6th Do Over Challenge

Some time ago I signed up for the 6th Do Over Challenge with Jeannie K. Ducik for the first time, and was delighted when I found out I would part of this. The guidelines were as follows: Each of the participants would receive a piece of jewelry that Jeannie made earlier in her career, and must use at least 50% of the Do Over piece in the new design.

Here's the necklace set that I was sent:

 All those little seed beads were a little overwhelming because I am not a seed beader.At All. So it was off to my favorite inspiration place, Pinterest. After searching through my boards and some new pins, I came across this:
                                               

I couldn't find the original site for this pin, because I would love to give credit to the designer. I love this design and the vibrant use of color. Isn't it beautiful? This became my jumping off point. I knew I wanted to use some original beads and recently discovered that Raina of Havana Beads didn't live all that far from me. I messaged her and was delighted to find that I could go meet her and see her gorgeous beads in person. Her studio is located in the colorful Fish House Art Center. Next time I'm definitely going to set aside more time to explore!
                                       

               


I had a lovely time talking to her and seeing not only her beads/focals/creations, but her workspace and some of the projects she was working on. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of her beads by themselves but you'll see them in in the design below and in the blog entry tomorrow. After playing with this design several times, here is the final project.

African Leaf

Don't Raina's round ceramic beads pick up the color of the leaf focal nicely? I added a few wood and shell beads in with the seed beads on the right side and found some great horn beads that blended the colors in. I tried repeatedly to make the twist tighter on the one side, but with four strands of wire going through one crimp bead this is where it ended up. If you have any tips on how to keep strands tighter, I'm all ears!

Here's another look:

Thanks, Jeannie for letting me part of this very fun Do Over challenge. Now it's time to head on over and see what the other participants did with their jewelry!
Jeannie K Dukic 
 Penny Houghton
Susan Delaney
Becky Pancake
Therese Frank
Donetta Farrington
Molly Alexander
Mowse Doyle
Renetha Stanziano
Ginger Davis Allman
Kathy Richardson
Christie Murrow   (You're Here)
Veralynne Malone
Shai Williams
Beti Horvath
Linda Britt
Miranda Ackerley
Mischelle Andrade
Tracy Stillman
Charlene Bausinger
Deana Hager

Come back tomorrow to see what I made for the Autumn challenge- until then, may your day be filled with splashes and dashes of grace and joy. I'm off to try and finish my first 5K!

BSBP Reveal #3

It's finally time! Reveal #3. I've oohed and aahed through the last two reveals, and now it's our turn. I was paired with Arlene Dean and these were the goodies she gifted me with.

Since Lori Anderson challenged us to step out of  our comfort zone, I've tried to do that. Wire wrapping is NOT my forte- at all. As I kept looking at all these pretties, wondering how do the focal justice, I kept going back to the idea of wire wrapping. Sigh. Did I mention I'm just not very good at this? Since I'm an avid fan of Pinterest and love to pin merrily away, I took a deep breath and turned to one of my boards for a little inspiration-and found it!

Without further ado, here is my Merry Mermaid.

Isn't she fun? I used brightly colored aluminum wire to do messy wrapped beads, links and swirls. This focal is bright and happy and  these colors accented the beautiful colors in the mermaid. Arlene sent me a variety of beads (thank you!) and the glass pillows, green crystals, as well as the little purple crystals just cried out to be used. I added a couple of glass pearls because the hole in the freshwater pearls wouldn't work with the thicker gauge wire. The green flourite beads snuggled in nicely between the messy wrapped aluminum beads and the silver jumps made connections easy, as well as tying in with the silver on the mermaid. She now has a little wreath of purple seed beads for a touch of whimsy. I even made the clasp out of the turquoise wire. It's a long necklace but so colorful. Now to find the right home for her.

But there were more beads...

so continuing with the bright wire theme, here's a pair of coordinating earrings. While the stones aren't identical, it gave it a more organic look. I'm usually pretty matchy matchy, but I like these.

And then there was time for one more project:

Again, this was an idea courtesy of Pinterest.  This was my first try, and I probably will redo it, but the clasp seemed to go nicely with the beads, and I adore bracelets. The spacing needs some work, but you get the general idea!

These are my three offerings. There were a couple of things I didn't use (see the cute little fishes in the first picture and an adorable strawberry glass bead) so will do a giveaway in the next couple of weeks- be sure to check back if you were NOT part of the  6th Bead Soup Blog Party for your chance to get a bag of goodies.

Don't forget to visit the other participants in this 3rd and final reveal. I'm sure you'll find creations that bring you splashes of grace and a dash of joy!

Here's the rest of the party:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry  **You're Here**

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Bead Soup Six Mix

Time for another Bead Soup Blog Party- the 6th and biggest one to date yet! This time there will be not one, but THREE reveal dates, due to 400 participants from all around the world. Lots of wonderful beads and inspirational goodies. I was paired with Arlene Dean from AGlassBash and what a soup she sent me! I'm glad we're scheduled for the last reveal day on August 25th, because I need all the time I can have to try and figure out how to do justice to her focal.

The mermaid is from a show she went to in Washington state, and was created by Gita Maria who only sells at shows so I'm feeling pretty exclusive!. She is also the maker of the adorable fish and sea horse charms. Another beader shared some info about this great new photo app, Pixlr, that I used to make the collage above. I've also downloaded the free app for my phone and am having a whole lot of fun with it, much to my children's dismay.

 Here's a slightly bigger picture of the whole soup. Oh, the possibilities. I love the colors and varieties of beads, sizes and textures. The colors are so me, and all these lovelies came package in the pretty round box with a note card from Arlene.

Reveal date #1 is July 28th- Lori Anderson has a list of all the participants for each round- it's going to take me quite a while to work through the list, but  can't wait to see all the different creations.

Until then, it's time to get creative with dashes of grace and big splashes of joy!