"I Have a Dream", Rev Martin Luther King Jr- Challenge

I am sharing this because people wanted to know more about the backstory of this piece - here it is...

This brooch will eventually become the center of a more in depth collar. It was the result of a monthly challenge of a http://www.beadswap-usa.com. The theme was inspired by the speech of  Reverend Martin Luther King that gave us the popular quote, "I have a dream..."  I had contemplated the theme and came up with this...

I chose woman because she is nurturing and bears life... she is holding up the earth and represented are some of the main ideologies and religions of the earth. My dream is for the peoples of the world to love and focus on life... for people to look past their differences and see their similarities... to be able to realize tolerance, acceptance, and respect for one another... to love.

My free hand still needs work, but here it is for what it is. Thank-you Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr for making us think and bringing accountability to thoughts and deeds back to the individual who can, if they desire - make a difference.

Hope you all like it... I stretched myself on this one in style, media, and time. I completely used remnant materials(except for my NYMO thread) to accomplish this piece. I truly flew from the seat of my pants... the theme enticed me. Thanks Nicole, for constantly giving us a platform to challenge ourselves and each other.

Blessings to all,
- Jami

Link Challenge News

I am so pleasantly surpirsed! I won the challenge - I am so excited! I had fun shopping with my winning allowance in Peggy's Etsy Shop. I will share with you my winnings, bonus buys, and special gift. Thanks Peggy! Thanks to all who voted for my piece.

I feel honored to have even placed and been able to create with these links along with the other talented participants. It was indeed a wonderful opportunity. I am still in a sense of shock... I normally don't win  - EVER. It is surreal.

I am pleased to have been in such good company and with such lovely talented people and it was good to make some new friends. Keep creating beauty wherever you go ladies!

Okay here are some pictures of the fun stuff I picked from Peggy's Etsy Shop!

The V links are awesome and will be fun to play with. I just love these faceted translucent links and their fun colors. The swirl circle links are awesome there were so many colors to pick from, oh how difficult that was. All of these except for the army green and white swirl circle links were part of the original winnings value.

 

 

These were my bonus buys... I love the salmon and turquoise colored links. They are similar to what we used in the challenge - these are large, what we used were medium.

These dragonfly pendants and fish clasps were such a screaming deal and just what I needed. Of course I had to add them to my list... The dorsal fin opens the clasp - they really are too cute. The dragonflys, well they  speak for themselves ;)






As if that wasn't enough Peggy added a special gift of this fun bag of charms - fitting as she is Charming Peggy... with a bonus of 10% off of my next order. Check out her other Etsy Shops at PeggyMade and TwinVintage.

Happy Crafting! Create happiness wherever you go!

Link Challenge Reveal

Charming Peggy of Charmbarn was kind to offer an incentive. She had acrylic links half of us got black and others tortoise shell. We were to create jewelry pieces with these links. There will be a vote and the winner will receive a gift certificate. Voting ends August 27th.

I was part of the group who received black links. Today is the reveal of the projects we created. Stop by and check out the pieces we all created. Don't forget to vote!

Here are the links.... and the necklace I created with wire wrapped silver beads and silver chain. It was fun working with these links and I hope to domore projects with them soon.


Celebrate Life! Create some happiness....

And here is the list of the rest of the participants, be sure to check out what they made:

Ilenia Ruzza - http://ile1974.blogspot.it/

Shelley Graham Turner - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Tania Spivey - www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com

Ambra Gostoli - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/

Kashmira Patel - http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

Linda Florian - http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jami Shipp - http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com/

Terri Gauthier - http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/

Miranda Ackerley - http://mirandack.com

Mischelle Fanucchi - http://thesecretlifeofmicheladas.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars - www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com

Sarah Goode - www.pookledo.blogspot.com

paula hisel - http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Shai Williams - http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno - http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson - KayzKreationz (you are here)

Denielle Hagerman - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com

Janeen Sorensen - http://wildvanilladesigns.com/

Emma Todd - www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com

Audrey Bélanger - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/

Michelle Andrade - Micheladas Musings

Bead Soup Blog Party-6, 2nd Reveal

Well the wonderful three part event is now in it's second phase. We are at the second course of our three course meal of yummy decadence of jewelry design. The point of the soup is to send beads and findings to and receive beads and findings from a person we don't know and has been selected for us. We then make jewelry - stretching our skill sets - working with items and styles we may never have before. We share the adventure and blog about and hop to see what everyone has come up with and to ooh and ahh. Please join in this next chapter of this event.

The 2nd Reveal, BSBP-6 is under way - don't miss this opportunity to follow many more talented people. You followed the first reveal, trust that the second and third will be well worth the time. Grab your beverage of choice and snack food, if you want any - and enjoy the hopping. I know I will. 

Pre-order your copy today!

Thanks again to Lori Anderson for hosting and organizing this event. There is so much that goes into this event. If you like what you see and are impressed with the BSBP-6 let Lori know.

JOIN her "Pretty Things" blog. Check out her book too! It can be pre-ordered through the blog. Stay informed and enjoy learning more of what you already love. Connect with many others who share your passion - jump in if you dare!

Do what you love - Love what you do - Celebrate Life with all that you do... Happy Creating!

Wonderful Pantone Fall Soup Giveaway!

Skye of Creative Chaos has an awesome giveaway going on until the last Friday of the month.... It is a wonderful Fall Colored Bead Soup inspired by both Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party - 6 and Artbeads.com Blog - Pantone Colors for Fall 2012.

Here is the color chart....

and the soup....                

                                  



Had to share - now go, enter, and share! Good luck - and be sure to share pics of what these yummy beads inspire!

Here is the link for the auction/fundraising event for...            1st Leut. Rimpf    

Just click on the album link to open the thumbnails and open them as you wish. this way you can see everything and not have to click all 300+ wonderful craft items and risk missing anything! See it all then pick what you like... please be generous, it is for a very worthy cause. Thank -you and enjoy the auction...



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=177327652401313&set=a.173936719407073.41100.135067406627338&type=1&theater#!/media/set/?set=a.173936719407073.41100.135067406627338&type=1

The best giveaway ever!

I just love Lori Anderson! She is constantly offering opportunities to stretch our limits and encourage growth. She has yet come up with another awesome giveaway! Here's the link! Good Luck everyone and Congrats to the winner who will be announced on Monday! Here's the link for the giveaway: http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/08/giveaway-with-beads-direct-uk.html 

Doesn't this look just like fabulous fun waiting to happen?!?

I can think of the wonderful things I would do with these items - I can't wait to see who wins... I'll keep you updated!

Happy Creating - Whatever you do - give it your all!