Day 2 of 31 - Setting the Tone

Today I wanted to just briefly share how my day was a simple put it out there get it back kind of day. It was actually amazingly wonderful! If only all days could go so well.

I woke up and decided to wish a friend a Magnificently Marvelous Monday and claimed the same blessing for myself, why not, right? 

So I went about my day being kind and polite, not too unusual... and others were actually being kind and polite to me too - that was kind of unusual. I went with it, gladly and gratefully, passing on more blessings!

My work seemed to go on better today without too much hassle too. Deals and bargains just came my way, and things that weren't supposed to ship for another week are now shipping this week now making my work able to get done sooner. Orders coming in, supplies to answer need, work space becoming available to handle the load, etc. this is how the day progressed.

Maybe it had nothing to do with my putting positive thoughts and energy into the universe first thing and continually throughout the day, but I would like to believe it did. Like maybe it just fed itself and grew, the nature of the beast kind of thing. Love and kindness begetting more of the same.

If only more days could go this way with more of us having days like this. Imagine it... Say thousands of us having stellar days like this and then improving days for others and then their days improving as well. It would just keep growing and cycling. 

Okay well I had my Magnificent Marvelous Monday. Dare I hope for a Terrific Tuesday?

Be good to yourselves. 

Blessings! 

Day 1 of 31 - 31 Day Post Challenge

In honor of freedom of speech I elected to partake of a challenge to blog for 31 days. It was supposed to be all of the month of October but my computer was having issues and wouldn't play nicely. At any rate, today is day one for me. I will give fair warning, I tend to shoot from the hip. I don't yield to bullying, so be fair warned. Any comments made by me are not and never are intended to offend, my intent is to write my thoughts and feelings with love. That being said let's move on... 

I have let my blogging go and was glad that this challenge arose and gave me opportunity to come back. Very few people know this or would guess this about me knowing me now. I was a victim of bullying. Pretty serious bullying, in all aspects of my life. the affects still haunt me today. I am a survivor and advocate. I absolutely will not tolerate bullying of any nature. 

I'd seen a dear friend and fellow blogger getting cyber bullied and just wasn't sure what to do about it other that to take a stand and blog with her and to blog boldly against bullies. Truth be told I was "that" kid, in grade school. The one that always got picked on. The one that got teased, shoved, belittled, verbally, emotionally, abused. At school, home, everywhere... it then followed me into my first marriage... I hate bullying.  I am so glad that there are programs now that teach kids and teachers to stand up against and how to respond to bullying. For example right here in Missoula, Montana I am proud to be able to interact with a nationally known program Bikers Against Bullies USA. The kids are glad to see the bikes roll in and the program is really helping not to just to educate but also to help lead people to resources if necessary for suicide prevention, crime victim advocacy and more. It truly was something to be on the open highway with over two hundred motorcyclists knowing we were all out there for the same reason. we all want to make a difference for the kids, for the world. we want to see an end to bullying. it was a sight I am sure to onlookers too to see a stream of that many motorcycles tooling down the roads together. All types: Harley, Indian, Triumph, Honda, BMW, Yamaha, Kawasaki, you name it if it had wheels and ran it was on the road and it was beautiful!

Here are a couple of photos of the last Bikers Against Bullies Charity Ride just last month. There were over two hundred riders that came out for the event. It was a beautiful ride and a fun filled event evening that followed. It was hosted by Grizzly Harley Davidson who also hosts the local Harley Owners Group (HOG) another group I am honored to be associated with. I am in awe with all the  many wonderful things this group of fine people do for their communities. 

Me and Hubby with our "Ice Blue" 2007 Harley Road King taking a Water Break

These are just a few of the many many bikes that came to show support for the event

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings!

Haberdashery and All that Jazz...

Thank you Melissa for such a fun blog hop! This was a welcomed walk down memory lane as I rummaged through bias tape, edging cord, buttons and baubles. I remember countless hours measuring remnants and labeling or writing contents on envelopes because "we never knew when we might have a need for that item one day." Gran was right. Somehow, we always did, and we always knew where to find it.


In honor of that waste not want not spirit and for Haberdashery everywhere; though I added remnants of wire and chain too... because that's just who I am. I am offering my first piece of Haberdashery jewelry. I hope you like it.



The bias tape is from 1969 used here as a ribbon to thread the copper buttons that were on an old vest that Gran no longer wore and some love knot beads made from edging cord from 1972. The focal was a lamp pull that I added some chain tassel to using 22g copper wire to add the chain and hang the bauble. The clasp, zebra red copper 14g wire.


Now please do go and visit the other artists' creations and blogs. Happy hopping and thanks for stopping!




Melissa Trudinger - OUR HOSTESS!!
http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com


Ann Schroeder
http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com


Tammy Adams
http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html


Amanda Wacasey
http://mandyinmystic.blogspot.com


Dolores Raml
http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com



Divya N
http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com


Michelle McCarthy
http://www.fireflydesignstudio.BlogSpot.com


DiYana Brooks
http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/


Robin Kae Reed
http://willowdragon.blogspot.com


Andrea Glick
http://www.zenithjade.blogspot.com/


Karin Grosset Grange
http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr


Mitzie Crider
http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com


Janine Lucas
http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories (Will be posting on Sunday)


Rosantia Petkova
http://bairozan.blogspot.com/


Susan Kennedy
http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com


Leithleach Alainn Seodra
http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/


Kathleen Breeding
http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/


Shiraz Biggie
http://secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com


Chris Eisenberg
http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com


Heather Richter
http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/


Lennis Carrier
http://www.windbent.net/


Rebecca Anderson
http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com


Jenny Kyrlach
http://anafiassa.blogspot.com


Rita Toltec Jewels
http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com (Will be posting on Sunday)


Mischelle Fanucci
http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com


Karen Mitchell
http://overthemoon-design.com


Carol Briody
http://Cbriody.blogspot.com


Karla Morgan
http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com


Carolyn Lawson
http://Carolynscreationswablogspot.com


Lori Anderson
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/


Jami Shipp - ME!
http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com


Lili Krist
http://pcbylik.blogspot.com/


Evelyn Shelby
http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/


Raissa de Guzman
http://www.abloro.com


Niky Sayers
http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk


Keren Panthaki
http://vasdea.wordpress.com

Blu Mudd Challenge - Round 4

If you are looking for BSBP-8 Reveal go here or scroll down.

Blu Mudd Challenge Round 4

I have been wanting to get in on the action with one of these challenges for some time now. I am excited and pleased to report that I am finally a participant! I am excited because in this particular challenge, after the submission deadline, there is a week of voting among participants, their following (friends, family, clients) and then a winner is announced.

It is really quite simple how this all works. Moriah Betterly of Blu Mudd puts together kits made of her wonderful ceramic components and beads. She then gets them to the designers who are fortunate enough to participate. The designers create using the complete kit, whatever they want. Dare I say it? - jewelry related or not, and submit by deadline. Then there is the reveal date and voting is opened, this one begins on June 1st and ends June 7, 2014. Voting closes at 10 pm EST. I will have the link up for voting and announce it, here.

While I can't show you my finished design; I can show you the components and maybe a teaser...

Dates to remember and to watch for updates:

June 1, 2014 - Voting opens - follow link,         provided here and on facebook.

June 7, 2014 - Voting closes - WINNER will be announced at 10 pm EST!

I will post more information about the reveal and voting, and of course share some process photos here on June 1, 2014. Hope you will follow along in the fun!

Blessings!

BSBP-8 Reveal - Hooray!

Thanks again to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, I am happy to report... It is time to reveal the delectable yummies from the soups that have been simmering all this time.... Don't forget to stop by and visit the many other talented artist's work too. You can take it piece meal or go full out multiple course meal style. Whatever way you go enjoy the eye candy and the stories. 

Visit this link to view the other participants' works.

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2014/05/8th-bead-soup-blog-party-participant.html

Meanwhile, here is what I made from the bountiful fixings in my soup...

  I made a knit chain for it. They really complement each other well. 

Next came the clasp that my partner Janeen Sorensen of Wild Vanilla Designs made along with some links from a copper plated chain, and dyed pearls made this fun Illusion necklace and strung bracelet.

It just didn't seem right not to have earrings, so with two of the links and some copper crystals, so they could go with just about any piece from this soup. Also a pair of chainmaille dangle earrings with the Peacock Vista Jasper disks as drops to go with the focal pendant had to be made. Before I knew it I was wire weaving with the two heart components also made by Janeen along with the Amethyst crystals and copper wire. It was an earring frenzy... 

 I next made a bracelet and earrings set with some Czech glass disks and wire. This set is actually going to be published on the Wubbers U site as a tutorial - yay! Some of the others may end up there too. They were so fun to make why not share the how to's, right? I'll let you know when they go up.

I hope you enjoyed my soup as much as I did making it. I'm off to go see the work of my fellow artisans. I hope you visit them too. So much to see, great talent, yummy eye candy - and it won't get you in trouble, it's not a sale - it's a feast of soups! hanks for stopping by.

Blessings!

BSBP-8, Soup’s On Again!

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things and Bead Soup Café is again our gracious host. Many more have joined the thralls and will join in on excitement, fun and loads of creativity! I have wondered if Lori had any clue, just how large this annual event would become in the beading world when she brought it to fruition. At any rate, I owe her a lot. I have gained much more from Bead Soup Blog Parties and friendships formed, than I will ever be able to contribute.

What is a bead soup you may ask? Fair question, we are not born knowing these things. They are instead shared and imparted to one another with love and the joy of celebrating the creativity of others and ourselves. A bead soup generally consists of a focal piece, some accent beads, a decorative clasp, and whatever else the maker of the soup throws in the pot, so to speak.

Here is what my partner the lovely Janeen Sorenson of Wild Vanilla Designs sent me...

Participants are paired and they put together a soup for their partners. We then ship beads to each other. When the beads our partners send arrive we add some ingredients from our own stashes and complete the soup. All of the participants share about the experience from beginning to end on their blogs. We won’t reveal our masterpieces, until our reveal date, May 3, 2014. This will be the time to peruse and blog hop, the other half of the big party – so all can see the many wonderful things that were created from the humble soups shared by all of the talented participants.

There has been exponential growth yearly, as the talk and excitement this event spreads through the beading community. Lori even wrote a book entitled Bead Soup and Kalmbach Jewelry Books hosted Bead Soup Contest in honor of the book’s launching.

Just think, a bowl full of beads, the odd ones from a strand that wasn’t fully used, or perhaps weren’t uniform in size… small pieces of chain, sari silk, the possibilities begin to grow as the bowl fills. Old cast-offs begin to look different and new in their surroundings. What pieces will become a soup that becomes a sensational dish. Stay tuned and join in on the blog hopping so you can find out.

Here is what I sent to Janeen. I can’t wait to see what she does with the ingredients!

I'll keep you posted, watch for more...

Artist Spotlight - Lennis Carrier

Our spotlight this week is focused on a unique individual I am proud to call friend. Her name is Lennis Carrier aka Windbent. Lennis is genuine in her dealings and in her art. As a rule - there is no rule with her mixed media, reclaimed/repurpose, vintage feel. Lennis creates and recreates beautiful wearable art. I must mention that she is an established polymer clay artist. She has a following for her artisan beads and components.

I actually own a couple of the birdhouses in the back and a pair of red birds and bluebirds... the picture does not do justice to the work...
 

I came to know Lennis through some online groups and have loved every minute of interacting with her. She is as true as the day is long. Don't find people who are free to be themselves and make no apologies for it much anymore. I love this about Lennis. I believe the first encounter was through Bead Soup Cafe we both have been Bead Soup Blog Hop participants. I also found her over at another facebook group BeadSwapUSA for those that that belong to the beadswap-usa.com site.

Both are fun interactive groups. Between swapping beads and bead soups, creating projects, and getting to know other like-minded people - they are definitely wonderful groups to be members of. It is a place to find your own inner artist and share with others. I found a wonderful friend and artist in Lennis because of these memberships and would be remiss not to mention them.

 

She has an etsy shop and facebook page you really must see. I enjoy her whimsy and freedom to create what she feels. She for the most part makes one of a kind (OOAK) creations - she does however make batches in the sake of prudence, even at that each piece still has it's own individuality and is touched by the hand of this artist. 
 

 

I am the proud owner of this piece!

 

 

I personally find myself drawn to her unabashed sense of self as it is revealed in her work. She has an uncanny way of joining past, present, and future trending in her designs. When she completes a piece you can't see it done any other way. This is talent.