It's Bead Soup Reveal Day!!

I have been so excited to show off the designs I made with the awesome beads that Pam Ferrari sent me!

Here's a reminder of what I received:

There were so many possibilities that ran through my mind when I opened the package! I knew that there would be enough to make several pieces.

The beads are definitely darker than I'm used to designing with but the colors are out of this world! They remind me of outer space. My sister and I have been coming up with names for the finished pieces and I hope you can all appreciate where I went with the names. They are kind of funny, but fitting for what I saw in the beads and what they reminded me of. 

Here we go!

The first piece I made was with the focal bead. It's a LONG necklace made with chain and the beautiful pearls that were sent that coordinated with the colors in the focal bead. This necklace fits right over my head, no clasp necessary. I named it 

 "To Infinity And Beyond"

I couldn't WAIT to design this next bracelet. As soon as I saw the beads, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. The shape reminded me of the teardrop glass beads that I use in my Chainmaille fringe bracelets. So I just had to make one of those to show off these awesome shaped beads. I accented them with some beautiful Czech glass rondelles and Swarovski Crystals. I called this one

"Defying Gravity"

And last but not least, is the gorgeous bead set and toggle clasp that Pam sent. These beads reminded me of little planets! I incorporated them along with the silver beads into this awesome charm bracelet. I couldn't resist. The colors inside these beads that just pop off the black base are so pretty! I hope you can tell that from the photographs! I named this bracelet "Intergalactic" and for those of you who like the Beastie Boys, you'll now have that song stuck in your head for hours...I did! LOL!

I still have some items left from the great package she sent me, and when I have some more time, I'll try to get creative with those as well. But I hope you like what I have come up with! This was so much fun! I can't wait to see what Pam has designed with the beads I sent her! You should go check out her blog right now!! I know I am!

And for a list of the rest of the Bead Soup Participants, you can click below!

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum<

Random acts of kindness...

Sometimes someone does something for you that affects you so deeply that saying "Thank You" simply isn't enough. There are not enough words to express my gratitude for such a heartwarming and generous act of kindness. 

This is the best way I know how to show my appreciation. 

Designed with much love.

To my friends, you know who you are. 

My sincerest Thank You.

New Etsy listings, just in time for Valentines Day!

I've been putting off so many things lately, and today was my day to catch up! I tagged all of the new jewelry pieces I made and will be delivering them to the local shops that carry my work. (Salon Odette in Middlebury, CT and Wishing Well in Sandy Hook, CT). I also caught up on my inventory of everything in stock, and even did a little bit of listing on Etsy!

"A Mermaids Tale"

This one is my favorite. I was having a hard time letting it go, but I have SO many things that I can never part with and I have to live by the rules that I teach my children. Sharing is the right thing to do! 

To see the rest of the listings, visit my Etsy Shop! 

Next up... Bead Soup designs! 

Can't wait!

The soup possibilities are endless...

I received a package in the mail yesterday from my Bead Soup partner, Pam Ferrari, and my jaw still hurts from my mouth hanging open staring at the beautiful beads she sent me!

But first, here's a little teaser of what I sent to her to create with!

Fun! Can't wait to see what she comes up with! 

And as for me, I'm going to be quite busy with THESE:

I have so many ideas already!! These beads are stunning in person! I'm afraid my inside pictures don't show the true colors in the glass, and believe me, there are so many colors! 

Pam, you've outdone yourself! 

Gotta get busy!

Very cold, but creative day!

It's so cold here. I'm absolutely chilled through. The thermometer outside said 9 degrees this morning. 

Uh... NOT happy.

I bundled up the kiddo's, surprisingly they did not argue when I told them it was not even 10 degrees outside. Ran my errands this morning, and was home and ready to design by early afternoon. 

I vowed to get a lot done today, design wise. Thinking about doing several earrings or some quick little bracelets or something to prepare for Valentines Day. But, as I was looking through my bead stash, I saw these...

And I had to play.

This Charm bracelet is called "Celestial Stargazers" and it will be listed on Etsy tonight or tomorrow. 

 I love these beads, they were made by the lovely Melissa Rediger, and I have another set to play with too... blues. Can't wait. 

I'll get this listed and a couple other things in the next couple of days, then focusing on stocking The Wishing Well in Sandy Hook with Valentines Day pieces! 

More to come.

Bead Soup is ON!!

 

I'm so excited to be able to participate in this Bead Soup! This will be my second time around, and I've been looking for things to keep me motivated. This is so much fun! I've been partnered with Pam Ferrari, and I can't wait to pick out some awesome beads to share with her! She has so many beautiful things in her Etsy shop, I sat and drooled for a while already! :) 

Stay tuned for updates!

New Designs listed on Etsy!

Keeping my promise to list the beautiful creations I have been making on Etsy! Have a look... and remember, Valentine's Day is right around the corner! 

"Animal Instinct" - Isn't this great! I love this necklace!

"Hearts Desire" - Such a funky glass charm bracelet! The colors are awesome in person!

I have a couple more pieces that will be listed tomorrow!

You can preview them on Facebook. 

Have a great night!

Bring on 2012

I'm so ready for a new year! I've been very busy over the past few weeks. Have lots of new designs in my collection to share with you. Most of these have been given as Christmas gifts this year.

These are a collaborated effort made for a friend. And she loved them. :)

Love these earrings. They are called Fuchsia Fusion. (Will be listed on Etsy) And the necklace below it was made for a very special person as well.

 The following two designs below were made by a friend of mine who came over to keep me company (and motivated). I let him play with some of my beads to see what he would come up with and he did an awesome job! Thanks Mike!! :)

This one is called "Outer Galaxy" (To be listed on Etsy)

"Imperial Dragon" (Either Etsy or a going to a local shop, I'll keep you posted).

 And of course there are some bookmarks that were requested that I made for some of the teachers presents. 

There have been packages arriving, containing beautiful glass beads. I'm super motivated and will be making more jewelry in the coming weeks. Bring on 2012. I'm so ready to get back to business! 

Happy New Year!

I BOUGHT BEADS!!!

This year has been such an eye opener for me, in many ways. I can't apologize for my lack of sharing, well I can, but it's more productive to just pick up where I left off and go from there. I will say that I have not one regret about spending time with my kids. I feel like I would have missed out on so much, if I had to go back and make a change. Being a mom is my first job, but I have to tell you I do miss my designing!

I feel like I have this little critter on my shoulder, pinching me, trying to get me to focus and it's been there for months. Well, he must have pinched hard enough, because yesterday, I felt the itch! I sat down and bought some glass. I love Etsy, all my favorite glass artists sell there, and I can easily get my hands on what I need and get it in a hurry. I needed the fix, because I can't tell you how happy it made me to shop! 

I'm even more excited to get them in my hands and no matter what, I'm not going to let them sit. 

No.Matter.What.

I felt a spark when I ordered this from Jen Cameron the other day:

 This is my favorite style that she makes, and I have it on my desk now. Just holding it inspires me.

But I needed more. So here's more of my shopping from yesterday:

I also got a couple things on Artfire. 

I don't normally post what I purchase to design with. But seeing the pictures here is a reminder that I made a promise to these beautiful beads that they would be used to their full potential. And I made a promise to myself, to make the time to create and enjoy my passion. The next pictures I show will hopefully be of what these have been designed into.

So stay tuned. :)
It's time... to make the time to do what I love.