Therese's Treasures: December 2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

Holiday Ornament Exchange 2018 In Carrie Johnson's Words

2018 - Ornament Exchange - Carrie Johnson and Therese Frank

Aloha! I had a wonderful time participating in the ornament exchange this year. After getting to know Therese, I learned that her favorite colors were in the olive/lichen/moss range as well as the pink-red tones. In addition, she makes her own cabs. I also found out that she loves stars, bunnies and collects Santa’s from around the world. I had so many ideas on what to make for Therese! At first, I wanted to do a Bunny sitting on a base with candy cane poles. But, after making the bunny out of Swarovski crystal, I realized it would be too heavy. Plus, I wasn’t sure how “personalized” that was. So, on to plan 2. Given her color choices and love of gemstones – I remembered that I had made a colorway kit a while back that was perfect – the colors of tourmaline. And it was even better since the lichen/olive green is my favorite as well (Toho 2600). It would work both as a gemstone connection as well as combine all her favorite colors. So, I just started beading, not really having a plan. After a bit, I realized that it was going to come together as a snowflake/star shape which is one of her favorite shapes. Things progressed from there. And, I am showing a picture showing all the threads at the end that all have to be tied off, we’ve all been there, the least favorite and most time-consuming part of the project. In all, I used seed beads, fresh water pearls, Swarovski crystal, and cubic zirconia. I also sent her the bunny to use as another ornament or just a figurine – it was just too cute. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it before I sent the package. And, since Santa’s are her other favorite, I found her a “local” Hawaiian Santa ornament. I wish Therese and all of you a very Mele Kalikimaka and a Hau’oli Makahiki Hou.

The pictures are shown in order of the ornament developing – they can speak for themselves.

The start of it all!

All Those Pesky Threads…

All Done!

And, then, I received this big package in the mail. I couldn’t wait to open it. But I shipped mine late and I wanted to wait until Therese had hers. I was hoping that it would be worth the wait for her! It was definitely worth the wait for me. On my goodness, wow! I’m speechless. She made me a bead embroidered lizard (my favorite) in all my favorite colors – it couldn’t have been more perfect. It is my absolute favorite lizard and she made my day, week and month! So, Mahalo, Therese for such a wonderful ornament, I will treasure it for all the years to come. Here’s a peak at all the goodies that arrived in the package. Therese also hand painted the star box and star ornament, again in my favorite colors. The jellyfish paperweight is just stunning and the soy candle will be put to good use. And then, to top it off she included several of the stone cabochons that she made. Thank you for being such a wonderful and generous swap

Close up

Holiday Ornament Exchange 2018 Update

Merry Christmas Y'all,

Well my package from Carrie Johnson arrived on Monday as promised and I opened it as soon as I got home from Tuscaloosa, AL on Wednesday. All I can say is OMG!!!! Carrie was so right when she told me that it will be worth the wait. So without further ado let me show and tell about what Carrie sent.

When I opened the box I was like a small child looking at all the wonderful wrapped packages, so I just reached in a took out a package and unwrapped it. It was a kit for a felted bunny rabbit with the instructions in Japanese but I can follow the pictures, thank goodness I took a class in needle felting.

Then I opened a package that had the cutest bunny that was beaded in RAW with Swarovski crystals, I squealed so load it scared my Mom she asked what was wrong so I showed her the bunny, she said that it was very pretty, but still did not understand my excitement. Maybe y,all to are wondering why I was so excited about the bunny, I collect rabbits in all mediums I also collect Santas. I then opened a box with a hand painted Hawaiian Santa in a hula skirt, Love it! I then picked a box that said to open last so I set it aside. Ok I wont keep going on about what all was in the box I will let the picture tell the story.

Carrie sent one of her earring kits, beach glass and coral that she collected from a beach in Oahu, some Swarovski crystals, Tibetan trading beads and a turquoise cab, lamp worked beads one of which is a bunny, tea and coffee and chocolate covered Macadamia nuts, and a beautiful Hawaiian Christmas card.

Okay on to the box marked to open last. It contained the exchanged ornament I was absolutely blown away with what I saw when I opened the box. Carrie you truly out did yourself with the ornament. I love, love, love it!!!!!

This is the picture Carrie sent to me it is so beautiful I am still trying to wrap my brain around how she put this one together. I recognize the stitch Carrie used, it is Cellini spiral. It is also done in my favorite colors.

Here it is on my tree.

Here is the crystal bunny on my tree.

Here is Hula Santa on my tree.

My tree with all my handmade ornaments collected over the years some I made but most are from ornament exchanges I was involved in. Also on the tree are my Santa ornaments that I collected and that were gifted to me. Around the tree are some of my Santas that have been collected over the last ten years and on the fireplace mantle is my prized porcelain Santa in his sleigh and reindeer.

I wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you once again to Karen Williams for pulling this ornament exchange together. Carrie Johnson Mahalo Nui Loa, for gifting me such a wonderful ornament and all the goodies you sent with it, Mele Kalikimaka and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou, my friend. Thank you to all that stop by, please leave a comment I love hearing from y'all. Now go by and see any updates that the others in the Holiday Ornament Exchange may have left on their blog.

Margo Lynn and Karen Williams

Carrie Johnson and Therese Frank

Jasvanti Patel and Becky Clay

Jane Knaub and Mandi Bugatti

Sherry Eagle and Amy Severino

Judy J Jacobs and Judy Deshaies

Adrienne Hendricks and Francie Broadie

Cyndi Nason and Karen Williams

Happy beading Y'all,

Therese

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Holiday Ornament Exchange Reveal 2018

Merry Christmas Y'all,

It's time for the Holiday Ornament Exchange hosted by Karen Williams. My exchange partner is Carrie Johnson a fellow off loom bead weaver. Sadly for reasons beyond our control my package from Carrie will not be delivered to me until Monday December 17th, so I will update with what Carrie sent to me later this week. I am very excited to receive my package, but I will not be able to open it until Wednesday evening, because I am going out of town to help train a new Police Communications Officer in Tuscaloosa, AL and will not be home until Wednesday afternoon. Oh well such as life. I did take photos of some of the items I sent to Carrie.

I was excited to do something for Carrie in a beading form that she does not do, bead embroidery. We exchanged emails telling each other a little about ourselves, likes, dislikes, hobbies, things we collect, favorite colors, and so on. I was intrigued and intimidated at the same time as I read Carries email, she has lived a very full and exciting life, she has even taught beading classes at the Bead and Button show. So as soon as I was done reading her email I knew exactly what I was going to do for her. Since she lives in Hawaii I knew the traditional ornament would not do and I have a feeling Carrie is not the traditional type. So I got to work gathering the materials and colors I was going to use in her ornament. Carrie's favorite colors are teal, orange, and lime green I found everything I needed in my stash. Then I went to Pinterest to do some research on lizards, yes that's right lizards! Carrie is fond of lizards and the house lizard is very common where she lives in Hawaii.

So without further ado here is Carrie's ornament.

I happened to find a lizard outline so I traced the outline onto the bead backing and got to sewing. I used a piece of wire for the tongue that is also the hanger for the tree. The colors are brighter than it shows here the sun was just a little to bright when I took the photo.

I also painted a box and a paper mache star ornament.

for the lid I did the fluid paint technique and the bottom I painted the outside teal and the inside lime green.

I did the same fluid paint technique on the star although the colors are more bright and not as muddy as the lid of the box.

I put a few more items in the box. Carrie had told me that she was not going to open her box until I got mine and we would open them up sort of together, but since I am not getting mine until after the reveal, I wrote to her and told her to go ahead and open her box, so I hope that she opened her box and likes what is inside.

Thank you Karen for inviting me to participate in the Holiday Ornament Exchange. I had a lot of fun getting to know Carrie and creating her ornament. I have put up my tree and the ornament you made for me the year we were partners in Sally Russick 2014 Holiday Ornament Swap/Hop is positioned where I can see it from where I sit and bead.

Thank you to all that have stopped by please leave a comment and then go on to see all the other participants in this Holiday Ornament Exchange.