Bead Soup Blog Hop 2013

I've signed up for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Hop again this year.  Over 500 jewelry designers participate in the swap and blog hop.  Lori assigns each of us a partner, we send our partner a "soup" of beads, create jewelry with the soup we receive and reveal our creations during the blog hop.

This is my second time to participate.  It's so much fun to see all the beads everyone sends and receives.  And so inspiring to see all the designs.  Each one completely different.

 

This year my swap partner is Ruth Szapa from Green Bay, WI.  She's a very creative jewelry designer.  Please go to her blog to see her designs.

 

Here's what I sent her. 

 

 



And here's the soup she sent me.

 

 

The soup Ruth sent me was so clever.  She sent the soup in a box she stamped "Bead Soup".  You can see the top of the box in the center of the collage.  Many of the beads represented her home state of Wisconsin.  The upper left picture contains a few of the Door County Wisconsin Cherry beads along with some beads from Golem Designs.  I can't wait to use these little cherry beads.....they are just so so so cute!!!  The picture on the lower left contains some beach glass and stones from Lake Superior.  The picture in the lower center are some of the Green Bay Packers beads she sent!  Check out the cheese head bead!!  How cute is that??  Of course, I'll have to wear these in secret since I live in 49er territory.  :-)  The soup also contained beautiful glass beads, metal findings, tin and polymer clay connectors and clasps.  And a cute owl with a polymer clay tummy. 

 

I've got plans for this yummy soup but you'll have to come back on March 30th for the big reveal. 

 



Charm Swap Reveal Blog Hop and Beads of Courage Auction

I'm so excited to finally get to show off the goodies I received in the 2012 Charm Swap.  This was hosted by the lovely Jennifer Cameron from Glass Addictions.  Our theme was "Laughter".  We made charms to swap with other participants as well as one extra to be auctioned off for Beads of Courage.

Lately I've been finding all sorts of wonderful pictures of carousels and carnival rides, so that was on my mind as I was thinking of what to make for the swap.  I've also been doing a lot of enameling lately.  As I looked at my workbench, I found these beadcaps and they reminded me of those carnival rides with the swings.  And of course, there's lots of laughter on a carnival ride.





Here's the charm I made.  I love all the colors.

Here are the lovely charms I received in the swap.  Aren't they great??

Please visit all the artists that participated in the swap.  You'll love seeing their work and reading about their inspiraton.  And most importantly, please visit the auction site and bid on your very own set of charms.  I marked the people who made the charms I received in red.

Alenka Obid http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchage-reveal.html

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-auction.html

Babette Cox http://babettecox.com/blog.htm

Carol Watson http://www.carolwatsonartglass.blogspot.com

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage-auction/

Cassi Paslick http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal.html

Charlene Jacka http://clay-space.com/2012/11/early-christmas/

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-participate-in-charm-swap-you-must.html

Cheryl McCloud http://cherylmccloud.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-beads-of.html   You are here!!

Deb Kauzlarich http://debkauzlarich.blogspot.com

Denielle Hagerman http://somebeadsandotherthings.com

Emma Todd http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-in-aid-of-boc.html

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-laugh.html

Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-2012.html

Inge vonRoos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Jean Peter http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/ http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-charm-swap.html

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage/

Jennifer Cameron http://wp.me/p1xIa0-wn

Kia Dallons http://kiadallonsstudio.blogspot.jp/2012/11/laughter-is-best-medicine.html

Kimberly Roberts http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap.html

Kristi Bowman http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-hop.html

Lea Avroch http://lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-beads-of-courage-art-charm-swap.html

Leslie Schenkel http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/?p=171

Linda Florian http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Lori Greenberg http://lorigreenberg.com/blog

Lynnea Bennett http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-time-has-come-art-charm-blog-reveal.html

Marcy Lamberson http://studiomarcy.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-by-minions-im-sure.html

Marsha Neal Studio http://marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-exchange-and-beads-of-courage.html

Maureen Connolly http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-reveal.html

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-blog-hop.html

Monique Urquhart http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-im-sure.html

Natalie McKenna http://www.grubbi.co.uk/

Perri Jackson http://shaktipajdesigns.com/11/blog/reveal-the-laughter-art-charms/

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-auction-and-reveal.html

Robin Koza http://www.robinkoza.com

Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-hop.html

Shannon Hicks http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Shelby Foxwell http://sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal.html

Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/11/reveal-2012-charm-swap.html

Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-art-charm-reveal.html

Stephanie Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/laughter-art-bead-charm-swap-auction.html

Susan Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal-and.html

Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2012/11/BOCArtCharmRevealBlogHop.html

Vanessa Gilkes http://culturezine.com/blog/

Here's the auction site.  Rush on over and see all the charms.  And place your bid.

http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions

AEDM Week 2

I didn't get much done this week.  Busy at work ...and not feeling well.  I've worked in my journal this week.

 

Just started this one. 

 

 

 

I'm going to go work on this one right now.

Have a great week!!

Art Every Day Month Days 1 - 4

I'm participating in Art Every Day Month hosted by Leah Piken Kolidas.  I won't be posting daily but I will be working on my artwork daily.  I'll post at least weekly with an update of what I've been up to during the week.

 I've been working on several things this week.

I think this one is done. Just need to finish the edges and seal it.

I started this one a couple of days ago.  Still needs some work...but I'm happy with it so far.

Today I worked on this one.  Just getting some things down for the background.  Don't know where I'm going with it yet.

And I'm working on some pendants for jewelry projects.  I sealed these today.  Tomorrow I'll add the resin.  Although I may add some glitter or beads before I do that...we'll see.

I also have some plywood I'm just starting.  I apply tissue paper to the plywood to add texture and make them easier to paint on.  Then I gesso them to seal the tissue paper to help prevent tearing and to add even more texture.  So I have a couple of small pieces up to this stage.  I'll post pictures of those when they have some color on them.

Hop on over to the Art Every Day Month site and check out some of the other people participating.  Or...sign up and join us!!

Elephants and Wine

On Saturday, a friend of ours invited us to attend the Elephant Grape Stomp: An Afternoon In TUSKany at the PAWS Wildlife Sanctuary in San Andreas.  She works there taking care of the elephants.   There are just a few times a year that visitors are allowed to come to the sanctuary.  This sanctuary houses lions, tigers and bears…and elephants.   

 All these animals have been rescued from various zoos, circuses, and other places. The employees and volunteers were on hand to give us the history of each animal as well as information on the species in general.

Many of the local area wineries were also at the event offering tastings. It was a great day!

New Journal

I made a new art journal over the weekend.   I’ve been using a purchased book for my sketches lately but I really like using books that I made.  And I’ve got a TON of paper.  Both watercolor paper and decorative paper and I really need to start using it.  I discovered I had some8x8  book board from 7Gypsies that I bought a couple of years ago.  I was thinking about an 8x10 book—but finding book board already cut and close to the size I wanted changed my mind.   I decided to use this paper I got from the Cavallini warehouse sale for the cover.  Their paper is beautifully printed, colorful and a perfect weight for a cover.  

Then I found this great orange paper for the inside.  So I started cutting, gluing, and folding. 

Next, I went through all my watercolor paper.  My favorite paper is hot press but I like to add a few sheets of cold press to my books as well.  I have 22x30 sheets of paper so I spent quite a while measuring, marking, folding and tearing paper. 

Next comes the binding.  I decided to use Coptic binding.  I’ve done several books using this binding but there is always a long stretch of time between each book, so I always have to re-learn the process.  I’ve promised myself that this time I will do another book very soon so I can (hopefully) retain the instructions.  Plus, I’m hoping that more practice will result in a more consistent binding.  Some of my stitches are too loose and some are too tight. 

So the book is done.  Everything I used to make this book came from my stash which is a bonus.  Now I just need to make the first mark on that daunting blank page.  

Loving Macro

I got a new Macro lens for my Canon SLR and I LOVE it.   

 

I've been wanting this lens for quite a while.  It's perfect for up-close photos.

 

 

 



And best of all---it's perfect for small things.  Like jewelry.

Isn't that a fabulous picture??  I'm loving this.  I've been spending most of the day photographing jewelry.  After months of procrastinating, my Etsy shop will be full soon!!