Would it be Valentines Day?

I left my 1st job for the day.  That day would be Valentines Day.  When I got to my second job for the day I was met by a beautiful card  lined with beautiful heart felt words and a nice grocery store bouquet of flowers.  The leggy flowers were trimmed and neatly organized in a glass vase by my favorite co-worker.  That co-worker would be my husband of almost 38 years.  We are lucky to work together both in life and in making a living.  We have always been great at life but for the past six years making a living has been a bit of a struggle.  We are a sub-contractor in the new construction business.  I am sure I do not need to say more except hence the first job of the day.  Things are definitely getting better and I am hoping the future will allow me to leave my part time job.  Until then my days are long and tiring but on Valentines day I got home and was met by a nice package of goodness sent by my Bead Soup Blog Party Partner.  Patricia Buchanan http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo  She sent me the most beautiful arrangement of gemstones and a cute gold filled clasp.  I love gemstones they are my first love of beads.  The soup contained the most beautiful focal gemstone and coordinating stones including two different cuts of smokey quartz, hessonite garnets, citrine and jaspers.  Thank you so much Pat I have a dozen ideas of what I will be doing with them.

Thank You to the Pats (also my husband's name) for a great Valentines Day!

                                                                                       

Time for Another Bead Soup Blog Party

 I will be participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog. www.BeadSoupBlogParty.com  My partner and I got off to a late start but now we are on track.  We are in the first reveal.  I will post my soup as soon as I  get it.

Feels like a Snow Day without Snow.

Today I had an unexpected day off  from my job.  It felt great like a snow day without snow.  I slept late, cleaned the house did laundry, took down the Halloween decorations, put up fall and Thanksgiving decorations, had my nails done, had a couple of nice long phone conversations, sent a package to my daughter and got some of my clothes ready to take to a consignment sale. I think I must have a very dull life because I am most excited about the post covers I installed on my rusty posts.  Sadly I did not have time to make any jewelry.  I could really use a few more "snow days without snow".

Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal

I am taking part in Lori Anderson's sixth Bead Soup Blog Hop.  There are 400 people from all over the world taking part in the party so imagine my surprise when I found out my partner is from my state.  Her name is Kim and she lives about 2 hours form me.  Please visit her blog cianciblue.  As partners we exchange a focal piece and a clasp.  Kim also sent me some nice beads. She sent me a beautiful copper leaf made by Patricia Healey and another artist made clasp available at Missficklemedia. We are required to use the focal and clasp in one or more designs.  We are assigned a reveal day and post our creations on that day. I love the things Kim sent and I am very excited to show the things I made with her thoughtful gifts. I cannot wait to wear them.


                                          These are the things Kim sent me.

                  This is the necklace I made from the focal piece.

                          Here are a few pictures of the focal piece

       This is what is made with the clasp and some of the beads Kim sent

 Please visit the other blogs(listed below) and share in the reveal. I hope you enjoy looking a the reveals as much as I enjoyed participating in the party.  Thank you Lorie Anderson and to my generous and thoughtful partner.

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

Please visit the other blogs(listed below) and share in the reveal. I hope you enjoy looking a the reveals as much as I enjoyed participating in the party.  Thank you to my Lorie Anderson and to my generous and thoughtful partner.

Showing off my Bead Soup

  My partner Kim Dvorak from CianciBlue

I received the most beautiful bead soup from my Bead Soup Blog Party partner Kim Dvorak from CianciBlue.  I love, love it.  Kim told me the beautiful focal leave is from Patricia Healey and the cool clasp is from Missficklemedia.  I have been so busy with work and my family in town.  I have had little time to play with my soup.  But my wheels are turning and I have some ideas.  I cannot wait to try them.  I think I will have a nice reveal and some beautiful pieces of jewelry to wear when I go to Seattle in September for my son's wedding.
Thank You Kim! You are thoughtful and generous. 

Sixth Bead Soup Blog Party

I Will be joining the Sixth Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by Lori Anderson . 




                                     My partner is Kim Dvorak from CianciBlue

We got a late start getting our soup out to each other. One of the reasons.....we both forgot to exchange addresses!  But now we our on track and should be getting our treasures any day.

2012 Bead and Button Show

I was lucky to attend a class taught by Melissa Cable.  She taught us how to set up a compact etching tank.  She showed us how to use it to etch our own designs on the metal.  She also showed all of the different ways to use faux bone.  Melissa also taught us how to set a stone using the frame form tool she invented.  I riveted everything together and made this great cuff bracelet.

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I took the Painting with Fire Class by Barbara Lewis and learned how to glass enameled iron beads with a torch.  I made this cute bracelet with the beads I made.

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I bought the kit and some glass powder.  I want to make more beads. But need more practice to get them perfect.

 My sister thought it was silly to waste time buying tools at Bead and Button.

I thought it was smart.  No shipping fees.

                                                                                        This Says It All!!!

I am so lucky to live in Milwaukee where the greatest bead show in the country takes place.  I was there almost everyday of the show.