Confessions of a Bead Hoarder, Part 2: The Blog Hop Reveal

 Beads are my therapy.  I love to shop for them, look at them, touch them, talk about them, sell them, and create with them.  They just plain make me happy.  One of my favorite lampwork bead artists is, Tera Belinsky-Yoder, who's company is Beadygirl Beads.  We met Tera years ago at my first bead show in Lincoln, Nebraska.  It was a tiny bead show in comparison to others I have attended since, but I was THRILLED by all the beady goodies that were for sale at that show.  Tera's beads speak to me.  They call to me.  And they make me happy, just by owning them.  This is just one of the many Beadygirl beads in my collection and Chris has his own stash of them as well. 
I love the colors Tera uses.  She has very specific color palettes that she works in and that makes her beads easily recognizable.  Tera has a fun and funky style that fits with my "beading philosophy".  Basically, that is "Why wear jewelry or create jewelry that can be made by 1000s of others in identical styles".  I want to have my designs and the jewelry I wear to YELL "Hey, where did you get that"!  Plus the colors Tera works in match my wardrobe!

The focal of this piece I have had for many years, floating blissfully around my bead stash.  I see it as a cross between an alien robot and a scarab beetle.  To Tera's delightful bead, I have added Czech glass, and funky beady doodads from Yvonne Irvin-Faus, who's company "MyElements" is also another of my very favorite bead suppliers to shop with.   Yvonne specializes in the fun and funky also (do we see a pattern here?), and I love her hand painted Plexiglas components and all of the bits and bobs that she sells.  This necklace contains Crinklez, Saucerz, Ringoz, and rubber Oringz.  Even the names are fun!  I love to add these pieces because they are light weight, brightly colored, and fun shapes.  They are really fun in charm bracelets (which are my favorite piece of jewelry to create). 
I used 16g black wire to create the pendant (it is a HUGE bead) with a couple neon orange faceted silicone beads I got at Julie's Xpressions in Hastings.  Sad to say in my wire wrapping vigor, I chipped the bead on top, but since it is mine, I kept going.  I made a loopy wire wrap at the bottom, since I wasn't using a headpin for the wrap.  I added the pendant to a section of gunmetal rollo chain (about a 7mm size) that is also pretty hefty to help with the weight of the focal.  Then I started adding my pretties.  The nice thing with open (rather than soldered) chain, is you can use the links as jump rings as well.  The large green rings, I just connected into a spare link of chain and added it in.  This way, the "jump rings" match the chain!  I have also used this idea when I have run out of a jump ring or near a lobster clasp when you want a thick sturdy ring to connect to.  To make the "necklace" portion of the design, I recycled a leftover piece of kumihimo braid I made with .5 mm leather cord.  I add some purple wire to one end to connect to my chain and a BIG black lobster clasp on the other side.  It is a bit different for me to have a side clasp, but I love how it adds to the funky design of the piece.  I used a few bits and bobs to decorate the ends of the cord near the connections, holding them in place with more of Yvonne's tiny colored Oringz.  Of course there are a few Swarovski crystals thrown into the dangles, because I need my SPARKLES!
Here is a full view of the design:

 Fun, Funky, and Pretty!

What is a piece of jewelry without a pair of coordinating earrings?!!  Boring, that's what!  Since I was kind of going over the top with this piece, I decided to go WAY out there with the earrings!  I used handmade lampwork bead caps, created by Tanya McGuire.  Tanya is another bead artist that I met at the local bead shows, and her designs are also right up my alley! 

I used the large bead caps as "bells" and added resin beads and more of Yvonne's pieces.  The center has the heavy chain that was used in the necklace also.  I wanted to have something sturdy but something to allow movement as well.  I again used the 16g black wire to hook everything together.  I finished them with matte finish earring hooks from BeadSmith.  I love my jewelry to move and make noise and these do both!  The glass caps give the earrings a nice "tinkle" when I move my head!

So now that you have seen what I designed from my "hoarded stash", why not hop along the bead trail to see what the other artists have created with theirs!

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog