Bead Table Wednesday - Craft Show Prep

Yep, you saw it - or in this case you didn't see it - I missed BTW last week. And I was doing so well keeping up with it, but I guess we all miss a beat occasionally. I had photos all ready and then time just got away from me. I thought about doing a Bead Table Thursday and when that didn't work a Bead Table Friday... Saturday... and so on...

Today the same stuff is on my table (not nicely arranged anymore). It's the last week before Peak Fest and I'm squeezing in a few more pieces. Every time I do a show I always plan to take the final two weeks off and relax.... it never happens.

New earrings for Peak Fest

I love making earrings! I have several new bracelets in the works too, but they'll have to come in another post when there's daylight again.

So how do you deal with the craziness of craft show prep? Do you work madly until the very last minute or are you the sane one with time to kill and you get a full night of sleep with your inventory and displays already packed in the car? I'm trying for sanity. I'll let you know if I ever get there. :-)

Happy Bead Table Wednesday!

Be sure to visit the Flickr group to see what everyone else is up to today!

7000 Bracelets for Hope - My Blue Bracelet Revealed!

Today is the day! We all finally get to unveil our bracelets for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Project. I'm so excited to see what everyone has made!

I really had fun with this one, and a bit of a struggle too. But I think that is what creating is all about - pushing yourself to try new things and expand on old ideas... and it's even better when you get to create for such a wonderful and worthy cause!

Blue was once my favorite color, then I discovered I wasn't very good at creating with it. So it got left behind and I've worked mainly in autumn colors and neutrals. Blue never disappeared entirely and recently it made a comeback in my jewelry and I'm liking it more and more. So I jumped (a little hesitantly at first) at the challenge to make something new in blue when Lori Anderson over at Pretty Things told us about her idea for a challenge and blog hop centered around the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Project.

For my bracelet, my immediate thoughts were of spring, butterflies, sky blue, and bluebirds - all somehow in bead form. I wanted something really special. I spent several days arranging and rearranging my thoughts into a bracelet. I went the turquoise route, and then teal with brass findings and a bit of brown. Bluebirds were the theme for quite a while, but that never came together quite right. I dug deeper into my stash of beads. I found some pretty little opalites (a stone I hadn't ever used before, but couldn't pass up when the sparkle caught my eye), blue agate, and some of my own polymer clay beads in a periwinkle-blue with violet. My metal changed to silver and I threw in a large white agate to mix up the symmetry a bit... and a sprinkling of butterflies... Ta-da! My blue bracelet for 7000 Bracelets for Hope!

I really do love to create something special for someone. Whenever I'm working on a gift or a custom order, I find myself agonizing over every little detail. I want the finished piece to be absolutely perfect. But even more than that, I want its new owner to love it, I want it to bring a smile to their face, and give them a little spot of happiness in their day.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed seeing my bracelet and reading its story. And now I'm off to join the hop and see all the beautiful blue bracelets everyone has created.

Here's the list of all the participants:

 1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things 

2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio You are here!
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

Bead Table Wednesday

Here it is: my bead table in all its glory!

I lost count, but I'm sure there are more than a dozen projects going on all at once here! Now I'm having a hard time telling what's finished and what's not. In a few hours I'll have it cleared off and organized... maybe... maybe not. So, what's this about? I, along with all my beads (when they're put together) are going to North Carolina for the Peak Fest arts and crafts show on Saturday, May 7th!

Yay! I love doing craft shows! :-)

You can go here to read more about it.


In addition to Peak Fest preparation, I have a few other things going on.

This one is a secret! But I can tell you it's blue and it will be a bracelet. It's part of the 7000 Bracelets for Hope blog hop hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. One-hundred-twelve bloggers/jewelry designers are making blue bracelets for the Global Genes Project. Stop by my blog this Saturday for the unveiling of my bracelet and for a list of everyone else participating in this great cause.

You can go to Lori Anderson's blog here to read more about the hop. It's too late to join the hop, but you can still donate a blue bracelet by going to the Global Genes Project.

Speaking of blue...

My blue owl beads are finished. And gone - flying to their new homes to become a part of new jewelry creations. Don't worry! All of you who are waiting for owls, they are coming just as fast as my fingers can make them! Right now there are 2 dozen fresh baked owls (fresh baked... hmmm... that didn't sound very nice, did it?) cooling, waiting for their color. And there will be more blue ones!

Happy Bead Table Wednesday!
See you Saturday for the unveiling of the blue bracelets!

Be sure to visit the Flickr group to see what everyone else is mixing up today!

Bead Table Wednesday

More owl beads, a few hearts, some flower links... and paint. Paint flying everywhere! Brown, green, and now blue owls! I'm having fun experimenting with colors, and who says owls aren't blue or green? They are if I make them that way! ;-)

The flowers, I stamped quite a while ago for earrings and then I stuffed them in a box where they have been waiting until tonight.

...Several more coats of color and everything will be ready for new jewelry...

Happy Bead Table Wednesday!


Be sure to visit the Flickr group to see what everyone else is mixing up today!