Halloween/Day of the Dead Blog Hop

Day of the Dead Blog Hop?  Hmmm?  Not something you would normally see me jump into...don't get me wrong, I love to dress up, get the kids dressed up, and trick or treat around the neighborhood.  Aside from that, you don't see skulls outside my house or witches hanging from my front porch.  You might see a lot of pumpkins or anything orange.

So when Diana Ptaszynski (of Suburban Girl Studio) said she was sponsoring a blog hop for Halloween, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and design a jewelry piece made or a skulls  or anything that wasn't a pumpkin!

I had this Gaea designed skull bead set that has been in one of my jewelry cases staring at me for almost a year now.  I took it out and looked at it for another few weeks...once it was finally out and on the bead table...there was no going back.

I knew it would be a necklace of sorts...just wasn't sure how it might all come together.

 

I love Vintaj Metal Arte pieces and this black peice reminded me of a web.  I grabbed my gilders paste and gave it a little patina color in spots and sealed it.  I could not resist adding a bit of it to the black chain from Fallen Angel Brass.

 

This Skull Bead is from Gaea as well as the other beads used in the chain.

 

 

 

I added a headpin from Jennifer Jangles in the black and white stripe along with a little glam on top of Gaea's mint bead.  Up top is a czech glass leaf bead to tie it all into fall.

 

I like how is all ended up and Thanks, Diana, for the challenge!  See below for links for all other participants in the blog hop!

 

 

 

 

Diana Ptaszynski http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Stephanie LaRosa http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com  (you are here)

Nicole Valentine Rimmer http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

 

Christine Damm http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com

 

 

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

Finally...Bead Soup Reveal!!!

 

Big Huge Thanks to the Wonderful, Talented Lori Anderson for organizing, planning, and pairing us all together!! 

 

 

 

 

Before I dig in and show you what I made, I want to remind you again what I received and who I exchanged with!

 

 

Laren Barton of Laren Dee Designs was my partner!  Here is her blog  (be sure to visit her blog to see what I sent her and what she made!!)

 

I could not have been paired with a more sweet partner!  I feel very lucky and privileged to have been paired with her!  Through all of this, I have a gained a wonderful new friend!  One of the biggest advantages to participating in bead soup!!

 

Here is what Laren mailed to me mid-February.  Instructions again were to use the focal and the clasp and anything else in between!

 

 

 

I decided to make 4 pieces and I was still left with a bag of beads!  She was very generous with what she mailed to me!

 

The first thing I created was a necklace and I used a technique and design I have never done before.  I took the pre-formed choker necklace and wired to it some of the beads she mailed me.  This was fun and a technique I am going to try on some future designs with different colors!  This would be perfect with that summer or fall strapless dress!

 

 

 

Next, I decided to make a pair of earrings to go with the necklace.

 

I pulled in the large red glass bead and the red czech glass along with the brass findings that Laren sent.  I thought the rhinestone earring wires added a bit of glam to them!

 

 

 

Next I took the focal and decided to make a 3 strand bracelet with it.  The focal was the main link in the bracelet and I wire wrapped several of the larger beads to create the first strand.

 

For the second strand, I took the smaller beads which I strung on wire and then attached to the clasp.

 

For the third strand, I took out some bronze leaf chain I had been hoarding and made that the final strand that tied it all in together!  The czech glass and focal are just beautiful together!

 

 

 

Last, I did another pair of earrings.  I took the chain Laren sent and some larger bead caps and czech glass and formed them into a tassle earring set!

 

 

 

So there you have it!!  I hope you have enjoyed seeing what I created and that you will take the time to see what everyone else has done as well!  Be sure to click on Laren's blog  to see what she made with what I sent to her!!

 

Here is a link to all the other blogs that participated as well!  Please visit!  I'd love to have you join and follow my blog too.  :)

 

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been a bit shy....

I've been a bit shy taking advantage of the February Bead Trends Issue!!  Have you had a chance to take a quick peek?  You can find it at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Barnes & Noble, and JoAnn's.

It was such a privilege to be contacted last July by Tatia Meyer of Bead Trends Magazine if I would be interested in being the designer highlight for February 2013.  She told me my vintage, romantic style would be perfect for their Valentine Issue!

 

 

 

Wow, what a compliment that was!!  I had only been published in the magazine a few times and had admired all those that received the special highlight section as Designer of the Month!!

 

The designer of the month would come with a photo and a bio along with 10 pages of special designer jewelry!   When I said yes, it was time to get to work!!

 

Here are a few of my pieces I created!  The first set was an emerald set (little did I know it would later be chosen the color for 2013!!).  I used some of my great artist friends and their jewelry creations for some of my pieces.  I also pulled in many vintage pieces to give it that artisan vintage feel!  This set features Marsha Neal and Karen Totten.  I used a vintage drawer pull, vintage key lock, Vintaj Brass, and czech glass beads!    

 

 

 

This bracelet features a vintage snoopy, brass dog tag, and a Gaea heart!

 

 

This set features swavorski crystal, brass crown, and a 1950 earring (up cycled!)

 

 

 

This last set features all mother of pearl vintage buttons and Vintaj Brass.  This piece is currently for sale at the Blue Pomegranate Gallery in Benson, NE

 

 

 

 

I hope you might all consider taking a quick peek at the publication before it goes off sale at newsstands later this week!!  It has been such an honor to be recognized!

 

 

It's time for some BEAD SOUP!

It's Bead Soup Time....no I didn't mean to say chili, potato soup, or vegetable soup....

This isn't soup you eat, rather a very creative mixture of beads that come to you, ready to be developed into a work of art! 


It all began with Lori Anderson and her wonderful idea (now trademarked) of being paired with a partner and exchanging  your soup!  Lori even wrote a book all about it!

This year it is my pleasure to be paired with Laren (pronounced like Karen just with an L) Dee Barton .  I hope you will take a peek at her facebook page and give her a like!

Laren lives in Washington and although across the country from me, we bonded right away!  Laren has a love for nature and enjoys beading!  She has 2 daughters and after a tramatic loss of her husband when her kids were toddlers, she remarried and has been married 35 years! 

She lives in the countryside with 4.5 acres and has chickens, ducks, 3 dogs, and 2 cats!  She also has two grandsons.

In her past, she was an owner and full time designer of a floral shop, has been involved with arts and crafts her whole life, and opened an etsy shop in the last year.   She is also very active with her blog and you can see the blog post about the beads I sent to her!

The reveal will be on March 30, so be sure to stop back and see what I created!!

Here is what I mailed to Laren!  It includes czech glass, pearls, vintage clear beads, Marsha Neal Studio focal and earring charms, bronze clasp (chain and earring pairs too), and silk sari cream ribbon.

And here is what Laren sent to me!  I was very excited to find lots of czech glass, a glass focal, and bronze findings!!  Lots of ideas floating around and she was very generous in all the beads she sent to me!  Be sure to come back and visit March 30!!