Saturday, May 16, 2015

Art of Awareness Blog Hop and Reveal


A couple of months ago, Lori McDaniel Anderson announced on her blog that she was hosting a blog hop that would be focusing on the awareness of a cause that was important to us.  Some people also might have used the blog hop as a way to remember someone special in their life or an event that may have been significant in their life.  To participate in the hop, we had to purchase at least one bead made by Heather Millican at swoondimples.  Heather even went out of her way to have a special stamp commissioned for the hop for those who wanted to use an awareness ribbon color for their bead.

When I heard about this hop, I knew right away that I wanted to participate.  Like most people, I have had my share of issues I deal with either personally or in my family.   So, while I sat down to decide what I wanted my bead to look like I actually had a bit of a challenge.  There were ribbon colors available from me to select, but to be honest I really didn't feel comfortable sitting down to my blog and telling the whole world about my health.   I never do that.   I am not comfortable opening up the windows and telling just anyone my personal details.  But, at the same time I wanted to honor myself, how strong I am and how I face the barriers that get in my way from time to time.  So how did I do that?  Let me give you a peek.



My bean bead doesn't have a ribbon on it, and it isn't pink for the reasons you might think.   Pink is my favorite color and it represents me.  I have friends that see pink items and immediately think of me.  :)  So of course my bead had to be pink!!  I wanted the piece of jewelry I designed to be fun and happy.  When I showed it to a friend she said it reminded her of balloons at a party and that was the look I was going for!  My bracelet is a celebration of my survival.  How brave I am and how special too.   Marybeth is great and no matter what she faces,  she can do so bravely.   


I am so happy with the way it came out.   I used light rose crystal rondelles, these fun resin beads with spikey crystals in them, frosted glass beads and finally little baby pink seed beads to make my memory wire bracelet.  

Please check out the stories of all the other participants on Lori's page because I am having technical difficulties with the list:






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Friday, May 15, 2015

Bead Destash Group on Facebook




For a little while now I have been setting up a Facebook group to sell beads, gemstones and findings.   I think I have made everything all pretty and ready for shoppers, so I would like to announce the grand opening.  So, if you are looking to add some pretties to your bead stash, stop by and say hello!  

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Saturday, May 2, 2015

Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop Reveal


Today is the day!!!  I am so excited to share with you the wonderful creations I  made using some wonderful glass beads sent to me by my partner, Marcy Lamberson.   Here is a link to her blog so come check her out when you get the chance.   Marcy is an incredible glass artist (in fact I have since gone and bought more of her work because I just love her style)   Here is a look at all the wonderful beads she sent me to work with.



As you can see,  all of her beautiful gifts are sea related.  When I was checking out Marcy's Facebook page before we talked, I noticed that just a few days before the partners were announced she had been to visit my little rural spot of Florida!!!  What are the odds?  When we talked it was a great starting point for our getting to know you conversations.  While I live in the middle of the Withlacoochee State Forest,  I am also just 2 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.  So not only do I share a love for forests and trees, I have a deep love for water and the sea.  I often design based on water and sea themes and Marcy was kind enough to indulge my love of the water in the beads she sent.  Her work is incredible and the detail superb.  Even the back sides of her pieces are special.



My first design uses Marcy's beautiful shell bead.   If you were just looking at the bead you would not know it wasn't real.  It is the most detailed glass shell I have ever seen.   I created a Y necklace with it using pink cultured sea glass rounds, light rose crystal rondelles and the most delicious candy looking watermelon tourmaline.  This necklace just sings summer evening to me.   Here is a look at the shell from the back.  See how she carries the detail through her work?



My next design uses the really fun bead my son has called the mini aquarium and the sand dollar and scallop shell beads.



This necklace is just so much fun!!  The detail in the aquarium bead is really cool.   It has shells on both sides and what my son argues is a crab walking inside (I say it is coral).  I made another Y necklace and this time used opaque cultured sea glass rounds, crystals in padparadscha, teal and opalite and closed it with a cultured sea glass toggle clasp.   On a fun note, scallop fishing is very big here.  We are one of the best places to get Gulf scallops and it is a very big event here with people traveling from all over to go diving for them each  year, so this necklace has a bit of homage to my hometown too!  Here is a peek at the backside so you can see the detail on the aquarium bead.



Now if you know anything about me, you know that whenever I do a challenge or a blog hop I have to make earrings.  I just love making them so any excuse to do so, I create at least one pair.   This time Marcy had provided two wonderful little shells.  They are not quite a pair, but they are close enough and I just love the touch of asymmetry, it adds a bit of fun to the earrings.


To tie them back to the shell necklace, I used the same pink cultured sea glass rounds and a light rose crystal for that touch of sparkle.

My final piece is the one I just love.  Those two glass manatee beads are very special and I am going to hoard one for a very long time.  He needs to peek out at me from my special spot I have for artisan beads and become the mascot to my work area.  His partner  I paired with several of the glass rings to make this:


The blue rings made me think of bubbles moving through the water so my little manatee sits under the viewing dome at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park munching on his lettuce all the while the water above him sparkles.  I used icy blue seed beads and aqua and opalite crystals to give the necklace that watery feel.   This necklace is asymmetrical with bubbles going up one side.   I still try and embrace that not every necklace has to be the same on both sides; it remains a challenge for me and it is something I enjoy embracing when working on blog hops.

Here is a close up of the manatee:



If you are interested in seeing manatees, check out the manatee cam during the day.  It is dark and eerie at night.  :)

I had so much fun participating in this hop.   I had a wonderful partner who went above and beyond making special beads for me.   Thanks to Marcy and to Linda for organizing such a big hop.  Please stop by and visit all the other hoppers to see what they designed.

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2015 
Partner List  

 Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

LindaAndersonhttp://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
MaricaZammithttp://www.beadlovelies.com
LindaAndersonhttp://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
JessicaHocutthttps://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
KristinaHahn Eleniakhttp://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
DebbieJeffrieshttp://debrasdivinedesigns.com/blog/
RosantiaPetkovahttp://bairozan.blogspot.com/
ShaliniAustinhttp://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
CatherineLa Vitehttp://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
AnnicaLarssonhttp://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
LoriSchneiderhttp://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
DivyaNhttp://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
MowseDoylehttp://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
FayWolfendenhttp://torchfairy.blogspot.com
KathyLindemerhttp://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
ClaireFabianhttp://saraccino.blogspot.de/
JaniceWarden Bergeronhttp://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
NatalieDavidsonhttp://www.northshoredays.com
DebFortinhttp://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Ingevon Rooshttp://ingetraud.wordpress.com
KarenMitchellhttp://overthemoon-design.com
RobinReedhttp://willowdragon.blogspot.com
MarieCoverthttp://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
AliciaMarinachehttp://www.allprettythings.ca
NanSmithhttp://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
JohanaNunezhttp://artincendi.com
KellyHosford Pattersonhttp://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
LoriBlanchardhttp://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Sue Kennedyhttp://suebeads.blogspot.com
ShaiWilliamshttp://shaihasramblings.com
NikySayershttp://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
MelissaTrudingerhttp://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
CandidaCastleberryhttp://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
ErinGuesthttp://www.renlish.com
NicoleRennellhttp://nicolerennell.com/blog
IenTemaluruhttp://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
RobinShowstackhttp://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
SamWaghornhttp://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
MarianneBaxterhttp://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
ElsieDeliz-Fonsecahttp://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
ShaiWilliamshttp://shaihasramblings.com
LeeKoopmanhttp://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
JayneCappshttp://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
MartiConradhttp://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/
TinaBoshhttp://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
EleanorThomashttp://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
JeanneSteckhttp://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
GloriaAllenhttp://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
RachelMallishttp://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
AndreaGlickhttp://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
StephanieStamperhttp://skwds.blogspot.com
ChrisHausslerhttp://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
BetonyMaidenhttp://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
KariAsburyhttp://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
JennyKyrlachhttp://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
ColleenFoleyhttp://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
MarybethRichhttp://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/   (you are here)
MarcyLambersonhttp://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
DyanneEverett-Cantrellhttp://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
GinnyLoneshttp://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
Maria RosaSharrowhttp://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
LorettaCarstensenhttp://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
DoloresRamlhttp://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
MichelleMcCarthyhttp://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
LouiseMcCormick-Glazierhttp://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
HeatherRichterhttp://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
TammyAdamshttp://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
ShirleyMoorehttp://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Seed Beaders
SusanneStelljeshttp://pearlify.blogspot.de
SheilaProstermanhttp://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
PallaviAsherhttp://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
JamiShipphttp://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
PeggyKosierhttp://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
AndraWeberhttp://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
CatherineKinghttp://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
KraftyMaxhttp://kraftymax.com
SierraBarretthttp://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
LoisSherwoodhttp://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
KatyHeiderhttp://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
RebeccaRobertson   (White)http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
HeatherRichterhttp://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
BrandyCollierhttp://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
StephanieHausslerhttp://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
LoriBlanchardhttp://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
KathleenBreedinghttp://99bobotw.blogspot.com
BeckyPancakehttp://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
RenethaStanzianohttp://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
TamiNorrishttps://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
GingerBishophttp://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
PeggyJohnsonhttp://charmbarn.blogspot.com
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