Pine Ridge Treasures " Nugget and Pearl Challenge "

On Saturday our lovely Hostess - Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures - held her " Nugget and Pearl Challenge".  Not a complete blog hop as we are used too but we were able to blog and post photos on the Facebook page for everyone to enjoy.  When I received my kit mind you - I am not a proficient stringer as my sister is.  So I mulled - mulled some more -mulled -  then bit the darn bullet and did a " Common now !" and started.

Photographs of the participant pieces are at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1575101222731352&type=1

I used all items from the kit with the exception of the Red Stone nuggets which exasperated me to no end and the clasp.  I just could not find a proper setting for them so they have been set aside for a future endeavor.

I have one item I wish to change but otherwise I am pleased with the results and I just love those earrings with the dangling leaves. 

Battle of the Beadsmith 2015 - Partners and Battle Groups are complete

The Battle Groups have been assigned and our Round One Battle participants have been selected.
I'm in Battle Group C - ( Such Talent )

One week from tomorrow many of you will abandon all familial responsibilities in your personal quest for beading greatness. This will be a difficult journey as hungry children, piles of dirty laundry, and new episodes of Game Of Thrones will threaten to keep you from the beady glory that is rightfully yours..............stay strong.

For Beads and Country !!
Battle On ...
Steven

BOTB15 Round 1

By Steven Weiss on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 5:44am

Group A
1-Eniko fabian-Austria vs Betty Cox-USA
2-Milla Hope-Canada vs Noel Wyres-Australia
3-Melissa Ingram-Australia vs Ewa Machnik-France
4-Grazyna Walczak-Ireland vs Natalia Luzik-Russia
5-Miriam Shimon-Israel vs Monika Kasparova-Czech republic
6-Marcella Cataldo-Italy vs Maria Vulkova-Russia
7-  Cortney Phillips-USA vs Larisa Sumer-Ukraine
8-Elly Budding-Netherlands vs Laura Giusti-Italy
9-Esther Wijma-Netherlands vs Catriona Starpins-Australia
10-Elena Orlowska- (the Polish one) vs -Elena Nenilina-Ukraine
11-Roxana Bacila-Romania vs Kim Jansen-Netherlands
12-Aldona Pintea-Romania vs Federica Strafa-Italy
13-Andrea Zelenak-Romania vs Veronica Jonnsson-Sweden
14-Irina Kashirina-Russia vs Monica Vinci-Italy
15-Zulfija Salimzjanova-Russia vs Stefania Iucci-Italy
16-Emese Hake-Slovakia vs Yuni Canosa-Cuba
17-Tanya Ivanova-Spain vs Anna Kurtova-Russia
18-Fiby Kreutzer-Switzerland vs Tiina Lija-Sweden
19-Elena Deryabkina-Ukraine vs Sarah Louise Gordon-South Africa
20-Jenny Argyle-UK vs Kristina Kristianssson-Sweden
21-Catherine Chinoy-UK vs Nadine Zanner-Germany
22-Lynn Davy-UK vs Becky Griffith-USA
23-Olga Mulyarova-UK vs Elena Pashkova-Mexico
24-Karen Beck-USA vs Alina Emandi-Romania
25-Teressa Dyer-USA vs Svetlana Dubinsky-Israel
26-Anna Hobgood-USA vs Beth Dewey-USA
27-Kathy Benson-USA vs Eva Dobos-Hungary
28-Patty Sledge-USA vs Christine Boyer Maj-USA
29-Lillian Todaro-USA vs Alena Heinrichova-Czech Republic
30-Jean Upton-USA vs Yana Cvetkova-Bulgaria
31-Swetlana Fuchs-Germany vs Jennifer Shibona-USA
32-Marit Vogel-Hungary vs Jody Young-USA
Group B
1-Ruth Davies- Autralia vs Lucia de Luca-Italy
2-Anna Fjellborg-Belgium vs Alla Ambar-Israel
3-Vaneska Joias-Costa Rica vs Alexandra Lysenkova-KYRGYSZSTAN
4-Nella Kabelova-Czech Republic vs Svetlana Hackl- Austria
5-Heidi Peltomaa-Finland vs Lakota Taylor-France
6-Natalie von Oldenburg-Germany vs Ewelina Kuzawińska-Tymosiak-Poland
7-Erika Bita-Simon-Hungary vs Patrick Duggan-Australia
8-Bobe Ikotics-Hungary vs Ringaile Radojevic-Czech Republic
9-Erzsebet Kis Jakab-Hungary vs Monique de Boer-Netherlands
10-Nunzia Ciavorella-Italy vs Pauline Peskoff-Canada
11-Maria Curridori-Italy vs Madlen  Zhorzholiani-Georgia
12-Simona Rotaris-Italy vs Regina Okrain-Israel
13-Dovilė Vasiliauskaitė-GataBella-Lithuania vs Cira Troilo-Italy
14-Janine Van Dijk-Netherlands vs Graziella Malara-Italy
15-Laura Nicolaescu-Romania vs  Joanne Zammit-Malta
16-Lidia Olaru-Romania vs Tatyana Fedorikhina-USA
17-Alena Kalinina-Russia vs AnnaPia Gårdmo Jidler-Sweden
18-Tatyana Skryabinskaya-Russia vs Olga Haserodt-Germany
19-Sidina Irina Viktorovna-Russia vs Grazyna Anton-Poland
20-Ana María Pozo Reyes-Spain vs Anna Perelman-USA
21-Oksana Khmelenko-Ukraine vs Nadezda Vinogradova-Russia
22-Marina Korobka-Ukraine vs Margareta Gustavsson-Sweden
23-Katie Dean-UK vs Daria Martsinkovskaya-Russia
24-Tracey Gwilliams-UK vs Ana Zaporojan-Romania
25-Catherine Homer-UK vs Nausikaa Dahllöf-Sweden
26-Sharon Edelman USA vs Jeanne Evans-USA
27-Raven Pena-USA vs Tatiyana Kobets-Ukraine
28-Angela Plager-USA vs Dee Elgie-UK
29-Hannah Rosner-USA vs Misan Tejre- Sweden
30-Elizabeth Ann Scarborough-USA vs Guadalupe GONZALEZ ROMERO-Spain 
31-Leanne Gray- New Zealand vs Joanna Młodkowska-Brach-Poland
32-Chantal Stadler-Switzerland vs Katrin Podra-Estonia
GROUP C
1-MaryanneVillalba-Australia vs  JosaneDemuylder-Belgium
2-AlbenaPetkova-Bulgaria vs AndrasCsilla-Romania
3-Jacquiechampion-Canada vs Eva Chrastkova Mišurcová-Czech Republic
4--ClaraLai- Hong Kong vs Joanne Browne- Australia
5-AnnieHatvani-Hungary vs MariaconcettaGaetani-Italy
6-AnettPulai Morvai- Hungary vs JaniceCuozzo-USA
7-Katalin Appadoo-Ireland vs SadrineDuermael-France
8-Lia Kurz-Israel vs Kassie Shaw-USA
9-Isabella lam-Israel vs  GuiseppeBuraschi-Italy
10-SerenaDi Mercione-Italy vs Edgar Lopez Disenos-Dominican Republic
11-JelenaSaveljeva-Italy vs MariaNyberg-Sweden
12- Linda Pratt-USAvs Loli Garcia Tirado-Spain
13-RasaVilcinskaite-Lithuania vs Mirela Mohjazi-Romania
14-EllenRoelofs-Netherlands vs EditPeng-Hungary
15-NicoleVelthius-Netherlands vs RoseangelaManca-Italy
16-AronaHaryo-Romania vs AleksandraMultan-Poland
17-DeliaSoare-Romania vs Mel Wiegard- Australia
18-olesyaBryutova-Russia vs Sabrina Milardi-Italy
19-KseniaKrutikova-Russia vs TatiyanaLabutina-Russia
20-ElenaKonstantinova-Russia vs AlexandraVolkova-Kazakhstan
21-Zuzana Hake-Slovakia vs SvetlanaIvanova-Russia
22-Anna Lindell-Sweden vs AnnRecotta-USA
23-Fia Vindh-sweden vs NeeltjeMeerman-Netherlands
24-Natalija Bekic-Switzerland vs MarshaWiest Hines-USA
25-Elena Holovchenko-Ukraine vs MargonVandongen-Singapore
26-Iryna Shamray-Ukraine vs NadyaGerber-Germany
27-Agnieszka Buczkowska-UK vs OlgaShumilova-Russia
28-MarilynNorman-UK vs VickyRoberts-UK
29-Rebeccawilliams-UK vs Catherine King-USA
30-BarbaraConrad-USA vs Jenniferairs-UK
31-LynnHedgecock-USA vs Carin Riese-Sweden
32-Pauline Kuzemchik-USA vs ThereseMagnani-USA
GROUP D
1 MilenaStoilova-Canada vs Regina Krawets-Australia
2 Zuzana Hampelova Valesova-Czech Republic vs Rita Vellemens-Belgium
3-Kris EmptingObenland-Germany vs Blanca Medina- Peru
4-Elena Markovski-Germany vs NevaBrown-Australia
5-Eva CsizmadiaLajosne-Hungary vs MegThompson-Australia
6-Gaburine KelemenBeata-Hungary vs AsetTsoloeva-Bulgaria
7-Zsuzsanna Lazar (Kali Gopika) Hungary vs Coral Egeleund-USA
8-Ann Braginsky-Israel vs Barbara Steger-France
9-AnnalisaEsposito-Italy vs  Carmen Smith-USA
10-DaniellaPresutti-Italy vs WendyHatton-Australia
11-Arianna Raffa-Italy vs  Nikki Messal-USA
12-JolandaViolante-Italy vs TizianaMessina-Italy
13-NataljaMeksriuniene-Lithuania vs Erikasandor-Slovakia
14-Bonita Hendriks-Netherlands vs IleniaRuzza-Italy
15-Cora Sparidaans-Netherlands vs AgnieszkaRodo-Poland
16-DanielaFlorouiu-Romania vs Lucie Luuthien-Czech Republic
17-AndraMarasteanu-Romania vs AnastasiyaIvantsova (Kylakova)-Russia
18-CameliaOszlansky-Romania vs Ioana CsikiSava-Romania
19-AnastasiaKilmanova-Russia vs MihaelaOproiu-Romania
20-Anna Kurzina-Russia vs GalinaNedelcheva-Spain
21-Albinalapina-Russia vs Tina Odembo Hobbs-USA
22-CharinaQvarfordt-Sweden vs -SharayahSheldon-USA
23-Sheryl Stephens USA vs Allamaslennikova-Russia
24-IrinaSlobodyanik-Ukraine vs Jamiereynolds-USA
25-Dianne Dizzy DICraknell-UK vs IleanaMunteanu-USA
26-Nicole Stanley-UK vs  Patricia Parker-USA
27-Dee WingroveSmith-UK vs ApollinariyaKoprivnik-Slovenia
28-Shirley Mcmanus-USA vs ChristinaNeit-USA
29-Tammy Norton-USA vs Iha VahlbergOrre-Sweden
30-Mickey parker-USA vs Diana Yum Bucher-USA
31-Lynn parpard-USA vsTatyana Mykhalchenko-Ukraine
32-Naan Pocen-USA vs Iryna Shlapakova-USA

 Battle Group D is brutal with talent. Yep!  I'm ready.  Just a " beady" lamb to the slaughter but oh!  How much fun this will be.

Newest Bead Embroidery Cuff

A little note from the Raven......

My newest completion is a Bead Embroidery Cuff which I have name, " Oak Creek ".  Memories
of Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona fit this cuff perfectly. The Turquoise.....the Silver. 
The Ladies of the Evening Bead Group just critiqued and here are the sample photo's before I do the
main photographs.  As I explained to Genny Smith - each 15 bead is sewn individually.  " Glutton for
punishment ". 

Don't you just love the paper towel backround...... :)

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  I have another one laid out in a different color way to be started after I complete the Battle piece.

The Art of Awareness Blog Hop Piece....

I ordered by Heather Millican " Swoondimples " polymer words and I received them last week - darn if I didn't just go ahead and finish the Blog Hop piece which is now sitting on my mannequin.  I truly wish I could share it before the hop as this little treasure is totally different from my normal Beading, not that it does not " BLING".  The word I ordered is poignant and perfect for my Awaremess pink ribbon for Breast Cancer and Heather added another smaller piece as an extra which I added to this creation.  Thank you so much Heather,  I am quite enchanted with your Swoondimples.

When you have a moment please visit Heather's ETSY Shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/swoondimples

The website has been developed and is in composing mode.  It will be linked to this blog and visa-versa.  I want to thank a dear friend Suzie Hawthorne Griffis for giving me that added push and setting up the domain.  I'll advertise as soon as this is ready for launch.  It will start out as a Portfolio website divided between Bead Embroidery - Bead Weaving and Chainmaille and then I'll look at adding the Shop.  Lot's of playing to do.  You know those artists, it has to be creatively perfect.

Bead Peeps Exchange is complete ..........

Max of KrafyMax Originals and I have completed our exchange - Phewww!  Before the deadline and we are now able to share what wonderful gifts we have received.  To visit Max's site to see her soup, please visit :

http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2015/03/making-monday-31615-mi-casa-cafe.html

 

I was so delighted when I opened my soup from Max and don't ask me why but when I saw this item the piece designed itself. 

 

Needless to say - the lovely little journal that Max included has the first draft of the design because of these pieces.  I promise I'll make a copy during the reveal. 

I received a wonderful selection of beads and stones to go with this lovely group of focal's along with a wonderful book, " Jewelry Techniques by Anastasia Young " ,that I believe is a wonderful treasure after flipping through the pages and some lovely notecards ( my secret ). 

Just enjoy the natural beauty of this selection. 

Thank you Max for your generosity and wonderful eye for detail.  You've made it very easy to design with this selection.

 

Just a little Sneak Peek!

Just a little note from the RAVEN!

Bead Peeps 2015 ! Most of us are sending out our wonderful Bead Stashes to our partners
now so we can begin our Blog Hop Previews.  My partner is Krafty Max from Jacksonville,
FL.  See my post introducing this wonderful beader:

http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/2015/02/bead-peeps-swap-n-hop.htmlOn April 1st 2015 , Battle artists will start a single piece of original wearable beadwork. Artists will have until June 8th to complete and photograph their designs..............

So I thought I would offer a " Sneak Peek "!  Such a tease!

Please take a moment and visit with Max to see her current blog posts......

http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2015/03/talented-tuesday-31015-twisted-and.html

A Birthday for friends near and far......

Just a quick post :

https://www.facebook.com/catherine2447

Thursday was Deborah Apodaca's Birthday.  It is hard when your friends are far away and you are not there to share the fun of each birthday as we did the years before.  So to make it special - this piece that I created was special for two reasons.  It was the first Cabachon that Deb and I cabbed at the St. Lucie Rock and Gem Club and Dragonflies are Deb.

Definately visit the Facebook link and watch the fun.

My First Winter 2015....

Just a few moments to share the beauty of Winter.  " My First Winter.......It was actually a stunning season ".  I am sure that many people are saying... " Gosh! Let's get this over with."  But for a person that is seeing winter for the first time I found it peaceful - quiet - introspective and my creativity was
beyond any winter that I can remember.  I wasn't cold as everyone had told me I would be.  I never slept with the heat on in my room.  It was needed.  Nothing like cuddling under my quilts with the pups.  I was quite comfortable.

Now on too beady items.

Please drop by and visit Valorie Clifton's Blog..... she has quite a few magazine publishings of her wonderful work to catch everyone up on.

http://vcartisanoriginals.blogspot.com/2015/03/marching-intomarch.html.  Pay her a visit.  You will not be disapointed.

I still have several other posts to complete today.  The tantilizing post of my Bead Partners stash that is mailing on Monday and a few other odds and ends.  Now off to create.