Countdown....

#Battle of the Beadsmith 2015
T minus 13 days and counting.......Bloody Fingers wrapped ? Check!

Awesome Giveaway -

Monique of Half Baked Notion posted the greatest Giveaway that Pearl of the Beading Gem is offering:

For those of you that are continuously struggling for that perfect jewelry photograph then this is your chance........a Modahaus Photo Studio.  Make sure you take time and read the incredible photo tips that they have......they are using their I Phones for those clean crisp photographs.......I'll be reading it again tonight.

Visit :

http://www.beadinggem.com/2015/05/modahaus-116-steady-stand-ss300.html

 

Monique, your the best for this share.

Well then....it's seems that blog scheduler wasn't working

My apologies ladies - I was out of town yesterday and it seems that my scheduled blog did not post.  Please enjoy.

Today is the day - The Art of Awareness Blog Hop

Today is the day for the Lori Anderson and Heather Millican Art of Awareness Blog Hop. 
When Lori posted her idea for this Blog Hop I was intrigued and spent a few moments visiting
Heather Millicans ETSY site. 

Lori posted:

" Recently I bought a set of word beans from Heather to make myself an awareness bracelet. (Yes, they're called beans... bead beans. Cute!) In my career, I've made a lot of awareness jewelry and always worked hard to make them unique and unlike things you often see in department stores. Lying in bed one night, I thought, "I wonder if Heather would be interested in a blog hop?". "

I would like to take a moment and thank Lori Anderson for her continued ability to develop some of the greatest Blog Hops over the past years and her tireless efforts as she battles her own Awareness.  Please visit Lori's blog at:  http://prettythingsblog.com  and read her story.

I was hooked on these little bean treasures and purchased a perfect bean that means a lot in my life.

Breast Cancer Awareness - so therefore PINK was purchased.  As many who have followed my blog are aware - I have had three of the dearest people in my life pass from this dreaded disease and just this past month my cousin in Oregon has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and has just completed her surgery.  Our hopes and prayers are for a full recovery.  Stephanie is known as " Wild Woman Creations " and I can envision her defeating this disease by her unique wildness.

My creation is in honor of - Leah Schad - Maria Osonski and my wonderful Mother - Ellen Brown Smith, my three muses- my three angels.  I am blessed to have friends where our friendships lasted over thirty years and how can one not recognize how important our mothers are?

Many know that I am a Bead Embroider so I am out of my comfort zone when I string and work with chain.....but I believe these little beans were the perfect setting and I was happy with the results.   

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them.

Thank you Lori and Heather for coming up with a lovely way to create adornment that follows our causes. 

Now get comfortable in your chair - grab a warm cup of coffee and visit the following ladies who have their own creations and stories to tell. 

Lori Heather	Anderson Millican	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com (hostess) www.facebook.com/swoondimples (bead artist)
Candida	Castleberry	www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
mischelle	andrade	https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Paige	Maxim	http://delightfullittlegems.blogspot.com/
Laurie	Vyselaar	www.lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Marybeth	Rich	http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Alice	Peterson	www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kim	Dworak	http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Audrey	Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
Karen	mitchell	www.overthemoon-design.com
Joan	Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jean	Wells	jeanawells.blogspot.com
Ann	Schroeder	www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Gail	Accinelli	facebook.com/oregonmadejewelry
Tania	Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Mallory	Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Mary K	McGraw	mkaymac.blogspot.com
Shai	Williams	www.shaihasramblings.com/
Beth	Emery	storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Catie	Doman	http://drcatie.blogspot.com
Lorelei	Eurto	Http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com
Lee	Koopman	www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Tammy	Adams	www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Katie	Nelson	https://www.facebook.com/katiebead
Patty	Miller	http://pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Chris	Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Cassi	Paslick	http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/
Charlee	Griffith	https://www.facebook.com/charlee.griffith
Kelli	Nelson	www.afamilyaffarekelli.blogspot.com
Catherine	King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com  ( you are here )
Melissa	Trudinger	beadrecipes.wordpress.com
susan	Bowie	https://susanbowie.wordpress.com
Jennifer	Justman	www.soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Cassi	Paslick	http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/
K	Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Veralynne	Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Evie and Beth	McCord	http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/
Mihaela	Georgescu	http://michellemaya2005.wordpress.com
Rebecca	Anderson	Www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Kim	Stevens	www.pickingpoppies.blogspot.com
Susan	McClelland	Mistheword12.wordpress.com
Sally	Russick	www.sallyrussick.blogspot.com
Gina	Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Mona	Arnott	bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Sandi	Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Andrea	Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Janine	Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Lori	Bowring Michaud	www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Christie	Murrow	Www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
B.R.	Kuhlman	www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Lupe	Meter	www.gesmpccorner.blogspot.com
Lucy	Bejarano	www.lucybejaranojewelry.blogspot.com/
Stephanie	Perry	www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Elisabeth	Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Carolyn	Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Heather	Powers	www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Katie	Hacker	www.katiehacker.blogspot.com
Kepi	Rasmussen	www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca
Gail	Vanderster-Zwang	www.angelmoose.blogspot.com
Elizabeth	Hodges	http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com/

The Art of Awareness Blog Hop is scheduled for next Saturday.....

Keep your eye's peeled.  I have a feeling this will be a great Blog Hop.

Bead Peep Swap N Hop Reveal

Today is the day.......our reveal for the 2015 Bead Peep Swap N Hop.  My lovely partner " Krafty Max " and I have been very busy so we can now take a breath!  First I want to thank Linda Anderson for putting this lovely Swap N Hop together.  You can visit Linda at:

http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com      Do drop in and enjoy her blog.  Her sense of humor is wonderful.

A big thank you Linda and all of her assistants for managing this event.  Talk about some talent?  You will see a lot of this today as you start visiting each page. 

  #BeadPeepsSwap

Catherine	King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Krafty	Max	http://kraftymax.com

http://www.kraftymax.net/bead-peeps-swap-n-hop-2015/

Now let me tell you about Krafty Max.  She is such a gem and I have enjoyed following her and her many avenues of beading.  When I first visited the Krafty Max site I was like - WOW!  How does she keep track of all of those sites - ArtFire....Linkedin....Pinterest.... just all of the social media sites I haven't even had a chance to look into.  She inspired me.  In the process this lady also just launched a new website.  Talent I tell you!  Please take time to visit and peruse her site and take special notice of her award winning designs.  You will so enjoy looking at all of her new treasures. 

I originally selected the following after we dialoged via email asking what either one of us would like:  

RED!  

The center cabochon I cabbed myself from Indian Paintstone and all of the red just seemed to fall in place. 

And I received from Max ......

So!  Let me tell you about my treasures.  I'll begin with the delightful treasures and then move to
the very detailed item that serves " two-fold".

The Lovely Cat's Eyes in Brown and Vintage Wood Beads.  I fell in love with the Cat's Eye beads and started a lovely stringing project.  Then as I began to fancy a side set of larger beads I added the vintage wood beads and interspersed some lovely amber Crystals and Silver Beads that were included in the package.  I used a lovely clasp that Max had sent as the clasp for this piece.  I also did ( 2 ) two sets of earrings to go with this piece.  One a simple straight set and the other a loop with SS Ear-wires. 

There was a wonderful Silver Bar piece included in the Silver bag that was set with two fun faux stones.  Looked at it and said " Cat!  that would look great in Chainmaille.........so Wallah!  Two rows of Byzantine co-joined for the clasp.  A lovely little stainless heart.  How delightful is that?

Then the big project - Max included a lovely strand of Turritella Agate in a unusual shape. " Be still my beating heart! "  It was what I had been looking for.  We had a competition in the Society of Creative Anachronism ( SCA ) coming in October that covered the years of the Tudor Dynasty.  I had drafted a lovely rendition of the " Chain of Office " that was worn by Royalty and was  prevalent in the Tudor Dynasty era.  Here are two examples.

My artists mind saw the Turritella Agate as " The Kings Jewels - Chain of Office ".  It was perfect.  The round Grain Stone strand also fit into this piece as well.  I am included a " Sneak Peek " of the " Kings Jewels - Chain of Office " as the complete piece will reveal at the SCA Crown Tournament in October and then of course I will post again as this is being reviewed.

Here is the sneak peek:

I would love to hear you thoughts on this.  In conclusion - I would like to thank Max for being a delightful partner.  Max,  I hope I did your stash justice.

So, pull up a chair - grab yourself a lovely cup of Hot Chocolate and start visiting this wonderful Blog Hop.....................  I know I will be doing the same.

Click on this link which will take you to our wonderful Hostess and you can Hop with the rest of us.

http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/search/label/Swap%20N%20Hop


After that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Battle of the Beadsmiths - WhooHoo!