Bead Peeps Swap and Hop Reveal! Late for the Party, Not Short on Fun!

So naturally, I was excited to get involved in another "Bead Soup" so of course, I signed up! Then realized it wasn't 'Bead Soup'... saddened at first, but also knowing another chapter had to open I turned the page and gladly met my new partner Pallavi Asher,  as she excitedly informed me it was her first swap.

These are the things she sent me. Sorry, I cheated and used my partner's photos for what she sent me and what I sent. I have been ill, and forgetful.

The Blue floral beads are the stars of this show accented by the wonderful leaf charms with cute ladybugs nestled on them. Multi-tier darkened silver chain just seemed to call for the job. It sports a toggle on the back.

This guy was fun! I fell in love with this one and knew that if no other beading got done in this swap I had to at least do a RAW chain so I could wear him as a necklace instead of just as a key chain. I added a bead to be the toggle. He was hand beaded by my lovely partner - Isn't she talented? I will wear him with pride.

Last, but not least that lovely shell piece... I added some of my own MOP and silk of varying thicknesses to strand and function as a toggle. TADA!

What I sent Pallavi Asher

 
Let's go visit the rest of the bloggers now too...

Thanks Linda Anderson for hosting and organizing this event. It takes a lot to put these things together.


Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2015 
Partner List 
 Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http://TheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
       
Linda Anderson 
http://TheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Marica Zammit 
http://www.beadlovelies.com

Jessica Hocutt     https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
       
Kristina Hahn Eleniak     http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com

Debbie Jeffries  
http://debrasdivinedesigns.com/blog
       
Rosantia Petkova 
http://bairozan.blogspot.com/

Shalini Austin 
http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
       
Catherine La Vite     http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com

Annica Larsson     
http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
       
Lori Schneider     
http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
 
Divya N     
http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
       
Mowse Doyle     
http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
 
Fay Wolfenden     
http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
       
Kathy Lindemer      
http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
 
Claire Fabian    
http://saraccino.blogspot.de/
       
Janice Warden Bergeron     http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca

Natalie Davidson      
http://www.northshoredays.com
       
Deb Fortin     
http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
 
Inge von Roos     
http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
       
Karen Mitchell      
http://overthemoon-design.com

Robin Reed     
http://willowdragon.blogspot.com
       
Marie Covert      
http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
 
Alicia Marinache      
http://www.allprettythings.ca
       
Nan Smith     
http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
 
Johana Nunez     
http://artincendi.com
       
Kelly Hosford Patterson     http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
 
Lori Blanchard     
http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
       
Sue Kennedy     
http://suebeads.blogspot.com

Shai Williams      
http://shaihasramblings.com
       
Niky Sayers      
http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
 
Melissa Trudinger   
http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
       
Candida Castleberry     http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
 
Erin Guest      
http://www.renlish.com
       
Nicole Rennell     
http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Ien Temaluru     http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
       
Robin Showstack     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
 
Sam Waghorn    
http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
       
Marianne Baxter     http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
 
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca    
http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
       
Shai Williams     
http://shaihasramblings.com
 
Lee Koopman     
http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
       
Jayne Capps    
http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
 
Marti Conrad    
http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/
       
Tina Bosh     
http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
 
Eleanor Thomas    
http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
       
Jeanne Steck     http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
 
Gloria Allen    
http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
       
Rachel Mallis   
http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
 
Andrea Glick    
http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
       
Stephanie Stamper      
http://skwds.blogspot.com
 
Chris Haussler    
http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
       
Betony Maiden    
http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
 
Kari Asbury      
http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
       
Jenny Kyrlach     
http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
 
Colleen Foley    
http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
       
Marybeth Rich      
http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
 
Marcy Lamberson     http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
       
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
 
Ginny Lones     http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
       
Maria Rosa Sharrow     http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
 
Loretta Carstensen     http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
       
Dolores Raml    
http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
 
Michelle McCarthy     http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
       
Louise McCormick-Glazier     http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
 
Heather Richter     http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
       
Tammy Adams      
http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
 
Shirley Moore     
http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
       
Seed Beaders
   
Susanne Sheila 
http://pearlify.blogspot.de  

Stelljes Prosterman
http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
       
Pallavi Asher  
http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
 
Jami Shipp     http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
       
Peggy Kosier    
http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/ 

Andra Weber    
http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
       
Catherine King       
http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
 
Krafty Max      
http://kraftymax.com
       
Sierra Barrett      
http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
 
Lois Sherwood    
http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
       
Katy Heider    
http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
 
Rebecca Robertson(White)     http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
       
Heather Richter     http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
 
Brandy Collier      
http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
       
Stephanie Haussler     http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
 
Lori Blanchard     
http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
       
Kathleen Breeding    
http://99bobotw.blogspot.com
 
Becky Pancake     http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
       
Renetha Stanziano    
http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
 
Tami Norris     
https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
       
Ginger Bishop   
http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
 
Peggy Johnson     
http://charmbarn.blogspot.com

It's Here! Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange and Charity Auction Blog Hop 2014

I am so excited to be a participant to such a fine event. Jennifer Cameron of  Glass Addictions annually hosts this fundraising event for Beads of Courage and has been for some time. Beads of Courage has given hope, strength, and courage to children in dire sickness where nothing else could. The sales from these art charms goes directly toward helping these children with things they need in their treatments.

This year the theme for the art charms  was "Soar".  We each made charms for 11+1, the +1 comes home along with a random assortment of charms that is representative of what will be in the auction. Some of us go on and will do future blogs featuring the charms from the swap. These are the charms I received. Check back later to see what they become.

The art charms I made were copper disks with the word SOAR stamped into them. I then took epoxy/resin clay and fashioned spaceships and rockets to carry the worries and illnesses out of this world. I made one angel wing/comet depending. On the back of each charm is my hallmark, a crescent moon.  

        

I hope you take the time to see the other artists' pages and they're works. And please by all means, stop by and bid on a few of the charms to help a worthy cause.

Blessings!

Here is the link to shop

Here are the 2014 participants: 

Our Lovely Host - Jennifer Cameron: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Alenka Obid:

http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchage-reveal.html?m=1

Alicia Marinache: 

http://www.allprettythings.ca/2014/11/art-charm-exchange-and-charity-auction.html?m=1

Andrea Glick: 

http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/2014/11/BOC2014.html?m=1

Caroline Dewison: 

http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk

Cassi Paslick: 

http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/

Cate van Alphen: 

http://fulgorine.wordpress.com 

Cheri Reed: 

http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg: 

http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: 

http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Auld 

http://www.beadsforbusygals.com

Genevieve Gabbert: 

http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Jami Shipp <<<------------ You Are Here ------------->>>

http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor: 

http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Jill Bradley: 

http://www.jillybeads.blogspot.com

Kim Dworak: 

http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com

Lee Koopman: 

http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lennis Carrier: 

http://www.windbent.net

Lesley Watt: 

http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman: 

http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger: 

http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Michelle McCarthy: 

http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Monique Urquhart: 

http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/

Moriah Betterly: 

http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale: 

http://nedbeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Smith: 

http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

Niky Sayers: 

http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

Perri Jackson: 

http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/

Renetha Stanziano: 

http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Shai Williams: 

http://www.shaihasramblings.com/2014/11/art-charm-exchange-auction.html

Sheila Prosterman: 

http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Susan Delaney: 

http://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com

Susan Kennedy: 

http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Terri DelSignore: 

http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels: 

http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: 

http://culturezine.com/blog/

Art Charm Charity Auction for Beads of Courage

Coming Soon!

I am so excited to be able to be a participant this year and that health allowed me this blessing. It is a noble cause I am pleased an honored to be able to share and encourage you to join in the fun with us. I'll tell you more SOON... Tuesday to be exact.

Stay tuned for more info about the auction one live links to follow the blog hop to learn more about the artists and the stories behind their charms. Hope to see you among the fun! 

Day 13 of 31 - I Dig Playing With Rocks, Sapphires - Part 1

I am fortunate to live in Montana the "Treasure State", known for its mining resources and vast natural resources, lush landscapes and wildlife. I find myself enjoying just that... mining and treasure hunting in the form of rock hounding, digging, sifting through rock and yes... gravel.


             

Today's efforts involve cleaning, sorting, sifting, gleaning, and rinsing, sorting some more and repeating these steps until it is certain the gravel depleted of treasure. Then and only then is the section of gravel put aside. It is not worth risking throwing away an unturned treasure and believe me folks have. I have gleaned treasure out of gravel that folks left for trash. We are looking for Sapphires!

                       

What we need to look for is something that looks like sea glass. I will remove it from the gravel whether large or small, flawed or not, they are all validation in my eyes. I CAN use them all in my creations. I am not limited to setting in snap sets  pre-made bezels. In my work, I am more versatile and there is a place for all that I find, even fragment pieces - raw, rough, refined, enhanced, heated, fortified, and faceted, etc. Stay tuned for future posts to see what these beauties become...

I thought I'd share a little of the joy with you. If you want to know or learn more. I would be honored to share the path with you. And even help you along... Ready???


                    

First we measure some into our screen. The we shake and sift it in the tub of water outside for a few minutes to wash the dirt away. Then we flip the screen over, yes invert the screen over the table top. This way we can now remove the screen and sort through the pile of wet gravel. Much like when we were kids at the beach and made sand blocks or mud pies or things like that. Just now we have gravel and we are not going to build we are going to inspect...

                               

Now immediately. Scan.... Don't be surprised if you have a few playing peek-a-boo right at the start. They are heavier tend to drift to the bottom so when you invert your screen they are on the top! If they aren't don't be dismayed. You just didn't give a strong enough shaking in the sifting in the bath. It comes with practice too. They are in there and you will jump out of your seat when you start finding them

                                    

Make sure you have these items if you want to try to do this: 

*the gravel
*sifting/qualifying screen
*washtub, water source bigger than screen to allow sluicing
* containers with/lids to store sapphires (Specimen jars, test tubes, seed beads discards, would work well for this)
*tweezers to pluck them out of the gravel 
*jewellers loupe/magnifying lens to inspect for flaws or ribbons
*small bottle with straw squirter to rinse specimens with as needed

My hubby and I make our own kits and can help you with yours if you decide you want to take the plunge. We get all of our gravel from Gem Mountain. If we aren't on the mountain digging, we're in town using their facilities, when roads are too bad we have it shipped and I sort at home. No matter what. I always bring a bag or two home with me. Good stuff. Good clean fun, my loving granddaughter corrects me, "it's not clean until you wash it Nan", funny kid. 

Give it a shot, or not. This is one of the things I dig, it's a guilty pleasure finding treasure. Thanks for letting me share. Be good to yourselves. 
Blessings!
  

Octoberfest is Here!

Our lovely hostess Rita of Toltec Jewels is yet again hosting another fun event. This one is the Third Annual Autumn Splendor Blog Hop. We gather and celebrate the "bounty of our harvests" so to speak. 

******************************************
Enjoying the great outdoors at Kelly's Island Reserve in Missoula, Montana. 

   

A lovely day spent in Trout Creek Montana.

My Pumpkins...

Andi, My Love-bug 

Donavin, My Monkey

Some of my autumn inspired creations...

 

Hope you enjoyed the visit. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to see what the other artists have to celebrate. Be good to yourselves. Blessings!

Participating Artisan List

Day 12 of 31 - Switched Out and Turned About

I just realized tonight that probably due to my impending and then swoop down and engulfing illness, my blog entries, though written weren't all submitted and some now would be ridiculous to be published. I published two more yesterday, last night-ish. I will resume in numerical order today being day 12 not 22 of 31. I want to do this and will try and get things back on track. I didn't even notice I had no comments coming in. I am so sick with this pneumonia. Be good to yourselves! 

Day 11 of 31 - The Simple Things

What are the simple things?

To me they are activities that...

feed your soul... 
revitalize your spirit...
give clarity to the mind...
bring joy to the heart...

What are they to you? 

These are some of my simple things, what are yours?

Gleaning Sapphires from Gravel

Cleaning and Admiring Huge Quartz Sample

Slabbing, Cabbing, and Tumbling Rocks 

Beautiful Amethyst Gifted Me

My Flourite Sculpture