Giveaway!

Nancy Peterson is doing a beautiful Giveaway to celebrate one of her designs being published in Beadwork Magazine. She is giving away a gorgeous cranberry necklace which is one of the designs featured in the magazine article! You can see the Giveaway HERE!

No Updates yet!

It has been a difficult couple of weeks here at home. As many of my older followers know, my furbaby Maddux has had some severe health issues. We thought we had them figured out, but in the last 4 weeks he has relapsed. He had been running quite high fevers(106+) and having complications with his fevers over a year ago. It was suggested to me that I put him on a low dose antibiotic, which I did. This prevented him from having any more fevers for 18 months! Well, about a month ago, the fevers started up again and he has since fevered at least once a week. I don't know why, but the antibiotics have stopped working. Now what? I don't know but I am trying to figure out. I will do anything to try to save this beautiful boy. Meantime, I haven't had much time to bead, since I am either doing research, cooking for Maddy or taking care of him. He is worth it though! Stay tuned....

Who says.....

That jewelry has to be worn on your body? Why cant you wear it on your purse, a beach bag, your beltloop on your pants, or on a keychain? I don't know about you, but I hate wearing a watch in the summer. Your arm is sweaty under the watchband, they leave ugly tan lines and with all the water activities in summer, you can ruin a watch easily. That's why I came up with this handy little piece of jewelry. I don't have a fancy name for it, I just call it a time clip! In my last post, I described the items I chose for my Summertime themed glass beads, charms and glass pearls from Artbeads design partner program. I decided to make a summer time clip. I used sterling headpins and a chain maille base to attach the glass pearls, crystals and charms to the clip and to the geneva watchface. I also like to use my clip as a zipper pull. Its always within reach and easy to read. Thanks for looking! Your comments always make me smile!

*Please note: I have received the Charms, Pendant Beads, Swarovski Crystals and glass pearls free of charge from Artbeads for my honest opinion of these products. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to these products.

Artbeads Summertime Blogging Fun!

I was so excited to be able to pick from Artbeads vast selection of Glass beads, charms and pendants for their Artbeads Design Partner program! I kept the theme "Summertime" in mind for my choices and below are pictures of what I chose. I wanted a focal pendant and had the hardest time narrowing down my choice to only one! My choice was this gorgeous 24X32 Porcelain Shell Pendant. I love the blue-green tones, it is completely smooth and the shine of this pendant is so pretty. I think it is flawless! My next choices were 4 Sterling silver charms in the sea theme. I chose an embossed sand dollar and seashell, the cutest sea turtle charm and a conch shell charm. The detail of each charm is incredible! I am very happy with them. Next I chose 3 different colors of Swarovski 8mm round beads in Turquoise, Mocha and Crystal Golden Shadow. The Mocha color is a deep rich brown and is complimented beautifully by the turquoise and a new color for me, Crystal Golden Shadow. I dont think you can go wrong with Swarovski in general, but these beads are especially lovely with all their sparkling facets and striking colors. I then chose something different for me, Asymmetrical Glass Pearls in a softPowder Almond color. I am usually a very symmetrical person, but these lovely glass pearls spoke to me! I cant wait to use them. You will have to wait and see my creation next week! I hope you check back then. Meanwhile, if you are looking for Glass beads, Pendants, Swarovski or Charms and much more, check out Artbeads. Here is a 10% off discount code for you to use on your next order! SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0125

* Please note: I have received The charms, pendant bead and Swarovski crystals and pearls free of charge from Artbeads for my honest opinion of these products. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to these products.

Where did the whole month go??

I seriously cant believe it has been a month since my last post! It isn't that I haven't been beading, because I have. I guess if I have to choose between posting on my blog and beading, beading will win! I am keeping busy with my kids and grand babies, hubby and the dogs. I have had some time to bead, but not a lot. Here are my results! This months piece was my April (yikes!) Bead Journal Project. The birthstone for the month of April is the diamond. I chose to represent diamonds with whites. silvers and Swarovski crystals. I used a 14mm Swarovski Rivoli as well as 6mm Swarovski Margarita beads in Crystal AB. They aren't really noticeable, but they are there! I also used my 13mm X 5mm half-moon beads. I love these. I am challenging myself to see how many ways I can use these beads. I think this way is my favorite so far. I really like how this piece turned out, it is much prettier in person. I have found whites and crystals don't show well in pictures. I hope you can get the idea from this posting. Now on to May and the beautiful Emerald!

March BJP is finished!

I know, I know! I never even posted a "work in progress" photo of my March Bead Journal Project! I have just been way to busy to take the time to do so. I am happy with the finished section of my Year of Birthstones circle. This particular piece was for March, the Birthstone is Aquamarine. This is a color I haven't worked with much in the past. I found that I really liked it. The color was very soothing and made me feel peaceful while I worked. I used the half moon beads I have used in the other 2 sections, as well as some 6mm Aquamarine hearts and some really pretty aqua peacock beads along with several different finishes of seed beads in both size 11 and size 15. I am not sure I like the gold with this color, but I am committed to using gold in each section to tie the gold in that I have used in the center medallion as well as the border around the whole piece when its finished. Maybe it will grow on me with each section I finish. Maybe not!

Now, for next months piece. I will be working on April, and Diamond is the Birthstone for that month. Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could actually bead a section in Diamonds? That would be one expensive piece of art, wouldn't it? A girl can dream, but then again Swarovski crystals can shine like diamonds too.... See you soon!

Doing the Happy Dance!

I might still be behind, but I finally got February's piece done! I am quite pleased with the end result. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but I added matte as well as shiny half-moon beads from Artbeads to the circle around the Rivoli. I think you may be seeing these beads crop up in future pages. I really like them and there are so many colors. Who knew? I thought it needed something extra, so that is the extra! Now I am off to my local Bead store to find some seed beads in aquamarine, which as you probably know is the March Birthstone color. Its not one of the colors I have used a lot in other pieces. I love adding new colors to my bead stash. So exciting!

I had a wonderful weekend. As some of my followers know, my oldest daughter Jess likes to spoil me and cook me wonderful meals! This past weekend, she made a fantastic dish called Shrimp Orzo skillet. It was one of my favorite meals ever! We also had a large salad and lemon bars for dessert! Yummy! Isn't it so pretty? It tastes as good as it looks too. I love spending time with my kids and grand kids and having good food only makes it better. Love you Jess. Thanks for all you do for me and with me!