Happy New Year! Hello 2013

I find it hard to believe that it is almost 2013. The cold weather here in Florida has made me think about spring, Valentine's Day and hearts. I made some new pendands that I will be listing in my shop. Here are a few of them. Use code SAVE10 to get 10% off your entire purchase in my shop until midnight Dec 31.
Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas Beads

I have been on a Christmas bead making spree lately. I have been planning out more ornaments and getting ready for fall. I had these beads ready to photograph and thought that they looked pretty good as a group like this. What are you doing to get ready for fall and the holiday season?

Summer Memories Giveaway

I recently participated in my first of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Parties. I had so much fun and such a great partner  Lisa who makes beautiful jewelry which you can see at her zibbet shop

 I have not made it to everyone on the 2nd reveal list yet as I want to take my time and get to know everyone a little bit. I came across Love Yesterdays blog and she is having a giveaway that I thought you might be interested in. Check this out if you are interested in winning a beautiful bracelet Summer Memories Giveaway.


I am so getting into making Christmas items lately. Here is another gingerbread house pendant that I listed in my etsy shop

6th Bead Soup Blog Party!

The bead soup challenge blog hop has 3 separate reveal dates this time around. Thank you Lori for hosting this online party. I can not believe the gorgeous bead soup that I received from my partner Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures.

I loved the colors in the pendant. Since it had a hole in the middle I contemplated what I could use it for. Several ideas developed but I did not want to cover too much of the pendant. I went with some chain to dangle the lucite flowers and leaves to give it a light and airy look.

I also did not want to distract too much from the pendant, so I used the chain and linked a few beads that I had made from polymer clay to match the pendant.

For the earrings I used the matching polymer clay beads and dangled some of the smaller  lucite leaves and flowers from the bottom.

I really enjoyed this challenge and hope that you enjoy looking at what everyone else made.
 Please visit Lisa's blog to see what she made with what I sent to her.

Here is a list of the other participants in the August 11 reveal group:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 

Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

New Bead Shapes

I have been experimenting with some new bead shapes. I love making all types of beads, but wanted to try to make a few different shapes. This first one is an almond shape. It is flat with a different flower on each side, but I think that I would make the same flower on each side next time. I really like how the purple flowers come down on the ends and the leaves show from the sides.

I also tried some round teardrop shape beads. I really like these also. They were not as hard to make as the almond shape. I plan on making some angel earrings with the teardrop shape.

Bead Soup Has Arrived!

I can not believe the gorgeous bead soup that I received from my partner Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures.
This is my first time participating and could not have asked for a nicer partner. She sent me this great pendant from Shaterra Clay Studio

She added a copper toggle, chain, with copper bead caps from MelindaOrr

and lucite flowers and leaves, cane glass and a variety of other beads.

Isn't it delicious looking. Ideas are going through my head like crazy.
 Please visit Lisa's blog to see what I sent to her.
Please check back August 11 2012 for the final reveal for my group.

Cookies

I sometimes get ideas for beads when I see decorated cookies. Here are a few that I would love to try making in polymer clay.

'Decorated Cookies' by thecolorofdreams

I love to get inspiration for polymer clay creations from decorated cookies

Decorated Cookies for Christ... katieduran $30.00	1 dozen John Deere Tractor V... CustomCookiesb... $32.25
Hand Decorated Cookies for B... SweetLoraineCo... $150.00	Owls Mini Sugar Cookie Bites... thecookiemaven $14.00
Pink and Red Hearts - Heart ... lorisplace $32.99	FLIP FLOP Cookie Favors - Fl... lorisplace $35.99
TROPICAL BUTTERFLIES - Butte... lorisplace $35.99	Decorated Cookies - Snowflak... katieduran $33.00
Gluten-Free Spring Hand-Deco... semisweetdesse... $45.00	Neon and Bright Colors- Tea ... peapodscookies $36.00
REPTILE COOKIE FAVORS - Rept... lorisplace $34.99	Decorated Cupcake Cookies, p... peapodscookies $38.00
SPARKLE BUTTERFLIES - Butter... lorisplace $36.99	Owl Cookies - Owl Decorated ... lorisplace $39.99
Strawberry Shaped Decorated... WackyCookies $26.00	Decorated Cookies - Spring -... katieduran $34.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Christmas in July

Is it too early to think about Christmas? I have been making Christmas beads and ornaments already this year. The constant rain has kept me from taking some pictures, but I do have a few to show you.
I also got some new toys to play with to make some Christmas ornaments that I will be showing you soon.

My Bead Soup Partner

I just found out that Lisa is my bead soup partner. She has participated in the bead soup challenge before, so I am so lucky to be paired with her, as I am a first timer. Lisa is a self taught jewelry designer. She gets inspiration from nature, especially colors like ocean blue and leaf green, natural stones from the Earth, and living creatures including birds, fish and insects.
 Here is a link to her zibbet shop .

 Lisa also has a blog here

 I really love these earrings in her shop

Bead Soup Party Participant

This year I am participating in the Bead Soup Party set up by Lori Anderson I can not wait to found out who my partner will be. Here are some cabochons that I listed in my etsy store

Hedgehog Family

I had a special order for hedgehogs beads and created these. I love the way that they look all together in the picture. Just like a little family.

New Beads

I have been busy creating new beads. It is so relaxing for me to make beads. Here are some of the beads that I made over the last week.

Cake Slice Stitch Markers

These stitch markers for knitting and crochet are my favorites.

Handpainted Silk Cord

I had to show you the beautiful silk cord that I just purchased from MarshaNealStudio. I can not wait to get it. I plan on making cords for some of my spring pendants with it.

Buttons For Spring

I really love working with polymer clay. There are so many different things that you can make with it. Buttons can be used to embellish handmade items or in jewelry. Here is a sample of some buttons that I have made.