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Saturday, July 27, 2013

Vacation Beading - Day 2 & 3

Yesterday I had lunch with Maria to celebrate are birthdays this week. We had burgers at the Works down in Bloor West Village. I gave her the Shooting Star pendant that I made on Thursday.

I spent the rest of the day working to finish my series of geometric stars from the class with Jean Power. Using the colour palette from the sea anemone as seen in Margie Deeb's book The Beader's Color Palette.




I finished the fourth star today. 

Here are all four stars together.

I just need to decide how best to display them.

Tomorrow I will do some beading in the morning and spend the afternoon with my sister and her family.

Happy Beading!

Friday, July 26, 2013

Vacation Beading - Day 1

Summer is almost half over and I am taking a short vacation from work. I am hoping to do some beading everyday while I am off. So here is day 1!

Yesterday evening my friend Anna and I took a class at BeadFXPamela Kearns was teaching the Shooting Stars beaded bead from Crystal Play by Anna Elizabeth Draeger.
Class sample, beaded by Pam
Using 2 sizes of Swarovski crystals and seed beads you combine right-angle weave and netting to make this fun and sparkly gem.

I used Dark Red Coral and Jet Swarovski bicones along with galvanized silver seed beads.

It makes a simple but elegant pendant.

I am looking forward to trying other projects from the book.

Happy Beading!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

In the mail - Earth 'n' Elements Pottery

Here is the latest in my series about amazing things to arrive in my mailbox. Last week I told you about Pepita's Blogoversary.

This week I am sharing with you the amazing pottery beads from Kathi Mohlman.

Back in June is saw these amazing sea urchin beads on the Art Bead Scene Blog.

I love the demin blue colour and shape of them.

I decided to hop over to Kathi's Etsy shop, Earth 'n' Elements Pottery. And wow, she has some wonderful  pottery beads and home decor items. While looking at the many sea urchin beads I was inspired to see if I could find some of them that would work with my Sea Urchin beaded bead.

I saw these lovely little turquoise sea urchin beads.

I also found some bronze sea urchins beads as well.

So here is what arrived in my mailbox from Kathi's studio.
Four Turquoise beads
Two Bronze beads
The set of five blue beads
a lovely bonus cream bead
Sea Urchin beaded bead with Kathi's urchins on a simple chain
I am looking forward to making a more complete necklace with combining the beaded bead and Kathi's beads. I bought some pearls and fire polished beads to work with them.

Watch for the finished piece later in the summer.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Beader Hoarders Blog Hop - Reveal

Do you have a few or some or maybe a drawer full of amazing beads that you have collected but not used. Well this blog hop is all about get ourselves in gear and making something fabulous with at least a few of the beads in our hoard collection.

I have four sets of beads that I have worked with to share with you. Some are beads I have had a long time and others are more recent purchases.

These lampwork beads by Jennifer Tough, have been in my collection for a long time. They were in small Swarovski tin with some crystals waiting to be made into something wonderful. The dotted beads have been combined with crystals and large round clear beads to make a bracelet. I have made a simple pendant with the heart. I added little Swarovski butterfly crystal earrings to complete the set.

Here are some polymer clay beads by Jessica Greschner. I have used some of her beads in another necklace back in 2010. Here is have combined these purple swirl beads with Swarovski crystals, pearls, purple round glass beads and some fun little "pot scrubber" silver spacers.

Now some more recent purchases. These lampwork beads are by Lucie Kovarova-Weir. The trio of ladybugs are stacked to make a simple pendant. The little spacer beads are suspended on loops of chain to make dangle earrings. I think that my niece Elizabeth might like the ladybug pendant.

These are the most recently purchased beads. I got these at Beadfx but I am not sure who made them (will check when I stop by the store later today - Update these beads are by Carol Cooper.). Here I have added Swarovski crystals and pearls with some copper daisy spacers. This will be a great piece for the fall.

It was fun to look at the many different beads that I have collected over the years. I hope to work more of them into some upcoming projects.

Thanks to Lori Anderson, our blog hop guru, for hosting this blog hop. It really gave me the kick start I needed.

Hop around and take a look at some of my fellow beaders and see what they have created.

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Leah Tees, My Beady Little Eyes
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
9.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
75.  Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Happy Beading!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

In the Mail - Pepita's Blogoversary

I love to get something other that bills in the mail. Over the last few weeks I have gotten some wonderful things in the mail.

Here is my first post about the amazing things that have arrived in my mail box.

Almost a month ago Alenka over at Pepita handmade post about her 1st blogoversary. To celebrate she invited fellow bloggers to sign up for a creative challenge. She would send us one of her amazing handmade components and we would have until August 11 to make something with it.
Here are all the components she made to share
Here is the curved turquoise bar that I received
This is going to a fun challenge as I many ideas to play with over the next few weeks. Come back on August 11 to see the final result.

Thanks Alenka for the chance to celebrate with you.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Jean Power class update

Wow, it has been two weeks since I spent the weekend taking classes with British bead artist Jean Power.

I have actually finished two of the projects that I started during the classes.

Friday's class was the Zinnia Flower class. Once I started working on it at home I finished up the petals at the front of the flower.

For the back layer of petals I switch the placement of the colours. The blue is main colour of the petals with an edge of silver.

Here is the back of the flower. With the band across the back you can wear it in many ways. I think this will look great pinned to my grey winter coat. Or I may make the beaded chain which was include in our instructions.

On Sunday we started our geometric stars. I would have gotten further along in class if I had not run into problems with my counting.

I completed the last two sides and zipped them together to the other three.

I am looking to do a series of these stars with just changes in the placement of the colours as I did with my sea anemone boxes.  I am using the same colours for the stars.

Happy Beading!


Thursday, July 4, 2013

ABC's of Creativity - June review

With the year have over, here is my quick review of our June entries.

It started with K is Kits which I did. It includes this vintage Rypan Designs kit.

I also included some of my favourite kits and how I create my our person kits for project I want to do, like this. 

Later in the month Maria was scheduled to do L is Loomwork, but blogger was not making it easy for her. She sent me the information it posted the blog posting for her. I love the loomworked Kimono which was on display at Bead & Button show.

She also covered various styles of looms. My favourite Vyacheslav Kalejnikov, a Ukrainian beadwork artist, who makes his own looms for large scale projects. He uses whatever he can find to make his loom.

Maria will be teaching her loomwork series later in the fall at beadFX.

Happy Beading!!