Turning the Ordinary into the EXTRAordinary

Winnner of 'Commitment' Giveaway Announced

2010-07-26T18:31:00.006-04:00

Thank you for those who came to my blog and read my newest ABS (ART BEAD SCENE) post on Commitments and left a comment. As announced in the post I was having a drawing for these earrings for anyone that left a comment to this post.

I was supposed to make the drawing yesterday but we had a small break in this horrible hot weather we've been having and after a pretty bad storm passed through we took a drive to a new Lake I've discovered and spent the evening until sundown there having our picnic dinner under a young apple tree right on the shore. I'll share more pictures tomorrow.

Now for the winner......................................

Patty Lankinsmith! congratulations Patty, send me your snail mail and I'll get these right out to you! Patty makes Gorgeous lamp-worked beads, a must see at her shop on etsy.

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Need Some Color?

2010-07-15T18:07:00.008-04:00

Been really busy but thought I might post a really great mosaic of Color for you of a treasury one of my OrganicOdysseys pieces is featured in . Poppy Fields Forever.

I love poppies and used to live near a whole field of them. I miss seeing them at this time of year. I'm not a great fan of red, but this is just beautiful and I hope it perks you up if you need a lift!

It was made by Xao sart who has a beautiful Fine Jewelry and Glass art shop on etsy. I love the colors of this handpainted glass she makes and then encases in her own metal work.

Thank you also to all those who have featured me this past week:

opened-a-dictionary-hoary-meaning by DiggerBren
bastille-day-en-rose by hoganfe
natures-bounty by phofun
slow-buds-the-pink-dawn-like-a-rose by Silvia66
the-heirloom-garden A bounty of Summer goodness! by MySelvagedLife
sweet-summer-corn by divinedepth
love-is-everywhere by drndesigns
animal-antics by hoganfe
coffee the-elixir-of-life Deep Dark Coffee Browns by OklahomaMama
sky-blue-sky by JennyNdesign
sew-i-think-i-love-you by HeatherKent

Many of these have some cool looking beads or bead work!
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Hope you're Keeping Cool!

2010-07-09T00:55:00.001-04:00

'Hey! You Splashed me!'

Click for larger view.

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June Winner of Mystery Monday Announced

2010-07-05T09:57:00.018-04:00

We didn't have that many entries this month and that is understandable, so I am taking a vacation from it for the rest of the summer. I know we are all so busy in the summer months so we will resume in September.

Here is a reminder of all the mystery photos posted for June. I couldn't get the one to upload properly for me so it is all by itself, but the dates are printed on each photo.

I tried to give you an eclectic mix this month, hoping to stir up more interest. These are what the Photos were of:

June 7 - A Van Gogh painting titled: Draw bridge with carriage, This Mystery photo was a close-up of the brickwork with the Arles Sunshine reflecting the water below. This is on a very cool vintage tin I've had for over a decade or more. There is another painting on the other side. I just love his use of color in this one.

June 14 - That one was a close up of the center of one of my Challah bread loaves, back when I could eat it, before I got Celiac Disease. Here is the loaf in full. I love how the camera captured the braids in a glowing way that reminds me of mist between the mountains very early before the crack of dawn.

June 21 - This photo was a close up of the Native American Pottery featured on a this stamp from the 1970's - Folk Art Series. I used it in a brooch/pendant I made with polymer clay and copper wire. It took me forever to drill those holes to weave the wire through, I wish I'd have thought to do this before I baked it!

June 28 - Very close up of the foot of my resident (one of them, we have a pair now) hawk. He was sitting only 12 feet from my patio door for over an hour one day and I took the opportunity to snap some photos of him while he watched me and about a dozen squirrels and chipmunks frolicking in the yard. Here he is perched on the framework of the roof of our tent gazebo, we haven't put the top or sides on yet and the birds love to perch there.

And of the entries we had, most which were on the last photo, where tallied together and this is the winner drawn: Cindee! I will be emailing you shortly about your prize! thanks to all who played this month, I know it's been very busy! See you all in September with a new Mystery Monday Photo!

I did take the time to stop and smell the roses as promised here in my Commitments post, Friday evening and have posted some pics here for you to enjoy if you aren't near a rose garden. I also got some excellent ideas for future organic beads for Heart of Eden Beads so look for those, coming soon I hope!

The end of last week was so beautiful I spent most of it outside enjoying the temperatures in the 70's with clear blue skies and low humidity. At times I even had to pull on a sweatshirt to stay warm! Oh how I loved that. But On Saturday it took a turn, the mercury started climbing, yet was still bearable. But yesterday when I woke up I could feel the humidity creeping in. Saturday night my feet had swollen to almost half size, very uncomfortable! They went down and for that I am grateful but this coming week it is promising to be downright awful! High humidity and in the highest 90's into the 100's! I don't think I will be going out anywhere this week, nor firing any beads in the studio, there's enough high to combat with our two air-conditioners. I really can't go anywhere anyway as hubby's car died and I am left without one till we find another. But I will be working on some sketches for those beads, and will finish up some other projects that don't require much heat.

Yesterday was very hot but we went over to the park to watch the fireworks (the first time in 10 years I've been able to do this and it is only because Jazmine died last August, as we always had to stay home with her because she got so upset it would cause her to go into a seizure.) They were pretty good, we had great seats by the river and it was so cool there, and the sky was clear so I got to take for the first time with my digital camera some shots of fireworks. I love the ones that look like dandelions in the moonlight, I shall have to make some more dandelion beads.

Hope you had a great 4th! Stay cool this week!

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Commitments......................

2010-07-01T05:58:00.016-04:00

This is part of a project I've committed to do.

Hopefully I will be showing you in it's completeness soon.

Commitment: means to show loyalty, duty or pledge to something or someone.

I am an INFJ. An INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments.

And that is just a hint at my complicated life.
We also place a very high regard on truth and keeping ones word, but we are also very generous at the same time and that can lead to problems, mainly regarding commitment. Or rather over committing oneself.

Have you ever been to the circus or an event that has one of those special jugglers? The kind that twirl multiple plates on long sticks high up in the air? And some even have 3 or more going in each hand. Most days I feel like that and sometimes even like this photo below that I found on Flickr. You've heard the adage 'you've bitten off more than you can chew' or 'I have a full plate, or too much on my plate right now'? Well that is what life is like for me.

I want to do so much, for so many, yet there seems to always be so little time and I can't always depend on having the time as my medical condition doesn't allow for this on a day to day basis. The spirit is so willing but the body doesn't always cooperate. So I get to feeling like this photo, not only juggling too many plates but doing it while standing on my head whilst the blood rushes down and I can't think any longer. My creativity is cut off and I can't function.

Plate twirling acrobats
Originally uploaded by yewenyi

Some people have trouble making commitments (more-so men than women), but there are also those of the creative vein that have trouble with OVER commitment. That is were I fall and that is where I need to retrain myself to reach a happy medium. Being an INFJ, as you have seen, makes me of the type that always feels I could do better, could do more, and that is a very powerful drive. But in doing that I never get the chance to enjoy the accomplishments of the commitments I've made.

I have taken to rectifying that. I have a list of things that I've promised to do for individuals or groups and I am evaluating them one by one, and purposing to complete these obligations and promises while striving each day to cross at least one thing off that list. And I have promised myself to not add any more to that list until that has been accomplished.

Then I have promised myself, made a commitment to myself, because I need to find myself worthy of making a commitment to, to sit down after this has been done and to evaluate what direction I want to go in. To write a plan and stick to it, to learn to say 'no', to narrow my vision to excel in a few areas instead of trying to have so many plates spinning. I will only put on my plate (one plate) that which I find the most reward in. And at this point in the artistic side of my life I believe it to be in my bead work. I have always loved little treasures and I also love helping others to grow their creativity since being a Art counselor at my fathers summer camp so long ago. So I see this year ahead as being more dedicated to my making all the little treasures that lay in my designing book in my head and in my sketch book on paper into a reality with my Art Beads.

I have to tell you as I write this it is early morning of a crisp unusually beautiful Summers day. I am outside on my porch enjoying the peace and quite and the sounds of the birds singing, they too are enjoying this respite from the awful hot and humid weather we've had. I see Squirrels feeding in my backyard, baby Blue Jays being fed by their mamas, a wood thrush bopping around hoping to find a tasty bug. Our 'BIG bunny' who has just hopped out from the edge of the woods nibbles on grass and wild strawberries. A baby dove pecks in a flower planter as I listen to the bubbler on the small pond on my patio. Purple Finches singing to me from only 8 feet away on the feeder.

I am easily distracted these days to little joys like this, slowing down I guess from all the rush, learning to take time, no, make time to STOP and smell the roses. Which reminds me........... the Rose Garden only a few miles away from me is in full bloom right now. I think I'll take a drive over there tomorrow evening when the dew starts falling and enhancing the heady fragrance.
This is a commitment I make to myself, and I'm sure that more bead inspiration from this will materialize.

This is another commitment I can cross off my list.
I will write you in more detail about it later.

Here is a pair of earrings I made recently and they will belong to the one whose name I draw on July 25th. Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into the drawing. Thanks for taking time to read!

Have a JOY Filled and Creative Day!

Photo mosaics are of completed commitments meant this past month. More about them later. :)

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Bead Soup Giveaway Winner Revealed!

2010-06-30T02:29:00.009-04:00

Hi! For 'What's new Wednesday' we have the finale of the Super Bead Soup Swap II. Lori Anderson did a great job as did all the participants in taking someone else's ingredients and making them their own. Many had them stewing on the back burner for weeks, tweaking their recipes with a bit of this and a smattering of that, until the dish was finally done to perfection.

I know I agonized over mine, using an opportunity to shop at a local Bead Show to find some extra ingredients to add, buying too much and only using a bit of all I got in the end, but I am pleased with the results and thankful to all you who stopped by to visit my blog and see my soup reveal and enter my giveaway.

I wanted to have something special for this event and I discovered this book back a few months ago. I have also this year joined SwapTree where you can trade your read and used books for those you want thus passing on to others and keeping them out of landfills, reducing your carbon footprint and saving money at the same time. The only cost is the shipping. But this particular book I knew I wanted to pass on to a fellow beader and what better than a giveaway for the Bead Soup II Swap?

So my First part of the prize is the first Kitzi Camden Mystery by Barbara Burnett Smith Called Bead on Trouble. (There is a second in the series out you may want to look for called Beads of Doubt.)

With a four and a half star rating at Amazon you can see that this book enthralled those who read it and made a review. I hadn't read a good mystery for awhile and this was a very comfortable and interesting read for me. Set in the summertime at an old Summer camp from the main characters childhood, the venue is a Beading retreat, something I think we all would love to do someday. What's at stake is a Big Beading contract any more than a few covet being awarded this big prize. Also intertwined is a lost love relationship with the brother of an old friend of Kitzi's and maybe new love interest as well. So if you can't get to your own beading retreat this year, you can live one vicariously through Kitzi. Check out your local library or find a copy here at Amazon.com and have a perfect Beaders summer read where ever you are!

The Second part of my prize was a promised 1/2 cup of beads. Not that I'm not generous (ask any of my customers about the mini soups they get in with their purchases) but I thought 1/2 cup sounded more 'recipe like' than a cup. So don't hold me to that measurement I'm sure it will be more. A selection from some older hoards, some vintage even and some newer purchases from my recent bead shopping even! I don't have a picture because I want to tailor it to the winner.

And The Third part was a Mystery surprise in the theme of the Bead Mystery Book, and that is a necklace I've made just for the occasion. Did I mention that Kitzi teaches her own class at the retreat on how to make beads? The recipe for it is included in the book. I took my cue from this and did my own version using stamps from around the world in all shades of browns. Then I used this as a focal bead to make this one-of-a-kind necklace for my winner. I choose neutral shades so it can go with anyone's wardrobe. I've used one of my new acquisitions, some of my very first silk hand sewn beading strings and some 'mystery' fiber I have been saving for just such a design. There are also Kukui nut beads (aka Candlenuts) that I brought back myself from Hawaii in the year of the Total Eclipse there (1991), some Copper coils and my own faux turquoise.

So after gathering all the names and using the RNG I have a winner and her name is..............

Elisabeth of Beads for Busy Gals. Here's her blog post about her bead soup reveal (which I missed and don't know how, I thought I got everyone!,)

Congratulations Elisabeth! And thank you to everyone who participated, commented, tweeted, became a follower and made this party a blast! Dont' forget I have an ongoing giveaway each month with Mystery Monday where the prize is something made tailored just for you!

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Mystery Monday! Last one for JUNE!

2010-06-28T13:08:00.007-04:00

I'm sorry dear readers I thought this was posted already!

Here is your photo of the week. I found it lurking in my Backyard.

Have fun guessing. Here are the rules for a reminder or for those new at playing.
Remember you must email me.

And don't forget about the Bead Soup + Mystery Bead Novel and Mystery surprise Giveaway I am having, only two days left to enter!. See here for details.

And Erin Prais-Hintz is having her Inspired by giveaway (get your entry in by Wednesday) and also she is giving away a pair of earrings from the Bead Soup party.

Here is one of my entries for the 'Inspired by': Paper Crafting Challenge

Bracelet or Necklace!
(click for larger view)
Using a Scrap booking buckle covered in Polymer clay and embellished with a fresh baby Nasturtium leaf and an even tinier one. Also I've set it off on each side with a vintage (almost 70 year old) Indian coins that have holes which make them natural link components. I've been saving these for quite some time not knowing what to do with them and then the cut off selvedges of some linen begged not to be thrown away but used and that is what I did. Looping them through the links on the buckle and then tying them to each other. It is worn by wrapping around the wrist several times and clasps with the magnetic buckle. Or it can be worn with the fibers twisted and lays at about collar bone length. Thanks Erin for helping me with one of my UFP's! (unfinished projects) It all came together pretty well I'd say!

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Last Day, EAT UP!

2010-06-26T06:27:00.001-04:00

If you missed out on the Bead Soup Party this past week, you can still take a visit. Today is the last day, and the chefs for today are:

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads
86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork
87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof
88. Denise, Bling on the Blog
89. Doris, Glaszwerg
90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor
91. Jo, Daisychain Designs
92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design
93. Kristie, Artisan Clay
94. Jess, Vintaj
95. Suzann, Beadphoria
96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
97. Michelle, bMichelle

Go give them some love, they've had to wait all week to serve it up! :)

Also don't forget about the Giveaways some of our chefs are having. I've been trying to list each one each day but I may have missed some. Here is the main list of all the 'Chefs' .

Also there are four days left to enter my GIVEAWAY as well as 4 days left to make a Paper Crafting inspired piece of Jewelry for Erin Prais-Hintz's June Challenge of Inspired by Paper. And don't forget the June Challenge of Toulouse-Lautrec at ABS.

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My Designing Muse Getaway at DeLoach Vineyards

2010-06-25T12:44:00.009-04:00

I think some of you know that my designing muse comes from the produce and flowers from Rodale Farms Institute. Rodale also has been a leader in Organic Farming literature in magazines and books for many, many, years and is well known for their Organic Gardening magazine. They are having a fantastic get away. Read about it below. And be sure to stop by todays Bead Soup revealers!

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs - Cindy made a fantastic necklace with an unexpected twist using a recycled piece of glass, totally cool!

73. Valerie, Hot Art - Valerie took some great enamel and copper pieces made by her partner Sharon Palac and turned it into a very striking art piece.

74. Courtney, Beads by Breul - Courtney made a luscious necklace with the ingredients that her partner Copper deim sent to her, it really is a work of art!

75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations - Johanna did a great job with the fantastic and unique fabric painted pendant focal that Kella her partner sent. She is even using it to auction off for a worthy cause, check it out.

76. Shea, gr8findings - Shea made a great Slide Show to show off her three course meal. And it's a beauty, made with all kinds of great ingredients including her partners Polymer Clay beads!

77. Julie, Pryce Designs - Julie Had a focal similar to mine and she also manage to use all her beads in her piece!

78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog - Jeannie used only the beads she was sent and made a very cool earthy necklace. She has it up for grabs in a GIVEAWAY so be sure to stop by and enter.

79. Patricia, Verre Design - Patricia made a fabu triple set of the soup ingredients she got which were very earthy and wonderful, I love the wirework she did pulling it all together, especially on the bracelet. She is also having a GIVEAWAY for another pair of earrings so hop on over!

80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman - Christa cooked up two necklaces with her ingredients with the help of a bead show nearby and a wire working class!

l81. Heather, My Muse - Is a fellow Polymer Clay artist and send her wonderful beads to my friend EmandaJ who created a great neck piece from them. Emanda in turn had sent her some very exotic ingredients and I've been waiting to see what she would create with them. And she didn't disappoint! Beautiful bead work in a stunning necklace and a matching bracelet and earrings to boot! Just lovely!

82. Susan, Night Beader at Large - Susan's soup isn't quite ready yet but stop back soon!

83. Sonja, Drachenei - Sonja made a lovely set with her ingredients, even taking a design element from Marie Dodd. She even gave away the bracelet as a Birthday present. Lovely.

84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer - Jennifer's partner was none other than our hostess, Lori Anderson. She sent her a bag of ingredients that she isn't comfortable working with size and color wise so she was really challenged! But she met it terrifically with a great Victorian Steampunk design! She is also having a GIVEAWAY of a beautiful pair of earrings. So hurry and go take a look now!

Don't forget to leave a comment on my Wednesday Reveal post for my Giveaway!

DeLoach Vineyards Collaborates with Organic Gardening Magazine to Offer a Chance to Win a Weekend Getaway for Two at DeLoach’s Private Guesthouse in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley

Celebrating DeLoach’s first harvest from its estate vineyard since receiving CCOF and Demeter Biodynamic® certifications for its farming practices

Russian River Valley, CA – June 23, 2010: The 2010 harvest will mark DeLoach Vineyards’ 35^th vintage in the Russian River Valley, and will be the first harvest from its estate vineyards since achieving certification for organic and Biodynamic® farming practices in 2008 and 2009, respectively. To celebrate this milestone and commitment to sustainable farming, DeLoach, in partnership with Rodale Inc.'s Organic Gardening magazine, is offering the chance to win a weekend getaway at the winery’s private guesthouse retreat. The sweepstakes runs now through November 9^th, 2010. Consumers can enter to win (it is free to enter, and no purchase is required), and learn more about DeLoach and its commitment to sustainable winegrowing, at www.organicgardening.com/sonomasweeps.

Free airfare for two, gourmet meals prepared by the DeLoach chef, and a VIP tour of the DeLoach winery and its highly-acclaimed portfolio of small-production, vineyard-designate wines are but accoutrements to the opportunity to learn about Biodynamic® winegrowing from one of the Russian River Valley’s pioneering producers of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel. Sweepstakes winners will arrive at DeLoach with perhaps an appreciation for wine and a need for a vacation, but will leave well-rested, well-fed, and with a greater understanding of responsible, sustainable farming methods and their effects on both the wine world and the environment as a whole. DeLoach is part of a small community of like-minded wineries that have made the commitment to seek Demeter certification for Biodynamic farming practices. Currently, there are just sixty-eight wineries and vineyards in the U.S. that have or are seeking Demeter Biodynamic® certification.

A vital foundation of the Biodynamic® farming philosophy is to treat the vineyard as a living organism, self-contained and self-sustaining, responsible for creating and maintaining its individual health and vitality. In harmony with this fundamental principle, the DeLoach property boasts a half-acre garden first planted in 1995 (also certified organic and Biodynamic®), and supports a thriving, balanced eco-system: sheep and chicken reside beside the garden’s seemingly endless variety of fruits and vegetables, while a colony of honeybees pollinates the flowers and produces estate honey sold in the tasting room. The garden includes over 60 raised beds producing a collection of herbs, vegetables, edible flowers, and diverse plants intrinsic to Biodynamic® farming practices, and is an important contributor to the winery’s kitchen, nourishing guests, friends and winery employees.

DeLoach’s garden, philosophical approach and partnership with Organic Gardening magazine touches an important vein among Americans today, who have progressed far beyond simply recognizing the benefits of buying and supporting locally-farmed, organic and/or Biodynamic® garden produce and are now looking to their own backyards as a potential and viable resource. Gardening in general is a pastime with little overhead and high return, allowing people to participate in a low-cost activity while simultaneously creating an enduring food resource, which can save money, gas, and perhaps future trips to the doctor. In 2009, 43 million U.S. households planned to grow their own fruits, vegetables, berries, and herbs, reporting their motivations stemmed from the desire to grow better-tasting, higher-quality food, save money, and satisfy an overwhelming desire to “get back to basics.” DeLoach’s efforts in farming and gardening appeal to this new “green generation” of educated, connected, and affluent consumers who have made a commitment to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

The 2010 harvest and weekend getaway sweepstakes signify DeLoach’s commitment to responsible farming, and solidify its role in educating consumers about responsible viticulture and business practices that are inherent to the health of the industry and the environment around us. The relationship with Organic Gardening unites it to a partner with a common cause – one of the leading voices espousing healthy, sustainable living from the garden to the table. Enter the sweepstakes and learn more at www.organicgardening.com/sonomasweeps.

About DeLoach Vineyards

DeLoach Vineyards has been a pioneering producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley since 1975. DeLoach seeks to produce exceptional wines that spotlight the singular personality of the Russian River Valley, with its rare and bountiful convergence of the sea, the soil and the stars. The Boisset family of Burgundy purchased DeLoach in 2003, bringing the techniques and approaches of Burgundy to the Russian River Valley, which they believed to be California’s most expressive terroir for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Under Boisset, DeLoach has grown its small-lot vineyard designate wine program, converted to organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, and implemented traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques such as open-top wood fermentors, native yeast fermentations, and hand punch-downs. Wine & Spirits magazine named DeLoach Vineyards a Top 100 Winery for the tenth time in the winery’s history in 2009. Located at 1791 Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, the DeLoach Vineyards tasting room, picnic area and organic garden are open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.deloachvineyards.com.

About Organic Gardening

For 70 years, Rodale's Organic Gardening, the leading magazine resource for living a healthier, more environmentally conscious lifestyle, has been empowering its readers with the most trusted, eco-friendly news and information. With the mission to “work in harmony with nature,” its editorial landscape leads the charge toward a sustainable future, delivering the safest and most natural approach to health, home, food and garden. In 2009, the magazine experienced double-digit gains in ad sales, newsstand sales and total circulation, further reinforcing the power and growing vitality of the green movement. In 2010, Organic Gardening earned the #8 spot on AdWeek's prestigious "Hot List: 10 Under 60."

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SOUP's ON! & GIVEAWAY Revealed!

2010-06-23T06:30:00.002-04:00

SOUP'S READY~!

Finally the day to serve up my Main course has arrived! I hope I whetted your appetite through the week with some sneak peeks and my mini reveal of the first course..............................
These earrings that were made with the leftovers from the ingredients sent by my Swap Partner Melissa Meman. Part of what she sent were those great white freshwater stick pearls. I've always admired them but never tried them until now. I love how they are drilled through the center and not end to end which gives you a horizontal element instead of the usual vertical one. Those are what I focused on first when my soup ingredients arrived. -------->

The focal is a Porcelain Jasper Pear drop which contains plum and mauve, something I've never worn, nor worked with. Then three rusty red jasper rounds. I have learned that Jasper, no matter what color (and it comes in so many) is a gemstone that helps with emotional stability and helps to ease stress. Perhaps I should have been carrying it around with me while trying to come up with the perfect 'recipe' for these ingredients because these colors sure stressed me out! I have never worked with these colors and put together ( the plum mauve and rusty red) I think I would have used a steel metal or gun metal with them, but Melissa choose Copper.
She made a beautiful clasp and toggle from copper wire and included two small copper bead caps. I could have mixed the wires together but I went with just the copper. Also included were three tiny purplish beads she didn't identify but some kind of stone, and she also made a torch fired enamel filigree bead that had the same deep mauvey plum color as the Focal.

I was determined to work with this combo, but knew it had to have a 'bridge'. I took my soup with me to the Bead show last week and bought all kinds of things I thought I could use with what Melissa sent me. I gathered what I had from the bead show, added from my stash , this and that, fiddled with everything and my original idea for the focal with a bought copper filigree piece and a porcelain pendant fell through. One by one I eliminated the beads and components I got to go with it and played with the copper chains I'd purchased. I could get nothing to work. I didn't just want to do a simple wire wrap with the focal, it needed more. Then I remembered a bead 'cap' I made that was in my Bead Shop and tried it out. It was a bit too big and not the right color green but I quickly saw that's what I wanted. So I made a new one. I had wanted to use the green stone beads I'd gotten at the beads show, they looked like jade and the different shades I liked, so I made my leaf bead cap in a imitation jade from Polymer Clay.

Once this was done, it easily came together, I wanted to do a variety of chains and I used four different ones I had. I also wanted a asymmetrical design with the stick pearls on one side and the red/orange jasper on the other.

I taught myself lots of new techniques with this one and tried some new designing ways that I will use more in the future. I also threw out the window that the metal I used had to match. I used antiqued and bright and shiny copper in this one.

Here are the ingredients I added to what Melissa sent me:

6 Antiqued copper leaf bead caps to wrap the red Jasper beads
8 round and flat white fresh water pearls
1 Green stone ring wired for a connector
5 Amethyst nuggets
3 Assorted green Jade beads
4 triple ring twist copper spacers
4 copper beads, 2 melon 2 smooth
4 copper crimp covers
2 purple glass leaves
1 Faux Jade Lariat Bead Cap
4 styles of copper chain and links, smooth, twisted and flat
Beadalon Satin copper Wire

I used every single thing Melissa sent me except for one of the tiny purple stone beads. I think I did pretty good using all the components in one piece (the earrings only used the stick pearls but four of them are in the necklace). Tell me how do you think I did? It is long but I wanted it to hang mid chest so the focal swings freely, it has nice natural movement from the three copper chains I have freshwater pearls hanging from.

I'd like to thank Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for hosting another great Bead Swap! And to my partner Melissa Meman for giving me the opportunity to really stretch my design wings with this challenge!

And now for the promised GIVEAWAY! I've been holding onto this for just such a special occasion. If you are a regular follower of my blog you know that I hold a monthly giveaway called Mystery Monday where I post a piece of a photo and let you guess what it is. Winner gets a specially made for them custom gift. This is posted every Monday so if you aren't a follower be sure to stop by! But for this giveaway I've been wanting to share a great novel I bought and read recently. It is about what we all love .............BEADING! It is a mystery novel for those who like that and about a beading retreat. I found it very intriguing and got to sleep very late one night finishing it off! So if you are looking for that perfect novel to take with you on vacation, or anywhere you can't have your beads with you, this is it! It happens to be a giant print for those of you with more mature eyes, and also for younger eyes that have been strained by seed beading all day! :) And that's not all, I have made a special bead for this giveaway, that relates to the novel with my own twist.
You will also, in honor of the Bead SOUP swap be receiving a 1/2 cup of mixed beads, findings and components. And a secret surprise!

To participate you need only to leave me a comment on my Bead Swap menu.

To get another entry, become a follower (if you are already please leave a separate comment anyway)

For TWO more entries blog about this giveaway, or Tweet it or put it on Facebook. Please leave a comment for each that you do so my count will be easy!

For another entry, share the love and host your own giveaway, comment with URL by Next Tuesday.

Drawing will be held and winner announced Next Wednesday June 30th.

Now please take time to visit the others participants that are revealing their Swap creations today (my swap partner Melissa will be revealing what she did with the beads I sent her today too!).

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles -I went back to visit Nan's blog and found she is having a great giveaway of a cup of beads. Make sure to visit and comment on her reveal thread.

49. Amy, Copper Diem - Amy just started her blog so she could join in on the party. It's a lovely blog and lovely Bead Soup creation!

50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning - Malin made three stunning designs with her soup! Three courses! and more to come!

51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork - Anne has beautiful Hydrangeas and also made a fabulous two course menu with her stunning beads from Lisa of Lucid Moon

52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles

53. Barbara, Second Surf - Barbara made two main dishes, one cool and one warm, both delicious! She is also having a great GIVEAWAY so make sure to stop by.

54. Amanda, Articulations - Amanda made three stunning colorful and fun pieces that beg to be touched and examined closely! She is also hosting a GIVEAWAY at this post for some great components.

55. Heather, Humble Beads - Heather out did herself with many dishes (4!) with all the artisan clay beads she received.

56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love (My Partner) - Melissa met the challenge of a very large dicronic glass leaf pendant I sent her in the soup. She made a fabulous entree with it and it is now served! I love what she did and how we both got to really stretch ourselves in this cook-off! :)

57. Kate, Organic Odysseys - YOU ARE HERE! :) Hope you like what you see, don't forget my GIVEAWAY

58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs - Patti made a beautiful summery necklace and a hot Summer bracelet with her soup! Check it out.

59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium - Stefanie did a wonderful, fun and fresh main dish with her soup and it's just gorgeous!

Thanks for sticking it out to the end! :)

471

Featured on PCD, Bead Soup still being served! Great Book Deals! and More Giveaways!

2010-06-22T05:29:00.006-04:00

I've been so busy working on some bead projects for a special order as well as working on my Bead Soup project that I haven't been able to keep up on my emails or blog followings. So it came as a surprise to me to find out that some of my new Spring Beads from my recently renamed Bead Shop, Heart of Eden Beads, were featured on the Ultimate Polymer Clay blog, Cynthia Tinapples: Polymer Clay Daily. You can see the article Garden Inspirations from........ Here. This is the third time that I've been featured on Cynthia's blog and each time is a sweet new surprise and honor. Thanks Cynthia! I think we all need a Fresh Start, and this feature has helped me to feel even more motivated to create new beads!

Now today's Chef's for the Bead Soup Reveal are:

37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird- Check out the VEGAN piece Filomena made from her bead soup.

38. Lyn, Lyn Foley - Lyn (click on blog at top right) Made a wonderful earthy piece with copper and turquoise, and even sold it before the reveal! Congrats Lyn!

39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble - Tari had a fabulous focal to work with from Whitney Lassini and turned it into a more fabulous focal with her wonderfully textured necklace, a must see! She is also offering a Surprise GIVEAWAY too!

40. Rebecca, Song Beads - Rebecca was the partner to Nikki who made some very cool pieces with her soup . Rebecca didn't disappoint either and made a fabulous necklace and bracelet. You also must stop by to see her GIVEAWAY of a great Beading book!

41. Regina, Regina's Writings - Regina uses beautiful pearls in her design to add to the soup that Miss Fickle Media sent her and her soup is really cookin! Love it. She is also having a GIVEAWAY for a fab pair of earrings.

42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse - Did a fabulous necklace with Herringbone wire weaving (something I have on my 'to try' list) and some great beads. It has a 'galaxy' feel to it, very modern and ancient at the same time.

43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini - Whitney made a stunning necklace with a down to earth organic feel that can be worn again and again.

44. Maria, Garden Path Beads - Maria Grimes made the most luscious summer soup with her ingredient, and sweet too! Take a look, summer's here and soups on!

45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane - Michelle made a huge summer statement with her soup, check it out! Necklace and earrings with the promise of a bracelet to come.

46. Ann, My Critical Eye - Ann made a very interesting seed bead bail for a large stone donut that really sets her piece off.

47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio - Lisa made a stunning set with beads in her favorite colors. Wonderful texture and materials, a must see. She is also having a great GIVEAWAY of a cool ocean bracelet and a gift certificate to her new Supply shop Lucid Moon Supplies at etsy.

She won't be making her reveal until Saturday, but in case I forget Denise Yezbak Moore is having a monster GIVEAWAY, over 7 POUNDS of beads. You've got to check it out HERE.
Another peek at my soup through the steam........................

And for those who can never get enough of learning in your craft or maybe branching out to learn about another facet of it, Interweave books is having a 'Hurt books' Sale, going on now. There are 63 different books on Jewelry and Beading as well as other categories. Most are half price, so get while the gettings good!

430

Beads, Beads and More Beads! Plus 3 giveaways!

2010-06-21T18:33:00.006-04:00

I'm hoping you have had a chance to join in the party, the Bead Soap Swap reveal party that is. Today is the third day of the revealing and there's much more to see.

Here are today's Stars:

27. Lisa, Alterity - Lisa made a fabulous necklace that almost makes you hear the ocean. She is also having a GIVEAWAY of a beautiful pair of earrings too so make sure you stop by.

28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy - Dale had the fun of discovering what to do with a hole-less focal bead (and she didn't wirewrap it) check out her intriguing creation.

29. Melanie, Kookie Designs - Melanie was blessed with a ladle full of wonderful porcelain componants from Nancy of Round Rabbit which she turned into an intriguing blended creation. For those in the PC world it has a Skinner Blend look to it, but with beads!

30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass - Christine got two necklaces from her Bead Soup ingredients. She made a fabulous Art piece focal with the component sent by her partner, a work of art on it's own. A must see.

31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart - Nancy is a seed beader so this was a challenge for her but she met it beautifully with a very special design.

32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique - Laurel got some great components from Marie Dodd (Lucky Laurel!) and when I saw them I couldn't wait to see these two styles merge and I wasn't disappointed. You must see what Laurel made, it is fantastic!

33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do - Sandi has posted her finished piece and promises better pictures tomorrow, I can't wait to see a close-up of the focal, the whole piece looks very exotic!

34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef- Nicki was given literally over a 100 beads and components from her bead swap partner Rebecca, in two colorways, one cool, one warm. Nicki was overwhelmed but went at it like a trooper. She stewed for days and asked for any tips from other beaders as to what to do with them. She went way out of her comfort zone and created some fantastic pieces. You must go and see each component and read about how she did it. She even made a ring! Great Going with your Gazpacho Nicki!

35. Virginie, ViviBijoux - Virginie from Ireland joined us this time and just started a blog. She has not been much for making necklaces but stretched herself to make a yummy necklace and earrings with little silk bows! She is also having her first every GIVEAWAY, so be sure to stop by, it's a beautiful necklace with a wonderful lampwork bead.

36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla - Janeen was given three focals from her partner and finally focused in on one, took a design idea from Susan Lenart Kazmer and her stunning Bead Soap necklace was born. It's a stunner, industrial, steampunk, modern, edgy, with a touch of the southwest and more! She also made a great bracelet for a GIVEAWAY so be sure to stop by and view her great creation and enter the giveaway!

And another teaser for my reveal coming up on Wednesday

See post below for my weekly Giveaway for a special prize made just for you!

392

Mystery Monday June 21st

2010-06-21T06:12:00.005-04:00

Ready for another round? Here's an interesting one for you. Rock, Paper, Scissors?
Bigger or smaller than a breadbox?
Ancient?
Modern?
Both?

Have fun guessing. Here are the rules for a reminder or for those new at playing.
Remember you must email me.

Don't forget the Bead Soap Swap reveal is now going on. See my post from yesterday to get a list of the days for each participants reveal date. Mine is Wednesday and I am also having a giveaway just for this event, separate from Mystery Monday. Many of the other Swap participants are having giveaways too so be sure to check them all out!

Happy Guessing!

350

Bead Soup Party has begun!

2010-06-20T18:22:00.006-04:00

In case you missed it, yesterday was the beginning of the Bead Soup Party Swap hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty things who really out did herself with this undertaking! Thanks Lori for all your hard work!

Here's the line up and schedule of each days participant reveal. I'm sorry I don't have anything to show you just yet but that little bit above, but hopefully by Wednesday (my reveal date) I will have my piece completed, so please come back. And for now take a visit of the first two days of beading blogs, you will love the beauties I've discovered! And Don't forget about my Giveaway which I will post with my Bead soup on Wednesday, see the bottom of this post for details!

Saturday, June 19th -- blogs 1-13

1. Lori, Pretty Things

2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141

3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas

4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks

5. Katie, KatieBead

6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn

7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

9. Kate, Tropical Blonde

10. Janet, Singing Woods

11. Julianna, Juls Beads

12. Erin, Treasures Found

Sunday, June 20th -- blogs 14-26

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth
16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio
17. Marie, Skye Jewels
18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta
19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's
20. Joanna, Filcowe
21. Diane, Diane Hawkey
22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
23. Anna, The Laughing Raven
24. Marcie, La Bella Joya
25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?
26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Monday, June 21st -- blogs 27-36

27. Lisa, Alterity
28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy
29. Melanie, Kookie Designs
30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass
31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do
34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
35. Virginie, ViviBijoux
36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

Tuesday, June 22nd -- blogs 37-47

37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird
38. Lyn, Lyn Foley
39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
40. Rebecca, Song Beads
41. Regina, Regina's Writings
42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
44. Maria, Garden Path Beads
45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane
46. Ann, My Critical Eye
47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

Wednesday, June 23rd -- blogs 48-59

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love (My Partner)
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

Thursday, June 24th -- blogs 60-71

60. Carol, Carol Bradley Designs
61. Wanda, A Frayed of Fibers
62. Diana, Vintage Blue Studio
63. Marieke, Marieke's Blog
64. KJ, Silver Parrot
65. Maire, Maire Dodd
66. Shannon, Miss Fickle Media
67. Dana, Dana's Jewelry Designs
68. Charlene, The Bead Dreamer
69. Elisabeth, Beads for Busy Gals
70. Cathryn, Chile Cats
71. Missy, Melissa Rappaport

Friday, June 25th -- blogs 72-84

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs
73. Valerie, Hot Art
74. Courtney, Beads by Breul
75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations
76. Shea, gr8findings
77. Julie, Pryce Designs
78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog
79. Patricia, Verre Design
80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman
81. Heather, My Muse
82. Susan, Night Beader at Large
83. Sonja, Drachenei
84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

Saturday, June 26th -- blogs 85-97

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads
86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork
87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof
88. Denise, Bling on the Blog
89. Doris, Glaszwerg
90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor
91. Jo, Daisychain Designs
92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design
93. Kristie, Artisan Clay
94. Jess, Vintaj
95. Suzann, Beadphoria
96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
97. Michelle, bMichelle

Next Wednesday I will be premiering my Bead Soup Swap design. This is a long week of partying many blogs to visit, so to entice more of you to come see my ' Main Dish' I am having a little giveaway.

A half a cup of Beads and a recipe for making beads and a Bead Mystery novel! How's that for an incentive? All you have to do is visit my blog and view my 'dish' from the Bead Soup Swap and make a comment, any comment will do and your name will go into a drawing for all the prizes.

13317

What's New Wednesday

2010-06-16T05:09:00.010-04:00

Remember me telling you about the Richard Shilling Land Art challenge that Emanda J had on her blog last month? You can read about it here and see my entry.

Artemesia's Richard Shilling Challenge

Well this is the special gift that Emanda made and I got just a few days ago~! It is a perfect size to take with me Sketchbook. On it she made a cool sticker with Richards May Day Totem which I used to make a bracelet echoing his organic leaf and twig totem. And even on the spine she has placed a smaller version of the totem and 'Kate's Notebook'. I absolutely love it and will take it with me everywhere. As I told her I have many large sized ones (and they are heavy too) and a very small one that you really can't do much in, but this is the perfect size! Thank you again Emanda!

Richard was thrilled with seeing my entry and even blogged about it here Richard Shilling Land Art Blog How Cool! Land Art Jewelry!

Then I received another package in the mail,
I Didn't remember ordering anything but when I saw the name on the return label I remembered. A few months ago I won a giveaway on Lisa Orams blog. Lisa and I had talked back and forth and we decided she would make me a few crocheted bead pieces. Well this is what I got in the mail, four lovely and long strands that I am having fun deciding what to do with. I have lots of ideas floating around, and am sure to get to it as soon as I get my Bead Soup Swap piece done. Thanks so much Lisa for your generous gift. I will be sure to post it here when I make my final decision!

And more about another giveaway. Next Wednesday I will be premiering my Bead Soup Swap design. This is a long week of partying many blogs to visit, so to entice more of you to come see my ' Main Dish' I am having a little giveaway.

A half a cup of Beads and a recipe for making beads and a Bead Mystery novel! How's that for an incentive? All you have to do is visit my blog and view my 'dish' from the Bead Soup Swap and make a comment, any comment will do and your name will go into a drawing for all the prizes.

So make sure to come back next Wednesday to see what's new. I have been having fun playing with Melissa Memans soup ingredients she sent me (and congratulations again Melissa for winning the Designer of the week at ABS! ) and adding what I got at the bead show and some things I had on hand. I've played around with a few designs and now I think I've got a 'bead' on where it's going. Stay tuned, I may be able to post a sneak peek by the weekend!

763

Mystery Monday June 14th

2010-06-14T15:29:00.003-04:00

Just a tiny picture this week, see if you can guess what it is. A Masterpiece of sorts, but not like last weeks. :)

Rules can be found here.

716

What's New? Beads, Beads and more Beads!

2010-06-09T15:14:00.018-04:00

~Designer Beads from the Heart of the Garden ~

I have re-opened my Bead Shop with a new name. We now go by Heart of Eden Beads. Since my inspiration comes mostly from the garden and some from the earth I thought that a fitting name.

I have been busy working on many bead projects as well as some commissions that I will share with you shortly, but also managed to get some new Spring beads in the shop for it's Grand RE-opening.

Here are a few of the new beads I've been making. I got outdoors early this year and started hunting for fresh inspiration as things were just starting to bud. I picked tiny twigs with itty bitty buds just starting to form, some lily of the valleys which I found a whole crop growing in my woods I never knew were there before! Also some Lovely lilacs which I painstakingly removed each flower and arranged them on a sheet of clay to make my mold from. Bits of grass and tiny leaves emerging that I used to make an assortment of spring beads.

I also branched out and used a color I mixed that has never been in my palette before. It is a combination of magenta and violet but makes a great undertone for my painting and glazes. So here are a few to look at and you can check others out in my shop (before they get all gone!)

Now, I have been working on my bead soup necklace, from Lori Anderson's second Bead Soup Swap. I received my beads from my partner Melissa and posted them for you to see last Wednesday. But realized this was really a challenging palette. Way out of my comfort range, and nothing I had could I see working with it. But as we are all blessed with a bit of serendipity a few times in our life, I happened to just find out that there was going to be a bead show in my very backyard this past weekend. Now I would have loved to go to Milwaukee where all the big happenings are, but with my bad back and problems with travel that wasn't doable but this sure was!

So I packaged up my 'ingredients' and off I went to the show to see what I could find. I set a budget for myself and spent twice as much and still hardly made a dent in taking home the offerings but I did manage to not only procure some really cool finds but also to pretty much add to my ingredients into what I think will make a fabulous recipe of success!

So I'd like to share with you some of my finds but I won't tell you what I chose to go in my soup! You'll have to wait until June 23 for my reveal (we are now being grouped into specific days of that week for our revealing because there are so many participants and Wednesday two weeks from now will be my reveal). So without further ado, let your eyes go bead shopping!

Some of the many strands of Pearls I got, I especially love the ones that look like green peas!

Some great copper and Brass metals and beads

Some great Silks and Ceramics (Porcelain pieces)

And something I got just for me, this beautiful Aqua Terra Jasper. I couldn't resist both the string of beads and a matching pendant.

Can't wait to get busy making some cool pieces with these!

622

Mystery Monday for June

2010-06-08T11:49:00.001-04:00

Each Monday a new photo will be posted. Follow the same as before, comment here that you are participating, and then email me your guess. Every Monday a new photo will be posted but we will only have one winner per month. All the responses will be put in the drawing, and yes I am still going to put in everyone's name, right or wrong, it's That you played that counts! :)

So, then at the end of the month I will draw one name from all those who emailed me a guess for all the months photos, (yes you can do one week, two weeks, etc or all!) and the winner will get a special Mystery Monday gift just for them. This way I don't get overwhelmed and no one will get shortchanged. I am doing this because I know it's great to get something just for you because you are special, and my readers are special to me. I found out that this is a world wide feeling when participating in the OWOH event as I choose to make something special for each of my winners. In fact they each got two gifts! So I want to continue this on through out the year which will carry us through to the next OWOH event.

I know many of you have found my blog and become followers through that event but maybe didn't win the giveaway so this is like another chance, or many more! :)

So I hope you all will continue to participate, and don't worry, if you won before, that's ok, please keep playing. If I draw a name of a previous winner I will give you a 'consolation prize' and draw a new winner so you still have a chance too!

And now for this weeks photo

The only hint I will give you is that this is a part of a reproduction of a famous painting by a well known Master Artist (deceased). What I want from you is either the name of the painting or the Artist.

PS, also a great palette to work from for a summer design if you are looking for that special inspiration!

Have fun!

615

Announcing the Winner!

2010-06-07T15:47:00.009-04:00

Well our second, month long contest is now closed and we need a winner! This past month I told you that the pictures were all from one photo, bits and pieces from the whole. I gave you all a chance to guess each week to be entered into the main drawing and this past week to look at all the pictures and see if you could guess what the photo was. As you all know I love to visit my local zoo and one day about a month or so ago I got a great shot right over top of this............Wait! not so fast............hehe.

Well alright I'll tell you because you probably already skipped down to the full photo. ;) It is a Beautiful Mute Swan. It is different from a Trumpeter or Tundra Swan which is also white and distinguished by their different calls and black beaks. The Mute Swan is not native to the USA but comes from Europe/Asia. It has a different shaped bill which is very colorful as you can see from my photos, and it also has that distinguishing 'nob' at the top of the bill which the other swans don't have. The mute swans (which really isn't mute but much less vocal than the other swans) head is shaped different and has that colorful beak. They weight in at about 20-26 lbs and have a (79 to 94 in) wingspan.

I'm not sure if this is a lady or gent in the photo but they were sunning themselves in the corner of the pond area where the goldfish are. (Along with my Koi, Cosmo, remember me telling you about him, he is content up there being the only white Koi in the pond with lots of goldfish friends and this swan and it's mate and a pair of black swans.)

So now here are the photos in order of posting"

This first is a picture of the eye, turned on it's side (you didn't think I was going to give you an easy one with four more to come did you? :)
Next is part of that black 'nob' that the mute swan is noted for
A peek at the end of the beak
Feathers atop the head section
The beautiful blending (like a Skinner Blend) in sunset colors of the beak going from an orangecicle to a bubblegum pink!

And there you have it! This beautiful Swan in all its glory! What might have thrown some of you was the angle, I was standing right over her next to the 3' high fence and took it straight down, an 'aerial view' if you will.

I'd like to thank all of you that came over to my blog and had a look, took a guess, and the guesses ranged from, cows, to dogs to birds. I know this is a busy time of year and we'd rather be outside much more so I appreciate each and every one of you that has participated!

Now the winner from the five weeks of photos with the guess of Fur Chaps! Love it! Is..................................................................Drum Roll please!

Marie Segal! Congratulations Marie. You know I am going to be intimidated now to make YOU something, but I will grit my teeth and do my best! :) I'll be contacting you soon for your address to send your prize, meanwhile you can look at some of my work at my shops or at Flickr and let me know what appeals to you most about my work and I will design something just for you!

Marie has just opened a new shop on etsy, stop by and give her a visit. Just take a look at these very colorful and detailed earrings. Click on photo to take you to more views at her new Etsy shop. You can also check out all her fine work at her blog Art from my Heart.

Now for our second winner, who nailed all these 'parts'..........................................EmandaJ of Artemisia's Studio! Congratulations Emanda! I just returned from a local bead show and have some beads to share, along with a special on in Polymer I will make just for you!

Also if you stopped by to see the winner today, I also want to let you know about a giveaway over at Andrew Thornton's Blog. Pretty beads from Green Girl Studios, I just found out today through another blogger so am sharing the love and passing it on.......................Go here to enter you have until midnight EST.

I apologize this took sooooooooooooo long to get posted, Blogger doesn't like me for some reason today. First it wouldn't let me even sign into my blog. And once I fixed that problem, I was two minutes from finishing this long post when my pc froze on me! But alas I have succeeded and gotten it posted for you! :)

New mystery for June will be posted tomorrow, along with (I hope) some pics of what I snagged at the Bead show!

583

Last Day to enter May Giveaway!

2010-06-06T11:59:00.003-04:00

Fresh Start Bead by HeART of Eden Beads

Don't forget get your entry in by midnight tonight (I'll be lenient and give you till tomorrow morning when I wake up) for the May Mystery Monday photo contest.

Read the details and review all the photos for this month on this post here.

Remember there are two prizes this month, one general drawing from all the guesses and another drawing from all correct answers to what all the photos are taken from.

Send me your guess today. I'll announce the winners tomorrow!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I am off to the Bead Show!

545

ABS Statement Piece In Honor of the Bead and Button Show 2010

2010-06-04T09:57:00.013-04:00

This month the ABS blogger teams are joining together in a special way. We aren't writing on a theme this month, rather we are honoring the Bead and Button Show starting this coming Monday through next Sunday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Cindy Gimbrone challenged us to make a 'statement piece', a necklace that catches the eye, that doesn't need any fancy dress or blouse to add to it, it stands alone.

Statement pieces are supposed to be filled with all kinds of beads and such, but I was first attracted to Bead and Button Magazine back in the 80's when they were but a thin magazine and they devoted more page space to buttons, as tiny bits of jewelry.

So in honor of my first B&B magazine (which I still have BTW) I decided to be a bit different and used lots and lots of buttons in my piece (49 to be exact!) and not just any buttons, but my own handcrafted ones from variegated denim clay in various sizes with Queen Annes lace embossing them all. All are attached with macrame and finished off with a few ceramic crackled white and gold beads. So I have both, Bead and Buttons!

I hope you like my tribute to the Bead and Button Show!

Please make sure to visit these other participating ABS bloggers and Jewelry designers extraordinaire!

I have one more 'Statement piece I'd like to share with you. I made it for my Share the Love Heart swap partner (you may have seen the button on the right side of my blog here for awhile).

This is all glass beads, Swarovski crystals, and gemstones all glittering, sparkling beads with a very large diachronic glass heart focal.

433

What's New? Bead Soup Ingredients!

2010-06-02T19:17:00.008-04:00

I got my package in the mail..................

Been waiting.....................

Anticipating................................

Wondering what

Would it contain?.????????

Then it came......................

Almost opened it without a pic

but stopped and took one real quick..........................

then I couldn't wait.......................

no more need to anticipate.....................

So I opened it up to see what I would find................

And saw that Melissa had been so kind........................

The soup ingredients she did include..................................

I'm hoping my creativity won't elude................................

And now with this hokey poem I will conclude....................................

This story of my bead soup that's not about food..................

But food for the soul I have now ended my wait....................

So Off to the Studio, I can't wait to create!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wonderful Bead Soup Ingredients

Melissa Meman made that fabulous copper clasp and the enamel bead! See close-up at top of post. Join me and all the others at the great reveal, starting June 19th~

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Bead Soup Sneak Peak

2010-06-01T06:46:00.004-04:00

Lori Anderson has done it again, and more spectacular than before. This is her second Bead Soup event and it's bigger than the last one we had in February! You may remember we exchanged a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads and more with our partners.

My last partner was Boot ~ C who sent me an very challenging assortment of beads which I made into a necklace and a bracelet.

From this:

To this

I posted a mini tutorial on how I created this focal pendant with my bead soup on this Bead Soup Reveal post.

And this:

This time around my partner drawn by Lori is Melissa Merman of Melissa Merman Designs.

She has two shops on Etsy, Melissa Merman Designs and Melismatic Rosaries.

I can't wait to see what she sends me, but I know she got her package of beads I sent so I won't be letting the cat out of the bag by showing the Bead Soup I sent to her here.

I covered a little matchbox with handmade leaf and grass paper to tuck all the beads and components in. There are small and medium Peridot glass bi-cone beads, some beautiful triangular faceted gold beads. Copper Chinese lantern beads. A diachronic glass green and copper leaf focal, a copper leaf charm and a beautiful hand made piggyback leaf clasp in solid copper from Israel.

I hope Melissa can work something with these, she does beautiful wire work so I didn't send any chain or other stringing components because I'm sure she will want to work these together in her own wonderful style. I am awaiting for my package to arrive and will give you a peek as soon as I do!

Meanwhile stay tuned to the revealing starting on June 19th! With almost 100 participants this time we are having the party all week so you get a chance to visit them all! :)

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Artemisia's Richard Shilling Challenge

2010-05-31T20:22:00.007-04:00

I meant to pass this on before the last minute (Emanda forgive me) but this month has gotten away from me. I've been back doing some teaching unexpectedly and so many things had to be put on hold. But a quick look through my blog list reminded me that Emanda was having a Bracelet Challenge this month using the wonderful natural works of art by Land Artist, Richard Shilling.

I love anything to do with nature as you all know and this was right up my alley. I had an idea of what I wanted to do when I saw Emanda's post at the beginning of the month. But it slipped my mind and when I remembered this weekend and went to double check on the post, I realized that I had been thinking it was a jewelry challenge and not specifically a bracelet challenge. So my entry went from the icy snowy trees that I was going to turn into earrings using beads and some recycled plastic, to going with the one that really caught my eye, the fall leaf ladder.

I really love stones though so it was hard to resist doing that but time is what made my choice for me. The idea seemed to fall into place rather quickly for which I am grateful since I've spent all weekend working on a bead order that I will tell you about later in the week. But I did manage to get this done and photographed between thunderstorms outside.

My choice of inspiration piece is titles 'Mayday Colour Totem' as seen above. I loved the way the sun was coming through the leaves. It reminded me of a Mystery Monday photo I had awhile back of a croton leaf with the sunlight shining through it lighting up all it's wonderful veining and colors.

I tried to capture that back lit look as best I could using Alizeran red, Lemon Drop and Wasabi. I imprinted each hand formed leaf with a skeleton leaf to make it more realistic. I also wanted to capture the sticks they were strung on and used wooden beads for spacers and bamboo to round out the back. I decided that on my totem leaves there rested a little dragonfly from a pond nearby.

Thanks Emanda for this great challenge and for introducing Richard to many whom I think will be inspired in many ways!

The last photo for the Mystery Monday for May follows this post. Since they were both posted the same day, they ran them together for some reason! :)
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2010-05-31T06:18:00.006-04:00

Today's photo is not exactly Memorial Day colors but think of it as the end to a beautiful weekend and this is the sunset! I hope you all have had a wonderful 3 day weekend. We got to spend some wonderful time at the lake, and even saw two red foxes! It must be the time for red foxes to be about because last week I looked out my front window where I sit and write to you from and there was a red fox trotting across the lawn not more than 8 feet from my narrow from porch! I grabbed my camera but only got a chance to snap his back legs and tail but it was a bit startling!

Yesterday I attended a lovely Memorial Day ceremony with my Vietnam Veteran Husband, one of which the likes I've never seen before. It was almost 3 hours long and gave honor to those who have served and to those still serving. It was very inspiring especially today when the veterans are barely a second thought on Memorial Day weekend which usually means shopping and picnics for most.

And today I hope to maybe take advantage of some of these sales once I get my work done in the studio, as we need a new AC, the one we have is so old and it's been in the very high 80's the past few days again.

So here is the last in the series for May. I choose this portion as I love the colors in it and hope it will inspire you to take a bit of time on this long weekend and devote is to art of some sort.

Now this week is a bit different. You will still email my your guess for what this could be. That will be entered into the general drawing. Then for a special drawing of all correct guesses, please send me a separate email (so I don't get them mixed up or miss anybody) with your guess of what all five of these pictures come from. Remember it is a single picture I have cropped into five different sections. Now you have to put them all together and see what you think it is.

Here's a reminder so you won't have to go searching for all the posts:

All correct guesses will be in a special drawing for one of my new spring beads and an assortment of bead soup ingredients to go with it!

You have until June 6th at midnight to make your guesses and the winner(s) will be announced on Monday June 7th.

For anyone that is new to my blog and/or this giveaway contest please see this post for instructions.

Remember: This month I have decided to go with a theme. All the pictures will be related. You can send your guess in as usual each week, but for the last week, I will ask you to give me a final answer. As you know all answers get an entry. But for this last week only those correct will be put into a bonus drawing. This is the fifth and last photo. Have Fun!

I hope you have a Happy Memorial Day spent with family and friends or have fun shopping! But remember a vet you may know today and thank Him or Her for their service to our country, it will mean more to them then you could ever image.

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