Bead Soup Blog Party – Bead Hoarder’s Edition Reveal

Tags

Art Incendi, Artisan Clay, Golem Studio, Kristie Roeder, Lorelei Eurto, Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio, Miss Fickle Media, Sherri Stokey, Staci Louise Smith, The Classic Bead, Tracee Dock, WoolyWire

I always hoped I’d be able to take part in one of Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Parties, and this year I am! This year it is the Bead Hoarders Edition with the idea of counteracting the negativity in the world by sending someone else something we treasure.  Host Lori Anderson advised us to pick something we love and hoard and package it up with a note prior to knowing who our partner is.  That is what I did, but it wasn’t easy because I hoard everything bead related. My partner is Lorelei Euro. I love all her work and own several of her pieces. I learned a lot about art beads from her blog and shops, and I believe I have every one of her tutorials and the book she co-authored.  (No pressure!) She sent an amazing group of things!

The resin charm and copper wrapped key are from Miss Fickle Media, three (!) coils of WoolyWire, two packages of enameled beauties from Art Incendi, a beautiful donut from The Classic Bead, an owl pendant by Golem Studio and another gorgeous donut from Marsha Neal Studio. Wow!  I love everything.

It was not my intention to use most of what Lorelei sent in time for the hop, but I did!  So, on with the show.

This necklace uses the trio of Art Incendi hearts with beads from my stash on waxed linen with a macrame loop.  I included a few beads I’ve had for many years (we’re talking double digits) – the dark green irregular shaped beads with gold and the pumpkin shaped light green. I ended it with a painted polymer clay box clasp by Sherri Stokey that I’ve been hoarding for just the right piece.

Lorelei included so many lovely items, I decided to make a charm necklace. In keeping with the theme of this hop, I used some of my own favorite items.

Here is a close up of the charm part so you can see them better.

I used one of the enamel over brass charms from Art Incendi and the resin piece from Miss Fickle Media.  From my own stash, I wire wrapped some garnets (my first gemstone crush and still a favorite) and a fabulous Staci Louise Smith crystal and polymer drop. I hung all of them off of a verdigis metal triple ring, also from Staci Louise Smith.  I used a strand of every other way simple cut turquoise.  The simple cut is my favorite shape, even more so when the holes are drilled through every other bead top to bottom and every other bead side to side.

Lorelei is a big owl fan, and she generously sent me a beautiful owl pendant by Golem Studio. I often feel I “should” try new things and new designs.  But with this pendant, I went classic.  I just love a simple, knotted necklace.  Meditative and relaxing to make, easy to wear.

I used several different Czech glass beads, waxed linen and a sterling toggle clasp.

I told Lorelei that I was glad she had sent some donuts because I find those a little challenging.  I love the Marsha Neal green and turquoise donut she sent. I have a small Marsha Neal stash, and this will help me become more confident in using the donuts. I absolutely love the colors and the multiple textures.

I thought roman glass would be perfect with the donut, but I couldn’t quite get my shapes to work for me.  I did put a few pieces above the donut on wire to form a pendant, and I do love how they look! I tried a variety of other beads with the pendant, but nothing worked as well as the leftover turquoise from the charm necklace I also made for this hop! I added some suede, chain, one dyed malachite bead and a toggle clasp from Miss Fickle Media.

I used the enamel starfish by Art Incendi in a bracelet with some jasper and copper. I strung it on leather and added a wire wrapped stone and copper goddess charm.

I just couldn’t stop being inspired. The Miss Fickle Media key is such a unique statement piece, I knew I wouldn’t need much with it. Some very large ball chain I got at the hardware store came to mind as something that was also a bit different and could hold its own with the key!

I added a wire wrapped black tourmaline nugget with some irregular large holed glass beads on a large jump ring for a little color.

I like what some might consider unusual color combinations. I find them very exciting and energizing, so that’s what I’ve used here – red and chartreuse – with the donut from The Classic Bead.

Many pendants by Tracee Dock of The Classic Bead (yes, I have a stash) bring to mind the country cottage look – comfortable, pretty, soft.  I decided to take this one a different way!  I used a mix of vintage Czech glass beads (I love the whimsical nature of the dice), and metal.  I even put chartreuse seed beads in this peek-a-boo toggle bar.

Last but not least, Lorelei said she included WoolyWire to boost my creativity. I have to admit, I struggled a little with how to best use some of it. Then I decided to put a smoke-fired heart pendant by Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay with some matte amazonite rounds.  I made a bail form for the pendant and wrapped some WoolyWire around it.  Perfect color!

I had so much fun creating for this hop and am grateful to my partner Lorelei Eurto.  Please visit her blog to see what I sent her and what she made.  Also, visit our host Lori Anderson’s blog to see what she made and access the links to the over 150 other people who have also taken part in this Bead Soup Blog Party Blog and Pinterest hop.  You can also click on the links below. Have fun; I will!

Lori Anderson :: Hostess

Claire Fabian

Jennifer Strehler

Rochelle Brisson

Annita Wilson

Melissa Trudinger

Loralee Kolton

Valerie Tilghman

Mischelle Andrade

Elizabeth Bunn

Marianna DeLuca Wehner

Johana Nunez

Jenny Kyrlach

Elizabeth Hodges

Lennis Carrier

Candida Castleberry

Mary Govaars

Sandi James

Arlene Dean

Kristina Eleniak

Nan Smith

Nadine Edris

Denise McCabe

Donna Marie Hanna

Audrey Belanger

Nicole Rennell

Robin Reed

Gail Zwang

Terry Jeanette Carter

Donna Hoblit

Ann Schroeder – You are here!

Klaudete Koon

Veralynne Malone

Lorelei Eurto – This is my partner!

Ann  Sherwood

Jackie Locantore

Mowse Doyle

Dorit Woldenga

Cheri Reed

Dolores Raml

Palak Udeshi

Laurie Vyselaar

Heather Canepa

Dorothy Supri

Sharyl King

Elaine Robitaille

Heather Marston

Terry Matuszyk

Andra Weber

D’Arsie Manzella

Sooz Anzalone

Karin King

Leona Smith

Tania Spivey

Jasvanti Patel

Danielle Kelley

Shai Williams

Jacqueline Marchant

Erin Kenny

Becky Pancake

Kelly Schermerhorn

Renetha Stanziano

Rana Wilson

Janine Lucas

Kelly Hosford Patterson

Andrea Glick

Joanne Bell

Sarah Strover

Sam Waghorn

Helena Hatten

Jackie Ryan

Bridget Torres

Inge von Roos

Krafty Max

Iveth Caruso

Rebecca Ednie

Amy Severino

Sandra Wollberg

Blanca Medina

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell

Samantha Wescott

Christine Stonefield

Silke Groeber

Alenka Obid

Lori Bowring Michaud

April Grinaway

Yvette Goodridge

Kathy Lindemer

Kathleen A Breeding

Joyce Becker

Pam Farren

Divya N

Sherri Stokey

Terri DelSignore

Kate Gonska

Jean Wells

CJ Bauschka

Bonnie Coursolle

Barb Fernald

Noemí Baena

Dana Phillips

Karen Firnberg

Michelle  Escano Caballero

Natalie Ettinger

Valerie Norton

Rachel Malli

Denise Milward

Bobbie Rafferty

Vonna Maslanka

Elisabeth Auld

Hannah Rosner

Carla Fry

Terri Gauthier

Teresa Fischer

Tanya Goodwin

Barbara Judy

Leanne Loftus

Carrie Stalcup

Lori Schneider

Joelyn Bissing

Kate Dufour

Gail Poveda

Katie Nielsen-Nunez

Pam DeBoer

Dee Elgie

Judy Jacobs

Elisabeth Matouschek

Shawn Elkins

Sally Russick

Susan McClelland

Tracy Stillman

Robin Lynne Showstack

Marianne Baxter

Maria Rosa Sharrow

Therese Frank

Sandi Volpe

Leslie Scholz

Joan Williams

Laura Guenther

Liz Engriser

B.R.Kuhlman

Bev Breisinger

Radel Vela

Kim Dworak

Carol Dillman

Alice Craddick

Janeen Burlingame

Leah Curtis

Ann Marie Hodrick

Donna Millard

Hajer Waheed Khalil

Lucy Clasen

Michelle McCarthy

Maria Rios

Babette Cox

Natalie Davidson

Brenda Ballou

Christina Hickman

Heather Gunther

 

Inspired by Reading – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Inspired by Reading Book Club, Marsha Neal Studio, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs, Scorched Earth on Etsy, Second Surf

The October selection for Andrew Thornton‘s Inspired by Reading Book Club is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.  This is the third time I’ve read the book, and it was good each time.  That’s saying something!

The book is about teenager Jacob Portman and his journey to discover the truth about the strange stories his grandfather told him as a child as well as the unusual and frightening circumstances surrounding his grandfather’s death. Jacob learns about a mysterious parallel world and his own power.

In the past, I had a very narrow view of what was acceptable for me to use as inspiration.  How could I use a negative image or association in the book to make something I want to be beautiful?  But then I saw Andrew’s necklace for Swamplandia!,and I really loved it.  He included a whistle, which has a negative association in the book.  Andrew took something ugly and made it beautiful.

So this time I allowed the hollowgast to be my inspiration because that is the first idea I had when I thought about beads in association with the book.

I was originally just going to make something with spike beads to represent the horrible hollowgast tongues.  Then on reading further, I decided to also use a tooth based on their ghastly teeth that always show in a evil, snarling smile. From left, the spikes are from Marsha Neal Studio, Second Surf and Scorched Earth on Etsy. I believe the tooth is from a coyote.

This was a really fun project because I feel like I stretched my creativity, and this necklace looks very cute on despite the fact that it was inspired by a terrifying hollowgast!  Please visit the Allegory Gallery blog to see what others were inspired to make.

 

AJE April Component of the Month Reveal

Tags

AJE April Component of the Month, Art Jewelry Elements, Marsha Neal Studio, Ragged Robyn, Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio

I have two reveals today!  If you are looking for the Amethyst Aether reveal, please click here.

The Art Jewelry Elements blog has a variety of very talented contributors.  Each month, one artist offers a component that the other contributors and three lucky winners get to use in a creation.  For April, the artist is Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio.  I was actually the fourth winner this month.  Since an extra name fell out as she was choosing (mine!) she decided to include me.  Thanks, Rebekah!  Her component is a lovely little heart.  Although it is made from polymer clay, she has textured it to look like weathered wood.  Participants had a choice of brown or grey.  I chose grey.

Both sides are textured, and she carved the word “love” into the side.  I didn’t get a good picture of that and was anxious to get started working with it, so you can see more pictures here.

I get such joy from art beads.  When I got the heart and started considering how I wanted to use it, I was thinking about how I feel when I see a new art bead.  It can feel like fireworks.  This heart is small, but I still wanted it to be the focal of my piece.  I thought of a collection of tiny stoneware clay beads I have by Ragged Robyn she calls Poppets.  The variety of textures, colors and shapes make me think of that fireworks feeling, and because they are tiny they wouldn’t detract from the heart as the focal.

I used some grey vintage sequins as spacers and blue wire to string the beads. I wanted to keep the feel of the necklace soft and delicate, so I braided together three colors of hand painted silk cord from Marsha Neal Studio.

I love seeing Rebekah’s beautiful little heart front and center in this necklace. It makes me smile.  Thanks to Rebekah and Art Jewelry Elements for allowing me to participate this month.  It was great fun!

Please visit the links below to join the hop and see what other people have created with their heart.

Guests
Karin Grosset Grange
Carol Briody
Rebecca Anderson

Ann Schroeder – You are HERE!

AJE Team
Rebekah Payne
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Caroline Dewison
Susan Kennedy
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Linda Landig
Melissa Meman

Niky Sayers

Lindsay Starr

Silk Cord Experiment

Tags

Marsha Neal Studio, Vintaj

I bought some Marsha Neal goodies a while ago, and today I made a necklace. I wanted to use a pendant with some coordinating silk cord.  I thought if I used the silk cord only, it would be too light. Maybe not.  I’ll have to try that next time.

 

I used a clay heart pendant.  First I tried putting the silk cord through some chain.  That just seemed to bunch the chain up.  In the end, I braided three colors of the silk cord and then added a Vintaj chain.  I connected the silk cord and chain in a few places with extra links so it would hang better.  When I wear it, it hangs better than it shows in the pictures.  I need one of those necklace busts for my pictures.

I’m pleased with it, but as always, I have to wear it a few times before I decide not to take it apart.   

New Beads and Wrap Bracelet

Tags

hand painted silk, Hatch Art House, Jenny Blasen Pottery, Marsha Neal Studio, Nancy Schindler Adams, Round Rabbit, Sue Beads, Wild Roses and Blackberries

I got some great new beads recently.  I also saw a tutorial today and actually made the bracelet, part of my new “get it done” philosophy.  First, the new beads.

My latest pendants from Nancy Schindler Adams at Round Rabbit.  I love, love, love those irregular circular pendants.  I have an idea of the beads I want to use with the black and white hankie pendant.  I hope it looks as good in real life as it does in my imagination.  Although I’m not sure that is possible; my imaginary jewelry is pretty spectacular.

Above are beauties from Marsha Neal of Marsha Neal Studio.  Just gorgeous. I love them.  I also bought some of her hand painted silk cord.  I have already separated out some strands from each bundle for a necklace I have to finish designing.  I am starting to successfully incorporate more fibers into my jewelry.  I love the look!

I took advantage of a great sale over at Sue Beads and got five mixed packages of lampwork spacers.  I love to have a stocked stash.  All the beads are beautiful, but my photo focuses on the package.  How perfect to brand the bag the beads come in.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting where I got them; it will be easy to credit her when I use the beads.

I was surfing around on the web and came across this tutorial for a ribbon and button wrap bracelet.  I am such a huge button fan lately; I’m pleased to have used one today.  I recently bought a couple sets of buttons from local ceramic artist Jenny Blasen.  I found them at a fabulous gift shop that features local artists – Hatch Art House.  I love everything in there, and I’m lucky because it’s a quick walk from work.  A nice way to spend part of my lunch hour.

I got the ribbon at a local bead store that is no longer in business.  It was a great store, but I’m happy for the owner because she closed in order to retire. Their going out of business sale coincided with my burgeoning interest in using more ribbon and other fibers.  I’m glad I bought some when I had the chance, even though I had no idea how to use them at the time.

I love how the bracelet turned out, but this picture clearly shows me how seriously I need to moisturize!  Thanks for reading.  Are you feeling inspired in the new year?