Therese's Treasures

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Michelle Mach's Suddenly Spring Challenge

Hi Y'all,

It is the reveal day for Michelle Mach's Suddenly Spring Challenge. Michelle had a few of these very pretty aqua colored faceted glass roundel bracelets (pictured above), that she decided she would put out there for a challenge. One could leave the bracelet whole and add more strands to it or one could take the bracelet apart and use all or some of it to create your own piece of spring time beauty.
I chose to take the bracelet apart and use in four different pieces of spring time beauty. Here is what I created.
Montgomery, AL has only one independent bead store, but there is a Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Joann's, and of course WalMart. Well I was in Hobby Lobby looking around for something beady and I saw these acrylic flowers and butterflies and thought yeah these would be great for the Suddenly Spring Challenge so I grab a string of each. Then I saw these fancy cut glass beads in beautiful sparkling colors so I grab a string of those too. A few clasps, and other stuff that did not go into this necklace, checked out and off I went to create while the idea was fresh in my head.

The earring wires came from Michelle as an added bonus.

I did not use all of the roundels in the above necklace so on another trip to Hobby Lobby, I just live a two miles from this place dangerous right, I saw some more neat flower components so I grab them along with some more stuff, checked out and went home and sat and looked at these flower components played with them until an idea struck.

I strung a 4mm glass pearl and the flower components on to a head pin and made a wire loop then I made a chain using glass pearls in 4mm and 8mm, the aqua roundels, the rhinestone spacers, and some fancy cut glass beads. Connected them all together and I put a heart shaped toggle on it and called it a Pocket Full of Posies.

I still had a few of the aqua roundels and rhinestone spacers left so I got some seed beads out and some 3mm Swaroski bicone crystals and made two Herringbone tubes. I strung the tubes onto flex beading wire with some bead caps, the fancy cut glass beads, two of the aqua roundels, and three of the rhinestone spacers I used another heart shaped toggle and made a bracelet. I had two aqua roundels left so I made a pair of earrings too and I call these Spring Bling!

Well there you have it. I really enjoyed this challenge it made me think and I do enjoy a challenge that makes me think on how I will used the focal item. Thank you Michelle for thinking up this challenge and providing the focal element I really had fun with this one.

Here is a list of the other participants in this challenge. Please go by their blogs and see what they created.

Michelle - Beads & Books [Hostess]

Andrew - The Writing & Art of Andrew Thornton

Christa - Adventures of One Beady Woman

Dita - Alankarshilpa

Donetta - Simply Gorgeous

Erin - Erin Siegel Jewelry

Heather - As I Bead It

Jean - Snap Out of It Jean - There's Beading to Be Done!

Karen - Over the Moon Design

Kate - We Can Make That At Home

Kay - Palm Coast Art

Kim - CianciBlue

Kristina - Wild Roses and Blackberries

Linda - Lindy's Designs

Lisa - Pine Ridge Treasures

Marlene - Amazing Designs by Marlene

Michelle - Reverie & Revival

Pam - The Crazy Creative Corner

Pamela - Someday Beads

Renetha - Lamplight Crafts

Sharyl - Catchenthesun

Terry - Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Therese - Therese's Treasures You are here

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Beading Babes Project # 3

Hi Y'all,

It is time to show what I did with the Beading Babes Project # 3. We voted for two different patterns out of a choice of five patterns. The winners were Ravishing Rosettes by Smadar Grossman in the December 2011 Bead and Button magazine and Runway of Pearls by Barbara Falkowitz in the December 2011/January2012 Beadwork magazine.

First one up is Ravishing Rosettes...
This one gave me fits I started it five times before the light bulb finally went off in my head. The fourth attempt I decided to make a pair of earrings instead of ripping out the beads and starting over. The colors I chose for my rendition of Smadar design was blue and bronze. One set of size 11/0 and 8/0 seed beads are Iris blue. The 3 mm Swaroski crystals are Paris blue and the 6 mm Swaroski pearls are Tahitian blue and of course the other size 11/0 and 8/0 seed beads are bronze. I took many pictures trying to get a good shot that show all of the components that I used making this necklace, but the colors of blue I chose are very dark and hard to photograph so this is the best one I could get.

The pattern used a Lobster claw clasp, but I was not feeling that so I made a beaded loop and toggle clasp. Once I got the hang of this pattern it took me about 12 hours to make.

On to the second one Runway of Pearls...

The bracelet I thought was going to be the harder of the two pieces to do, because it was RAW and RAW and I do not have a nice relationship. I was so wrong! Once I got started I had the base rows done before I knew it, but I had to stop, because I had to go to my paying job. Don't you just hate stopping when you are on a roll? Well anyway I thought about it the whole 8 hours at work and could not wait to get home and work on it some more. When I did get home I stay with it until it was done. In all it took me a little over 4 hours to complete this bracelet. Let's just say the RAW's and my relationship is improving!LOL For the bracelet I used size 11/0 gray triangles, cream 3mm Swaroski pearls, 3mm AB clear and 3mm Indian Pink Swaroski crystals, and a round box clasp with rhinestones. Yep lots of Bling in this one!

I like the look of using crystals to embellish the bracelet, but I was worried that the bi-cones would cut into my arm when wearing the bracelet, but I was wrong the bracelet is quit comfortable to wear.

Well there you have it Beading Babes Project 3. I can not wait to see what is up for the voting in Project 4. I am so glad that I am a part of this group. I am having lots of fun and getting pushed out of my comfort zone for sure.

If you would like to see what the other Beading Babes have done or you are interested in being a part of the Beading Babes go visit Karyn's blog Released by Rufydoof or click on the Beading Babes badge in my side bar.

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Challenge Of Music Hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz

Hi Y'all,
Today is the day that we celebrate music and jewelry! Erin Prais-Hintz of Treasures Found - Inspiration Everywhere blog put together this wonderful challenge where you chose a song, any song does not mater, and make a piece of jewelry that you think represents the song. This was so much fun just listening to music and trying to make up your mind which song to choose. Then after choosing the song finding just the right materials to go into a piece to represent the song. So before I move on I would just like to give Erin a big thank you hug for her coming up with this challenge and putting it all together for those of us participating and to make it easier for those that are joining in on the hop, or leap being that it is on Leap Day.

Oh what's that? You say you are ready for my song choice. Ok, ok without further ado here is the song I chose.

I chose the song "You Don't Know Me" performed by Nora Jones.

This song was first sang by Eddie Arnold back in the 50's, and was made popular in the 60's by Ray Charles when he decided that he wanted to make a country music album. I listened to both Ray Charles' version and Nora Jones and I decided that I liked Nora Jones's better. I enjoy listening to Nora's jazzy, bluesy voice.

"You Don't Know Me" is a song about unrequited love.

Have you ever loved someone so much it hurt? Have you ever loved someone so much that the sight of them made your heart race and your palms sweat, and you catch your breath if by chance that person touches you? You day dream for hours on end about the life you would have with this person if he would just realize you are the person for him. You cry yourself to sleep, cause you sat and listened to him talk about the person you know is all wrong for him, but he can't see it. So I ask again, have you ever loved someone so much it hurt, but he don't know you?

Here is my piece that I created to represent this song.

I had this heart and the two matching beads made by Juli Cannon of Studiojuls. The black and tan color of the heart and beads are the perfect colors to represent unrequited love and the swirls represent the up and down emotions that come with that kind of love. I added the dream and hope charms because face it that is what one does in a unrequited love. One is always dreaming and hoping for the day to come when the other person finely see them as the person for them. The hand charm is for the line in the song "You give your hand to me and they you say hello. My heart starts racing so that I can hardly breath."

I wanted to keep it simple that is why I strung the pendant and the matching beads with some silver tone base metal spacers on a piece of silk. Jo of Daisy Chain designs did a tutorial on how to make the silk necklace sliders, these are easy to make and really work. I added some more silver tone base metal beads to the ends . I hope that you like this simple necklace that represents unrequited love.

Here is the list of the other participates in the "Challenge Of Music" please take the time to visit and see what they created and listen to some great music choices.

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

Sunday, February 26, 2012

In Honor Of The Oscars

7,000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop is here
Andrew Thornton's February Reader's Challenge is here

Hi Y'all,
Well some of you may have noticed that my blog was MIA yesterday and this morning. Well let me tell ya what happened. I was checking in to read the blog posts just to stay ahead and I noticed that I had a new follower. Curious I clicked on the follower button and it said that I did not have any followers. Well this has happened before and all I had to do was go back out to the dashboard and click the followers button again and my followers would be there. Huh not this time my whole blog was gone and a message was there saying that I had unusual activity and my blog was spam so Google deleted it. I did some searching and found where I could send a message to Google explaining what happened and asking them to please restore my blog. Well I did not hear from them, but later in the day I notice that was was getting emails with comments about the two challenges I posted yesterday. So I checked and there was my blog Yip Pee I did a happy dance and went out and finished the necklace I was working on.

I started this necklace last night after my blog went MIA to work out the stress that the missing blog caused I got up this morning and when I saw my blog was still missing I went out made some coffee and got to beading.
Here is the results of my stress buster!

This necklace is made from the pattern in the February 2012 Bead and Button magazine titled "When It Reigns" designed by Isabella Lam. I chose to do my version of Ms. Lam's necklace in 4mm orange Czech crystals, 3mm honey Czech crystals, and size 11 bronze seed beads. I had a cute little Victorian Shoe button that I used for the clasp. As I was making this I was listening to the television and hearing that the Oscars are coming on tonight and decided that this would look very nice being worn by someone on the red carpet in a formal strapless gown.

What do you think?

Here are a few other pieces I have made in the last couple of days.

I ordered some bronze components from Lesley of The Gossiping Goodess go by her blog and check out her new Etsy shop just for her components.

I ordered these cute little elephants for Pippa of Pips Jewellery she had done some in Jade green and I asked her if she could do me a pair in red and these are the results. For those of you living in Alabama or that follow Alabama college football you will know that these are Roll Tide earrings. I made these for my Sister her birthday is in March and she is a graduate from the University of Alabama and a huge Alabama football fan.

My Son Ryan has a girlfriend that lives in New Zealand they met through a chat room over ten years ago. Samantha has been to the US two times now in the past year and a half and now Ryan is going to New Zealand to visit her. This necklace is for Samantha she loves the color purple and I bought these purple died Agate beads and the black lava rock beads and made her this necklace. I hope that she likes it.

Ryan is flying into Brisbane, AU and Samantha will be meeting him there where they will spend about two weeks in that area and on the Gold Coast. They will then fly over to Christ Church, NZ where Samantha lives. I just hope Ryan comes home, but if he don't then that gives me a real good reason to fly to the other side of the world. Right!

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Andrew Thornton's February Reader's Challenge

7,000 Bracelets Blog Hop is here

Hi Y'all,
Are you ready to view another blog hop today? Well sure you are so let's get to it!

Andrew Thornton's February Reader's Challenge is the last one of this type of challenge that Andrew is going to host. The colors scheme for February is pink. I thought "Yeah pink my favorite color this should be easy!" Well it was not so easy it took me a little while to come up with these designs. Thank you Andrew for putting this challenge together and letting me participate.

The Kit

Simple Truths piece by Erin Prais-Hintz, Ceramic bead by Keith O'Connor, Polymer clay bead by Pam Wynn. dyed Jade, vintage plastic, pink Opal, rosewater Opal glass, fuchsia Swaroski crystals in 8, 6, and 4mm rounds and 6 mm bi-cones, vintage glass, organza ribbon, invadiated shell, Czech glass, and the

Luxury Bead Blend'

The Mystery Component was two Enameled beads

My February Reader's Challenge Pieces

Well there you have it two necklaces and a bracelet I used all of the components from the first picture in my pieces and just a small portion of the luxury bead blend in each of the pieces. I really like the simple truths piece, but it took me a while to figure out how to use it. I just happened to lay it down on top of the dagger bead and the light bulb went off and I got my 6000 glue and the pendant was born.

The Other Participants

Please go by and check out what these other wonderful beady people have created with their February Reader's Challenge Kit.

Therese Frank (You are here)

Patti Vanderbloemen

Kari Wilson

7,000 Bracelets Blog Hop The Global Genes Project

Please play while you read my post. Blue Jeans Blues by ZZTop. This is my favorite ZZTop song to date.

Hi Y'all,

Well the day has arrived where I get to show y'all the bracelets I did for The Global Genes Project.
First I would like to thank Erin Fickert-Rowland and Christine Altmiller for organizing this blog hop. I did not start blogging until after the 7,000 Bracelet Blog Hop last year. I am so glad that I was able to learn about this wonderful hop this year. It touched my heart so much that I could make a little token to be given to a Mother or Caregiver that is deserving of so much more for all that they do to take care of and comfort a sick child. I just could not stop at one bracelet so I made four. I would have made more, but I did have other challenges I needed to work on as well.
You have a lot of hopping to do so I will not bore you with a lot of jabber. So here are the four bracelets I created to brighten the day of a well deserving Mother or Caregiver of a sick child. The color scheme for The Global Genes Project is Denim Blue.

I made this bracelet with blue Agate gemstone beads, blue glass roundels, silver tone base metal: wave bead spacers, wire, chain, and lobster claw clasp.

This bracelet was made the 8 mm blue Agate and 12mm blue Botswana glass beads, silver tone base metal: spacers, wire, chain, and lobster claw clasp.

This bracelet I stitched in a Herringbone stitch using size 8 bronze colored seed beads, 3mm denim blue Swaroski crystals, 10mm mate blue Agate beads, two 4mm bronze color Czech crystals, silver tone base metal bead caps and heart toggle clasp. This bracelet will fit up to a 9" wrist.

And last but not least a Peyote stitched band bracelet using size 6 seed bead mix and trimmed with size 11 bronze color seed beads and a silver tone base metal slide clasp. This bracelet will fit up to a 9" wrist.

Here is a list of all of the participants in the 7,000 Bracelet Blog Hop: The Global Genes Project. Please take the time to go and visit all of their posts I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations

The Studio Sublime

Crafty Hope

The Gossiping Goddess

SilverRose Designs

Firefly Visions

Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Michelle Mach

Pine Ridge Treasures

Backstory Beads

Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

Sue Beads

MiShel Designs

Created Treasures

Taralinda Muses

My Life Under The Bus

Elizabeth Creates

SilverNikNats

Erin Siegel Jewelry

Carolyn’s Creations

My Life…one bead at a time

Fresh Baked Designs

Songbeads

Sunshine Bliss

Lori Anderson

Rainy Days Designs

Pat Barden Jewelry

Tell Your Girlfriends

Therese's Treasures (you are here)

Windrock Studio

Bead Lola Bead

Spice Box Designs

Antiquity Travelers

Vitamin C...A Daily Dose of Creativity

Beads and Bread

Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections

Ahtee's Blog

Thoughtful-Notions

Beads for Brains:365

Wild Sally Road

All The Pretty Things

Skye's Creative Chaos

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Lindy's Designs

Falling Into The Sky

Star Hitched Wagon

Mama's Got to Doodle

10KDgroup

I hope you enjoyed my blog post I really enjoyed creating for this project. Come back later today to see what I have created for Andrew Thornton's February Reader's Challenge.

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

Thursday, February 23, 2012

40 Day F.A.S.T. Challenge and Other Stuff

Erin Prais-Hintz of treasures-found.blogspot.com is hosting a 40 Days F.A.S.T challenge. She is taking a 30 minute walk everyday For A Super Tomorrow. I have joined in on the challenge to hopefully make it a habit to get up and move everyday and reflect on my life For A Soulful Tomorrow. I have already went on a 30 minute walk this afternoon and man am I out of shape, but I did it. The weather was nice 78 or 79 degrees and with a nice breeze. The birds were singing and the children were playing in the yards, it was a very nice walk. Tomorrow if it is not raining I will take my camera. Oh and if it is raining I have a gym membership that I have not used in a while but I'm still paying for. I will dust off my membership card and do the 30 minute circuit workout.
If you are interested in joining in on the challenge click on the above link or on the 40 Day F.A.S.T. button on the right side of my blog.

Now for your viewing pleasure, here are some other things I have been working on between the challenge pieces.

I got these when Marsha Neal had her Destash sale I still have two or three I have not done anything with yet.

This lamp worked bird bead is one of Juli Cannon's of StudioJuls (I received the bird in a bead soup from Pat Haight of Wigglebut.com) and the little flower charm is fromSarah Kandell-Gritzmaker etsy shop.

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese