Seasons Blog Hop

Several months ago, I signed up for Lisa Lodge's Season's Blog Hop. The guidelines were to use the beads we were sent to create jewelry that either represented one of the four seasons, or that represented a season in our life. She also asked us NOT to buy anything extra, but to use beads and findings from our stash. The beads and charms that I received are pictured below:

 Being that I love Christmas and Christmas earrings, the snowflake charms were the inspiration I used for holiday jewelry.

 While the amethyst iridescent beads don't scream Christmas, I thought of a Christmas party and rich, dark colors. I used the spacers on some wire and wrapped them into a simple focal paired with gold toned chain and the antique brass toggle clasp. Definitely going to repeat this idea with other beads.

 Next up were the snowflake charms that  were calling to be a  pair of  holiday earrings.

While looking at the round glass beads, I thought of some little angel charms that were tucked away, and voila! Christmas earrings times two!

The enameled bead caps from Sharyl's Jewelry were the most perplexing. I loved the color and the whimsy,  but no matter what beads I tried to pair them with, they simply wouldn't work. I looked through my Pinterest boards to no avail, and then did a search, found an aha! and went to work. I was all out of antique brass chain, but  found a necklace and cut it to pieces and added some brass round spacers and purply crystals. Here is the end result

Here's another look:

While they aren't very Christmas-y, they are fun little earrings and something new I hadn't done before. The purples aren't exactly the same shade, but they blend fairly well and I'm leaving them be for right now.

 I hope you've enjoyed my seasonal offerings. Don't forget to stop by and see what the other participants created!  Come back in a couple of weeks for a giveaway related to this blog hop.

Your Hostess: Lisa Lodge, Grateful Artist
 
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Cassi Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Stephanie Sanner Haussler, PixyBug Designs

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Karin Slaton, BackStory Beads

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Alicia Marinache,  All the Pretty Things

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Toltec Jewels, Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Erin Kenny, Beadifultherapy

Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Renetha Williams Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

***Christie Searle Murrow****You're here, Charis Designs Jewelry  

Sierra Barrett, Giraffe Can Has

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shirley Jones Moore, Beads and Bread

Dawn Horner, Northern Adornments

Charlene Bausinger Jacka, Clay Space

Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Miranda Ackerley, Daze and Days

May the seasons of your life be sprinkled with splashes and dashes of grace and joy!

Sand and Sea Blog Hop

A few months ago, I signed up to be part of Lisa Lodge's Sand and Sea blog hop. She sent us either a blue or brown pallette of beads to work with and I received a brown set. Now, I don't gravitate towards peaches and browns a whole lot but that's what makes being part of something like this fun and why it's called a challenge!

Here's a picture of the beads I received

  There was a whole assortment of goodies buried in there and it took some pondering to figure out which direction I wanted to go. Lisa had asked that we not go out and buy any beads, but that we use from our stash ( no problem there). After looking at the peaches and golds I added a few more things to the pot ( peach glass pearls, an old broken necklace and some gold e-beads), and here was my bead starting point:

And then the project kind of took on a mind of it's own. I decided to do some wire crochet so I could use a lot of the smaller beads, but to mix it up a little I used three different colors of 26g wire: antique bronze, copper and gold. This played off of the bigger beads and the colors in the focal piece.

 You can see the mingling of the three colors here where I ended it

 And here's my chunky wire crochet necklace. It's a little too big for me, but I've already had two people ask about buying it, and to quote a friend of mine "I've never met a chunky necklace I didn't like!"

But there was more work to be done! Originally I was going to use the focal with the necklace, but that was just wayyy too much going on. I used some 20g wire, took a deep breath, and tried my hand at some wire wrapping. That cute little turtle just had to be featured somewhere, and the copper tones played up the copper in the focal.  I also used two semi-matching beads to make matching earrings and wrapped them in a similar fashion to complement the focal bead. After they were all done, I realized that they were their own little set and didn't need to compete with the wire crochet. This is not my typical fare, but I really am pleased with the end results.

Here's another look at the earrings....

 and the focal

Thanks, Lisa! This was a fun challenge, and it's nice to get out of your comfort zone to see what you can create.

Here's a list of the other participants- stop by and say hi!

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress

Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Marla Gibson, Spice Box Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Kim Booth, The Pink Martini Boutique

Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life

Leah Tees, My Beady Littleeyes

Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry  **you're here**

Monique Urquhart, A Half Baked Notion

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Cindy Anderson Wilson, It's My Sea of Dreams

Suzi Campbell, Suzi Campbell Creations

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

 

I'm off to enter goodies into the local fair- may your day be filled with splashes and dashes of grace and joy!

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