A Great Giveaway at Copper Diem

Head on over to Copper Diem to check out this wonderful giveaway that she is having.  Amy with Copper Diem's blog is show casing a very talented ceramic bead artist Jeraluna Designs.  Here are a few of her designs and Amy's favorites.

These next pictures are some of my favorites by Jeraluna Designs

You can visit Jeraluna Designs at etsy here, but be careful you just might fall in love with a few of her designs.

Here is what you can win in this giveaway.  Did you think I was not going to get around to the prize?

Aren't they adorable?

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

I Heart Macro - Around the Back Yard

Another week has gone by and what a week this has been for me, it has not been a pleasant one.  I'm putting last week in the past and moving on to a brand new week and future!

I was walking around in the back yard and looking in the places that mostly get over looked, that is where you find the best photo ops, and this is what I discovered.

Moss growing in the flower pots

An insect exoskeleton 

A Bumble Bee and a tiny Butterfly enjoying the last of the summer's flowers

Lantanna 

Spider Lilly

I hope that you enjoyed looking at my I Heart Macro shots as much as I enjoyed taking them.  If you are in the mood to see more macro shots head on over to Studio Waterstone and check out what others are I Heart Macroing!

On another note here is a super giveaway to check out.  Go on over to The Gossiping Goddess and check out what the very talented Lesley is giving away!

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

My Fair Entries

For the bead soup blog party hop click here.

I would like to apologize for not posting since the 17th, but I had something serious happen on the 19th to cause me to be away.

The Alabama National Fair (why they call it that I do not know) is in October every year for as far back as I can remember.  For the last three years I have entered at least three necklaces in the Gem and Mineral Division.  The first year I entered I placed second and third. The second year I entered I place first, second, third, and my first place win also won Best of Fair. The same occurred for the third year.  Now either I am the only one entering items in the beading class of this division or the judges really think my stuff is worthy of the places.
This year I have three necklaces that I'm entering in the beading class of the gem and mineral division and two necklaces that I will be entering in the jewelry class of the crafts division.  Here are the pictures of my entries.

Agate, Moonstone, silver tone base metal filigree flower beads, 5mm and 4mm bi-cone beads and toggle clasp.

Carnelian 8mm and 4mm, Yellow Agate, copper bead caps, copper daisy spacers, 4mm copper round beads and copper toggle clasp

African Turquoise, Hematite roundels, 5mm silver tone base metal fluted round beads, lobster claw clasp.

The next two necklaces will be in the Crafts division Jewelry class.

 Dutch spiral

Cellini Spiral

The big surprise is when you go to the fair and walk around in the Creative Living Center looking at all of the many other entries in all of the different divisions and finally you come across your entries and they all have ribbons.  I don't get my hopes up cause surly I will not place every year, but it is still a thrill to see those ribbons. 

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

Ding Ding Ding Come and Get It! Soup's Done!

It is finally here the day we have all been waiting for the Bead Soup Blog Party! Yeah Baby!  The anticipation of who would be your partner, to stressing over what you would create with the bead soup you were sent, to the light bulb turning on, and the beautiful creation you have made.  It is all done and now you can sit back with your favorite beverage hot, cold, or both and enjoy what everyone else has created.

Our Hostess - Lori Anderson

I would like to give a big round of applause to our hostess Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog, for the fantastic job she has done to make the BSBP run as smooth as possible.  I am not familiar with the past BSBP's, because this is the first one that I knew about, but it is my understanding that this is the largest one.  There are 364 participants (this number includes Lori) and Lori went through all of those participants and paired them up with partners.   What a task! What a headache!
Thank you very much Lori, for letting me be one of the 363 participants in this round of BSBP.                 Lori, you deserve to have your pie and eat it too!

My Partner - Lola Surwillo

What can I say, Lori could not have pick a better person to be my partner for the BSBP.  Lola and I have so many things in common. We both crochet and do cross stitch as well as make jewelry.  Lola makes beautiful beaded rings, those are her favorite things to make. She also likes to read , Lola mostly reads non fiction books such as self help and craft books, but to our amazement, we were both reading "The Help" at the same time, strange huh! This is also our first BSBP.  Here is a picture of the bead soup I sent to Lola.

 Cherry quartz, Rose quartz, Hematite, Peridot, and glass bi-cones.  I can not wait to see what she has created with this mix. So let's go together over to Lola's blog Bead Lola Bead and see what she has cooked up with these ingredients.

Me and My bead soup - Prudence

Let me tell you a little bit about myself for those of you that do not follow my blog and are visiting me for the first time.  I started beading in 2005, mostly stringing and then I started off loom bead weaving.  I do both pretty much even.  As I mentioned above I crochet, cross stitch, I also quilt and paint.  I do not have an on-line store, because I mainly don't have the time to donate to one, but I do post all of my creations on my facebook page Therese's Treasures.  

  Here is a picture of the bead soup that Lola sent to me.

Lola sent a Mother of Pearl focal, thunder polish glass crystals, green Aventurine, purple Fluorite, purple Japanese peanut seed beads, purple/green glass beads, Sterling Silver toggle clasp and a 12mm open jump ring.

It took a little while for the soup to start to simmer and than come to a boil, but when it did the aroma filled the house.  I named my soup Prudence, because the song was in my head and I kept humming it as I was cooking my soup.  So let me introduce you to Prudence, I think my creation lives up to her name.

I added  a silver tone base metal chain, daisy spacers and a butterfly charm for accents.

I made a bracelet to match...

and earrings too.

So there, you have met Prudence, sweet, simple, and pretty!

Please continue the party by clicking on this link http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

Party hardy and happy hopping!

Happy beading Y'all

Therese

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bead Box Giveaway on SingingGlass blog

If you want a chance to win The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bead Box go on over the Janet's blog SingingGlass and find out what you have to do to be in the running.  Good luck fellow beady bloggers!

The Sisterhood of The Traveling Bead Box is up for grabs again!

**This is a 2 piece Giveaway!**  

This is a Giveaway for The Traveling Bead Box..and also a Separate Give~away for a Bundle of my Lampwork from my Etsy store SingingGlass!
(Please Read Carefully..)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling bead Box arrived 2 weeks ago to my house. Was I ever Over~joyed to of won this Box! I am the 20th person. Alice fromThe Bliss Guild was the previous winner and it is my turn now to pass this 18 pound box of wonderfulness to the next person. Alice put some extra gifts in for me which I loved..thank you Alice! There is a cool Journal to write in and add about your experience with the box..it was wonderful reading it. My Best wishes to the next winner!

The Box was born from Heather Powers Humblebeads lovely brain and great generosity! There have been wonderful designer beads and lots of semi precious stones and all sorts given, taken out and replaced. I have added many GREAT focals to keep this Box great!

 Please add Wonderful Things to this Box!

No Junk!

You Must Do The Same Please or else the Box becomes useless and will die. Pass it Forward!

I Heart Macro - Mr. Jingles

I got out of my car this morning at work and was stepping up onto the sidewalk when I noticed movement. I looked in the direction of the movement and EEEK a mouse!!  I jumped back off of the side walk and just looked at the mouse, he did not move.  My first thought was "Get camera, take pictures!".  I always carry my camera you just don't know when an opportunity will present it's self.  I zoomed in the lens as close as it would go and took pictures.  After the first two I got braver and moved in closer, just not too close, I did not want the little thing running up my pants leg, ya know.

If you have read or seen the movie "The Green Mile" you will be familiar with the little mouse that appeared on The Mile one day his name was Mr. Jingles.  This little guy reminded me of Mr. Jingles cause he just sat there and let me take pictures.

These two pictures were the best ones that I got of Mr. Jingles. The others were shaky, Gee I wonder why LOL!
If you enjoyed my pictures I know you will enjoy viewing what other's have been photographing.  Head on over to Studio Waterstone and check I Heart Macro shots of the other participants.

Now for a moment of remembrance... I will never forget September 11, 2001, It was my day off and I was watching the Today Show when Matt came on and said that there was something going on at The World Trade Center north tower and they cut away to the towers.  I was watching, as was millions of others, when the second plane circled around and crashed into the second tower.  My eyes could not believe what I was seeing, but then the reality of it all sunk in and I began to cry. To this day I still cry when I see the footage of that horrible day in our countries history.   God bless all of those that died that day in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. God bless the families of those that died on that day and continue to bless this country and those that defend our rights. 
We are a strong and resilient country and I'm proud to call the United States of America my home.

Therese


 

Just Because!

Do you ever do things just because?  Maybe it's just because someone has inspired you to do something you would not have done if it was not for that person.  Or maybe you love someone so much you just want to do some little thing for them that you know will let that person know just how much they are loved.  Do you pay attention to the little details, that most people over look?  You maybe asking yourself, just what are you getting at Therese?  Well I had a very and I mean very special surprise arrive in the mail today.  I had no idea who sent me a card from another country until I opened it and saw what was inside.  I was amazed and tears came to my eyes when I read the dear sweet note explaining the gift.  I have gushed thanks upon this person till I think that she is tired of hearing it. LOL!  Would you like to see what my surprise was?  Duh, well of course you do!

Aren't they gorgeous?  The person that made these beauties custom made them for me by paying attention to the little details.  She knew that Citrine is my birthstone and that I was having a creativity block so she used the Carnelian to promote creativity.  She made the Helm Chain special too.  I wore these tonight when I went to dinner with my Brother and his wife.  My sister-in-law just could not get over the bracelet, she was totally fascinated with it.  I also need to say that my bead soup partner Lola was in on this surprise. Boy I know now if I want to tell her a secret she will keep it! 

What about y'all have you done something special for someone just because, or have been the recipient of a just because?

I will now be thinking of a way to pay this kindness forward, just because!

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

BTW - Projects I did today

Here's what was on my table today.  I got an order for a necklace, bracelet, and earrings made with purple beads. Well actually the lady saw the necklace that I had made up with the variegated white and purple press glass beads that I won in a giveaway on Andrew Thornton's blog, and dark purple Swaroski crystal pearls, she also wanted to know if I could make her a bracelet and earrings to go with the necklace.
Well I told her no problem, although I used all of the press glass beads in the necklace, but I can make the bracelet and earrings out of the purple crystal pearls.  It turned out that I had also used all of the purple crystal pearls in the necklace as well, ut oh!  I went to Hobby Lobby today looking for dark purple glass pearls.  They had purple glass pearls but they were the wrong color of purple, so I started looking for anything that was 8mm and purple.
I was just about to give up when I spotted the 8mm Amethyst beads they were a perfect match. They came with 18 to a card and all Hobby Lobby had left was three cards, so I snatched them up. Hobby Lobby is having a half of sale on metal findings so I snatched a few of those items and got out of that store before I spent too much money.

   I think the necklace, bracelet, and earrings came out nice.  I like the necklace made up with the Amethyst more than I did with the dark purple Swaroski crystal pearls.  Since I had to redo the necklace, I kept one of the pressed glass beads out for the bracelet.

I also made a pair of earrings from some lamp worked glass beads that I got from  Julianna of julsbeads blog she has a great store visit her blog and check out her store for some great deals.

Here is a teaser of what I created with my bead soup from my BSBP partner Lola of Bead Lola Bead blog.
I'm sooo looking forward to the blog party on 9/17/11.

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

I Heart Macro - Texture

Well it's Sunday and you know what that means, yes I Heart Macro!  I took a walk around the yard and took a few pictures.  Here is what I found interesting...

A lava rock

A broken cement block

A mortar line between the bricks

Crazy lace agate (this was not found in the yard)

I hope you enjoyed viewing my macro shots as much as I enjoyed taking them. To see more I Heart Macro shots head on over to Studio Waterstone and see what others have to share.

Happy beading Y'all

Therese