You Gotta Love Frit

 So, Kate and I decided to play with making some frit again(this stuff is addicting). I was running low on two of the combinations I had originally made, so I had to replenish. And then we came up with four more! These are only for me to use, but for some reason we think we need to name them.

This is By the Beach.....because we love the beach of course!

 We are calling this one Costa Rica because my family is planning a trip there later this year and even though we have never been, these are the colors we think of.

 This one is Lily Pond...lots of blue and green and purple.

And I just love this one! But we haven't come up with a name yet. Turquoise, bright green and grey...Kate says I should name it My Closet, since these are the colors I always wear. Funny girl.

Spring

My daffodils  and trees are blooming!

Spring Break 2012

 This past week was spring break for my daughter, so we decided to take a road trip and visit my parents. They live just a short PATH ride from NYC, so we always try to make a trip into the city. This time we wanted to see the 911 Memorial. It was both sad and wonderful. It is a very moving tribute. The whole design is amazing with all of the names inscribed into the bronze, the waterfalls, and just the size of it. There is even a tree that they have nursed back from the day of the attacks.

 Here we are standing in front of the Survivor Tree. It was such a warm day for March!

 Of course we had to make a few stops at some bead stores. (My son hates this part.) These are some of the czech glass beads we saw at one of the stores. We also spent sometime at Metalliferous. They have moved in the past year, up a floor and the space is even smaller!! But they do fit a lot of cool stuff into that tiny store!

I just loved all the colors on this building!

March Snow

 It has been a very mild winter for Ohio, but this is what it looks like outside today. We got maybe three inches of snow overnight. It's really not that much, but it is March and I am ready for the warm weather! All the birds are out there singing like crazy! Probably saying what is all this? But, like I said this is Ohio, and the weather changes quite a bit from day to day. THEY say it is supposed to be 56 degrees on Wednesday, so Spring is coming!

Bead Soup Reveal

 

My partner, is Suzette Bentley and these are the beads she sent me. Don't they all look so pretty together? Lots of blues and browns. The clasp is brass and is two circles that link together. It is very cool! The focal is really organic looking and it is from Humblebeads.

 

In this necklace I used the brown and blue beads she sent me.  I then added a couple of my lampwork beads that I had in the blue that matched the clay focal perfectly!  I used all different kinds of brass chain, even one I made myself!  This is the first time I've ever made a chain from scratch.  Some of the brass is darkened and some of it is not.  I think it gives the necklace some nice highlights. This necklace used both the clasp and the focal Suzette sent me.

 

 Suzette also sent me some small round pink beads and I knew I wanted to use them in something.

 

I couldn't really figure out how to use them in my main piece.  So, I made a quick wrap bracelet in pinks and greys.  I added in some rose quartz, grey Swarovski crystals, opalite rondelles, and one of my lampwork beads for the closure.  I can't wait to see what Suzette and everyone else has created with their bead soup!