Fun for me!!

The Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop hosted by B'Sue is over and I am a little sad.  The hop was fun and exciting.  It was so much fun to hop from blog to blog to see what the different participants created.  Each piece was unique and beautiful.  Most interesting of all is how many participants had never worked with Sari Ribbon before.  

Here is another shot of my piece 

To see photos of the different pieces that were created during the hop you can follow the links in my post here or go to Flickr to B'sue Boutiques Creative Group.  These photos as well as many others with pieces created with components from B'sue Boutiques can be found in the Flickr photos.  There are discussions going on about another upcoming hop, individuals looking for ideas or help, how different people started their jewelry making journey, and more.

Right now, I am most excited about the discussion going on around the theme for the next hop (maybe in January)!!  The theme is POLYMER CLAY!!  I have never used polymer clay before, but have always wanted a "reason" to buy supplies and get started playing with something new.  

Today I went out and bought some basic supplies because I just couldn't wait any longer to start playing.  So Aidan and I have been having fun tonight conditioning clay, learning that if the clay crumbles it is usually beyond repair, and playing with cutters, textures and colorizing.

I will be taking photos of my trial and error pieces as I learn this new medium and what it can offer.  I am already excited about what I can do with it.  I am watching different YouTube videos, reading tutorials and playing with the clay.  

Although down the road (at least around the curve), I am super excited about making my own canes to create signature looks for my own work.  How awesome is that!? Handmade by me with more handmade by me.  

The possibilities are endless when clay is involved.  I am only beginning to see what can be done with this wonderful medium.  I hope that you will join me in my exploration of polymer clay.

Much love, 

Shell

Sari Ribbon Blog Hop

Today is the reveal day for the Sari Ribbon Blog Hop hosted by Brenda Sue at B'sue Boutiques.

And here is what I created for the hop

I braided Sari Ribbon and Gypsy Ribbon that I purchased from B'sue.  I incorporated some wonderful beads from Gaea .  Rather than wire wrap the beads and attach with jump rings.  I coiled the excess wire of the headpin and connected it by stringing it on the gypsy ribbon prior to braiding.  To finish it off, I added a Vintaj Natural Brass Swirl Clasp.

Below is a close up of the clasp area.  I need to work on the colors so I will probably rewrap the ends in Vintaj Natural Brass wire and remove the copper and well as update the jumps that I used to better match the clasp.  Also, Any suggestions on how to finish off the ribbon ends would be appreciated.

I hope that you enjoyed my creation.  Here are the links for the other participants in the hop.

Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop

Vickie Wills

http://www.jewelrybyvee.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy

http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Michelle Mach

http://www.michellemach.com/blog/

Michelle Lee Hardy

http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/ 

Ruth Crawford

http://www.home-with-ruth.blogspot.com

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/

Diana P.

http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com 

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques

http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Owens-Dwy

http://www.clarityofpurplesage.blogspot.com 

Connie Rios-Relyea

http://www.JewelsDesignsCreativeCorner.wordpress.com/ 

Jennifer Justman

http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/    

Deb Davis

http://www.naturaltreasuresbydeb.blogspot.com

Beanzie

http://www.thevintageheartcharmbracelets.com/the-vintage-heart-charm-b/

             

Cathie Carroll

http://www.cathiecarroll.com/

Rosemary Cowit

http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Georgene Lockwood

http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

Cathy Buckley

http://cathybuckleycatsmeow.blogspot.com

Harry Wood

http://www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

Sonya Stille

http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com 

Mary Deis

http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

Heather Goldsmith

http://asibeadit.blogspot.com/

Susan Rouleau

http://mountainshadowstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Matusyk

http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com

Pam Chesbro

http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/

Mary Shannon Hicks

http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett

http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Davinia

http://www.daviniadesign.com

Kristina Johansson, Maneki

http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com 

Kris Binsfeld

http://www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Mandy

http://www.beadsforbrains.blogspot.com

Charlene

http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/

Catherine Jeltes

http://www.galleryzooart.com

Jackie

http://kydojewellery.blogspot.com/ 

Sharon Palac

http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com 

Deb Beechy

http://beetique56.blogspot.com/ 

Jean Yates

http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patrice Pfeiffer

http://treeseatreasures.blogspot.com/ 

Dorcas Midkiff

http://wondrousstrangedesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Perry Bennett

http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Linzi Alford

http://www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com

Deb

http://greenshoot.blogspot.com/ 

Cynthia Wainscott

http://www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com

Alice Craddick

http://alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/

And here you will be able to see all the participants photos.

B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/

Much Love, 

Shell

Lima Beads Challenge

Lorelei and Shannon teamed up with LimaBeads.com to create this stunning kit.

First let me begin by saying that the colors in this kit are outside of the colors that I normally use.  To challenge myself a little bit more, I decided that I was going to create at least two necklaces from the kit. Since I usually only work with bracelets, this was a stretch for me.  So for my reveal, I will be showing the two necklaces.

On the first one, I used a few of the Turquoise Zebra Jasper Tumbled Nuggets and one of the Lemon chrysoprase ovals.  I added some rustic antiqued copper chain from Antiqued and a Vintaj natural brass hook and eye clasp that I purchased through LimaBeads.  The focal pendant is ceramic from Seven Seas Beads

The second necklace was created using the Czech Glass Gladiola Flower Buttons, the Vintaj Brass Framed Scrollwork pendant, one of the Czech Glass Luster Transparent Amethyst Teardrop, and the MissFickleMedia Patinated Violet Oval Toggle Clasp from the kit.  From my stash I added ceramic beads from Gaea, very vintage filagree stampings from GypsySpiritStudio, and circular rings links antiqued brass chain from Antiqued.

Thanks for stopping by to see some of my creations with this wonderful kit.  I will post more pictures of more creations from this kit later this month.

Use the links below to view all the other participants in the challenge.

Much love,

Shell

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

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