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!!