beads by breul

Grateful.....

2012-02-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

For a wonderfully productive weekend.

Most can be found here

For my family.

For my husband, the love of my life.

For I am loved unconditionally.

When I start to go down THAT road and complain or

feel sorry for myself,

I have to stop and take a long, hard look around.

For I am so very lucky,

and for that,

I am grateful.

What are you grateful for on this Monday night?

How's your soup coming along?

2012-02-13T05:02:00.000-05:00

Just a gander at what is sitting on my table.

This particular list of ingredients is giving me

such a hard time, can't quite figure out how to

mix it all together to come up with something

delicious!

But, I will not be discouraged,

in fact, think I may have had a stroke of

inspiration!

Hope your soup's are simmering

nicely.

I.Heart.Macro

2012-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Purple Cabbage!

Please visit Lori's blog to see other

amazing shots of macro goodness.

I.Heart.Macro

2012-02-05T09:12:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love a lava lamp!

Please hop on over to Lori's blog to see more

wonderful macro goodness!

Mine!

2012-02-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

All. Mine!

Wonderful components and a pendant by Nancy Schindler of

The Rabbit Muse

Do you know how hard it is to get these?

I mean, when she has a shop update, they go like

hotcakes.

(I was being bad at work, shhhhh)

Luv! Luv!

Components by Kristi Bowman.

Please go to her shop and see her wonderfulness!

I can not wait to play.

(anyone know how to create more time in the day??)

Happy Wednesday!

DIY - Scarf

2012-01-30T05:11:00.000-05:00

Lori of Studio Waterstone posted this post about a DIY scarf

and I have finally gotten around to actually trying it.

Now, I did get my fabric in the clearance section just in case......
and the next time (yes) I will choose a knit a bit thicker and nice.
And I have to say, the hardest part (after choosing my quote) was
trying to write in the fabric. Lots of stretching and holding!

wrote my quote

and voila!

on my model!

She is soo pretty!

What do you think?

I.Heart.Macro

2012-01-29T08:10:00.000-05:00

Sunday Morning Goodness

baking in the oven!

Yes, this is not helping my lose weight!

Be sure to visit Lori's blog for more macro goodness.

My Bead Soup Ingredients

2012-01-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

Here is what Dana sent me...

Look at this coppery goodness!

Ok, she MADE these. Seriously, look

at that craftmanship! Wow!

What I didn't get a picture of is the copper wire that she sent

along with it. It has been upcycled from a battery cable

from her husband's tractor trailor! Love that!

I can't wait to dig in and create!

Thank you Dana!

A custom order and some fun!

2012-01-26T19:52:00.000-05:00

My cousin asked me to create some

earrings for her.

I love this. To have someone trust me with their

ideas and concepts. Now, she did share a few pictures

of ideas and I took it from there.

She told me the colors she wears

and what styles she likes

And I took it from there. I am lovin' these!

Sterling earwires from bellathebead

(Beautiful pieces, quick shipping.)

Liz loves them and I love being able to create for her.

Does my heart good.

Now, for some fun.

They boys played with legos and I posted

a great macro picture here

for Lori Plyer's I.Heart.Macro

The boy playing and then avoiding the camera!

I do love him!

Echo Creative Club

2012-01-25T05:09:00.000-05:00

Jeannie Dukic has started this wonderful monthly

venture and has let me play along.

It is called Echo Creative Club.

She sends us one of her wonderful pieces and we then get

to create with it. Have you seen her polymer work?

Stunning!

She sent me an amazing black and white Gin Blossom.

As soon as I got i (I let her surprise me) I knew EXACTLY

what I was going to do.

I so love this piece!

I am in love with wire, it is expensive, but I love it! I knew that

I wanted todo black, white and red. I did some steel chain,

some black chain, some

wonderful dark red faceted rondelles.

The Gin Blossom is a wonderfully weighted piece (not heavy, but hangs

the chain nicely).

Please hop over and see what these amazingly talented

folks have created.

Molly Alexander http://www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com

Courtney Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com - you are here!

Michelle Buettner http://www.MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com

Shannon Chomanczuk http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com

Cindy Cima Edwards http://www.cindycima.com

Beth Emery http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Here is the group blog as well http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/01/01/echo-creative-club/

Peek sneak of Bead Soup!

2012-01-24T19:06:00.000-05:00

Here is a peak of what I sent to my partner Dana Hickey

of MagpieApproved

I hope she likes what I sent.

Her ingredients arrived yesterday and boy

are they gooooood! I will take pictures

soon, promise.

I.Heart.Macro

2012-01-22T08:41:00.000-05:00

Legos!

Rock!

Please hop over to Lori Plyer's Studio Waterstone to see more

wonderful shots.

A few treasures and a question

2012-01-19T05:12:00.000-05:00

I went up at the end of last week to help my aunt break up my

grandmother's apartment. We have moved her into the nursing wing full-time.

I was luck to get a few fun finds.

the group et al

This was a great find. That is my mom and dad.

Mimi had this locket. I had no idea what was in it until

I opened it.

Shoe clips, I see a necklace!

More shoe clips. Love that crab.....

See the abacus, it actually moves.

Now, here is my question. Does anyone know anything

about antique coins? Hubby thinks this might be

an old coin of some sort. I would love any thoughts

on this one.

The other side.

A few small treasures from my grandmother.

Thanks for looking!

Sue! Your beads rock.

2012-01-16T17:39:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to grab these a few weeks ago from

Sue Beads when she had a sale.

Simple, elegant.

"Nuff said!

Thank you.

I can't believe it!

2012-01-16T07:48:00.000-05:00

I made the cut for the next Bead Soup Blog Party!

(Thank you Lori Anderson for putting this together again!)

Did the happy dance yesterday and then moved on to business

to visit my partner Dana Hickey's blog.

She is amazing, so talented!

I am getting ready to send a quick note off to her

to find out what she likes!

I feel very luck to have made this cut.

I.Heart.Macro

2012-01-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

Googlie eyes on a gord!

Please go to Lori's blog to see the other wonderfulness!

Happy Sunday.

Challenge Accepted, part 1

2012-01-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

As promised, here a few shots of what I completed.

You can see what I started with here.

Pieces using the jasper rounds. This was the biggest challenge for me

as jasper isn't something I usually create with. I loved what I did!

The colors and textures with the flowers, love.

(she likes it as well)

This tiger's eye is absolutely amazing. The life of each round, luscious.

I love wire work, as I am sure you can tell. I love turquoise and red, great combo.

I added a blue opal nugget at the end of the necklace.

Now, the hard part will be actually giving these to her.

Here's to a great long weekend

(with only a little to do)

Oh Juls, why do I love you so?

2012-01-11T19:39:00.000-05:00

She had a sale!

It wasn't my fault.

Makes you want to lick the screen, huh...........

Juls work is wonderful!

Challenge Accepted!

2012-01-09T12:28:00.000-05:00

as my daughter would say.

A friend gave me beads that her husband had purchased

while traveling and asked me to create some pieces

for her.

Beautifulness.

African turq. trade beads, lapis, turq. from Instabul and

some AMAZING tiger's eye beads.

The tiger's eye has such life.

I have had some time to play and have used the tiger's eye and the turquoise.

Some jasper.

I really, really had fun with these. These were a stretch for me

and I am psyched for my friend to see the pieces I made for her.

And these are my favorites.

When she showed me these Ruby Sodalite rounds, I knew immediately

what I was going to do. Love them.

I hope she likes what I have created so far.

I promise to share more finished pictures as I move through

my "project".

I.Heart.Macro

2012-01-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

I promise this is the last Christmas photo.
I am just in love with this!!

To see what others are sharing, go to Lori's blog.

There are some amazing shots.

Happy Sunday!

Bead.Soup.Sign.Ups!!!!!

2012-01-06T19:50:00.000-05:00

Saturday!

Sign ups!

I can't wait.

Sign ups are a lottery this go round.

Please go to Lori's blog

Pretty Things

for all the details.

This will be sooooo much fun.

Thank you, Lori for

organizing this again.

Sign Ups!

Go! Now!

Taking down the tree!

2012-01-04T05:09:00.000-05:00

It is always so sad to take down the Christmas Tree.

The house feels so empty when it is gone, not to mention

how dark it will be at night.

Here are some shots of the crew taking down the tree.

It really was a big tree!

Under the tree!

Love the foot next to her head.

Out with old and in with the new!

2012-01-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Time for a sale!

I need to make room for new goodies!

Please use the code Happy 2012

for 50% off everything!

Yes, I said 50% off of everything!

Go, now!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T09:38:00.000-05:00

This past week or so has flown by!

Family arrived, Christmas came and we had a blast!

Christmas dinner was AMAZING!

Somehow I managed to time things perfectly.

Everyone left and I reclaimed my house. :)

We have been relaxing and doing not much of anything since the 28th!

I am loving every minute of this doing nothingness!

I finally feel like I am catching up on sleep, gloriousness!

Not many pictures were taken, despite my new camera that I can't

seem to put down.

The tree, clearly before Santa arrived. :)

We headed to the Skins game on the 24th! Had a blast, even though they lost.

Someone had a gooood time! :)

We played our annual Christmas Day football game.

(ok, the boys did.)

Everyone had a great time.

I am not sad to see 2011 go, it was a rough year for all of us.

I am welcoming in 2012 with open arms!

This will be a great year.

The only resolutions that I am going to make are the following:

Eat healthier

Exercise more

Be present

Relax

and, to try to grow my business!

That feels achievable.

Happy New Year's to all of you!

May 2012 be a great year!

Have you ever seen this many lights?

2011-12-22T16:40:00.000-05:00

This is the front yard!

Keep in mind, all of the lights ON the house move!

(roof, sides, etc.....)

Santa is HUGE!

I love this house!

It's almost SOUP Time!

2011-12-21T19:17:00.000-05:00

I. Can't. Wait!

Please hop on over to Lori Anderson's wonderful blog

Pretty Things

for more information.

It is a lottery this go round, only 200 folks will be able

to play along.

This will be fun!

Bokeh

2011-12-20T05:12:00.000-05:00

or my attempt at it. I borrowed an amazing lens from a friend (do I have to give it back?)

and played.

Here is my attempt. Not quite all the way there, but nice.

bummed that this ornament got broken....

this may be my favorite shot of the evening,

the tree reflected in a picture hanging in the living room.

Happy Tuesday!

Christmas!

2011-12-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

I have been remiss in not posting photos of our tree and some of our decorations. Please forgive, and without further ado....

I love Christmas! Soon, family arrives and we will all be together.

Today we went to Ellicott City and wandered around.

What a great place.

Do you see the Mrs. Butterworth's bottles right there?

And then there is my boy!

Love him.

Artists helping Artists Silent Auction - Now Closed.

2011-12-10T08:31:00.006-05:00

Thank you all for everything!

Several artists in the blog community have decided to band together to help a fellow artist in need.

All participating artists have agreed to keep the identity of the artist-in-need completely confidential and private.

Here is what you'll be bidding on:

This handmade bracelet features beads from the

wonderful Juls of Julsbeads, vintage buttons,

a Gaea bead and czech glass.

I will start the bidding at $30.

International participants welcome! Shipping costs will be included in the winning bid amount. Auction closes Sunday, December 11 at midnight.

Would you like to be the winning bid?

Please leave a comment along with your bid.

If you are the winning bidder, you will receive an invoice after the close of the auction.

********** There must be a way to contact you.**********

If you have email preferences turned off in your profile, please leave your email.

Many people are auctioning items to help out!

Please visit these the other artists below and place your bid!

There are some amazing items.

Check out the other artists participating in this Silent Auction:

Heidi Post
Marie Cramp and Lori Anderson
Barbara Bechtel
Erin Fickert-Rowland
Keirsten Giles
Andrew Thornton
Karen Totten
Kristi Bowman Design
Nan Emmett
Maire Dodd
Amanda Cargill Austin
Janice Everett
Rebecca Anderson
Shannon Iko Chomanczuk
Erin Prais-Hintz
Jennifer Justman

Erin Siegel Jewlery

Courtney Breul YOU ARE HERE.

Happy Bidding!

Two wonderful things!

2011-12-05T06:12:00.000-05:00

First,

I had the chance to swap beads with the amazing Sandi Volpe. I also got the chance to meet her at a bead show/demo (Barbara Lewis - Playing with Fire). That was great! Please ago over and see the beautiful pieces that she creates.

I sent her my box of goodies and totally forgot to take a picture of what I sent off, sorry.

Here is what she sent me.

(loving every single bead!)

African trade beads, sparklies, recycled glass and that wonderful

C pendant.

She made that, for me!

Love.

This photo does not do these beads justice. The blue is stunning.

And she also sent me some of her hand enameled beads, sari silk and chain.

Such fun. I have already created with these!

Thank you Sandi.

Now,

I did purchase a Playing with Fire kit from Barbara Lewis when I met her at

the bead show. It took me a while to get everything set up and get my torch working

(life got in the way)

But........I got it all set up this weekend and I

PLAYED WITH FIRE.

This is so addicting!!!

Just a few pictures of the pieces I made.

And yes, I have burned my fingers picking up the beads while they are still hot.

My daughter is laughing each time I pick on up and say

"damn those are hot"

Eventually I will learn!

Such fun.

The first words out of my husbands mouth were

"you need more colors"

Yeah! Gonna get that link to him today!

We got our tree up and decorated,

it's about 10 feet tall and smells

AMAZING!

I hope you all had a great weekend

First Annual Virtual Craft Show

2011-11-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

Have you checked it out?

Please go to Lori's blog and see this wonderfulness!

The jewelry is wonderful and I am loving finding

new artists!

Go Now!

70 artists! 70 giveaways!

Go Now, you won't be dissapointed.

Sue Beads Headpin Challenge

2011-11-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to be chosen

to participate in Sue's Challenge.

She sent these wonderful sea blue glass headpins.

I loved them so much that I promptly forgot to take a picture,

and created.

They arrived and I knew immediately what I wanted to do.

(I love it when that happens!) :)

I made these fun beaded circles a while back and knew that I wanted to put

Sue's great headpins right in the middle!

The color is perfect!

Thank you Sue for allowing me to play along.

Please visit her blog and see who else is playing.

CyberMonday! (a little early)

2011-11-27T19:59:00.000-05:00

Just in.....

CyberMonday is starting early!

25% off of EVERYTHING in my Etsy Shop.

Just use the code cybermonday25 at checkout.

I.Heart.Macro

2011-11-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

Pomagranates!

Fire!

2011-11-15T18:52:00.001-05:00

Have you seen this glorious book?

I won a signed copy! Thank you Barbara.

That led to this.

I made these at a demo by Barbara Lewis this weekend.

She is wonderful and her family, fab! So supportive and great people.

Do you know what is in here?

Enamel colors

Extra beads.

Yup, I am headed to Home Depot to get some MAPP gas and then I am going to

PLAY WITH FIRE!

(and my hubby didn't even blink when I told him I bought a torch.....Hmmmmm )

Seriously, please check out the book, it is amazing!

Very detailed and very, very easy to follow.

She is running a great special on her site, you get an extra color - for free!

Can't wait to play!

And, bonus, I got to meet my Bead Swap partner, Sandi Volpe.

Another beautiful person. So great to meet her in person!

I can't wait to get my swap beads together and ship them out.

(she plays with fire also)

Playing with the Lens

2011-11-14T18:53:00.000-05:00

i heart faces | autumn splendor

I did a shoot with my nieces and the leaves!

i heart faces

I.Heart.Macro

2011-11-13T07:52:00.000-05:00

I am in love with autumn!

I know it is not a macro shot, but I did a shoot with my sister and her kids,

is my sister not beautiful?

Show and Tell

2011-11-09T20:06:00.001-05:00

Creating ~ there is nothing like it.

While we waited for hubby to come home on Saturday

(so we could go to the DC Flea)

I created, and then I created some more.

The Keys to My Heart

playing with seed beads, I am loving the colors

Handmade copper earwires, enameled headpins by Sue Beads and

white beads from Michaels

Handmade copper earwires and Julsbeads. Need I say more?????

fly

This is my new favorite

(doesn't that always happen when you make something wonderful?)

This charm bracelet has czech beads, brass beads by PatinaQueen, handmade

lampwork beads (I can't remember by whom, they have been my hoard for awhile)

and some wonderful stone that my hubby bought for me. The "clasp" is another wonderful

component from Sue Beads. All wired together on copper chain.

It wears wonderfully.

All will be listed in my shop soon.

Playing with the lens

2011-11-07T19:36:00.002-05:00

i heart faces | black

I have joined a wonderful photography community called i heart faces and every week they have a photo challenge. I am going to try and do this.

This weeks theme was black.

I chose a photo from the first shoot I did with my kids.

My daughter had just gotten her new Doc Marten boots,

and we played.

I was struggling to get her to loosen up and have fun and somehow the football became

a great prop!

I.Heart.Macro

2011-11-06T08:10:00.000-05:00

The Cheshire Cat with her contacts.

Bromley

2011-11-02T14:20:00.000-04:00

We adopted you 10 years ago,

you were only one.

You were a rescue and came with quite a bit of baggage.

You liked to sleep in the tub.

You would get so puffed up and bark at other dogs

(if they only knew that you would roll over and share your tummy at the drop of a hat)

You loved your Twizzler's

(seriously, he could smell the being opened two floors away)

You had so much character and spunk,

you gave all of us unconditional love,

All. The. Time.

We will miss you so very much.

We love you.

Look what I made

2011-11-01T08:29:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while, I get a bug to play with seed beads.

I have a subscription to Beadwork and

in the current edition, I came across

beaded bubbles by Ann Gilbert.

(can't get the actual picture)

Looks so cool! Now, did I have the patience to actually do this,

especially after I read that it was using size 11 and 15 beads.

Good lord, those are small beads......

I played and LOOK!

I did it!

Now what do I do with them???

Today!

2011-10-31T15:29:00.000-04:00

I have had the most wonderful day.

I took the day off as my kids didn't have school today.

The perfect fall day!

Went for my walk/run (damn back),

got home and promptly left with my camera.

Spent another 45 minutes out taking photos.

I love the fall,

the colors, the smell,

the cool evenings!

Here are a few of our house all ready for tonight!

Happy Halloween all.

Be safe and have fun!

I.Heart.Macro

2011-10-30T13:17:00.000-04:00

Hey, I have decided to play along.

New camera and all.

The only problem today

is choosing the picture.

Frost from this morning,

on the car

Sugar coated flowers!

My mums

And the sun hitting them melting the frost.

I am in love with this new camera!!!!

My dashboard - EDITED

2011-10-25T08:25:00.003-04:00

I found you all! Yeah!

Why does it say that I am not following any blogs? I can't find any of you!

Help? Thoughts?

Then again, maybe I am out there on my own! :)

I have figured it out, some what! (very photo heavy)

2011-10-22T19:38:00.000-04:00

My camera, that is.

I have taken sooo many shots playing with different settings.

I offered to my daughter to do a photo shoot today with her new Dr. Martins

They are my size......

So cute!

So bummed that she is not in focus

Now, I am not a fan of having my picture taken but I took this one

This may replace my avatar.

Me and my two loves!

Keep in mind, I had 332 pictures from this 30 minute shoot

and this is only a fraction of what I shot.

I am in L.U.V. with this camera.

I think I figured out Picasa....

Now, because this is a jewelry blog, here a few shots of pieces.

Happy Saturday.

HELP! (Edited!)

2011-10-20T19:49:00.001-04:00

Lesson learned: I should ask my children for help before I go into panic mode!)

Help, please!

I am trying to work in Picasa and have tried downloading twice.

It won't let me edit anything.

I only have the library.

No other options!

I have spent 4 hours trying to do this.

Nothing to show for it but a sore back from sitting over the computer

and tears of frustration in my eyes!!!!!!!!!

AAHHHHHHHH!

I welcome any assistance you can offer.

Finally!

2011-10-16T19:25:00.000-04:00

I got time to sit and tinker.....

With these lovelies from Juls.

I wore it.

We lost.....

Lovin' the key

My hubby (and daughter) really like these!

(the then he likes anything in the Skins colors)

These came about because I made a dangly for the bracelet and thought

- wow, those would make great earrings -

and they do!

I love these!

They might just get worn even if it is not Sunday!

So, I played with my new camera and came to this conclusion ~

I am not smart enough to operate it!

Good Lord!

I spent two hours with the manual and make it to page 60!

Page 60 - it is a 250 page manual.

If there is anyone in my area, I really need a lesson!!

( I learn better when someone walks me through things)

I took a bunch of shots of my daughter by telling her

"I will delete everything from the disc"

She looks great!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Happy Birthday

2011-10-15T20:53:00.000-04:00

To Me!

I finally did it!

Just waiting for that damn battery to charge.......

Not a patient person.

Hope to be able to play tomorrow,

after of course, I make my Redskins bracelet!

Have already made my earrings!

They ROCK!

Hopefully I will have some new pictures tomorrow.

Have to completely re-do my Etsy shop.

Need to add items and re-do some photos!

TTFN.

I.Am. In LUV!

2011-10-12T17:59:00.000-04:00

Check out these beauties!

Juli Cannon made them for me, a special request kinda thing!

A Redskins kinda thing!

I am going to create such wonderfulness!

Can't hardly wait!

Ok, first I have to make dinner.......

Lorelei's Lima Beads Challenge

2011-10-11T19:18:00.000-04:00

Better late than never!

I mis-read the reveal date, coupled with just returning from my father's memorial

service made for my not making the deadline!

But, I love the beads and wanted to complete it anyway!

I can't remember the names of everything, but the colors are wonderful,

right up my alley.

I am loving those yellow beads!

And those purple flowers - mmmm!

Those nuggets have the most wonderful color striations!

I wire wrapped with copper and love it.

Now, I also made these earrings.

Now, these came out perfectly! I love the flowers and

those purple drops! They hang wonderfully!

Love them.

Thanks for taking the time to look!

I won!

2011-10-10T07:13:00.000-04:00

Ok, I got this wonderful email this morning - Monday morning!

Courtney! You won my contest!! Email me so I can get your info!! WOO HOO!!

Vodka Mom is they hysterical blog I follow. She is a kindergarten teacher

with the funniest stories! She makes me laugh!!!

You should hop over and give her a read.

Books, deodorant (teenagers in the house) and a Vera Bradley bag.

What a great way to start my birthday week.

(ok, it is on Friday, but.....)

Happy Monday!

Off to get my pumpkin latte and bagel!

(I am off for Columbus Day and no one else in my house is! Peace and quiet!)

Antique store goodies!!!

2011-10-09T14:37:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday after my wonderful breakfast of a pumpkin latte and a bagel with salmon cream cheese, hubby and I went to the farmer's market.

On the way back, we spied this wonderful store filled with treasures!

I could have spent more time and more dollars so very easily!

She packaged it up so cutely!

(now what is embarrassing about this is that I thought it was a clear

shot - obviously need to wear my glasses when shooting)

vintage food crate labels

how cute are these!

little lie detectors! thinkin' of earrings, you?

I am hoping for some time tomorrow (or perhaps later on today)

to sit and tinker.

Juli Cannon of Julsbeads is making me some custom color

team beads (Go Skins) I can't wait to get them and

make my bracelet and earrings!!!!!!

Promise that I will share......

Happy Sunday to you all!

Finally, finally going to do it!

2011-10-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

I am finally going to get an SLR camera. I am looking at the Canon T2i.

Here is my question to you -

what type of camera do you have?

what do you love/hate about it?

what would you recommend?

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Returning.........

2011-10-04T19:26:00.000-04:00

Hello!

Remember me? I would understand if you didn't.

It has been awhile.

I was in Colorado last weekend for the memorial service for my father.

I feel like a giant weight has been lifted.

I feel like my father is at peace now, I can breathe again.

Fall was in full swing, absolutely stunning!

It feels right to be back.

My desk feels right again ~ I am looking forward to this weekend and spending some time there.

Hopefully I will have some good pics to share.

I am working on Lorelei's Lima Beads challenge.

(ok, I emptied the beads onto my table! :) )

Here's to a long weekend!

What to do after all that soup.....

2011-09-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

(my soup can be found here)

Pumpkin Spice Madeleines!

For those of you who know me, this is not a stretch.

I will shortly be turning into a pumpkin.

I should be grateful that the pumpkin season

is a short one.

Although, we do have until January! :)

So, I decided that I wanted to try making madeleines, and since it is fall,

wanted to try pumpkin spice madeleines.

So, I googled, found a few recipes and landed on one.

Know what drives me NUTS?

When you go through the list of ingredients,

get everything out and start mixing and they call for an ingredient

THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST!

Yup - recipe said to mix sugar in and there were no measurements for sugar

on the ingredient list.

(this is a cooking blog, folks)

So I googled a bit more and found the same thing - missing ingredients.

Now, people, if you have a cooking blog, you should make sure that it is

CORRECT!

Can you tell I was a bit hot under the collar?

In searching around I seemed to find a ratio of sugar to flour and went from there. This is a mix of several recipes found by googling.

Below is my recipe for madeleines.

(after that, I hope all my ingredients are listed.....)

1 cup salted butter, melted and cooled

4 eggs

2 cup flour

2 teaspoons salt

3 Tablespoons canned pumpkin (the real stuff, not pie mix)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice

2 Tablespoons vanilla

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cup sugar (I do 3/4 white, 3/4 brown)

mix sugar, eggs, vanilla together

add pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice; mix until smooth

slowly add melted butter

mix well

add flour 1/2 cup at a time until mixed. do not over mix

put a tablespoon into each madeleine mold.

If you get more, they get "bellies" (according to my daughter)

Translation - very rounded and not as flat as a madeleine.

If you don't have madeleine molds, I would think this would be

good muffin mix. You would need to play with baking times.

bake @ 375 for 11 minutes. They should be light brown on top.

(see how your oven does and adjust the time accordingly.)

enjoy! (they make the house smell really good)

Ta Da!

2011-09-17T07:38:00.000-04:00

How many of us have waited for this day to arrive? Ok, apart from the last minute panic of getting pieces done....how many of us have waited for today! :)

362 people participating!

Wonderful.

Lori Anderson

Superwoman Extraordinaire!

Thank you Lori, for this amazing party.

Ok, ok. Without further ado.......

Here are the ingredients that Joanna Matuszczyk sent me.

I immediately fell in love with the focal. So light, summery and fun.

The clasp is beautiful also. She sent me flowers! I love flowers.

Purple is my favorite color!

Thank you Joanna.

Here is the completed piece.

Now in this post here I talked about how the ideas were flowing, absolutely flowing and how I had almost disastrous results.

I tried to wire wrap a few things, two different ways. Purple wire! It didn't work out so well. I will share that at the end.

See how beautiful the clasp lays - so pretty.

I knew that there would be silver chain in this - coordinates with the clasp.

Now, Joanna did send ribbon and I tried and tried, but just couldn't seem to

make it work. It all looked ugly. Ugly I tell you. The ribbon would have been a

step out of my box, but I couldn't seem to leave the box.......

I strung/wire wrapped flowers and a few drops/beads on chain and the wire wrapped these wonderful green squares.

Love these green squares.

Such a great piece.

I did my usual sit, touch, play, move, walk away, shop for a few more ideas, sit,

touch routine and have to say that this came really easily for me.

It must be the great beads that Joanna sent me.

I managed to save two of the green beads to make earrings with.

I love the color combo, the clear flowers and those green squares!

Now, for my almost disaster. I was wire wrapping beads around the frame of my focal,

and it snapped in half! HALF.

I promptly hollered for my daughter to come down.

She came running, must have been the tone of my scream.

With tears in my eyes, I handed her the pieces and told her to "fix it".

SHE DID!

She glued, painted and sprayed and you can barely tell that it broke.

Thank you Caroline!

THANK YOU LORI!

You have gone above and beyond to organize all 362 of us.

Now for the fun part,

THE BLOG HOP!

Seriously, this is the best part.

Getting to see what everyone created, meeting new people and making friends.

You are here, Courtney Breul and my partner Joanna Mutuszczyk

Mix up your visits, hop around and enjoy.

Here are the partners:

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

For a total of 362 people making jewelry!

Amazing!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Bead Box

2011-09-12T05:12:00.000-04:00

Heather of Humblebeads started this wonderful traveling box filled to the brim with beads! I have entered my name into the hat to win a visit from it.

It is currently with Janet of Singingwoods. She is looking to send it on to one lucky person!

Oh please, oh please let it be me.

Hope on over to her blog and check out the great details.

Singingwoods.

Happy Monday!!

Soup Teaser!

2011-09-11T20:04:00.000-04:00

Here is what I made!

Do you love it?

What, you can't see it clearly?

I will work on that. :)

Be sure to check back on the 17th!

Thoughtful

2011-09-11T07:42:00.000-04:00

I sit here today watching all the coverage of 9/11, ten years later. I am still at a loss for words.

That day, for me, was very hard. I am very lucky that I was not directly impacted. I had a co-worker who was on the phone with a client in NYC and she heard the first plane hit!

My mom called me and told me that she saw the news that a plane had hit the first tower and asked if we were all ok (I live in DC and my husband is a Lt. with the Metropolitan Police Department) I was able to get my husband on his cell phone, we talked very, very briefly. His last words were "I don't know when I will be home". I was shaken to my core. While everyone else was fleeing the city, he was one of the ones moving directly into what was happening. He did come home around 11:00 pm, safe.

I sit here watching the coverage and all of those feelings are coming to the surface, again. It is compounded by the heightened threat level. My daughter and I were at the mall yesterday and saw 6 police officers, armed, automatic rifles, pump action shotguns, etc. Un-nerving to say the least. I am hoping that nothing comes of all of this.

Please be safe!

I will occupy my time today watching football (Go Skins!) baking cookies and working on my Bead Soup! I can't believe that the reveal day is next week!!! EEK!

I am also participating in Lorelei's Lima Beads Challenge, and my beads arrived yesterday!!! These colors are soooooo wonderful.

They are even better in person.

I am off to grocery shop, do a bit of laundry and enjoy my day.

May your Sunday be a good one.

Monday and the dragon in the oven

2011-09-05T18:20:00.000-04:00

To say that I had immediate inspiration with my bead soup is an

understatement.

I immediately headed out to the bead store this morning

( 50% off fire polished and 25% off all czech glass) and had a great time!

Found exactly what I needed.

Came home and went down to the bead table. Look at my "ingredients"

I sat down an started. My first idea didn't pan out ~ moved onto the second one.

Almost had disastrous results! ( more on that later)

Disastrous I tell you.

Moved onto idea number three.

That one is working out on the ole bead table.

On to the dragon in the oven.

Tonight's dinner is roast chicken. I left the kitchen only to come back to this....

Does it look like a dragon? She is convinced it looks like a dragon. Needless to say, the wings, head and tail fell off when it went into the oven.....

She says that she knows exactly what needs to be done "the next time!" :)

Love her!

Hope your long weekend (if you got one) was wonderful.

It came! It came! It came!

2011-09-04T08:14:00.000-04:00

My bead soup ingredients arrived on Friday!

I am sooooo happy.

Joanna, I love it all!

Do you know what this is? Restraint! It took great control to get the camera

BEFORE I tore into the package.

Wonderful card and packaging.

All my ingredients.

I am in love with the colors and those flowers!

Ribbon! Three colors. How did she manage to get them all rolled up

so neatly????? Joanna uses fiber really well. This will be

a challenge for me. But, that is what this is all about, yes? :)

Love this butterfly focal and clasp. The focal is very light weight, not sure

what it is made from.

So it is Sunday, I am sitting here enjoying my pumpkin spice coffee

(I love Green Mountain Coffee and my Keurig)

and relishing in the fact that it is Sunday and I still have another day!

I am mulling over ideas and playing with my soup ingredients

I hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend!

Bead Soup

2011-08-31T05:18:00.000-04:00

Here is an actual shot of what I sent Joanna! I can't wait to see what magic she creates.

Lots of color and fun!

I can't wait for my ingredients to arrive so I can cook away.

Happy Wednesday.