Craft Show

The beading circle I belong to decided to rent a space at the Wrightstown High School Craft Show this past weekend.  Six of us lugged our stuff to Wrightstown on Saturday.  The people there were great helping us bring everything into the school.  Our space seemed huge but we filled it up.  I was unsure how to price items and ended up doing it on Saturday morning.  Here is my display:

The show was busy in the morning but dead in the afternoon.  Everyone in our group sold something.  I felt fortunate to sell five items.

BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY REVEAL

I can't believe it's March 30th and time for me to show what I created with the bead soup I received from my partner, Cheryl McCloud.  But first I want to thank Lori Anderson for hosting the Bead Soup Blog Party!  This is my first time participating and I was thankful for the support Lori gives with posts explaining the process, tips and ideas.  Thanks Lori!

 

Okay, here it goes!  This is what I received from Cheryl:

As you can see, she was very generous!  So many wonderful things to create with.

One of the challenges of the Bead Soup Blog Party is to create something using the focal and clasp that your partner sent.  Cheryl didn't indicate which of the wonderful things she sent was the focal so I picked the enameled metal filigree wheel.  I chose to bring out the pink in the enamel by using a bright pink cord to create the bail, string the coordinating round filigree beads, and wrap half of the copper clasp.   Cheryl did a great job enameling the filigree pieces herself and creating the clasp. 

 

 

I also added a piece of Vintaj brass to the center of the focal.  The mother of pearl disks on the earrings are a darker green than they appear in the photo.

 

I also made a few more pieces of jewelry with the items from Cheryl.  I loved the little white with yellow polka dot teapots.  They are so cute!  I made a necklace with one of them with a tea drinking theme.  I used polymer clay to create a set of teeny tiny teacups, white and yellow swirl beads, and the "tea cozy" pendant. 
 

 

Next I decided to use the glass lentil beads.  These appear to have a green rose within the clear glass and are very beautiful.  I wanted to use them in an elegant and dressy way so I paired them with the freshwater pearls from the soup and some larger "pearls" I already had, along with a metal pendant in the same shade of green that I bought at Hobby Lobby several years ago.

 

 

The red silk beads grabbed my attention next, lightweight and classy with gold threads in the fabric... perfect for a pair of earrings. 

 

 

 

I had a lot of fun participating and can't wait to do it again! 

 

Please check out Cheryl's blog at  www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com to see what she created with the items I sent her.

 

And here's a link to the blogs of all the other participants in the Bead Soup Blog Party....

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

 

 

 

 

Brass Pendant

The pendant on this necklace was made by melting a spent brass rifle cartridge and pouring the metal into a mold made from a Cracker Jack prize.  The store owner told me about the process used to make the pendant and about the artist but unfortunately I can't remember his name.

More Orange

I love this bracelet I made for Katy.  It is perfect for a 75 degree summer day.  I  don't know about you, but I am definitely ready for just such a day.

Making Jewelry for Guys

Jake asked me to make him a necklace last Christmas.  I wanted to do something more than string a pendant on a piece of leather, especially because he goes for "shiny" things more than "rustic things".  I made the necklace below from 6 mm hematite beads strung with tiny black seed beads and a single nugget of pyrite. 

He wears it everyday so it was definately a hit!

Bead Soup has Arrived!

My partner, Cheryl McCloud, sent me a generous helping of

Bead Soup. 

Everything was neatly organized and labeled.  I emptied all the ingredients into a bowl and gave them a stir!

It looks like a great recipe and I'm anxious to try it!

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Cheryl sent some filigree beads that she enameled herself which are very pretty!  I love the pink accents.  She also made the

curvy copper clasp. 

Among my favorites are the sari silk,

the green ceramic house bead, and the tiny polka-dotted teapots!

Cheryl's blog is at www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com. 

Be sure to check it out!

And its Orange!

I was anxious to make something from the beaded necklace I bought at Goodwill earlier this week (See my last post).  I took it apart, washed the beads, and then sorted them, taking out first the fleshy color beads I didn't like.  Then I kept playing with the mix of beads until I ended up with just the orange!  I made the necklace below thinking of my sister who is going to Cancun over Easter Break.  We had been shopping together and she bought two dresses for her trip, both with orange in them.  She said "I guess I like orange!"  I added some tiny sea shells, a sea shell pewter clasp, and a glass bead with waves and bubble-like splashes of color. 

Thrift Store Finds

Stopped at Goodwill today and looked through their $2.99 bags of jewelry.  I bought two.  One with "silver" pendants and dangles, and the other with a  long necklace. 

Turned out the round pendant in the picture below is silver, stamped 925.  The filigree flower is cool also but not silver.  Can't read what is stamped on the back other than the year 2009. 

Not sure why the necklace attracted me.  I do like most of the colors but not necessarily all together!  The beads that look white in the photo are actually lavendar.  Can't wait to make something out of it.

Bead Soup Blog Party

Signed up for Lori Anderson's 7th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party!  I am very excited!


www.beadsoupblogparty.com

Disc Cutter

My husband gave me a disc cutter for Christmas and I have been playing around with it a bit.  Here are a few samples.

Bead caps and a connector from a BoyScout popcorn tin   (sure am having a hard time with putting text where I want it today)                                 

These earrings are from a Christmas tin

and

The Leinie's were actually cut by hand before I got the disc cutter...

I just love those round bottle cap beads you see at bead shows.  I'm going to buy one soon.