Lorelei's pinwheel challenge!

I haven't blogged in ages, I have been working on my thesis.  But I took a bit of a break to participate in Lorelei Eurto's pinwheel challenge!  

It is a foggy day here in the midwest.  So this is a perfect pick-me-up!  The Jade Scott pinwheels are so cute and remind me of summer.  I took this chance to use these great bottle cap beads from Glass Garden that I picked up in Tucson a couple of years ago. I love the colors but had never found the perfect combination to use with them.

I absolutely love green, but pink and green together remind me of the early 80s preppy time of my life.  So I added some vintage blue glass beads and a strand of aqua ceramic disks that I got at Michaels.  That with the czech faceted rondelles and the cane glass, I really like the overall look.  It will get me thinking of warm breezes and the pool!

Kate Richbourg

Charlie Jacka

Lisa Cone

Shawna Tobias

Ann Rishell - You are here!

Heidi Post

Lorelei Eurto

Thanks for the great challenge, Lorelei!

bead soup blog party!

Lori Anderson put together a HUGE bead soup blog party.  Over 300 jewelry makers internationally participated.  I got a terrific pile of beads from Debbie Price in Wales.  She included a beautiful silver clasp that looks like a leaf and a pendant from Gaea.

Purple seems to be a really popular color this fall.  The challenge I had from Lorelei was purple, so I was geared into these colors.  The beads from Debbie were a bit lighter and the clasp was silver.  I designed several pieces before adding some silver plated chain from India to the mix.  The oval links reflect the shape of the pendant.

I also added some green silk to the pendant.  I then wired some of the rose quartz into the links with some olivine czech faceted rounds.  I love the green with the pink and lavender.

Thanks for the beads, Debbie, and thanks for organizing a great bead soup party, Lori!

Take some time to browze through the blogs, get inspired and make some jewelry. 

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York
2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson
3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino
4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner
5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier
6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins 
7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor
8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen
9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller
10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman
12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps 
13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka
14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson
15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy
16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price
17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland 
18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John
19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel
19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel
20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase
22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb
23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign
24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall
25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll
26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley
27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala
28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman
29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz
30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen
32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards
33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson
34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier
35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander
36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye
37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock
38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone
39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf
40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll
41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick
42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg
43. Chris White and Norma Turvey
44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer
45. Christie Murrow and Dana James
46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins
47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford
48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis
49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering
50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes
52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher
53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya
54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk
55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young
56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent
57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj
58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman
59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald
60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner
62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert
63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez
64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris
65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith
66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday
67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman
68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore
69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones
70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim
72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable
73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag
74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post
75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton
76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter
77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride
78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller
79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley
80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

 81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor
82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen
83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman
84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy
85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora
86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg
87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann
88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay
89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh
90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan
92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean
93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis
94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt
95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski
96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio
97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts
98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker
99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford
100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto
102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark
103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika
104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen
105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec
106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson
107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long
108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson
109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney
110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger
112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy
113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw
114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher
115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca
116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser
117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse
118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington
119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton
119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter
120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir
122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank
123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks
124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron
125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe
126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon
127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore
128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller
129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke
130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum
132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr
133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara
135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James
136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz
137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi
138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman
139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper
140. Mary McGraw and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner
142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners
143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy
144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri
145. Molly Alexander and Poranna
146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell
147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry
148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson
149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna
150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari
152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan
153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag
154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks
155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka
156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe
157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain
158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins
159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub
160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs
162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett
163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell
164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams
165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin
166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small
167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner
168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk
169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley
170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman
172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin
173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor
174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa
175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton
176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin
177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones
178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser
179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk
180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager
181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

Click on each name to go to their blogs.

bead soup blog party components

The terrific soup that Debbie Price sent me!  I am so happy that I signed up to be able to send internationally.  Debbie is in Wales.  The beads she sent me were terrific.  The pendant is from Gaea and is more lavender than shows in the photo.

After the sun comes up and the thunderstorm moves out I will snap a photo of the finished piece.  Come back!

Lorelei's shadowbox challenge

shadowboxes from C Koop beads.  You can see mine toward the upper right hand corner.

Lorelei Eutro held a fun shadowbox challenge for lucky blog readers.  Of course when my shadowbox arrived I procrastinated.  It was a rectangle with colors ranging from plum to lavender.  That stumped me for a while, but the beautiful copper underneath the purples got me in the end!

I had some lampwork beads that I got at Another Bead Please in my old neighborhood in Ahwatukee, Phoenix, AZ.  That added some white and blue to the mix.  For the shadowbox, I added a British stamp from the 1960s and dangled a key that I found.

I don't usually mix metals, but I think the brass is sufficiently aged that if works with the copper.  And the copper chain is not too bright.  I cannot wait to order some more of these shadowboxes and make some bracelets!

Thanks for the great challenge, Lorelei!

Here is a list of participating blogs:

Lucid Moon Studio

Malin de Koning

Gray Girl Studios

Maria Grimes

Beads of Busy Gals- Elizabeth

The Silly Pearl

Shay Stone- Shays creative journey

LissC

the Beading Yogini

Grubbi

Jenny Davies- Reazor

Beth of Elizabeth Williams

Artybecca

Stefanies Sammelsurium

KreativeKsapylet

Shirley- Beads & Bread

Hilary Frye- Frye Style

Heather Wynn Millican

Staci Louise

Suzette- Ellie's Bijoux

Marina - Fanciful Devices

and, the terrific Andrew Thornton.

Happy blog surfing!

shadowbox reveal waiting on the sun

Hello, all shodowbox challengers

!  The sun is creeping over the horizon here in the heartland.  I finished my pendant last night and am waiting for better light to photograph it.  The image of the British stamp is part of a clue to the finished necklace.

Please swing by in a bit to see the entire piece!  Happy surfing!