Bead Soup

I was Randomly NOT chosen for the Bead Soup Blog Party this round which makes me sad - but hey, life goes on. I've decided to continue to live in my rose colored world and pretend that I was chosen and that the bead set I had put together for my partner is the one I received. This seems fair to me since my blog is pretty new and doesn't have thousands of followers who are now crying in their bead stash.

So - on with the show!

Here's the bead set that I received for the BSBP (in my head)-

 

As you can see - nothing like my normal choices. I actually bought the focal bead from a couple in Arizona (I think) quite awhile ago. One of those impulse things and somehow I've never been able to make it work for me. It's BIG (25mm) and pillow shape has always been a challenge for me as well.  But its ok ~ I'm feeling like I'm up for the challenge!

Hang on to your horses ladies - she's off to the races! (sleeves rolled, sparks flying, smoke..... cue thunderous music!)

Sometimes Beauty Isn't Immediately Obvious

Spent a long day in the car yesterday - driving from Northern Virginia to Webster, NY - had to pet a dog. Yes, you read that correctly, I had to pet a dog. Even though it took over 12 hours to get there and back, it was worth it. Here's a picture of the mom:

I know - at first you say, "Ewww!" - but after a minute or two with her you would fall in love with this charming beauty! She was so happy to see people, a wonderful hostess - good natured, friendly, chatty and such a proud mother! Here is one of her babies - we're calling him, Dozer and he'll be coming to join our crazy family in a few weeks -- We can Hardly Wait!!

I know ~ your jealous. I don't blame you!

Bad Plans Pt.2

So, in the last post I started something, got sidelined and ended up heading in a cool direction with some beads I bought accidentally - a happy accident. Well the next time I sat down to finish the piece I started, I wandered a bit but this is what I ended up with:

Totally in love with this piece - the unusual color, the sparkle, the rubber O rings.... happiness.

Sometimes Plans Are Bad

I try to live an organized, scheduled life. I'm busy - the business, 4 kids (6 if you count the marrieds), the jewelry, home, animals - you know... stuff. I'm not good at staying focused because I have ADH-OOooohSparkly! So I'm easily distracted. Case in point... I stop by Shenandoah Moon on my way home to pick up some new scarves, a five minute stop (really?), and 45 minutes later -

I have these amazing beads (no they aren't scarves) - I rush home thinking what cute earrings I'm going to make with these cool little flower shapes as soon as I make dinner, cycle some laundry, work on my tax records.... the next time I notice the time its midnight.........
No scarves          No dinner          No laundry          No taxes          No earrings

BUT isn't this going to be the coolest bracelet ever??

Sometimes you just have to let life happen at its own pace cause otherwise you  might miss the cool stuff.

The First from Chestnut Ridge

I want every bead from this set to be something special. I started with the cone, added a few tidbits from the workbench and ~ viola! ~ The other components to this piece came from MyElements (etsy.com) and the hook clasp was made by yours truly. I can't wait to make others using the rest of this set!

The Delights of New Beads!!

It was a long hard day at work, I was late leaving the store, the traffic was slow and I knew how much work I had sitting at home waiting for me. So, imagine my thrill when I found a package when I got home. A package that I wasn't expecting for another couple days.

Squeal of delight when I opened it and found...

 Aren't they amazing?? These little beauties came from Laura Critchfield of Chestnut Ridge Designs (www.chestnutridgedesigns.com) Laura is absolutely one of my very favorite bead artists. Every time I get  a set of beads from her it brightens my day and I simply can't wait to get to the workbench to make something bright, colorful, fun! Keep an eye on this space - I'll post pictures when I begin to use these beads.

Jump Rings in Fabulous Colors!!!

I spent  a year trying to solve the problem of wanting to have colored jumprings, toggles and clasps for my jewelry. I love color. I don't want to pick the perfect raspberry colored lampwork beads to go with the amazing lime green beads which matched with the bright yellows and then have to settle for a silver or gold jumpring to attach them together - epic fail!

So, thank heaven for Parawire! They make this incredible wire in tons of beautiful colors and gauges that can be bent and wrapped and shaped - so nice! ....and so affordable!!

Things couldn't get any better, right? Wrong! They did get better! Santa brought me a really cool new toy!! A jumpring making system! The Pepe coiling machine which lets me make coils in over 20 sizes AND a Flex Shaft to cut the coils into perfect little jumprings!!

Wanna see more? www.rigglettes.com