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

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

Artist Spotlight - Wendy Baker of Bendywho and Sleeping Dog Studio

Yay!  A new feature.  For now this feature will be monthly, but I hope to be able to expand to weekly as I learn more about all the wonderful jewelry and bead artists that are out there in the big, big world.

This month the Spotlight is on uber fabulous Wendy Baker. 

Many of you already know Wendy from her facebook fan page Bendywho by Wendy Baker and her Etsy shop Sleeping Dog Studio. Maybe you have even hopped by her blog Wednesday 3 o'clock where Wendy gives us peaks into her life at home, in the studio, and at shows.  

I want to take just a moment to thank Wendy for taking time out of her very busy and hectic life to answer these questions for me.

I had the opportunity to ask Wendy a few questions.  Here they are with her thought provoking answers.  Mixed in are photos of her awe-inspiring designs.  These and many many more can be found on her facebook fan page bendywho by Wendy Baker.

What do you love most about designing and creating your own jewerly? 

*i get to pick things that intrique me and then play with them until i either give up, get some kind of good or bad result, get bitten to keep working on some technical evolution, or just try to form something i saw in my mind's eye.  i also like wearing my creations to see if anyone else is as curious as i am.

What are some of you favorite materials to work with and create with?

*loads of influences both passive and actively have settled around me to shwo me how other artists express themselves. i always loved the wire and 3-d expressions that Alexander Calder could fabricate with a spool of wire and a pair of cutters.  he could travel anywhere and then create what he saw in his mind. so i love wire...a lot.

also, i have sewn since i was 12. the idea of taking something flat and creating functional 3d wearable art is so gratifying, i have been through a lot of different media, which i suspect is simply a result of materials available and interests evolving over time.

 

How did you get your start in jewelry designing and what have you learned over the course of being a designer?

* i grew up near beaches on long island. my friends were all lifeguards, so i would visit them while they worked and i tried to get a tan. i have always been a collector as well as someone who made stuff from other stuff. so being at the beaches and finding shells, as well as being a child of the sixties, i wound up macrameing necklaces with things i found and waxed linen string. i have always played with stuff i found and played with making other things from it. + my mother is a great gardener. i have 2 black thumbs. i have been able to play with the floral pieces i found to make my own version of lush gardens. i like trying stuff and looking at magazines. also the time before i fall asleep or as i am waking up is vital for my random connecting of dots in creative ideas floating through my mind.

What gives you the most pleasure in career as a jewelry designer? 

*since i am currently making jewelry, i am smitten with a person approaching me to comment on my jewelry out of the blue. this is often done while grocery shopping. this approach validates my sense of accomplishment. more importantly, i enjoy the beaming faces of ladies who try on my work. it seems to transform their expressions.  this is great to watch and feel responsible for!

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs from?

*i read magazines, look at art work, get out of the house to do some errands. it clears my mental cobwebs. this is a really great way to rejuvenate my system.

I really hope that you have all enjoyed this peak into the life of the wonderous Wendy Baker, I know that I have.

If you would like to be featured on the Artist Spotlight, please send me an email.  If you have any suggestions for other questions on future spotlights, please leave a comment.

Much Love,

Shell