"Be Thankful" Blog Hop

November 22, 2014

This is the first year that I have participated in the "Be Thankful" Blog Hop Hosted by Marybeth Rich of Forest of Jewels.  I am so glad that I decided to do it because the beads are Beautiful.

I received an assortment of Czech glass leaves, carved ovals, rondelles, drop beads, cruller shaped beads and a Czech lampwork glass barrel bead.  The Clasp is a handmade Copper clasp made by Cova Cobalt of Cobalt and Copper.

Before I go any further with my beading I first want to list just a few things that I am Thankful for.  First of all, My Hubby of nearly 25 years, Ray.  He has always been a supporter of my dreams and aspirations and has believed in me when no one else did.  I am very Thankful that he is still with me as it was just 2 years ago this month that I nearly lost him when he went into complete respiratory failure and was on a ventilator for 6 days.  The doctors didn't expect him to pull through, but he surprised them all.  He is disabled now, on oxygen 24/7, but the important thing is that he is still here with me and able to join me in my beading endeavors.

I am also Thankful for my talented and hardworking son Stephen.  He works for Ford Motor Company and is the bass player for the band ElectroPossum. (check their video's out on YouTube.com).  He is always there to help Mom and Dad when we need him.  We are very proud of the young man he has become.

I am Thankful that I have a roof over my head, food on the table and a God that provides for me and my family.  I am also Thankful for my ability to take a pile of beads or a bag of beads and create a piece of wearable art.  I use my beading as my 'therapy'.  When I am not doing 'Bead Therapy', I am doing 'Wind Therapy' on my 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 motorcycle, which I have named "Dr. Breeze", another one of the things I am Thankful for.  There are so many other things that I am Thankful for but this blog would go on forever and I want to show you my pretties...So now back to the beads:

Here is a photo of the beads I received to work with:

I started off with a bracelet.  I stood at my kitchen window this morning drinking my coffee and noticed the leaves falling from the trees and covering my yard.  That was my inspiration to make something with 'dangling' leaves, so that is how I came to design the bracelet.  

Of course, every bracelet deserves a pair of matching earrings so I played with my beads until I had a pair that was just right for the look I wanted.

I now have a large selection of beads left from the challenge so I need to get started on a Necklace.  I must however, get a few special order projects done before I start it...Afterall, I think I will make enough from the special orders that I can buy a new outfit to wear with my "Be Thankful" designs on Thanksgiving day....Sounds like GREAT motivation to me.

Thanks for taking a look at my pieces.  Please leave a comment letting me know what you think of my designs.

Please take the time to look at the other designers that are participating in the blog hop also.  They are listed below:

Featured Artist:  Cova Cobalt of Cobalt and Copper

Your Hostess:  Marybeth Rich of Forest of Jewels

Participants:  

Gina Hockett of Freestyle Elements

Carolyn Lawson of Carolyn's Creations 

Shaiha Williams of Shaiha's Ramblings

Lisa Knappenberger of LiRaysa Designs

Bianca Medina of Medibeads

Lee Koopman of Strega Jewellry's Blog

Mowse Doyle of Mowse Made This

Linda Anderson of From the Bead Board

Clay and Metal Blog Hop Reveal

   

 It's been awhile since I blogged.  I have spent many hours beading and creating but have not written about any of the pieces that I have created.  I have been a bit lazy in that department.  Just having so much fun creating.

     Today is the reveal date for the "Clay and Metal" blog hop featuring components from Sharyl Mc-Millian Nelson of Metapolies.  Here is a photo of what I had to work with:

50 4mm Tiara Crystals, 2 green and gold metal dangles and a green wreath shaped, metal dangle/charm green in color with red berries on it, and a single clear 6mm rondelle.  It was hard to get started on this project as the deadline was today Nov 15 and I usually don't start on Christmas projects until after Thanksgiving.  Call me a prude, but I think Thanksgiving has lost its appeal to many as it seems to be nothing more than a strategy planning day for Black Friday shopping...but I don't want to get off course here so I will save that for a future blog.

     My pieces are normally fairly large and chunky,  therefore I knew right away that I would have to think 'outside the box' to come up with a piece or pieces that are softer and not quite as bold since the components were lighter and more delicate than I normally choose to work with. I first made a right angle weave bracelet and embellished with 11/0 gold seed beads.  Next, I decided on a simple pair of dangle earrings using the 2 matching metal components and the Tiara crystals adding then to a pair of gold lever back ear wires.  LastelyI got a bit of wire wrapping practice in as I put the remaining crystals left from the bracelet and earrings to a simple gold chain and hung the wreath charm from the center using the single rondelle as a center for the wreath.  

I hope you like my pieces...Thanks for visiting!

    Please leave a comment at the bottom of the blog for a chance to win the necklace and earrings.  Each person that comments will have their name put into a 'hat' for a random drawing that will take place on Saturday Nov 22, 2014. Please leave your email address for contact information.

     Please visit the blogs listed at the bottom of the page for a look at more "Clay and Metal" designs by other participants.

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry