Bead Soup Party Reveal Day!

Here's what I was sent! Reveal Day 2014 for Bead Soup Party Blog! My earlier posts explained what the party is about and who my partner is in this wonderful, exciting adventure into bead design. Again my partner is: Evie and Beth McCord. Please check out their blog. You will get such a treat! Their imagination along with their beautiful lampwork beads and enameled pieces give such a unique twist to their Soup pieces. What a thrill!

Here's my piece being worked on!

Humming Bird on my Shoulder! I tried for an asymmetrical piece (a real challenge for me!) I could not have asked for better beads and focal to work with! I love chainmaille so I did a Double Vision Weave along with a Two by Two weave to fill in the spaces.

The clasp.

The bracelet. I used the blue/green lampwork beads in combo with some chalcedony beads along with some nicely hued 3mm cubes. The stitch is Herringbone, I used a sterling silver heart lobster claw clasp.

The earrings. I fashioned my own earwires. I have a free tutorial for these on my website.

So far the only time I've used the beautiful orange lampwork beads is to grace the top of my latest projects, my copper folded autumn leaves! Check back to see what I do with the enameled leaf and the remainder of the lampwork beads! So many beautiful beads, so little time! I think I'm the last of my bead group (Ladies of the Evening)to get mine revealed. Take a look at their blogs as you continue to hop the blogs: Catherine King (who revealed at Mid-night!) and Deborah Apodaca. Well I made it before mid-night! My daughter's wi-fi is back up and running!

I'm just home from over almost 4 weeks away from home! Here are the beautiful beads, pendants and clasp that I received from my Bead Soup Blog Party partner, Evie and Beth McCord! Aren't they so lovely! I haven't started working on my main piece but I've done a side piece and next week is reveal day! I'd better get off the computer and get working!

EB Bead and Metal Work - My Bead Soup Blog Party Partner

Here is my Bead Soup Blog Party partner for this year (my 2nd). They are a mother/daughter team of artist. They are lamp work and enameling artists who do absolutely magnificent work! Here is a link to their blog: EB Bead and Metal Work I've been traveling quite a bit so I will post pictures of what I sent them and what I got in return for them as soon a I get home next week! Have a blessed Easter, everyone!

Captain Phillips/Lifeboat

I saw the movie "Captain Phillips" with Tom Hanks in the title roll. I makes me so proud of our military! What an absolutely magnificient job these men and women do on a day to day basis. It really is a shame that our present administration chooses to cut funds making it difficult for our troops to get the proper training to keep their high standards of skills! The movie was very stirring and stayed pretty close to the book. I really enjoyed it and will see it again. Come visit us at the Navy Seal UDT Museum here in Fort Pierce, FL and see the actual lifeboat that held Captain Phillips and the four pirates. It is a permanent exhibit at the museum. If you come on Tuesday morning stop and say hi to me!

What I've Been Up to This Summer

I signed up for the 10 week cabochon cutting class at Saint Lucie Rock and Gem Club. They have all the cabbing machines that you could want and at the end of the 10 weeks I had about 10 finished cabochons and a wealth of knowledge. My friends, Catherine, Deborah and Sarah also took the class and thanks to our teacher Hannah we were really very productive! I haven't incorporated any of the cabs into jewelry, yet, but I' satisfied to just sit and look at them for now, so pretty!

Teaching Chainmaille

I signed up to teach a 10 week beginner's course at Saint Lucie County Rock and Gem Club in Fort Pierce, FL! The first (Byzantine) week went off pretty nicely although it kind of surprised me having 8 students signed up! Luckily I made enough kits to go around and two of the students, having had previous chainmaille experience, opted to skip the Byzantine weave and go right for this coming week's project Open Roundmaille!

I'll try to update after each class to show just how smart my students are!

Micro Macrame Tutorial by Donna Littlewood

Many people have been admiring my micro macrame bracelet so I thought it only fair that I post the designer and where you can buy her pattern. Donna Littlewood is the designer and you can purchase the pattern "Waves" on her Etsy site Knot Gypsy Designs. Fun and easy and she has some free basic tuts! I made some adjustments to make it my own and to accommodate my soup beads!