Bead Soup is Cooking!

I received my soup from Jennifer Davies-Reazor about a week and a half ago and it's been sitting on my desk in 2 cute little bags. Her pieces are absolutely beautiful and my mind has been going crazy with ideas on what to create. I finally pulled everything out to photograph so I can show the before pictures. I love the color schemes and the feel of the pieces are nice and primitive for me. As you probably know, I am not a shiny kind of gal!

Here are the components from one package - love the Jen's stoneware maze piece!

Here are the components from the other package - more of Jen's earthenware!

Here is the pic of what I sent Jen 

Now....gotta get to work!

Bead Soup Blog Party

I am challenging myself as an artist this year and stumbled upon this fun blog, Bead Soup Blog Party. It's a fun design challenge and all you do is sign up to participate, but one of the rules is you need to have a blog. What a fun way for me to start blogging again, it's been over 6 months since my last one.

I will be paired up with another person that wants to participate. It could be someone here in the US, or international. The Bead Soup site gives you criteria on what type of beads to provide to your partner: focal, filler and unique clasp with some pics of examples. There are 3 reveal dates and on the one you have been assigned, you will take a pic and post it on your blog for all to see. All the blogs will be posted on the Bead Soup Blog so you can take a peek on everyone's blogs to see all the creations.

If you have a blog and would like to participate, you can sign up here

Happy Beading!

Twas the Month Before Christmas

Now, it has been AGES since my last post, and I thought this would be the perfect way to launch into the Christmas season - I received this in an email from my friend, Deb. I know it's been around a while, but I had to share...


Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.
See the PC police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folds down to the floor just to get it!
CD's from Madonna, an X Box, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Nw Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!
Christ is the reason for the Christ-mas Season!

The Sonata Ring

Yesterday I took a fun, short class on wire wrapping rings at Bead Q. My dear friends Mary Ann and Deb also took the class. We started out using copper to practice with - I had no idea how easy this is.

For the practice ring, I used the bronze Art Wire in 24 gauge for the coil and 18 gauge bare copper wire for the base. I had a great vintage bead from a necklace my great aunt gave me to take apart.

For this beauty, I used 24 gauge wire for the coil and 20 gauge for the base. Deb gave me the gorgeous bead from a strand that she bought at Bead Q - I made the coil part right before I left on this one. When I got home it took me no more than 5 minutes to complete it! Well, then it took a couple minutes more to dip it in LOS and clean up with steel wool. Guess what I'll be making more of?!

Industrial Chic Contest

Susan Lenart Kazmer is having a reader challenge using her new Industrial Chic components that are being carried at Michaels - I just saw it on her blog Objects and Elements today. The deadline was at 5:00. I think I submitted my entry at 4:50 - I hope it got there in time!

It's show time!

I'm getting ready to do my only show so far for the year, Art by the Falls. It's June 12th and 13th. I'm a little bit in panic mode, I've been so busy I keep putting off making my goodies to sell. I stopped at Bead Paradise Saturday and picked up some loot. Ruth bought some amazing stuff when she went to Tucson. Hope I can get everything assembled in time!

I was able to get at least one batch of BronzClay done. I'm going to be doing some cool toggle bracelets. Well, they look cool in my head, I hope they turn out like I'm envisioning them.