12 days of Christmas - Day 7

Day 7 already, hard to believe it is New Year's Eve. Day 7 is from Carolyn Chenault and her blog address is http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

Today I get to open my gift from Kristi Bowman and her blog is http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/. I have included a picture of the cute box she sent the gift in.

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas!

Today is day 5 of our 12 days of Christmas gift exchange. Today my gift is from Kathleen Lange Klik and her blog is http://www.modernnaturestudio.blogspot.com/.

12 Days of Christmas Day 4

Day 4 is a gift created by Pam Ferrari and her blog address is: http://ferrarioriginalsyahoocom.blogspot.com/ When I was opening the package I was expecting to see some of her handmade beads, but instead I found an entire bracelet. Beautiful!

www.BeadSoupBlogParty.com

12 days of Christmas Day 3

I have been waiting to open this package from the day it came. I am so excited to have one of Donna Millards beautiful beads. Donna does such beautiful work, one day I will be able to afford to purchase her bead sets to use in my jewelry. Donna's blog is located at http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/. Here is day 3 an awesome bead with copper, my favorite and preferred metal.

12 Days of Christmas Day 2

Running a little behind with my posts, I received this beautiful light blue snowflake pendant from Marcy Lamberson, http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com. This is beautiful and I admire her work and talent.

12 Days of Christmas!

When the packages started arriving, my anticipation started growing, I finally get to open present number one for Lorelei's 12 Days of Christmas bead and component gift exchange! Lorelei Eurto hosted a 12 Days of Christmas exchange, it involved signing up for either Group #1; the bead and component group or Group #2; the gift group. I was chose for Group #1. Group #1 will be for Components/Pendants/Beads- You will create by hand ( no store bought beads/components please) 11 beads or components and for 11 days, you'll open each component, and chronicle gifted beads on your blogs. Group #2 will be general gifts- Since we all love handmade gifts, I suggest you make these gifts by hand, but they can be in any genre you like. Ornaments, Jewelry, prints, potholders, whatever you desire! Be creative and give gifts that you would love to receive yourself. The first gift was to be opened on Christmas day, following each day afterwards until all gifts are open. We skip the day that we were assigned, in my case Day 10. Here is my package that I sent!

This is my gift from Lorelei, I couldn't have picked a better gift from her myself! Love these!

I was lucky to get two beautiful choices for my color palette.

And I choice Desert to Forest, the beautiful greens and purples.

Bracelets for Hope Campaign

Sue Beads is hosting this wonderful blog for November 25th. Are you familiar with the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope campaign? Many of us bead makers and jewelry designers are. It's a bracelet program for people or families who suffer rare genetic diseases. Here's a bit of information directly from their donation page: http://globalgenes.org/7000-bracelets-for-hope/ "Cause bracelets have been available for breast cancer and heart disease but there has never been a unifying symbol, color or bracelet that represents the rare and genetic disease community. That’s why we started the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope™ campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2010, Global Genes has received thousands of unique blue themed bracelet designs made from everything from cut strips of recycled denim to vintage blue glass to turquoise stones. The creativity from our volunteers is truly inspiring! The number 7,000 represents the 7,000 different rare diseases that impact 1 in 10 people, 30 million Americans and 350 million globally. Each individual blue bracelet design we receive represents the uniqueness of one of the 7,000 rare diseases and many of our volunteers send in multiple copies of a single design. Our goal is to continue to collect unique bracelets made by jewelry designers, artists, crafters, church groups, girl scout troops and other volunteers and distribute them to our families fighting rare and genetic diseases. Adults receive handcrafted bracelets made by our jewelry designers while children receive love friendship bracelets filled with hope."

3rd Annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop Nov. 30, 2012

I was lucky to get two beautiful choices for my color palette.

And I choice Desert to Forest, the beautiful greens and purples.

To participate in the charm swap, you must be willing to make enough charms for everyone in your group (including yourself) AND one extra so that a set of charms can be auctioned to benefit Beads of Courage. This means if your group has 10 people, you will make and send a total of 11 charms. One charm is a “donation” to be auctioned off to Beads of Courage. The last swap we made about $150 for BOC. (I would have to look it up for the exact donation because I don’t remember for sure). I was lucky to be involved with this group and help benefit the Beads of Courage. It was fun creating charms, this was my first try at this. I bought the Big Kick and have used it a few times for copper earrings and I thought it would work for my charms. I was happy with my finished product and so excited for my package to arrive with my charm swap. As you can see my camera is still not working so the photo is not updated yet.

Please view the Beads of Courage link to help increase the money collected for this auction. http://beadsofcourage.org/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/346643665420820/doc/346797402072113/ Here is the charm that I created with a metal shaped guitar pick with an embossed silly little owl!

Lorelei Eurto is hosting 12 Days of Christmas Handmade Gift Swap and I put my name in the hat and was one of the lucky ones chosen for Group 1 Beads and Components. Here is a list of the participants, and as you can see I am in great company. Group 1 Bead & Component 1. Lorelei Eurto 2. Marcy Lamberson of Studio Marcy 3. Donna Millard 4. Pam Ferrari 5. Kathleen Lange Klik 6. Kristi Bowman 7. Carolyn Chenault 8. Renetha Stanziano 9. Karen Totten 10. Cheri Reed 11. Francesca Watson 12. Inge von Roos Group 2 General 1. Lorelei Eurto 2. Whimsy’s Wonders 3. Suzzette Bentley 4. Jodie Marshall 5. Therese Frank 6. Amy Freeland 7. Andrew Thornton 8. Erin Prais-Hintz 9. Melissa Trudinger 10. Toltec Jewels 11. Suzanne Reynolds 12. Gina Hockett

2012 Charm Swap

I am so excited that my charms are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. The reveal is scheduled for November 12, 2012...thank goodness I do not have to wait until then to open the box. This was so much fun, I can not wait until the next one. This was the first time I made a charm, it was fun.

Artisan Whimsy

Pay-it-forward

A giveaway hosted by Alenka of Pepita Handmade. I commented in time and won a surprise gift from her. Let me introduce Alenka with one of her creations that I like very much and would be happy to wear.

What will I receive from Alenka will be a secret until I receive her package. And now IT'S YOUR TURN - you can WIN A SURPRISE GIFT FROM ME, you just need to agree to the following instructions: I’ll send a surprise gift to the first three commenter’s on this blog post. The gift will be a handmade surprise by me and will be sent to you some time in the next 365 days (yep, mystery gift at a mystery time). To complete signing up you MUST play along too. To do this you must blog a similar post and pledge to make a surprise gift for the first three people who comment on it. So, are you in? Comment below and make sure you include your email address in the comment if your profile doesn’t include it already. If I cannot contact your easily, unfortunately that will mean you cannot win and that would make me sad. I’ll email the first three commenter’s for your snail mail address and a ask a few questions (likes/dislikes, favorite colors, sizes general stuff like that). So, go and comment, now!!! Best of Luck Cheri

Blue Bracelet Blog Hop! November 25th

Sue Beads is hosting this wonderful blog for November 25th. Are you familiar with the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope campaign? Many of us bead makers and jewelry designers are. It's a bracelet program for people or families who suffer rare genetic diseases. Here's a bit of information directly from their donation page: http://globalgenes.org/7000-bracelets-for-hope/ "Cause bracelets have been available for breast cancer and heart disease but there has never been a unifying symbol, color or bracelet that represents the rare and genetic disease community. That’s why we started the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope™ campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2010, Global Genes has received thousands of unique blue themed bracelet designs made from everything from cut strips of recycled denim to vintage blue glass to turquoise stones. The creativity from our volunteers is truly inspiring! The number 7,000 represents the 7,000 different rare diseases that impact 1 in 10 people, 30 million Americans and 350 million globally. Each individual blue bracelet design we receive represents the uniqueness of one of the 7,000 rare diseases and many of our volunteers send in multiple copies of a single design. Our goal is to continue to collect unique bracelets made by jewelry designers, artists, crafters, church groups, girl scout troops and other volunteers and distribute them to our families fighting rare and genetic diseases. Adults receive handcrafted bracelets made by our jewelry designers while children receive love friendship bracelets filled with hope."

October Fest Reveal

I am having camera issues, misplaced my charger and it is not the type of camera you an charge with USB. Pictures of neckalce and earrings are on the camera, and cannot take picture with phone because the piece already sold. Will add photo as soon as I find charger...thanks and sorry no photo. YET!!!

Design Challenge -Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

Back at the end of September, I signed up for a Design Challenge on Sharyl's Jewelry blog. It was in conjunction with NKP Designs, using some of her artbeads. We were mailed a packet of beads and asked to design a piece of jewelry. The idea was to see what 10 different jewelry designers would come up with using the same beads. I loved the beads. When I received the beads, they were more beautiful in person. I enjoyed working with them and I combined them with sterling silver. The ear wires and headpins are handmade and hammered, I also used one of these headpins for the focal bead. Although I believe my necklace and earrings turned out great, I am unable to show a photo of them. First my camera was in the car, then when I got my camera I took a couple of pictures and of course the battery died. And I still have not found my charger for the battery (of course it is not one you can charge with USB). I have been looking since last night and still no charger, I must have really put it somewhere good so the little ones couldn't get it. I can take a picture with my phone but I do not know how to transfer it to my blog. I will post it on facebook, I think that I can anyways, and when I find my charger post on my blog. I was so excited about this challenge and upset that I can not post my pictures. I am sorry to dissappoint everyone, including myself. http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/2012/10/sharyls-jewelry-bead-packet-design.html

Echo Creative Club Reveal

This is what I created with the Ecru Chocolate Gin Blossom from Jeannie K Dukic for Echo Creative Club reveal September 25, 2012

Awesome giveaway!!

http://wesocialartists.blogspot.com/2012/09/giveaway-time.html

Please check out this giveaway..awesome!!

CBC Administrative Appreciation!

Today is CBC Administrative Appreciation Day and I would like to thank the following people, the administrators of the CBC group: Marla James Melinda Orr Karen Totten Marla Gibson Keirsten Giles Thank you for all the hard work that each of you do for each of us, this is a wonderful group of designers that have a lot to share and I have learned many new things and missed a few... :) Thank you again for all of your hard work and dedication to CBC!

Echo Creative Club reveal September 25, 2012

My Ecru Chocolate Gin Blossom from Jeannie K Dukic for Echo Creative Club reveal September 25, 2012

This giveaway starts now and I will pick two winners next Wednesday, September 5th at 9am ( It's my 20th wedding anniversary!!!) You may enter up until 12 midnight on Tuesday, September 4th. How do you get a chance (chances) to win the following goodies?

http://gardannelife.blogspot.com/2012/08/giveaway-nowlistings-later.html

http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/gail-crosman-moore-giveaway.html

October Fest 10-28-12

The Gossiping Goddess: Celebration Giveaway....

The Gossiping Goddess: Celebration Giveaway....: On August 23rd it will be six months since I opened THEA too my Etsy component shop, with absolutely no idea whether I'd sell anythin...

Lorelei's Blog Stamped Metal Jewelry: A Giveaway! http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/2012/08/stamped-metal-jewelry-giveaway.html?showComment=1344012104034#c2471901915962488180

Necklace from Bead Soup Mix from Amanda!

This is the necklace that I created with portions of my bead soup from Amanda. This is also the first time that I have done any wire wrapping, so this was a challenge for me. I have not come up with anything with the other pieces yet, or rather have not finished them waiting on some supplies. I will post them when I have finished. But I wanted to make sure that I posted the pictures with the pendent and clasp. Thank you so much for looking and have a great hop! http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com

Bead Soup from AmandaMade

Here is another picture of Bead Soup out of the bags and ready to be used in some jewelry...I am going to start with the focal because it will take me the longest amount of time as I have never wire-wrapped a focal before. Hope everything works out with this adventure..

Bead Soup from Amanda Tibbetts

This is the Bead Soup I received today from Amanda Tibbetts, love the colors!! I love the Gemstones that are a beautiful minty green...not sure what they are and neither is Amanda. If anyone can identify them please let us know. They are beautiful and I can see why she fell in love with them, and am so happy that she shared them with me. The piece of Beach Glass (I think) will make a great wire wrapped piece (oh yeah, looking up a tutorial now, have never done this but is on my list of things to do). My sister and I actually went to a Gem and Rock shop today and I purchased a bunch of gems, so what better time than the present. :) I hope she likes what I have sent her, it seems we are well matched.

Bead Soup Blog Party