And The Next Stop Is...

Artfully Ornamental

Congratulations to Lori Bowring Michaud!!

 

Please message me with your email address and street address, and I will send you a PayPal invoice for the $6 shipping charge, and the chain will be on it's way!  So excited to see what you take and add...HAVE FUN!

 

Thanks to all who stopped by, keep following the chain for another chance to win...

On the road again. . .

What an incredible opportunity to be a stop on the Art Bead Love Tour...now, it's YOUR turn!  Please make sure to read the entire post as there are requirements for entering, and you need to make sure you meet them.  First a little background info and pictures of my swaps, then an explanation on how it works, and FINALLY how to enter! 

WINNER WILL BE DRAWN ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH AT NOON.

 

 A huge thank you to all who had the chain before me that placed such gorgeous handmade baubles, bead, & other curiosities on it for me to choose from!!

Here's the Scoop:
The Art Bead Love Tour is an ongoing project to spread the love of handmade to new and exciting places.  It's a way to reach people who may have never stumbled upon your blog on their own, and give them a chance to share the love of handmade.  A chain was chosen to link beads as a symbol of how this project links us all together ~ in our unity to stand behind handmade.

The winner of the chain will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from this chain. They will then replace each bead they took with another handmade bead, charm or pendant of equal quality.  (So remember-----You're not winning the ENTIRE CHAIN---just a chance to take some beads from it!)

 

It is so important that the quality of the beads be maintained, so we can keep the Art Bead Love Tour alive.  We want to share consistent quality with the next winner.  If you make your own handmade beads or components, it's a great way to get your beads into the world for people to try them out, or, if you hoard collect art beads it's a great way to share your collection and get some new additions as well.

Art Beads should be handmade by an artist, and not mass produced,
such as Hill Tribe Silver beads or others like them.
 

Remember, the focus is on replacing handmade with handmade, and beads/components taken should be replaced with beads/components that are made by an individual artist - not an organization.

Here's where the chain has been:

Love My Art Jewelry

Lorelei's Blog

Shaiha's Ramblings

Jen Judd Rocks

Silver Rose Designs

My Life Under The Bus

Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Beading Mommy

Alice Dreaming

Pretty Things

Moobie Grace Designs

Suburban Girl Studio

ferrarioriginalbeads

Baublicious

Devine Designs Jewelry

Chinook Jewelry Designs

Genea Beads
Keepsakes by Kristi
baubles, beads, & other curiosities

Here is a picture of what I took, along with what I put on the chain:

(The ones I took are on the left, the ones I replaced them with are next to them on the right.)

 

1. Toggle by Humblebeads

2. Bead & Button Show find...not sure of artist.  :(

3. Lampwork bead by Cathie Roberts

4. Pressed flower resin pendent by baubles, beads, & other curiosities (me!).

5. Enameled disk with attached enameled flower by baubles, beads, & other curiosities.

6. Bird by Humblebeads.

7. Enameled cathedral bead by baubles, beads, & other curiosities.

8. 3D enameled gears by baubles, beads, & other curiosities.

HOW IT WORKS:  (Please read the entire post before entering!)

1. The winner of the chain will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from this chain.  They will then replace each bead they took with another handmade bead, charm, or pendant of equal quality.

2. The winner will post pictures of what was taken and what was added, in order to keep an account of the chain's progress and to keep our followers drooling.  Please be sure to give credit to the bead artists as well (if you know them).

3. The winner will then have a giveaway, just like this one, to keep passing the chain on and on.  Rules can be copied and pasted from here.

4. When you repost your giveaway (remember you can copy and paste from here) - a list should be added to show where the chain has gone, with links to each previous blog.  Ultimately, this will end up a very long list!

5. Chain must be shipped to its new home via Priority Small Flat Rate box with delivery confirmation. Please package it carefully.

6. There will be a button on the Love My Art Jewelry website that links to the current blog and giveaway, so if you have the chain it will link to your blog.  That way our followers can have another chance to win it!

7. You MUST exchange your beads and have your giveaway completed within two weeks of receiving the chain.

Please, please, please, if you cannot adhere to the above rules, do not
enter the giveaway at this time. It will go on and on and you can always
 enter at a later date.  There will be a button on the side bar of our blog
so that you can track where the chain currently is.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. You must have an active blog to enter.

2. Leave a comment below.  Make sure your email is linked to your blog or leave it in the comment.  Entries without emails will not qualify.

3. Share on Facebook, Twitter or your blog for extra chances to win.  Leave a comment for each way you share, with a link if possible.

4. Winner will pay shipping and will be billed through PayPal.  Package to be shipped via small priority flat rate box with delivery confirmation, $6.00.

5. Open only to our readers in the United States due to problems with tracking and shipping overseas (sorry).

 

GOOD LUCK!!

 

Can you believe it??

The next stop on the Art Bead Love Tour is baubles, beads, & other curiosities!  Thanks to my beady friend Kristi for the chance to enter and win this wonderful opportunity to choose from such lovely art beads.  Stay tuned for pics of what I take from the chain, what I add to the chain, and your turn to be the next stop!



WOOHOO!

Art Bead Love Tour...

It's on the move again!  Another chance to get my hands on some of the gorgeous art beads on this traveling chain:

Stop by my lucky friend Kristi's site for your chance to to be its next stop!!

Fingers crossed I'm next on the list. . .

 

The big reveal. . .

YAY!!!  It's time for the 3rd round of the Bead Soup Blog Hop. . .the one I'm participating in with my very creative partner Susan Sheehan.  If you skip back a post or two on my blog you can see the incredible soup she sent me, as well as the soup I sent her.  It's so exciting to see what everyone comes up with with the ingredients they are sent!

Are you ready??  Here is my design with my new mermaid friend that Susan created:

 

I made the oversized headpin to hold her by spiraling heavy gauge wire and hammering it to work harden it and give it a nice texture.  I then went on to embellish her with the lampwork beads Susan made to match and some of the other lovely baubles and beads she sent. 

 

I created earrings using more of the lampwork beads she made and duplicated the cute little dangles from the main design:

 

 

Here's a quick pic of the full set:

 

(I apologize for the lighting in my photos, and the differences between the shots.

I work during the day, and can't take advantage of natural lighting.)

 

I loved the look of  Vintaj Natural Brass with the colors Susan sent, and couldn't get over my matchy-match compulsion to include the lovely silver vintage clasp Susan sent.  So. . .I had to create another piece!  :-)  I'll take any excuse I can. . .

 

When I first saw the clasp my immediate thought was using it in one of my spoon bracelets.  I've been wanting to make one again for quite awhile, and had a couple sets drilled and ready to go.  Here is the bracelet I created with some of my antique spoons and fun dangles:

 

 

I think the clasp is a perfect fit! 

 

A huge thank you goes out to Lori Anderson for organizing the 3 reveals of Bead Soup, she always does such an incredible job and it is a HUGE amount of work for her.  Stop by her Pretty Things blog and say Hi!  Thank you also to my new friend Susan for sharing her beautiful beads with me, and inspiring me to work in the mermaid realm.  ♥

 

Below is a list of the rest of the 3rd round of participants so you can stop and drool over all the other designs.  It's a lot of creativity and beautiful creations in one spot!  ENJOY!!

 

 

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems

Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog

Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda

Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels

Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier

Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads

Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road

Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts

Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color

Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny

Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry
Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin, Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs

Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

 

Off to sample some soup. . .

 

 

Another Chance. . .

The Art Bead Love Tour is on the move again!



Stop by the incredible Lori Anderson's blog for the details, and your chance to participate:
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/07/art-bead-love-tour-your-chance-to-play.html

What a wonderful way to share the love of handmade beads!  Lori is the current lucky guardian of the chain, and the winner will be allowed to take up to 30 beads from the  chain. They will then replace each bead they took with another handmade bead, charm or pendant of equal quality.

Hoping to be a stop on the Tour. . .wish me luck!

Susan's Soup. . .

My lovely Bead Soup partner Susan Sheehan has received her package, so I can share the ingredients I sent to her.

 
I had so much fun choosing the items and putting it all together.  As some of you already know, I am a huge Vintaj Natural Brass fan and one of their wholesale designers.  I wasn't sure if Susan worked with Vintaj at all but wanted to share my love of their products, and included one of the antique keys I dangle-out (is that a word?) into necklaces along with a couple of the tiny bells I love to incorporate into my pieces.

I included a few small pieces I've created with embossing, enameling, copper clay, and etching.

And of course I had to throw in some jade, crystal, czech glass, stone, lucite,

and other curiosities to embellish with! 

I truly hope Susan enjoys working with her ingredients, and cannot wait to see what she comes up with!!

Now. . .off to play with my Mermaid!

Recipe for Soup. . .

I am so excited!  I received my package from my Bead Soup partner, Susan Sheehan, and could not be more thrilled.  She sent me some incredible ingredients, and I can't wait to work with them:

Peacock pearls, glass, & ribbon. . .

A very fun crystal studded clasp. . .

Some of her gorgeous lampwork beads. . .

And my new friend!  Isn't she beautiful?  I cannot even begin to imagine the work that goes into one of Susan's Mermaids, and feel so blessed she chose one for me.  I absolutely love her!  If you click to enlarge the picture, you can even see the gold dust in her tiny belly button.

Here are my ingredients all in the pot and ready to be turned into SOUP!

If you'd like to check out more of Susan's awesome work, you can head to her Etsy shop. 

I've already started working on my order. ;-)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/susansheehan

Our reveal date isn't until August 25th, so I've got plenty of time to create.  I already have some fun things to add to the soup that I think will go quite nicely.  There's a little hint with with what I used for the backdrop for the photos.

Stay tuned to see what I sent to Susan. . .I can't post until I know she's received it!



The Big Reveal. . .

It's time for the Button Swap Blog Hop!! 

I first want to say a big thank you to Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio for not only organizing the Swap, but also being my wonderful partner.  I cannot even image the amount of work she put into organizing this, AND she sent me some incredible buttons to play with.  (You can check out my previous post to see the buttons pre-design.)

Ready?  Here's my creation:

Antique buttons look so wonderful with Vintaj Natural Brass, so I knew I had to use it in my design.  I have also been on quite a key kick lately, and it blended so nicely with the other pieces and parts I used.  The necklace has some additional chain hanging in the back, and the earrings are a matched set of buttons (thank you Cindy!) wire-wrapped on filigree drops.

I am so excited to see what Cindy came up with for the buttons I sent her, and cannot wait to hop on over to her blog!  I have included the listing below of all the Swap Partners for you to check out.  I guarantee you will see some gorgeous buttons, and some beautiful designs.  The list is in alphabetical order by first name, and each set of partners is listed twice - once under each partner's name for ease of finding specific people you may be looking for.  Genius!  Each person's name is also linked to their blog, and all you have to do is click on their name to view their design.  I had so much fun participating in the Swap, and I hope you enjoy visiting the blogs just as much!

So, are you ready to HOP??

Alice Peterson and Kim Bender
Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove
Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame
Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren
Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen
Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman
Cat Kerr and Heather Powers
Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic
Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm
Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston
Christine Stonefield and Dana James
Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud
Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner
Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson
Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney
Dana James and Christine Stonefield
Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz
Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson
Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski
Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage
Heather Powers and Cat Kerr
Holly Westfall and Sally Russick
Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano
Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak
Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier
Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison
Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip
Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe
Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata
Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman
Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka
Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano
Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars
Kay Thomerson Shannon Chomanczuk
Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven
Kim Bender and Alice Peterson
Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps
Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers
Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede
Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley
Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor
Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino
Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett
Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto
Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca
Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers
Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins
Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs
Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter
Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler
Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen
Mary Harding and Stacie Florer
Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell
Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick
Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson
Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer  <--You Are Here!
Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners
Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer
Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson
Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou
Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic
Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy
Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas
Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy
Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell
Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson
Sally Russick and Holly Westfall
Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor
Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson
Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya
Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel
Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone
Stacie Florer and Mary Harding
Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Sue Hamel and Terry Carter
Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne
Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle
Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne
Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey
Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque
Terry Carter and Sue Hamel
Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin
Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov
Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan
Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

Button, Button. . .Who's got the Button?

I do! 

I received my package awhile back for the Button Swap Blog Hop from my wonderful partner Cindy Wimmer from Sweet Bead Studio, and wanted to share the incredible stash she sent me.  Boy, did she spoil me rotten!  It was so exciting to open that package, and I absolutely love everything she chose for me.  The box included an antique focal story button, 6 smaller story and stamped buttons to accent with, and some beautiful mother of pearl buttons as a bonus:

Here is a closer shot of just the story buttons - just click to make it larger - the detail is incredible:

The back of the focal button is signed "Eingetragen" from Germany, and is called "The Little Charmer".  Simply adorable!  I will be creating my design with the buttons this weekend, and the big reveal is on Mother's Day, May 13th.  I cannot wait to start working with them! 

Stop back and see if I did these gorgeous buttons justice. . .

On the Road Again. . .

The Art Bead Love Tour is on the move again!  Stop by Ex Post Facto Jewelry to see where it ends up next:

Here's hoping it's MY house. . .  ;-)

I'm Impressed. . .

Impress Art just released some new Letter Set designs, and to celebrate Lori Anderson is having a giveaway on her {Pretty Things} website!

Metal stamping is such a great way to personalize designs, and Impress Art has some wonderful sets.  They're also giving away a cute little hammer that's specifically designed for metal stamping!

You can check out all the new sets by clicking below:

Stop by Lori's blog for your chance to win, and check out her Pretty Things while you're there. . .

The Art Bead Love Tour. . .

Almost sounds like it should involve the Beatles, doesn't it? 

Follow the link below to my friend Patty's blog to learn how the giveaway works, and for a chance to participate.

My fingers, toes, and any other capable body parts are crossed!

Meet my Partner. . .

The partners for the Button Swap Blog Hop were announced, and I am so excited to have been partnered with Cindy Wimmer from Sweet Bead Studio.  :)  Cindy is actually the organizer of the swap, and she shared a picture of her incredible antique and vintage button collection on her blog:

I have always loved buttons, and can remember playing in my Mom's button tin when I was a little girl. . .those buttons are now part of my collection.  There is something about old buttons that makes me wonder what article of clothing they are from, who wore them, and what stories they have to tell.

I look forward to picking out the special buttons to send to Cindy, and am so excited to see what I get to design with from her beautiful collection. 

Stay tuned for pictures along the way, and the final reveal. . .

 

New Treasures and Techniques. . .

Last weekend I attended the Art Glass & Bead Show in Madison, WI with my good beading buddy Pam.  What a wonderful show, and a great time!  I wanted to share some pics of a couple classes I took and treasures I found:

Wrap Around Bracelet with Robin Delyea - Fat Cat Beads,

& Free Form Bead Embroidery with Sandi Obertin.

One of the "Make-n-Take" sessions with Brenda Schweder.

Lots of pounding, but ended up with beautiful steel multi-hoop

crystal wrapped earrings.  6 class in 4 hours = great fun!

I simply adore antique buttons, and had to stop by my favorite seller's

booth to pick up these beauties.  I'm participating in a

Button Swap Blog Hop that these will be perfect for!

A fun find at Hobo Glass' booth.  Teresa does incredible work,

and I LOVE the funky flowers!

And finally, the necklace I designed using Julie Nordine - Credit River Art Glass lampwork key and matching beads.  I've always loved Julie's acorns, but her lampwork keys are my new favorite!

What a fun weekend!  I can't wait to design with the other baubles & beads I found, and pratice those new techniques.

Until the next show. . .