Saturday, August 25, 2012

Jill Wiseman and Carol Dean Sharpe

I have been absolutely DYING for JIll Wiseman's "Beautiful Beaded Ropes" to reach it's production date...and it's ready!



AND....if you want this book as badly as I do to add to your Lark Master Beader collection....run over to Sandfiber's blog and add your comment for a chance to win it. Don't miss this one!

Bead Soup Blog Party...Final Reveal!

Hope everyone will take a few moments (hours) and visit the wonderful exhibitors in the final reveal today of Bead Soup Blog Party 6! There are some just amazing pieces and talent...and you don't want to miss seeing ANYthing! A little tease.....


From The Beading Yogini Cece Cormier

Fabulous!!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Bead Table Sunday

Yes, I know it's supposed to be Bead Table Wednesday but it's my bead table....I can name it what I want!

I'm still having a great time trying to get to everyone's blog for Bead Soup Blog Party 6 but just yesterday I heard that the reveal for Beading Babes Project #6, my next project, is Sept 2nd, not the Sept 11th I thought it was for some unknown reason!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!

So today I am working on my first project.....while it rains outside.


Of course, I am redoing the coloration somewhat to have it relate to the National Inclusion Project logo, which is flower-like. I think it will look quite good. 


Haven't quite decided yet which aqua to use...I'm leaning toward the lighter one, but will see how it looks on the gold-toned base before making a decision. The darker teal may hold it's own better against the lime. 

Those gold beads are size 13 charlottes...the pattern calls for 15 charlottes, but I was unable to find them anywhere...and my lord those 13's are tiny!

 I can't imagine it in 15's.
It looks to me as though this is going to make an exceedingly delicate band...like, for a child. Delicate would most definitely NOT describe me in any way. 
Hard to tell yet, but I think I may do the next one in 11's and of course increase the size of the czech firepolish, and probably reduce the number of flowerettes on the band. We shall see :-)

Wish me luck! I'll be hoppin' indeed! 


Friday, August 10, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party #6!!

*Shhhhhh!! I'm going to post a little early! Don't tell on me! I have to be up at the crack of dawn to go to work, and I just can't wait any longer. Have fun hopping!*

Thanks so much for joining me at my little piece of this HUGE party!

For those who just happen to be stopping by...Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party is now in it's sixth iteration! The premise is....Lori pairs each of us up with a partner; then the partners exchange a "bead soup" which consists of a focal, a special clasp and some coordinating pieces. The participants are required to construct a special piece, using at a minimum, the supplied focal and toggle; but the pieces can and do consist of many additional items from the beader's stash. On our designated reveal date...there are three this year, and this is Reveal #2....we display the piece we have created from our soup, and have a blast visiting the reveals of all the other participants as well. The idea is that we are challenged to create something special from colors/items/techniques that we don't normally use; and are introduced to a beady friend that we may not normally have met.

This is my second BSBP....I participated as well earlier this year, and I enjoyed it so much I knew I couldn't miss doing it again.
My partner this time is Amy Schmidt of Amy's Treasure. I am so thrilled this year to be able to do the exchange with a fellow bead-weaver! Amy just lives down the road from me in Kitchener, ON...and I am hoping that at some point we'll be able to meet! Amy does the most beautiful work...and I can't wait to see what she has done with the soup I sent her; here's a quick reminder of what I sent Amy....


....and what she sent me....


LOL...looking at them side by side like that, I realize they would have made a quite beautiful combination if we'd mixed the two! 

And now....my big reveal!

Normally, I work with the cool side of the spectrum; but as I said to Amy, I really never met a color I didn't like...and that stunner of a focal she sent me was absolutely inspirational! I wanted to do something relatively simple, that would set off the spectacular color of the focal bead. It is quite large...about 3" long...and I wanted to make sure it hung just at the right level when being worn. 
So....I played and I thought...and I realized that it made me think of the beautiful sunsets I see here across our lake country:


I visualized a really simple, full, beaded necklace with a color gradation that mimiced the color flow of the pendant...and I hope that is what I have achieved. I pulled eight different shades from my extensive collection of seed beads, and I strung and I strung and I strung.........



I wanted to capture the necklace at the bottom centre with a bail made of wire, strung with some of the smaller beads Amy sent me as well...but sadly, I was not satisfied with what my wire-wrapping skills were able to produce, so I have ended up going with an easy-to-wear peyote bail in the color of the central sunset shade. I think it works better. 



I've also beaded cones for the end of the necklace, sticking to the gradation theme, in brick stitch; I enjoyed doing these, and will probably make some of these again for another project. The necklace is finished simply with some more of Amy's lovely red beads, and the pretty little silver closure she sent. 






Amy, I hope you like what I've done! Can't wait to pop by and see how you used my Soup!

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to check out the other participants in this reveal! We all love your visits, and your comments. 


Here are the links for the rest of the players:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 
Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead


Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio


Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads


Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae


Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders


Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
YOU ARE HERE Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place


 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs


Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle


Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads


Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 


Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art