Summer Carnival Blog Hop and Chicklet Blog Hop

If you're looking for my reveals for either the Summer Carnival blog hop or the Chicklet Bead blog hop, please return later.  This has been an enormously busy summer for me (my youngest is getting married shortly and we've been helping with plans and showers). And with all the work we've been doing for the wedding and some other committments, I've sprained my wrist and hand and the arthritis has gotten worse in my thumb to the point I have dropped several things and broken them.  I haven't been able to knot anything, twist wire or hold onto anything well enough to finish my designs.  So I hope you can forgive me and check back later to see my finished designs.
Thanks for your understanding.
Kay

Anklet Blog Hop Reveal

(If you're looking for my AJE reveal with SueBeads component, click here)
Well I managed to sign myself up for 4 challenges/reveals within a month time. When I was doing this they all sounded like so much fun, I wasn't paying attention to the time frame.  This is the 3rd of the 4. The last one comes on June 7th.  Sadafulee had posted about having a blog hop with anklets.  I like anklets and have a few, but always forget to wear them.  And I've never tried making one. (Or if I have it was a LONG time ago)  But I figured it couldn't be that hard.  Plus, I used to make macramé jewelry back in the 70's when it first became popular in small town Missouri where I lived and had been trying my hand at it again little by little.  I made a macramé hanger for one of my fused glass pieces and incorporated small shells. I made a macramé guitar strap for my son for one of his guitars, so I thought, what better than to make a macramé anklet.  I had won some great little tube beads a while back and had some macramé cord left over from the 70's that would go great with these beads. Plus I dug through a stash of other beads I'd won and found some great Onyx beads in the brownish/orange color in the beads and that would go great with my macramé cord.  So I picked out my orange and beige waxed nylon cords and the beads and got ready to start. I also knew I wanted to try a sliding clasp for this anklet as I'd been reading about these and had just seen one on a friend's bracelet, so found a tutorial about how to do it and got started.  I couldn't finish it like she suggested as I didn't have any needles that would go back up through my knots, but I just knotted and tied off like I used to and I think it turned out great. This way I can open it up to slip on over my foot and then adjust it to fit my ankle and have little dangles.  I used some small Czech faceted glass beads I had for the dangles in a coordinating brown color.  I love it. Now to get to wear it. And best of all I still have 3 of the tube beads left to make something else or another one to sell, give away or something.  What do you think?  Do you like macramé?  Would you wear this?

 

I never realized how hard it is to photograph an anklet or anything while wearing it, but I wanted to show it on the ankle. Check out all the participants and see how each one met the challenge of creating an anklet/anklets.  I only had time to create one anklet due to time constraints.  However I will be creating more.  For some reason I can't get the list of participants to post properly, so please visit Kashmira's Blog and see what everyone else created.

And if you're looking for some of my other Jewelry, Stained Glass, Mosaic or Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, be sure to check out my shop, KayzKreationz.  Thanks for stopping by.

Earring Swap Blog Hop Reveal!

About a month ago, I signed up for a different blog hop. Jessica of Whimsical Monkey was wanting to know who would be interested in an earring blog hop.  You would sign up, get a partner and then find out what they liked/disliked, what their favorite colors were, if they liked short, long, dangly earrings, etc.  It sounded like fun, so I threw my name in the hat.  I got paired with Jessica McMullen of Pheonix Gate Arts.  She does leather work and is working on some armor for her hubby.   When I contacted her, she said her favorite colors were blue, black and silver, and that she wore mainly lightweight earrings.  Now, I don't do blue, so I don't usually have much blue in my stash.  But I had just won a stash of beads and wouldn't you know it, there was some great blue beads and coordinating beads in the stash. There was some porcelain/ceramic, some onyx, some glass and Czech glass and more.  There was also the great pewter (in black and silver) earring findings to hold five different dangles.  So I got to work picking out all the beads I wanted to use and then laying them out in different patterns.  I wanted to make sure they weren't too heavy for Jessica, though.  I also don't have much silver in my stash, but I had this great Non-Tarnish Silver wire from Artistic Wire and made my own 'Tumbleweed' ear wires to match. I hope she likes them.  But then, I wanted to do something fun for her, too. I had these cute bottle caps from Guiness Black Lager beer that my son likes. So after cleaning them real well, I folded the grooved edge of the caps up all the way around to look like a ruffle.  Then I punched 3 holes in the bottom of the ruffle and one hole in the top and went back to my stash. As it happens these bottle caps are BLUE with their gold logo, which to me looks like a harp.  (The only problem with bottle caps is getting them off the bottle without bending them all up.  But that makes them unique.)  So this time I used more gold toned beads with the blue and then had some dark brass/bronze ear wires I attached to the top hole to make some fun earrings.  These are light weight also.  Hopefully she'll like both pairs of earrings.  If you'd like your own pair of beer cap/drink cap earrings feel free to contact me here on my blog or in my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz.  I've got several pair I'm going to be listing soon. 

Now, here's what Jessica decided to make for me. I told her I love metal, mixed media, wire, leather, stones, etc.  And then I told her pretty much, just surprise me.  I also told her I usually wear long dangly, chunky earrings.  Aren't these great? (Well, due to postal problems, I haven't received my earrings from Jessica. They were supposed to be here Saturday, but I was out of town for a wedding Saturday and Sunday.  As soon as I get home, hopefully they'll be here and I can be surprised and get pictures.  So stay tuned/come back later Monday or Tuesday and you'll be able to see what Jessica sent me. I know they're going to be fantastic.)
Here's the rest of the participants. I know some hadn't gotten their earrigs yet an were waiting on them to post, so be sure to check back and forth for the next day or two. Hopefully everyone will have their reveal and posts up then. If the links aren't clickable, check Jessica's blog, Whimsical Monkey. Thanks.

Blog:

Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com

Nancy Smith: wirednan.blogspot.ca

Marianne Baxter: http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/

Leah Tees:  mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca

Andrea Trank:  www.heavenlanecreations.com

Miranda Ackerley: http://blog.mirandack.com/

Cheri Mitchell-Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Michele Dotson: http://star-jewels.blogspot.com/

Deanna Cox: www.deannaaki.WordPress.com

Shelley Graham Turner: www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Ingrid McCue: www.wrappedinsilver.com

Lennis Carrier:  http://windbent.wordpress.com

Ginger Davis Allman: http://thebluebottletree.com/

Mary Anne Flesch: www.handcraftedserenity.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer: www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Stephanie Weiss:  uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Silvia Sernicola: http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/

Karla Morgan: www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Kay Thomerson:  http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com

Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Carol Dillman:  http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Spun Sugar Beadworks: Spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

Tara Plote:  http://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/

Rachel Baron: http://rbarondesigns.blogspot.com/

Laurie Keefe:  http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/

Kashmira Patel: http://sadafulee.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett: http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com

Shellie Grindy: http://www.creativeeclectica.com/

Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Dyanne Cantrell: http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com

Mimi Gardner: www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com

Jessica McMullen: http://pheonixgatedesigns.blogspot.com/

Jennifer LaVite: www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com

Laura Medeiros: http://zoeowyn.blogspot.com/

Alenka Obid: www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Elsie Fonseca: http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Dunham: www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com

Sandra McGriff: http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tania Spivey: http://moobiegrace.blogspot.com/

Facebook:

Beccy Peterson: Beccy's Baubles

Ani Forsyth: Veil Dancer

Mowse Doyle: https://www.facebook.com/MowseMadeThis

Mischelle Fanucchi: www.facebook.com/micheladasmusings

Marde Lowe: FanciMar Designs

And if you're looking for more of my Jewelry or Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.  Be sure to come back to see my earrings.

Bead Soup Blog Hop-Part 2

Yesterday you saw what I sent my partner Mandi of Craft-o-liscious from California.  She lives in San Diego.  I love San Diego.  I'm hoping my soup will inspire her to get out of her comfort zone and think 'outside' the box a little.  Today here is the wonderful soup Mandi sent me.  It's Jasper!  I love jasper. I've done a little googling, and I think it's Mookite red and yellow Jasper.  Isn't it gorgeous?  She also sent me some Cherry Quartz, which I love, a Jasper focal, which I think is also Mookite. Then she included some sterling silver beads, some larger beads, and a wonderfuls kidney shaped Sterling Silver clasp.  I recently received my Bohemian Inspired Jewelry book by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel and this soup is really leaning towards some of the inspiration I've found in this book.  This book is fantastic! You really should get yourself a copy.  I also recently won some of Marsha Neal's wonderful silks after participating in her Silk Color Palette challenge and they will definitely be seen in my soup.  So stay tuned for the Great Final reveal on August 25th.  I'm in the last reveal.  The first reveal is going on now. And the 2nd reveal will be shortly.  Be sure to check out Lori at Pretty Things for all the Soups.  Now on to the pictures.  First is my whole soup from Mandi.  Isn't it great?  Then the Cherry Quartz and finally the Mookite Jasper.  I can't wait to get beading!

Bead Soup Blog Hop- My Soup for Mandi

Time has just flown. I've had company for almost 2 weeks. Plus we've had meeting for 3 weekends. But here's my first post about my Bead Soup.  Lori at Pretty Things arranges these fantastic Blog Hops.  This one has 400 participants!  You sign up, get your partner, find out what they like or are comfortable working with in beads, fibers, etc. Then you exchange beads, either sending them things they're comfortable with or something that may challeng them some. I like to try to send something that will challenge my partner to some degree, since that's the basic premise of the Blog Hop.  This time I'm partnered up with Mandi Effron at Craft-o-liscious. She does some wonderful beading. Right now she's set her own challenge to keep her creativity going.  She works mostly with glass and seed beads and seem to favor red and pink, although she usually ends up making jewelry in green tints. She also likes to create multi-strand, twisted necklaces, something I haven't gotten up the nerve to try yet.  Although she's fairly new to beading, you couldn't tell it by her work.  Be sure to check out her blog and stay tuned for the reveal. We both will be revealing our Kreationz on August 25th.  Here's the soup I sent to Mandi:

It includes a Lampwork heart from Beadaholic, Cherry Shell rounds, Green Chinarovski rondelles, some fiber in various colors, a Clasp I created and patina'd, a copper connector/bead adn a pewter/silver clasp.  Stay tuned tomorrow for my reveal of what Mandi sent me to work with. I absolutely love it.

Button Swap Blog Hop-Part 2

Are you ready?  Today's the day!  The Button Swap Blog Hop is happening.  We were partnered up by the Great Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, then sent off buttons to our partners.  I was partnered with the adorable Shannon Chomanczuk of For My Sweet Daughter.  She sent me these wonderful buttons in this cute little box.  I love them. I put my back out this last Sunday, but I managed to finish my piece late last night. There were a couple of other things I wanted to try with this piece and the other buttons, but couldn't get them done. So here is my piece, thank you miss Shannon for your great buttons.  And please visit the list of participants below and see what everyone has done with their buttons. 

And now for the list for you to check out everyone's blog: 

Alice Peterson and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

Christine Stonefield and Dana James

Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

Janet McDonald and Kim Roberts

Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

Kim Roberts and Janet McDonald

Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

LeAnn Weih and Mary Jane Dodd

Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

Mary Harding and Stacie Florer

Mary Jane Dodd and LeAnn Weih

Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel

Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri

Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

If the list isn't clickable, click on the link for Cindy's blog at the beginning of the post and it will take you to where you'll find the complete clickable list.  Please let me know what you think of my piece. Thanks.

Button Swap Blog Hop

Well, tomorrow is the big day.  Unfortunately, I put my back out last Sunday and have not been able to stand or sit to finish my piece. I'm still hoping to get it finished tonight, however if I don't, please check back tomorrow for the list of the participants and check them all out.  I'll post my piece later this week when it's finished if I don't finish tonight.  Thanks for understanding.  Meanwhile, here's the buttons I sent to my great partner, Shannon, of For My Sweet Daughter.  And after that, you'll see the WONDERFUL buttons she sent me and the cutest little box that she sent them in.  Isn't it adorable.  Can you guess which one of the handmade buttons she sent in the last picture I'm using in my piece?  You'll have to wait till tomorrow or later this week to see it finished. :)