Anchors Aweigh Blog Hop Time!!

I'm honored again to get to participate in another design challenge hosted by the amazing Toltec Jewels.  This time the featured artist is Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio!!  I had the pleasure of meeting Diana her truck show at Ornamentea last year.  (Psst...Diana, please come back!!).

I was really excited to get to play with Diana's anchor beads, and already had my idea in mind before they arrived.  Of course, when they got here, I got straight to work (yeah, no that didn't happen).  I mean, I already had figured out what I want to do, so what's the rush?  Last week, I decided it was time to start creating.  My idea was to create beaded beads, with each one representing a different nautical flag to make a necklace.

Nautical Book from local library

I had a pretty productive first day.  I got two of the beads started and I just needed to stitch them up to form tubes.  So, I called it a night.  Then, the real world interfered with bead fun so I didn't get back to creating until Sunday.  No problem, I still have a week to finish.  

Then, it happened.  I couldn't peyote stitch to save my life.  No matter what I did, I couldn't make anything come out right.  I even pulled out Mastering Beadwork by Carol Cypher to follow along with the directions to figure out what I was doing wrong.  By Wednesday night, I was so frustrated and thought that I wasn't going to have anything to show for this challenge.  Has anyone ever had a mental block like this before?  I'm sure by next week, I'll be able to do this no problem, lol.

Thursday, I decided that I needed a new idea.  I began to think about anchors and what they reminded me of.  Growing up, we had a lake in our neighborhood that I spent so much time in during the spring and summer with my friends.  Naturally, I started to think of my friends and other things we like to do.  Then, it hit me almost immediately.  Friendship bracelets!!!  I made and swapped so many friendship bracelets, but I haven't made one in forever.  So, I dug out my dmc floss and got to work!

I'm so happy that these came out so well!  It was a little strange not to have any other beads in the design, but I think it works.  The thread looks abstractly like a sailboat, so the anchors underneath are just perfect!

Thank you Toltec Jewels for hosting yet again another fun and very challenging hop!

Please check out the other artists who got to create with Diana's anchor beads!  To get some anchors of your own (or other pretties), go to Suburban Girl Beads!

Featured & Honored Artist:        Diana Ptaszynski

Diana's Shop:                           Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's Blogs:                          Suburban Girl Studio

                                                 Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: TJ                               Jewel School Friends

Bobbie Rafferty                         Beadsong Jewelry

Chris Eisenberg                         Wanderware

Heather Richter                         Desert Jewelry Designs

Michelle McCarthy                    Firefly Design Studio

Kathy Lindemer                         Bay Moon Design

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Cynthia Machata                       Antiquity Travelers

Kathleen Breeding                     99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Linda Younkman                       Lindy's Designs

Robin Reed                                  Artistry HCBD

Marla Gibson                              Spice Box Designs

Gina Hockett                               Freestyle Elements

Renetha Stanziano                      Lamplight Crafts

Marianne Baxter                          Simply Seablime Jewelry        

Christina Miles                             Wings N Scales

Marybeth Rich                            A Few Words from Within the Pines

Shai Williams                              Shaiha's Ramblings

Cheri Reed                                  Creative Designs by Cheri

Monique Urquhart                      A Half-Baked Notion

Jennifer Reno                             Musings of a Crafty Jenny 

Shirley Moore                             Beads and Bread

Tammy Adams                           Paisley Lizard

Melissa Trudinger                       Bead Recipes

Jill Bradley                                  JillyBeads

The C5 Design Challenge

Hey everyone!  Remember me?  Person who hasn't blogged in almost a year.  Yes, I fell off the blogwagon.  So, what could inspire me to come back?  An awesome hop of course featuring Sue Kennedy's chicklet beads!  The lovely Toltec Jewels sent me a pretty blue one that naturally I didn't take a picture of before I got to work.  But, you're really here to see the finished piece anyway right?

Personally, I don't think the pictures do it justice.  The color of my chicklet in person is more like the last picture. It has some hints of purple and pink to it, so I decided to coordinate the seed beads to that.  I was going to add some czech flowers in a few places, but I couldn't find any in my stash that would work.  I really like how this turned out, and it really highlights Sue's awesome bead.

Thank you Toltec Jewels for hosting this awesome hop and being so generous!!!!!

Please check out the other artists who created with the chicklets as well.

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

                                                               Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/ **You are here**

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                                http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                     http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                                             http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers                                          https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps                                            https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                    https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter                                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding                                   http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                           http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain                                           http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont                               http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                                          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider                                         http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                        http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr                                            http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                         http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                                     http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges                                    http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                       http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                          http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                                               http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                        http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                                        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Octoberfest 13 Blog Hop

Here's my eye candy to help celebrate Octoberfest:

Mookiate stone with champagne faceted glass

Tree Wings Studio Focal with Jasper, Picasso Czech Flowers, and Swarovski

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy the rest of the blog hop!

Octoberfest 13 Artists

Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com
Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/
Susan                                          http://libellulajewelry.com
Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/
Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com
Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/
Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/
Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/
Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/
Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/
Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/
Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com
Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca
Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/    *you are here*
Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com
Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/
Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com
Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/
Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Toltec Jewels (Rita, your hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

I'm in July's Bead Chat Magazine!!!!

So, before the month is over and the next issue is out, I need to get this post out!!!  I've been a little shy about showing off my work, hence the delay.  ( I realize that it's silly, considering it is already out there and people who have seen the issue have seen it, but I'm weird like that.)

Artisan Whimsy is an awesome site for beaders that you should join (it's free!!) if you haven't already.  They put out a monthly glossi called Bead Chat Magazine (also free!!) that has all kinds of articles, tips, and eye candy.  Each month, they select five people to take part in the 5x5 Test Group, and this month, I was one of the lucky ones chosen!  I was sent a beautiful selection of Beach Glass Beads from ZnetShows to design with.  I was so excited to get started that I forgot to take a picture of what I received before I started, but there is a picture of it in the issue on page 47.

Elegant Sea Monster

For the first piece, I took the freeform style flat beads, and decided to create a sea monster.  It's head is a faceted Czech glass bead that I surrounded in an overlapping seed bead stitch (that's what I'm calling it anyway) to attach the head to the body.  I added the daggers to the bottom of the flat beads to pull in the color of the seed beads and to give the creature some spines.  I finished it off with a plastic button clasp that kind of looks like it could be a sea sponge or some coral.

Fishy Coral

This piece is made from two Cultured Sea Glass Bottle Curved Pendants.  I knew immediately when I saw them, they would be perfect back drops for the Czech fish and shell beads that I had been hoarding. The red coral is made out of  red seed beads.  The effect I was going for was the fishes to be playing or feeding in the coral.  How did I do?

Sunset on the Ocean

The pendant I got awhile back from White Clover Kiln, and the teal in it matched perfectly with the Cultured Sea Glass Fish Bone Beads.  I also really lucked out, because I had seed beads in my stash that matched as well.  When I look at the necklace, I think of being on a private boat in the Caribbean, looking out at the ocean at sunrise.

Beach Shell Ball

I combined the Conch Shell Beads with polymer clay beads that I made.  I'm very proud of these, since I'm still a newbie at polymer clay.  I'm looking forward to sharing more of my polymer clay creations with you.

Ocean Flowers

I decided to use up the last of the Fish Bone Beads I was sent and make another pair of earrings.  I made these polymer clay beads as well.

I would like to thank Bill at Znetshows for letting me as well as the other testers have an opportunity to design.  Also, a big thank you to Melinda Orr and Alicia Marinache at Bead Chat Magazine!!  You ladies rock!

Oh yeah, the most important thing, go check out all of the testers creations here!  The feature is on pages 47-52, but you'll want to check out the rest of the issue, especially an awesome interview by Cynthia Machata with my buddy Shelley Graham Turner on page 35!

Thanks to all my readers!  What do you think of my pieces?  Which one is your favorite?

Time for Bead Soup!

Reveal day is here!  My wonderful partner Beti sent me some awesome soup.  Here's the review of the goodies:

If I would have thought ahead, I would have taken a picture of all my ingredients together before I began creating.  I remembered that I hadn't done it halfway through my piece. Oops.

I decided that since the color palette was already challenging for me, I would add another twist.  (Maybe not the best idea in hindsight.)  I really admire all the pieces that I see that are asymmetrical, so I thought I should try my hand at it.  Here goes nothing . . . 

I was really torn for awhile about making two separated pieces with the focals, but I thought they looked good together.  The only things I added to Beti's soup are the Matsuno seed beads and the two metal beads in the bead caps on the pendant.

Well, what do you think?  I'm not quite sure I pulled off the asymmetrical look, but I'm proud of my first effort to try something outside of the box for me.

Please go check out what Beti did with the soup I sent her!

Go check out the rest of the wonderful participants in the 2nd Reveal Group for the Bead Soup Blog Party.

It's Holiday Bling Blog Hop Time!

This by far has been my favorite hop to date!  I was paired by with the amazing Sarah of Pookledo.  Our challenge was to pick a holiday in either February or March, and create something inspired by that day.  Sarah and I decided we wanted to pick a fun, unique holiday.  Did you know that February 26th is Tell a Fairy Tale Day?  I didn't, until I found this awesome website.  Now, off to create a Fairy Tale piece.  This shouldn't be too hard . . . .  Note to self: stop thinking that anything shouldn't be too hard.

Immediately, I wanted to do a Snow White piece, probably because of the Once Upon A Time show on ABC.  I thought about that for a couple of days, but for some reason, Little Red Riding Hood kept popping up in my head.  I had many ideas involving the hooded cape, the basket, and the wolf's teeth that were getting a little too complicated to incorporate in one piece.  Next, I moved on to Alice in Wonderland.  I had some ideas about creating a piece about the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts.  Then, I got stuck again.  I started to think about the name of the holiday, and wanted to take it literally and try to tell a entire story with one piece.  After many google searches, I stumbled upon The Princess and the Golden Ball.  

I began the piece by creating the pendant.

The beginning of the story

The frog (ceramic pendant by beadfreaky) is lifting the golden ball (Czech glass) out of the lake to the princess (crown).  Eventually, after some turmoil (short version, lol), they fall in love.

The Princess and the Golden Ball Necklace

Sarah was inspired by Sleeping Beauty and created a gorgeous bracelet that I love.  Do you want to see it? You'll need to hop over to her blog to read about it.

I want to thank the wonderful dynamic duo of Marlene Cupo and Shelley Graham Turner for hosting this swap.  You ladies put on quite the party!

Here's the list to all of the amazing ladies taking part in the hop!  Please go check out their creations. :)

Alicia Marinache 

Catherine King

Chris Schlicht

Cynthia Machata

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell

Gina Hockett

Laura Reed

Leanne Loftus

Lennis Carrier

Lori Bowring Michaud

Marti Conrad

Mary Govaars

Renetha Stanziano

Rita/ Toltec Jewels

Sandra McGriff

Sherri Stokey

Sonya Stille 

Tammie Everly

Therese Frank

Tiffany Goff Smith

Marlene Cupo

Shelley Graham Turner