Friday, January 18, 2013

One Thing Leads to Another

Rainbow Bridge























How did one thing lead to another  ?
While I was creating my piece for last week's "Memories and Thanks  Blog Hop" several things happened.
I made lots of  "Rainbow " beads for my shop and I still had some little bits leftover.
I noticed I had tons of small beads and earring findings.
I thought about Tyler's life .
I though about the donations in his memory that had been sent to a local animal rescue. "No Kill Harford " http://www.nokillharford.org/
and the results of my  thoughts....
I decided to made some small earring size pairs of beads with the leftover clay.
I decided to make a few pairs earrings .......
then a few more ...then tons more !
I decided to sell the earrings at work and give 100% of the profit to the rescue.
I realized earrings are an easy ,fun way for me to recharge between bead making sessions.
I really wanted to find a way I could contribute to the rescue .
I figured if  I spent $1 plus my time on a set of earrings , I could raise $5 for the rescue !
I had in mind using up the "don't fit my present style " beads in my vast stash.
That's how I started . But, then I saw some darling paw print charms on ETSY. So I hit "buy now"
Then  that evil temptress Ms. Items that might match your taste,  popped up more adorable pet themed beads ...and you guessed it. Instead of  thriftily using only beads I already owned ,I was buying more.
I'm very glad I did ! I thought maybe I missed prime time since I started my project after the holidays.
But ,the earrings are really selling . I added A "free" organza gift bag to each pair sold. $5 for a gift ready pair of OOAK earrings is a GOOD deal ! And the money goes to a great cause.
It's surely a win win situation !
I started my bead journey for myself .
Beads have opened many doors of friendship and fun for me .
I am please they have also offered me a way to help a cause I believe in.
this week
Bead for a Cause
and Bead Happy !
m.e.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

Waiting at the Bridge























When I decided to join Lori Anderson's "Memories and Thanks Blog Hop ", I did not have a specific person in mind .
Many people have influenced my life .
Many people have a special place my heart .
I thought I would sign up and then think about who I would choose as my inspiration.
Sadly, fate made the choice for me .
On November 17 a friend and co-worker was killed in  tragic automobile accident.
I blogged about the loss
 http://beetreebyme.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-life-remembered.html
This statement became my inspiration
" Tyler is at the Rainbow Bridge waiting to bring your dog to you"
Tyler will always be in the hearts of those whose lives he touched.
I made a large rainbow bead in the shape of a heart .
Then I added a selection of vintage brass dog tags.
I am always  collecting bits and pieces of vintage to use in my jewelry.
I especial love these old tags.  Most are well worn with the beautiful patina of daily use.
I like to think about the beloved pets these once belonged to.
I think they represent perfectly the fur persons waiting at the rainbow bridge for their humans.
Tyler loved dogs so much and they loved him in return.
 It is my prayer he is truly with them still,waiting for the day when all loved ones will be together again .
this week  enjoy a visit with all the Blog hop participants
treasure your  memories
and
Bead Happy

m.e.












Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things 
  Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier
Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.       you are here 
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz 
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

There are many links to the Rainbow Bridge story.
Here is one,just  in case you are not familiar with it.
http://rainbowsbridge.com/poem.htm

Saturday, January 5, 2013

ABS January Challenge

Fairy Trail
























Time for the January  2013 ABS challenge  !
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2013/01/black-peacocks-with-japanese-persimmons.html
Last month I waited and waited and waited some more,
for the beads I wanted to use to be delivered .
I hope never  to repeat that frustration!
This month I asked myself the question
What comes first...  the Beads or the Design ?
Of course the answer is always different .
Sometimes I see the inspiration and an idea pops right into my head.
Then I hope to have the right components already waiting in my stash !
But ,sometimes I just start pulling out beads that match the colors .
I hope something will call out loud and clear to me.
 This month it was a piece of olive /gold  lace that caught my eye.
When I first saw the painting, I thought maybe I'll make some sort of peacock.
But, the fantasy, fairy tale quality of the theme haunted me .
The lace mimicked the color and texture of the peacock's tale .
Vintage lace seemed perfect for a Fairy Princess piece of jewelry .
The lace was sturdy enough to press into the black clay  for texture  too!
I make flowers whenever I can . I decided my art bead would a  delicate floral with peacock blue center. Then I found a few metal ferns and  some glass beads for bling .To finish it all off I used  a bit of guilders paste to high-lite the black clay.

Do we ever outgrow our  Fairy Princess  dress- up days?
I hope not .
This week
create a dress up design
and
Bead Happy !
m.e.