Thursday, February 02, 2017

It's That Time Of Year!


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Art of Awareness Bloghop


Lori Anderson And Heather Millican had this idea to ask artists to join together in creating a piece of art to help raise awareness to a personal cause.  And so it was born.  We were each asked to pick a word that meant something to us and a color that represented the cause.  Heather then made each of us our own personal bead to create with and stamped it with an awareness ribbon

This is my piece for The Art of Awareness Bloghop.  

The green is for Mental Health Awareness.  This issue is very close to my heart.  My family suffers from Mental Health Illnesses.  Many with mental illness suffer in quiet and do not get the help that is desperately needed.  My family is one of the fortunate ones.

I learned a very important lesson from a very wise therapist, Barbara Altman.  She told me when problems arise I often "swallow them" and hold my breath and stay silent.  It creates a sadness and desperation and so much more.  I was taught that when I encountered a problem to exhale and breathe in and exhale.  During this process I was to clear my head, think about the problem and learn to discuss it.

It seems like such a little thing and may come natural to others, but for me it was life changing.  I continue to remind myself to just breathe.  


This is based on a pattern from Liisa Turunen.  I loved the simplicity of the right angle weave finished off with a little peyote stitch. 



Swarovski crystals are my favorites to bead with.  I have always been attracted to sparkle, twinkle and shine!   


There is something so mesmerizing about a crystal.  They always make me stop and pause.  And now, breathe!


This is reversible!  The foil backs are just as pretty!

Enjoy and be well.  And never forget to breathe!



Posted by at 16 comments:

Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Art of Awareness Bloghop!


Click here to see all the participants blogs and other details ------>  The Art of Awareness Blophop!


Coming Soon!  So honored to be a part of this!

Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, May 08, 2014

8th Annual Bead Party Blog Swap Reveal Time!

If you would like to check out some amazing eye candy and see the blogs of participants 
I'm not sure how many of us there were, but it will keep you busy for days!

So, now for my reveal - with the lovely items I received
(shown in my last blog post)
here are my pieces - 

I incorporated the seed beads into a double spiral rope, one of my favorite stitches!  

The wire wrapped focal is based on a pattern from Lisa Barth.  I loved the wire wrapping and have only attempted it once before.  



As soon as I received the pearls I knew this is what I wanted to do with them.  It is pattern from Isabella Lam  that I have always wanted to make.  I thought it would be the perfect little necklace to peek out from under a collared shirt, and it is!


Do hope you enjoyed my pieces!  Happy Beading, enjoy!  gv


Posted by at 26 comments:

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Soup is Swapped!

Great picture, eh?


This is my Bead Soup teaser for Deanna Riles-Cox!  Not so fancy, but it did the job.  Below is the teaser that she sent me!  I loved the colors, it was a great tease! 


(I also need to figure out the program she used to swirl the color!) 


Here is what I sent - Czech flower buttons, a huge Swarovski Teardrop, freshwater pearls, some glass beads that I loved but don't know much about, Czech crystal silky gold picasso rondelles, 2 circa 1960's Swarovski Saturn square rivals,  a sterling silver clasp that I had the hardest time parting with and some 2 hold lentils.  I can't wait to see what Deanna makes with all these!  




And then, my box arrived!

So exciting!

I took my time and enjoyed every second! 

Here is my soup!  


Love, Love, Love what I received!  Deanna hand dyes the flowers, they are beautiful!  She makes the most amazing Fascinators!  Take a peek at her Facebook page if you can!  
Click here --->Deanna's Handiwork!
So, now what to do with my soup?  First I need to figure out where Deanna purchased the undyed pearls and get tons more of them!  I love pearls and these are luscious!  I have to figure out how to seal a copper toggle clasp - I'm thinking nail polish?, and then ponder the Rose Quartz focal and rondelles and the Miyuki beads and drops!

Thank you Lori McDaniel Anderson for hosting such a special event!

Posted by at 3 comments:

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

That time of year again! BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY!!!! Sorry, am I shouting. :)

Click Here to Learn More!
Posted by at 1 comment:

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Lori McDaniel Anderson Appreciation Day!

Lori McDaniel Anderson is a very special woman and I would like to thank her for all the work she does to help the art community and for also helping me to expand my own creative boundaries!  She spends countless hours organizing amazing world-wide art swaps for the love of  bringing together artists for inspiration and sharing!

The first Bead Soup Blog Party I believe had about 80 people.  The current Bead Soup Blog Party had over 400 participants from over 20 countries.  She has brought together a community of artists that not only share ideas and knowledge, but discuss problems and give each other encouragements as well as share our awards and accomplishments

I am honored to be a part of this community and thankful to her for countless inspirations I've had and the many friendships I've made.   


Moe wants to Thank You!
And Angel Thanks You!

Lilibelle wants to Thank You also!
Arielle and I want to say Thank You too!

We enjoyed getting pink for you! 
(The bath after, not so much....)

Lori, please know you have made such a huge difference in my life for the better!  You are appreciated, valued and loved by me and so many others.  Thank you.  Some day I'll get to say that in person and give you a great big hug!

(for links to Lori and for more information see the blog post after this one!)

Check out all of us in pink here!


Here are the rest of us in the In The Pink Appreciation Tribute to Lori
if you would like to take a peek at their blogs and pink and thank yous!

Gail Vanderster-Zwang http://angelmoose.blogspot.com
Kelley Katherine Hagerty-Fogle  http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten   http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Mary Howell Govaars  http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Lynnea Perry Bennett   http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache  http://www.allprettythings.ca
Courtney White Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com
Andrea Beth Trank www.heavenlanecreations.com
Heidi Mansfield Kingman  http://mybeadtherapy.blogspot.com
Emoke Schmidt  http://emoke1.blogspot.com 
Sandi Marinaro Volpe  http://www.sandivolpe.com
Sonya Ingersoll-Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Sally Bohner Anderson
Judy Daly Reganti
Brenda Lee Sigafoos 



Posted by at 17 comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)