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!! 

Tree Wings Studio Beads

I have been a fan of Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio beads since I saw her sweet sleeping animal beads.  Needless to say, I needed to own some.  Or all.  I have even had a necklace made with one of her rustic pendants in the fall issue of Jewelry Stringing Magazine awhile back.  So when I saw she was having a giveaway with a chance to win some and make something with them, I jumped at the chance.  I was shocked when I won, first time ever.  Here's what I made:

I added a sweet little tassel to the bottom of the polymer clay bead and added some ceramic beads and silver chain.

The bracelet has matching ceramic beads and the clasp is made with a link from the chain.

Thanks for the chance to play with your beads, Rebekah!  Here is the rest of the hop!

Rebekah Payne - http://www.treewingsstudio.com/

Stephanie LaRosa - http://stringaholic.blogspot.com/ ( that's me!)
Kathy Alderfer - http://artfulaccents.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson - http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

And so it begins...

I'm trying to soak in the last moments of peace before my eldest gets out of school for the summer. I am kinda dreading having to go to the grocery store with the both of them. I'm very thankful my mom is coming next week to hang out with us. I did manage to pick up some new beads at Joann's the other day. The combo of sale/clearance meant that all of this was about 22 bucks. Including my new favorite beads-neon! I'm seriously smitten with anything neon right now, no idea why. I'll have to post when I use them.

May Artbeadscene Challenge

I think the last time I participated in an Artbeadscene challenge was last May, so I'm probably due for another one. I love this bracelet that I made with a ceramic toggle from Pajego Art House and lots of Czech glass dangles. I thought it worked with the painting from this month. And the prizes this go around are kinda awesome too. Wish me luck!

New Happy Jewelry

Three posts in a row, I'm on a roll. I wanted to show off some new jewelry that I made from some very fun pendants that I bought from Michaels. They are all from the Jennifer Heynan line. I think I may have purchased all of the pieces in the collection-they kept putting them on sale, what was I supposed to do? They are just so fun and they make me happy just by looking at them.

Most of these made their way to my Etsy shop and some are sitting in my jewelry box. :)