Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and family. It's hard to believe how fast time goes by sometimes. Can it be this close to Christmas already?

I saw an Ornament Blog Hop on the Art Bead Scene and I think I would like to join in the fun.

Here are some ornaments that I have made already:

I also got an email from  Iris Mishly with a link to this free polymer clay Ornament tutorial


Have a great holiday.

AJE Component of the Month Reveal

     

Each month one of the contributors to the Art Jewelry Elements Blog gives away a component to the rest of the AJE team as well as to a few other lucky winners. This month I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate!

I loved the pink porcelain orchid pendant that I received from Suburban Girl Studios . I knew that I wanted to use handpainted silk cording that I purchased from Marsha Neal. I also wanted to make some coordinated polymer clay beads to go with the pendant and decided on the pink and green combination that I love. I have not done that much with cords and ribbon before, but I tried to decide how I was going to use the ribbon before I made the beads. I liked the idea of weaving the cord around the beads and made some donut style beads with the hole large enough to fit the cord. I found some large link chain to use to attach the pendant and the cord to.

I made a swirly clasp that would fit through the chain and added a dangle to the end of the chain.

Thanks again to  and the AJE team for giving folks the chance to play along each month! To check out what everyone else created with their charms check out the AJE Blog HERE.

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal

I decided to enter into Lori Anderson's bead hoarders blog hop because I really needed to use some of my beads that I have purchased over the years. I do not purchase that many beads now, but I do have a large number of beads that span the last 10 years.

The first pendant that I choose to use was one from Gaea. I always loved the lotus blossom pendant, but was not sure what I wanted to do with it. I made some polymer clay floral beads with the same colors as the pendant and added some other beads from my stash. I really like the way that it come out.

Next I had purchased some beautiful wood bezels from artbase and wanted to fill it with a polymer clay cab.

The last piece that I made used one of Captured Moments ceramic bracelet beads. I have been wanted to try using some waxed linen cording and I thought this was a great way to do it. I made some coordinating beads and strung them on the cord. The result  is this bracelet:

I want to thank Lori for yet another great idea and I can not wait to see what everyone else made. Here is the list of other hoppers.

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Christmas in July

I can hardly believe that it is the middle of July already. I have been busy making Christmas beads and Gingerbread House Pendants and Decorations. This year I have been much more organized that previous years. Here is a look at some of the gingerbread house pendants or ornaments that I have made so far this year.
 I hand cut the house shape and then smooth the front and texture the back. I usually have the canes made in advance that I want to use to decorate the little houses. I usually add white around the roof to simulate snow and after they are baked I add some liquid clay with glitter. By adding the glitter to the liquid clay, it gets imbedded into the clay and will not brush off.

 I am also going to make some larger houses - just for ornaments and some smaller pendants that may appeal to teens.

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

I decided to participate in Lori's bead horders blog hop because I have a lot of beads and projects that I have not gotten to over the last year. Having surgery slowed me down a lot, but now I do not have many excuses. Here are a few of the beads and bezels that I would like to make something with.

The top picture shows a bezel and beads from captured moments. The wood bezel is from artbase. The second pictures shows some beads that I purchased from Goodnitegraceie and some lampwork that I purchased a long time ago.

My Beads in Bead Trends Magazine

My friend Lisa Lodge used two of my purple garden beads in her Aloha Spirit earrings that were published in the July issue of Bead Trends.
Visit Lisa's PineRidgeTreasures zibbet shop to see her beautiful jewelry.
 To learn more about Lisa see her Grateful Artist's blog














Bead Trends has announced that they will no longer be publishing their magazine. The July issue is the last issue. The publisher is going to concentrate only on scrapbooking. The July Bead Trends will only be available in electronic form - no print copies. 

Butterfly Garden Beads

Spring Fever seems to be taking over. I just love the way these butterfly beads came out. They are a little larger than the usual coin beads that I make, so the butterflies really stand out.

A Parliament of Owls

About ten years ago, an owl broke through our screen enclosure and ended up on our patio. It was a large owl and we had to remove some of the other screens to get him out of the enclosure. For some reason he could never find the door! Ever since then I have always been enamored with owls. I decided that I would make some owl pendants for my shop and once I started I had a hard time stopping. Here is the result:

New Colorful Beads

I am sorry that I haven't posted in so long, but my recovery from surgery is taking much longer than I expected. I can sit at my work table again and I have been making happy colorful beads.

Lucite and Clay Blog Hop

My friend Lisa Lodge has hosted a fun blog hop called Lucite and Clay Blog Hop . Please go to her blog A Grateful Artist - Pine Ridge Treasures to see all the participants and to enter her giveaway of beads. She used some orphan beads that she purchased from me a while ago for the blog hop. I can not wait to see what everyone made.

Here are some orphans that are listed in my etsy shop now