This Week's Project: Replacement Necklace

It seems that I have been misplacing jewelry lately and haven't been able to find one of my favorite necklaces.

So, I grabbed 4 or 5 bead boxes and was determined to make something out of what I found in them to replace it.

I was happy to have found this large circular mother of pearl bead to use for making a pendant. I was just going to include the little gray circle with a hematite bead inside of it, but it seemed a little too simple and expected.

The extra hematite bead adds a little something extra that made me stare at it wondering whether I liked it or not. I didn't dislike it and it seemed more interesting than the simpler version, so there you go.

Another simple project to add to my collection!! Love that shiny hematite!

I hope you are having a fun weekend! :)

Featured Designer: Michelle Mach of Beads & Books

We made it to Friday!! Life is good! :)

This week's featured designer is someone you might already be familiar with from numerous beading publications.

Michelle Mach is a freelance jewelry designer, writer, editor, and former librarian.

On the "jewelry designs" page of her website, she lists the current publications she is in and even shares projects previously published.

Michelle writes about her creative adventures every Tuesday and Friday on her blog, Beads & Books, which has a great tagline to clearly express her unique perspective, "Reading and writing in an arts and craft world".

She is preparing for an arts and crafts show tomorrow and shared some of the earrings in her collection.

I LOVE that her earring cards give ideas for books based on the earrings selected... Now THAT is creative!! :)

I had a great time scrolling through her posts on a wide variety of subjects, from how to submit designs to magazines to advice for using resin.

Thanks Michelle for allowing me to share your cool concepts and pieces here!! I'm so glad she is going to be part of the Sunday bead bloggers list, yay!

Have a great weekend!!

What Colors = Holiday Festivities?

I was getting out all my green and red beads to create something new to wear for the holidays and realized I don't want to do red and green this year...

I really broke out of the norm last year when I went with white pearls, peridot bicones and Cinnamony CZ's! :)

Actually, I still love that bracelet on memory wire because it goes with anything all year!

I also made this whimsical bracelet last year using softflex holiday colored wire to appease the other part of my personality. I still love both of those bracelets, however...

This year I'm looking for some new color ideas. Maybe I should create a Floridian holiday line!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts or your own experiences breaking out of the typical holiday jewelry box!

Where Women Create - Giveaway Extravaganza!!

Great News everyone!! It's time for the 12-Days-of-Christmas holiday giveaways over at the "Where Women Create" blog. Yay!!

In the words of Jo Packham and Paige Hill, "Starting today and continuing each day until December 12th, we will feature three fabulous artists on our blog. They will be sharing their cherished holiday traditions, plus giving away a FANTASTIC prize ... Yes, that's three prizes a day! Three chances to win! And believe me when I say FANTASTIC prizes!!!!"

I am truly honored to be part of the festivities on Day 11!

The first giveaway was just posted and it's a doozy! Jo and Paige have the first items up for grabs on the kick-off post as follows:

-THE LATEST COPY of WHERE WOMEN CREATE Magazine
-THE PREMIER ISSUE of WHERE WOMEN COOK Magazine
-A copy of "Where Women Create" book of inspiration
-A copy of the "Where Women Create" book of inspiring work spaces
-A Where Women Create logo charm bracelet
-PLUS a SWAG bag!

What an extremely generous AND amazing gift package!!

Head here for instructions for how to win these and many other items over the next 11 days!!!

Beading for Yourself

I ran out of the house last Monday without grabbing a bracelet. No problem, I always have one or two in a purse pocket.

I happened to have switched bags and found this 3 strand pearl/MOP bracelet that I made several years ago.

I love the cuff effect of this one and wish it had some other colors in it.

I was just thinking about making something tonight so I would have something new to wear tomorrow and my thoughts turned to a multicolor/multistrand pearl bracelet.

I still have a few beads from each of these combos and am thinking about mixing them up and adding crystals.

You know how you get that feeling that you NEED to bead or NEED something new to help you have more positivity?

It's so great to look down at your wrist and see something fresh, new and fun to give you a BOOST of whatever it is that you need.

It could be fun or confidence, but in any case that is one of the wonderful things about beading for yourself!!

I'm heading for beads, I'll keep you posted!

Cuff to Embellish

While I was gathering beads for last weekend's craft night, I came back across this faux leather cuff with snaps that I found last year in the craft store bargain bin. It's so cute and has the metal ring in the front, perfect for adding some embellishments.

I would LOVE to get your thoughts on this!! Here are a few that are spinning around in my head at the moment:

• Use silver craft wire to add a few beads and wrap from one side of the ring to the other forming wire web with random beads.
• Make beaded dangles and/or charms to hang from each side of the ring.
• Wire on an additional strand on either side of the ring using chunky/colorful beads.
• Randomly wrap all silver beads around the ring with a more industrial vibe...

Once you start thinking it is not always easy to know for sure which direction to take. I guess that's why it's called a creative PROCESS!!

I hope your week is off to a good start! I would so appreciate your thoughts on this one! :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's no secret that time has a way of flying right by when you aren't looking! The most important thing to me is that I have fun while it happens! :)

The group below seems to have similar goals! Please join me in taking a quick peek in the worlds of the bead bloggers below.

We've got two new bloggers who have joined the group, Lori Anderson of the "Pretty Things" blog and Michelle Mach of the blog, "Beads & Books".

Throughout these links you will see bead soup swaps, holiday shopping and craft shows, giveaways and sweepstakes...Yay!

Pretty Things Come see the small swaps that go on in the Bead Soup Blog Party Yahoo Group!

Beads & Books Michelle searches the toy store to get ideas for earring displays for her upcoming craft show.

About.com Jewelry Making Find out the latest news, including a tight deadline, for an awesome jewelry making challenge sponsored by Rio Grande and Lark Books.

Carmi's Art/Life World In a two part story Carmi glams up a name tag with jewelery components.

Art Bead Scene Get your jewelry shop ready for the holiday shopping season with help from Art Bead Scene!

Beading Arts Don't miss the beautiful Murano glass pendants that Cyndi will be giving away now and all through next month!

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Watching your pennies while trying to make fabulous jewelry for gifts this holiday season? Cindy can help you, read on!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Happy Thanksgiving! Celebrate the holiday with a special Thursday Giveaway sponsored by Auntie's Beads!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! The latest news from Artbeads : voting and a new sweepstakes!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles A thrift store find inspires Melanie to make some fun dinosaur tear pendants