Earring Swap Blog Hop

Today is the day for the Earring Swap Blog Hop. Jessica Murray of Whimsical Monkey decided to host this fun blog hop where partners were paired to swap a pair of really cool handmade earrings. Thank you, Jessica! This hop really challenged me to think outside of the box, and try a new metal coloring technique that I had never tried before. My partner is Candida of Spun Sugar Beadworks.

I am so excited to receive a pair of earrings from Candida, she is a very talented artist. Unfortunately, her earrings for me did not arrive on time, but the tracking number assures me that they will be here Tuesday. I will update this post when they arrive.  In the meantime, have a look at what I sent to Candida:

I wire wrapped metallized seed beads aroun a copper frame, and added a crystal teardrop with bronze niobium earwires. I also sent her a bonus pair, as I was trying out a new technique and wanted to share what I had done.

This was the first time that I had tried the Swellegant patinas. I added a butterfly onto the earring drops with  blue shades of crystals. I hope they made it through the mail okay! Me and the Post Office have not been friends lately, as they arrived at her house two days later than the promised delivery date. Of course, I shouldn't have waited so long to mail them out, either!!!!!!

Thank you again, Jessica for hosting this Earring Swap Blog Hop! Have a look below at what everyone else sent to each other, I can't wait to see what creations were made!

Jessica: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/2013/05/earring-swap-blog-hop.html
Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com

Nancy Smith: wirednan.blogspot.ca
Marianne Baxter: http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/
Leah Tees: mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca
Andrea Trank: www.heavenlanecreations.com
Miranda Ackerley: http://blog.mirandack.com/
Cheri Mitchell-Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy: www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Michele Dotson: http://star-jewels.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox: www.deannaaki.WordPress.com
Shelley Graham Turner: www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue: www.wrappedinsilver.com
Lennis Carrier: http://windbent.wordpress.com
Ginger Davis Allman: http://thebluebottletree.com/
Mary Anne Flesch: www.handcraftedserenity.blogspot.com
Nicole Valentine Rimmer: www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Stephanie Weiss: uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson: http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Carol Dillman: http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Spun Sugar Beadworks: Spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Tara Plote: http://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/
Rachel Baron: http://rbarondesigns.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe: http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Kashmira Patel: http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett: http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com--You are here
Shellie Grindy: http://www.creativeeclectica.com/
Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell: http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Mimi Gardner: www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Jessica McMullen: http://pheonixgatedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jennifer LaVite: www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Laura Medeiros: http://zoeowyn.blogspot.com/
Alenka Obid: www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Elsie Fonseca: http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Dunham: www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Sandra McGriff: http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tania Spivey: http://moobiegrace.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle:  http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com

Facebook:
Beccy Peterson: Beccy's Baubles
Mischelle Fanucchi: www.facebook.com/micheladasmusings

Marde Lowe: FanciMar Designs

Holiday Bling Blog Hop 3.5--A Very Merry Un-Birthday!

Marlene Cupo and Shelley Graham Turner have collaborated once again to bring us another Holiday Bling Blog Hop! But wait...which Holiday is to be celebrated? It is no other than the Very Merry Un-Birthday celebration! Since it wasn't quite time for HBBH number 4, we are celebrating 3.5! Each participant is paired up with a partner to swap gifts that commemorated the partner's birthstone. My partner for this hop is Chris Eisenberg, who makes beautiful beaded jewelry! You can find her gorgeous creations at her Wanderware company website. 

Chris's birthday is in March which is represented by the beautiful Aquamarine. My birthstone is Amethyst, since my birthday is in February.

 I had this gorgeous Aquaramarine Swarovski focal that I wanted to use for Chris, but beading bezels is not my forte. What could I do? Well, this is what I came up with, and hoped that Chris would like it.

I colored the large brass filigree with Bronze Gilder's paste, then folded it around the stone. I then attached that to another brass filigree that had been gilded Gold. I used brass chain, copper jump rings, and a bronze toggle, and wrapped other crystals with more brass filigree, gilding some of them in Copper.  The earrings used some of the same components.

 When I received Chris's gift, the packaging was in a beautiful purple box and included an Un-birthday Card, as well as a scrumptious Birthday Cake Batter chocolate bar.

I had never had this flavor of chocolate, but it was some of the most delicious chocolate that I had ever eaten!! When I opened the purple package, this gorgeous bracelet was nestled inside.

 The amethyst colored beads just shimmered with an Aquarian aura. The crystal focal was the perfect touch! Thank you, Chris, for such a beautiful bracelet. I know how much work went into creating it, and am so appreciative of your thoughtfulness and creativity. I love it!! Isn't it beautiful?

Thank you, Marlene and Shelley for another successful HBBH. I have enjoyed participating in these so much, and I can't wait for the next one. Have a look at what everyone else created for their partners! 

Ali McCarthy www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com Alicia Marinache www.allprettythings.ca Anzia Parks www.anzipanzisworkshoppe.blogspot.com Audrey Belanger www.esperianterra.blogspot.ca Cheri Reed www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com Cheryl Dunham www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com Chris Eisenberg www.wanderware.blogspot.com Christine Schlicht http://www.marshellswaps.blogspot.com/p/visiting-bloggers-reveal-day.html Cynthia Machata www.antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com D Lynne Bowland www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca Dyanne Everett-Cantrell www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com Gina Hockett--you are here www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com Ginger Bishop www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com Gloria Allen www.gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com Janeen Burlingame www.facebook.com/janeen.burlingame Joana Perez Stribel www.facebook.com/lasjoyasdejana Lori Schneider www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com Mary Govaars www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com Mischelle Fanucchi www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Paula Gaskill www.lovelylaylabugsjewelry.blogspot.com Renetha Stanziano www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com Robin Reed www.willowdragon.blogspot.com Sherry Baun www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com Shirley Moore www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com Sierra Barrett www.giraffecanhas.wordpress.com Susan Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com Susie Harris www.jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com Mowse Doyle www.mowsemadethis.blogspot.com Cindy Muse www.facebook.com/mritech813 Ellie Grossman http://www.marshellswaps.blogspot.com/p/visiting-bloggers-reveal-day.html Marlene Cupo www.amazingdesigns-Marlene.blogspot.com Shelley Graham Turner www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

7th Bead Soup Blog Party--First Reveal

It's time!! It is finally here!! I have my party hat on, do you???? The First Reveal for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party has arrived!! Lori Anderson, of Pretty Things put together this annual party where two people are partnered and send each other some bead soup that includes a focal, a clasp, and some beads to mix with their own stash, create something beautiful from the "Bead Soup", then blog about the whole experience. The party then commences as everyone visits everyone else's blog! A person can make one or many creations, but the only hard and fast rule is that the clasp and the pendant must be used.

My partner is Marianna Boylan of Star Girl Jewelry. Marianna makes the most beautiful jewelry and she is an awesome lampwork bead artist as well! I love Marianna's creations! You can see what delicious soup that Marianna received on her blog, and discover what she made with the bead soup that I sent to her.  The bead soup that Marianna sent to me:

There were two lucite flowers, blue and green, as well as a beautiful lampwork  bead set, two lampworked glass flowers, and a sweet yellow lampwork bead,  She also sent some copper drops, brass earring drops, a strand each of shell and coral beads, some yellow and green turquoise, an embossed copper pendant, some copper chain, and three clasps..a brass clasp, a gorgeous crystal locking clasp, and a gunmetal toggle clasp. Look at those focals! The red and black scarab is from Earthenwood Studio, and the red and blue glass set in brass is by Marianna with matching headpins!

As soon as my soup arrived (the first one had a mishap!) I started thinking about what I could do with these gorgeous beads. About the same time, I received an order of Gilder's paste, and the wheels in my mind became ferris wheels, with the ideas just rolling in on top of each other! But wait....I had to have a Total Knee Replacement in the meantime, and I was hoping that wouldn't interfere with all the creating that I needed to do. So what did I do?????

The first one was simple, using the key embossed copper pendant from the soup, adding my own "pasted" key and lock, then adding the chain and copper beads from the soup, and stitching it together with leather.

I then made a necklace using the scarab pendant from Earthenwood Studio, adding my own scarab beads, red and black seaglass, and black jade chips with silver chain, using the gunmetal clasp from the soup.

I wanted to use the beautiful crystal clasp, and a bracelet came to fruition:

Next, came three pairs of earrings from the soup's coral and shell beads, and the copper and brass components that I painted with Gilder's paste:

But the one that took me the longest, inspired by the lucite flower beads, lampwork flowers, and my own Gilder's paste altered brass and copper components, was the piece below. This necklace seemed to take on a life of its own as it grew into something more than "just a necklace".

Used with the brass clasp:

Well, it seems that time has run out to stir anything together from the other lampwork beads that Marianna made and sent to me. I have some great ideas, so stay tuned for a further update on what kind of Soup I mix up and serve with those very special beads. Thank you so much, Lori, for hosting the awesome Bead Soup Blog Party, and allowing me to take part in all the fun! In the meantime, take a look at how everyone else served their Soup by going to the First Reveal List for BRBP7 or linking from the list below. Have fun!!!

First and Last Name	Blog URL
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Amber Dawn Goldish	www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	http://countryfrogcreations.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou	www.lejonklou.blogspot.se
Breana Fry	www.vault31.blogspot.com
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	http://caroldeezigns.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Chenault	www.carolynchenault.wordpress.com
Cassi Paslick	http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier	Http://www.thebeadingyogini.com
Cheryl McCloud	www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Crystal Thain	http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Riggs	http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey	http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Dana James	http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Darlene Fortier	www.darliciousrejuvenations.blogspot.com
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Diana Frey	www.dianafrey.blogspot.com
Diana Welte	http://lilyweeds.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma	http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant	http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com
Eva Kovacs	http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman	http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com -you are here!
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue	www.wrappedinsilver.com
Jacqueline Marchant	http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	www.Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	http://glassaddictions.com
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	www.thepeacefulbead.com
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan	www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com --My partner's reveal
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett	http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro	http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren	http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy	http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub	http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler	http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel	http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson	http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke	www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa	www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandyColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shari Replogle	www.playswithpaper.blogspot.com
Sheila Daniels	http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis	http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie	www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore	www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre'z	http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith	www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Pomerleau	www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss	www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com
Sumi Rani	www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzette Bentley	http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman	www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton	www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday	http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/