Bead Soup Blog 2013 A Fairy Tale

As all good fairy tales began, it was a happy time.  A joyous occasion on which I once more was participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party!!  and then...

Dun Dun DUN!! (that was the key in of sad music)  I got a promotion I was working really hard for.  I had been watching, studying and 100% sure this would be a cake walk!!! Well you know the best laid plans of mice and men are easily lead astray right??  Boy oh BOY!!

I was excited!!!  I packed up a little bit of this and a little bit of that and a bit of love from Maebeads (why yes I do love to 'borrow" stuff from her while I am playing at her house and give it away to unsuspecting deserving people on occasion) Thus this is the box I mailed out  

There of course had to be something inside so HERE is what I put inside the box!!
                         

I was a bit behind because I had already received this bunch of luscious goodies so a trend had been set in my mind.  I was worried about work which WAS NOT turning out to be a cake walk and was so very, very much more than I could ever have imagined.  I went overnights for a week while my youngest son learned that contrary to what the Top Ramen packet says, WATER is not a optional item.   We have bought a new microwave which will be installed umm. sometime before I die I am sure!!

Anyway I kept taking the pieces sent to my by The Blue Bottle Tree  (or Ginger) or should that be Ginger? and all I could see was the sea..
                           

Deep aqua bottomless secret cove with a buried ship sea!! There just didn't seem to be a way to make it appear as I wanted.   The first attempt broke.  The second attempt looks like a preschooler was turned loose with the wire. I kept taking it to work.  I kept looking, staring.  I felt so damn useless at work,

I was so THANKFUL every time posting was delayed.     I felt horrible being grateful!!

I was failing at something I wanted to achieve so badly.   I was coming home and sleeping, I was going to work and crying.  I let them make me so angry I couldn't function all creativity just was draining out of me. I was cleaning the house, I was stressing about the kids (why cause their going to do what their going to do at the ages they are) I was freaking out about the refinance we wanted to do...

Yet I ended up with the most beautiful piece I have ever done..   Well possibly!

  I love how it turned out.  The metal is all copper that I stripped down with a bit of Ammonia and then ran through some liver of sulpher.  The interesting part is that the wire touching the clay when dragged though the LOS just didn't really take any coloring so I am buffing a bit more of the LOS off so that the metal has all the stages of coloring on it.   The round copper circle has been embossed with that cool Vintaj Big Kick and it was CUT with it too.  Hmmm!!







How's that for being able to use new toy's in a project.  I tried the paints by Metal Me This but they didn't get me the color I wanted at this time and the butterflied didn't look right.

Metal Me This  Patina

Good thing I still had a sheet of copper left at the end so I could try one more time!! 

I planned to use the clasp I was sent with this bracelet but I just can't get it to look right!

So hopefully I haven't messed up any chances I ever get to play again and I hope you guys really like the pieces I got done!!  I need you guys to keep me in the game!!

I hope that you enjoyed your visit and the background into how I made what I did!!

and don't forget to check EVERYONE who played here  Party Players!!

Time is not on my side

Things have been a little rough around here right now.  I wish I could say that it was more or less than normal, but for some reason I just can't get around what's going on to get things done!!  It's about to give me a major break down I swear!!

So my partner has done the amazing things that we are supposed to do!! Ginger Davis Allman and turned the beads I sent her (including a cute little lampwork heart made off mandrel by Leila of Maebeads who's etsy shops is a little naked due to a show in Portland this weekend)  Really I was totally amazed by what she's done.

Any how I thought better let you all know that later today I am hoping to blog and post some photo's of what I have gotten done and where I am at with the wonderful goodies that Ginger sent me

Words Just Get In The Way

So I heard on Sunday that a store I NEVER go to any more because they just have really bad service here in Lacey, was having a clearance sale on something I have been wanting for a while.  WHAT to do!!  Well in some way's it didn't matter cause I worked Monday and Tuesday and the odds of them having one still by TODAY were really slim right??  I mean really!!  Well here this is what all the fuss is about 

 Which according to the write up you can use to emboss brass metal blank shapes to make your own charms. I thought last year when I saw it, wow that would be fun.  Scrapping and Jewelry in one.  Then of course the heart attack over the price of the machine, let alone the dies..   ANYHOW!!! back to the story..
I got up today, discovered the husband took the car to work.  I HATE driving the truck to Olympia.  It's such a waste of money (at 3.87 a gallon no less) ... Tried to get a friend to go with me..  NOPE!!

Brilliance hit!!  Red Robin still owed me a birthday burger.  So if I got husband to go to dinner for the burger we could just 'accidentally" stop by there to check it out.   HE bought it!!  We went...  I couldn't believe it but they actually HAD ONE LEFT!!  not only that they had 5 die's as well!

FATE was my friend!!  I could just about SCALE tall mountains!!   He of course thinks I lost my mind!!

So upon getting home and realizing while I now have machine and die I failed to buy some thing to "press"  ...

I guess I'll have to go online and look for something.     As I did so I was thinking you know.. When's the last time I checked mail..  Better do that first..

Opened up my mail and there was a  YOU HAVE WON!! email..  Skip that, it must be trash..
Wait!! Did that say it was from a blog??  Did that say a  ZINO magazine?? OMG!!  It's not trash!! I really REALLY WON!!  Thank YOU!


 So a HUGE thanks to All Pretty Things!!  Please go check her out if you have a few minutes!! and another huge thank you to ZINO for giving me a copy of  Lapidary Journal Artist Magazine for a whole YEAR!!

and some stupid email told me today was going to be a really bad luck day!!  What where they smoking ?? 


Here's a Vintaj video on youtube for your pleasure.  Watching another one they have done called "part one" I now have a use for all those embossing powders as well for this particular item which is GREAT news!!

Bead Soup Blog Party 7!! or in my case 2

It's that time of the year again!!  I am excited yet scared.  Nervous yet Thrilled.  It's rather like being on a roller coaster of love!!!

                                    Last year to get me going I joined  Bead Soup Blog Party #6

 and my partner was Christi Searle Murrow of CharisDesigns  

 This year I JOINED again after discovering that pressure does amazing things to one's creative juices!!
It's the biggest party EVER  Over 521 participant's this year!!!!

                  Bead Soup Blog Party #7 

and my partner in crime this year IS GINGER DAVIS ALLMAN of a really fascinating site The Blue Bottle Tree  and I mean really interesting!!  Makes me eager yet even more nervous about this exchange.  Good thing I seem to like running on nerves right??

So there has been ton's of changes this year.  I haven't been nearly as active as I would like jewelry wise because of them.  I still haven't listed on etsy which makes me crazy but there are interesting things a coming!


                                                                 Shall we??  PLAY!!

1st Bead Soup Blog Party and Still I am

Behind.  I swear I'll be behind to my death as well.   If I didn't have teenage boy's I'd be late to eat (well even then sometimes I am and it's UGLY to have to fight them for food..)

So last week I had to go get major items to finish my pieces (like basic findings I couldn't find any where locally) and once again by the time I got home everything else has broken loose and here it is a week later and I haven't gotten to do ONE simple tiny thing.

Why do you think that is??

I know I know you really don't want to hear my blah blah blahing you want me to do the REVEALING aspect already..

Well as a recap I was sent this wonderful assortment by my partner in crime Christie Burrows (who's by the way DONE way ahead of me...)

So I tried and I tried and I tried and I ended up with that huge HUGE clasp and the beautiful stone and bronze pendent in a for me unusual combination.  As you can see there's a bit of chain linking them and then (gasp!! can it be?? those huge faceted pearls from the Bead Festival last month) and the little shell things.   I have laid out a pair of brass hooks to add some shell and those same pearls for earrings..

I was totally confused where to go next.  I mean there was still a TON of stuff to day and while yes this had taken me over a month to get put together it was basically "done" .  Well except the trip to the bead store to get some crimps and crimp covers....

I kept looking at that sparkly autumn mix left.   It ended up in a short bracelet where the crystals joined the red stone beads with some metallic odd metal beads I had and the chunky stones for a simple yet funky bracelet.  The clasp was the "trip" to the bead shop find.  I'll have to try and use some Liver of Sulfur (in case you want to try it)  to make it darken up to match better.  I will be reworking the bracelet a bit to get it to twist merge better but this gives you an idea what it will or is supposed to end up looking like.  For my first attempt with a vague idea at the start I am happy...

 

This was a heck of a lot harder than I thought it would be.  There are still some idea's bouncing around to use the lovely cab I got..  What made it easier?? To try an imagine I was making it for someone else that liked chuncky funky jewelry.  All and ALL a great time was had (did get three other things made up while trying to avoid I mean think of what to do with what I got in my Bead Soup so that's a good thing right??

Here's a picture of one set done while avoiding my challenge  (can you tell I have been really playing with the LOS)   Forgotten Garden I made the big loopy chain (was my first attempt at soldering silver it was so much fun again thank you Marcy (so that's all but 1 item I made while there used now. WOO HOO)

Tis All About The Choices We Make

You know most the time I don't have anything to do.  No where to go..  Well that's not really true.  I have lots of house cleaning that always needs to done, I have to go to work most days...  but you know no where really FUN and exciting.   So how is it, while I am planning to go down and visit my favorite Aunt in Law Jean (owner of sorts of Fling Jewelers  a  small in the mall shop who's not on line at all but has a great selection of stuff especially my favorite "estate" jewelery)  the endish of October, I discover that there's not one but TWO events happening there!!  One is Austin Texas Beadfest  and  the other is the Houston Intergem Show!  

How am I supposed to decide which is the bigger draw??  Intergem last time I got to go to their show in Houston was over 5 hours of shopping pleasure and I never did make it through the whole sales floor!!  I bought a ton of really interesting stuff (ok not a ton, but I bought a really really big amount) that I am still trying to get through 4 years later..  They do come up to Seattle, but I am not sure if it's the economy or the show right now that had such a small 'showing" of shops.  I noticed the Puget Sound Bead Fest seemed to have problems getting people to sign up an show this year as well and a lot of the staple show display's didn't seem to be there so it could be that it's just small because of the way people are spending right now too.

Any how the Fest in Austin is about 3 hours away from my Aunt Jean's, but we'd be able to take a class or something fun together if we did it.  Etching with Lexi Erickson

Is one  choice, there of course there's always one of my favorite people

Peak Into My World

Rivets and Chainmaille

Tracey Stanley

 Linda Larsen

Hinged Treasure Boxes

Not to mention I want to go see Marcy again for another one on one  silversmithing date on making a ring or two..    Work interferes so much, but if I wasn't working I couldn't afford to play so...    

  TIS ALL ABOUT CHOICES and which ones to make this time!!

What Happens When You Join a Bead Soup Blog Party

1) Excitement!  as you collect a bead soup up for your partner based upon what she needs..

2) Frustration! while trying to remember to mail out said box on appropriate date (or really as close as a 50 hour weeks allows)

3) Squeals!! when your box comes in the mail and you realize that she's done exactly what was expected.  You are now the proud owner of a bunch of odds and ends that are supposed to create a necklace when none of them  no matter how amazing they are, are what you normally would pick up and buy...

4) Frustration!  is back while trying to figure out what on earth your going to do... Which of course drives you to ...  The Puget Sound Bead Festival  of course so you can find those much needed finishing pieces.  I mean it's not like that's the sort of place you'd go for any other reason right??  I mean who's interested in about a hundred artist's and gemstone bead supplier's all in one place right?

  5)  ADD develops.   Look those would be..    

         wait what's that??  The Lipstick Ranch

Ohhhh  how rich,

  oh Hey look at all those amazing Dragon's Leila  at Mae beads  she better list those dragons on Etsy in a hurry, how freaking cute are they!!



And where on earth did those come from?  Did we see those the first time Jane ???     Yummy I think I don't need any more pearls do I??  Oh you know what's one more small set gonna hurt??

OMG that's that booth from the gem show!!  I LOVED the green jade bits  got Jane look!! OH!! I need those!!  Really I do Jane..   Look!!  Artrade has more of those cool woven beads!!  Boxwood and Carnelian??  Oh Gotta have just ONE
  

and finally my other small indulgences  came from  really really small bits cause I just couldn't afford ONE more big thing!!  Eden Art Glass

I really wish I'd had a class to take but I couldn't find one that called my name this year.  I hope next year a whole BUNCH of new people like (you and YOU and YOU) sign up to teach and demo and sell!!

But all that leads back to!!!


6) Fun!!  I am one step closer to having an idea of what to do with  THIS!!!

anyone want to guess what I bought to go with my Bead Soup?  I have a special surprise I'll mail to who ever is following  me and leaves a comment  

Bead Soup 6 Shaked and Stirred~~

can't believe that it took me 30 minutes to pick out a selection for my Bead Soup  Christie  partner in crime, but when I wanted to blog about it, add the BSB logo and suddenly it's 4 hours later and my blog is revamped as well.

Don't know if I like it as well or better or if I just have issues with change.   All this started because I discovered my web page was sold after I "failed" to renew it early enough and they sold my domain name supposedly to someone else, but they are unable to tell me who..   Such is life in the slow lane I suppose..

So here's to new directions  and new tries.   Maybe what I need to do is start taking some classes to learn how to do it my self (hahaha like I have time for another hobby)  I don't know,  when Chantal did my website set up as a gift, I was amazed that someone could look into my head and see what I wanted and made it appear on screen for me.

I have talked to a couple other people about websites and design and none of them have been able to do that.  I guess I need to try and find someone else who can reach in and snatch a new site out of me...


BUT on a HIGH note..  I got my ETSY link to work, now to figure out how to change what it shows...
I got my Bead Soup Partner's baubles all together and ready to go out...  :)  2 steps ahead of where I was yesterday right??

Let's Get This Party STARTED!!

I got my partner for the FAB   new game I am going to play.  It's based upon "let's pretend I am a REAL blogger and do jewelry for more than just being able to say "I am an ARTIST" right now!!

My party partner is Christi Murrow at http://www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/


My particular party consists of   Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen 

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads 

Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry

 Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous


Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth's Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Quirky Hannah
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs


Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Larra
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolen Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Bead Soup Blog Party 6

So I did it.  I joined Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party  !!!!!
I got myself a partner  Christie Murrow
NOW I have to try and come up with what to send her to play with~

 While I contemplate what goodies I can send out... I thought I'd leave you with some idea's of what I have been up to jewelry wise of late!!

 The Fairy Ring was a delicate bit that just fell together with some stuff  I already had when I got this HUGE copper ring from my friend Marcy Bell (http://www.etsy.com/shop/followtheredbrickrd) whom I took a soldering class with a bit ago.  I will make myself post on this later..  I can't believe all the fun things I have done recently and not told you all about!!     Those are lucite flowers and leaves with some lovely Amethyst rounds, a Swarovski butterfly and some left over copper chain..  Bet she thought I'd never do anything with it....

The Fairy Ring

 This lovely hunk of love is some huge fluorite chunks, hill tribe chain a silver bead cap and a wonderful bubbly bead from Leila Carras (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Maebeads) whom I get most my amazingly awesome beads from..  There's a second better look at the big bead on the end.  I keep looking at this piece and I want to add something to the bottom but don't know what yet.. 

Le  Chunky

Close Up of Le Chunky

So that's stuff made..  Leila and I went to a Gemstone show in Seattle in March and I came home with a few new interesting things 

Iolite (I think they were) and some sort of aqua agate I am sure it was

lucite

Amazing Carved Lotus's  in Coral

Carved Jade balls that looks like woven Ribbon

Topaz ( for a project with Marcy Bell)

Behind, Ahead, Learning, Changing.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME

I need rest!!

So for my birthday in February I got to go down to McMinnville and visit my Face Book friend Marcy Bell who makes some of the most amazing jewelry as you'll see on her Etsy or you can see Marcy Bell on her Facebook page.  Any how..   As I was saying.  I got to go down there for a few days and she worked me to death just look at how she wore me out!!

Soup was on the menu

The Ametrin Ring on the Left Marcy made!

My First Ring!

Second using a stamp on it

Spinner Ring AMAZING

As you can see we had a great time.  I was amazed at how much easier it was to do than I thought,  yet how much time had to go into the prepping of each piece!  I can't wait to see what I get to make hopefully in a couple months when I go back down to play.   She's supposed to teach me how to make something like these stacker rings she has on (well that's my plan) using those topazes I bought at the last gem show I went to.   Either way it was a great time with a new friend that got me some amazing new skills!!

Karma What Comes Around

Have you ever picked up something that you just had  to have. You pick it up and just can't get your hand to let the heck go of?? Well this summer I went to the Frantz Glass Bash in Shelton, WA held by Frantz Art Glass (Lampworking supplies and such..) Any how.. I love to go up there and look and talk and talk and talk with the different artists I know.   One of whom is Kimberly  who does these amazing sea horse beads and I have been drooling and craving one for years now. Their just not in my price range. BUT this year I said I am going to get one of them one way or another.. While picking up and putting down and drooling over them my fingers grazed this funky thing. I was like what in the world?? Kim doesn't do Goddesses.... but sure enough there was this goddess bead in funky green/bronze tones with the most amazing copper details added. We joked and I felt it and it kept rolling around in my hand. I set it down, well I tried to set it down.. Someone asked to look at it and I was like sure! Here you go, but I wouldn't let go..
    I though what in the world? I don't wear these colors even give the darn thing over will ya!! Kim was going to check something out so being nice I said I'd babysit the booth and kept playing with it. It ended up in my pocket and I just kept playing with her. It was like she had become a touch stone!! Didn't end up with a sea horse.. Ended up with a goddess named Karma after she reminded me I couldn't just leave with her..
    For 3 months looked at that bead and looked at what I had.  I hated everything nothing looked right. Suddenly I found this peice of ribbon. The colors just made her pop!! Step one down. Step two was realizing these little garnets I had fit that color scheme perfectly but were much too small. Wandering though Integrity Pearls on line I suddenly realized that I had to have these funky shaped pearls in a bronze tone. It was done right?? I mean what as left. Twist two strands of beads and a piece of ribbon and voila!!
I hated it.. It just didn't look right!! I took it to several friends and they all thought it looked great. Finally I found one that said REMOVE the ribbon!! 
She was DONE! DONE and DONE!! (Thanks Jo!!)

                                      So here you all go!! Arlene has COMPLETED a PROJECT!!