I'm featured on a blog!

Hi all,
I just want to say after waking up this morning with a stomach ache and wishing I could call in sick, I drug my big behind out of bed and got ready for work UGH!  After getting all of the morning stuff done on my job I always take a few moments and check out what has been posted on the blogs.  Well let me just say that I squealed with delight after reading the kind words Kinga had to say about my necklace and me, and the nasty feeling in my stomach began to fade. 
Please if you have a moment go check out Kinga's blog at Crimson Frog Designs by Kinga Nichols she does amazing bead embroidery, I love,love,love her work, she also has a quirky sense of humor that will have you smiling as you are reading her posts. 
Okay need to get back to work now, I just wanted to get this posted while the radio traffic is next to none this morning.  

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

Eclectica beads

I received my Eclectica beads from Andrew Thornton this past Saturday in the mail. They are beautiful and I could not wait to make something with them.  So yesterday I got them out and made a couple of pieces using the beads.  One of the pieces I can not show you yet, because it is for a challenge I signed up for at Crimson Frog blog.

When I saw the giveaway on Andrew's blog I fell in love with the pink and cream beads.  The picture does not give the beads justice.  I used copper 3mm round beads, daisy spacers, and a box clasp to complete the bracelet.

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

July's Personal Challenge Dutch Spiral

Well after going through my stash and going to my LBS for some 3mm round crystals I started stitching my Dutch spiral Saturday night.  I got about two inches completed and my eyes grew heavy and I could feel myself drifting away so I took a picture of my progress and went to bed.

I have found that my color pallet in my stash is mostly consists of the green and blue colors all in different shades of those two colors or the red family with some neutrals thrown in for good measure.

Well I finished my Dutch spiral today it took about 5 hours to complete.  I worked on it about an hour Saturday, 2 hours Sunday night and 2 hours today until it was finished.

In the spiral I used size 11/0 round seed beads cream color and a greenish blue AB color, size 8/0 seed bead green with a blueish tint mate color, size 6/0 seed bead blue with a greenish tint mate color, 4mm glass pearls, 3mm round Czech light green AB crystals, and 4mm clear AB bicone crystals.  In the chain I used 8mm, 6mm, and 4mm glass pearls cream color, 3mm Czech light green AB crystals, 4mm clear AB crystals, silver tone base metal daisy spacers, silver tone base metal bead caps, and a silver tone base metal S hook clasp.

Now on to the next challenge - Hardware Finds.

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

Family Reunion



Every July my Dad's family has a reunion in the Altoona area in PA.  I will not be able to attend this year, because I was not able to take off on that weekend.  I was able to take off later in the month and will be going to San Antonio, TX, anyway getting back to the reunion.  Every reunion there is an auction to raise money for the reunion instead of just paying reunion dues, it is a whole lot more fun this way and you get something in return.  Every year since I started making jewelry I have put my pieces in the auction. The catch is that each item has to be wrapped and only clues such as for women, men, teenage girl or boy, child can be on the tag.  There has been some really neat items auctioned and then some gags that went for a lot of money.  The point is that everyone has a great time and we get enough money to have the reunion again the next year.  Here are the pieces I am sending with my Mom and Sister to the reunion this year.

This is a 20" necklace made with Jasper rectangle stones and 10 mm jet glass bicones and silver base metal beads.

This set is made using 10mm green glass pearls, 6mm Czech crystals, and silver base metal beads.

A simple blue and clear Czech crystal bracelet, Carnelian and copper bracelet, Flat Cellini spiral bracelet, and a 18" beaded necklace with a glass pendant.

I will wrap all of these up nice and pretty and hope that everyone that bids and wins is satisfied with what the get.  I'm going to miss all of the fun and seeing everyone, but there is always next year.

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

Hardware Store Finds

I hope everyone had a great holiday Monday. 
I signed up to do a challenge that Kinga Nichols of Crimson Frog is having this month.  It is more of a personal challenge that she invited all that wanted to participate to join in.  Anyway what you do is go to the hardware store and pick out somethings that you think would make some neat and unusual jewelry bring it home and get to creating.  I went to a large hardware chain today here in Montgomery and was very disappointed with the choices given.  I'm going to go to a smaller hardware store later this week to see what else I can find.

I got two different lengths of chain from the large hardware chain store today.  I already had the copper washers from a project that I did two years ago, and I found that clip when I was looking for the box that I had pack the washers in when I moved, I'm not too sure if I will use the clip, but you never know.  When I gather a few more trinkets I will get started putting them together into a piece of one of a kind jewelry.

On a different note I have decided to do the Dutch spiral for July's stitch in my 12 month personal challenge.  I need to get my stash out and start picking the colors, sizes, and shapes of the beads I want to use.

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

I've got the ribs bar-b-qued, the pasta salad made, peach cobbler baked, and pink lemonade made.  What is on your menu today?  Whatever it is have fun, stay cool, and have a safe holiday Y'all!!!

Therese

Sharing the Love Bead Giveaway at Spyder Jewels blog

There is a fantastic bead giveaway going on at Spyder Jewels she is generously giving away two bead mixes out of a birthday gift that she gave to herself. Unfortunately the birthday gift was from a Bead store that is closing it's doors forever.  Here is a picture of the prize.

So go on over to Spyder Jewels and follow the instructions to get entered into the drawing for this fabulous bead giveaway.

Happy beading Y'all

Therese