Feel the Sunshine?

I think we might actually feel the sunshine in Ohio by the end of the week, yay!

We should at least be feeling warmer temps and that is a good thing!

Just looking at these great tropical beads is giving me a warm feeling.

It could also be coming from the laptop on my lap or my hooded sweatshirt...but I'd like to believe it's the beads. :)

I'm working my way through all the great beads and components received from Cousin over the weekend in preparation for a trip to palm tree heaven a.k.a. Florida.

For now, I'm just enjoying the warmth of these great sunrise/sunset beads. Let me know if you feel the warmth.

Ready for Sunshine!

I mentioned in a recent post I'll be heading to sunny Florida in February as part of the Cousin Ambassador program. So, I bet you can't guess what that means...

Yep, I need new Floridian jewelry to wear!

As luck would have it, the ultra-generous Cousin sent us all sand pails full of tropical beads and components...yay!

I'll be sharing my progress with you here and as always, feel free to throw in your two cents!

This is the first piece I selected from the sand pail... Of course, it's meant to be a pendant, but I've gotta have that big flower as a bracelet focal piece. :)

I don't know why my brain does that, but hey, why fight it.

On the Road with the Traveling Jewelry Project

Here's installment 4 of the traveling jewelry project, NICE!




This is a great design by Cousin Ambassador, Shelly Owen.

I've never done a right angle weave using this technique, it's so cool!

I love how the center beads sit on top of the others and you can see the weaving.

It makes me want to see if I can duplicate this design...hmm...Shellllyyyy, I think I need instructions!! :)









These beads are from the Cousin Peach/Pink pearl jewelry class in a box.

I can't wait to see what Patty is making...stay tuned!

Weekend Shout-out

Instead of the next installment of the traveling jewelry project, it seemed like a good time to kick off the weekend with some bead blogger inspiration.

It's always fun to see what's happening in other bead worlds.

Carmi's tshirt necklace shown here is so cheerful and fun.

Enjoy!

About.com Jewelry Making
This was a woot of a trend in jewelry as well as home decor items during 2012.

Art Bead Scene
Beautiful colors and textures inspired by lovely peacocks form the theme of inspiration for this month's Art Bead Scene challenge.

Beading Arts
Cyndi is looking for bead artists to feature in 2013. Have some work you'd like to share? Come see how!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A fun t-shirt yarn necklace is blue!

Resin Crafts!
Fun imagery and resin can result in fabulous pendants that will make you smile.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Exploring peyote stitch, Andrew shares how he transformed inspiration into a pattern. 

Traveling Jewelry Project...Part 3!

Sharing these pieces with you is so much fun! This is day 3 of the traveling jewelry project story. The next installment to the Cousin pearly collection was created by Ambassador Gail Devoid.

I love everything, but must say I'm always partial to lots of dangles!

How fun! Now I wish all of these pieces were going to be mine in the end. It will be a feat of major math skills to figure out how many combinations we'll be able to create once all the connecting pieces are completed.

We have two more Cousin Corp Ambassadors who are also making pieces for the collection, so stay tuned.

What a great way to get ideas for using one of these kits...share the creative process with others!

The Adventure Continues..Traveling Jewelry Project

The saga continues...! As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I've been working with the other Cousin ambassadors on a traveling jewelry project.

We are each using the same beads from the "peach/pink pearl" jewelry class in a box.

These are the three pieces I contributed. A bracelet and two connectors that can be used with yesterday's beautifully dangly neck piece and/or with this bracelet or the other pieces yet to come.

We wanted everything to be interchangeable so there will be lots of possible combinations.

I really wish I had taken the time to set up my new photo light box before shipping off these pieces, but it just didn't happen.

Stay tuned for tomorrow for more! :)

Story of the Traveling Jewelry Project

I'm finally making good on my promise to share the adventures of the traveling jewelry project!

There are a total of five jewelry making ambassadors appointed by the Cousin Corporation last August. We will actually have an opportunity to meet face to face in February down in sunny Florida...yes, seriously!

Considering it's below freezing here in Ohio and the snow is getting a little depressing, it's an exciting thought!

Okay, this is not a post about Florida...sorry, got side tracked!

SO, the ambassadors got together on skype and email to come up with a way to collaborate on a project. We decided to use the same beads from one of the Cousin jewelry making classes in a box to create a collection. 

Similar to the Cousin "make the connection" jewelry pieces, we all agreed to make a piece that will be interchangeable with all the others.

Suzette was the first one out of the gate. She made this glorious project shown here and when I received it in the mail I swear I heard a choir sing, it's pretty glorious. :)

We are each using beads from the pink/peach pearl class. So pretty! Stay tuned for my contribution tomorrow. Have a great rest of the first week of the new year! Back to work we go...