Octoberfest 2014 Third Annual Autumn Splendor Blog Hop Reveal

I am so excited to be a first time participant in Toltec Jewel's Octoberfest blog hop!  I love when Rita hosts a blog hop; she is always extremely generous and the beads she provides us are wonderful.  This time, however, the hop is a bit different.  The whole premise of this hop is to celebrate Autumn.   You don't have to make jewelry.   Some of the suggestions that Rita makes for the hop include,  creating a fall craft,  have a get together, carve a pumpkin or any combination of autumnal themed activities you can think of.  I can't wait to see what everyone has done!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.   I remember when I was a girl and lived in the Suburbs of Chicago, what a great time of year this was.  We don't get much Fall down here in Florida, (It is in the 80's as I write this), but I do remember hayrides, apple picking, the scent of freshly made cinnamon donuts at the Wauconda apple orchard, and that crisp feel of the season in the air.  Now, Fall reminds me of birthdays (there are several this time of year), festive fun for children,  the upcoming holidays and a time of renewal.  

To celebrate the season, I made several pieces of jewelry (of course!!)  and a Halloween themed card.  All of my jewelry pieces were pumpkin themed.  I used different lampwork glass pumpkins that could be worn all the way through Thanksgiving.

Handmade lampwork glass pumpkins highlighted with carnelian rondelles and sparkly silver beads 

Wonderful patina-ed leaves, lampwork glass lentil shaped pumpkins and some sparkly crystals in champagne and burnt sienna. 

Czech glass rondelles in yellow and red, lampwork pumpkins and crystals.

Finally,  a handmade Halloween card.  I embossed the leaves and added a fun Victorian inspired Halloween greeting.  Little autumnal flowers complete the design.



I had so much fun participating in Octoberfest.  Thank you again, Rita for making all of this happen.   Make sure to stop by and see what all the other participants have created!

Toltec Jewels                            Jewel School Friends (hostess)

Dini Bruinsma                           http://www.angazabychanges.blogspot.nl/

Marybeth Rich                          http:/forestofjewels.blogspot.com/     (You are here)

Mary Govaars                           http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Mischelle Andrade-Fanucchi     http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Karin Grosset Grange               http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Andrea Zenith Glick                  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Linda Anderson                        http://CherryOnTopDesign.Co

Becky Pancake                        http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger                     http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Lennis Carrier                          http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Sue Kennedy                           http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Kim Dworak                            http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/

Jo-Ann Woolverton                  http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca

Jennifer Reno                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Veralynne Malone                    http://veradesigns.blogspot.com 

Lori Schneider                          http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Williams                        http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Alisa Siceloff                            http://armoredmermaid.blogspot.com

Pam Traub                               http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com/

Cryss Thain                              http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Maria Lourdes Rios                 http://mlourdes24.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer                       http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Carolyn Lawson                      http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                        http://www.peru-medesigns.com/

Debbie Rasmussen                  www.Kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca

Heather Richter                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Breeding                   http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Carol Dillman                          http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Chris Eisenberg                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Rebecca Sirevaag                    www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com

Sam Waghorn                          http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk

Sherri Stokey                           www.KnotJustMacrame.com

Gina Hockett                           www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com

Michelle McCarthy                  http://fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

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

Dana Hickey                            http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com

Claire Fabian                            http://saraccino.blogspot.com 

Cynthia Abner                          http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano                    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Jami Shipp                               http://CelebratingLifewithDaMamaShipp.blogspot.com

Charlie                                     http://505indiechic.blogspot.com

Gloria Allen                             http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/

Lisa Johnson                             http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com

Marde Lowe                            http://fancimardesigns.blogspot.com

Jill Bradley                                http://chat2jill.blogspot.com

Toni Gifford                              https://plus.google.com/+ToniG28

Shawnda D'Arcy                      https://www.facebook.com/JewelryByShawnda

RaMona Woolson                    http://jerseygirlsbeadwork.blogspot.com

Esterina Jagiella                        http://ekleijar.blogspot.com

Sandra McGriff                        http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Mary McGraw                         http://mkaymac.blogspot.com

Alenka Obid                            http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Marianne Baxter                      http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com

Ann Schroeder                        www.beadlove.wordpress.com

Inge von Roos                          http://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Robin Reed                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Suzanne Berk                           https://www.facebook.com/IRescueJewelryDesign

Mowse Doyle                          http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com

Diana Miglionico Shiraishi         http://jasmineteadesigns.blogspot.com

RanaLea                                  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Andrea Rivers                          http://turtlesoupcreative.blogspot.com

Janine Lucas                            http://esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Tanya McGuire                        http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com

Anindita Basu                          http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Mitzie Crider                           http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com

Deb Fortin                               http://studiok24.blogspot.ca

Cynthia Kent Machata             http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Cheri Reed                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Laurel Hanson                         http://stonewingdesigns.com/blogs/stonewingdesignsblog

Ingrid Anderson                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson                         www.PrettyThings.com

Louise Mccormick-Glazier       http://lilyandjasmine.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                          http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Susan Kelly                            http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com/

Lee Koopman                        http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com/

Carol Briody                          http://cbriody.blogspot.com/

Kathy Lindemer                    http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Renetha Stanziano                http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/

Divya N                               http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/

We're All Ears October Reveal

I'm late!  I'm late!! And I don't have a cute pocket watch!  Friday was the reveal date for this month's We're All Ears October Reveal over at Earrings Everyday  I couldn't get the right photograph for my earrings,  and then time got caught up with me and this was the first moment I had to update my blog.  

This month, Erin motivated us with marbleizing.   I haven't really thought much of this as an artistic technique, but it does remind me of when I was younger and loved to drag different shades of paint through each other to create those watery, wavy designs.   I wasn't quite sure what to focus on this time around and was just going to work with color when I had an idea.  

I took some paper strips I had from an old magazine cover and rolled my own paper beads.  I love making paper beads.  They are a great way to relax and you can make them almost anywhere.  I hand glue then though, so I do tend to get a bit sticky, but if you used a brush that wouldn't happen to you.   I love how the colors from the magazine cover remind me of the inspiration photo.   Lines of color intersperse through each other, just like dragging a paint brush through a pool of paint.  

I added some peacock shaded crystal bicones, aqua seed beads and drum spacer beads to complete my design.   I Love how they have a bohemian look and the sparkle of those crystals is just wonderful!

Make sure to check in at this month's reveal to see what everyone else has created!

Be Thankful Blog Hop Update

Just wanted to post an update... all paid kits were mailed out at the end of last week, so they should be to you very soon.   There are only 3  kits left so if you commented on the sign up thread and did not pay,  please secure your kit now.  Also, if you haven't joined in yet but still want to...feel free, all the details are in the post below this one.

Be Thankful Blog Hop Sign Up

November is a wonderful time of year.   We are fully immersed in all the beauty that is Fall.   Even in Florida, there are signs that the seasons are changing and the summer's heat slips away.  Our thoughts turn to family and friends as we make plans for Thanksgiving and in my family it also means birthdays!! November is a big birthday month around here.  

All of these great memories and reminders often have me thinking about the things I am thankful for.   So this November, I would love to work with 12 other jewelry artists on a Blog Hop that focuses on what we are thankful for.  Is it your family?  The love of your life?  Your creativity?  Being able to do what you enjoy?  Join us and show what you are thankful for.

This hop will focus on Czech glass beads.  I will be including a selection of rondelles, faceted, Druk, coins, drops and cruller beads in a range of amber, green, blue, gold, orange and red.   All the colors of autumn.  And because I am thankful for special friends, I have asked a talented jewelry designer who I am blessed to call friend to create the clasps for this challenge.   Cova Cobalt of Cobalt and Copper is a very talented metal artist, and I am so excited about having her clasps in the hop!

You are free to use as much or as little of the kit as you would like to create your designs.   The only requirement is that the clasp must be used in one of your pieces.   I do hope that you would use a lot of the included beads, but it is not required.

Each kit is $16  plus $2 for shipping.   Please use the Paypal button below to purchase your kit and either comment below with your blog address, include it in a note with your purchase or email it to me. Act fast,  because this blog hop is limited to only 12 participants.  I will be emailing all participants as well with instructions and a reminder as the hop gets closer.  



Please click on the button here to purchase your kit

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