7000 Bracelets of Hope

2 days late but I didn't forget! I was away in Spain until late last night and whilst I could pick up emails, I was nowhere near any internet that wouldn't have costed me an awful lot of money....I did have my beads so directly from the inspiration of the Costa Blanca are two bracelets for The Global Genes Project. 

It's a very good cause and I am so pleased to have been able to take part. Erin has written a very eloquent post about how she feels about her bracelet and sending it out - I don't have her way with words but these simple bracelets will be sent out with love and hope for the families that receive them. 

I've kept them pretty simple - something you could wear with jeans and a T-shirt or a pretty summer dress - as I don't know who I'll be sending them to or what their personal style will be.

I've also added extension chains to both bracelets (something I usually do anyway) so that they should fit any wrist size comfortably - a great suggestion Lori.  

Please read Lori's initial blog post about the project and have a look at the other participants blogs for some more beautiful bracelets. 

 1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle 

3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym

4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365

5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer

6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings

7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry

8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire

9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads

10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions

12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio

13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading

14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl

15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design

16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae

17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium 

18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous

19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!

20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon

23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T

24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails

25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 

26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals

27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 

28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings

29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 

30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 

31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  

32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 

33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 

34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 

35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 

36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 

37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 

38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 

39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 

40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 

42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 

43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 

44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 

45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio  

46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss 

47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads

48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral

49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel

50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry

53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things

54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry

55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31

56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts

58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie

59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs

62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs

63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs

64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings

65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay

67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations

69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs

72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads

73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life

74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner

75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass

76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee

77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life

78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design

79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked

80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 

81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads

82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana

83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 

84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy  

85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads

86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures

87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats

88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique

89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place 

90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts

91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads 

92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio

 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields

94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art

96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations

97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter

98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry

99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio

100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 

102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy 

103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies

104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof

105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals

106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry

107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry

108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks

109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading

110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne

 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra

112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

Blissed Out Challenge

The German bead babes Janna, Stefanie and Nicki are hosting their first challenge ever: Blissed out by your favourite song. 12 bead artists have created a piece of jewellery based on their personal favourite song. There were no other rules but to blog about the piece, and share your excitement about the favourite song. Today is the big reveal day, so have fun looking at what we all made, and leave us a comment if you’d like. You will find the links of all bead babes below.

Janna, Stefanie und Nicki veranstalten ihre allererste Challenge:

„Blissed out by your favorite song”, was soviel heißt wie “glückselig - oder auch inspiriert - durch dein Lieblingslied”. 12 Kreative haben ein Schmuckstück kreiert, das auf ihrem Lieblingslied basiert. Abgesehen davon,  dass wir über unser Schmuckstück bloggen sollten und dabei auch  erzählen sollten, was wir an dem betreffenden Song mögen, gab es keine Regeln. Heute ist der große Tag, an dem wir alle unsere Stücke zeigen, also viel Spaß beim Entdecken – und über ein Kommentar von Euch würden alle Teilnehmer sich natürlich sehr freuen! Die Links zu allen Teilnehmern findet Ihr unten.

SO, I hope readers don't mind but I will do the rest of this post just in English! My German is so much poorer than my German friends' English unfortunately!

Without further ado.....here's my piece! 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked. 

Now I have to admit, I cheated just a little...I LOVE Defying Gravity....but I wouldn't say it's my absolute favourite song....it was just one that I felt I could make a piece of jewellery based on. And actually, it's based on one of the two characters that sings this duet - Elphaba. She's green.....

I've used a number of art 'beads' in this piece - 3 beautiful sunbaked lampwork beads from Lush Lampwork,

 some Water and Wood chain from MissFickleMedia 

and a cool lampwork headpin from Kerry Bogert. 

Yes, you may have seen a sneak peek on my BTW this week...!

Here's a list of all the other bead babes participating - make sure you check out their blogs too! 

1. Janna

2. Stephanie

3. Nicki

4. Berit Borchardt

5. Rebecca (you are here!)

6. Maryse Thillens  

7. Krista French 

8. Linda Djokic 

9. Karola Stein 

10. Doris Radlicki 

11. Jen Judd Rocks

12. Saskia Kaffenberger 

And a massive thanks to Stephanie, Janna and my original bead soup swap partner, Nicki for organising their first ever challenge - please organise another one soon!

BTW

A quick snap of my wee tray this evening...some lovely lampwork from Julie Fountain of Lush Lampwork, some vintage glass Czech rondelles, a bracelet I made earlier today and lastly (and very excitingly!) some lampwork headpins from Kerry Bogert! I was so thrilled when they were waiting for me when I got home from college today :-) I've already used one in the bracelet I made - I'll try and take a better pic tomorrow. What's on your bead table today?

New jewellery...updated for Heidi!

Just stopping by to say hi and also to show you a few things I've just loaded into my Folksy shop. It's been a while as I officially lost my camera in January and just don't get on as well with my partner's, but I thought it was about time I took a few snaps and filled up the shop as I very pleasingly have managed to sell a few items this year! I make very little effort with my wee shop (poor thing) due mainly to time constraints (and my very poor ability with all things technological!) so it always makes me immensely chuffed when folks want to stop off there and pick up one of my creations.

Without further ado, here are my new pieces...

Bronzed Aqua

The Fairy One

Sweet Tooth

Afternoon Tea

Roses and Pearls

Shimmering Ferns

Teal Roses

As you can see, no necklaces...I really am struggling to photograph them! I made a really pretty one the other night, using lace and a Moogin poppy bead which I love, but I simply haven't found a decent way to shoot them yet....I'll keep trying! Anyone got any good advice for photographing necklaces, especially longer ones? I am on the look out for a shabby chic mannequin but all the ones I spot on ebay are ridiculously expensive....any advice gratefully received!


***Update: here are some photos of what I've done with one of those gorgeous poppy beads! It's a really long necklace but as I've mentioned, I've not worked out how to sort out photographs showing this nicely...***

Hope you're all having a good week - I've succumbed to the end of term bug (predictable) and have got a hellish timetable at college (10-9 daily, sitting watching masterclasses...seriously!) which we supposedly have to be at for every minute of every 3 hour session...never has going to school to work seemed like a good break! I'm there tomorrow for choir at 8.30. Last day of school til the Easter holidays...and my trip to Spain! My partner and I are going with two of our friends for 8 days (amazing!) and it is going to be a relaxing beading and reading holiday. Food, drink, sun, swimming, books beads and sleeeeeeep....and then my (gulp) 30th birthday at the end....I can't say I am looking forward to it but there you go...it comes to us all I suppose! I always thought I would be wiser, more financially stable, slimmer and more sorted by the time I hit this milestone....but clearly not! Ah well. Perhaps 31 is the year to head for ;-) Anyone else have similar feelings about birthday milestones??

Bits and Bobs

Some more wee bits and pieces I wanted to share with you...

...my amazingly awesome poppy beads from Moogin...

...a beautiful polymer pendant from Menagerie Studio that's been on my bead table for a while...

....gorgeous Liberty print bias binding...

....and a bracelet I made using it....

....and last but certainly not least, some awesome resin charms I won from Lady Noble Designs. Aren't they stunning? Look at that cute wee owl! I can't wait to create something using them. 

What's on your bead table this weekend?