Clay and Metal Blog Hop Reveal

Hello!  And welcome to the reveal post for Lisa Lodge's Clay and Metal Blog Hop Reveal.  Lisa, hosts some of the most creative hops and this time we were given the chance to work with Sharyl McMillian-Nelson's work from her Metapolie's collection!  Make sure to check out Lisa's Blog and Sharyl's shop.  

Several month's ago,  I received a great package in the mail of wonderful pieces to work with on this hop.  The leaf focal is clay and is this wonderful combination of purple and orange.   Also in the kit were two metal components that have a great wave pattern and the palette of colors include orange, green, blue, Wedgwood blue, pink, red and sand.  Also, in the kit was a nice selection of clear crystal rondelles that were a delight to receive.  

While planning my design, the biggest challenge I kept coming back to was a good one.   Do I use the metal components as connectors in the necklace or as earring connectors as Sharyl labels them in her shop?  Either way, they worked in great pieces of jewelry, but in the end I decided that I wanted to make more than one piece of jewelry for the hop so I chose to use them in a pair of earrings.

I loved the color combination in the metal components and I really wanted to continue to use a range of colors in my design.  So I matched the metal pieces with lovely little rainbow colored lampwork glass by Nancy Sinclair.  I also used two of the clear crystal rondelles that were in the kit, and from my stash I chose daisy spacers and tiny little Swarovski amethyst ab crystal bicones to tie the color all together.

The leaf pendant made itself at home on a necklace that is one of the most festive, alive pieces I have every created.

Coming together on the necklace are Sharyl's pendant, several of the clear crystals from the kit, pink and magenta lampwork glass beads, hand made paper beads (made by me), fuchsia crystal spacer beads, and Swarovski amethyst crystals and more wonderful lampwork; some clear with rainbows inside and some darker purple ones.   

I love how all the beads come together.  Each one of them is so different, but when I laid them out, the combination of colors and shapes just made such a beautiful piece.   I think it would look great either with a casual outfit or for that special occasion.  

I had such a wonderful time working with these pieces and challenging myself with new color combinations and bead styles.  Thank you again, Lisa and Sharyl for the great opportunity!

Please make sure to stop by the other participants and see what they created:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines ( You are here)

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Summer Carnival Blog Hop Reveal

Hello again and welcome to the reveal for Lisa Lodge's Summer Carnival Blog Hop!  Lisa is a wonderful jewelry artist over at A Grateful Artist.  She hosts lots of Blog Hops throughout the year and I am always very excited to participate. So, several months ago when she announced the Summer Carnival I had to jump right in!

In this hop, Lisa told us that we would receive a kit full of wonderful beads that would include crystals and cultured sea glass and as she always does, her kit was overflowing with goodies; take a peek!

This is just a sample of some of the pretties I received.   There were cultured sea glass beads in both a royal blue and more aqua blue color.  There are flat and oval sea glass pieces as well.   Also, in the kit were several types of crystals.  Rondelles in both clear and a most fantastic aqua color.  Rounding out the collection are larger clear oval crystals and some great metal spacer beads.

Now, you would think with all these wonderful beads I could just jump right in and design, right?  Well yes, tons of ideas presented themselves when I sat at my workspace and focused on these beads.  However, I really struggled on the Carnival theme.  All the cultured sea glass and beautiful aqua beads just fed into my love of the sea and I kept tracking that way in my designs.   So,  I decided to step away from my beads and start focusing on the theme.   What does a carnival mean?  Rides?  Cotton candy?  All the tinny music?  Those games you never win?  

Finally, I started to focus on Lisa's inspiration photo for the hop.  The Ferris Wheel, specifically.  I am afraid of heights and have only been on kiddie Ferris Wheels, and even then I got those butterflies in my tummy.  But there is one Ferris Wheel I really would ride on if I got the chance.  Some day, no matter what, I will get to England...and when I do,  I want to ride the London Eye.  Can you imagine the views?  That is if I keep my eyes open of course!  So,  I kindly asked a friend for an inspiration photo and my design just came to life!

photo credit  D.F.

While I know that isn't specifically a carnival,  I do think the blue and clear crystals really worked well with the sky and the sea glass is a nice stand in for the Thames.  Here is how my inspiration photo looks as a necklace.

Circle of Dreams

I really wanted to carry the circle of the Ferris Wheel into this necklace.  It was important to me that it be distinct and also allow for me to add the sea glass components.  The necklace is designed so that the round wheel portion is worn where a broach would be worn.  

From the kit, I used the blue and clear crystals to make the wheel design.  From my own stash, I added these great wire beads. They remind me of the little cars you sit in when going around in a Ferris Wheel.  The rest of the lower part of the necklace is made using the same blue and clear crystal rondelles, some metal spacers from my stash that I feel give the piece a very vintage feel.   Finally,  I added three of the aqua colored sea glass pieces.  Little nods to the river flowing by past the London Eye.   The chain, also from my personal stash, completes the circle theme.  There is no clasp, because at 30 inches long, this necklace is easy to put on over your head.

If you know me, you know I can't design a necklace and not include earrings!  So, here are a beautiful pair that focus on the beads used in the wheel portion of my necklace.

This time, I used the aqua crystals, the silver spacer beads that Lisa provided and added some small Swarovski crystal bicones and those great metal beads.  There is actually a glass bead inside the wire and they add extra sparkle.

Wow what a hop!  It arrived with a bag full of great goodies that I am still in love with and can't wait to design more pieces with the leftovers!  I really enjoyed focusing on conceptual aspects of art and taking those concepts and ideas and bringing them into a beautiful statement piece.   Making pieces like this for challenges like Lisa's is what makes me feel like a real artist.  It makes my creative spirit sore!

Thank you again to Lisa for hosting us and since this is a blog hop, there are lots of wonderful other artists to visit and see what they created.  Please spend some time visiting them from the links below.  Thank you for stopping by!!!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines (you are here)

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

 Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations

Marianne Hurley, Reads and Beads

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Marci Allen Koziolek, Krafty Max Originals 

Gemstone and Metal Blog Hop Reveal

Hi, it is me again with yet another blog hop or challenge review.  It has been a very busy week around here!  This time, I would like to welcome you in to take a peek at Lisa Lodge's Gemstone and Metal Blog Hop.   Several months ago,  Lisa offered participants the chance to work with natural gemstones and participate in her hop. I love natural stones. so I couldn't wait to participate in this one.

Lisa is always so generous with her kits!!  These pictures show just a bit of the wonderful items she sent me to work with.   The gemstone in my kit is black vein jasper.  I received tons of beads in this stone.  Rectangles, coins, different sized faceted beads and rounds.  The metal side of the hop included a pretty clasp,  two different kinds of spacer beads, some chain, cones, and connectors.  


When I sat down to design,  the one thing I felt was missing from the collection was a bit of color.  The black, white and grey in the black vein jasper is very bold and adding just the metal spacers made my design ideas kind of one dimensional.   So, I looked for a color that would work well with the stone and metal.

I settled on red as my accent colors for my pieces.   It is a strong color and compliments the grey, white and black in the jasper nicely.  To add my signature touch of sparkle,  I included some Swarovski crystals in jet with an AB finish, so they are a glittery shade of grey.

I was careful when picking the rectangles of jasper to match up the colors so the beads display all the variety of color in the stones.  I used some of the metal lentil spacers to separate the stones and then added barrel shaped red glass beads for that pop of color.  I then finished off the necklace with the crystals, smaller faceted jasper beads and then connected it to the chain that Lisa provided.   Unfortunately, I damaged the clasp  she gave me so I had to use one of my own.

Next, I designed a bracelet that can either be worn with the necklace or stand well on its own. I used faceted rodelles and one oval shaped of the jasper beads,as well as these neat metal spacers that are different than those on the necklace.  I used red for the color pop, this time, using glass beads that remind me of little perfume bottles.   Finally, the Swarovski crystals appear again for additional sparkle.

I couldn't make jewelry and not put together a pair of earrings!  Here I used more of those silver spacers from the necklace and small jasper rondelles.  I chose two oval glass beads in a bright red and added a crystal at the end so that all the pieces tied together.

It was lots of fun participating in the Gemstone and Metal Blog Hop and I want to thank our hostess, Lisa Lodge, again for giving me the opportunity to participate.   Please take some time to visit the other artists on the hop and see what they created.   Thanks for visiting!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines (You are Here)

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Big Margaret

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (May be delayed a few days)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things (May be delayed a few days)

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Judy Campbell, Macmillanmarie Jewellery Design

Nan Smith, Handmade Jewelry Nanmade

Marde Lowe, FanciMarDesigns

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

Leithleach Alainn Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Lisa E. Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

The Ocean Blog Hop Reveal

Hello!  Welcome to The Ocean Blog Hop Reveal.  Several month's ago, Lisa Lodge over at The Greatful Artist announced that she would be hosting an ocean themed blog hop and I had to jump right in.   If you know me, you know I love the water and the beach.  It is one of the bonuses of living in Florida, so I couldn't wait to participate.

Lisa sent along a great collection of beads and findings to use in my creations.  This first picture shows the siam colored crystals, round metal connectors, and star fish charms.  In the green bowl is a collection of beads in a multitude of shapes and sizes.

The second photo of what I received shows the crystal rondelles again, along with some pretty yellow barrel beads and two wonderful tangerine colored sea glass pendants.  

After spending some time studying all the wonderful beads, I needed to come up with my ocean inspiration.  Usually, when you think beach or ocean you think blues or greens.  But, I thought more about my experiences and I remembered a trip I took down to the Florida Keys and a snorkeling adventure.  There is nothing more beautiful than the life under the water.  Aqua colored water, white sand, fish in all sizes and colors, and incredible coral.  (remember not to put your foot down!!)  I used my memories of that trip as my inspiration for my designs.

Coral Under the Sea

I made this bracelet to represent the coral in the ocean.  I used the siam colored crystal rondelles for my coral then highlighted them with dark blue crystal rondelles to represent the water.  The smaller crystal bicones in blue, light blue, and sea green can represent either water or small fish darting in and out of the coral.  If you look closely in the picture, you can see clear glass teardrop beads.  Those were part of the mix of beads in the green bowl above.  They stick out from the bracelet just like the branches of coral would do from the sea floor.  

It is a bit easier to see the clear beads in this photo:

The second piece I made for the blog hop is a fun pair of earrings.  I used the sea glass pendants and those fun star fish to make a pair that is just perfect for a summer day.

Sunset Beach

How fun are these??  Imagine yourself on the beach or boardwalk, enjoying a relaxing summer day with family or someone you love.  I think they are just perfect for that day at the beach.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a peek at my designs.  I love participating in Lisa's Blog Hops and creating jewelry based on a theme. The next Blog Hop of Lisa's I will be participating in is the Gemstone and Metal one coming in July so make sure to watch for that post as well.

Now it is time to enjoy the rest of the party and hop along to see what the other participants have designed.  Please use the list below to see all of the ocean themed pieces.

Ocean Blog Hop May 31^st Reveal:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines  You are Here!

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Mary Ann Macri Jacobs, Trucksville Crafts

Jeanne Steck, Gems by Jeanne Marie

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Margaret Pelech's Ocean Blog

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

The beautiful cultured seaglass for this hop is from ZnetShows.  Check out their awesome selection! ZnetShows Cultured Seaglass

Winter Sparkle Blog Hop Reveal

It has arrived!!!  I have been waiting to share with everyone the pieces I created for this fun blog hop.   Lisa Lodge over at A Grateful Artist has put together a wonderful collection of beads for me to create with.  If you are not familiar with a blog hop, this is how they work.  Those interesting in participating sign up with the host and then you receive a collection of beads in the mail.  (to see the unveiling of what I received, check out this post)  Then you get to creating!! On the assigned day, all the participants post their blogs with the reveal of their designs. Then, it is off to visit all the other participants to see what they came up with.

Now if you are ready for me to get past the explanation and show you my pieces; wait no more!  Lisa sent me a lovely selection of crystals, beads and a great focal.  There were enough there for me to make three different designs.  

Royal Milky Way

I love these earrings.  They combine my love of purple and crystals wonderfully and the metal components just seem to work to come together in such a great way.  The clear crystal rondelles highlight the flat purple beads and it reminds me of stars in orbit around a planet.  The metal connectors continue on the planet theme, and I topped each earring with two amethyst colored crystals and darker seed beads.  The metal bar beads tie the earrings to the necklace that you will see in a bit.

Sparkle in the Night Sky

I was drawn to these faceted beads when they first arrived.  Surrounding them with the amethyst and clear crystals really highlights the sparkle in each bead.  Where I live, it is very easy to see the starry night sky.  When I look up on a winter night, the sky seems to come alive with shimmery light.   Those stars and the cold bite on my skin as I look up is my inspiration for my bracelet.  

Bird in Flight

Up Close

When I posted about the beads I had received, this bird in flight was the favorite of my readers.  So how could I not include it in a piece?  She seems to take flight through a sparkly sky, surrounded by the crystals I used in the other two pieces.  To connect with the deep metal color of the pendant, I added some gunmetal glass seed beads.  Finally, to set off the pendant, metal bar beads segment that part of the necklace from the rest.  Finally, I added a clasp that contains a purple velvet Swarovski crystal nestled in the heart.  

I had a lot of fun working with the beads sent to me for this hop.  I even have quite a bit of supplies left, so be on the look out for more designs in this color palette.  Winter can be full of sparkle and in those quiet moments, it is extremely beautiful.  Now it is time to have some fun, follow the links below and hop around to see what everyone else has created.  

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life 

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations 

Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Annette Rivers, Mama Owl's Mess

Tammie Tusher Everly, TTE Designs

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines (you are here)

Norbel Marolla, She Flies Again Jewelry

Karen Burg, KEB Designs

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti