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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Holiday Bling Blog Hop #2 - Reveal Day


Wow it is all ready the middle of December and time for the big reveal of my second round of the Holiday Bling Blog Hop. 

For this round I was match with a fellow Ontarian, Sandra McGriff.  Sandra and I decided to surprise each other. 

In preparation for a craft sale I had been making my little netted snowflakes, so I decided that I would send a small flurry of snowflakes to Sandra. 

 I sent her a dozen of these sparkly flakes. The challenge was securing them to a piece of cardboard to keep them flat during shipping. 

Here is what I received from Sandra.
Festive mailing envelope

Penquin card and shiny gift box

Necklace and earrings

Detail of Owl focal accented with pearls, quartz chips and small gold beads

Tree ornament made with buttons accented with gold

Tree ornament made with buttons accented with red
Here is a list of the amazing creative people who are part of the blog hop. Hop over to each to see the creativity that was shared.


Shirley Moore http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell  http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Elaine Ray http://elaineray.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts
Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca
Melinda Abrahamson http://www.firstreetcrafts.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Chandra Merod http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Kelley Fogel http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Heather Rats Otto http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers www.leelucreations.blogspot.com 
Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Toronto Public Library - United Way Craft Sale

Tomorrow, Nov 16,  marks my second craft sale. Last year I did the small craft sale at the Toronto Public Library United Way Talent Show. This year the Craft Sale is its own event as part of the fund raising Library staff do for the United Way. Along with a collection of creative library staffers we will be selling our creations at the North York Central Library from 12 - 7 pm.

I will have a small Christmas tree full of my little netted snowflakes.

Here is a selection of some of the necklaces that will be for sale. 



I will have earrings and pendants as well.

Follow this link to see some of the offerings of my co-workers.

I hope that those of you in the area will stop by and see the amazing creativity of library staffers and make a start at your holiday shopping.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Cup of Bead Soup - Reveal

It is finally reveal day for the Cup of Bead Soup Vintage Lucite Beads. It was organized by the bead soup guru, Lori Anderson,with beads provided by Crystal of Bead Happily Ever After. I was one of the 4 beaders selected.
Here are the beads as they arrived
Original ideas that I layed out
Final design with removable pendant
With pendant removed
Necklace only
I added some metallic beads, Swarovski crystals, jump rings and large lobsters claws.

It was interesting to work with a colour palette that is not my norm, especially the use of gold accents.

Take some time to check out the amazing work of the other beaders. 
Big thanks to Lori and Crystal!!!

Happy Beading!!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Owl Vessel

This is a project that I finished last month, but had not photographed. Being on off work this week I have been trying to get projects completed and photographed.

It is a beaded box pattern from Julia Pretl's website. She had a sale back in the summer. I purchased a number and decided to make the owl box first.

finished box

I have decided not to make the lid and use it pencil holder.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Designer Style Challenge - Results

On Saturday evening at the Gala event of the 25th Fall Creativ Festival the winners and runner ups were announced in the eigth catergories.

My two entries were semi-finalists in two catergories (beadwork and paperarts). They were on display for attendees to see and vote on their favourites.

Here are pictures I took with my iPhone on Friday when the show opened.
Iris Twist Vase on display
Hexagonal Triangle Vase & Irises on display
At the Gala presentation the finalists' creations were displayed on the runway with models wearing or carrying them. My Iris Twist Vase was a finalist in the Beadwork catergory. Here is my vase coming down the runway.


The three Beadwork finalists, Chippy Ezer, Dorothy Kale and myself, waiting for the announcement of the winner.

Congratulations to Chippy Ezer, the winner in the beadwork catergory, for her design Dream of Africa Necklace. She was awarded a beautiful Swarovski trophy and $1000.

Chippy's beautiful necklace
 Dorothy and I were the runner ups and were each given $250 gift bag from Swarovski.

Dorothy's Three Egg Surprise
Congratulations to all the other finalists. To see all the semi-finalists creations click here.

Here is all the amazing things that were in the bag from Swarovski.


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Felted Vessel

It was my first day at the Fall Creativ Festival. Today I took Dawn Liu-Smyth's Felted Vessel class. It was an all day class that end with an amazing finished vessel.

Our starting equipment

Circle resist

First layer of ice blue merino

Wet on both sides

2nd and 3rd layers done
 At this stage we broke for lunch. That could be why I thought that my  piece looked like a pizza with no toppings.

Silk hankie surface embellishments

The other side

Rolled up and ready to start the felting process
 After lots of rolling, rotating, and flipping the fibers had start to come together.

Time to cut an opening
With a balloon inside to help with the shaping

Rinsed and drying
 At the end of the class we each had a unique vessel drying on a balloon. I love that look of my vessel. Once it is dry I will add some additional bead embellished.

No classes tomorrow but I will be at the Rypan Designs booth #717 for the day.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Vintage Lucite Challenge - Arrival

Back in September the bead soup guru, Lori Anderson, offer the opportunity to participate in mini Cup of Bead Soup with vintage lucite beads. The beads were provided by Crystal of Bead Happily Ever After.

Tonight when I checked my mail box there was one of the wonderful padded envelopes that we love to see. Inside was this amazing selection of  beads.

I started to play with the beads as I was on the phone to see if my friend Anna was going to come the our Bead Society meeting tomorrow night.

I think I will take the beads to the meeting tomorrow night and see what I can create. Reveal day is November 10, so come back and see what I am able to make.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Holiday Bling Blog Hop Reveal

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fall Pantone Bead Swap Reveal

On Monday LiliKrist, my partner in the swap, got the package I sent her. She liked how neatly I had packed it. I was looking forward to arrival of her package from Indonesia. When I arrived home from work on Monday night there was a tag on my mailbox to let me know that I had missed a package. I was not able to get to the post office until tonight on the way home from work.

Here is what I picked up.

Inside was this beautiful quilted pouch fill with neat little wrapped packages.


The contents all laid out in their labelled bags.


Here is a closer look at the beads for each colour.

French Roast - daggers and seed beads
Honey Gold - mushroom beads and seed beads
Pink Flambe - Swarovski bicones and agate beads
Tangerine Tango - Java seed beads in orange and dark orange
Ultramarine Green - Aventurine and petal beads
Bright Chartreuse - lentil and square beads
Olympian Blue - Agate and Handmade Ceramic bead
Titanium - crystal drop beads and recycled glass beads
Rhapsody - Stick beads and owl bead
Rose Smoke - round and heart beads
I am looking forward to playing with these beads and make some new pieces.

Thanks LiliKrist for these great beads from the other side of the world!