So Much Going On

Looking for my BSBP post click here ----->  BSBP Reveal
There has been so much going on I feel like I have been neglecting all of you.  For that I am so sorry.  So here are some updates.

1 -  Very Vintage Challenge hosted by Michelle Mach - the reveal is coming on Tuesday October 4th.  Make sure to come back to see what I create with the wonderful components that were in the kit.

2 - MBA - As most of you know I am pursuing my MBA in my spare time (not really sure what that is but I have a tiny bit of it).  I am about to finish my 3rd class and begin my 4th on Tuesday .. its a math class - please pray

3 - B'Sue Boutiques Creative Group - Brenda Sue Landsdowne has started a Flickr group that is meant to highlight the finished pieces that we all make from her wonderful components.  If you haven't heard about B'Sue Boutiques you need to check out her blog Jewelry Making Outside the Box, her FB Fan Page, or her website B'sue Boutiques.  She also has an Etsy shop and instructional videos on YouTube

4 - Work is picking up the pace as the end of the year grows near.  I will be increasing the number of hours at work, which means a decrease in the amount of time that I get to spend reading your blogs, looking at your creations, and designing my own.

5 - A well deserved mini vacation is on its way tomorrow.  I will be heading to Pigeon Forge, TN for some outlet shopping with the ladies in my church.  We will only be gone for the day, but oh I cannot wait for a little escape of nothing but fun.

6 - There are more design challenges coming up that I will be participating in with links to my original posts that will link you back to the challenge /  blog hop details.  I will post more about each of them as the reveal dates get closer.
       a - Lima Beads Challenge - hosted by Lorelei Eurto and Shannon Chomanczuk - reveal date 10/08
       b - Sari Ribbon Blog Hop - hosted by Brenda Sue Landsdowne - reveal date 10/14
       c - Do Over Challenge - hosted by Jeannie - reveal date 10/26

I hope to return to my regular blog schedule soon.  If you know of anyone who would like to be a featured artist, please let me know.

Much love,
Shell

Very Vintage Challenge

If you're here for soup, Bead Soup that is click ***** HERE ******

I am gearing up for the Very Vintage Challenge that Michelle Mach is hosting.  I love the items in the kits and have some ideas swirling around.

Here is a peak at the components that could be included in the kits 

I am keeping my goodies a secret until the reveal on October 4th.  Remember to come back and take a peak at what I create.

Hope to see you soon!  

Much Love

Shell

Bead Soup Blog Party - Reveal!!!

The time has finally come to reveal my creation(s) with the items that I received from my BSBP partner Niki Meiners.  I can honestly say that this has been a challenge for me.  Here are the many incarnations of my BSBP piece(s) : 

I started with this one.  I used the blue on the left to highlight the blue in the beads.

However, I decided that this one just wasn't right.

So my second design was this one. I really liked the layout of this one. I was stumped with that to do with the chain because I felt it looked too plain and needed a little something extra.  *there are some extra pieces so you may see this one again*

This is my final creation and the one that I was the most satisfied with.  I love the mix of colors and textures. This piece includes the large focal piece and the clasp that Niki sent me.

But wait, I have another piece that has been with me throughout the whole process.  I love love love these earrings.  They are not heavy at all and look wonderful when worn.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  Click on the Bead Soup button on the left to see the list of all the other participants' blogs.  Take your time and enjoy the soup.

Much Love, 

Shell 

BSBP is Coming!!

Only one more day until BSBP reveal.  I will only say at this time that I have had a doozie of time coming up with a design for the reveal.   Here is a reminder of what my Bead Soup looked like.

And here is a peak at what I sent my BSBP Partner Niki Meiners

The rose in the center was damaged before I could send the package out to Niki, so I replaced with the piece below. 

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see what I created with what Niki sent.  I will also have a link to the other over 360 participants this round.

Much love, 

Shell

Big Gifts in Small Packages

This week one of my assignments for my MBA class really took me back to a moment in time that I will never forget.  It was one of those moments when I knew that God was giving me a Big, Huge, Giant, Enormous Gift in a Small Package.

It was 2 years ago that I was sitting with a Bible study in my room when my then 6-year-old son came in and asked what I was doing. I explained what I was doing and asked if he would like me to tell him a story about Jesus.  He excitedly said yes, so I read him the passage that I had been studying. I was reading Matthew 8:23-27 - the recounting by Matthew of how Jesus calmed the storm.  

The passage is just five short verses overall, but gave both my son and I the Biggest, Grandest gift that night.  That night after reading the passage to him, my little sweet Aidan got down on his knees and asked the Lord to come into his heart and be his savior. 

These five short verses made such an impact on my son, so much of an impact that he went to his knees and changed his life and mine forever. 

These five short verses have always carried meaning for me in my life which, when younger, was filled with turmoil and emotional storms.  Now, they will carry special meaning for my son as well.  

Aidan - 6 years old 

What big blessing have you been given that came in an unexpected package?

Much Love

Shell

LimaBeads Challenge

Yep.. you guessed it I found another challenge :-) ..  I just ordered my challenge kit for the LimaBeads Challenge. Lorelei of Lorelei's Blog and Shannon of For My Sweet Daughter have teamed up with Lima Beads for this challenge.  

Here is a sampling of the items included in the kit.  Isn't it just gorgeous!?:

To get more information on the challenge and blog hop visit Lorelei's Blog or Shannon's blog.  To order your kit visit LimaBeads.

Reveal date is October 8th.

Much love and happy creating,

Shell

A Different Kind of Challenge

So here I sit going through my lovely Google Reader that has all of my favorite blogs in one place for easy readability (not sure that is a word, but just go with it). I come across the post from Jeannie's blog  entitled Bead Unique October 2011.  I love looking at her creations in her store as well, so I clicked on the My Store link on the right of her blog page.  I start browsing and come across some really great deals.

These gorgeous Distressed Patina Clay Pendants are gorgeous!  I ordered 2 of the circular ones and can't wait to get them.

And take a look at these amazing paper beads

I kept looking around, checking out each section of her shop, just soaking in the gloriousness (not sure that it a word either).  I noticed a section titled Do Over Challenge.  I was intrigued... so I clicked it. Jeannie is hosting a challenge.

Here's how it works:

Jeannie will send you an old, tired, boring piece of her jewelry and you will work your magic and turn it into something beautiful and amazing.  There will be a small fee of $3.50 to cover shipping and handling.

Guidelines:

Deadline to enter this challenge is Friday, September 30th.  You don't have to have a blog to enter. Jeannie will post it on her blog for you.

Take "before" and "after" pictures. Try to use at the very least 50% of the do over piece. You can add any of your beads or pendant.

Everyone will post it on your blog on the SAME DAY, (to be announced on her blog).  If for any reason you are unable to participate, you will be charged for the jewelry.

The Do Over Challenge piece will be shipped out sometime after September 17th.

Go to Jeannie's blog to get the rest of the info and the remainder of the guidelines.

Don't forget that the deadline to enter is September 30th, but there is only a limited number of pieces that Jeannie has set aside for this challenge. So you may want to order now to make sure that you have a spot. The blog hop date will be sometime in late October.  Head on over to Jewelry by Jeannie to reserve your piece today and while you are there take a look at all of the other wonderful things that she has created. And don't forget to check her blog Jeannie's Blog.

I'm in! Are you??

Much Love,
Shell

Very Vintage Challenge

I am so excited to be able to participate in the Very Vintage challenge that Michelle Mach is hosting.  

The kits have a definite fall theme with such wonderful colors. The reveal date is October 4th and cannot wait to see what the different designs will be for this challenge.  If you want to see the reveals of her last challenge, Mostly Metal, take a look here Mostly Metal Challenge.  It is fascinating to see all of the different designs that come from the same materials.

I love all the components in the Very Vintage challenge kit and cannot wait to get mine so that I can begin creating. 

Fall is such a wonderful time of the year, with the changing of the leaves introducing new spectacular colors, the cooling off of the long, hot summer days and nights, the kids going back to school (I know it's like Christmas for grown ups), and football season starting back up.

I hope that you will stop by for the reveal.  I have a couple of other challenges that I am working on as well. You can click on the links below to see my blog posts on them. These posts also have links back to the host in case you want to learn more. 

Bead Soup Blog Party - reveal date September 17th - sign ups have ended for this one

Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop - reveal date October 14th - sign ups still open.  If interested click in the link which will take you to my blog post which has links back to the host.

What challenges are you participating in?  Leave a comment and include a link to your blog or the host's blog.

Much Love

Shell

Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop

So many things are going on this fall.  It may be that way every fall, but this is the first fall that I have been creating jewelry.  Brenda Sue Lansdowne of B'Sue Boutiques announced yesterday the date of the Sari Ribbon blog hop that she is hosting.  She put the rules on paper *so to speak* in her blog post Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop..You're Invited! .  Head on over to her facebook fan page B'Sue Boutiques to get more info and a button to add to your blog.  Also, she has Sari Ribbon available on her website B'Sue Boutiques.  I can't wait to see what you make on the reveal date of October 14th

Much Love,
Shell