Late to the Party

I am behind at looking at everyone's lovely creations, I was hanging out with Harry this weekend. 

From what I have seen everyone did such a great job.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by!  Off to go see everyone else!

Spring Issue of Stringing

I received my copy of the Spring issue of Stringing magazine in the mail last week.  I knew that it was coming and I eagerly stalked my mailbox for its arrival.  I was not disappointed.  Inside were some beautiful, bright spring creations.  There were several techniques that I want to try.  I saw a necklace by Erin Siegel that used a leather cording at the front of a necklace to hang a pendant from with two loops that connected to the beaded strand.  And I saw a necklace by Cynthia Deis that had tiny pieces of gingham ribbon tied to the beaded strands.  I had a couple of pieces chosen for the issue and feel very honored to be included among so many beautiful designs.  My necklace design was called "All Laced Up" and it has Czech glass, wood rounds and an antique gold pendant that I got from Fire Mountain Gems.  The back of the necklace is a piece of off white lace trim that I got from the fabric section of Joann's. 

I also had 2 pairs of earrings chosen for the gallery.  The first is a pair made with handmade shrink plastic charms.

And these are made with some vintage lucite lilies from the Beadin Path.

If you have not seen a copy, go and find one at your bookstore or order from Interweave.  You will not be disappointed.  The Bead Soup reveal coming up shortly and I have to get cracking on my design.  Stay tuned.

What a Day

It is only 8:30 and my son has already given me a fat lip (accidentally by flinging his extra hard head around), taken my purse and emptied the contents searching for coins to put in his piggy bank and dumped out all his puzzles into one large pile.  I am just going to call it a day.  Some days you should not leave the house - this is one of them.  And it is going to be close to 80 degrees today.  Which means by the time we get to summer everyone will be suffering from heat exhaustion.  Awesome.  I am off to go put together 10 jigsaw puzzles.  Be back later with some jewelry, hopefully.

Valentine's Loot

I received the perfect Valentine's present - a gift card to buy beads.  He knows me so well.  The Michaels by where I live recently added a ton of new beads to their stock and everything was 50% this week.  So, I went and had some fun.  I do not live anywhere close to a bead store (the closest one with anything good is about a 45 minute drive from me), so I have to rely on craft stores and online shopping to buy my beads.  I do get a bead show twice a year, but that is it.  I always get excited when I see new stuff at the craft store.  Here are the goods -

Some ceramic beads, carved beads, ceramic spacers, resin beads, glass beads and two hole magnesite spacers

Apparently in my bead shopping excitement, I accidentally purchased two of the purple stone strands.

This last set are all new two hole slider beads.  I have a huge mother's day order I need to get working on and these will become bracelet and earring sets.



That's all!  I will post some pictures when I get around to actually making something.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know I'm a day early, but my husband and I celebrate Valentine's Day on the 13th instead of the 14th.  Six years ago today my husband proposed to me.  He didn't want to do it on Valentine's Day because he thought it would be a little cheesy.  I remember he wanted me to get all dressed up so we could go out that night (it was a Sunday) and I thought to myself, why does he want to go out tonight, aren't we going out tomorrow?  So every year since we celebrate today.  It actually kinda works, because the restaurants aren't as packed and we can even possibly get someone to stay with the boy. 

Us on our honeymoon. 

I also sent out Valentine's Day cards to my mom and my two grandmothers.  It is nice to take the day and let the people you love know you love them.  Happy Valentine's Day!

February Art Bead Scene Challenge

I have been thinking about entering the Art Bead Scene Challenge this month with this necklace -

Normally I don't enter the monthly challenges, I just like to see what everone else makes, but I had this piece made and I think it kinda works.  I admire everyone who can look at a work of art and translate that into jewelry, something I've not been able to do.  All of the ceramic beads are Gaea beads, including the pendant.  I am off to go upload it to flickr. 

I'm still here

I have been neglecting my blog for a while, sorry about that.  I wanted to write, but I really didn't have anything to write about.  I haven't been able to make anything for awhile because I have had a headache for like a week.  One that is there right when you wake up and fades with some medicine but comes back even stronger.  Not fun.  I feel better today, so I thought I would share some news.  I saw on the Stringing Facebook page that they have uploaded the new pics from the Spring issue of the magazine and my necklace is one of the preview pics.  The photography is so pretty and I love the way they styled it.  I cannot wait to see the issue, I think that the Spring issue is always my favorite every year.  I love the bright colors and all of the bird and flower motifs.  Plus this issue has some vintage inspired styles, which are some of my favorite pieces to try.  I think that you can pre-order the issue from Interweave now.  I will post some pictures of my necklace and earrings that are in the issue when I receive it.