Moon Garden Blog Hop Reveal

It's that time again! Another Andrew Thornton Design Challenge reveal. This month's palette was inspired by moonstone and labradorite. The kit contains gorgeous shades of grey, peach, white and flashes of blue. I love these gemstones so naturally I had to participate. Here is a before picture of what we received...as usual Andrew provided a ton of gorgeous beads to inspire!

I take all my pictures on a white background so of course the white beads don't show up as well in this picture but I think you get the idea. As usual, we also received a mystery component...isn't it beautiful?

It really has all the colors of the kit and is very beautiful...this picture didn't quite do it justice. So as many of you know from my last few posts...life is hectic these days. Well...it hasn't really slowed down and now a show right around the corner! So needless to say I had many ideas for this kit but in the end really only accomplished 3 finished designs. But I did try a little something new so that's something! First up the something new...

I've been wanting to try out some new things with wire and this kit had several beads I thought would be perfect for trying out some spiral type pedants. I do like how they turned so I will be playing a bit more with this design.

I'm not sure yet how I want to use these pendants...I'm not a big fan of the ball chain look that many use. I'll likely do something beaded or one of my bead/ribbon styles but for now they just sit as pendants. I also made a bracelet...suitable of course for stacking with other bracelets! I know shocking ;)

Everything is from the bead kit except the antiqued copper wire and the snap clasp. I really love the way this one turned out. definitely looking at making more in this asymmetrical stack style. As has been my trend lately, I used the mystery component from the kit. I really love the size Andrew has been making them. Perfect for a necklace or bracelet design...although I'm favoring bracelets lately.

Well that's it for me this time! Hope you enjoyed your stop here today. Thanks to Andrew for putting together these inspiring kits! Don't forget to visit the links below to see everyone else's creations. ~Kari

Paula Kramer
Carolyn Lawson
Carole Carlson
Alice Peterson
Kari Asbury
Tammy Bowman
Shaiha Williams

On Andrew Thornton's Blog:
Andrew Thornton
Crystal Lombardo Farrell
Geri Colgrove
Laurie Carpenter
Alison Herrington
Naama Eisenstein
Laurel Ross

Metal and Clay Blog Hop...FINALLY! It's reveal time!

I stumbled across Lisa Lodge's facebook group Pine Ridge Treasures just in time to get in on this wonderful blog hop featuring components from Sharyl McMillian-Nelson of Metapolies. It was a great opportunity to get some of Sharyl's components and be surprised...I love beady surprises! Lisa offers lots of blog and creative challenge kits so come join us for some beady fun. You can visit Sharyl's shop by clicking above or connect with her on facebook here to catch the latest news, sales and new offerings available! Now lets get on with the reveal!

First up...a look at what I received. 2 gorgeous metal charms by Sharyl. They are hand embossed copper with a gorgeous icy blue patina. Lisa also included a strand of white glass pearls and pumpkin shaped copper beads to complete my kit. I know kits were sent at random but seriously ...it's like they both knew exactly what I would love and made it happen! There were plenty of materials and the charms were large enough I could have split them up and done necklace designs but they really spoke to me for earrings...

I added waxed linen in rust, a small sterling daisy spacer...I love mixing metals, especially silver and copper...a bit of copper chain and a pair of my handmade copper ear wires. I love the finished look...they are a bit bold, with a bit of movement and the feel of sitting near a warm fire on an icy, cold winter evening!

Aren't they just delish! I do have plans to use the rest of the pearls and copper beads in one of my stack style bracelets but that will be another day. Thanks for stopping by today and sharing again in my creative process. I hope you will visit the other participants listed below and spread the blog love! ~Kari

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry