Let's Party

TahDahhhh! I made a bracelet with my focal bead(s)--a generous trio, and floral clasp from Jeanette in the Bead Soup Party exchange. I love the colors in the beautiful lentils by artist Dawn White and the substantial floral sterling clasp I received. Blues and greens with a dash of black, flowers and leaves and what you get is a simple, sweet bauble to grace the wrist.

With some unexpected family responsibilities this past month, I haven't had much time to 'play' with my stash of jewelry components, so this virtual party gave me a wonderful excuse to take a few minutes for myself and remember why I love playing with beads so much.

Join me today in checking out all the wonderful bead soup designs by the bodacious list of participants below--I know I'm going to love seeing all the great eye candy and I hope you do too! My first stop will be to see what my exchange partner Jeanette, at Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry did with the bead soup I sent her!

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2009/12/bead-soup-party-and-bead-swap.html

Party Participants

1. Lori, Pretty Things Blog

2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads

3. Terri, Blooming Ideas

4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio

5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts

7. Erin, Treasures Found

8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry

9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs

10. Nan, Spirit Rattles

11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique

12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart

13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings

14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle

15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks

16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

17. Lisa, Lo and Behold

18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas

19. Judith, Judith B.

20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

21. Maria, Garden Path Beads

22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design

23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life

24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things

25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea

27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design

28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals

29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction

30. Leslie, Bei Mondi

31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta

32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry

33. Kathie, The Bead Cult

34. Patty, Plays With Fire

35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef

36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire

37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry

38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle

39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio

40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini

41. Marcie, La Bella Joya

42. Suzann, Beadphoria

43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks

44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass

45. Janiece, J Birds Garden

46. Kate, Organic Odysseys

47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale

48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure

49. Sue, Sue Beads

51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse

52. Kristie, Artisan Clay

53. Regina, Regina's Writings

54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble

55. Lyn, Lyn Foley

56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz

57. Cathryn, Chile Cats

58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook

59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter

60. Juli, Jul's Beads

61. Julie, RockerJewlz

62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too

63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

64. Katie, My Life and My Beads

65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay

66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth

67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design

68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery

70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs

71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights

73. Chas, One Woman's Haven

74. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry

75. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky

76. Maire, Maire Dodd

77. Janet, Singing Woods

78. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads

79. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels

80. Joann, Jo's Jewels

81. Patti, PJ Clark Designs

82. Mel, Kookie Designs

83. Erin, Every Heart Crafts

84. Dale, Flights of Fancy

85. Dee, Runako Designs

Ready for Tomorrow?

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2009/12/bead-soup-party-and-bead-swap.html

Tomorrow is the big reveal day for all the participants in Lori's Bead Soup Party...be sure to check all the links for a dazzling array of eye candy to enjoy!!!!

A little something....

I did finish one bracelet last week--a custom order for an amber and aquamarine charm bracelet themed towards the sea. Lots of sterling silver with agate, amber, round and coin pearls and artisan lampwork. It was a fun, quick and simple project that gave me a brief diversion from my daily trek to the 'flavor of the day' bridal salon! I like to tease about it, but what could be more fun than watching your daughter try on gorgeous gowns that make her look like a princess every day. Nothing else to report from here, just a quick hello..now back to the salt mines, lol.

When she was good, she was very, very good and when she was bad she was AWFUL.....

Well, I've been awful and, that's the truth!!!! Once again life has gotten away from me and my blog has been sorely neglected for some time now. First off, I need to tell you about a delightful exchange I joined--Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party! http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2009/12/bead-soup-party-and-bead-swap.html

So many wonderful designers of jewelry and components are participating and I got a fabulous partner--Jeanette Blix. http://www.fundametals.net/ http://www.jeanetteblix.com/ I sent her some things to play with up top is a picture of the beauties I got from her. We're all going to be making the "GRAND REVEAL" on February 10th!!!! So stop by to see what I did with my bead soup...and check out all the other participants as well---here's a link to all 85 of us---wow! that is alot of eye candy to look forward to.

Party Participants1. Lori, Pretty Things Blog2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads3. Terri, Blooming Ideas4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts7. Erin, Treasures Found8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs10. Nan, Spirit Rattles11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden17. Lisa, Lo and Behold18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas19. Judith, Judith B.20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium21. Maria, Garden Path Beads22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction30. Leslie, Bei Mondi31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry33. Kathie, The Bead Cult34. Patty, Plays With Fire35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini41. Marcie, La Bella Joya42. Suzann, Beadphoria43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass45. Janiece, J Birds Garden46. Kate, Organic Odysseys47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure49. Sue, Sue Beads50. Janeen, Janeen 36551. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse52. Kristie, Artisan Clay53. Regina, Regina's Writings54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble55. Lyn, Lyn Foley56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz57. Cathryn, Chile Cats58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter60. Juli, Jul's Beads61. Julie, RockerJewlz62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles64. Katie, My Life and My Beads65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights73. Chas, One Woman's Haven74. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry75. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky76. Maire, Maire Dodd77. Janet, Singing Woods78. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads79. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels80. Joann, Jo's Jewels81. Patti, PJ Clark Designs82. Mel, Kookie Designs83. Erin, Every Heart Crafts84. Dale, Flights of Fancy85. Dee, Runako Designs

Now for my excuses...Em's, as you might have heard earlier, got engaged over the holidays and is planning a July wedding...most likely in Brazil....sooooo, trying to get organized is slightly overwhelming. This week we spent every day trying on wedding gowns of every style and shape, fabric and emblishment and I'm happy to say a selection has been made (ivory silk with a touch of reimbroidered alencon lace, designed in Spain)....that's one thing down and only about a million more to go...who knew weddings were so complex...and with so many choices. I'll try to get organized and find a little time to play with jewelry...but for now I'm giving myself a pass while I put some precious mother-daughter time at the very top of my list. I'll keep you posted with little tidbits and sneak peaks of our progress, with hopefully a jewelry design or two wedged in now and then. Thanks for understanding and HUGS to you all!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Some of my years highlights include...daughter Em's engagement...

First look at our new grandson....

Son Christian's family on baby's blessing day....

My sweetheart on our 40th Anniversary trip to glorious Montana....

Savoring 40 wonderful years (it's a nice start) at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Blessings to you and yours and a wonderful 2010!!!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with love and hope.

Joy to the World! I like to take a moment from our festivities to reflect on the reason Heaven and Earth rejoiced at the Savior, Jesus Christ's birth. Christmas eve we spend the evening celebrating that blessed event in a more spiritual, contemplative format, because come Christmas morning the gifts, the laughter and the games begin! Have a wonderful Christmas day!

Congratulations to the Drawing Winner....

Apologies for being so late today with the drawing, but we have a winner now and it's.......MONICA!!! Thanks for stopping by with all your wonderful comments. I love holidays and I think Christmas won hands down in the posts for the drawing---there are so many traditions and activities and wonderful family memories tied up in Christmas as well as it being such an important celebration for those of us who are Christians--celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, that it's definitely a very special time of year with many levels of celebration from spiritual, family, friend and traditions. Congrats, Monica, send me an email at rspv@aol.com with your address and I'll get your earrings off to you asap! HUGZ!!!