Well, this has been one crazy year, that seemed to go by so quickly in some respects, and in others, like health-wise, it has been sloooooow going. I couldn't let the holidays go by without letting everyone know how much I have appreciated the support and caring I have gotten from friends and family. I also want to let you all know how much I care for you all, pray for you when you have ups and downs, and love to listen when you want to talk.
During the year, I have had to back off beading some, until I can get my cataracts removed, but at the same time, I have been doing other things like gourd art, weaving, drawing, paper and mixed media art. I have wanted to pursue these things for a long time, but have put it off because I always had a beading project (or two!) going, and never managed to do anything else. But now, I can, and it has been a blast!
So I guess this post is mostly about counting my blessings. While some things have been difficult, they only resulted in good in the end. So, this year, I learned that if something gets in your way, if you search your heart, you can find another path. My path is ever changing, and I thank the universe for that. And I thank the universe for all the love I have been given, this year and every year.
So to everyone, have a blessed holiday season, no matter which holidays you celebrate, and be safe, happy and healthy in the new year!
shannon
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Charm Swap - I'm lame, but I'm here
Fortunately, I got my charms done before the rapid deterioration began on my eyes. So, I'll explain a little about my charms. The theme I chose was laughter. Now, when you see the charms I sent, it might be a little hard to read laughter from them. I started with some cute ribbon, and I embellished the ribbon with seed beads. Then I added a central lampwork bead to each charm, and pulled it all together with some ribbon crimps and jump rings. When I saw the little bead poking out from the middle of the ribbon, it just made me giggle, like it was playing hide-and-seek. So, giggles it is. Here is a photo of one of my charms, along with the little bags I found for packaging. I hope you all enjoy my charms as much as I LOVED the ones you all sent to me!
A Charming Giggle
I'm truly sorry if the picture quality is bad, but I am really unable to tell at this point. I couldn't see to edit it properly, so it is what it is. Thank goodness for spelling correction, or this post would really be pathetic, LOL! Anyway, be sure to visit all the blogs, and the auction site for the charity auction, which made this fun swap possible. Thanks to Jennifer Cameron and her charitable spirit, as well as her organization of all these moving parts. It was wonderful to play, and I hope, if there are any more in the future, my cataracts and other eye issues will be fixed by that point, and I'll be able to play again.
Auction Site: http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions
Babette Cox http://babettecox.com/blog.htm
Carol Watson http://www.carolwatsonartglass.blogspot.com
Charlene Jacka http://clay-space.com/2012/11/early-christmas/
Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/2012/11/to-participate-in-charm-swap-you-must.html
Cheryl McCloud http://cherylmccloud.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-beads-of.html
Deb Kauzlarich http://debkauzlarich.blogspot.com
Denielle Hagerman http://somebeadsandotherthings.com/beads-make-me-laugh/
Inge vonRoos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Jean Peter http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/ http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-charm-swap.html
Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage/
Jennifer Cameron http://wp.me/p1xIa0-wn
Kimberly Roberts http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap.html
Leslie Schenkel http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/?p=171
Linda Florian http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/
Lori Greenberg http://lorigreenberg.com/blog
Lynnea Bennett http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com
Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-time-has-come-art-charm-blog-reveal.html
Marsha Neal Studio http://marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-exchange-and-beads-of-courage.html
Maureen Connolly http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-reveal.html
Monique Urquhart http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-im-sure.html
Natalie McKenna http://www.grubbi.co.uk/
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-auction-and-reveal.html
Robin Koza http://www.robinkoza.com
Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-hop.html
Shannon Hicks http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/11/reveal-2012-charm-swap.html
Stephanie Haussler http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/laughter-art-bead-charm-swap-auction.html
Vanessa Gilkes http://culturezine.com/blog/
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Fun at the emergency room and being saved by angels
Well, anyone who has seen my blog lately knows I am having major eye issues. I saw the eye doctor again last week, and apparently, I have serious cataracts, which have gotten worse at an alarming (for me) rate. I am seeing the surgeon at the end of November, and hopefully that will be all fixed. The upshot of it all is that I am functionally blind in my left eye at the moment, and the right one is barely functional. I can't do depth perception at all.
I can't see beads under size 8, and 6's are better, so I haven't been beading at all, because I am a weaver, not a stringer. I just have no talent for stringing. I love how other artists do it, making chic statement pieces, but when I try, I get symmetrical pieces that remind me of "pop beads" that were popular when I was a kid. For those of you who are too young for that reference, pop beads were pearly plastic beads, around 12 or 15 mm, and they had a round connector on one side, and a hole on the other, so they "popped" together. I had every color, size and type of pop bead, a precursor to my current hoard.
Anyway, in the process of being bummed out, but managing to do some paper art inspired by Jennibellie's paper buttons and flowers, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFguRhrWVns&feature=plcp, I began to feel ill. (If you don't know Jennibellie, she is definitely worth a look. She is a unique artist, not defined or confined in any way by rules and regs, and she is inspiring.) Anyway, it all began with stomach cramps, and ended in the emergency room, getting a bag of saline for dehydration, and a morphine shot to calm the cramps.
The emergency room, what an adventure all the time. Every time I have been in one, it has been just wild. This time, the excitement began with an elderly gentleman in the bed on my left. He kept screaming "Ayeyayayay! Help me! Christ help me!" and a lot of other epithets in Spanish that I couldn't make out, having had only a couple of years of high school and college Spanish. The English-speaking personnel just told him to calm down and keep his clothes on (I couldn't see the apparent strip-tease he was performing, due to a gratefully placed curtain.) The Spanish-speaking personnel kept telling him to stop screaming, to little avail. He wanted water, but could not have it due to a low sodium situation, so he screamed for water. He was in pain, so they gave him a pain shot, but he never waited for it to work, he just screamed on. I think he was just sick and scared, but it was pretty exhausting listening to his screams for hours. They finally decided they were keeping him in the hospital, and shipped him off to an unsuspecting ward somewhere.
Directly in front of me, they brought in a very large woman (and believe me, I am a little round person myself, but this lady was easily twice my size.) She was conscious, but totally uncommunicative, they asked her her name, no response. They asked her why she was there, no response. A technician tried to take blood and she refused by moving her arms around until a nurse went in and told her that she needed the tests, and she laid still and submitted. I got the impression that she was sent to the ER by either a facility where she lived, or by some family members who had not hung around, because the staff seemed to know why she was there, and they decided to keep her, at least overnight.
To my right, I first had a man who was somewhat intoxicated, and had been bitten by a stray dog. The bite was either on his finger or his thigh, and had been inflicted either that day or three weeks ago, depending on the telling. He was slightly amusing, but they dispatched him pretty quickly. Next up, on the right, was a really, really intoxicated woman. (I gathered that the bed to my right was the designated "drunk tank.") Anyway, I'm not sure what was wrong with her, she was slurring her words so badly, but she did take offense to several of the hospital personnel, and was loudly demanding apologies from them all, although the offenders seemed to just disappear and were replaced with new, potentially less offensive ones. Then she demanded a phone, they found her one, and she wanted assistance with her call. They asked her the number and she said things like 4520 and 2326, but never anything resembling a phone number. So, they sneaked away from her, and whenever someone came to give her a test or something she complained that no one would help her with the phone.
Meanwhile, my saline drip finished up, the morphine kicked in, and I was at least feeling good enough to go home. So we left, with some regret, because you always want to know the outcome of every soap opera, but I needed to go home to my own bed and heal. Mark was an absolute hero to me that day. He cleaned up my sick messes, he took me to the emergency room, even though driving in the late afternoon and evening are very difficult for him due to his macular degeneration. (At this time, we have about one good eye between us.) He made me Jello and got me Gatorade, and last night, he even made his world-famous chicken soup with dumplings. I think that contributed to my cure. I am better, if somewhat weak and wimpy, but definitely on the mend. The soup stayed down, I slept the night through with no disasters, and I saw my regular doctor yesterday. She changed some of my meds, so maybe the dehydration will stop. It has caused a lot of the problems with my eyes, and two episodes of stomach terrors in the last two weeks. It has been going on for awhile, but it just got really bad from about March of this year when my cornea was ripped from dry eyes. So, life seems to be improving.
I also wanted to talk about the emergency room personnel at Maryvale Hospital, here in Phoenix, about a mile from my house. From the aide who wheeled me in, to the doctors, nurses, technicians, aides and janitors, they were an awesome group of folks. They were all cheerful, patient, and generally wonderful to all the sick, scared and often annoying people they had to deal with. I have now been to that hospital twice, once for tests, and then on Monday last. Even their office personnel were happy. I don't know what is in the food or water over there, or if they just hire really well, but their staff is awesome. This neighborhood is in transition, old and new, good and bad, and they handled every person there with dignity, respect and compassion. I was awed. I want to thank them, and thank God for them. They are angels here on earth.
I can't see beads under size 8, and 6's are better, so I haven't been beading at all, because I am a weaver, not a stringer. I just have no talent for stringing. I love how other artists do it, making chic statement pieces, but when I try, I get symmetrical pieces that remind me of "pop beads" that were popular when I was a kid. For those of you who are too young for that reference, pop beads were pearly plastic beads, around 12 or 15 mm, and they had a round connector on one side, and a hole on the other, so they "popped" together. I had every color, size and type of pop bead, a precursor to my current hoard.
Anyway, in the process of being bummed out, but managing to do some paper art inspired by Jennibellie's paper buttons and flowers, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFguRhrWVns&feature=plcp, I began to feel ill. (If you don't know Jennibellie, she is definitely worth a look. She is a unique artist, not defined or confined in any way by rules and regs, and she is inspiring.) Anyway, it all began with stomach cramps, and ended in the emergency room, getting a bag of saline for dehydration, and a morphine shot to calm the cramps.
The emergency room, what an adventure all the time. Every time I have been in one, it has been just wild. This time, the excitement began with an elderly gentleman in the bed on my left. He kept screaming "Ayeyayayay! Help me! Christ help me!" and a lot of other epithets in Spanish that I couldn't make out, having had only a couple of years of high school and college Spanish. The English-speaking personnel just told him to calm down and keep his clothes on (I couldn't see the apparent strip-tease he was performing, due to a gratefully placed curtain.) The Spanish-speaking personnel kept telling him to stop screaming, to little avail. He wanted water, but could not have it due to a low sodium situation, so he screamed for water. He was in pain, so they gave him a pain shot, but he never waited for it to work, he just screamed on. I think he was just sick and scared, but it was pretty exhausting listening to his screams for hours. They finally decided they were keeping him in the hospital, and shipped him off to an unsuspecting ward somewhere.
Directly in front of me, they brought in a very large woman (and believe me, I am a little round person myself, but this lady was easily twice my size.) She was conscious, but totally uncommunicative, they asked her her name, no response. They asked her why she was there, no response. A technician tried to take blood and she refused by moving her arms around until a nurse went in and told her that she needed the tests, and she laid still and submitted. I got the impression that she was sent to the ER by either a facility where she lived, or by some family members who had not hung around, because the staff seemed to know why she was there, and they decided to keep her, at least overnight.
To my right, I first had a man who was somewhat intoxicated, and had been bitten by a stray dog. The bite was either on his finger or his thigh, and had been inflicted either that day or three weeks ago, depending on the telling. He was slightly amusing, but they dispatched him pretty quickly. Next up, on the right, was a really, really intoxicated woman. (I gathered that the bed to my right was the designated "drunk tank.") Anyway, I'm not sure what was wrong with her, she was slurring her words so badly, but she did take offense to several of the hospital personnel, and was loudly demanding apologies from them all, although the offenders seemed to just disappear and were replaced with new, potentially less offensive ones. Then she demanded a phone, they found her one, and she wanted assistance with her call. They asked her the number and she said things like 4520 and 2326, but never anything resembling a phone number. So, they sneaked away from her, and whenever someone came to give her a test or something she complained that no one would help her with the phone.
Meanwhile, my saline drip finished up, the morphine kicked in, and I was at least feeling good enough to go home. So we left, with some regret, because you always want to know the outcome of every soap opera, but I needed to go home to my own bed and heal. Mark was an absolute hero to me that day. He cleaned up my sick messes, he took me to the emergency room, even though driving in the late afternoon and evening are very difficult for him due to his macular degeneration. (At this time, we have about one good eye between us.) He made me Jello and got me Gatorade, and last night, he even made his world-famous chicken soup with dumplings. I think that contributed to my cure. I am better, if somewhat weak and wimpy, but definitely on the mend. The soup stayed down, I slept the night through with no disasters, and I saw my regular doctor yesterday. She changed some of my meds, so maybe the dehydration will stop. It has caused a lot of the problems with my eyes, and two episodes of stomach terrors in the last two weeks. It has been going on for awhile, but it just got really bad from about March of this year when my cornea was ripped from dry eyes. So, life seems to be improving.
I also wanted to talk about the emergency room personnel at Maryvale Hospital, here in Phoenix, about a mile from my house. From the aide who wheeled me in, to the doctors, nurses, technicians, aides and janitors, they were an awesome group of folks. They were all cheerful, patient, and generally wonderful to all the sick, scared and often annoying people they had to deal with. I have now been to that hospital twice, once for tests, and then on Monday last. Even their office personnel were happy. I don't know what is in the food or water over there, or if they just hire really well, but their staff is awesome. This neighborhood is in transition, old and new, good and bad, and they handled every person there with dignity, respect and compassion. I was awed. I want to thank them, and thank God for them. They are angels here on earth.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Beautiful Day
It has been a lovely couple of weeks in Arizona. The temperatures have finally been below 100 for at least 10 days in a row. It started a week ago Saturday, and our power went out. Now, ordinarily, I freak out because it gets too hot in here, and my oxygen concentrator goes dead. So, it is a real double whammy for my breathing issues. When it is super hot, we just go into the pool and wait it out as long as we can, but it wasn't hot enough last weekand the pool was freezy cold. So Mark goes around the house and opens all windows and doors, and shockingly, it was gorgeous in here!
So, every day since then, we have been able to open our windows at night, and that is heaven. It reminds me of July (or most any night) in Colorado, or well, never in New Orleans or Dallas. So, with the magical weather, my mood has lifted greatly, However, I do have another issue. Since I had a slice on my cornea in March, my vision has gradually deteriorated to where I really can barely see. Everything is soft and fuzzy, like a world made of cotton candy. I have another appointment with the doctor for October 26, but until at least then, I am going to have to abstain from blog hops. It is not that I am totally blind. I can see a little, enough to blog, with the kind help of spell check, but when I bead or do any art, i am slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww. So, all deadlines are out of the question. The only ones I can do are two or three I have already finished. I will e-mail the hop coordinators individually, but, with my apologies, I must withdraw from public life for a bit, an eye sabbatical, hopefully to heal and recover. I promise to return if I can, and I will be fierce!
Don't think this is a pity party by any means, I just thought it was only fair to explain in advance so that I don't disappoint anyone. It aggravates the heck out of me when I go to blog hops and someone just doesn't participate, so I wanted to let folks know in advance that I am a little under the weather, and I just need time!
So, every day since then, we have been able to open our windows at night, and that is heaven. It reminds me of July (or most any night) in Colorado, or well, never in New Orleans or Dallas. So, with the magical weather, my mood has lifted greatly, However, I do have another issue. Since I had a slice on my cornea in March, my vision has gradually deteriorated to where I really can barely see. Everything is soft and fuzzy, like a world made of cotton candy. I have another appointment with the doctor for October 26, but until at least then, I am going to have to abstain from blog hops. It is not that I am totally blind. I can see a little, enough to blog, with the kind help of spell check, but when I bead or do any art, i am slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww. So, all deadlines are out of the question. The only ones I can do are two or three I have already finished. I will e-mail the hop coordinators individually, but, with my apologies, I must withdraw from public life for a bit, an eye sabbatical, hopefully to heal and recover. I promise to return if I can, and I will be fierce!
Don't think this is a pity party by any means, I just thought it was only fair to explain in advance so that I don't disappoint anyone. It aggravates the heck out of me when I go to blog hops and someone just doesn't participate, so I wanted to let folks know in advance that I am a little under the weather, and I just need time!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Bead Table Blog Hop
I'm sorry to say, due to an unexpected illness, I am not finished with my pieces. I have been battling eye problems, and it makes beading slow going, I am going back to the eye doctor soon, and I'll keep on working on my project, but for now, I am just not ready,
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Holiday Bling!
First of all, fellow bloggers, I want to thank our hop hostesses, Shelley and Marlene! I love the idea of holiday bling. No matter what holidays you celebrate, even if you don't celebrate them at all, bling for the middle of winter is wonderful!
Now, I have two small problems. The first is that blogger's scheduler is not working properly, so I am posting this at 7:15 in the AM on the 6th. So, be patient with me, I'm a little slow, but I'm here! Secondly, my hop partner, Stephanie Stamper (Woods), is a little late on sending her bling, so I decided to post what I sent her, and I'll add a post when her items get here. We decided to make an ornament or decoration and a piece of holiday appropriate jewelry.
So, here is the ornament, and I have to say it is HEAVILY influenced by my recent work on projects from Jean Power and Kate McKinnon from their new books to be released shortly. I was an early order maniac and I have been receiving bits and pieces of some of the new patterns/projects. The first book is called Contemporary Geometric Beadwork, and horns and wings and wildly shaped things are definite features of their new visions. So, here is my Pagoda Ornament, based on some of their early concepts (with apologies to the authors LOL).
Now, I have two small problems. The first is that blogger's scheduler is not working properly, so I am posting this at 7:15 in the AM on the 6th. So, be patient with me, I'm a little slow, but I'm here! Secondly, my hop partner, Stephanie Stamper (Woods), is a little late on sending her bling, so I decided to post what I sent her, and I'll add a post when her items get here. We decided to make an ornament or decoration and a piece of holiday appropriate jewelry.
So, here is the ornament, and I have to say it is HEAVILY influenced by my recent work on projects from Jean Power and Kate McKinnon from their new books to be released shortly. I was an early order maniac and I have been receiving bits and pieces of some of the new patterns/projects. The first book is called Contemporary Geometric Beadwork, and horns and wings and wildly shaped things are definite features of their new visions. So, here is my Pagoda Ornament, based on some of their early concepts (with apologies to the authors LOL).
Pagoda Ornament (green tinted glass courtesy of my hubby)
Top View
Bottom View
And now for the ear bling!
Holiday Ear Bling
So now, fellow blog travelers, visit these lovely blogs for their early holiday presents!
Monique Urquharthttp://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Therese Frankhttp://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Heather Ottohttp://www.thecrafthopper.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com
Linda Florianhttp://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Rasmussenhttp://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinachehttp://www.allprettythings.ca
Ginger Bishophttp://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Lo/ Lynn Jobber http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftushttp://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Rita/Toltec Jewelshttp://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Shelly Joycehttp://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com
Shai Williamshttp://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaudhttp://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lennis Carrierhttp://www.windbent.net
Marla Gibsonhttp://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Howell Govaarshttp://mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Linda Younkmannwww.lindysdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Jones Moorehttp://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Melinda Orrhttp://www.orrtec.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupohttp://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turnerhttp://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrellhttp://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Anindita Basuhttp://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Gina Hocketthttp://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Lori Jean Poppehttp://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com
Charlie Jackahttp://clay-space.com/blog
Stephanie Stamper (Woods)http://skwds.blogspot.com
Shannon Hickshttp://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sequinmania!
I joined the Sequintastic September on a whim. Years ago, I took a pair of dressy black slacks and put a stripe of sequins up the sides, and it made them just pop. I wore those slacks until they began to droop, and then retired them with full honors. Remembering those slacks, I thought a sequin project could be great fun. Sorry my post is a little late this morning, but I fell asleep last night, and didn't put it up then.
I first thought about using sequins for wild gypsy earrings, but then I remembered the 60's and 70's and I knew those had been done a lot back then. And then it hit me. Mardi Gras is a great time to wear sequins, on your clothes, on your skin, on jewelry and anything else, really. Sequins shout Mardi Gras! So, without further fanfare, because Mardi Gras is always over the top, I give you Mardi Gras Mambo. It is a bracelet that reflects music notes, parade routes, random soft wandering under the moon. I miss New Orleans, but it's always in my heart.
Dita... http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Ambra... http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com
Audrey... http://hotpinkquilts.blogspot.com
Stacy... http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Karen W... http://baublicious.blogspot.com
Lori... http://www.prettythingsblog.com
Lisa... http://lisabinkley.typepad.com
Carmi... http://resincrafts.blogspot.com
Dawn Marie... http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com <---- it's her birthday today!!!
Jeannie... http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Shirlee... http://www.shirleestuff.blogspot.com
Linda... http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewerly.blogspot.com
Corrine... http://www.sparkledaysstudio.com
Gutukas... http://atradimutakeliais.blogspot.com
Shannon... http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com
Mallory... http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com
Cyndi... http://www.beading-arts.com
Maneki... http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com
Maryanne... http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com
Ine... http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Karen... http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Kepi... http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Jennifer... http://jenniferstumpf.blogspot.com
Misty... http://thejollyfatelf.blogspot.com
Dot... http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com
Hope... http://craftyhope.blogspot.com
Cynthia... http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Micheladas... http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Shirley... http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Karla... http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Eleanor... http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com
Therese... http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Rita... http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Robyn... http://rcponders.wordpress.com
Stepha... http://skwds.blogspot.com
Sue... http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Cate... http://fulgorine.wordpress.com
Amy... http://Loraamyjames.com
I first thought about using sequins for wild gypsy earrings, but then I remembered the 60's and 70's and I knew those had been done a lot back then. And then it hit me. Mardi Gras is a great time to wear sequins, on your clothes, on your skin, on jewelry and anything else, really. Sequins shout Mardi Gras! So, without further fanfare, because Mardi Gras is always over the top, I give you Mardi Gras Mambo. It is a bracelet that reflects music notes, parade routes, random soft wandering under the moon. I miss New Orleans, but it's always in my heart.
Mardi Gras Mambo
Another View
One More to make it a party!
Ok, now for more party action, visit these blogs and see what all the fabulous Sequin folk are up to. BIG thanks to Sarah of Saturday Sequins for her cool blog hop!
Host: Sarah... http://saturdaysequins.com
Dita... http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Ambra... http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com
Audrey... http://hotpinkquilts.blogspot.com
Stacy... http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Karen W... http://baublicious.blogspot.com
Lori... http://www.prettythingsblog.com
Lisa... http://lisabinkley.typepad.com
Carmi... http://resincrafts.blogspot.com
Dawn Marie... http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com <---- it's her birthday today!!!
Jeannie... http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Shirlee... http://www.shirleestuff.blogspot.com
Linda... http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewerly.blogspot.com
Corrine... http://www.sparkledaysstudio.com
Gutukas... http://atradimutakeliais.blogspot.com
Shannon... http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com
Mallory... http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com
Cyndi... http://www.beading-arts.com
Maneki... http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com
Maryanne... http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com
Ine... http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Karen... http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Kepi... http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Jennifer... http://jenniferstumpf.blogspot.com
Misty... http://thejollyfatelf.blogspot.com
Dot... http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com
Hope... http://craftyhope.blogspot.com
Cynthia... http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Micheladas... http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Shirley... http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Karla... http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Eleanor... http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com
Therese... http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Rita... http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Robyn... http://rcponders.wordpress.com
Stepha... http://skwds.blogspot.com
Sue... http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Cate... http://fulgorine.wordpress.com
Amy... http://Loraamyjames.com
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Lorelei Eurto's Beadin Path Challenge Blog Hop
When I joined this hop, I must have been totally out of my mind, because big beads scare me, and, although I have some lucite around here, I never know what to do with it. Oh, well, on to the outcome of my insanity. This challenge was great fun, and I fell in love with the components immediately. Here are the kit beads (picture blatantly ripped off from Lorelei's blog.)
Awesome, eh?
So, I used this challenge as an opportunity to try weaving ribbon into chain. I had seen several tutorials online, and just decided it would work in a bold and chunky necklace, then I made lots of wire wrapped dangles out of the lucite beads and leftover gold-tone components and headpins. I love totally costume-y jewelry sometimes. I even made a lucite chunk necklace once that came out looking like a Wilma Flintstone designer number. So, here is my latest brave foray into lucite. I was kind of surprised that, as bold as I wanted it to be, it came out kind of girly with the little dangles. All the bright shades and the chunky chain, however, definitely say BOLD!
Bold and Spicy!
Check out Lorelei's blog to see some more lucite madness! Thanks, dear lady, for your sponsorship of the fun fun fun challenge! thanks, also, to the Beadin Path for their great beads and components. The buttons made me really happy (one is used for the clasp.)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
A Ladder to the Sky
So, a while ago, on Jean A Wells blog http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ , I learned of a challenge she was sponsoring using the amazing Barbara Hanselman's http://www.etsy.com/shop/bhclaysmith focal components. I was awestruck by the pieces, so of course I had to participate. Go on over to Jean's blog to see all of the other lovely art, including pieces by Jean herself. My deepest thanks to Jean and Barb for this fun and truly challenging design fest!
This was a fun challenge, because, like some of the other artists, I had to let the focal sit awhile on my bead board, sitting on a shelf next to where I work, and just ruminate on what the piece wanted from me. I finally decided that multiple components were the way to go, since the focal was comprised of multiple colors, textures and shapes. So, this is the result of the challenge, and be sure to visit Jean's blog to see all the others.
This was a fun challenge, because, like some of the other artists, I had to let the focal sit awhile on my bead board, sitting on a shelf next to where I work, and just ruminate on what the piece wanted from me. I finally decided that multiple components were the way to go, since the focal was comprised of multiple colors, textures and shapes. So, this is the result of the challenge, and be sure to visit Jean's blog to see all the others.
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