Soup ingredients - shipped!

Deb has confirmed that she received her goodies, so I can now share. I had so much fun pulling these together. In fact, I had to play with the same beads! :)  I hope she likes them.

Silver beads, pewter toggle clasp, frosted circle, faux turquoise scarab, glass beads, crazy agate and turquoise.

I was going for bright and happy.

And I just created my first collage! 

Deb, I hope you like your ingredients! 

(hope NYC and the International Gift Show rocked!)

BTW!

Ok, time for Bead Table Wednesday.  Below is what I am working with. I kept pulling out the bright, fun colors and they sat. I started pulling out some of the more muted tones and I could feel the tingling start.

The Instagram version! Love that app for my iPhone!

Regular shot of the same beads.  Now, I did step back and took a picture of my entire work area. It is small and VERY crowded! Hee hee! View at your own risk.

When will I learn....

Some things are always the same and somehow I seem to forget! Take creating. I go to my desk, put on a favorite show or football, an occasional glass of wine and sit. Sometimes it works, but most times it doesn't. When will I learn that if I want the muse to visit, all that is needed is some Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics.

I was home today with a sick child - bummer - but as he is 12 and not violently ill (sorry) I had some time. I put on some Annie and, magic. Seriously! The muse takes over my body. I can't open my bead boxes fast enough. I am grabbing beads from each box and creating on the fly. Something from each box. It felt SO good!

There have been several blogs around the high cost of silver these days (crazy high) and yet that is what I am drawn to. Using my silver wire. Wire wrapping. I figure that as I have it, I may as well use it.  Once it is gone, I am not sure how quickly I will replace it. :(

This piece is approx. 44 inches long and made from red chinese crystal (it is a rich as velvet), black frosted glass and ivory bone. It can be doubled up. I do love this. My daughter looked at it and all she could say is "want". 

Earrings from coin pearls and labradorite.

Earrings of red cinnabar and a cute flower charm from Happy Mango beads! (love them!)

Below is what I was working on for Lorelei's Fusion Bead challenge. I am happy with this necklace but didn't feel that it was worthy of the challenge as it doesn't use the clasp or leather or the seed beads. Oh well. 

There is more on my work table as we speak (perhaps you will see what is there for BTW).  I would love to know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. 

Bead Soup Party!

So, I shipped out my goodies. Can't wait to see what she makes with them.  I don't want to post a picture until she gets them. Hopefully tomorrow!  :)

Give-away!

Ok, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things and Bead Soup Blog Party fame is giving 

away this amazing stamp set!

So want! Love this! Imagine the creativity. Did you see what Lori made?

Beautiful! 

Hop on over and check it out!

Lorelei's Challenge - Fusion Beads

Good Morning,
Yes, today is the day. Got home to take pictures and the camera is dead (batteries). Hope to have pictures tonight. Sorry folks.

Here is what I started with!

For some reason, these beads were not speaking to me!

Coffee or Tea?

Are a coffee or tea person? Do you move between the two? If so, why do you drink one and then the other?

I generally drink coffee. Love my Keurig! But have had tea most of this week. Not sure why, it just sounded better in the morning.

Happy Thursday.

Bead Table Wednesday

Heather at Humblebeads has started this fun Wednesday show and tell. Folks take a picture of what their bead table looks like and shares. Hopefully, this will mean that I will create during the week so that my picture isn't always the same! :)

So, without further ado - here is my bead table wednesday!

Beads that hope to be played with soon!

Lorelei's Challenge

So, I thought that I had it wrapped it up. I made a piece, played around with it, and took it apart. Tried something else, took that apart. Now I have small piles of beads on my desk. I am not sure why I am struggling so with this. I have a few hours today and will try again. I may have to bag this one. 

The beads are just not speaking to me!

I got my partner!

Yup! Lori has sent out our partners for the Bead Soup Blog Party! Yesterday sounded ugly for her, 210 people, an excel spreadsheet and the blue screen of death!

Thank you Lori!

Anyway, my partner is Deb Hunter of Living on Air.  

Check out her blog, she made some great charms!!!

I can't wait to get started. 

Personality DNA!

Erin at Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere shared a fun personality test on her blog the other day and encouraged us to go out and take it. What a hoot! I love doing these type of things, it is always fun to see where I end up. There is also color involved, which is perfect for this gray day. :)

So, I went out to the website and gave it a try.

I'm an

animated director

Well at first glance at the description, I am sure that my kids would agree! :) But in reading the information, I was pleasantly surprised.

The first part is about me:

As a DIRECTOR, you combine an unusual openness and passion for beauty and style with confidence and a down-to-earth sensibility that allow you to realize your vision.

You are practical and pay attention to the details that others tend to miss.

By focusing on what is real and concrete, you achieve more than those who always have their heads in the clouds.

When it comes to what really matters in your life, you are confident in your ability to succeed.

Having beautiful things in your life gives you pleasure and satisfaction - you have a keen eye for style.

Even when problems present themselves, deep down you know you will overcome these challenges.

When routines get too familiar, you become bored and start looking for ways to spice things up.

You are open to new types of experiences – you are not afraid to take a risk on something new.

You have a highly developed sense of taste – you know what looks good on you, in your home, and in the world at large.

You have a strong sense of style and value your personal presentation - friends may even seek your style advice from time to time.

Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.

The second part is how I relate to others:

You are Animated  

You are outgoing, comfortable with others, and up for anything, which makes you ANIMATED.

Some people find crowds and parties exhausting, but not you! You are able to be yourself in many situations.

Sometimes it is hard for you to understand why others feel the way they do, but that doesn't stop you from trusting them or having faith that they are good people.

You know the world is complicated and that there is often more than one side to a story, so you are careful not to make judgments about others too hastily.

You would rather experience the world than sit back and observe it—you are not one to sit on the sidelines.

You are an independent thinker and don't get too worried about how others might perceive you—you are not self-conscious about being the active, engaged person that you are.

Although you have a keen understanding of different people's life circumstances, you occasionally have trouble seeing why people get so upset and emotional about things—they should just lighten up and have fun!

In addition to having faith in the world, you have faith in the people around you—you trust others to do the right thing and to be honest.

And now my color dna!

 Ok, so it's not quite centered! Grrr. But you can move over the colors and see my traits.

Such fun.

This was interesting for me. It says that I am very low on the sympathy side which surprised me, greatly. I can identify with much of it, not all of it.  Things like this, for me, are always a little insight into "me". I find them fun and insightful.

Thank you Erin!

Soup ~ It is so very good for you!

It is that time again!!!!!

 Lori Anderson of Pretty Things has graciously agreed to organize this wonderful party again. Please hop over to her blog and read up. It is really very easy to join and oh so good for the soul, just like soup! :)

Can you think of a better way to start the year? New beads, meeting new friends, discovering new blogs?

Sign ups start today! Won't you join us?

Bead Soup ~ Good for your Soul!

I Can!

Yes, my muse has returned from vacation! Ok, perhaps she got some sleep, had some time and peace and quiet......I am happy that she has returned.  

2011 is filled  with potential, for all of us. I have decided that my mantra for 2011 is 

"I Can!"

I can

improve my blog,

improve my Etsy,

create more,

use the beads I have (challenge!!!)

enjoy my family,

spend time with friends,

be positive,

relax,

exercise more,

eat better,

become better with the camera,

learn how to collage my  photos,

stop and smell the roses.

(remind myself to check back here when I begin to doubt!)

Here are a few pieces that I created over break.

 Great bracelet with a Jade Scott pendant

Earrings with pieces from Lorelei's challenge.

Yes, Kelley Beads

A great Cindy Gimbrone pendant

This is a remembrance piece, created with pieces from my mother-in-law's

jewelry.

Wire wrapped rondelles with a great silver bead/pendant

Great brass chain with a polymer clay pendant in, my fav, 

brick red.

I will be listing these over the next few days in my Etsy Shop. 

Also, get ready!!!! It's time for the

Bead Soup Blog Party!!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

Sign ups start on Jan. 7th. Please check out Lori Anderson's blog

Pretty Things for more details!

This is soooo much fun! Please hop over, check it out and consider playing 

along!!

And, Lorelei is having another challenge.  This time she chose pieces from Fusion Beads.  Here are the beginnings.....

This will be a challenge for me. Beads, clasp, leather ~ thinking, thinking, thinking....

I. Can. Do. This!

You can too!