State of My Studio

Over at Beads of Clay they are asking the question, how has this season affected the state of your studio? Well, I've been doing some holiday jewelry shows, bead shopping, getting packages in the mail from swaps, getting ready to send out packages for swaps and everything has ended up on my work table. Hmmmmmm.

Bead Soup Blog Hop

Lori Anderson who hosts the fabulous Bead Soup Party each year is hosting a more intimate gathering where the participants send their partner a piece of jewelry that they either aren't crazy about, hasn't sold, has been sitting around for too long, whichever. Then the partner takes it apart and makes it into something else. Sounds like fun. I didn't get in on this one but you can watch. Starting Monday November 15 hop to these blogs and see the before and afters.

Here's one I'd like someone to revamp. Needs some uummmppppfffff!!

Erin Prais-Hintz http://www.treasures-found.blogspot.com/

Jen Velasquez http://www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com/

Johanna Rhodes http://www.firephoenixcreations.blogspot.com/

Laurel Steven http://www.laurelsteven.blogspot.com/

Loretta Carstensen http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com/

Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Mallory Hoffman http://www.rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/

Marianna Boylan  http://www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com/

Norma Turvey http://www.beaddreamsandmoonlitfantaseas/

Sharon Misuraco http://www.goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com/

Stacey Curry http://www.starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/

Tyne Bodenburg http://www.tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com/

Celebration

 As my Celebration post for ABS Carnival Bloggers I am celebrating life and nature through pictures. No words could ever do the splendor of nature justice. I recently went on a 4 mile hike in the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas. I'd like to share some of that splendor with you. Enjoy!! and Celebrate!!

Swimming to the surface

I hope I didn't lose anyone. I know I've been gone for a while. I feel like I've been in a fog or underwater since my husband passed away in July. I have been just dabbling in clay for the last 3 months. Mostly because I needed to attend my weekly clay group/therapy sessions. But I couldn't really bring myself to add any color to anything. I haven't even worn any of my jewelry in the last 3 months. I guess it's my way of mourning. I didn't wear black all the time but I had trouble adding that extra splash of color to outfits. It just didn't seem appropriate.

But I feel like I am slowly swimming back to the surface. I can see the light up there, even that sparkle when the sun hits the waters surface just right. I've been waiting for the right inspiration or jolt or something to spark the designer in me. I think it was a combination of several things. I moved and had set up a small but comfortable studio space in my new home. Then I just waited. There was plenty to do in the mean time. I was recently very inspired by Art Bead Scene's October Monthly Challenge. I loved the mix of metals and the muted colors of the inspiration piece. So I began laying out a design but I kind of stalled. Then, I mentioned to a friend who is also a clay bead artist and jewelry designer that I was really experiencing a design block as I was admiring a beautiful piece that she had created. I also mentioned to her that I hadn't worn any of my jewelry for the last 3 months. So she placed her beautiful piece around my neck. And by the way, I had on the perfect black blouse to showcase her lovely creation. And told me to wear it that day. So I did. And I have to say, it felt great. Here is Deana's piece and if you are local, she is having a preview sale at her house on December 3 before we do the Ardovino's Holiday Market in Sunland Park, NM. on December 5. E-mail me if you want her address or directions to Ardovino's.

After wearing this piece for the day, I went home and finished up my Art Bead Scene October Monthly Challenge Entry. And here it is.

I'm excited to be back in the wonderful world of color as they used to say in the Disney advertisements. Wow, I'm really dating myself there. I know there will be hard times to come. But the clay and the color and life going on will keep pulling me back. I also have a brand new grandson to celebrate. He fought hard to get here and to get strong and healthy. I will fight too.

Exploration-whether you want to or not

I should have no trouble with this month's ABS Carnival Blog Theme of Exploration. I am suddenly and unexpectedly embarking on a whole new journey at a time in my life when I was very comfortable staying just where I was. As one friend put it, "It's the end of an era".

I lost my most cherished, beloved friend, lover, husband and confidant last week. I have no choice but to explore lots of other possibilites. Everything in my life changed in one instant. This is the first time in my life ever that I will live alone. But I am not alone.

I will explore options by myself that I would never have dreamed of doing by myself. Buying a smaller home. Deciding what to keep, what to part with. Deciding what to eat for dinner, what to watch on tv without regard for anyone else. But I do so completely shored up by his memory and his strength. I can feel him holding me up and keeping me strong.

There is a poem by Ruth Bell Graham in her book Sitting by my laughing fire... called Plenty and in it she says,

I have been

so generously provided for

in happiness,

good memories,

family,

and true friends;

and more than all-

His presence and His Word;

perhaps it is a "sign,"

as mountain people say,

that winter is to be

a tough one.

If that is so,

let it be;

my larders are well stocked."

My larders are well stocked. So off I go to explore.

We Have a Winner

So without further ado.......... The winner of the  Welcome a Marine Home Raffle .... is...... Clara Resler!!!!!!! Congratulations, Clara. I used the Random Number Generator Widget to pick a winner and it picked number 123. I put everyones name on a spreadsheet the appropriate number of times, if you bought 10 tickets I entered your name 10 times. Then put the total number into the random number generator page and VOILA!!! So the winner was totally random, but I have to say that Clara was my first and has been my Best customer!! So Congratulations Clara. And thank each and every person who contributed. This was fun and I'm so excited that Shivon and her family can be in North Carolina to  greet this adorable face when he comes home.

July Art Bead Scene Blog Challenge

It's a new month and time for a new challenge over at Art Bead Scene Blog  This time the challenge is based on a sculpture called Blue Feather instead of a painting. I had the perfect pendant already made for this challenge. Perfect color and shape just sitting in my stash waiting for that Ah HAA moment. When I saw the sculpture I had that moment. I also had some pyramid shaped beads I had made that I thought depicted the triangular shaped feathers or birds in the sculpture and some small metallic glazed discs for the round shapes in the sculpture. The only thing I had to do was figure out how to include the blue feather aspect of the sculpture. It would add color and a linear shape to my piece. Then I thought, blue feather. I have a collection of naturally shed feathers that I clean and sometimes dye. I had a dove feather that actually had a blue tint to it so I added a little more blue to it, wrapped it with copper wire that I patinaed and added that to my assymetric Blue Feather Necklace. What do you think?

To celebrate a very successful Bead Soup Party, Lori is having a giveaway on her blog of a beautiful pendant she made with a  Jennifer Cameron lampwork bead. Check it out. And stay tuned for more Bead Soup coming up in January. Yeah, it's along time to wait but we have to get through the holiday shows and such.

It's Souuuuuuuup!

So, are you sick of soup yet? I didn't think so. This is my first time participating in a Bead Soup Party and I'm having a blast!!! I love being among such talented people. It's inspirational. And speaking of inspirational, my Bead Party Partner is Jen Judd Velasquez. She's already had her reveal with the beads I sent her. If you haven't seen it, you really should. I was blown away by what she did with my humble ceramic pendant and the rest of her soup! So here is what she sent me.

That large spiral focal is recycled green glass. She added some other cool earthy things like wood, turquoise colored round beads, her own copper wire beads, more glass beads, a copper clasp and some coppery silk ribbon. She did her research and new the colors I love. But I don't think I've every designed without ceramics. So the challenge was on.

As soon as I opened the package, that spiral screamed out, "I want to be a clasp, I want to be a clasp". So I made it both. A focal and a clasp. I used mostly the beads Jen sent, adding just some light green glass beads, the same ones I sent to her, I think, a large copper ring to complete the clasp and some copper wire at the ends of the silk ribbon. And ta-daaaa!

It's simple but the clasp/focal really makes a statement I think. I love the ribbon at the back of the neck. It's very comfortable to wear, which I've done and have gotten lots of compliments. And I can wear this with practically anything.  I had some beads of Jen's left so I made a bracelet adding a few of my ceramic beads. (Well, I had to get them in there somewhere)  I used the clasp Jen sent me on the bracelet. Kind of Wilma Flintstone but again, it goes with everything.

Okay, keep going!!! The party's not over yet!! Hop back to Lori's blog for today's schedule. Thanks Lori for putting this party together. It's been a blast!!

You're Early

You've had enough Soup for today. Come back tomorrow for my reveal. Here's a teaser.

Okay, I know this Bead Soup Party thing is getting some of us beady people a little riled up, but really, have you seen the giveaway that Denise Yezbak Moore is doing on her blog? It's a little nuts if you ask me. But hey, I don't mind gaining from someone else's temporary insanity, as long as no one gets hurt. It's a huge chunk of beads and things and WE get to decide if it's all given to one person or split six ways. So go check it out and weigh in. Somebody is going to be VERY happy at the end of this.

It's Bead Soup Party Time

Today is the start of a week long bead soup party!! I'm not scheduled to reveal until the 25th. But go check out everybody else's Soup!! This Party is off to a great start. Check out Lori Anderson's blog for links to each days schedule. Be sure to check out Jen's blog to see what she created with MY ceramic focal pendant! It's beautiful.

Welcome Home a Marine Raffle

I'm raffling off this necklace and earrings set to help send my sister and her family of 5 to North Carolina to welcome home their Marine when he arrives home from Afghanistan in August. After spending 8 months overseas I can't think of anything better than seeing your family waiting for you when you step foot on American soil for the first time.

The necklace features a handmade ceramic pendant by me stamped with a sea turtle design on luscious terra cotta clay and glazed in ocean greens and blues. The necklace is beaded with coordinating blue green glass beads and some green glass chip beads. I connected silk cording at the back of the necklace for a comfortable fit and added a gold colored metal clasp on the side. The earrings feature the same coordinating beads.

Raffle tickets are $1.00. If you e-mail me at cndula@elp.rr.com and let me know how many tickets you want, I can invoice you through paypal and you can either pay with a credit card or with a debit. I'd like to make it a minimum of 5 tickets if you are paying with a credit or debit card to offset the paypal charge. If you'd like to send a check, email me and I will send you my address. I will announce the drawing time at a later date depending on the response we get. I will ship this anywhere in the U.S. to the winner.

SALE AND GIVEAWAY!

Artisan Clay is having a 25% off sale for the length of Bead and Button. Through Sunday, I think. She's also doing a giveaway, so check out her blog, and her etsy store for the sale and giveaway. She does thrown pendants with colorful glass in her designs. Great starting point for any project. SALE AND GIVEAWAY!

Congratulations

The winner of my first ever Birthday Blog Giveaway is... LOIS MOON. Congratulations, Lois. I think we must be related somehow. My middle name is Lois and my grandmother's maiden name was Moon. Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you right away.

Special thanks to The Hunter for aiding me in my very technical approach to choosing a random winner. I printed all the names of everyone who left a comment on my Birthday Blog Giveaway post and he pulled one out of the bowl. (The Hunter is none other than my adoring husband). I used to follow a blog where the blogger referred to her husband as The Composer. I loved that, but it didn't quite fit my husband. The Hunter definitely does.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and for the comments. I started out celebrating my birthday and having 20 followers and by the end of the giveaway, I have 41!!!! Wow.

Statement Necklace

I'm a Carnival Blogger over at Art Bead Scene Blog. We post each month about a specific topic and then Cindy does a post incorporating everybody's blog on the Art Bead Scene Blog. This month so many talented bead people are at Bead and Button so Cindy is doing it a little differently. Some of us who aren't busy with Bead and Button have chosen to create a Statement Necklace in honor of Bead and Button and post about that. What is a Statement Necklace? Well, think about how many kinds of statements one could make. That's how many different kinds of Statement Necklaces one could make.

I've used lots of things I love in this necklace. My first love is ceramic beads. The focal pendant, the round bead and the little discs are my handmade ceramic beads. I've incorporated some glass beads, some metalic edged silk ribbon, copper chain, copper wire in different gauges, and then my next love, my hand made copper clasp. I'm so into copper and so into clasps.

Check out the rest of the Statements!!

Cindy
Jeannie
Jen V
Kate
Mary
Nicki
Island Girl
Sharon
Janel
Marcie
Christine
Lyn

LAST DAY TO POST A COMMENT Happy Birthday Giveaway

Okay I've been talking about it and overthinking it. I was going to have a giveaway when I reached 20 followers. But by the time I got around to it I had 24!! And today is my birthday so I'm giving YOU a present. Just leave a comment and be sure to wish me a Happy Birthday and I'll randomly pick a winner. You will receive at least the pendant pictured and maybe I'll throw in some coordinating "stuff". It's a surprise!! If the winner is one of my non beady friends or fam I'll string this on some cording so you can wear it.

Shut Up and Show Me

Just eye candy

Remember I said I had joined a Bead Soup Party. This is way better than a cookie exchange. No calories. I thought it would be easy to put together a mix of one of my pendants, some coordinating beads, a pretty clasp. Not so easy. I agonized over it for a week. I put together two groups and waited and waited. One group became a statement necklace for another challenge that I'll post about later. This group went to Jen. Check out her blog. Her style is way more colorful and fun than mine. But I bet she can do wonders with these. I can't wait to see. She is sending me a group of beads too. A focal, a clasp and some coordinating beads. Then I will make something with her beads and she will make something with mine. We don't have to use all the beads in one project. Then on June 19th everyone will post their finished piece on their blog.

Copper

Besides clay I love working with metals. My favorite is copper. I just learned how to make these fabulous copper headpins for making bead dangles and such with copper wire and a torch from this post at Art Bead Scene Blog by Lynn Davis.
Can't wait to use these in a design. But for now I'm just having fun making them. I love copper with clay beads. Both are so earthy and warm.

It's the second Wednesday!! There's a great giveaway over at Beads of Clay Blog featuring these prizes from me and lots of other prizes from from Beads of Clay members. Go check it out. All you have to do is leave a comment and you could be randomly picked to win these prizes. What have you got to lose.

Bead Soup Party

Another Swap. Another challenge. It's a Bead Soup Party

Check it out here and stay tuned for the results. I'll post about what I send to my partner. Then what I receive from my partner. And then I'll post about the piece I create with my partners beads, and what my partner creates with mine. I can't wait!!

Swap Necklace

We had a pendant swap on Beads of Clay Yahoo Group. We were paired with a partner, we send each other a pendant. We each design something with the pendant we receive. Then send in a picture to our BoC Flikr group This is the pendant I got from Melinda Orr at Orrtec Designs.

Here is my finished necklace. I had a perfectly matched little blue bird bead I had made. I knew as soon as I opened Melinda's package that I wanted to use it with her pendant. I think we must have used the same glaze.

Check out the current monthly challenge at Art Bead Scene Blog April Challenge This is my entry in the April Art Bead Scene Challenge.

Yeah!

I entered a necklace in the Beads of Clay Tetradic Challenge. I blogged about it here. Well I actually won! and today I received my prizes. A beautiful boxed set of Mary Harding Beads and Pendants. Mary has always been an inspiration to me. I feel like she just walks through a beautiful wooded paradise and just spots these perfect little pearls of scenery and then she goes back to her studio and creates them. These pictures will not do them justice. You have to see her work in person. Her blog is at. I can't wait to create something with these "pearls".

Custom Gifts

My niece asked me to make small personalized trinket dishes for 7 of her fellow graduates this year. > I'm pretty sure none of them follow this blog. Otherwise I just ruined the surprise. (Dont' tell Shelby, but I did one for her, too.)

She gave me the names and picked the general colors. Usually I don't like doing custom work because a lot of customers don't have a clear vision of what they want until you finish it and then they know what they wanted different. But Shelby seemed to be pleases. All she wanted was that they were each "a little different". I think they came out great.