Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Creative Bead Chat on Facebook and a HUGE giveaway :)

I would like to invite you to a fun and informative group on Facebook 
It's an open group & a home
 for creative component and jewelry designers to share new creations, tool tips 
& help build our creativity and sales ! 
A home for new designers, as well experienced 
to share your experiences and ask questions. 
Ultimately, we are a team and work together 
towards the goal of being proud of our accomplishments and accomplishing our dreams...
Only rule...
Treat others as you would like to be treated :-)  

We welcome you to join Creative Bead Chat! 

We've organized a fun bunch of events....
Today we'll be offering a huge giveaway from a few of our generous members 
willing to share with the members of our online group.  
 15 lucky people will win! 
 ~valued over $400~ 
of amazing handcrafted jewelry, components and gift certificates
Names will be chosen next Tuesday, March 27th ~ 
This event will be for members only ~ 
Mary Anne Klinglesmith Flesch: Beautiful Freeform Copper Pendant
Judi Markert: Herringbone Rope Bracelet
Patti Vanderbloeman: Artisan Earrings
Marie-Noel Voyer Cramp: Assorted Charms
SKYE Jewels
Lisa Lodge:  $20 Gift Certificate
Pine Ridge Treasures

Pam Ferrari: Glass beads 
Ferrari Original Beads
Marla James: Ceramic Artisan Pendant
Marla's Mud 
Bisque Bead Supply
Jennifer Justman: Beaded Artisan Bracelet
Soul's Fire Designs
Karen Totten: $25 Gift Certificate
Starry Road Designs
Janice Everett: $20 Gift Certificate
J-Lynn Jewels
Jenny Davies Reazor: Choice of 1 Artisan Pendant 

Beads of Clay Group:$50 Gift Certificate
Marla James / Marsha Neal/Yolanda Miramontes

Melinda Orr: $25 Gift Certificate

Melinda Orr Designs

We've got a designer challenge coming up and an Easter Palette Challenge ..
 I will be moderating the group with 
Marla James from Marla's Mud &
 Karen Totten from Starry Road Designs 
Stop by ~ you'll be glad you did! 
and see all the details of the giveaway! 
Peace and <3

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Happy Anniversary

Ten years ago today I married the most wonderful man.  I am so happy to be on this journey with you Cliff and I am looking forward to finding out where this road takes us.  Thank you for taking a chance on me!  You are a wonderful husband and father and I would be completely lost without you. 

O, my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve's like a melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair as thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

 Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will love thess till, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run:

And fare thee well, my only luve!

And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho' it ware ten thousand mile.

~~Robert Burns

I tore this poem out of a book of poetry over 10 years ago and gave it to him.  He still has it :) 

Monday, March 5, 2012

A Cup of Bead Soup!!!!



I was one of the 3 random lucky designers that got picked to do the new Cup of Bead Soup for March with Lori Anderson!  O-M-G!  How lucky am I?  Which is funny because I never win anything!  Well almost never anyway!  Join me along with:



and

Here is a close up of the lovely handmade polymer clay beads, charms, and pendants made by Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf and Floridity




This is really going way outside my comfort zone.  I am a bead weaver so I am really excited to get my hands on these lovely pieces and see what I come up with.  I am receiving:


* one teal rustic key focal bead
* one double-sided pair of leaf charms
* four carved nugget beads
* one limited edition 5x7 Bead Soup print!


A closeup of the print which being an art major back in the day I am really super excited about!  Isn't it beautiful!




All I can do is:



Peace and <3

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Kumihimo and Soccer


Soccer has started back for the spring season.  I know my daughter was ready for it to start back.  She really has a great time playing and she has made several new friends as well.  The last game is in April and I really wanted to make something for all the girls on the team before the season was over.  Something that would remind them of their year as a Saltillo Tiger.

So a quick goggle search and I discover Kumihimo Braiding.  It kind of reminds me of the friendship bracelets I used to make when I was my daughters age over 20 years ago.  It seemed perfect but I did not have a Kumihimo Disk nor did I want to wait on one.  I remember recently buying Trinity one of those craft lace lanyard making kits at Hobby Lobby and it looked almost exactly like the disk I needed.  One search through a messy pre-teen bedroom later and Ta-Da:


I went on another shopping trip today to try and find the cord in the colors that I need.  Hobby Lobby was closed today as it was Sunday so I made a trip to the new craft store in town called Joann's Fabrics.  I had zero luck in finding larger rattail cord or any type of cord that was 1mm or 2mm.  None of the employees had any idea on what rattail was either :/  So I ended up with embroidery floss.  Now the great thing about embroidery floss is the wide selection of colors.  Wow it really is amazing at all the choices you have. 



So after finding the team colors I made my first Kumihimo bracelet.  


I am really happy with the way that turned out.  The first one I made was a bit to skinny for me so I remade it and doubled up the floss which made it a bit thicker.  One bracelet down, 11 more to go lol.

I wish I knew where to find the best type of cord to use for this.  Does anyone know?  If you do where do you order it from?  Any advice or hints on this art form would be much appreciated.  

Peace and <3