Birthday Surprise Challenge reveal

Hi Y'all,

Today is the reveal for the Birthday Surprise Challenge.  Today is also my 53rd birthday.  I am not ashamed of my age.  I rejoice being here on this earth one more year and hope to rejoice for many more to come.
I bought a few Golem clay cabs and beads and thought it would be wonderful to ask the beady Ladies I have met in person if they would like to play along in a challenge.  The only Lady that I have not met in person, but feel as though I have know her for a long time is Kristen, but we will meet in person I am sure of it.   Judy, Lola, Marla, Christine, Amy, Maryanne, and Kristen did not know what they were getting from me I wanted that part to be a surprise.
This birthday surprise is also for Christine her birthday was in October, Lola her birthday was November 11, and Kristen her birthday was November 12.  I am very excited to see just what they lovely and talented Ladies have created with their cab.

Judy Riley is having Internet problems beyond her control so I told her that I would post what she has created with her cab and beads on my blog.  Here is the cab and beads that I sent to Judy.

Here is what Judy created.

"For Therese's Birthday Challenge I made a Mandala. As my inspiration I used the circle of life represented by the mandala and the southwest colors of the beads and cabochon. I started by placing the cabochon in the middle and adding simple straight stitch beading around it letting it take the form of the sun. For the rays I used off white size 8/0 seed beads and blue and orange size 10/0 triangle seed beads. I added 9 mm natural round carved stone beads and 5 mm brown wooden beads. To finish I used white and brown feathers, adding purple feathers for additional color. Each color and item has a specific meaning to it.
I want to thank Therese for posting this for me and wish her a very Happy Birthday!"

I love it Judy, thank you for playing along in this challenge.

Now here is what I made with my cab and beads.  First the cab and beads in the raw.

Here is what I made.

I bezeled around the cab with light green size 11 and size 15 seed beads a round of size 5 mm red Coral beads, a round of 4 mm green Aventurine beads then I brick stitched around the pendant with orange size 8 seed beads and picots with yellow size 11 seed beads.  The necklace is a spiral rope using the orange size 8 seed beads as the core beads, then the red Coral and green Aventurine beads along with  yellow and green size 11 seed beads.  I used 10 mm Aventurine beads after every five rounds of the spiral rope until the rope was about then I used the clay beads after five rounds of the spiral.  In the center of the necklace I made a beaded bead to hang the pendant from then continued on with the second half of the spiral rope.

I am pleased with how it turned out.  It is a bright and cheery necklace that is comfortable to wear.

Please go and visit the other Ladies in this challenge.   

Amy Severino         http://amybeads.blogspot.com

Christine Altmiller    http://onekisscreations.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens       http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo           http://beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Marla Gibson          http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com

Maryanne Gross     http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com

Therese Frank        http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com     (you are here)

   

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese