Reveal Time: Mismatched Earring Swap

I met Diana Ptaszynski (Suburban Girl Studio) online and then at BeadFest in Philadelphia this summer. She’s fun, talented, creative, fun, crazy, but did I mention she’s a lot of fun? She hosted a mismatched earring swap among a couple dozen other creative souls and I thought I’d play, too.

The premise was to create a pair of unmatched earrings, that coordinated, but weren’t your typical matching set. Easy, right? Not so much…Fun challenge though and I hope to do it again both in my own designs and it another challenge.

I was paired with Kari Asbury of Hippie Chick Design and she sent me some great earrings! Colorful and textural, and mismatched! You can see what I sent Kari at her blog, but here’s a photo of the earrings I received.

The hoop-style earrings are wrapped with FiberWire from Nellie Thomas of SpinCulture and YarnSweetYarn and carried in Karen Totten’s Etsy store. the cool green and teal coordinates great with these delicate ceramic beads from Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth in a soft purple and deep blue. The colors pick up the tones in the fibers so nicely! The “mismatch” comes with the colors and I love how they coordinate. I’ll be wearing these a lot! Copper wire and chain ties the free-spirited look together.

Thanks, Kari! And thanks, Diana, for letting me play along!

Now take a stroll through the other participants blogs and see what kind of creativity everyone came up with:

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Anderson  http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

Lesley Watt  http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Lori Bowring Michaud  http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano  http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Holly Westfall   http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Theresa Fosdick  http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

Ali McCarthy  http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Iveth Caruso  http://www.creativeatelier.net/blog.html

Carolyn Collins  http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com

Elaine Ray  http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Charlene Jacka  http://clay-space.com/blog

Jan Onipenco  http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com

Stephanie Woods  http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Shelby Foxwell  http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Pam Sears  http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Mary Harding  http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

Lisa Johnson  http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com

Kashmira Patel  http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Penny Neville  http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com

Dee Elgie  http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah Small  http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson  http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Karin Slaton  http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Ashleigh Becker  http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Kay Hand  http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com

Rana L. Wilson  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Dawn Pierro  http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

Shelley Graham Turner  http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell  http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Did Someone Say Soup? Bead Soup, That is!

It’s here!

Bead Soup Reveal Day…and I made it by the skin of my teeth…again. But no one wants to hear about that. Bring on the party!

My partner, Marion Simmons, of Shade Tree Studios sent me some yummy ingredients. Here’s a recap:

 The focal is this huge 2″ x 3″ copper filigree piece that Marion wired an equally large copper flower onto. It sparkles with fairy dust and has a beautiful ruby center. You can also see copper round beads, bead caps, rose/taupe glass beads and a delicate copper toggle. Lots to work with!

I had some luscious rose beige freshwater pearls that I’d been hoarding for the right moment. It was time. The colors were perfect! And I had some interesting copper chain…

It took a few starts and stops to arrive at something I was happy with. That’s the way it goes. I ended up with two pieces. The necklace you see below that uses the centerpiece, copper rounds and the toggle, along with my pearls and chain.

Here are a couple of views:

It’s got a very romantic feel to it, and I thank Marion for sending me ingredients that took me in that direction.  Here’s another look…the full necklace. It’s two strands, one of the pearls with the copper rounds breaking up the strand and one of the cool copper chain. I decided to hang the focal vertically.

The second piece might change…It’s sort of where I was going. About 90% where I want it. And a totally different look than the necklace. It uses the tiny glass beads from Art by Lisi, a gorgeous dyed silk ribbon from Julie Mitchell, and a couple of my own etched copper disks. The glass beads add some movement and the bracelet ribbon wraps around the wrist and ties.

Here’s a look at it tied on my wrist:

Thanks for stopping by. There are 199 other participants…the links are below or you can get there from Lori Anderson’s site too. Enjoy visiting the wonderful creations from all over the world. Thank you, Lori, for continuing to be the hostess with the mostest!

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

 

 

 11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

 

 

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

 

 

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

 

 

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

 

 

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

 52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

 

 

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

 

 

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

 

 

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

 

 

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Bead Soup Blog Party Teaser

The day is almost here…and I almost didn’t make it. But in typical stress-induced panic, I managed to come up with a design that makes me happy. I hope Jen is pleased.

Here’s the teaser…

Check back tomorrow to see the whole project in all it’s photo glory. I’ll be flying to Colorado Springs via a 3 hour layover in Denver so I’ll try to reply to comments and check other blogs from the airport.  The list of bloggers and links will be here on my page for weeks to come, so book mark it.

Blogger list

And here’s a photo (by Jen) of what I sent to her…can’t wait to see what she came up with.

Published! Wirework Summer Issue

Sorry about the missing TTOTW post. The computer side of the house has been stealing all the time. Next week!

And I’ve been waiting to post this so I could borrow the Wirework magazine photo of my project, since you know it will be styled better than my photo. But, I’m going to skip ahead and unveil my project from the magazine. If you don’t have the August issue, go out and get it. There’s no subscription to Wirework…it’s a buy or order kind of magazine, loaded with great wire-based projects!

I submitted a copper wire necklace that used a modified version of a pattern that Maria Richmond taught several of us a few years ago at a bead get-together. Cool tangled wire elements and etched lampwork beads by one of my favorite beadmaker friends, Angie Ramey (BeadAddicts).

Maria teaches in Pennsylvania and around the country at BeadFest and will be teaching at Bead & Button in 2012.  Angie and her lovely mama, Vern, have a bead studio in Crossville, TN and sell on Etsy. The necklace is a success because of their input. Thanks ladies!

So, here’s my photo of the finished necklace. It’s very “fall” in the color palette. And copper wire is very popular given the continuing skyrocketing prices of sterling silver (almost $42/oz today). ETA: The magazine project is the necklace on the left…apparently I don’t have a good photo of the necklace without the simple wired pendant next to it. Oh well!

I’m working on my project for the February issue and should have it to the project editor in a couple of weeks. You know I’ll keep you posted on when that issue is published!

I haven’t decided if I’m keeping the necklace or putting it up for sale. Hard to think of autumn when we had another heat advisory day here.

New Digital Jewelry Magazine

I love my beading/jewelry/metalwork books and magazines…I love sitting in my comfy chaise and flipping through them, folding over pages I want to check online and admiring the glossy goodness.

And, my “other” job is a self-employed book designer*, working with page layout and cover design for all sorts of publishers and authors. Can’t even guess how many books I’ve typeset/designed in the last 20 years, but it’s got to be approaching 1000, if not more.

(*the website is a dinosaur…most of my clients are longstanding or referrals, but this may be the year that the site gets converted to a blogstyle site)

So, it’s with mixed feelings that I post about ebooks and emagazines. I’ve expanded my business to convert clients’ books (fiction for now) to epubs and I’ve crossed over to reading fiction almost exclusively on my Nook. From the business side, I have to…but there’s nothing like a new non-fiction book or a heavily illustrated magazine.

Having said that, Interweave has released some new digital magazines and one of them is called Everyday Bracelets. I got a complimentary copy because I have a bracelet featured in the Gallery section. And I’m looking forward to perusing the full magazine this weekend…even if it is at my computer!

It will be interesting to see how the experience compares to paper and since they have tablet versions coming, it might be the push I need to get an iPad or Galaxy (business expense, you know!)

Here’s a photo of the bracelet that is in the gallery:

I am doublechecking but I’m pretty sure the beads are by Carolyn Driver (Blue Heeler Glass) several years ago. They are part of a huge set that I finally wrapped my head around breaking up for this design.

You can purchase the magazine (or others like it) HERE.