Possible Patriots Day Red, White, and Blue blog hop

Anyone interested in participating in a blog hop for Patriots Day, September 11?  Red, White, and Blue.

I am always interested in making patriotic jewelry and thought others might be also.

We can do it either of two ways. 

Michael's is having their Bead Gallery beads on sale 50% off through 7/26 or it can be a beads of your choice. 

If we do Michael's beads, I will choose the beads.

Please leave a comment by Tuesday, July 22, so I can make an announcement on Wednesday, July 23 in the evening.

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Gemstone and Metal Blog Hop reveal

Today is the reveal for Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures' Gemstones and Metal Blog Hop reveal.  Each of the participants purchased a kit from Lisa that contained gemstones and metal findings.  My kit kit contained Black-lined Jasper, some Snowflake Obsidian, a silver-plated toggle clasp, two bails, and two different spacer beads.

I have never worked with either gemstone but the Snowflake Obsidian called to me first and this piece just seemed to flow together.  I used the Snowflake rounds and rondels along with turquoise howlite and red seed beads.

I was able to make two sets of earrings to go along with this necklace, each different than the other.  One set is just the Snowflake Obsidian round, red seed beads, and the turquoise howlite on an eyepin.

The second set is Snowflake rondels with turquoise howlite and red seed beads with dangles.

My next piece used the Black-line Jasper ovals and diagonally drilled squares (diamond shaped??) stones to make a necklace.  I used the ribbed silver-plated spacers that Lisa sent in the kit along with the leftover purple glass beads I had from the recent Michael's Challenge blog hop.

I have two sets of earrings for this necklace and I have another necklace laid out already to string using the rectangle Black-lined Jasper beads.  I hope to update the pictures by Monday evening.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the other participants:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Big Margaret

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations  You are here.

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (May be delayed a few days)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things (May be delayed a few days)

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Judy Campbell, Macmillanmarie Jewellery Design

Nan Smith, Handmade Jewelry Nanmade

Marde Lowe, FanciMarDesigns

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

Leithleach Alainn Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Lisa E. Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Be sure to stop back by August 2 for the reveal of the Summer Carnival Blog Hop and on August 3 for the Chicks Choose Chicklets Blog Hop.

 

Carolyn

I apologize for the lateness of my post but my computer did not want to co-operate last night or this morning.

Good Earth Challenge reveal

Today is the day for the reveal for Andrew Thornton's Good Earth Challenge.  Each of the participants purchased a bead kit from Andrew that was stuffed with goodies.

Included in the kit is a Luxury Bead Blend that consists of Japanese Miyuki seed beads, Toho seed beads Czech glass. African recycled glass, jasper, agate, gold plated daisy spacers, quartz, Chinese crystal, goldstone, Swarovski crystals, ventage sequins, German glass, vintage Japanese glass, Swarovski crystal pearls.

The kit also features a selection of Japanese hex-cut seed beads, premium Czech glass (both new and vintage), vintage brass rounds, Indian glass, Irish waxed linen, a vintage Hamilton gold bead, artisan ceramic rounds.  (Bead descriptions are from Andrew's blog.)

It also includes the gorgeous mystery components that Andrew made himself.  A set of five faux Moroccan Amber beads made out of polymer clay.  Just my colors.  Love them already.  He included a leaf charm also made of polymer clay.



I loved working with these colors.  Things just sort of flowed together.

First up I used the Irish waxed linen cord, the faux Morocan amber beads and some of the Czech glass beads (if the nuggets aren't Czech glass please let me know so I can correct this) to make a bracelet. I also used the gold star spacers.

  

Here is another view of the bracelet.  I have left the cord hanging as I am trying to decide whether I want to add dangles.

I next made a necklace using the leaf pendant, Czech and Indian glass beads.  This I strung on wire

Andrew is very generous and I have lots of seed beads left.  I also need to make a couple pairs of earrings to match the bracelet and necklace.

Thanks for stopping by and please visit the other participants at Andrew's blog.

Michael's Beading Challenge Blog Hop reveal

Heather Powers of Humbleads and Lorelei Eurto of Lorelei's Blog are co-hosting a blog hop using Michael's Bead Gallery beads.  Heather saw that the beads were on sale for 40% off and picked out the beads pictured below.  Picture from Heather's blog.

In the order they are pictured from top to bottom: 

Round Cut Horn Beads

Aqua 9.5 x 10mm Table Cut Glass

Purple Glass Round 6mm

Green Ceramic 12mm Round

Aqua Opaque Table Cut Glass

Bone Amber Rectangle 12 x 20mm

Reconstituted Turquoise White Rondel

When Heather called this a challenge, she meant it.  I would never have selected these beads to go together but that is what a challenge is.  My friend Evelyn and I decided to split the beads between us to see what we could come up with.  The only thing that we came close to making the same were the earrings.  You can see her creation here.

I had a vague idea of what I wanted to make and just laid it out.  I used the rondels as spacers, the amber rectangles as the focals beads, and the purple glass beads as an accent on either side of the amber rectangles.  I then alternated the green ceramic, the cut horn beads, and the aqua opaque beads up the sides of the necklace.

Below is a picture of the complete set to include earrings.

The earrings.  Just nice simple ones.

 We will using the Linkz up tool on Heather's blog so be sure to visit to see the other participants:  Humblebeads

Thanks for visiting and come back tomorrow as a I will be revealing what I made for Andrew Thornton's Good Earth Challenge.

Also be sure to come back on Saturday, July 19th for the reveal of Lisa Lodge's Gemstones and Metal blog hop.

Carolyn

My Country Blog Hop reveal

Today is the reveal for the My Country Blog Hop sponsored by Nan Smith of Wired Nan.  This an international blog hop where each of the participants/artists will create something that represents her country.

Nan Smith, the hostess, is Canadian and I know there will be other Canadians participating.  There are artists from Europe and Australia.  The USA has several artists representing various states.  When the blog hop was announced I knew I wanted to participate but was not sure which state I wanted to represent.  I have lived in California and currently reside in the Pacific Northwest, two great states that actually have some things in common.

They each grow grapes and are leaders in the wine industry.

They each have snow on the ground in certain parts of the state and in the mountains.

The grow pine trees that have their own ornaments - pine cones.

They can make snowmen.

Each state has a large military force based there.

Each has recreational boating and naval shipyards.

Because of the closeness to the sea, each has their own seabirds.  Roosting on telephone poles.

One state has leaves that turn colors in the fall.

Both states grow pumpkins in the fall.

One state exports wood overseas.

I hope you have enjoyed the representations on the states that I have lived in.

Be sure to visit the other artists to see which parts of the world that they represent: 

My Country Blog Hop Participants

Nan Smith (hostess|)                                                                    nanmade.blogspot.ca

1. Ana (Portugal)                                                                             acbeads.blogspot.ca

2.Rita  (Orlando)                                                                     JewelSchoolFriends.com   

3. Dini (The Netherlands)                                        angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

4. Robin Reed  (Indiana)                                                      willowdragon.blogspot.com

5. Lilik Kristiana   (Indonesia )                                                       pcbylik.blogspot.com

6. Karla Morgan  (Texas)                                     texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

7. Karen Mitchell (South Australia)                              www.overthemoon-design.com

8. Jayne Capps  (Oklahoma)                                    mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

9. Melissa Trudinger  (Australia)                                      beadrecipes.wordpress.com

10. Johana Nunez  (Puerto Rico)                                                    http:artincendi.com

11. Kepi  (Alberta)                                                               kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca  

12. Deb Fortin  (Ontario)                                                             studiok24.blogspot.ca

13. Divya  (India)                                                                              jewelsofsayuri.com

14. Tammy Adams  (Arizona)                                    paisleylizard.com/blog.html

15. Kay Thomerson  (Texas)                                            kayzkreationz.blogspot.com

16. Bairozan  (Bulgaria)                                                               bairozan.blogspot.ca

17. Carolyn's Creations  (           )carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com  (you are here)

18. Lecia Woessner   (New Orleans)                           copperroses.blogspot.com

19. Linda A.  (Wash. D.C.                              FromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

20.Inge Van Roos (California)                                       ingetraud.wordpress.com

21. Natalie   (New Zealand)                                  http://www.northshoredays.com

22. Lori Schneider (              )                                           beadaddicted.blogspot.com

23.Mary Harding (New York)                maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

24. Bouchra Rebai (Algeria)                                         bouchrarebai.wordpress.com     

25.Michelle McCarthy  (Florida )                        Fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com 

 

Thank you for stopping by.  Be sure to come back again on July 10th for Andrew Thornton's Good Earth Challenge but you are always welcome to drop and see what I have been up to.

Carolyn

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls Blog Hop reveal

Today is the reveal for MiShel Designs' pearl challenge.  We were tasked with making something (It didn't have to be jewelry!) from pearls.  It could be made from freshwater pearls or glass pearls, just had to be a any type of pearl.  I have done a couple of pearl challenges already this year and was ready for another one.

I used the pearls that are in the mid and lower right of the picture to make my item.

I used three of the flat pearls and 12 of the round pearls to make a bracelet.  I added copper seed beads to pick up on the copper sheen on the pearls.  I used a fold-over clasp in copper and added two of the round pearls on head pins to the clasp in order to weight it down so it won't turn. 

I took the picture below on a necklace form so that you can get an idea of the full size of the bracelet.

I think the picture below shows the sheen on the pearls.  What do you think?

I also did some pearl earrings.

I had some gold pearls left from an earlier challenge and combined them with some gold twisted ovals.




I had other gold pearls and combined them with some clear cathedral beads.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit some of the other participants:

Ocean Blog Hop reveal

Today is the reveal of the Ocean Blog Hop spondored by Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist - Pine Tree Treasures blog.  She prepared kits of beads for each of the participants and I was fortunate enough to get a kit that was in my favorite color of gold, gold pearls, gold cultured sea glass, clear cultured sea glass, and gold cathedral beads.  Love them. 

 

Pearls (fresh-water, I think), gold twisted beads, gold glass pearls, gold cathedral beads.

Gold and clear cultured sea glass, brass starfish and toggle clasp.

Unfortunately, I did a good/bad thing.  In order to not lose the beads, I put them in a safe place as I received them back in December and was not ready to work on the projects.  The blog hop kinda of slipped my mind and other challenges came to the front.  When it was getting close to time for the reveal, I was scrambling to find my "safely put away" beads.  I searched for two weeks and finally found them last week. 

I was able to get three pieces partially constructed and hope to finish them tomorrow and post the finished pieces on Monday evening, so be sure to come back and see the finished pieces. 

I used one size of the glass pearls and the twisted beads in the outer strand and another size of glass pearls and the cathedral beads for the inner strand.

I used the cultured sea glass to create the necklace below.  I added some brass jump rings as spacers.

I used left over cultured sea glass for earrings along with the brass starfish.

 

Ocean Blog Hop June 14^th Reveal:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations  You are here

Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends (Posting Later)

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes (Posting Sunday)

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (Posting Sunday)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Jill Bradley, Chat 2 Jill

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the other blogs to see what they created.  Please come back on Monday evening to see my completed pieces.

Carolyn