Bead Swap Reveal

Looking for my Button Swap Blog Hop Reveal ---- Click here 

Blogger and I have had our differences lately.  I think that we may have finally come to an understanding so finally here is my reveal of what I was sent by my 2 bead swap partners in the swap organized by Lori Anderson through her Facebook group Bead Soup Cafe.  

My first partner is Kathy Nomura.  She is an amazingly talented artist in Canada.  But you don't have to simply take my word on that .. check out her Etsy shop Jewels by Kat to see some of her lovely designs.  

Here are the goodies that she sent me.  She included ceramic, clay, metal, pearl, glass, and crystal in my package. I am in love with every single thing that she sent and can't wait to sit down and play with them.  

My next partner is Elizabeth Woodford of Expressions of Elizabeth and her blog is Elizabeth Creates.  She creates some amazing cuffs out of some unusual components.  Her designs are one of a kind and I am itching to take a class with her in Virginia.  Hop over to Expressions of Elizabeth to check out when and where her classes are held. 

And here is what Elizabeth sent me. Her package included beads from Indonesia, Tanzania, and Afganistan.  I was in awe of some of the beads that she sent and pleasantly surprised.  

I was ecstatic with the beads that I received from both of my partners.  I can't wait to sit and play with the pieces that they sent to me.  Stay tuned for posts showing some of the creations that I will be making with these.

Until then - Much love 

Shell 

Button Swap Blog Hop Reveal

Today is the reveal of the Button Swap Blog Hop hosted by Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio. I have been excited about this swap and hop since it was announced.  Of course, time flies when you are having fun.

I was partnered up with the wonderful Peggy Johnson of The Charm Barn and Willow Bridge Bend Bead Shop and Boutique.  Peggy sent me some wonderful traditional style shank buttons in white.  Each of the four has a different design, which lends a different feel to the buttons.

Let me apologize in advance for the picture quality, as I don't feel the pictures give the buttons the credit they deserve.  My camera died on me (guess it's time to replace) and the camera on my phone isn't the best.

This first picture is of 3 of the 4 buttons.  I cannot show the finished design with these - yet - as it will be a gift to my mother for Mother's Day (and I know she reads my blog).  The picture just doesn't do justice to the beauty of these beads.  The large square one has a very interesting texture that the camera just couldn't capture.

This picture is of the finished bracelet that I created with the fourth button.  This button reminded me of a sand dollar so I knew that I wanted to use it in a beach inspired piece.  I decided to keep the bracelet simple with some simple stringing techniques and a handmade clasp by Melinda Orr.   I am super happy with how this piece turned out.  It allows the button to be the star accented by the gemstone chips.

Grab a cup of coffee and some quiet time and visit all of the other participants in the hop. And a very Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there reading this :)

Alice Peterson and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

Christine Stonefield and Dana James

Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.

Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

Mary Harding and Stacie Florer

Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)

Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

Much Love ~

Shell 

What have I been up to lately?

So what have I been up to lately?  Let's see

First there is a little of this... My youngest is having the best time playing ball this year.  His natural love of the game is encouraging him to practice, practice, practice. As the season progresses we can all see his hard work paying off.

Aidan Baseball

And some of this.. Today is the 13th Birthday of my son Xander. He specifically asked me to create him a chocolate and peanut butter cake for his family party.  Below is the final result and oh boy did it taste yummy!!

Chocolate Cake with homemade Peanut Butter Frosting

And a little bit of fun along with the cake.  Time spent with brothers, uncles, grandparents and a couple of friends.  The boys had fun throwing the football around the front yard.. And turning a couple of cartwheels.  The adults sat around on the porch watching the fun and having some great conversation.

Xander Family Party

Cartwheels during Football

Xander and Nick

Aidan wanted to play with the big boys

This weekend he gets to choose a friend and I will take them to dinner and a movie to celebrate his birthday.       Once my boys turn 10 they get their last 'friend' party.  With all these kids up to age 10 was about all that I could handle.  Every year, for each boy no matter how young or old, I take them out to dinner and a movie so that they can spend some one on one time with me .. and if they choose they can bring a friend.  It is a memorable time for me .. and I like to think for them as well.

So what else ... tomorrow I will share a post on the wonderful beads that I received from my bead swap partners that Lori Anderson hosted.  I can't want to share the wonderful goodies that I received from them.

So what have you been doing that makes you smile lately?

Much Love
Shell 

Take me out to the ball game...

Wow!  I cannot believe that it has been so long since I have written a post.  Time gets away from me this time of the year and feeling poorly didn't help at all.  In the time that I was away, I did manage to catch up on my blog reading.  Thanks for keeping me entertained and informed while I laid in bed.  So, what's been going on?  Hmmm... Let's see ..

I am finally on the mend.  My neck is still sore but the pain in the left side of my head and neck are manageable.  I will be starting physical therapy soon to try to get the pain to subside completely.  I was reminded yet again that I need to look at where I am walking rather than at the floor or my cell phone.  I almost ran face first into an open cabinet door in the kitchen while walking into the laundry room.  I did a total Matrix style move to keep from smashing my face, but strained my neck.  This is just me .. totally clumsy.  My husband laughed so hard that I thought he was going to be sick.

I am still working on my art journal.  I have realized that the space that I have setup for journaling - which is the same space that I have for making jewelry - does not inspire me.  I have wanted to art journal so badly for the last couple of days, however when I walk to my table I am uninspired.  So, I am going to create a more comfy space for me this weekend.

Hmm.. Let's see what else ...  Oh yeah Nick and Jordan both attended prom since I last wrote.. Nick went to his girlfriend's senior prom at her school (He's just a sophomore so he was excited).. He was handsome and danced the night away.. I haven't gotten their pics back yet and don't have any from her grandmother to be able to show you .. that kind of sucks but rest assured that as soon as I get the pics, you will see endless postings of them on facebook and some in my blog as well.

Jordan and his girlfriend attended their senior prom just this past weekend.  He went with her at 8 in the morning to get her hair done, then to the nail salon.. He really is a good boyfriend.. They spent the day together and had a wonderful time getting ready and riding around in the limo that her mother got them for the day. They traveled to Point Park atop Lookout Mountain to get photos done.  All total there are over 400 photos of them from the day.  (that's a lot of posing)  Here are a couple of my favorites to share. They are just the cutest couple ever!

 

Let's see .. I know that's not all.. Oh yeah - Jordan went for a tour of the Armstrong Atlantic campus in Savannah.  He visited the dorms and registered for his fall classes.  I honestly cannot believe that he will be going away in just a few short months.  Tears will be shed. I feel better knowing that he is going somewhere with friends - actually his entire group of friends including his girlfriend are all attending the same school this fall.

Baseball - Little League Baseball that is - has started up here with the opening ceremonies last weekend. I mean we have actually been playing for a over a month in pre-season tournaments, but this was the official opening ceremony for regular season. This year only the youngest is playing which feels a little weird.  And here he is doing his thing on the field...

May is a busy month for us over here.  We have 3 birthdays - Xander's, Nick's and mine, in addition to Mother's Day, graduation, baseball, friends' birthdays and the end of school.  I plan on hanging around here more often so look to see me post more frequently.  

Much Love

Shell