Friday, July 27, 2012

It's Party Time!!

YAY!! It’s time for the first group of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party to reveal their creations. My Bead Soup came from the mega talented Dana James. If you check out my previous post you can see all the goodies she sent.
The first piece I wanted to use was the hand soldered pendant. In addition to creating the pendant, the picture in the pendant is Dana’s art work. You can see more of her artwork on her art blog.


The pendant and the pink and green crystals Dana sent reminded me of Spring, so I added some Czech flowers to keep with that theme. As I went through my (huge) stash of beads, I found the cute little butterfly. I’ve had this for several years and never had a design that really called for it. But I think this is the perfect place for it. The pearls and chain were also sent by Dana. She sent a great mix of sparkle pieces so I dangled one from the sari silk tied on the pendant. I finished the piece with a lovely flower toggle clasp that was included in my soup.

The second piece I made is this necklace. I took a rhinestone pin from my soup, cut off the back, and attached it to one of the large floral pendants. I think it is a great mix of bohemian and bling. The copper clasp on this piece was hand forged by Dana. I used some of the sari silk from Dana and then to accent the pendant, I added the beautiful black coral beads Dana bought on her trip to Columbia and mixed them with some metal accent beads from my soup. The copper connector pieces are from my stash.


Next was I made a bracelet using more of the black coral accented with smoke crystals.  The brass connectors and copper clasp were from my stash. 



The final piece I made was this pearl bracelet.  Everything except the clasp came from Dana.  I love this with it's spring colored Swarovski crystals mixed with the pearls.  It's a little difficult to see, but there is also a dainty rose gold colored chain that I added to the bracelet just for a little something different.

I still have some beads, chains, rhinestones and pendants left from the package Dana sent.  I've just run out of time!

Please visit the other designers participating in the Blog Party.



Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit 
Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another  (you are here!)
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris' Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things
Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life
Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains
Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade
Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry
Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs
Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky
Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic
Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau
Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna
A big THANK YOU so our hostess, Lori Anderson.  You wouldn't believe all the work she has put into this.  She is remarkable!!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Is It Soup Yet?

I'm working on my jewelry designs using the bead soup I received from Dana James.  The big blog hop hosted by Lori Anderson starts at 12am EDT Friday night/Saturday morning.  Thank goodness that's 9pm for me.  Here are the goodies I got from Dana to use in my designs.


Included in the package of beady goodness was a pendant created from a piece of her original art and soldered between glass.  It's beautiful!  Another handmade item is a lovely hand forged copper clasp.  The beads include some black coral from Dana's trip to Columbia, pearls and Swarovski crystals.  She also sent along some sari silk which I LOVE, some chain, some sparkles and lots of different metal beads and focals.  

I've already made several pieces and still have enough for more jewelry.  So check back Friday July 27 at 9PM for the big reveal...


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Color Run

On Saturday, I got together with some friends and we participated in the Color Run in San Francisco.  It's a crazy, fun event where you run (or walk) a 5K and they have color stations set up along the route where volunteers throw colored corn starch at you.


By the end of the race you are covered in color.


There was a fun post-race party with color being thrown everywhere.  Lots of fun!!  We are planning on doing it again next year.



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer 2012

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer was held July 7th and 8th  in San Francisco.  This was my 8th year to participate in this event.

It's a 2 day walk.  26.2 miles (a marathon) on Saturday and 13 miles (1/2 marathon) on Sunday.  The walk starts at 7am on Saturday in San Francisco, wanders through the city and then over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, Mill Valley and Corte Madera.  There is camping in Corte Madera with Mt. Tamalpais in the background.


Sunday begins at 7 am with the walkers heading back to San Francisco in a shortened reverse route.
I have had so many health issues this last year that I wasn't able to train for the event so I changed my participation status to a volunteer.  I helped take down the tents, load sleeping bags and gear, worked the information booth, and cheered the walkers at the finish line.  

Here's the finish line with the GG Bridge in the background.

The BC Survivors at the closing ceremonies.

I've already signed up for next year!!



Friday, July 6, 2012

I Love a Parade


Each year a neighborhood near us has a 4th of July Parade.  It’s just like an old small-town parade—mounted and motorcycle police, floats created by the neighbors, vintage cars with people throwing candy to the crowd, kids on bicycles, tricycles, and wagons all decorated in red, white and blue.  





At the end of the parade, all the spectators along with their kids and dogs, follow along as the parade winds through the neighborhood streets to the local park.  


The local fire department is at the back of the parade and when they reach the park they plug into a hydrant and start shooting huge plumes of water into the park.  The kids (both young and old) race around in the spray having the time of their lives!!  It's a great way to celebrate the day!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

6th Bead Soup Blog Hop

I'm so excited that I get to participate in this fun event hosted by the fabulous Lori Anderson.   I've wanted to participate before but the schedule never worked for me.  There are 399 people participating this year.  It's gotten so big that the blog hopping will be done in 3 different groups.  I'm in the first group revealing on 7/28. 

My swap partner is Dana James of Dana's Jewelry Design.  She's very talented as a jewelry designer and an artist.  She was very fast sending out my Bead Soup.  We can't show pictures until the reveal...but I can show the wonderful package she sent it in.  You can see the packages of beads peeking out of the top.

And here's a picture of what I'm sending Dana.  Of course, all you get to see is the box....but I did make it pretty.  Something a little special for Dana and help brighten up the letter carrier's day as well.

I'll have the list of participants on here later with links to their blogs so you can hop along with me.  I can't wait!