Season Greetings

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa!  
All the best to you in the New Year!

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me

This has been the best year as far as blogging goes.  I started this blog in March and since then I have made so many new friends and even have been privileged to meet a couple of you in person.  My goal for 2012 is to keep up what I started in 2011, to improve on my skills and try to learn something new in this wonderful world of jewelry making.  I also want to participate in more challenges.  The challenges I was part of in 2011 have helped me advance in my skills and made me step out of my comfort zone. 

Thank you to all of you that have visited, read, commented, and followed my blog I appreciate all of you. 

Happy beading Y'all,
Therese



Stuff

Wow I can not believe it has been two weeks since I last posted a blog post.  Where has the time gone?
I have been reading and commenting on different blogs, but I just have been lazy about posting one of my own.
Is everyone just about ready for Christmas?   I'm almost finished with everything, just have to do about five more pieces and I will be done.

Here are a few of the pieces I have done these past few of weeks.

I purchased these Dots flower earring components from Kristi Bowman's Etsy  shop, I paired them with lampwork spacers from Susan Kennedy's Etsy shop suesbeads and hung them from handcrafted sterling silver ear wires made by Michelle at  ShelsJewelrySupplies.

More of Kristi's copper earring components these are her Ammonite long ovals and I paired them with Kuiper belt lampwork beads from EBBeadandMetalWorks and hung them from another pair of sterling silver ear wires from ShelsJewelrySupplies.

These earrings are made with copper disks from Cat at BooBeads.  I coiled some 20g copper wire and strung blue died jasper roundel bead on to the wire.  The ear wires are antique bronze from ShelsJewelrySupplies.

I made this bracelet and earring set from lampwork beads and spacers from suesbeads.

This bracelet I made from lampwork beads I purchased from GlassBeadArt.

I got this beautiful jasper donut form Eclectica Beads when I was in Wisconsin.  I tied a silk ribbon around it and strung the Kuiper Belt lampwork beads from EB Beads and Metal Work on to the silk ribbon with  hematite spacers in between the lampwork beads.

This is what I made with the gorgeous Amethyst beads that I got at the Gem and Mineral show.  It is a Seven Sorrows Rosary.  My cousin asked if I could make the rosary for her sister's Christmas gift. 

I purchased this large Rhyolite bead at the Glass Onion Bead Co. in Appleton, WI when I was there this past October.  I beaded a bezel around it and hung it from a necklace strung with wood ribbed beads, Rhyolite puff beads, 4mm copper beads, and 3mm olive bicone crystals.  The clasp is handcrafted hammered copper from Melinda Orr Designs.

The bracelet and earrings to match the above necklace.

Most of the items used to make the above pieces were purchased during the Virtual Craft Fair held by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, that was a great week.

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and all of the best for the coming New Year.

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

Gem and Mineral Show

This past weekend the Gem and Mineral Show was in Montgomery.  I have been missing it every year, but this time I heard it advertised on the radio the day before it opened and made a mental note to go this year.
So when I got off from work on Saturday I went and I ended up spending more than the allotted amount I set for myself, but come on it's beads!  Do you want to see what I got?  You do, okay here it is...

Grade A Amethyst, that I got for a unbelievable price, trust me it was a steal, and the crystals  will be a part of a commissioned piece for my cousin.  I can't tell you what it is, because it is for her sister and she may see this post.

Red roundels in 8, 6, 4, and 3 mm sizes

Black roundels 4mm and 3mm

I do not know what the rectangle stone bead is I just liked it and it is going to be for a challenge and the two cabs are Black Gold Stone for the same challenge. If anyone knows what the rectangle bead is do tell.  I think it might be Obsidian, but I'm not sure. I did not think to ask when I bought it. 

Petrified Palm Wood Cab

Red River Jasper Pendant, 8mm and 4mm beads

To quote Porky Pig "That's All Folks"

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

Beading Babes Project # 2 - November

Well the reveal date is here for Beading Babes Project #2 for the month of November.  We choose from two different patterns we could do one or both.  Well I started out with Sleek in Silver and I had enough time to also do Earthly Hues.  So without any further ado I present to you my versions of Sleek in Silver designed by Hatsumi Oshitani.

I already had the black Tila tiles and red seed beads in 11/0 and 8/0 all I had to get was the briolettes so I ordered them and when they got here I got to work.  This pattern worked up really fast it only took me about 5 hours to complete this necklace.  I named my necklace Roxanne, because while I was making it I kept singing in my head "Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light..." 

Since I finished this necklace so quickly I went onto do Earthy Hues design by Carole Ohl.  Here is my version of her design.  I used olive green 3mm cubes, chocolate size 11/0 seed beads, light green 11/0 cylinder beads, Iris gold size 6/0 seed beads, River Stone 12mm gemstones and a handmade copper clasp from Shel Designs.

This pattern is another one that went fast if it weren't for the fact that I ran out of 3mm cube beads I would have finished this one in about six hours.  Lesson learned from this always order more than what the pattern calls for.  The only thing that I really don't like about this is when you are transcending from the 6/0 seed beads to the 3mm cubes you can see the thread and it was just a little cumbersome with adding the 6/0 seed beads with the 12mm beads, other than that I am pleased with this pattern.  I named this necklace Erica just because of it's earthy qualities.

After I had to order more 3mm cubes I had enough left to make a matching bracelet.

I enjoyed Project #2 and I am looking forward to voting on Project #3.  I hope you all enjoyed viewing my November Beading Babes Projects.

Happy Beading Y'all

Therese

Big Christmas Giveaway at The Gossiping Goddess blog

Lesley at The Gossiping Goddess blog is giving away three beautiful items in a Big Christmas Giveaway.







These item are all handmade by Lesley's talented hands.  Click on her link above and read to find out what you need to do to be in the running for the giveaway.

Good Luck,
Therese

I Heart Macro - Pretty Crystals

It is Sunday and that means it is I Heart Macro time. Where I live it is raining and so I found something inside to take macro shots of...

This piece is a gift for a very nice Lady that is in a swap that I am participating in and I hope she does not see this post.

I hope that you enjoyed viewing my macro shots as much as I enjoyed taking them.  If you would like to see more macro shots go on over to Lori's blog at Studio Waterstone she is the host, and check them out. 

Happy beading Y'all,
Therese

Day 2 of the Virtual Craft Show

It is day two of the Virtual Craft Show being hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog go on over to her blog and find out how you can enter for special giveaways by each of the 10 shops being represented today.
Here are the shops represented for day two:
1.  Pam Sears
2.  Sue Kennedy
3.  Tania Spivey
4.  Staci Louise
5.  Marge Beebe
6.  Kim Hutchinson
7.  Cilla Walkins
8.  Angela May
9.  Lola Surwillo (my bead soup partner)
10. Rebekah Payne
All of these Ladies have gorgeous items in their shops just waiting for someone to grab them up.  Whether you want ready made or items to make your own you will find something to fit your need.

Happy shopping Y'all
Therese

The day has arrived!

It is time to go shopping Ladies!  Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog is hosting a virtual craft fair for seven days starting today Nov. 26 through Dec. 3rd.  So go check out Lori's blog and join the fun!

There will be discounts and free prizes to win!  All of this can be done without even getting dressed and leaving the house.  How easy is that? 

Happy shopping Y'all
Therese

Giving Thanks



Happy Thanksgiving to all of my bloging friends!  I hope that all will have a wonderful day with the ones you love.  Don't for get to leave room for pie!

For all of my non American friends in other contries I wish you a wonderful day also!

I am thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life I feel truly blessed.

I am thankful that God blessed me with a loving and caring Son.

I am thankful to be employeed and able to pay the never ending bills!

I am thankful to be blessed with a talent for creating.

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

BSBP Forum Bead Swap

On the Bead Soup Blog Party Forum, Lori Anderson, put together a mini bead swap.  Those of us that wanted to participate signed up and she paired us up with a partner just like in the big Bead Soup Blog Party.  My partner this time is Pat Haight from Alaska.  You can visit her blog The Wigglebutt Blog, she is very talented and has a great sense of humor.  Here is the very generous Bead Soup that she sent to me.

Pat decorated the box and the card is made using a photo that she took of the two young Moose.

When I opened the box this is what I saw (neater of course) I had a lot of fun opening each one of these little pouches of paper to see the treasures inside.

These are the items I found in the little white box tied with the purple ribbon.  All of these items were made by Pat.  Aren't the cute and pretty?

Alaska Petrified Wood from Kenai Peninsula

Carnelian Nuggets 

Ghana Coiled Copper Trade Beads

Natural Lapis Chips and Sponge Coral Chips

Chrysanthemum Stone Chips and Red River Jasper

Brass Beads and River Stone died purple

Freshwater Pearls and Hand beaded beads by Pat

Mahogany Obsidian Stone beads and died Shell Roundels

Sea Urchin Daggers

Blue Botswana Glass beads

Ceramic Beads

Lampwork glass beads by Juli of Jul's Studio

More beauties from Jul's Studio

Copper and Steel connectors made by Pat

Paper beads made by Pat

Polymer clay beads made by Pat

And last but not least these four adorable polymer clay Rabbits made by Pat

Well there you have it all of my wonderful treasures from my new friend and mini Bead Soup Swap partner Pat Haight.  

I was suppose to post these on the BSBP forum, but my photos are many and they are too large to upload onto the forum.  So I will share the link to my blog post instead.  Now I need to get creating with these beauties.

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese