Next Stop on The Art Bead Love Tour is...
Congratulations Diana!!!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Remember When...
It's almost that day...AGAIN!!!
How can one date on the calendar invoke so many emotions?
I'd never felt contentment and peace until July 31st, and yet exactly a year later I never knew just how much a heart could break.
I gained a best friend, and lost one...all on the same wretched date.
Most days, I just wish I could completely erase this date from the calendar forever, July should only have 30 days! But in the end I know it wouldn't change the outcome. I've realized everything truly is balanced in life.
For every laugh, there's ultimately a tear that's yet to fall, and, for every moment of happiness, there is tragedy waiting just around the bend.
It took me 30 years to learn a few things:
1. Don't let words and feelings go unspoken, you just might not have tomorrow (or another 5 minutes) to express them.
2. Give thank-yous, hugs, kisses. Apologize and forgive when needed, or you'll regret it for the rest of life (trust me on this).
3. Let your guard down and let those who care in every once in awhile, being tough doesn't get you anywhere (ok, I haven't learned this yet).
4. Leave behind more than you took from this world.
6. But most importantly, just love. This world is too short for ugliness, arguing, cold shoulders and vindictive acts.
These are the lessons I've learned in the past 7 years...as much as I wasn't ready to learn most of them...
How can one date on the calendar invoke so many emotions?
I'd never felt contentment and peace until July 31st, and yet exactly a year later I never knew just how much a heart could break.
I gained a best friend, and lost one...all on the same wretched date.
Our Wedding Song - Remember When - Alan Jackson
I never realized how true the words were...
Most days, I just wish I could completely erase this date from the calendar forever, July should only have 30 days! But in the end I know it wouldn't change the outcome. I've realized everything truly is balanced in life.
For every laugh, there's ultimately a tear that's yet to fall, and, for every moment of happiness, there is tragedy waiting just around the bend.
It took me 30 years to learn a few things:
1. Don't let words and feelings go unspoken, you just might not have tomorrow (or another 5 minutes) to express them.
2. Give thank-yous, hugs, kisses. Apologize and forgive when needed, or you'll regret it for the rest of life (trust me on this).
3. Let your guard down and let those who care in every once in awhile, being tough doesn't get you anywhere (ok, I haven't learned this yet).
4. Leave behind more than you took from this world.
5. Life does go on. You may not like it, and it definitely will never be the same, and often you'll wonder how the world hasn't come to a screeching halt. Tomorrow the sun will rise...with or without your blessing.
6. But most importantly, just love. This world is too short for ugliness, arguing, cold shoulders and vindictive acts.
These are the lessons I've learned in the past 7 years...as much as I wasn't ready to learn most of them...
Happy 8th anniversary Christopher! - July 31st, 2004
Still missing you Momma! - April 9th, 1946 - July 31st, 2005
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Bead Soup Blog Party - 1st Reveal
*Looking to enter the Art Bead Love Tour? Click HERE!!
Today is the first reveal of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!!! Lori's "bead baby" has become SO huge the reveals have been broken down in to 3 groups!! Because Lori's awesome like that, and didn't want to leave anyone out! Really. She's a doll on SO many levels!
Just remember to come back August 11th for my reveal...where my husband's comments included (but are not limited to) "Are you freaking serious?" "Remind me to walk 10 paces behind you when you wear that!" "Baby (he NEVER uses my name), are you frustrated with life in general?" I got a little "creative"...the same old, same old...just gets old!!
Today is the first reveal of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!!! Lori's "bead baby" has become SO huge the reveals have been broken down in to 3 groups!! Because Lori's awesome like that, and didn't want to leave anyone out! Really. She's a doll on SO many levels!
Just remember to come back August 11th for my reveal...where my husband's comments included (but are not limited to) "Are you freaking serious?" "Remind me to walk 10 paces behind you when you wear that!" "Baby (he NEVER uses my name), are you frustrated with life in general?" I got a little "creative"...the same old, same old...just gets old!!
Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris' Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs
Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery
Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things
Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry
Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry
Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life
Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains
Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade
Kim Ballor, Vitamin C... A Daily Dose of Creativity
Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry
Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings
Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry
Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles - Spirited Earth
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs
Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions ... Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky
Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic
Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Sue Hamel, The Bottle Cork and Crystal
Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux
Szarka, Magpie Gemstones
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau
Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift
Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash
Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna
Next reveal date -- August 11th!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Art Bead Love Tour - Your Chance To Enter!!!!!!
Have you heard of the Art Bead Love Tour?????
The Art Bead Love Tour is an ongoing project to spread the love of handmade to new and exciting places. It’s a way to reach people who may have never stumbled upon your blog on their own, and give them a chance to share the love of handmade. A chain was chosen to link beads as a symbol of how this project links us all together~ in our unity to stand behind handmade.
Here is how the chain looked when I received it today:
Here's what I selected...not with the help from my 4 children, or my tiny Shih Tzu...but from my sweet husband...who was VERY vocal about which ones he wanted to use on his vintage silverware bracelets!
I was raised "to give more than you take", and my Momma would have my behind if I didn't add more than I took...so I added just a few more:
And some of my own work:
And these last 2 just came off of the work bench today...a new style for me:
It is so important that the quality of the beads be maintained, so we can keep the Art Bead Love Tour alive. We want to share consistent quality with the next winner. If you make your own handmade beads or components, it’s a great way to get your beads into the world for people to try them out, or, if you hoard collect art beads, it’s a great way to share your collection and get some new additions as well.
Remember, the focus is on creating handmade with handmade and beads/components taken should be replaced with beads/components that are made by an individual not an organization.
1. The winner of the chain will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from this chain. They will then replace each bead they took, with another handmade bead, charm or pendant of equal quality.
2. The winner will post pictures of what was taken and what was added, in order to keep an account of the chains progress and to keep our followers drooling. Please be sure to give credit to the bead artists as well (if you know them).
3. The winner will then have a giveaway, just like this one, to keep passing the chain on and on. Rules can be copied and pasted from here.
4. When you repost your giveaway (remember you can copy and paste from here) - a list should be added to show where the chain has gone, with links to each previous blog.Ultimately, this will end up being a very long list!
5. Chain must be shipped to its new home via Priority Small Flat Rate box with delivery confirmation. Please package it carefully.
6. There will be a button on the Love My Art Jewelry Website that links to the current blog and giveaway- so if you have the chain, it will link to your blog, that way our followers can have another chance to win it.
7. You MUST exchange your beads and have your giveaway completed within two weeks of receiving the chain.
PLEASE, if you can not adhere to the above rules, do not enter the giveaway at this time. (It will go on and on and you can always enter at a later date.) There will be a button on the side bar of our blog so that you can track where the chain currently is.
1. You must have a blog to enter.
2. Leave a comment below (make sure your email is linked to your blog or leave it in the comment. Entries without emails will not qualify)
3. Share on Facebook, Twitter or your blog for extra chances to win. Leave a comment for each way you share, with a link if possible.
4. Winner will pay shipping and will be billed through PayPal - small priority flat rate box with delivery confirmation, $6.00.
5. Open only to our readers in the United States- due to problems with tracking and shipping overseas (sorry).
The Art Bead Love Tour is an ongoing project to spread the love of handmade to new and exciting places. It’s a way to reach people who may have never stumbled upon your blog on their own, and give them a chance to share the love of handmade. A chain was chosen to link beads as a symbol of how this project links us all together~ in our unity to stand behind handmade.
Here is how the chain looked when I received it today:
The winner of the chain will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from this chain. They will then replace each bead they took, with another handmade bead, charm or pendant of equal quality.
(PLEASE remember -- you are not winning the ENTIRE chain -- just a chance to take some beads from it.)
Here's what I selected...not with the help from my 4 children, or my tiny Shih Tzu...but from my sweet husband...who was VERY vocal about which ones he wanted to use on his vintage silverware bracelets!
Just for giggles...can you guess what he picked to use and what I chose?
How did he end up with more picks than me?? All I have to say is he better keep his eye on "the house!!" It's as good as mine!!! :)
I was raised "to give more than you take", and my Momma would have my behind if I didn't add more than I took...so I added just a few more:
Ceramic bird clasp: Pajego Art House
Copper "eye" lampwork lentil pair: OdieBells Designs
Mint green & ivory lampwork round: BIMS Bangles
Golem daisy & red/black/white lentils: Golem
Green/gold lampwork earring pair: Silverfish Designs
Green swirl lampwork lentil: OdieBells Designs
Faux turquoise horse polymer clay charm: Tree Wings Studio
And some of my own work:
An array of polymer clay floral charms, pendant, beads & Copper flower stamped connector, earring pairs (from my own mold) and sea urchin charm.
And these last 2 just came off of the work bench today...a new style for me:
Periwinkle polymer clay floral connector, and copper polymer clay lentil bead.
**I apologize for the crappy photography! Blogger ate my post 3 times, and by that point I wasn't going to tempt fate and try and go back out and retake the photos!!!
There's a lot to read, but it's really important!!!!
It is so important that the quality of the beads be maintained, so we can keep the Art Bead Love Tour alive. We want to share consistent quality with the next winner. If you make your own handmade beads or components, it’s a great way to get your beads into the world for people to try them out, or, if you hoard collect art beads, it’s a great way to share your collection and get some new additions as well.
(Art Beads should be handmade by an artist, and not mass produced, such as Hill Tribes Silver beads or others like them).
Remember, the focus is on creating handmade with handmade and beads/components taken should be replaced with beads/components that are made by an individual not an organization.
Take a look where the chain has been:
Here's where the chain has been:
...and now me!
Here's how it works:
(Please read the entire post before entering).
1. The winner of the chain will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from this chain. They will then replace each bead they took, with another handmade bead, charm or pendant of equal quality.
2. The winner will post pictures of what was taken and what was added, in order to keep an account of the chains progress and to keep our followers drooling. Please be sure to give credit to the bead artists as well (if you know them).
3. The winner will then have a giveaway, just like this one, to keep passing the chain on and on. Rules can be copied and pasted from here.
4. When you repost your giveaway (remember you can copy and paste from here) - a list should be added to show where the chain has gone, with links to each previous blog.Ultimately, this will end up being a very long list!
5. Chain must be shipped to its new home via Priority Small Flat Rate box with delivery confirmation. Please package it carefully.
6. There will be a button on the Love My Art Jewelry Website that links to the current blog and giveaway- so if you have the chain, it will link to your blog, that way our followers can have another chance to win it.
7. You MUST exchange your beads and have your giveaway completed within two weeks of receiving the chain.
PLEASE, if you can not adhere to the above rules, do not enter the giveaway at this time. (It will go on and on and you can always enter at a later date.) There will be a button on the side bar of our blog so that you can track where the chain currently is.
HERE'S HOW TO ENTER
1. You must have a blog to enter.
2. Leave a comment below (make sure your email is linked to your blog or leave it in the comment. Entries without emails will not qualify)
3. Share on Facebook, Twitter or your blog for extra chances to win. Leave a comment for each way you share, with a link if possible.
4. Winner will pay shipping and will be billed through PayPal - small priority flat rate box with delivery confirmation, $6.00.
5. Open only to our readers in the United States- due to problems with tracking and shipping overseas (sorry).
ENTRIES WILL CLOSE ON JULY 30th, 2012
AND WINNER WILL BE DRAWN
JULY 31st, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Adventure Day - Rural Virginia Style
There's not much to do in our tiny little town, so today my oldest, my youngest and I traveled to a little known secret ...Yogaville.
Where, settled amongst farmland, down a winding back road, and against The Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Buckingham county, VA this suddenly appears...
As you drive down a VERY narrow...almost scary little road set back in the woods, about the time you are seriously contemplating turning around (think "The Hills Have Eyes" type road) this comes in to view....
Where, settled amongst farmland, down a winding back road, and against The Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Buckingham county, VA this suddenly appears...
The entrance
As you drive down a VERY narrow...almost scary little road set back in the woods, about the time you are seriously contemplating turning around (think "The Hills Have Eyes" type road) this comes in to view....
LOTUS - Light of Truth Universal Shrine
Where all major religions are welcomed and honored - A close up of LOTUS
Entrance to the LOTUS
Side view of the entrance
Golden spire
You can read more about Yogaville, LOTUS, and coexistence HERE
We plan on going back in the fall...
Beautiful!
Awesome day with my girlies, which ended with where we found our own version of truth and enlightenment...
Sweet Frog in Farmville, VA
Yes...there REALLY is a town with that name...approximately 20 miles from us.
Great day with my adventurous girls, who will one day gather during the holidays and say to each other "You remember that time our "cracked" Momma took us to the huge pink lotus building in the middle of freaking nowhere?..."
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Art Bead Love Tour Chain Is Headed My Way
Seriously...it's like Christmas, winning the lottery, or the first day back to school after summer vacation (for stay at home mothers)!!
The Art Bead Love Tour chain is heading my way from it's current pit stop at Lori Anderson's!!
Please stay tuned for the "official" post, rules and YOUR chance to be the next stop on the tour!
Here's the chain as Lori received it:
The Art Bead Love Tour chain is heading my way from it's current pit stop at Lori Anderson's!!
Please stay tuned for the "official" post, rules and YOUR chance to be the next stop on the tour!
Here's the chain as Lori received it:
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
What she took:
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
And the beauties she added:
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
Ok, I'm off to rumble through my sacred stash of artisan beads, and I even have a few of my own to add!!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Who Will Be The Next Stop On The Art Bead Love Tour??
The chain is making a pit stop at Lori Anderson's home at the moment but run over to her blog to sign up to be the next stop on the Art Bead Love Tour!!
Just take a look at the gorgeous beads/charms!!!
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
And what Lori has added to the chain (after making her selections):
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
Please make sure you read the "rules" before you enter!!!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Pretty Things Blog Giveaway!!!!
Sweet Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog is holding yet another giveaway!! And, let's be honest, who doesn't love a giveaway?
So, hop on over to her blog and enter! Contest ends Friday July 13th!!!
Here's a sneak peek of what's up for grabs:
So, hop on over to her blog and enter! Contest ends Friday July 13th!!!
Here's a sneak peek of what's up for grabs:
Bead & Button stash
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
Lori's own book!!
Photo Credit: Lori Anderson
These are just 2 of the 5 giveaways being offered! Go see for yourself!!
Friday, July 6, 2012
My Bead Soup Has Arrived!!
I'll skip all of the "fluff" and just get on with it!!
™
Jenni Connolly is my Bead Soup Blog Party ® partner this go-round and she's just set up shop Jenni Bead Studio...and just drool over look at my goodies!
Beautiful decoupaged box...which I'm assuming was in it's former life a cheese box? I'll have to hide this from Moobie Grace herself...she tends to hoard little boxes for all of her trinkets!
Getting down to business. Gorgeous resin in copper bezel focal!! Be still my heart...ok that was a cheesy line!
Closeup of the the amazing lampwork, chain, clasp, cord ends and connector that Jenni created!
Faceted labradorite, dyed coral, sari silk, and the lampwork/copper clasp/connector/cord ends/chain were handmade by Jenni...I'm in love with all of it!!!
And a "group shot"
I already have some ideas...none of which are by any means conventional...but what do you expect?
Jenni hasn't received her soup yet...I didn't get the chance to mail it until July 2nd...because as usual life got in the way!! ARGHH!!!
™Come back on August 11th for our reveal! There are also 2 other reveals. Lori tried to space everyone out...with 400 hoppers...that's one heck of a party!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
6th Bead Soup Blog Party!
I'm such a slacker! Lori Anderson's 6th Bead Soup Blog Party is in full swing...and I'm just getting around to introducing my partner Jenni Connolly of Melbourne Australia! Jenni creates completely amazing lampwork beads...take a look for yourself:
Fire Lotus
Love the colors!
A few of Jenni's bezels! One day I will learn to create these!
I love these!
A previous BSBP mix sent by Jenni
Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of what I sent Jenni...told you I was a slacker...I completely forgot! But please come back on August 11th and see all of our Bead Soup creations!
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