Tick Tock

Patience definitely isn't one of my virtues...

Finally, the countdown to Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Party reveal is only 11 days away!!   Errr...I better get busy and finish up!

Although I can't quite show you what I've cranked out in the past few weeks...I'll give you a little teaser

Gorgeous lampwork beads from Glass Addictions & my color palette I selected

Jen of Glass Addictions is my bead partner this go-round, and she sent some awesome soup to work with!  I've racked my brain trying to come up with unique designs.  I'm not in to delicate/demur jewelry (which is pretty hilarious considering that most of the beads I create are on the dainty side), I prefer wearing a single bold piece of jewelry, so Jen's lampwork beads are right up my alley!  Now, if I can just bring them justice!

So, slide back this way on March 3rd to see what my obscure little brain came up with, and who knows...I just might reconstruct a new outfit to wear with my creations!

100 Grams of Coppr Clay....

...And all I have to show for it is a small wing charm, and a toggle clasp, well unless you count the first 10 "I'm-not-sure-what-I-did-wrong-and-they-all-ended-up-in-the-trash" attempts!  Is it cocky that I'm happy with that?  The Mr. believed I'd only wasted map gas and approximately $20 of clay...meanwhile, I'm over the moon with my accomplishment!

Maybe if said spouse hadn't of stood over my shoulder continually asking "are you sure you're doing this right?  Want me to do it?  This isn't going to work!  Here, give me the torch!"  I might have gave in and agreed with him, but see, I'm the kind of girl that when you say I can't...you can bet the farm I will...just as soon as I waste $20 worth of clay!!! LOL!

Granted, I'm well aware that working with metal clay long term will probably require a kiln, but watch out world...I'm a girl with a torch at the moment!

So finally, after I got a piece to sinter, and it didn't break in two, my smug little self handed it over to "my better half" and walked inside.  Where he was hot on my tail with "It doesn't even look like copper...it's dull!  Who wants to use that?"  I tried to explain it was oxidation but he thought I'd been beat...sometimes he doesn't know me at all!

I head to the kitchen to pickle my two treasures, and while he fixes himself lunch I hear a "that's more trouble than it's worth baby!"  I stick to my guns, and get to burnishing. 

It IS A LOT of work!!!  I'm thinking a tumbler would make things easier...

I gave my accomplishments a dip in liver of sulfur, and a quick polish.  Happy with the results, I went in search of dear sweet husband.  He was floored at how they turned out.  After all, I am just a wee thing, who couldn't possibly accomplish something so "manly"...that included fire...all by my lonesome!  Wanna know what he said?  "Hmmm...maybe WE should think about saving for a kiln, so you won't have to spend so long holding the torch!"  I LOVE HIM!!

I know my technique and process need TONS of work and refinement, but I'm a happy girl at just a teeny accomplishment...and now I need more clay!!

And I won't even show them to you...as I'm thinking of using them in my Bead Soup creations!!

Bead Soup Arrival

As it's well known, I'm one of the 200 participating in Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop, and my partner is Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions!!!!

Ok, I won't fill this post with "fluff", and I'll get down to the good stuff...the beads!!!!

Do you know how hard it is to refrain from opening the goodies long enough to get a decent picture??  Complete torture!!

And the sweet card Jennifer enclosed...cute color combination to boot!

A Green Girl Studios pewter starfish toggle clasp... LOVE!!

The focal and accent beads...more utter and complete LOVE!!!  I seriously have had to hide them from The Mr...as he's more than ready to sneak one to use on his bracelets...and believe me, that's a MAJOR compliment!! 

Jennifer's focal and gorgeous blue kyanite...probably one of my favorite stones to work with!!

The supporting cast:  Amethyst, blue kyanite, labradorite, czech, and cultured pearls!!

A few "group" shots...

Amazing, right?  I can't wait to dig in!!

Come on back March 3rd, to see my creation...and blog hop to over 200 more pieces of eye candy!!!

If you want to check out everyone's soup before the reveal...here is the list of participants:

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Kingdom of Bahrain) and Hajer Waheed (Singapore)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen (Canada) and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

(List courtesy of Lori Anderson at Prettythingsblog.com)

The Bead Soup Has Landed!

My Bead Soup Blog Hop partner, Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions received the soup I sent her today!!!

Now, because I'm a complete moron, and packaged, sent, and then realized I forgot to enclose the card with the description of my soup...I'll post a labeled picture here...sorry Jennifer!!!

And a few more shots....

Bead Soup

Close up of the clasp:  Polymer clay floral with copper key toggle

Close up of the polymer clay focal bead

I can't wait to see what Jennifer sent me...I know it'll be to die for though!  I'm even more excited for March 3rd...BSBH day!!!  Seriously, I'm more excited about this than I was at Christmas!

I'll be listing more artisan components in my Etsy store...but it won't be until late next week!

Ingredients Are On Their Way....

I finally got Jennifer's bead soup sent off to her today.  In conversation, she mentioned that she gravitates towards blue in her designs (I have the same issue except green is my color of choice)...so I made sure that ABSOLUTELY no blue was included in my soup mix!

I can't wait to see what Jennifer and all the participates create...it's my favorite part of BSBH!  You too can follow and visit all of us HERE on Lori Anderson's blog Pretty Things.

And now for just a little sneak peek!

Nothing like a little color swapping and pixelation to completely throw someone off!

And a quick photo of my less than phenomenal packaging...

I Burned My Soup....So More Glass Addictions

My BSBH partner definitely got her business name right..."addiction" about sums it up!  I sat down to make her  soup yesterday, and I'm not sure what happened...during the curing process, 2 of the beads cracked and turned strange colors.  I have no clue what went wrong...in the trash they went!  So, today, I'm back in the studio...which is a PERFECT way to spend a rainy Saturday!!!

In the meantime, I happened to look through Jennifer "sold" items on Etsy and fell in love with quite a few...no surprise there!

Oh my!!!  Seashell beads!!  Love the way they look like little pools of water.

I love all the colors in this!

Here's another favorite of mine...reminds me of  a Van Gogh painting.

And these speak for themselves!

I can't help but see an emerging butterfly deep within this bead...

How awesome is this?

Ok...this is my new favorite...love it!

Anyway...I'll get Jennifer's soup out to her on Monday...a day later than planned...

Bead Soup Blog Hop & Glass Addictions

Somehow I had the good fortune of the planets aligning and I was one of the lucky 201 drawn to participate in Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop!!  This will be my second BSHP...Yep...I had SO much fun the first time around, I had to go back for seconds!!  If you're unfamiliar with Lori, or with her Bead Soup Blog Hop (and seriously, I don't know how she doesn't claw her eyes out trying to organize and please a group of this size...or of any size for that matter), then please head over to Lori's blog and check it all out...but first let me introduce my "partner in crime" for the hop...

Again, somehow I lucked out and drew a golden ticket...as I was paired with the amazing glass artisan Jennifer Cameron!!  I adore lampwork, with all it's mesmerizing facets buried within the glass, and even though I drool over glass beads on a daily basis, I haven't had the opportunity to work with them as much as I daydream about.  Partly because I can never decide which ones to purchase, but for the most part I always fear of not doing the beads justice in my creations.

Enough about me, let's get on with Jennifer's eye candy shall we?

First, let's check out her studio:

I love all the colors and having them on display they are like little works of art all by themselves!!!!

And of course I couldn't help but spy this little creation by Jennifer in her Etsy shop...found HERE

I've worked with glass discs...and I promise that I'll be hiding my creation after seeing how gorgeous this necklace is!  Jennifer made her own PMC hearts too...all kinds of talent!

Now on to the main act...BEADS!!!

See what I'm talking about?  So many dimensions in such a little bead!  Unbelievable!

I get lost in this piece...

And I'll wrap it up with my favorite:

Now you can see why it's my favorite!!

Please run on over and check out Jennifer's BLOG or her Glass Addictions Etsy store...but don't be greedy :) and save some for the rest of us!

Don't forget to come back and check out all the participants' creations on reveal day March 3rd!  I'll be re blogging the participants list, complete with links prior to reveal day!