BLOGMANIA Giveaway - Today Only!!!

This is so exciting!! Over 100 blogs are participating in today's BLOGMANIA event!!

Each blog will offer something up for grabs, you just need to leave a comment as instructed and winners of each item will be selected within the next couple of days. WOW! I'm so excited to take a look at the other blogs to see what they are giving away!

My Blogmania Giveaway item is:

A copy of my step-by-step beading book, A Bead in Time! AND...a grab bag of miscellaneous beads :)

If you would like to be entered to win, please leave a comment on this post.

WELCOME To BLOGMANIA !

My Blog is number 119 of 123 participating blogs.

Each blog will have a number which will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Different links will be found on each blog.

So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, just follow the giveaway rules for that blog and head on over to the next one!

Blog- 1 – HOST OF BLOGMANIA - Between The Pages
Blog -2 – CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA - The Black Sheep Dances

Blog-43 - CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA - Books, Books Everywhere

(Blog-22) Opinions of a Moody Mama

(Blog-7) Skhye's Ramblings

(Blog-39) Paranormal Bites
(Blog-75) Kelly's Lucky You
(Blog-103) London's Boutique
(Blog-64) Riley Quinn
(Blog-91) Cate Masters
(Blog-110) Book Crazy
(Blog-121) Brain Foggles

Enjoy and GOOD LUCK!!

Saving Beads for Just the Right Moment!

While out to dinner with a group of people to celebrate the retirement of a dear friend and co-worker, talk briefly turned to

beads.

One of the individuals mentioned that she had brought me back these beads from her vacation to Sedona, Arizona last year. She also mentioned she had never seen a jewelry project materialize with them!!

Interestingly, it didn't bring me to be defensive or make excuses. I actually had a thought in that moment that the right beads will be there when you need them, but that means they might have to hang out with you for a while until that moment arrives.

Age is a funny thing, it does tend to bring realizations like this, which is a GOOD thing! I get so excited and feel that there must be some kind of good karma happening when I get a design idea and I know immediately that I have the right bead and know right where it is! Sometimes the beads are fairly new and sometimes, it might be a bead I've had for years.

I'm not sure my answer went over all that well, but to me it was meaningful! I have evolved! :)

I'd love to hear if you have had similar moments of the "right beads at the right time"!


I also wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow is the 1 day only BLOGMANIA event!! I will be giving away a copy of my book along with a grab bag of miscellaneous beads. You will just need to leave a comment on tomorrow's post for a chance to win!

Additionally, I will have a number of links to other blogs who are also giving something away. There are over 100 blogs participating. I can't wait to see all the possible loot!

See you tomorrow!!

Doggie Love

I was just looking over at my two little dogs, who happen to be senior citizens, and thinking about how much love they give every day.

They are both going to be 16 this year and, while we have had some health concerns and behavior issues to overcome, it seems to have flown by so quickly. All is well right now, so we just appreciate those days quite a bit.

I made a doggie bracelet for my book, but I was also thinking it would be fun to go back to experimenting with beaded dogs. I have seen some adorable crystal dogs and would love to try to make one.

If you have any patterns or ideas, please let me know. In the mean time, here are a few "stick figure" type doggies that I made many years ago.


Okay, I couldn't resist throwing in one picture of the real thing.



Have a good one!

Something Old is New Again!

I came across a tiny little baggie with these adorable round dangles in them and thought it was perfect timing since I really do think summer is on its way in the near future.

I haven't seen these since last summer! I love it when that happens, it's almost like I went bead shopping!

These are a perfect accent in beachy ankle bracelets. They add a little shine and if you use a jump ring, they also add a little bit of movement.

Paired with aqua, turquoise or sea foam and maybe even a few real sea shells or sea shell charms it would make a great summer piece that you could wear every weekend! Okay, now I need to be on vacation so I can hang out and make ankle bracelets for everyone all week.

I also wanted to take a moment today to share some information about a fellow blogger-friend's very first giveaway! She posted the information and photos of the beaded jewelry that is up for grabs over at her blog, Kokopelli Designs.

Dagi has just started teaching beading classes in Germany and wants to celebrate and share her excitement by giving away a great set of jewelry. Yay!

As she mentions on her blog post, people can participate until May 11th (day of the last class) and she will post the winners on May 12th. Shipping to the US or Canada is no problem.

Thanks for the info Dagi, I wish we could all hang out in person and bead, but blogging from a distance is the next best thing!

Flowers Everywhere!

Not only can you have a bracelet full of happy flower beads to admire all day, you can also have a flower clasp to admire in case it happens to slide around.

This is an adorable toggle clasp from Hobby Lobby. The http://www.craftsetc.com/ tag reads, "Daisy Toggle" and the price is $1.47.

I'm guessing that I probably got this half price which is my reason for shopping at Hobby Lobby now that they have moved away from our side of town.

I was just thinking about all the flower beads I have and am getting excited to do a piece with all flowers! I have lots of white flower beads in a matte finish so I will have to think long and hard about whether or not I should do an all white flower bracelet or a flower bracelet with plenty of bright colors...Hmm... What do you think?

pic preview 2

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

Wow, lots going on in the beading world last week! If you have a chance, take a peek into the links below to catch up on flowers, sales, new editors, spring, giveaways, trunk shows and resin!! Again, I have to say, WOW!

I hope you have had a great, crafty weekend!! When we got rained out at the drive-in last night, we rented a great video called, "It Might Get Loud" and I think we're on the 3rd viewing...

I'm not getting much done, but am thoroughly enjoying watching the creative process of Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. What a great pick! I'm not sure that counts as my own creativity, but I think when I hear, watch or experience others' creativity it adds something to my existence.


HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!!

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva For Cindy, yellow is the color of anticipation.

about.com Jewelry Making It is flower power time! Mix resin, real flowers, and beads for this necklace design.

Art Bead Scene The Art Bead Scene Welcomes Miss Fickle Media to the editorial staff!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe will be at Unique LA promoting the Steampunk Style book

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Do not miss out on Andrew Thornton's amazing sale and giveaway! It is fantastic!!! Go now! Really fun!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Be entered to win a one year subscription to Beadwork magazine! Find out how!

Strands of Beads Melissa creates a sweet Spring necklace from wasabi-colored pearls and a beautiful Lillypilly pendant courtesy of Artbeads.com

Beading Arts Cyndi has a copy of "Totally Twisted" that she's giving away! Come enter the contest now!

Carmi's Art/Life World Stranded by the volcano, Carmi has time for a little more window shopping.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie sets up a trunk show at her favorite local indie craft gallery. Check out her display!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Resin has become quite popular in jewelry design lately. It's a lot trickier than Lorelei had originally thought. She tries out the technique for the first time.