One Thing Leads to Another

A collaboration with my friend Sally resulted in this beautiful bracelet. I made mine working short rows. I used two small toggle for the clasps. Sally made hers with long rows and maded a beaded a toggle clasp. We both have Marcia DeCoster's Bead Opulence book. Oh the possibilities are limitless with the techinques Marcia uses in her designs. Bead Happy my Friends. Go buy Marcia DeCoster's book you won't be disappointed!

Turn It Off

If you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at. Art surprised me with a Flip Video. He than proceeded to call me a gadget junkie. Here I am without my first cup of coffee in the morning and starting the day with 4 hours of sleep. It's not pretty but it is pretty darn funny. Enjoy!

New and Old Traditions

It feels like our first Christmas together and we have been married for 20 years. My husband has always worked the holidays.  This year I had a choice.  I could go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  When Art asked me to spend Christmas with him I happily agreed. My Aunt Delores made my Palm tree which stays out all year. This year I added colored lights and extra Christmas ornaments. I hung the star lights and stockings with care without a worry because we both were filled with good cheer.



Christmas dinner was delivered just in the Nick of time. Pizza from Gino's East in Chicago.  We are making new traditions this year.



Merry Christmas. Peace be with you this Holiday Season.

What Bead Porn?

I have seen this term a time or two on a few blogs. My friend Katie heard we took a little trip across the swamps to Turquoise Coyote. She asked me share some bead porn. I took out my camera and snapped a few shots of the bling we picked up.


I picked up these beads shopping with my sister over Thanksgiving.

I couldn't resist the 3mm crystals.


The sparkle of the crystal connectors and rose montees called my name. While the rest of the country got hit with snow, I enjoyed a great day with my friends driving to Ponchatoula to satisfy our lust for beads.

To see more bead porn stop by Lorelei's blog and the Silver Parrot: The REAL ORIGINAL BEAD PORN.

Things We Found in the French Quarter

I have had a really good time the last couple of days exploring New Orleans with my friends Judith and Bob. As we headed out the door I remembered "I need my camera".  I ran back in grabbed the camera and we were off and running.  The first interesting thing I saw I tried to take a picture and realized I left my battery in the charger.  No picture taking for me!  It's been about four years since I have been down town.  We walked for hours enjoying the tourists and site seeing.  We found one store that had that had a few things I needed a photo of.

Thanks for stopping and sharing your comments.

Black Friday Shopping

It's Black Friday and you won't find me out in the crowds trying find that bargin.  The only kind of shopping I like to do is bead shopping.  We did just that last Tuesday and Wednesday.  After seeing New Moon for a second time with my sisters we went out to lunch and hit the bead stores in Kalamazoo.  We found a few trinkets to fill our pockets.  Wednesday was the Jackpot.  We went to Trade  Wind's in Watervielet, MI.  I love going to that place to shop for beads.  I picked up a nice little bag of goodies to bring home with me.
I will leave you some pictures from our shopping adventure.
Don't forget to stop by the Artbead Scene for  Black Friday Sales.
Have a great shopping weekend!
Thanks for stopping by
Beverly

Sharing Some of the Fun

The plane ride to Chicago was unevental until we hit Midway Airport. SouthWest dropped the ol' bird out of the sky so fast we skidded to stop bracing as the brakes screeched to a halt. I had the front row seat and litterly had my feet up on the wall!  There to great was my daughter Amiee with her beautiful smile and her husband Eric who evaded the camera.

I really tried not to get sick but Hurricane Ida blew alot of crap our way before I left.  It started as allergies and turned in Bronchial Asthma.  After our Helicopter ride to Grand Rapids I had to make a trip the Doc in the Box on Sunday.  A Z-pack and steriods have things back on track and I can breath again  thank goodness.  Saturday morning we went to the Threater and saw New Moon.  I liked it just as much as Twilight. You have to go knowing it won't have as much detail as the books and you will like it.

Tomorrow I am going to go watch it again with my sisters. I love when we get to have a sister's day.  It will be a movie, lunch, bead shopping coffee drinking day.

I am going to leave you with some Aerial shots from my helicopter ride

Flying above the clouds. at 3,000 ft.

M-43 Turn about in South Haven, MI

Grand Rapids, MI

Skyline

Grand Rapids, MI

Skyline

Thanks for stopping.
Beverly

A Little Sparkle

I am leaving you with a little sparkle today. Those little rivolis are like potato chips. You can't make just one. My bags are packed and I am flying out of here to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Hopefully I will blog some while I am away.
Have safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

SoftFlex Trio Winner

Yesterday I heard I was the winner of the Soft Flex Trio's Give Away.  How exciting is that! I got to pick out five packs of the new Trio beading wire. I have plans for something special using this wire.

Make sure to stop by the Soft Flex website to check out their new exciting products. You will find design ideas, free projects and tips and tricks. If you have a beading question you can ask Sarah.
I would like to say a special Thank You to all the wonderful people at Soft Flex for being a Bead Cruise Sponsor. Check out the article about the Bead Cruise article on this month's Soft Flex Spotlight! Keep up with what is on new by following Soft Flex on Facebook, Twitter and their blog.

Would you like to take your Beads to High Seas? There is still time to join us for another beading adventure on Bead Cruise 2010.
Thanks for stopping by.
Beverly

You've Got Mail and A Sale

This afternoon the mailman arrived with a special package I was not expecting. It was wonderful surprise from Artbeads.com, their new 2010 calendar. It will replace the 2009 Artbeads calendar hanging on wall at the end of December.

 

 Dollar Sale!!!
Right now Artbeads.com is having a Dollar Sale thru November 12th. You will find over 1,000 items for $1.00! Christmas is 7 weeks away.  To help with your shopping get 10% off your order by using code
SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0424
I would like to end with this post with a thumbs up for Artbeads.com for:

• Great customer service.
• Free Shipping

Hurry you might find yourself saying "I got mail" when your package arrives!
Thanks for stopping by.
Beverly

November Art Bead Scene Challenge

Crocheted bracelet with a Polymer clay Artbead by Beads B Craus. Ancient symbols protected by flowers in a fairy garden long gone. This piece meets the criteria for the 
November Art Bead Scene Challenge.




The Fairy Fellers' Master-Stroke by Richard Dadd

Repeat of Dazzled

This is a repeat of previous post. Due to a blogger burp I had to delete the orginal post.

Art Beads dot Com

Artbeads.com recently asked if would participate in program called blogging for beads. I readily agreed with visions of their artbeads adding just the right finishing touch to these unfinished pieces. I dressed up this netted bracelet with a 16mm square button crystal in Meridian Blue. If you would like to dress up a netted bracelet of your own the pattern can be found here.

8mm Silver crystals roundelles were the perfect touch to capture the Amazonite faceted stone in this crocheted bracelet.

Oh how I love these Ruby Briolettes with 4mm ruby bicone crystals and sterling silver earring wires.

Golden Shadow 15.4 x 14mm Briolettes

combined with 4mm Amethyst bicone crystals create these 2 pairs of Medici Drop Earrings from Marcia DeCoster's Bead Opulence book. Vintaj earring wires complete the design below.

It was pleasure teaming up with Artbeads.com. Whether your looking for just the right beads for that finishing touch or buying supplies for your next project stop by Artbeads.com.  Shipping is free and orders are processed quickly.  Mine seemed to arrived with a blink of an eye. Orders over $75 are sent priority mail.  Check out the weekly specials here. If you are like me and love the bling of crystals you won't be disappointed with their selection of Crystallized Swarovski Elements.

Thanks for stopping by

No I am not Crabby

I went shopping this weekend and did not turn into a crab! Art and I found ourselves spending a four day weekend together. Yesterday we went to the mall shopping for work clothes for Art. Those who know me....know I am not shopper. Especially the mall. I have this deep seated fear of being sucked up by Penny's and Sears never to find my way out again. When my kids were in high school. I would pull into the parking lot. Walk in with the kids and tell them to shop wisely. I sat on the bench outside of the stores and waited for their return. They learned early on to shop wisely. It was good day. We found quite a few things on sale and Art has new clothes to wear work. My reward for making it through the mall? Art took me out to dinner. We had crabs!!

Playing with Patinas

Not only do the dragonflies land in my backyard so has my very own little Russ Troll bead from Rings & Things. He is looking over the patina finish I put on my brass dragonfly. He asked what I used to sealed the patina to preserve the finish. Russ proceed to share his wealth of knowledge about a new product called Renaissance® micro-crystalline wax polish. *GASP* how was I going to explain that I used Johnson & Johnson floor paste wax? Living down here in the swamps I don't get out much. I had to improvise! Thank goodness for the internet otherwise how would I find out about these great new things. Don't forget to stop by Rings & Things blog to get the inside scoop on new hot products and projects. Thanks for stopping by

Shocking!

I was going to blog about the two $10.00 off admission tickets I got for the House of Shock. Much to scary for me. Art and Rosanne both said I would never make it through that haunted house. Not so shocking is my new Witch. Her name is Garda. "The Guardian" She was created at the"The Witchery" A stones' throw from Salem, MS by D. Virgo Who's guarding who? Cricket is doing a good job of watching me take pictures. Honest I did not pose him in front of her. He parked himself in front of the camera! We drove to Mississippi Friday and had a nice visit with my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt Delores makes and sells these witches. Each is a good witch with her own personality and style. Thanks for stopping by

Turquoise Coyote Road Trip

Last week we took a trip to Turquoise Coyote. I couldn't resist the sparkle of the crystals. I bought Rose Montes in Vitrail medium and Blue Zircon. The 4mm Jet AB 2x were screaming pick me. Followed by 3mm padparadscha and amethyst saying don't forget us. I found some very cool earthy pink/brown stick pearls. I have plans to knot a necklace to wear on Bead Cruise 2010. We stopped and had a great Mexican lunch. Notice how the colors of the crystals I bought match the color scheme of the restaurant? That wasn't planned. Funny how that works out. The marcasite rondells were a must for this crocheted bracelet. The stones are 6mm faceted Amethyst stones. The one thing I discovered is I am in need of a seed bead fix. It's been a couple of years since I have gone to a major bead show. I need to see and touch all the different colors and shapes of those tiny pieces of glass lined up in tubes and laid out in hanks. Those are the type of beads that feed my creative muse.

Lucky Dog

Cricket is one lucky dog. He has a friend named Sally who buys him the cutest toys when she out shopping with her hubby Bruce. The newest additions to his ever growing collection of stuffed animals....A Flea..his now all time favorite. On the back side it says "Bite Me" Throw it in the middle of all his toys in the chair and he can find it in a New York minute. Mom does this pumpkin make my butt look fat? Cricket is such a good sport. I have a new orange shirt I will be wearing on Halloween when we go out for tricks and treats. Thank you Sally and Bruce for making Cricket the best dressed pumpkin on the block!

The Winner is

Drum roll please.. Thank you everyone who stopped by and left your name to be entered in the drawing. It warmed my heart to read your kind comments. Congratulations Debb the bracelet will go out in the mail this week.

It's My Turn to Give Something Away

Since January 16, 2005. "97,893" people have visited my blog. Looking back I found a common theme. I like to incorporate Art beads into my bead work. It helps having a humblebead daughter who creates such lovely beads to work with. Humblebeads have found there way into crocheted ropes, bracelets and bead embroidery. One of my favorite creations is the Garden by the Sea bracelet. Heather's cuff bead is perfect as the focal bead in this design. Would you like to make your own Garden by the Sea. The pattern is available in my etsy shop. Earthenwood Studios is another designer who's beads find their way nestled in my designs. The Queen of Denial found herself sailing the high seas on Bead Cruise 2009. Melanie's cabochon faces have such character. I have one Dragonfly Melody Kit available using an Earthenwood Studio dragonfly cabochon. At this time the dragonfly cabochon is no longer in production. Don't forget to check out Melanie's etsy shop for more one of a kind productions. In honor of all those Artists that make wonderful Art beads I am having my first give blog give away. This crocheted bracelet features an Earthenwood Studio Bead with faceted black cut seed beads. No need for a clasp as it rolls over your wrist. It will fit up to a 7 1/2 inch wrist. Contest Rules. Just leave a comment. Make sure there is a link to your blog or email to contact you by. Please help spread the news about the giveaway through your blog, twitter or facebook . ********** The winner will be picked on September 14th by a number generator. Thank you for stopping by. I enjoy your visits.