Beadwork Beaded Bead Contest Update....

Well, I have had a great six months....??....playing with, constructing, and admiring the Beaded Beads Beadwork Magazine has offered us in pattern, as a part of their celebrations for their 15th Anniversary. It seemed like a match made in heaven! A cool design contest, using my favourite loves, beaded beads! Unfortunately....now that all the rules have been posted, it has become apparent that the contest is only open to US readers. It did not say that in the rules, but the time limitations imposed would exclude other than US peeps. :-(

But....I had great fun doing these, and will definitely use some of them again in other projects. The beads I've already created I had a design for, and will likely put that together after I get back from my trip to Washington DC this next week.

In the meantime, there's no point in waiting if I'm not going to enter....so...here are my beaded beads!

The little beaded stars are a component of the first bead, and I plan to use them in my design as well. 

Good luck to all the contest participants!! 

Pantone Bead Swap Fall 2012

Well, after waiting about a week for a bright day to do photographs, apparently, it ain't gonna happen! It is quite lovely out...warm for this time of the year, and with that ethereal fog that quiets everything and makes it seem so "soft" out. But it's not too great for picture-taking where detail is needed!

So...onward, with an Ott Lite; I apologize in advance for the greyed colors.

Here are the swap items I sent Kelley Hagerty-Fogle (Kelley has received her swap, but does not have a blog):

And here is what I received in return; I was spoiled rotten! Focals, gemstones, enamelled beads, pearls, crystals, fun beads...what a beautiful assortment! Thanks so much Kelley!

I am going to have a fantastic time playing with these! 

Pantone Fall 2012 Bead Swap

Well, I spent the day today getting my goodies together for the Pantone Bead Swap Fall 2012. I had tons of fun participating in this one in the Spring, with my wonderful partner Silvia Sernicola but I had not planned on participating in the Fall version, as I'm kind of swamped right now....well, you know how that goes!

So...here are my goodies all set to go to my partner for this season, Kelley Hagerty-Fogle; I don't think Kelley has a blog to link to, but I'm looking forward to sending these off to her.

As they were sitting on my worktable during the organization process today, I spied some wonderful  colour combinations I would not have thought of, but will certainly be investigating now....

like Ultramarine Green/Bright Chartreuse/Olympian Blue, which is FAB!! in the beads...and of course Honey Gold/Pink Flambe/Tangerine Tango, which is a given...and French Roast/Pink Flambe is yummy...and ...and....

Kelley, hope you enjoy your package!

PS When Kelley receives her goodies, I will post a non-tease picture of what she received. :-)

Beading Babes Project 6 Reveal

Well, nothing ventured nothing gained, right?? Right?? So immediately upon completion of my BSBP necklace project, I dived into the projects for Beading Babes 6th edition!

Karyn Healey-White at Releases by Rufydoof mentors a group of seed beaders who work together on defined projects over approximately a 2-month period. The projects are chosen in advance by Karyn. We have a Facebook page where comments and help can be found as everyone works along, and it's another great stretch for your skills as a beader! 

I started out with the Retro Daisies project, which was taken from Bead & Button April 2012. This is one of the few times I have NOT read the instructions through to the end. As I was a bit pressed for time, I just gathered the needed supplies and jumped right in. Don't do that. I did realize that the bracelet was very delicate as I was working on it, and looked quite short...but I anticipated the designer coming up with some amazing closure at the end that solved that problem and extended the length of the bracelet. Or not. Nope. No extending closure. Just one very, very short (ie, 5") bracelet. Back to the instructions...nope; hadn't made any errors, and I actually had used beads that were a bit larger than those called for in the instructions. 

*sigh*

Consensus is...

1. The instructions are wrong and the beads called for should be size 15 Japanese one-cuts, which are a lot larger than the size 15 czech charlottes called for. I used size 13 czech charlottes, which should be larger than required. 

2. The instructions are wrong and the repeats need to be increased. 

In any case, this did certainly stretch my beading skills, which is a good thing! As the instructions had you end each of the threads as you worked on the bracelet, there was no way to add to it from where I left off....even if the charlottes WOULD accept more thread than was already in there, which I guarantee you they would not have! 

You'll be surprised to hear, I did NOT throw it against a wall! Instead, I created a closure with loops at each end; the loops go over the flower at each end of the (original) bracelet and attach to an extension which duplicates about 1" of the original pattern. This adds about 1 1/2" to the size of the bracelet, making it wearable at least by a small human being. I think it worked out quite nicely. 

You will notice there is one lone different color flower on the bracelet. Yes, that's on purpose. If you check this link to my charity, the National Inclusion Project you will see their logo. This bracelet is my ode to Inclusion, in the style of the National Inclusion Project. 

In this picture, you can see the design of the closure I created, to the left. It consists of a 1.5" strip of the trellis base, with a loop on each end which goes over the flower at each end of the original bracelet...and I've added another flower to the closure as well. 

BTW, I love the little flowers created for this project, and will definitely be using those again in some manner! 

The second project I am working on still and thoroughly enjoying....it's very Zen. It is a bead embroidery cuff project from Sherry Sarafini, published in Beadwork Jan 2011, called Ripple Effect. 

After much searching of websites, I finally found some cabochons I loved from Glass Art Cabochons and am using this one to build my bracelet. 

The cabochon is a little larger than the one Sherry used for hers, but so far so good. It is not finished, but here's progress so far!

Mini-vacation!

I was so thrilled this last weekend, to have 4! 4!! days off in a row...on a weekend! So I decided to make a quick trip down to Buffalo, do a bit of much-needed clothes shopping, and just have 2 days to myself. No cooking....no dog walking...no housecleaning...no laundry..nothing to do except have some fun.

So here I am....on the little "porch" of my hotel room, looking down at the atrium/pool area:

(sorry for the quality, these were all taken with my phone). This is a little deceptive...the atrium area was nice to look onto from the porch, and very relaxing, especially when the kids in the pool went to bed. I only fell off the broken chair on the porch twice! And I hadn't had a thing to drink except a lemonade....

This picture of the room makes it look quite nice...but in fact the hotel hallways and the elevators were FILTHY, and I would never stay there again. The Millenium at Walden Galleria, no names mentioned of course. Don't go there....

OTOH, lunch the next day at Johnny Rocket's was good and fun! Wish I'd been quick enough to get their performance of "Respect!" on video! But I enjoyed it nonetheless. 

Loved my mini-holiday! The first in several years.....

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!!

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! 

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 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

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 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

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 Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

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

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

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 Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

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

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

YOU ARE HERE Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

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

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

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

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

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

So far behind.....

I'm so far behind!! This has been one of those exasperating, expensive, everything-is-happening-at-once months. In the last month, I've spent $14,256 on things I really don't even have yet, some of which I'll NEVER have anything to show for *sigh*. I'm broke, tired, and it just never ends. Today it was $900 to fix the bumper of a car that is worth about $1500...but the province won't safety certify it until the bumper is fixed.

But...enough whining....here's the good news! Last Saturday (sorry I missed the real date!) was the First Reveal for the 6th (and biggest!) Bead Soup Blog Party. DO make sure you visit at least some of the wonderful reveals, which you can find HERE. It'll brighten your day, just like it did mine!

Here's a little preview, one of Lori Anderson's wonderful reveal pieces:



My reveal is coming up next...on August 11th...and I'm on track! Woo-hoo!

Giveaways to die for!

RUN!!...don't walk....to Lori Anderson's Bead and Button Giveaway post. She has a choice of five different give-aways you can dibs in for...and what fun they are!

Me? I'm just sitting here sweating (TMI, I know...) and trying to decide....bits and bobs?...ebook?...hard copy of the Bead Soup book?....or....

Yes, Dorothy, it is 92 degrees in the house....no, I CAN'T afford $3000 for A/C...no, I can't use those portable units; our windows crank outward and there's no way, therefore to block them up....yes, I AM whiny. There....think I've got it all covered! Never thought I'd be praying for a cold day...just one...please!!

My Bead Soup is here!

You know, I love exchanging soups with someone from far, far away cuz you receive goodies you've never seen before....but this time round, I am LOVING having the soup I sent be there already, so no more "is it going to arrive" worries...and I have my soup in plenty of time to actually put some good thought into inspiration!

I LOVE my bead soup from Amy!

Just LOOK at the colors in that MOP focal!...gorgeous!! And the seed beads and accents are perfectly color matched to the focal. 

The focal is large....about 4 inches long...and as my normal realm is seed beads, that will be my challenge for this Bead Soup; but I have an idea already that I think MIGHT just be spectacular if I can do it justice. 

I'm off to try!

Bead Soup is home!

Amy just let me know she has received her Bead Soup! That arrived so quickly! SO unlike Canada Post LOL!!

Here is what I sent her:

I can't wait to see what she does with it!

Be sure and join us August 11th for the reveal.....

As soon as my soup from Amy arrives here, I will let you know! Excited!!

....and, last for today!

Just a quick one....

I recently found a new supplier of lovely gemstones; I am not in the normal way, a big gemstone user. But some of his/her things inspired me to do some pieces with the gemstones and my beaded beads.

Here is the most recent:

This is autumn agate, with simple beaded beads in the colors of the agate piece that would have been in that location in the sequence, separated by copper spacers. 

Thanks to Liz Reed of The Crimson Moon for the use of her beaded bead patterns. 

The matching earrings are hand-forged copper, with agate, beaded beads and copper spacers. 

All funds from the sale of this set will be donated to the National Inclusion Project; $70. 

Please contact me if you are interested. 

Recent news

Thought I would also post a picture of my most recent goodies as well today.....I also participated in the "2012 Spring Pantone" swap that Lori Anderson (yes, she's a busy lady!) curated on Facebook. The idea was to exchange, with a partner, a package of beading goodies which represented a selection from the Spring 2012 Pantone colors.

My partner Silvia Sernicola and I decided to select Tangerine Tango...Cabaret....Solar Power...and Driftwood as our combination. 

Silvia is a children's fashion designer from Italy, and her work is such fun! 

Here is what I received from Silvia:

What a fun package!! There was officially no requirement to create and show a piece from this swap, but Silvia and I have made an agreement that we will show what we do...and I already have what I think will be a really cool idea to use these wonderful colors, which make me smile just to look at them. 

BUT...there was something else in Silvia's package to me:

It's ME!!!! Taken from a picture on my Facebook, from a Gala event I attended in 2010: (that's me on the left....)

Now, HOW totally cool is that!! I have to find something really, really special to do with this little girl.....

Suggestions??? 

Sadly, my package to Silvia has not yet arrived on her doorstep...so I can't show you what I sent her. But I will!

It's happening again!!

Seriously....did you hear that rumbling??!! 

Nope....wasn't that!! 

Not that either.....

Oh no!! It's bigger than THAT! 

It's the BIGGEST EVER.....Bead Soup Blog Party ! 399 participants! And one of them is ME!!...whee!

This time I am particularly excited because Lori Anderson was kind enough to match me up with Amy Schmidt , who is an amazing bead-weaver (my first love)...AND who lives just down the road from me in Kitchener, ON. 

I am going to have so much fun rooting through my beads to get a package together for Amy! 

Look for Amy's and my reveal on August 11th....with previews here prior to that time...and reveals from others on July 28th and August 25th as well. 

It's a Bead Soup Blog Party-palooza! 

Check Lori's blog Pretty Things for details of prior year parties and here for my reveal earlier this year.

Hors d'oeuvres

Today, it's a bit of this and a bite of that...just catching up on some of what I've been doing over the last two weeks:

Beaded Bead contest:

I've done a few more of the Beaded Beads necessary for Beadwork magazine's 15th Anniversary contest. Here is my collection so far:

The numbers refer to the sequence of the beads in the magazine, not the order in which I beaded them. So far, I'm particularly fond of the two "ones" in the foreground, and the "two" to the middle right. I plan on doing an additional "three" for sure, and probably some more "ones". I want to have enough to have options for my design when that moment comes. So far...no particular design inspiration!

Swaps:

A month or two ago, I also joined Artcharms, which is a Yahoo group. This is a very active group run by the authors of this fun book. I have participated so far in 4 swaps; here is what I sent for the Frida Kahlo swap:

These were to consist of images/colors around Frida, her work, and Mexico. I sent shrinkie images, and hand-painted wooden beads. 

For the blue/brown color swap I sent these, in multiple colors and variations:

Here's my goodies for the pendant swap:

....and the "Going Postal" swap; these are Canadian stamps, covered with resin, on a Canadian nickel base:

I also participated in Lori Anderson's Pantone Colors Spring 2012 swap; I had the pleasure this time of sending goodies to Silvia Sernicola in Italy. While I won't post the picture of what I sent, so as to spoil the surprise for her, I had a great deal of fun picking out goodies in our chosen color scheme:

Can't wait to receive my goodies back from all this activity, and I will be sure to show you what I receive. 

ETA: a link to Silvia's post, where she has the most wonderful picture of the color combinatin in use: Pipa the Latest Take a trip over, you'll love her blog. 

Toronto Bead Show

This last Saturday, I attended the Toronto Bead Society's Spring Bead Show. This takes place Spring and Fall, and although the Spring show is a somewhat smaller one, both shows are always the best in the region IMO. The place was jammed! Here are a few peeks of what I came home with:

The whole stash:

Wonderful enamelled beads from Klee Creations (sorry, could not find an online presence). Cynthia Riggs I blame this on you! :-)

Look at those fab faceted agate beads to the left as well....yumm. 

I had SUCH a hard time deciding which one of these little color packets to take home! I wanted every.single.one of them! These ones will make a necklace for me to wear to the Gala in October, with my fuschia jacket. Fun!!

These two delicious lampwork beads are from Laurie Wright at Designer Beads. I am SUCH a sucker for anything...anything at all...with spirals. Love the colors too!

....and there are some more of those yummy faceted agates. 

 ....and then, the piece de resistance IMO....a strand of wonderful!! fire agate rondelles in the most incredible orange, peach, and hot tones. I'm not always an orange kind of a girl (I certainly couldn't wear this color), but the Pantone people this year are wearing me down. :-) I'll likely mix it up with some fuschia and yellow in beaded beads.
The other strand is a huge splurge....garnets in tumbled nuggets. It's tough to see in the photo, I know, but again they are the most wonderful plums, pinks and cranberries EVER.

As you can see, I've had fun over the last two weeks! Hope it's been good for all of you too.....:-)