Saturday, January 19, 2013

Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge

Earrings, earrings, and more earrings! Does any woman ever get tired of wearing earrings? Well, I never tire of making earrings. There are so many design possibilities and components to make beautiful ear jewelry, that one could make and wear a different pair daily and never run out of inspiration! I must admit that my favorite type of earring to make and wear are long and dangly adornments. I cannot always wear that type, as most hospital-employed nurses, especially surgery nurses, aren't allowed to wear long and dangly in their work environment. So, I design those lovely long earrings to satisfy my love for and my desire to wear them daily! When the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge was announced, I pounced upon the opportunity to participate! 

The Art Jewelry Elements team is sponsoring a year-long Earring Challenge in 2013 where participants will sign on for 13 weeks at a time to make one pair of earrings per week with an art bead or component that was made by another bead artist or by one's own hands! When we post the earrings, we then give credit to the artist that made the bead or component. 

Weeks one's earrings used components made by Marsha Neal, a wire-wrapped bronze link that includes a Mookaite bead and a Swarovski crystal by me, and a garnet glass bead with antiqued bronze wire and bronze Niobium earwires.


Week two, I made my own etched, antiqued copper component, and added jasper, Swarovski crystals, and Mahogany Obsidian bears from Magpie Gemstones hung on antiqued copper earwires.




Stay tuned for weeks three and four, which I will be posting about here on February 3rd. Until then, may you find inspiration in the earring candy related to this challenge----I know I will!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

Lori Anderson created this blog hop because of a personal experience that you can read about here. Her friend, Marianna, passed away last year. Mostly quoting Lori to tell you what this blog hop represents--"this blog hop is for Marianna and for those people in our lives who mean a lot to us---family, friends, co-workers, or anyone who has meaning to each of us."

This past month, one of my good friends--and a co-worker--was put into the tailspin of her life. Her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer, a diagnosis that had been missed almost 4 years earlier. He had a chest x-ray four years ago, it was on the film, and the radiologist missed it.  He was her soul-mate, and died exactly one month after diagnosis. He suffered terribly, and my friend and her boys were devastated. There will be no funeral service, but there will be a celebration of life at his request.

As I thought about what piece of jewelry that I could make, that would tell a story, I thought of my friend and her husband's request--a celebration of life! I decided that I would use mostly teardrop shapes, because tears represent most of life's challenges and celebrations! A bracelet came to life.




Each bead, with each color and shape, as well as each teardrop represent some of the best things that have ever happened to me--the births of my children and grandchildren with their birthstones, each member of my immediate family, graduations, weddings, and new and better jobs. There are also some that represent the less joyful moments, but no less memorable or defining--Breast cancer for me, lymphoma for my Mom and Dad, other family members' struggles and triumphs, and grief.



Thank you, Lori Anderson for inspiring the creation of this beautiful bracelet, a representation of my life celebrations. It will stay with me, perhaps later to be passed on to one of my daughters or sons one day. In the meantime, I will wear it and smile--perhaps cry a little sometimes--and Celebrate Life!

Check out what everyone else created with the links below.




Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things


 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier
Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets
  

Saturday, January 5, 2013

12 Days of Christmas Handmade Gift Swap

Back in November Lorelei Eurto drew 11 names for a 12 Days of Christmas Handmade Gift Swap, and along with herself the artists in the swap were to make 11 Handmade gifts and send them to each person in the swap. The gifts were to be opened, one each day, from the person whose name was assigned to that number. For example, I was assigned to the twelfth spot, so everyone would open my gifts that I sent to them on the twelfth day. We could blog about them each day, or wait until the last day and blog about them all at once. Today, I am going to reveal each of my gifts, beginning with the first day. I just want to say thank you to all of the incredible artists for the wonderful gifts that I received. It was so exciting to open a new present each day. I love them all! Thank you, Lorelei, for choosing my name to participate. I loved this swap! I am also still working on my photography skills, so please bear with me as I keep working to improve!



The first Gift of Christmas, from Lorelei, was a jar of assorted flavored nuts, festively wrapped. These nuts are so delicious, and I so appreciated the hand-written list of ingredients that she included! I was able to share them with my husband without fear that he would have an allergic reaction, since I knew there were no peanuts in the mix! Thank you, Lorelei!


The second Gift of Christmas, from Lisa Johnson, is an ornament with a handmade copper wire hanger and some very colorful beads! Thank you, Lisa! I can think of several ways to use this so I can enjoy it all year and not have to wait for Christmas.


The third Gift of Christmas, from Suzette Bentley ! These earrings are just adorable! I love how the button is used, and the colors remind me of candy. Thank you, Suzette, I will enjoy these and wear them often.


The fourth Gift of Christmas is this little crocheted cuff from Jodie Marshall. I have gotten so many complements on this cuff! Jodie used one of her lampwork beads to embellish this cuff. The colors are perfect for so many outfits, and I absolutely love it. Thank you, Jodie! The chocolate was a sweet surprise and only lasted long enough to take the picture!


The fifth Gift of Christmas from Therese Frank is a gorgeous beaded pendant and necklace, the picture does not do it justice. I so admire Therese's beading skills! Beading is not one of my strong suits, it scares me!!! The colors are perfect, and I know I will find many occasions to wear this necklace. Thank you, Therese!


The sixth Gift of Christmas is from Amy Freeland. This little red, white, and blue key chain/purse jewelry/occupies a spot on my purse at the moment, but I can think of many ways to enjoy it! It is just adorable, with a big white frosted/crackle glass bead, blue cord, and red beads attached to a large copper lobster clasp. It's perfect, thank you so much Amy!

Sadly, there is no gift for Day 7. Andrew Thornton had some technical "explosions" when making his gifts, so when it arrives, I will blog about it then.


The eighth Gift of Christmas were from Erin Prais-Hintz, who made these napkin rings/place-card holders with some beautiful glass pearls and crystals. They are so elegant! Erin's instructions are available at Michaels. Thank you so much, Erin! I can't wait for the opportunity to use them!


The ninth Gift of Christmas came from Melissa Trudinger. The ornament was made from a vintage chandelier crystal! Gorgeous and unique, this ornament will hang  not only on my tree next year, but in my workroom the rest of the year. I can't bear to put it away till next Christmas! Also included was the beautiful blue snowflake from Melissa's mom! Of course, I am partial to snowflakes and will also keep this ornament in my sight all year. The card was so cute, I just had to include it in the picture. Thank you Melissa and Mom, these are true treasures!


The tenth Gift of Christmas was a beautiful beaded ornament and extras sent by Rita, of Toltec Jewels. The package included the beaded crystal ornament, a pair of Christmas potholders/hot pads, the small fabric ornament, a sombrero ornament, and a Ceaseless Light candle from Mexico, as well as a jolly Christmas Card!
The ornament is just too beautiful to put away, and my candle will be lit at the appropriate time. Thank you, Rita, I love the personal nature of your gifts, and know that they are from the heart!



The eleventh Gift of Christmas was sent by Suzanne Reynolds. This lovely notebook and cover was handcrafted by Suzanne, and is so ingenious! The colors are so uplifting, and I will carry it with me every day. Thank you, Suzanne!


The twelfth Gift of Christmas was my gift, so here is a little peek.


I used copper sheeting, cut out ovals, hammered, sanded, patina-ted, riveted and assembled leather, copper, and gemstone beaded bracelets. This item was chosen because of it's versatility and because it would also be fitting for a male recipient! I hope you enjoyed the celebration and the Handmade Gifts. Please visit the other participants blogs and check out all the gifts received. Thank you again, Lorelei!

Lorelei Eurto --http://Lorelei1141.blogspot.com

Lisa Johnson--http://whimsyswonders.blogspot.com/

Suzette Bentley--http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com/

Jodie Marshall--Marshalljodie.blogspot.com

Therese Frank--http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Amy Freeland--copperdiem.blogspot.com

Andrew Thornton--http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

Erin Prais-Hintz--http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger--- http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels--www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Suzanne Reynolds-- suzannereynolds.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett--http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com