This Dog Is Too Silly

We took Roxy to my parents house for Thanksgiving. She did pretty well.  She is a retired racer so she is used to a long ride in a trailer going from kennel to race track. But we decided it would be best if she sat in the back seat.  I am pretty sure the seat is more comfortable then the way she is used to traveling. It took her a little bit to get use to a new house, but after the first day she settled in. She decided she loved laying on this comforter, even if it wasn't hers to lay on.

All that Glitters!

I have been looking for some older rhinestone jewelry for awhile. My daughter really likes pearls and rhinestones right now and I have seen a lot of jewelry remade with antique pieces. I had looked on line and at a couple of the local antique stores, but a lot of what I was finding was very expensive. I was looking for pieces and parts or something that wouldn’t make me feel terrible for taking it apart. A friend of mine told me to try out a Pawn shop. I had never thought of a Pawn shop! So last weekend Kate and I decided to check it out. I was a little nervous going in; I guess when I think of Pawn shops, the image isn’t great.  But this place was really neat! They had so much stuff. The woman that worked there asked us what we were looking for and she brought us out tray after tray of stuff.  She was great, we didn’t even finish with one tray and she would bring out a few more. It was crazy! It was so much fun! Now I am not saying the stuff we got was really antique…..but I think I would call it vintage.

Look at these treasures!

Doesn't it all look so pretty! We picked out chains, earrings and pins. Some are just square, but we also got some flowers and even some snowflakes!! This was a great place to go and I will definitely go back.

Lots of Bracelets!

I have a friend of mine who needed a few bracelets to give as gifts. So I thought I would get to work on them right away. These are some of the ones I have been working on. I showed them to her yesterday and she was really happy with all of them! Yeah!!

Beads and Bracelets

These are a bunch of beads I made the other day. I was so happy when I opened the kiln the next day, that I made some more! I have already posted some pendant necklaces on Etsy. They are very simple pendants, but I just love them.

I also made some bracelets this weekend and plan on getting them on Etsy this week. I really love the colors in these beads! On two of the bracelets I have fused fine silver into little rings and then I hammer them and put some texture in them. I use these for some of the links between the beads. It is so much fun to come up with these different designs and I love when they turn out so pretty!

Wrapping Up the Blog Hop

I have had so much fun looking at everyone's blogs and seeing all of the different jewelry that was made.  Everyone is so talented and all the finished pieces looked so different. It is so interesting to see all the different components people like to work with.  Thank you all for your really nice comments. And thank you Lori for hosting this hop, it is an incredible amount of time you dedicate to this project. I really look forward to the next one in January.

The Party Has Begun!

 Today is the Bead Soup Blog Hop!!!  This has been challenging but fun and exciting.  My bead soup came from Natalie McKenna, I used some of her beads and some of my own.  The challenge was to use the focal and the clasp that was sent to you by your partner.  Natalie was kind enough to send me a couple options for the focal. 

For the necklace I used one of her "inchies" and riveted it to a piece of copper that I had cut and pounded and stamped, that became my focal.  I added a couple lampwork beads, enamel beads and some dog tooth amethyst. I like the light feel of this necklace and how I went from light purples in the front to a deep purple in the back. She sent me a leaf inchie too that I also loved, but unfortunately for me, when I was drilling it I had a mishap....I was very sad.

On the bracelet I used the really cool clasp that Natalie made herself out of copper. I also used some of the clay beads and a lot of the czech, seed and pony beads she sent me. I added some of my own lampwork and enamel beads and a bunch of copper spacers and chain.

I love the colors in both of these pieces. I am not usually a purple person, but really came to appreciate all the variations of purple Natalie sent me and happily used them all!!  I did go out of my comfort zone when I decided to rivet the focal.  And after a couple of tries, I am very happy with how it turned out. I did find myself going back to what is comfortable and using lampwork beads and the enameled beads that I have been learning to make myself lately.

I really enjoyed this hop. The uncertainty of putting together a soup for someone I have never met, the excitement of waiting for and getting my box of goodies and then getting down to business and putting it all together.

Click on each name to go to their blogs.
These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York
2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson
3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino
4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner
5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier
6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins
7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor
8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen
9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller
10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare


11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman
12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps
13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka
14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson
15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy
16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price
17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland
18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John
19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel
19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel
20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou


21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase
22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb
23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign
24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall
25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll
26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley
27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala
28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman
29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz
30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle


31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen
32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards
33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson
34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier
 35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander
 36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye
37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock
38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone
39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf
40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi


41. Cherrie Fickand Cathie Carroll
41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick
42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg
43. Chris White and Norma Turvey
44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer
45. Christie Murrow and Dana James
46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins
47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford
48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis
49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering
50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith


51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes
52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher
53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya
54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk
55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young
56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent
57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj
58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman
59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald
60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick


61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner
62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert
63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez
64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris
65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith
66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday
67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman
68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore
69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones
70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz


71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim
72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable
73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag
74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post
75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton
76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter
77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride
78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller
79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley
80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson


81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor
82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen
83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman
84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy
85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora
86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg
87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann
88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay
89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh
90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski


91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan
92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean
93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis
94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt
95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski
96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio
97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts
98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker
99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford
100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck


101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto
102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark
103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika
104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen
105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec
106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson
107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long
108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson
109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney
110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson


111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger
112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy
113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw
114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher
115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca
116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser
117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse
118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington
119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton
119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter
120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson


121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir
122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank
123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks
124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron
125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe
126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon
127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore
128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller
129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke
130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson


131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum
132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr
133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara
135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James
136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz
137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi
138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman
139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper
140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven


141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner
142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners
143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy
144. Missy Rappaport and Norma Agron
145. Molly Alexander and Poranna
146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell
147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry
148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson
149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna
150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers


151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari
152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan
153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag
154. Pat Haight and Mary McGraw
155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka
156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe
157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain
158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins
159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub
160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya


161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs
162. Rochelle Brisson and Sheryl Stephen
163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell
164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams
165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin
166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small
167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner
 168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk
169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley
170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley


171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman
172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin
173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor
174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa
175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton
176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin
177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones
178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser
179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk
180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager
181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

New Bracelets Coming to Etsy Soon!!

Getting psyched for the big bead soup blog hop tomorrow! I can't wait to see what everyone has made!  Here are a few things that I will hopefully put up on Etsy tomorrow!

Virginia Beach Dophins

A couple of weeks ago we were in Virginia Beach. As we were driving around we noticed these decorated dolphins. We found out that ll of these dolphins were part of a Dolphin's Promise. This is a project that has been going on for a couple of years. The goal is to raise a million dollars for cancer research and also to help save and protect marine life.  A lot of time and effort must go into designing and decorating these.  They all looked so neat. So we decided to see how many we could find. Here are just a few of them....

The Soup I Sent

I wanted to post a couple pictures of the beads I sent my partner Natalie. I choose to send blues and greens because it is my favorite color scheme. I couldn't make up my mind on what focal bead to send, so I sent her a few options. There are a couple enameled beads, a large hole lampwork bead with silver wrapped around it, and a strand of lampwork beads that has a larger bead on it. This strand of lampwork beads is made with the frit  we mixed up a few weeks ago. I really love this color combo. There are also some Czech beads, some clay beads, a couple of coils of Parawire, and a couple of vintage lucite flowers. The clasp I sent was a sterling rectangular toggle. It was fun putting this together. Can't wait to see what she makes with all of it. The Bead Soup Blog Hop is September 17th. It will be a lot of fun seeing all the jewelry everyone comes up with!

Our Roxy Girl

Here is quick picture of our dog Roxy. And this is what she does a lot! Lays around the house and sleeps. We got her about a month ago, and she is a retired racing greyhound. She raced in 80 races. Now she just rests.  We just love her!!We adopted her from a group called the Greyhound Adoption of Ohio. They always have lots of dogs that are looking for a forever home.

Fall Bracelet

I'm going to put this bracelet up on Etsy tomorrow.  The colors are perfect for fall!  Which I hope doesn't come too quick!

Rock, Paper, Scissor Treasury

I made it on another treasury! I love the theme Rock Paper Scissors!  This treasury was created by RobinsFlight.  I've made these scissor fobs from my lampwork beads for a long time and sold them in a local shop.  Now I've decided to put some up on Etsy and see what happens.

My bead soup arrived!!

I got all my beads today and it was so exciting opening up that package. Everything is in purples and coppers with some blues and turquoise thrown in. My partner is  Natalie McKenna and her shop name is Grubbi. She lives in Liverpool. She makes really cool clay beads and likes to work with copper and brass.

A lot of the items she made herself. A number of polymer clay beads: some are swirled with different colors, one is painted in copper, and one has been covered in metallic powders. She also sent 2 squares that have designs embossed into them and then they are covered in resin. They are so pretty, great colors,  I really love the leaf!  The toggle she made is out of copper and has stars stamped onto it. It is really a nice size. She sent some white leather cord, some purple sari silk and a piece of Louisa Harding Sari Ribbon.  And then a lot of accent beads that are czech, toho, pony and seed beads. So much stuff!!

I already have some ideas. I can't wait to get started!