Artbeads Blog Partner "Winter Enchantment" Project

These were my selections for the Winter Enchantment Artbead Blog Partners Challenge.  We were asked to choose beads with a Winter theme.  I love Swarovski crystals for their sparkle (like the glittery snow). I chose a lovely selection of Swarovski crystals, tiny 1.5mm seed bead cubes in 2 colors and Tila double holed seed beads in 2 colors. Trust me this challenge was DEFINITELY a challenge.   I restarted the project FIVE times before I ended up with these~

I used sterling silver wire and twisted it starting with the wire in the hearts and added the Xilion pendants (look like tiny rivolis with a single hole in the top) in violet and aquamarine as I went up the stem.  I looped the wire for the earring hook and added more pendants as I wound my wire back to the top of the heart.  There on the last pendant, I curled the wire instead of cutting it off.

Even with all the issues I had with my designs not working, I love the way the earrings turned out!




Disclosure...As a reviewer of products at Artbeads.com, I received the Swarovski crystals, Tila seed beads, and tiny cube seed beads free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of the products...positive or negative. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Humor Tuesday

Stress is getting to me.  It is making my chronic ailments flair up and I don't like that.  I decided today we could all use a good giggle to lighten the load.  Enjoy!

And The Winners Are...

Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati Jewelry is the earring winner and Genea Crivello-Knable of Genea Beads wins Chris's gorgeous Violet Garden focal bead!  Congratulations Ladies and contact us with you mailing address (use our email) so we can send your prizes off to you!  Thanks to everyone for stopping by the blog and for all your lovely comments!  We appreciate each and every one of you!

Tucson Treasures! My Purchases at the Bead Shows...

 Well, FINALLY!  You have all been waiting with bated breath to see what I lugged (quite literally) home from my first visit to Tucson!  So here they are!

Okay, technically I purchased these before I left.  THEY ARE PAPER!  I have NO idea how she does it, and I don't particularly care, I think they are gorgeous, more than reasonably priced, and can't wait to figure out a project for them.
They are made by Anna Fearer and you can find her Etsy shop/blog/website :
Anna's website
Anna's Blog
Anna's Etsy Store

Metal working tools from PJ Tools, Inking kit from Bello Modo, and Guilder's paste from Kabela Designs.   All for altering metal pieces, I have been wanting to add the altered pieces to my jewelry for a while now, but hadn't had the courage to jump in.  Now I have!

 Lovely large amounts of chain (my supply was sadly low) from Rings & Things (spools) and Whimbeads (loose).  Great prices and selection.  These are base metal chains, but nice quality. 

This is possibly my favorite chain purchase from Hip Chick Beads!  Love the mixed shapes and it is a really lovely design.

WOW!  It looks like the 80's exploded on my table!  I predict that the bold, fun colors of the 80's will be back with a vengeance in jewelry designs this year, judging by the amounts of these beads we saw in Tucson.  There are also lovely natural stones, turquoise, and dyed candy jade (an automatic sale from past experience) that I can't get enough of!  Loved all the faceted varieties of the fire agates/fired agates we saw in Tucson.  There are several strands of different varieties that followed me home!

 The sadly small amount of seed beads purchased.  Mostly from Whimbeads, I am working on a project using the tiny cubes so I bought them in my favorite colors.

 GORGEOUS Druzy nuggets (actually not sure what the stones are) that I bought from two teenage gals running their family booth!  I couldn't resist the colors or the sparkle!  And they were very helpful in getting me through the gram pricing haze!

Crystals!  I focused on the tiniest ones I could find and colors I didn't have.  I am a big fan of Swarovski crystals, but the prices and varieties of these Chinese crystals can't be beat!

 LUCITE!  One of my very favorite things to work with!  These all came from my friends Kelli & Michael Burns from The Hole Bead Shop in Oklahoma.  Years ago, Michael wondered across me talking about their products/company on my blog and we have been internet friends since!  It was wonderful to meet them in person and shop all of their beautiful varieties.  I also bought fun, vintage metal pieces from them!

It was a good thing I found these Czech glass leaves the LAST day of the show instead of the FIRST day of the show or I wouldn't have all of the other stuff!  WHAT a gorgeous booth Aloha Bead had!  So much Czech glass leaves, flowers, and shapes!  I could have spent a lot of time and money wading through all of the choices!

Pearls!  I focused on brights for spring, tinies for bead embroidery, and the bright red is a strand of coral rondelles that called LOUDLY to me!

 Artist beads!  The woman face is by Lewis Wilson.  The Nautical Heart is from polymer clay Goddess, Christi Friesen, whom I also purchased a book from (which she graciously signed).  The wire piece is from Lillian Chen, whom we had the pleasure of watching do demos at the Parawire booth.  (I couldn't find a website for her to link to!)

 Wire from the Parawire booth!  Gorgeous colors and lots of gauges to work with!  We brought tons of this home for Julie's shop.

 Vintage Swarovski rivolis and others from Bead Bistro at the The Whole Bead Show.  Gorgeous! 

 Czech glass button found at To Bead True Blue.

 A gorgeous rhodochrysite heart and tiny floral cabs from Dolly Ahles (Flamedancer Beads).
Won't they be lovely in a piece of bead embroidery?!!! 

Swarovski cupchain!  I bought some of each of the custom ordered gorgeous color combinations created by Alacarte Clasps,

Both of these pics are items purchased from Beyond Beadery completely amazing cabs and rivolis!  What did I say about the 80's colors?!  The lime green rivolis and the HUGE orange one are definitely 80's neon colors and the cabs above feel like gummy bears!  Very interesting texture, but you have to be careful with the foil backs that they don't get scratched.

So what do you think of my selections?  I had a terrific time and the amount of beads was MIND BOGGLING!

Advice from A Cat (our cat Suki)...

 Being a Studio Cat is exhausting, rest often!

Investigate everything, no detail is too small to escape notice!

 Have someone adore you enough to be comfortable with who you are.

 Record keeping is hard work.

 Taxes and paperwork are exhausting.

 Mom's can be tough, but they love you.

 Return to your roots for comfort, even if it doesn't quite fit you anymore.

 Bead sorting is EXHAUSTING!

 I heard the key chain rattle!  WHERE is that red dot?!!!!

 Napping in luggage is the best!  However, be careful you don't sleep TOO long!

 If you can't see me, will I get to go along?

 Oh man, you found me!

 Kneading dough on anything is very relaxing!

 You can never have enough things to chew on!  Dental health is important!

 Cuteness will often excuse you from unfortunate decisions!

Often, things just need to be viewed from a different angle.

 There is no such thing as too many cute cat pictures!

Drawing Deadline Extended

   

Due to popular demand,the deadline for the giveaway for the earrings and Violet focal has been extended!  Please enter by midnight, Sunday, March 6th to be included in the drawing and then check back here for the results!  Just comment here or on my Soup Reveal to enter and THANKS for stopping by!

Be sure to check out all of the Bead Soup Party designs!

It Is ALMOST time!!! Bead Soup REVEAL Tomorrow, Until Then...

Bead Soup Participant Map

I have never participated in a Bead Soup activity.  I am thankful that I was able to get signed up to participate with this one, it has been fun and provided me with an opportunity to expand my jewelry abilities that I wouldn't have had otherwise.
My Bead Soup Observations:

• With 210 participants, I give my thanks to Lori Anderson for all of her organization and what a terrific idea she had!
• I love the pieces I created with my soup mix from my partner Shea.
• I didn't have as much trouble working with a neutral color palette as I expected I would.
• While the map above was my idea, Lori did all the work!  I find it fascinating to see where we live and where all the others are.  When I look at my blog stats, the map is what fascinates me most (and that I have anything interesting enough to write to keep people coming back!)
• I can't wait until tomorrow!  Sadly I have to work, so won't be able to surf all the blogs until later!

Be sure to come back here tomorrow, not only to see what I created with my Soup Mix, but Chris & I will be giving away 2, yes I said 2, items for readers signing up over the weekend!  See you tomorrow!