Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

It started with a humble bead, and a challenge. Make something from my hoard of beads, completely from my hoard. This is the bead.

 And this is what became of the bead(s)

In it I have faceted watermelon quartz,     brown dancing pearls, wooden dragonfly rectangles, fluted melon beads of the sweetest pink, A long hoarded green girl dragonfly pendant, some of my own hand dyed lucite flowers, farfalle beads, some great daggers from my favorite etsy seller Tamara at https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadsToWeave   and tiny vintaj dragonfly charms.

I succeeded in using my stash. It was all from my stash, even the crimp beads, even the wire, even the toggle. :~) The bracelet and earring pics are below, scroll down and enjoy. I wrote a blog about the creation 3 posts down, so if you want to read that keep scrolling.

It was great fun and I will be doing this again!

Have a great hop and weekend everyone.

God be with you all!

Here are the other participants.

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Bead Soup spring 2013 prizes for Runner Up

Today I am catching up on my blog posts before this saturdays reveal of the Bead Hoarders blog hop. I definitely needed to get a picture of my winning beads posted from the spring hop first!
Thank you Lori and everyone who participated or voted in the Spring 2013 Bead Soup Blog Hop.

I was so excited to win runner up, it just added to the fun of the blog hop and was a great boost mentally. I think Lori sent these from her personal stash, how cool is that? And thoughtful as well :~)
There is some ceramic beads, two kinds actually. One of them came with my current favorite "bead of the moment", some transparent garnet colored fluted glass melon rounds. YUM. They are just above and to the right of the 4 squares of candy jade. There is also white cord, some awesome fringe beads and 4 of the sweetest little metal bird charms that I love. You can see all the beads she sent in the pic above. Click on it and it will enlarge.

Again, Thank you to Lori and everyone involved! See you back here, Saturday, for the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop reveal!

Winning is awesome!

A few months back I posted I won a bracelet from Deb from DeborahRead.com and said I would post a picture when it came. Well It has been a while and I apologize for the delay but when it came it didn't fit. It is beautiful and I do love it but with the surgery I am finding some small things impossible to do. One of them being getting a tight bracelet on my wrist :~)
 I contacted Deb, she was super nice! I am thinking she was way busy and didnt get a chance to get the additional piece in the mail for me. I am grateful for the prize.
So here is a picture of the bracelet.

See, i told you it was beautiful! She etched it with her own pattern that she drew and did the metal work.
If you would like to take a peek at what she does here is a link.
Deborah Read 
Have a great weekend everyone! I will be posting my Bead Hoarders Blog post on Saturday, come back and see.   God Bless.

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

I have already started on some things for this blog hop. I am ahead of time, go figure, LOL!
I have a lot of dragonfly beads and I wanted to to see what I could come up with with some of those. I have had a love of dragonflies for years. My Aunt and Uncle have a little piece of heaven up in New Hampshire on a lake called Winona and when you swim/float quietly they (the dragonflies, not my Aunt and Uncle) will land right on you! Some huge ones like tiny helicopters and these amazing tiny pairs of the most awe inspiring bluish purple you will ever see floating in the afternoon sun. Sigh... wish I was there now. Wish I was there ALWAYS.
So the dragonfly necklace is done, the earrings are almost done and I am thinking on the bracelet. I had a LOT of dragonfly beads. Lets face it, I still do.
 But the really cool thing about this blog hop and subsequent projects? I used everything from my stash, right down to the crimp beads! I have been wanting to sit down and make some pieces with some of my "treasure" beads and this hop worked that right onto the top of my to do list!!! And depending on how long it takes my niece to get the measurements I need for her wedding jewelry I may have a chance to use more "treasures". I am very excited for July 20th now. I think this necklace is among my top 10 finished pieces.
All you beaders will understand what I mean by top 10 FINISHED pieces. Some of my favorite pieces are still in my head, waiting for the perfect beads and findings. Or even more exciting, waiting for me to learn how to create those beads and findings :~)

Until the 20th then! God bless.

Beauty, fragmented

* if you are looking for my BSBH reveal post scroll down :~)*
I am intrigued by the possibilities associated with all the new shapes of seed beads. I am a beadweaver.
I take tiny pieces of colored glass, needle and thread and I stitch them into pieces of artistry. (At least they are artistry to my eye, others may not agree) These new shapes, particularly the 2 holed ones, are a HUGE development to the beadweaver. The opportunity for design is staggering, inspirational and mind blowing. The only downside here is that my hand is not yet able to bead for hours. I can, at best, expect to bead for 15 minutes before I have to rest it. Hopefully that will improve by leaps and bounds, Lord willing.
So with that limitation in mind, I have been playing.
The first thing I did was find the cheapest way to own some of these amazing beads. I shopped in my home town, I found some twin beads and some super duos. Both in limited colors and finishes with the super duos being noticeably more expensive. I wondered why.
Next I turned to online, much better selection but still the prices were still high, super duos more so. I took a trip through online shops, ebay and such finally finding myself at ETSY. ( long story shortened for your reading pleasure) What I was looking for was a good balance between price and selection. I spent many days looking through different sellers and comparing prices and shipping, selection and colors.
I ended up choosing a few to buy from to compare shipping times and customer service. Nitty gritty I have 2 etsy shops I really love, one being in the states and run by a very nice, very accommodating woman named Tamara. Her shop is called Beads to Weave and can be found here https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadsToWeave
And one in Prague, Czech republic.(One of the things that is absolutely awesome about the internet is that every one is only a click away. :~) The shopkeeper's name is Olga. She was equally nice and helpful.
Her shop is called ScarraBeads and is found here 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScaraBeads

Bost shops are great, a little better prices from Scarrabeads but the shipping is higher (duh they come from the Czech republic!) and it takes about 8 days to arrive while Beads to Weave packages come so fast I think she has a transporter! I have no affiliation to these shops other than I have shopped with them and enjoyed the experience and the product.

After receiving the beads I looked online for others experimenting for a simple jump off point. Deborah Roberti has free tutorials and I started with these http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/Starburst.html 
This is my first version

I changed the daggers but that was pretty much all. Both the super duos (SD for rest of blog) and twins in this piece worked pretty much the same. The purples in the center are SD matte violet and the peachy ones are twins. In this piece the twins weren't too bad, all though they definitely seem to have a flat back to them. The SD were symmetrical and stacked together beautifully.

This one, in purple, 

is done the same way as above, except I used delicas for the 11's.

The center beads are twins and they are very irregular and different in both shape and sizes, hard to find 5 that were similar enough to use. The outer ones are SD, again, no troubles they are a joy to work with.

So I now made a matching set, using roughly, the Starburst pattern from Deborah.

Sorry I forgot to turn the pic. I put drop beads in the place of my daggers and her rizzo's. One of the spots I put the briolette shaped bead. I am very happy with these and now wanted to make a matching bracelet. The first problem I needed to overcome was there are 5 points and I needed an even number to be able to connect them side by side. Here are a few I tried based on 6 instead of 5.

Although I like these they are tending to ruffle and then the petals are hard to see. The top right piece has Rollos on 3 sides. It ruffles the most.

This is what I am playing with now.

Im not sure this shape will lead to a bracelet. I kind of off on a tangent  now but

I am having fun playing with these beads. I think the super duos are the ones I will stick with. The twin beads seem like they may be improving as the peach ones seemed better than the purple ones, or could the purple ones be a knock off?  Who knows?  This reminds me of a snowflake. 

So what is everyone else doing with these?  

Bead Soup spring 2013 REVEAL #3

Good morning Blog hoppers !  
 Welcome to my reveal for the spring 2013 Bead Soup.
First a thank you to my partner Christa Murphy for my wonderful, abundant soup. (I have posted many pictures of that soup if you care to scroll down and see them.) and to Lori, our organizer for all her hard work. I enjoyed working with my soup, it was challenging doing it mostly one handed. My wire work is not what it normally would be but Lord willing I will get there. 
Being a Christian I was immediately drawn to the faux turqoise crosses she sent, and they went beautifully with the fire agate. I added stampings, chain and and some fiber, simmered and spiced. Fiddled and worked and  Viola, my Soup!   Here is the entire set first.

I will show you the close ups before I show you the other piece. I am doing well but I can use my hand for only a few minutes at a time and limitedly so all the pieces I wanted to make are not done yet but they are planned out. Stop back next month and you can see the rest of the soup served. Lord willing :~)

The bracelet is what I started with, I wanted to use the stamping curved to my wrist and the beads in the back. here is what I ended up with.

I added the fibers to soften up the harshness of the metal and the chunkiness of the beads. I prefer simple pieces that rely on the beauty of good workmanship and beautiful materials. You can see that better in my second "set" of mixed up soup so these pieces are a bit of a stretch for me. I do like them and will enjoy wearing them but probable not as often as my simpler pieces. Now all I need is something to wear with these pieces. he he

The necklace was born quickly, taking its cues from the bracelet. Of course its actual assembly took awhile and I believe working on these pieces was good hand therapy. Minus the week I couldnt do much with the hand due to overuse. woops! 

The clasp, highlighted in green, I made with a vintage clip on earring part and one of the crosses. I did not add the red crystal to this cross because I didnt want it to catch easy and get popped out/off. The clasp for this necklace was confounding me for awhile and I went through some of my "odd stuff" containers ( come on, you all have them, dont you?) and came across the earing piece. I am very happy with how it ended up. What do you think?

And last, but not least, the MOP necklace I made from the pendant Christa stitched for me.

I LOVED the pendant and did not want to overwhelm it or take from the simple beauty

she had created. The snowflake spacers, bead caps, clasp and the blue dyed fire agate rounds are all from Christa. I added the farfalle beads, I love the texture of them. They look like a stitched chain but were very easy to string together as my hand was not up to much else.

It is my favorite for a few reasons. It reminds me of Christa and makes me think of her stitching it up just for me and that makes me smile, It is just so pretty :~) and it sings of warm breezes and hammock swings. Peaceful. 

Well, Thank you for sticking with me through the whole post. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. And again I apologise for the hickup of lateness :~)

Pictures of 7th Bead Soup mixes

My partner, Christa, sent me an awesome soup! I have many ideas and cant wait until my hand catches up with my brain/heart. I wont be making the reveal date in the traditional way (due to my hand surgery) but I may post pictures of "layouts" if Lori is ok with that. I am waiting to hear back from her. at any rate here are pictures of what she sent!

Christa stitched up this pendant for me, isnt it pretty? I think it is just right and when I am able I am thinking I will do up a simple kumihimo cord so as not to overwhelm its beauty. Perhaps adding the seed beads she sent to it. This Bead Soup is such FUN!! Thank you Lori for Bead Soup and all the work you do! Thank you Christa for the wonderful soup you sent!! Blessings to both of you!


When I sent Christa her soup I forget to get the pictures but I remembered just before Steve took the box to the post office. So I quickly emptied the box and snapped a quick pic. Here is what I sent Christa.

She likes floraly stuff but usually works in more earth toned beads so I sent some pink and blue stuff :~)
The lucite flowers I hand dyed, I enameled the beads, hand forged clasp and connectors.  The polymer kaleidoscope beads/cabochons I did as well. The lampwork leaf beads I didnt do, I purchased those. After all, they are pink and blue! There is also a little "beady friend fairy", up in the left hand corner, I sent to watch over Christa. She is charged with freeing up more beading time for Christa.  I dont know how well this all shows up but there is rose quarts heart beads and a nice rose quartz carved butterfly as well.Lots of druks. I cant wait to see what all she does with her soup. At any rate I do hope she loves it and it is blessing her.

Hello everyone out in Internetlandia! How are things in your neck of reality? Couple things today.
First, and most unexpected, I WON SOMETHING!! woot woot!  Deb from DeborahRead.com gave away an etched copper bracelet and I won! I never win anything, so how cool is that? I will post a picture and blog about it when it arrives. Yay, and thank you Deborah!


Second,an update on my hand.
 I am into a little cast/brace for my hand. Its much better than the cast/wrappings so I am glad. I can get it wet so showering is much easier.

It is a molded hard plastic that was molded right on my hand. It leaves my fingers free and my thumb area unmoving. Those "dots" are tiny little holes so my skin can breath. I am not suppose to move my thumb/hand  until the whole thing is healed, then we will work on therapy to strengthen and stretch out the area. Right now I go 2 times a week for ultrasound therapy and scar massage. The idea is to lessen the scar tissue that forms around the surgical areas so it will be easier/possible to rehab it. Doctor says it is looking great. I am very happy with that!
(PS.I got into this brace a bit ago, I am behind on my updates, not like anyone cares or is paying attention anyway so oh well. Full disclosure I guess)

My Hand surgery and how it relates to the 7th Bead Soup

All in all I believe it has gone well. I had a bone removed from my left hand to ease the arthritis symptoms and hopefully gain back some mobility/usefulness. I had signed up for the 7TH Bead Soup before the surgery date was secured. My partner and I have exchanged soups. I will blog, with pictures of both soups, when I photograph hers.

Here is my hand and wrist in the wrappings and cast. I think we took this photo about 5 days after the surgery. My finger swelling is down and the bruising is flushing out towards my elbow.
The surgeon said it went well, however, the bone was stubborn and needed to be shattered to be removed. I must admit I was unprepared for the amount of pain the first 2 days, but, as with everything, the time passed and I healed. It got better day by day and now, at nearly 2 weeks out, the pain is all ready better than before the surgery.
So, if I do actually gain back the use of it, it was a success. I am grateful to The Lord for the success!

Therapy begins on wednesday. I will be rid of the bandages and given a fitted brace. I can not wait! I am  .... how shall we say? Overly involved, preoccupied, with any stitches, bandages, flesh glue etc....... applied to my person. My hand feels claustrophobic!!! I have left it mostly alone, I am impressed to say. On wednesday I will have a better idea if I am to make my Bead Soup reveal deadline of April 13th. I know all my ideas wont be complete. I have an idea for some beaded embroidery that I think may have to wait. but we shall see.
I am grateful for all prayers said on my behalf and thankful for any more that will be said.
Thank You!!!
Gob Bless!

blogging about Bead Soup

I am so thrilled to be participating in this beady blog hop!
I haven't had the opportunity to blog and hop as I had wanted, but I have exchanged emails with my partner Christa and I have enjoyed chatting with my new beady friend. I mailed out her soup last week and I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting news of its arrival. This is like Christmas! :~) It really is more fun to give then receive!
I am also very excited to receive my soup, I have been day dreaming about what she may send. I hope I have a chance to play with it before surgery on Thursday  I have arthritis and my hand/thumb is going to be less one bone after my hand doctor is done. Recovery is like 3 months. If I don't get something made before Thursday I pray I will be able to do something before reveal day. Beading is like therapy, right???

I will post a photo of the soup I sent Christa when she receives it. I wouldn't want to ruin her surprise!


I hope everyone has a beady day.

7th Bead Soup Blog Party

I am part of the current bead soup blog hop swap! Yeah! I am now trying to figure out the things I need to do for my blog. I am seriously computer challenged so this will be the hardest part for me. Here is the blog button. I hope :~)

Bead Soup Blog Party