Bead Soup Reveal Time!

I received a ton of beautiful beads from my partner, Inge. Click here if you want to check out my original post showing all the beady goodness! Now let's get started...there's lots to reveal!

 

 

I love this flower bead...the copper wire and bookmark are gorgeous accents to bring out the rich pinks and oranges from the lampwork beads. I took this bookmark to a recent wholesale show as an example of my available work and it was a big hit!

 

 

I am completely in love with the way this necklace came together. The 4 bumpy beads are wonderful but they seemed to be "odd men out" since the rest of my soup was shades of blue and pink...then I discovered how fabulous they looked with this white rabbit ephemera pendant. This image is one of my favorites. Similar tiles are available for purchase in my supply shop, Asbury Avenue Designs.

 

Here is one of many focals included in my soup. I love the 60's retro feel of this necklace! I've worn it a couple of times and received many compliments on the fantastic colors and simple style.

I must confess...when I first saw all of the wonderful blue beads 7000 Bracelets of Hope came to mind. If you've followed my previous posts you know I have contributed twice now to this wonderful organization and I currently have designs in the works for a future donation. So how great is it that my partner sent me blue beads! This bracelet is one of my first attempts at liver of sulfur and a handmade clasp...I love how it turned out! This bracelet will be donated to 7000 Bracelets...check back later to see all the designs.

Another organization I have been wanting to contribute to is Ears to You...so how great to have a few small beads in my soup to make a selection of earrings!

A collage of several items from my soup. The bracelets will go to 7000 Bracelets. The silver chain necklace includes another great focal and rose quartz from my soup. The copper and purple dragonfly has a lampwork bead from my soup...a bit hard to see the detail but it has lovely purple and pink flowers on it.

Another great pair of beads for earrings, I just added some salmon pink Czech glass for dangles. These will also be donated to Ears to You.

I wanted to make the clasp and focal bead center stage on this design so I kept it simple with chain and created a tassel with crystals and Czech glass. The clasp, focal and pink crystals are from my soup.

One last pair of earrings! I know you'll be shocked but yes they are going to Ears to You along with the rest! Thanks for sticking with me through the very long post. I feel like a accomplished a lot and I still have a TON of beady goodness left! Thank you to Inge for being such a generous soup partner!Many, many thanks to Lori for hosting all this fun!

Be sure to visit Lori's blog for a complete list of participants. Enjoy the hop!

7000 Bracelets of Hope...Reveal Time!

A picture of the first bracelet I donated...I missed the blog hop last time but so moved by the sentiment I created and sent a bracelet on my own. This time I was so excited when I saw Sue's post that I just knew I had to participate!

 

A brief background note in case you are not familiar with the campaign...This was the blog post from Sue asking us to join in this round for donations...

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:


"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."

I was just contacted by Lisa James (Manager of Community Development for Global Genes/Rare) and asked if I would host a blog hop, as they are in need of at least 40 bracelets right now! I said YES! While I'd love to get more than 40 participants, or 40 bracelets, let's just do our best to get close to that number!

40 bracelets...wouldn't it be wonderful if we could meet their current needs and a few extra... I began to look through my bead stashes, art beads...I discovered in my hoarding I actually had LOTS of blue artisan charms, links and beads. I decided from this stash I could easily create 20 bracelets so I set my time accordingly...with Thanksgiving and a show coming and my full time day job it would really just be about good time management. I can do that...then I got sick...

Really??? Sick now...I don't have time for this! So I found myself slowly moving ahead as I could but still feeling like this was so important and wanting to create as much as I could. Also, medicine head does nothing for the creative flow! So many beads were groped in this process while trying to formulate unique designs through a medicinal haze...BLAH!

I always try for this project to make adjustable bracelets...since we don't get measurements on our recipients...but I did discover one or two beautiful blue bracelets in my already made stock so I decided to include them even though they are not adjustable.

This blue fairy image from Calico Collage is one of my very favorites and I love the way this bracelet turned out. In the end I was very please with the selection of bracelets I sent and I hope the recipients are as delighted to wear and enjoy them as I was to create and share them.

When I got 6 bracelets done, considering all that was happening, I felt pretty sucessful. Granted this was not the 20 I was aiming for but sick, a show and holidays coming...and all the bracelets were very different in style so I was ready to call it well done and get my bracelets shipped. But wait...a little second wind, a break in medicine head to relieve my creative blahs...and that package of new Menagerie Studio charms in denim blue...maybe just a couple more creations before I seal the box!

TEN bracelets was the final count when the box closed and shipped on November 13! I was very happy with the results and hope that each recipient knows they were made with love, care and support for them and their families!

and now a bunch of THANK YOU'S, including the artist beads or components used to create my designs:
Sue Kennedy, our hostess
Global Genes Project
Gaea Cannaday
BoHulley Beads
BeadFreaky
Pink Beach
Sea Shore Glass
Havana Beads
Menagerie Studio
Asbury Avenue Designs (my supply shop for the ephemera wood charms)

I appologize for not having a list of the other blogs participating in this hop...I had to pre-schedule my post because I will be at America's Largest Christmas Bazaar in Portland, Oregon today and when I pre-scheduled the list wasn't available yet.

If you visit Sue's blog by clicking the link above I am certain she will have a list of all participants. Also, I will not be able to hop today but I will get around to everyone in the next few days and get a look at what I'm sure will be wonderful bracelets since you are all such very talented ladies! Thanks so much for stopping by...I love to read all your comments.

Pay It Forward...Design 2

I've been busy, sick, preparing for shows and as always continuing to sign up for blog hops, challenges, etc, etc, etc...

Needless to say I'm a bit late getting this post up but wanted to do a quick reveal on the second design I did for the Pay It Forward post from September. I am currently working on my third and final 'gift' which I hope to have on it's way by Thanksgiving...in the meantime here is my second design in the series which went to Zoe Marcin.

I read a blog post by Zoe a while back and she was talking steampunk designs. She was wishing there was more color to them. So when I received these colorful gears as an "extra" in one of my Mismatch Earring Swap packages...they seemed perfect...now what to do with them? In my email query she also mentioned liking mint green...enter Bubby & McGurk polka dots!

Thanks to Karin Slaton for gifting me these wonderful gears! Check back after Thanksgiving for the 3 and final reveal.

It's Reveal Time!

Mismatched earrings anyone?

I must admit when I first saw Diana's invitation to participate in a mismatch earring swap I almost passed it by...I love all the designs I see (especially the ones she posts). I just wasn't sure it was for me...but then of course lately I have difficulty passing up any opportunity, especially one that challenges me.

Of course once I decided to sign up a million ideas began but I had to wait for partners to be assigned so I could narrow down my design...then Diana teased me with "you'll be really happy with your partner, but I'm not telling until later"...MEANIE!

In the end I was delighted with my pairing and when the opportunity came to take on a second partner for the swap...I said of course! Did I mention I have this problem with taking on too much sometimes...anyway...it all worked out great and my partners were fantastic!

Now don't you wish I'd quit all the blah, blah, blah and get to the pictures already...

My first partner was Lisa Liddy of Metal Me This ...very happy indeed! Here is what I received from Lisa...

Green beads are from Second Surf ...her beads always look so beautiful and vibrant it was wonderful to see them in person. Purple disks and copper ear wires are from Lisa's shop Metal Me This ...and she sent me extra disks so I could try them out in a design of my own! Check back soon to see what I designed with some of them...I'm hoarding the others for future design goodness!

My second partner was Karin Slaton ...looks like she is in process of starting a shop but it's not up yet so I linked you to her lovely blog...be sure to stop by and check out all the beautiful designs she has posted through out her blog. Here is what I received from Karin...

 

So many wonderful things...where do I begin...elongated oval woven by Karin (from Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork). I am always in aww of bead weaving...I've tried it only to my frustration! Enamel leaves and lampwork bead (inside weaving) from Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads. A raku ceramic bead, pressed glass oval and sterling silver posts...love the shape of the posts it really accents the earring designs beautifully! Karin also included an extra goodie..enameled pink gears also from Sue Kennedy. I already have a design for them so look for a post soon to see what I did!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here today and that I gave proper credit to all the wonderful artists who participated, whether it was through their beads or designs.

Thank you to my to wonderful partners! It was great getting to know you both and having this opportunity to challenge myself in the mismatch earring world...I think I'll be creating a few pairs for an upcoming show...wish me luck with that!

Please be sure to follow the links below to visit the other participants in this swap and enjoy more mismatch fun!

Diana Ptaszynski http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com 

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com (you are here)

Jayne Capps http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Anderson http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

Lesley Watt http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Lori Bowring Michaud http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Holly Westfall http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Theresa Fosdick http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

Ali McCarthy http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Iveth Caruso  http://www.creativeatelier.net/blog.html

Carolyn Collins http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com

Elaine Ray http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Charlene Jacka http://www.clay-space.com

Jan Onipenco http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com

Stephanie Woods http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Shelby Foxwell http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Pam Sears http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Mary Harding http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

Lisa Johnson http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com

Kashmira Patel http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Penny Neville http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com

Dee Elgie http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah Small http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Karin Slaton http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Ashleigh Becker http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Kay Hand http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com

Rana L. Wilson  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Dawn Pierro http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

Shelley Graham Turner http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Melissa Trudinger http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Surprise! My Pay It Forward Gift Arrived!

You may remember at the beginning of September I had a Pay It Forward post. The idea was after I was one of 3 people to comment on Patti Vanderbloemen's post to receive a surprise, I would 'Pay It Forward' by offering the same  opportunity on my blog. The only set rule was you have to mail out your surprises sometime in the next 365 days...fortunately Patti did not make me wait!

I gave a little information about myself...a few colors I like, wrist size, but otherwise I tried to leave it open to her creativity. I can't begin to tell you how great she did! Sizing is fantastic, colors...yum and beads from several of my favorite artists! As I work on my surprises to send I hope my recipents are as pleased as I am with their surprises!

So I'll just quit babbling and say here it is...

Lampwork beads from Sue Kennedy, Glass Bead Art and Sheila Davis. Here's a link to Patti's shop so you can pay her a visit and a get a piece of her beautiful jewelry for yourself!

Have a great evening!
~Kari

Bead of Clay Design Team Reveal!

Several months ago the opportunity came to be part of a wonderful design team through Bead of Clay. So many of us wanted to participate that we've been split into teams...each waiting our opportunity to participate in a design series. I was so excited to hear at the end of July that I would be part of the August/September round of designers.

Marla was so wonderful to give a sneak peak of all the loot that would be coming our way...the ideas of course began swirling at first sight. So many fantastic beads, components and even fiberwire to work with...did I mention I was excited!

Then Marla presented us with a challenge... She asked that we make a pair of earrings and a necklace OR bracelet. The catch, we had to use EVERYTHING  sent to us in our designs...leave nothing out. Did I mention we were getting a TON of stuff? Here's a picture of the all the loot...

I have to take a moment to say I love the color pallette and they all did a fantastic job with coordinating colors to each others items. Now back to that use everything and only 1 pair of earrings and 1 necklace OR bracelet...yikes! Best to just dig in...and take a few progress pictures along the way!

 

I picked beads for the earrings first. I really liked the purple rounds..I know hard to believe, lol. At first I was undecided about the teal tubes or the green rounds (slightly mismatched). So at this point I set the earrings aside and decided to move on for the moment...

Links, dangles, and more links... It is at this point I will tell you I decided to cheat, just a little, in my design. I actually end up with 2 necklaces, which can be worn together or separately and a pair of earrings that can be worn with either necklace. I wanted to follow Marla's request but felt I also had to let the beads 'speak' to me. Besides I'm an artist, not good at following directions by nature...LOL!

So the first necklace is a 3 strand chain style linked together with one of my hubby's new handmade copper rings...coming soon to our supply shop Asbury Avenue Designs. I love the way this necklace turned out, I was able to use most of the loot in this necklace without having the piece be "too much". wrapped links are spaced out on each strand and I've made this one adjustable to it can be worn close to the neck up to about 18-19 inches.

 

The adjustable style of this one perfectly compliments the extra lenth in the second necklace. It took me a bit to get past only having one of Kristi's beautiful copper cones...oh what I could have done with two! But the one I decided was perfect to create a focal with a few of the larger beads that just didn't sit right as links for the first necklace.

This simple style also turned out to be a great place to use the fiberwire and not have it get 'lost' in the design.

Right about now you're thinking what happened to the earrings...

and now that I've shown you all these beautiful goodies, in wonderful pictures and collages...I wanted to show how both necklaces can be worn together and how the earrings compliment everything but of course...I couldn't get a good picture to save myself! So pardon this horrible picture but you can atleast see how it all goes together.

My extra long post is almost over...just a little business and thank you left to do...THANK YOU to all the wonderful artists from Beads of Clay...without you we would not have this wonderful design group! I hope you will visit the other designers who participated. Links to their blogs are below along with links to all the bead designers for your shopping pleasure. :)

Designers:

CillaWatkins
Lesley Watt
MaryLou Holvenstot
Shannon Chomanczuk

BOC Contributors:

Karen Totten Starry Road Studio
Julie Rowe Beads, Birds and Bones
JeraLuna Designs
Marla James Marla's Mud
Kristi Bowman KristiBowmanDesign
Yarn Sweet Yarn

Challenge of Travel

It's reveal time...but first a bit about the challenge...

I saw this challenge just a day or two before it closed, so I didn't really have to time to think beyond sounds fun, I love a design challenge and so I went for it! For the challenge we had to choose a region other then where we live and then pick a nation in that region to use for design inspiration...or we could choose 'surprise me' for the nation...surprise is good, right?

I chose Oceania...and was surprised with Solomon Islands. I proceeded to Google it, though I had a pretty good idea of the general information and photos I would find. Tropical, clear blue waters, green forest areas just off of sandy coastlines and many yummy colorful fish...I apologize for not sharing any of the pictures I found but illness came soon after my research began and soon it became more important to try to finish my piece then to re-search for the pictures.

I love the bright tropical colors, blues and greens are color favorites to work with so even with the sudden illness I was thinking no problem...this should be a breeze...

My first attempt...I purchased a wonderful tutorial from Shannon LeVart of Miss Fickle Media for making a sari silk and stone bangle...so I decided to give it a try...even though I had no sari silk on hand...

I hand forged my own copper bracelet form from the instructions, not too difficult. Then on to a sari silk substitute...beautiful, hand dyed silk ribbon should do the trick and how perfect! I have some in ocean shades of blue and green. So following the tutorial I begin wrapping my ribbon with wire...I think about halfway through the wrapping I wasn't convinced but continued on hoping it would get better...not so much... I got as far as adding the bead and quit! I have since ordered some sari ribbon in sever beautiful colors because I LOVE Shannon's tutorial and would like to try again with the proper materials...wish me luck!

So now we are about a week from reveal time and I have no ideas...time to grope the bead stash and hope the magic happens...

I started with the bag goodies I have from Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth I have recently purchased some of her beach style pendants so maybe they will 'speak' to me...and so it's the mermaid. She is not the tropical shades of blue and green. The bead bundle that 'works' with her is not either, rather they are darker greens, with coppery browns...if there is such a thing...and a bit of cranberry. Then I remember seeing just a few pictures of natives to Solomon Islands...beyond the clear blue water, sandy beaches and green forest...were the native huts made from large brown leaves and the native people in there natural colors, just a hint of red, blue or greens beads in the personal adornments. So it was decided...for better or worse...

It works for me...pendant and beads are from Nan Emmett. I used bronze chain and I am proud to say Drew, my hubby, made the beautiful, hand hammered copper ring. He has made several more which will be available soon in our supply shop, Asbury Avenue Designs.

A close up of the beads...

and I couldn't resist a picmonkey.com collage...

or two...

I hope you will visit all of the other participants...and I hope you enjoyed your visit to my little travel spot along the way!

Monique Urquhart	http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.ca/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/
Therese Frank	http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Raychelle Heath	http://abeadloveaffair.blogspot.com/
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.wordpress.com
Sherri Stokey	http://www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Regina Santerre	http://reginaswritings.blogspot.com
Raida Disbrow	http://havanabeads.blogspot.com
Kristi Wodek	http://livedinlife.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://www.thestudiosublime.com
Melissa Trudinger	http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Tracy Stillman	http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sandra Wolberg	http://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.de
Tanya Goodwin	http://pixiloo.blogspot.com
Susan Kennedy	http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Beth Emery	http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone	http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Tanya Boden	http://fusionmusebangkok.blogspot.com/
Inge von Roos	http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Erin Prais-Hintz	http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie	http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson	http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Lisa Stukel	http://carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com
Elly Snare	http://themagicsquarefoundation.wordpress.com
Shelley Graham Turner	http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Paige Maxim	http://www.pmaximdesigns.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson	http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Holly Westfall	http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Siervaag	http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Toltec Jewels	http://toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman	http://StregaJewellry.wordpress.com
Laren Dee Barton	http://larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	http://www.mommysdreamcreations.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Shaiha Williams	http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Justman	http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kim Hora	http://www.kimmykats.com
Leanne Loftus	http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Patti Vanderbloemen	http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Marcie Carroll	http://labellajoya.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com/
Alice Peterson	http://www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Elisabeth Auld	http://www.beadsforbusygals.com
Susan McClelland	http://mistheword12.wordpress.com/
D Lynne Bowland	http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com
Denielle Hagerman	http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Kari Asbury	http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com	you are here :)
Cece Cormier	http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/
Emma Todd	http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Debbie Price	http://greenshoot.blogspot.com