Pretty Palettes April

I decided to dust off my blog and participate in the April Pretty Palettes Challenge.  I've been super busy lately, but I wanted to make something because I loved the palette inspiration this month.

So gorgeous.  I would love to see that in person, wouldn't you? This is what I made-

I used the new statement pieces from Michaels for the necklace and added some green, blue, and purple Bead Gallery beads.  

My next pieces were a happy coincidence.  I was making some cute little tassels with green embroidery thread that just happened to match the palette. 

Some easy earrings round out the set.

That's all for me, please visit the Halcraft website to see what everyone else made.

December Pretty Palettes

I loved the palette for this month's Pretty Palette. 

 I love the gold and silver together and knew right away what I wanted to make. I went and got some of the sliders and some shiny gray glass beads.  

I added in some of the pretty top drilled black beads and simple silver colored rounds.  

I made some earrings with some extra materials I had from making something else on my bead tray.  They don't really match, but still cute to wear separately.  Please check out the Halcraft Blog to see what everyone else made.  Happy New Year!

Heather and Lorelei's Michaels Challenge

I saw this Michaels challenge on the Humblebeads blog and knew I wanted to participate.  Check out these beads - 

Super cute, right?  They didn't have the faceted stone beads and I added some green glass rondells, resin flowers and rhinestone spacer beads.  But those frosted beads looked like snowballs to me and I have this secret yearning for a snowy, wintry Christmas.  But, seeing as I live in Orlando, these little snowball beads are the closest I'm going to get.  Here's what I made-

Part of the challenge was to incorporate beads from a small business, a bead store or bead artist.  I picked out this fun cream colored flower pendant that I actually won this year from a blog giveaway with Lorelei Eurto.  It's from Classic Bead.

I also added a little Humblebeads spacer and strung it with some waxed linen.  This next one is my favorite.

I just can't even with that little fox bead.  He's wearing a scarf and is too stinking cute.  My little fox and the rest of the polymer clay beads come from Humblebeads too.

I made two pairs of earrings with the leftovers.  

That's all, please visit everyone else to see what they made.  Thanks for stopping by!

November Pretty Palettes

This month's challenge palette was a little hard for me.  I'm a fan of both orange and gray, but I can't picture them together in one piece.  So I kinda cheated and made two, one with orange and one with gray.  Here's the palette:

Pretty, right?  Here are the beads I picked-

My first necklaces are made with some adorable ceramic turkeys from Jennifer Heynan, just in time for Thanksgiving.

One for me and one for my Ma.  The next piece I made and have been wearing pretty much all the time.  It's sparkly and I love it.

Please check the Halcraft blog to see what everyone else came up with.  

October Pretty Palettes

I loved the paintings for this month's palette.  So pretty.  When I went to Michaels to check out the beads, I was inspired by these in particular.

Something about them really spoke to me.  I made quite a few necklaces with them including this one which I think matches the palette pretty well.

I used some of the new statement pieces in this and I just love the way it turned out.  

I would have taken a picture of myself with it on, but I have not quite mastered the art of taking a selfie.  I'm off to check out what everyone else made, stop by the Halcraft blog to see for yourself.  

Pretty Palettes September

Today is the reveal day for the Pretty Palettes Challenge for September.  Here is the palette:

September Palette

And here's what I came up with:

I added some purple glass beads and some freshwater pearls to the beads that Erin sent to me.  

This is a longer necklace that features a pendant from the Lipstick Ranch with secret message on the back.

My second necklace features the large off white pearls and I just happened to have 2 gray Humblebeads disk beads that I added to each side.

I used the pink glass beads with some pearls to make a wrap bracelet.

I even made earrings, which Is always harder for me to do because I never wear them.

Please check out the Halcraft blog to see what everyone else came up with.

Pretty Palettes September - ME!!!!

Every month, the Halcraft Blog has a color challenge hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz.  And each month she picks a person to play along.  This month she picked me.  Yea, for me, beads in the mail!!  One of the small pleasures in life, beads in the mail.  This is the palette that was picked for September.

September Palette

Mmmm, yummy.  Makes me want cake.  Mmmm.  Anyway, these are the beads I received.

Purples and pinks and a little off white and silver.  This is a little preview of what I came up with.

Come back on September 24th to see the finished designs.  If you want to play along, check out the Halcraft blog for details.

Pretty Palettes Challenge for August

Look at me, two months in a row of bead challenges.  With my oldest back in school, I hope to have more time to make stuff and show it off here on the blog.  This month the palette was a pretty mix of teal, fuschia, brown and off white.  Here is the inspiration:

And here's what I did:

Stacking bracelets.  I'm really into making stretchy bracelets lately.  I think it's because they are quick and easy and fun to wear.  I can't stand wearing jewelry I have to fuss with.  These, you slip them on and that's it.  Here's a picture of what they look like together:

All the beads are from Bead Gallery at Michaels.  Stay tuned, I have some exciting news for September!

Pretty Palettes

I have been following along with the as Pretty Palettes Challenges every month on the Halcraft blog.  I always want to make something, but can never find the time.  This month's palette was a pretty mint green, yellow and gray.  I found myself at Michaels and picked up some beads that would work (for 50% off, too!).  

I'm really into this style of bracelet lately.  It's a wrap with beads strung on waxed linen and attached to a leather loop with a button.

Bonus-it can be worn as a necklace too. I used a mix of mint and green beads with some tiny silver flower spacers.  I couldn't find any yellow beads I was in love with, so these mint glass beads with tiny yellow splotches are what I chose.  I love all of the other pieces that were made this month, great inspiration!  Can't  wait to see next month's palette.

Spring Fever Design Challenge

When I heard about this Spring Fever Blog hop, I knew I wanted to try and get a set of adorable spring beads.  But not because I have been longing for spring.  I live in Orlando and we have two seasons, really hot and eh, it's not that bad today.  These beads were too cute to not want to try.  I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure what color scheme I was going to get.  I lucked out and received purple, yellow and green, three of my favorites.  Of course I didn't take a picture of the beads because as soon as I got them, I wanted to start stringing.

I ended up with three pieces.  I bracelet made with one of the ceramic birds, a lighter purple bead and a ceramic lentil bead with tiny purple flowers.  I used some wooden slice beads and a purple flower toggle to finish it off.  

I wanted to make a charm necklace with the ceramic leaf so I wire wrapped some tiny purple seed beads around a copper circle and added some extra flowers and beads dangling from the bottom.  I used the second bird to attach the circle to

some tan suede cord.  

The last necklace I'm not crazy about.  I used some yellow beads and wire wrapped purple flowers before adding the green ceramic rounds.  I finished it off with some purple jade beads.  I might do it over.  I don't know, I can't stand taking stuff apart.

The one thing I didn't use was the sari silk.  It was a lovely purple color, but I just couldn't figure out what to do with it.  I'm saving it for another day.  

Please check out what everyone else made:

Lesley Watt -http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk

Caroline Dewison -http://www.blueberribeads.co.uk 

Emma Quinn -http://patinafinishes.blogspot.co.uk/

Kathy Lindemer - http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.co.uk 

Vicky Roberts -http://thebeadshopliverpool.blogspot.co.uk

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

Leigh Thow -http://jewellrleigh.blogspot.co.uk

Ailsa Jackson -http://katzjewellery.blogspot.co.uk/

Steph L -That's me! http://stringaholic.blogspot.co.uk/

Kristi Harrison - http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.co.uk/

Merja - http://helmiriippuvuus.blogspot.fi

Lucy Haslam -http://faerystone.blogspot.co.uk/

Penny Neville -http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Linda - http://earth-shinedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Kristen Stewart - http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.co.uk/

Erin Prais – Hintz – http://treasures-found.blogspot.co.uk/

Klassy Joolz -http://klassyjoolz.blogspot.co.uk/

Jenny Argyle -http://keithagnestutorialsdesigns.blogspot.co.uk

Shaiha -http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Claire Lockwood -http://www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com/

Patti Gasparino -http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/

Suhana Hart -http://www.buttonedupbeads.blogspot.co.uk

Toltec Jewels - JewelSchoolFriends.com 

December AJE Challenge

This is the second time this past year that I have lucked out and won one of Rebekah's beads to design with.  I was particularly excited about this challenge because of the awesome bead.  I have put this bead in and taken it out of my shopping cart on Etsy many times due to budgetary constraints.  I would have posted a picture of just the bead, but I was too excited and strung it right away.  

I meant to make a bracelet, but I found these ombré olive beads and I thought they went well with the other pieces for a necklace.  I'm not sure you can see on te close up of the bead, but there is a subtle blue running through the olive green.  So pretty up close.  

Thanks Rebekah, your beads are always so well made.  Thanks for stopping by and please check out what everyone else made.

Guest Designers:

Stephanie - Confessions of a Bead Hoarder - that's me!

Ann - Bead Love

Karin - Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Melissa - Bead Recipes

AJE Team:

Jen - Glass Addictions

Karen - Starry Road Studio

Kristi - Kristi Bowman Design

Diana - Suburban Girl Studio

Kristen - My Bead Journey

Lesley - The Gossiping Goddess

Jenny - Jenny Davies-Reazor

Francesca - Francesca Watson Designs

Linda - Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings

Melissa - Melissa Meman… Art, Life, Love

Susan - Sue Beads

Rebekah - Tree Wings Studio

Caroline - BlueberriBeads

I'm beat

I had a show this weekend and I'm exhausted.  Because of my kids, I can only do one show every six months.  It's just too hard to find childcare for a whole weekend.  This time I picked the Big Bang Bazaar.  It's an indoor show, they provide the tables and chairs and all you do is bring our stuff.  That was a big part of the appeal of this show for me.  Here's my little corner.

We couldn't hang up anything on the walls, so no sign.  But I actually think the faux wood paneling worked with my stuff.  I attended this same show in September and it was so packed you couldn't move.  So I thought close to Christmas it would be the same way, people lined up at the door to get in, everyone shopping for the holiday.  Not so much.  It was VERY slow.  Like time moving backwards don't see anyone for a half an hour slow.  All the vendors that I spoke with were not happy to say the least.  The woman in the space next to me said she didn't even make back her entrance fee and the woman next to her only sold one thing all weekend.  I felt so bad.  I made back my booth fee and a some profit, so I was very happy about that.  

But man I am tired.  You wouldn't think standing around talking to people would wipe you out, but I'm beat.  Shows are always a learning experience, what works and what I would change about the next one.  I'm thinking I definitely need a stylus.  It would be easier when I'm using my Square to have people sign with that instead of their fingers.  A couple of vendors had one and it works really well. I was also interested to see what people were picking up and what they bought.  I sold necklaces off of my neck stands the most, so I'll have to invest in more of those.  And I sold a lot of bracelets that were memory wire or stuff with a length of chain so the size could be adjustable.  I think I'll focus on more of those styles for the next go around.  

To all of you out there who do a lot of shows, hats off to you.  That's hard work and I don't know how you do it.  Hopefully maybe something I learned this weekend will help someone else too.  

Halloween Blog Hop

I love Halloween.  Not sure why because I'm not that fond of candy or dressing up.  I think it might be because it is the start of the holiday season and I love this part of the year.  I especially love making holiday jewelry, even if I don't wear it that often.

My first piece is actually a redo, I made it awhile ago, but I didn't like the clasp or how I finished it.  The pumpkin, crow and spiderweb beads are by Kylie Parry.

Another shot of the beads.

My next necklace is with a gorgeous pendant by Golem Studios.  They made such great ceramic beads and pendants they are some of my favorites.  

Close up of the pendant.  Well, that's it for me, please hop around to see what everyone else made.  Thanks for stopping by!

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

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

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com

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

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com 

Stephanie LaRosa  - you're here! http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

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

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

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

It's my birthday, bleh

My poor, neglected blog.  Most if my time is spent trying to prevent a kamikaze 14 month old from flinging himself off of things.  When he sleeps, I like to make stuff and not write because I like making stuff more then writing.

Today, I'm not feeling so inspired.  It's my birthday.  There comes a certain point in almost everyone's life where they no longer look forward to their birthday, but see it as a passing of time.  I've reached that point.  I am not old, I know that.  I just feel old, some days more then others.  Blah, blah, whine, whine.  I hear myself, but I just cannot get out of this grumpy mood.  Maybe I need some cake.

Anyway, I have new stuff that will be landing in my etsy store today, including a necklace that was rejected by Stringing magazine.  :(.  ( see how I can make anything grumpy today?)

Hope everyone else is having a wonderful Wednesday!

Thinking about when it's not so insanely hot

I don't know if it's because I live in Florida and it's August, but I have been daydreaming of cooler weather.  Not likely to happen for at least 2-3 months but a girl can still dream.  Maybe that's why I made these two fall-ish necklaces.  Just seeing them makes me long for days I can wear pants and drink Caramel Macchiatos.  Hope it's more comfortable where you are!

Bead Hoarders' Blog Hop

Yes, this is my second blog hop for today.  When the talented Lori Anderson was putting together a new blog hop for Bead Hoarders, I thought, well shoot, I'm gonna have to participate in that.  I'm a bead hoarder.  This is one box of art beads.

 

Just one.  There are more.  I may need help.  There are lovelies in here from Kylie Parry, Menagerie Studio, Gaea, Spirited Earth, Golem Studio, Humblebeads, Tree Wings Studio, Jangles, and many more.  I don't only hoard art beads, I'm an equal opportunity hoarder.  I collect all beads, expensive, cheap, glass, plastic, metal or ceramic, I buy them all.  I store them in little boxes and wait for inspiration to strike. 

 

My first necklace is with all Gaea beads.  I strung them on a simple suede cord and the length is adjustable.

 

This next necklace features a ceramic pendant from Kylie Parry and vintage Lucite beads. 

 

Some more Gaea beads and a cute little owl pendant.  I added two silver leaves I have had for about four years and was saving for something special.

 

Bracelets.  The brown one has a "wisdom" bead from Diane Hawkey, a Jade Scott birdie pendant, a purple bracelet made with a tiny owl clasp, and an orange and teal bracelet with a Humblebeads house and Green Girl Studios flower charm.

 

I have had this heart pendant from Green Girl Studios for awhile, but could never figure out what I wanted to put with it.  I added some multicolored glass beads and yellow suede cord.   

 

I love the unique polymer pendants from Menagerie Studios.  I have had this particular pendant for a couple of years, but was saving it for something special.  This design isn't terribly unique, but very sparkly and wearable.  I think I might give this one to my mom.  

 

And last, but not least, these cute little earrings featuring charms from the Jangles line from Michaels, which I keep stockpiling every time I end up there.

 

Thanks for stopping by, and have fun hopping!!