Hoard Blog 2013!

I hoard, therefore I am

I hang on to stuff, pile it up, stack it, sort it, push it around, play with it and just plain keep it --- is this bad? NO! No I say! It's necessary. One day, I'm going to be making a necklace with the very fun but oddly shaped little bead cups that I got and I'm going to remember that a year ago, on a whim I bought these funny little glass bead caps .... and yes, they are going to be the perfect marriage and I'll end up with this really adorable little necklace.

 If I didn't hoard things then when I sit down to start something that is just a little tickle in the back of my brain, not exactly clear, not quite focused, just that fuzzy sort of feeling, a color combination that I think might work or shapes... how am I going to make it coalesce into something clearly amazing if I don't have a hoard of stuff to poke at, seeking the perfect shape, color, size?

 What am I supposed to do??? Try to purchase only the components I need to make a single piece? How crazy is that? Bah! It's impossible. So, yes, I hoard. Personally I like the term 'stock pile' better - sounds more productive, less loony.

But for this Blog Hop - I decided that I would try to use some of my stock pile and at the same time do something fun and creative with all of it. For those of you familiar with my work, you know that color is my thing... I like lots of it and I like unusual combinations of it.

 The challenge to myself was ONE color for each piece. That way I would be able to clean out a little bit from a lot of my stock pile, but I would still end up with a beautiful rainbow of work.

I was a little nervous because I'm not normally a monochromatic type of gal... but once I got rolling with it I was having a ball! It was much easier then I expected and I had such a good time playing with the shapes and color variations that I got to wondering why I hadn't thought of this sooner!!!

 I tried out different shapes and styles of hooks --
            I didn't worry too much if the shade or hue weren't the same --
                       I kept the metals to colored copper so I didn't detract from the single color --
                                    Each unique but the same but not the same at all!

I had so much fun with the color challenge - that I decided to try something a little different. I tried to use as many beads as I could from one artist. Lately I've been buying up lamp work by Tanya MGuire like a crazy woman. I have a serious pile of it! She makes these really amusing odd little shapes in really fabulous colors.

I wasn't able to use as many of Tanya's beads as I could have.... I'm not quite ready to release them to the world just yet but I did manage to make these two necklaces which I'm really happy with. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be able to use more of them... but for now they will have to remain in my stock pile.... my precious.... heee heeeee hee heeee!!

PS - Check out all the amazing work of the other hoarders....

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things  Our lovely hostess
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Leah Tees, My Beady Little Eyes
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
9.  Sharon Palac, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden
10.  Erin Guest, Renlish
11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda’s Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict
21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine’s Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre’z, Brising Beads
41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts
51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D’Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics
61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie K Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog  You’re Here
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama’s Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia’s Unique Beaded Jewelry
75.  Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork
81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka’s Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda’s Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou’s time2cre8
91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 – For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD’s Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives
101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa
111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine’s Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry
121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl’s Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy
131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations
141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings ‘n’ Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla
151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi’s Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra’s Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted

Hoarding Part 1

   Ok, here we go....

I signed up for another one of Lori Anderson's famous 'hops' - I'm a little nervous about this one. It's called the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop. A name like that has pretty serious connotations attached to it. Hoarding?? Ew, I've seen that television show.... I promise there are no dead cats in my bead stash!!

 I try to be organized  about my piles 'o stuff. I have lots of containers and drawer thingys and trays. I like to organize by either type or color.This large black tray is usually the things I'm currently in love with. Stuff comes and goes from here all the time. Right now Tanya McGuire has two whole spaces! Her lamp work is fun and very different - I really need to stop buying and start using it!

These are my bulk lamp works. When I go to a large bead show - like Bead Fest Philly I like to stock up on items that I know I'll have use for all the time. I use these bulk lamps for fillers to keep my pieces from ending up being so expensive that no one can afford them!

 Bead caps, charms, dangles - oooh how I love them! I use these kinds of items in pretty much everything I make so really, it makes perfect sense for me to buy in bulk and have a large variety on hand cause you just never know what direction creativity might take!

These containers are for some (not all!) of the stuff I get from Yvonne Irwin of MyElements. Her stuff is colorful and quirky - you just have to have tons of it! (NO, this is not a disease!!)

 

Then there are the drawer thingys - I have several of these.... I love them because you can see into them but they keep everything nicely organized - and they stack!!

 

These are great for the piles I like to sort by color or weird type....nice dontcha think?

 Now... really, can anyone this organized and neat be called a HOARDER!!?? Nay! 

But that's alright - I'm gonna work with it. I've been looking at all my lovely bits and trying to decide what to try to use for this little hop. I decided that it would be fun to do a theme. What I came up with is monochromatic ~ very different for me.

This my usual style:

I love color - I love mixing colors - I love trying out combinations that you might not normally see together. So this hop will be a little stretch for me, which I think should always be the point of these events. I want to learn new things, try new stuff, shake things up and see what falls out!

So - come on back for Part 2 of the Bead Hoarders Hop and see what fell out!!

A Celebration Piece

   The last few weeks have been pretty crazy in my life - crazy good. A lot of major change is about to happen. I'm making a career change - I've sold the bookstore that I have owned for the last 20 years. It's wonderful and terrifying altogether.

   I've been so busy organizing the store that I haven't had a second of free time to work on jewelry. Last night, I couldn't sleep so I got up and wandered around awhile, ended up in the studio and this is what came out...

   I absolutely love this bracelet. The lampwork is from one of my very favorite artists Laura Critchfield - who I've told you about before (repeatedly!). There is no way you could possibly make something from her beads that wasn't wild and full of whimsy.

   I always feel as though when I'm working with Laura's beads that the piece just makes itself!

   I'm feeling pretty good about the future right now - looking forward to whatever is coming up next and this bracelet reflects how I'm doing right now - awesome! Grab some happy beads and make some stuff!!

Feelin' Proud!

Survived the hour long commute home (whew!) to start the Memorial Day weekend (yea!) and was greeted by a box in the mail. You all know how much I love to get packages! It was the new issue of Jewelry Stringing magazine. Yes! That's my creation on page 57!! There is something so thrilling about seeing your work in print. Sometimes you wonder if you're the only person who 'gets' your aesthetic and seeing it a magazine or other publication is an official nod of approval from the experts. Warm and fuzzy!

In case you're wondering those amazing beads came from Indian Creek Art Glass - I really loved the color combination and texture of the matte finish.

Here's a look at the complete set I purchased.

 Beautifully made, really well balanced, the colors are all crisp and clear - no bleed or muddy looking mix. I added the black glass rings and turquoise disks from my stash for the necklace pictured.

This is another one of the pieces I've made from the same set.

 

I love that even though the beads have a distinctly south west feel, the colors and shapes lend themselves to my particular style which is definitely a little more whimsical.

And... the best part is that I still have a couple of beads left from the set!

Good Advice!

I stumbled on this while wandering around - yes, I should have been working!

I think this is going to be a great series for all of us artist types to be following!

Andrew Thornton - it's a blog by a fellow artist that will be a series about selling your work! We all need some sage advice!

Mail Bag!

   Had one of those weeks where there aren't enough hours in any of the days to get everything done. But I did get two cool packages in the mail...

   The first one came from Donna Millard and had these really unique bead caps that she makes from vintage metals. I've got a dozen of them to play with, the colors are so much fun. I'm thinking they'll look fabulous on black beads, maybe in a cluster...

      The second package came from Debbie Smith of Fun, Funky Findings who I've talked about in other blogs (Cool Stuff I Found!)

   I always manage to find something interesting on her Etsy site. This time its the starfish charms, orange and green (great combo!) sparkly squares and this really cool flat rubber cord. The cord is going to be interesting to figure out. It comes in a ton of colors and is really flexible and sturdy. I've been playing with it a little bit, poking holes and cutting it to see how it reacts. I'll get something figured out and there will be a post about it, for now I just thought you'd like to see some cool supplies.

   What's the most interesting thing that came in your mail??

The Perfect Last Minute Gift!

   Hostess gift, teachers, welcome to the neighborhood, new driver.... I could make an endless list of gift needs that you don't always remember until the last minute. When you're an artist people expect you to show up with some creative, cool thingy you made. Here's a great idea for a personal gift that you can make in under 15 minutes for no money!

   Keychains!! Everyone needs one, you can make them very personal by using charms, favorite colors or themes. We all have that enormous stash of beads and fillers that seems to be taking over the work space. Also, these can be made into lanyards just as easily for use as a badge holder.

   Quickie tip of the day! Go forth and be creative!