Grab a spoon, "Chick's Beach" is completed!

My entry for the most recent Bead Soup is completed at last, and I am very pleased with the results.  It took a few days to come up with the inspiration for the set.  As you well know by now,  I am a "beach girl" through and through.  I named this set for Chick's Beach in Virginia Beach, the home of Duck Inn for many years.  I do so miss their She-Crab Soup.

Details of the three pieces: Bracelet, necklace, and earrings.

A big "Thank You" goes to Sandi Volpe who sent me some wonderful beads, hand-made clasps, and the wire that I used to construct it.  She was very generous and sent along a set in silver as well as the gold that I used here.  I'll be making something soon and posting the results!

My Bead Soup Ingredients!

I am so ecstatic to once again be a part of the Bead Soup Blog Party! Our hostess with the mostest, Lori Anderson, has flawlessly outdone herself again coordinating the BSBP with the most participants to date, including international artists! Isn't wonderful how she has brought all of us together from all over the world? This is the 6th one, and this time there are 3 reveals! The first reveal was July 28, 2012, second reveal is August 11, 2012, and the third, which my amazingly talented partner, Sandi Volpe  and I are a part of, is August 25, 2012! Let me just say that I was very excited and delighted when I received the beautiful assortment of beads and findings Sandi sent me. Take a look at these treasures!

The background is the gorgeous card she included with a very kind note.  I have all kinds of crazy ideas going through my head, there are beads all over the place, (ok, more than usual), and I hope I can do these glorious beads justice.

   Here is a look at the soup I sent to Sandi :

I must give a shout out to my girl, Jill Symons, as she is the very talented lamp work artist that created the stunning focal.

I am looking forward to seeing what beautiful jewelry Sandi creates!
See you on August 25th!
Peace, Love, and Sunshine! Kel

A Birthday Wish…

   February is loaded with Birthdays! Family & friends share this month (my favorite) with my Birthday! The 12th is my best friend, Bill's Birthday, the 13th is Pam, Billy, & my Birthday, 14th is Wendy's, 19th is Keith's, & 27th is CJ's. February is my favorite month, and I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day (although I love the clearance items I can use all year - love me some pink and red!). It's like you're part of a special club if your Birthdays are in the same month! Anyway, there are no major holidays coming, February we can start to relax and enjoy the last bit of winter before Spring Break arrives, which means summer is on the way.
   This year, it's bittersweet. Carolyn and Mandy will graduate from High School (really? That's this year??) It will be a different kind of summer of preparing for the next step in Life, not all about school supply shopping. And to even contemplate Emma going into her last year of Elementary School... 6th grade. It all changes in Junior High!
   Ok, before I totally freak myself out, I still have lots of work to do before these Big Things come about. Getting healthier is the priority, of course, I have big goals for myself this year.
   I may not be the most organized, innovative, or most creative jewelry designer out there, but I love doing it and beading/beads/bead shopping/bead magazines make me happy, give me purpose. My Bead Friends, some days reading a post is all I can do and it can make my day. It's like when you finally find the place you 'fit in', where they 'get' you, you're peeps! Who knows if anyone reads this, what matters is, you never know whose life you will touch, whom you will help believe in themselves. Making jewelry and beaded things is about finally finding something I can do and love doing, finding that sense of accomplishment. Yea, the competition is fierce, but the community of Beaders is incredibly supportive and full of encouragement when you need it most. Even if you've never met! So, as I gain energy and strength to pick up pliers, I thank all the people I've "met" through Lori's BSBP, the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope, the numerous Blogs, and even websites like www.limabeads.com, www.firemountaingems.com, www.fusionbeads.com, and countless others for letting me know I Can do this, and learn to do it well, and they'll be there to help.
   I must thank Lori Anderson, especially. I read a post she wrote a long while back and I just sobbed. Like she was writing directly to me! We share similar struggles and, wow, the things I have learned from her! What an incredible spirit of determination! I had the opportunity to finally meet her at a Craftsman's Show at Dulles. I was in awe, still am, every time I see her. So, thank you, Lori, for being the mentor and constant inspiration not only in Beadworld, but my life in general.
   This was way longer than intended! Thanks for sticking around to read my ramblings!
   I'm off to Hop and check out all the wonderful talent and creativity of the BSBP!
   Remember, you never know what a difference you are making in someone's life, you never know what their challenges are.
   Thanks to everyone, you've made a positive impact on my life, and others', too, and you didn't even know it! Keep the happy!
Peace, Love, & Sunshine,
Kel :-)

My Soup is cooked!

  The Fifth Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Day is finally here.  Inspiration hit at the last minute, but I like the results.  My Soup Partner Julie Anne Leggett sent me some wonderful beads to work with, and here's what happened:

The finished soup!

The focal is brown sea glass and I used the quartz teardrops to make an embellished bail.  The lampwork lentils took me straight to the beach, so the colors of the shell, pearls, wood, and agate beads reflected the blues, tans, and browns of the shore.

Detail of the focal.

Here's a close-up picture of the lentil and crystal, glass, and agate beads.  The small square glass beads I've had for some time. I just loved them, and here they remind me of the residual seafoam after the waves recede.

What wonderful
beach-y beads!

I enjoyed having Julia Anne as my partner! She sent a wonderful Bead Soup, and although our Soups are quite different, it's very interesting to me that we used similar colors. And we only live about 30 minutes apart.

I am very grateful to have been able to participate in my 2nd BSBP.  Much appreciation to Lori Anderson for making this such a great experience.

Peace, Love, and Sunshine,

Kel

PS: Please visit all the other Bead Soup Partiers!

Hostess, Lori Anderson
Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian
51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan
61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry
81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

7,000 Bracelets for Hope

Since there wasn't any natural light to be found at 2am this morning, I wanted to post a pic taken on the sunshine. :-)

My Bracelet For Hope

The Global Genes Project is campaigning to  collect blue jean/denim inspired bracelets to support families living with rare diseases, disorders, or conditions.  To help raise awareness, 7,000 volunteers, including jewelry designers, and artists, make a bracelet within the denim color scheme to show support for children living with these conditions.  Go to the Global Genes Project to learn more!

I used Swarovski crystals in Crystal Cal, Crystal, Crystal Metallic Blue 2x, and Sapphire.  The white and blue beads are polymer clay, and the lentil and round beads are Kazuri beads.  The Kazuri beads are some of my favorites because of where and by whom they are made.  They are gorgeous, too. 

This Blog Hop caught my eye because of what the GGP Campaign represents.  We have dear friends in Colorado whose son had Retinoblastoma, which is a rare cancer of the retina/eye.  So, this bracelet is made in honor of Zee and his family.

What a great opportunity to show support of children with 7,000 identified rare diseases!  I hope my bracelet brings a smile to a parent, friend, or relative of those affected.





Peace, Love, and Sunshine,

Kel

7000 Bracelets For Hope is underway!

The 7,000 Bracelets For Hope Blog-hop starts today! Please take the time to enjoy each beautiful creation by some very talented artists! Here's the most current list of participants.

  

Elysian Studios  and  One Kiss Creations

  

The Studio Sublime

Crafty Hope

The Gossiping Goddess

SilverRose Designs

Firefly Visions

Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Michelle Mach

Pine Ridge Treasures

Backstory Beads

Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

Sue Beads

MiShel Designs

Created Treasures

Taralinda Muses

My Life Under The Bus

Elizabeth Creates

SilverNikNats

Erin Siegel Jewelry

Carolyn’s Creations

My Life…one bead at a time

Fresh Baked Designs

Songbeads

Sunshine Bliss

Lori Anderson

Rainy Days Designs

Pat Barden Jewelry

Tell Your Girlfriends

Therese's Treasures

Windrock Studio

Bead Lola Bead

Spice Box Designs

Antiquity Travelers

Vitamin C...A Daily Dose of Creativity

Beads and Bread

Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections

Ahtee's Blog

Thoughtful-Notions

Beads for Brains:365

Wild Sally Road

All The Pretty Things

Skye's Creative Chaos

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Lindy's Designs

Falling Into The Sky

Star Hitched Wagon

Mama's Got to Doodle

10KDgroup

Peace, Love, and Sunshine,

Kel

Soup from my BSBP Partner

I'm so excited to be participating in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party! It's an amazing opportunity to grow as an artist and, for me, push my creativity. What a beautiful assortment of beads to work with! These beauties arrived in an adorable handmade envelope, too, with a printed sheet labeling each bead type.  Julie Anne Leggett is my partner for the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party.  They are, clockwise from left, a Seaglass focal pendant, fire polished Czech glass, freshwater pearls, lampwork spacers from Blue Seraphim, wood chip beads, lampwork lentils, quartz teardrops, and, my favorite, an exquisite handmade clasp by Julie, made with a bead by HMB Studios.
There are, of course, tons of ideas running through my head!  I can't wait to get started and look forward to seeing everyone's magnificent handiwork on reveal day!

Peace, Love, and Sunshine,
Kel















You can find Julie Anne Leggett at The Peaceful Bead.
For a list of all participants and partners, http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/
Please visit Lori Anderson's Blog at http://www.prettythingsblog.com/