Wednesday, January 30, 2013

7th Annual BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY


I am taking part in the 7th annual Bead Soup Party for the first time.  More than 500 people have signed up.  The artist's, beaders, creaters are from around the world. I am so excited.  Once we are partnered off, we must send our Partner a bead soup. To Make bead soup ( Lol) you Take a Focal, add a unique clasp, mix in an assortment of beads and Wahllah the soup is started.  The receipient adds imagination, creativity, some of their stock and presto the reveal date arrives. Follow me as I follow the members and report on the going ons. I need to mention this Fantastic Party is the creation of Lori Anderson. After sponsoring 6 of these parties she wrote a book last year.  I cannot begin to tell you of the support and encouragement this lady gives.  She inspires me to keep on going when I began to think I just dont have it any more.  She has the ability to laugh at her self and cry through her ups and downs.   Please make sure you visit her blog.  http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogcrystals.    Right now I am hopping all over the shops looking for my Focal and that Special clasp. Wish me luck.


Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories And Thanks Blog Hop

Reading Lori's Blog realizing her sadness for a lost freind was a feeling I know all too well. My Best Friend in the world was Willie Bell Beans. I lost my friend some 14 years now.  It happened during xmas holiday during simple knee surgery. Sometimes it feels like yesterday.

 Bell was a big Girl with a big heart. She could always find the good in everybody. We'd been friends since I was 18. She was a Beautician and I an Office Assistant. We were single mothers strugling. We loved our children, dancing, food and Jewelry.  We were each others strength when we felt the world had beat us down. We cried through our heartbreaks, My wedding, our divorces, Her first gand. She was my friend and I loved her.

 Bell especially loved purple and red.  As I crafted this pendant I could see her smiling and saying I have the perfect dress, let me put on some lipstick.  Her lips would be Plum some shade of purple an her outfit purple or red or both. LMBO.  Although I miss my Bell this Memories and Thanks bought back some happy fun memories.

This pendant features an Artisan Lampwork bead I believe from Patricia Dugmore of PJBeads. The purple beads are vintage from Grain of Sand.
 
Thank you so much for stopping by.  I value your comments and thoughts. Please visit other Participants
Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things


 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen    you are here  Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier
Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets
  

Monday, January 7, 2013

Gray Days Of Winter

I know some will be upset ... But I need to be revived. I know somewhere in the world someone is feeling the same.  While I was thrown into the midst of the Holiday frantic shopping watching people buying gifts they couldn't afford for people they felt obligated to buy for,I asked myself why?  Where is the Luv! people? I began to feel depressed, aggravated and couldn't shake the feeling. I couldn't keep my mind on the good things that happened all year just the bad stuff. Taxes went up on the Mortgage.   I Tore my Miniscus, don't know how, After Surgery and 16 weeks of physical therapy, I'm still asking why?  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful I can walk again.  Somehow that's not the thought that stays on my mind.Why?  I have lost three of my Staff members due to retirement.  Do you know how hard it is to find people with Switchboard experience (can't spell today) more less, three of them.  Then they have to be trained. Oh my God the exhaustion that follows.Some people can't be trained so I am stuck 3 months later still looking....Why? I degress.... Then there is me and my Gray Hair.
At what age can and do women stop dyeing those Gray Hairs. I noticed Gray roots all around my face.  I refuse to dye my hair. Take me as I am.  How long am I gonna feel like this? My mother is 74 and only has a few Grays at her ear temple.  So unfair I must be destined to be like my dad.  He was gray in his 20's.
I have three pieces of Jewelry due this week for three challenges. (of course I didn't realize it). Furliz Navidad, Memories, and Year Of Jewelry Project all due on the 12th,
YOJP inspiration Word is Grace. To me Grace is calm, clear and not Fussy. Let me Present Grace Bracelet: