http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/molten-mayhem/

Linda Landig http://lindasbeadblog.com/

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/

Kimberly Sturrup http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com/

Challenges......

I am no stranger to challenges.  I have had many during my lifetime.  Some I got through pretty well and some with not so much grace.  Anyway, I am thrilled to say that I was chosen for Lori Anderson's Fifth Bead Soup Party.  In the past she has allowed anyone to participate that wanted to, but it was such a huge success that it became a real job for her to manage.  So this time she limited the party to 200 people that were drawn randomly by our handy-dandy internet randomness machines.  How would you like 200 people showing up at your house for a party! 

I have been paired with Erin Grant.  Her etsy store is named CreativelyErin and I really look forward to getting to know her and to participate in the party.  For those of you who may not be familiar with Lori's bead soup party, two participants are paired to exchange a focal, some coordinating beads and a nice clasp.  The purpose of the exchange is to challenge yourself to use the components and beads that your partner sends you even though they may be something you wouldn't ordinarily use.....to stretch yourself creatively beyond bounds that you may be comfortable with.  When I think about all of my personal creative neurosis's (read that as plural) I will probably need to seek counseling before it is over, but at the same time I am sooooo looking foward to participating.  In any event, my sister Kathy is always ready, willing and able to tell me to snap out of it anytime I need her to, no matter what "it" may be.

In that regard, as you may know, Kristi Bowman makes beautiful copper components from metal clay.  I recently acquired a relatively large inventory of her goodies and plan to begin using them as soon as the ideas begin to come.  I love copper and if you are at all familiar with my jewelry know that I use a lot of copper wire and have used more than a few copper components in bracelets.  I am delighted with Kristi's work.  Earlier this month, she posted that she is having a blog hop with a reveal date of February 4  using a new bracelet component that she has designed.  She provided them with an ammonite design and also an urchin design.  I chose the ammonite and here is a picture of it.

In preparation for the Lori Anderson blog, and to participate in Kristi's blog, I challenged myself to use a little bag of beads that I received as a gift when I placed an etsy order for beads.  I am so sorry that I cannot remember who gave them to me and I wish I had taken a picture of them before I posted this (I'm learning as I go how to do an effective blog so bear with me).  But, since I want to wait until the reveal day I will tell you only that there were some little fire agates, some size 6 amber silver lined seed beads, some wild horse jasper coins, a glass heart, a tibetan eye agate and some little tiny matte black seed beads. 

Anyway you can check out Kristi's blog here or you can get to her blog in my blog list below and to the right.  You can also check out Lori Anderson's bead soup party by clicking the avatar below and to the right as well.  It should be great fun - and I hope to grow a bit as a jewelry designer - even if it is scary.