I Love Clay Blog Hop reveal

Today is the reveal for the I Love Clay Blog Hop hosted by Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist blog.  I love to participate in Lisa's blog hops as they are always a challenge to me.  She prepares kits that the participant purchases and includes the best things.  In this blog hop, I received a piece that (Oh fudge, I forgot her name.  I have the name but it is not handy for me to get and insert right now.  I will add her name as soon as I can as I think it is important to recognize their work.) Earthenwood Studio made.  I have never worked with her handmade pieces before and enjoyed using the piece that I received.  Lisa included some additional beads to use.

Here is a picture of the pieces that I received.

The additional beads were nice but if you have ever noticed the pieces that I make, I tend to be matchy-matchy.  I haven't been able to break myself of that habit yet.  So I dug into my beads and came up with some that I used instead of Lisa's.  I will be using Lisa's beads, probably to make some earrings.

I used some bone beads, red rounds, and matte amethyst faceted rounds.  Can you guess what I made?

I love ice cream cones and now I have my very own ice cream cone necklace.

I used the bone beads to make the cones with a bead cap to act as a napkin at the bottom of the cone, then I layered the amethyst beads as ice cream scoops and topped with a cherry.

I did make earrings but soemthing happened with the picture and I will have to add them later. 

Please visit the other participants in the I Love Clay Blog Hop.

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Dolores Raml, Crafty D's Creations

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations  you are here.

Mowse Doyle, Mowse Made This

Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Kelli Nelson, Zenith Jade Creations

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti

Candida Castleberry, Sugar Spun Beadworks

Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Thank you for stopping by.

Carolyn

4th Challenge of Color Blog Hop

COLOURlovers.com - berries and cream
Raspberry
RGB: 209, 48, 168
Hex: D130A8 Strawberry
RGB: 232, 55, 58
Hex: E8373A purple for payola
RGB: 63, 22, 86
Hex: 3F1656 couldnt get back
RGB: 33, 18, 51
Hex: 211233 Branco I
RGB: 254, 252, 255
Hex: FEFCFF

This the color palette I came up with but I did mine backwards.  I chose the colors and then had to find out the names and they don't make any sense at all.

I recently got a destash item from Lisa Lodge of  A Gratedul Artist that she called Raspberries and Cream.  I decided that I would add the other berries into the color scheme.

The best laid plans of beaders can fail.  I had planned to use the color scheme above for my color challenge piece and when I was putting the piece together realized that I didn't have any strawberry color beads.  So slight change of plans.  I decided on cranberry instead of strawberry in my piece.  I now have to go and find a new color palette but not today.  I want to show you my piece.

I ended up with blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries as my berries along with some cream.

What do you think?  I think I got kinda of close to my original color palette.

Here is the link to Erin's post for the list of other participants:  http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2013/12/4th-annual-challenge-of-color.html

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Upcoming blog hop - 4th Challenge of Color

Erin Prais-Hintz over at Treasures Found Blog issued the challenge to join her for the 4th annual Challenge of Color blog hop on December 2, 2013. 

I was thinking that this would be pretty simple on my part - Erin would issue a color palette and I would make something following her colors.  But no, Erin decided that this year she would be doing the challenge differently.  (I should have known, she has never done her other challenges the same way twice.) 

She gave us two options:

1. The Simple Challenge - go to Colourlovers.com and chose a palette from the ones that they already have on file or

2. The Twist Challenge - go to Colourlovers.com and make your own palette by searching the colors and making a palette or

There should have been a 3. go to Colourlovers.com and make your own palette by making your own colors and naming a palette.  This was the way I did it.  Not exactly following the rules but I kinda of like my colors.

The reveal is Monday, December 2, 2013.  I have to get crackin' to get my piece done by the deadline.  Come back on Monday to see my piece and the list of the other blog hoppers to see what we have created.

Carolyn,

Thanks for stopping by.

Vovs Jewellery Blog Christmas Giveaway

Vovs Jewellery Blog is having a Christmas Giveaway to celebrate her blog's first Christmas.  You can read more details here:  http://vovsjewellery.blogspot.com/2013/11/christmas-giveaway.html

She is giving away a selection of glass beads (from seed beads to large glass beads) in a Christmas color scheme along with a silver-plated engraved bookmark.



Don't they look great.  Putting my name in for the draw.

Siobhan Keogh is a British jewellery maker who has been published in several of their magazines (Making Jewellery, Beads and Beyond, and Make Jewellery) and makes some beautiful jewelery.  Just looking at what she has made has given me some ideas of what I could also make.

Please stop by her blog, follow her for some great tutorials, and sign up for the giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop

Welcome to the reveal for Lisa Lodge's Lampwork and Clay 2013 Blog Hop.  I had my choice of a kit with a clay piece or a lampwork piece.  I received a kit with a total of seven lampwork beads by Lisa Anderson.

Five of the beads were very similar in coloring, blue with some dark smooching (what do you call the color added to the bead?), that I decided would be the focal of the piece.

Two of the beads did not have the dark blue background color but matched so these became earrings.

I was looking for some in progress pictures and didn't find any.  I dug through my beads and quickly decided that I would be using some of my crystals.  I settled on brown, topaz and a frosted/matte aqua.

 A full view of the necklace and earrings.

A close up of the beautiful beads that Lisa Anderson made.  I think the topaz and brown pick up the smoochy color and the aqua picks up the blue of the bead.  (As people that have seen my blog before, I tend to be a matchy-matchy person especially when beading.)

 I used a simple lobster claw clasp as  the necklace is very light weight.

 Tha necklace in all its glory.  I really love the colors.

 There are the earrings.  I used brown crystals with the lampwork beads made by Lisa.

I have enjoyed working with Lisa's beads and actually have the opportunity to do another piece with some of her beads.  I will be sure and post what I make.

Please be sure to visit the other people that are participating in the blog hop.  Here is a list:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's

Connie Tipton, TBD

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Michele Dotson, Star Jewels

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Jennifer Clifford, TBD

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Loretta, Loretta's Boutique

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations - you are here

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Be sure to come back December 2nd for Erin Prais-Hintz's Color Challenge blog hop and on December 7th for another one of Lisa's blog hops - I Love Clay Bog Hop (and I do love my clay piece).

Thanks for stopping by.  Comments are always welcome.

Carolyn

Autumn 2013 Bead Design Challenge!

I just sent in my entry for Bead Happily Ever After's Autumn 2013 Bead Design Challenge!  The theme this year was “Break Out of Your Color Comfort Zone”!  All you had to do was make something with at least two itmes that you purchased from their etsy store etsy bead shop.

If you have ever read my blog, you will have seen that I tend to make things in my favorite color range which are the autumn/fall colors of orange, brown, yellow with some green and red thrown in.  This time I didn't use any of my favorite colors unless you count the gold chain and gold bead caps.

I used lapis blue spacers as the focal with moonglow blue rounds and moonglow white tubes.  I plan to wear this with either a blue or red shirt and blue jeans.  I just need to get a set of earrings made.

I need to improve my photography skills as it is much prettier in person.  I sent in the middle picture as only one picture was allowed.

Thanks for stopping by.  Comments are always welcome.

Carolyn

I have my internet back

Yeah!!! I have my internet back.  I will finally be able to update my blog to show all the blog hops I have signed up for and be able to review my comments.

Thank you to everyone that has come to visit my blog.  I hope you come back over the next several days as I try to get it updated.

I will be at the Thurston County Fairgrounds this weekend for the "Homemade for the Holidays" Bazaar.  I will have a table in Benoschek Hall on one of the walls as I have electricity.  Please come by and stop and say you saw my blog.

Again, thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Octoberfest 13 Reveal

Today is the reveal for Jewelry School Friends second annual Octoberfest.  This blog hop celebrates the fall season by sharing recipes, jewelry, beads, home decor, family, & friends.

I design jewelry and would like to share several pieces that I made. 

The first piece is made of yellow rounds and black shell squares.  I found the shell beads on the discontinued rack a couple of months ago and thought they would come in handy at some point.  The yellow beads I have had for several years.

The second piece I made used up the last of the black shell beads and some orange rounds that I have had for several years.

I made matching earrings for each set.

The last piece I made was for a challenge that just ended, The Bead Shop in Liverpool.  I had bought some autumn themed glass beads.  Orange and brown leaves along with brown ovals and yellow rounds.  I made a matching bracelet and two sets of coordinating earrings.

Thank you for visiting.  Please visit Jewel School for a list of the other participants.

Octoberfest 13

I have signed up for the Octoberfest 13 blog hop hosted by Jewel School Friends with its reveal on October 27th.

It's an open blog hop where you can share anything Autumn related, whether it be recipes, jewelry, beads, costumes, and more.

Please stop back on Sunday, October 27th, for the reveal.

Carolyn

Sharyl's Jewelry Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop

Today is the day for the reveal for Sharyl's  Jewelry Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop. 

I have to apologize for the pictures and post tonight.  My internet is down and I had to use my phone for the post.

Sheryl sent me several goodies to play with.  A couple of colored metal disks with earring wires that she made.

She also included a seed bead focal piece made by Shirley Moore. 

Shirley used dark green, honey beige, lime green lined clear area beads and pearly colored faceted beads.

I started with Shirley's focal piece.  I wished I was able to do any of the beadweaving ropes as I thought that would have showed off the focal really well. Since I don't do beadweaving, I strung three different wires  with black, pearly white, and crystal faceted seed beads and then hung the focal from them. 

Next I worked with the metal discs that Sharyl made.  She colored them with a peachy rosey color.  I added some strawberry glass rounds.

Sharyl had also included a strawberry colored pendant along with some multi-colored ribbon.  I had planned to add the pendant to the ribbon and make a short necklace.  I actually went shopping for ribbon ends, put end in the cart, forgot to give them to cashier, and left without them.  As soon as I finish the bonus pieces, I will post the pictures.

Please visit Sharyl's blog for the list of other participants.  http:sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Tree Wings Studio giveaway

Tree Wings Studio is having a giveaway of three of her new Queen Anne Lace pendants. 

Www.treewingsstudio.com/2013/10/fall-sale-giveaway.html

Please stop by and enter her giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls Blog Hop

Michelle Buettner put out a request for people interested in doing a blog hop of items made with pearls.I was interested and put my name in the pot.

My design is made from pearls that I purchased from Michael's Bead Gallery line of beads.  Choosing the pearls I think was the easy part.  I had a choice of two sizes and made that decision fairly quickly.

The next step was to choose the spacers.  I picked out four to start with and whittled that down and then added additional ones, finally choosing one. 

Then it was on to choose a pendant if I decided to go that route.  I had two in mind, a Tree of Life metal and shell pendant and a brown metal flower with gold jewels.

Earrings were the next step.  What color to use?  Was I going to have extra beads?

Here is what I finished with.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Carolyn

Travel Challenge Staycation - Olympia WA

 Welcome to the Travel Challenge Staycation version.  This year Erin decided to have us blog about our home town.  I currently live in Olympia Washington.  I moved here approximately 22 years ago when my daughter was ready to start high school. 

Olympia is the capital of the state of Washington and was established as a city in 1859.  It is also the county seat of Thurston County.  It makes up part of the tri-city area of Puget Sound, the other cities being Lacey and Tumwater.

On my staycation I took daily walks with my dog., Hank.  He is a Chow and Lab mix and the most gentle dog that I know.  He is a very people person, always loving some attention.

The strap over his nose is called a "Gentle Lead" which allows me to have a bit of control over him as he is a big dog (90 lbs.)  He doesn't mind it too much but is glad to get it off once we are home.

One of Hank's favorite places to visit.  The wait staff always has a doggie biscuit or two when we come by.

On one of our walks we discovered an older car.  Not sure of the age but Olympia does have several car collector clubs.  Here is a link to pictures of a recent show:  12th-annual-tenino-quarrymen-car show

You will see giant sunflowers in peoples yards as they grow to six-seven feet tall.

or you can see growing pumpkins

or possibly even a family of deer

This was the first time that I had seen a pair of fawns.

Here is a preview of the beads that I used in my jewelry set.

I decided to make something with wood for two reasons.  I had the beads already and Olympia is a port that exports logs to other areas of the world.  I was hoping to get a picture of one of the trucks taking the logs down to the docks but wasn't able to.  I also used agates as they are a type of stone that is found here in Washington.

This pictures shows of the red-orange agates that I used both in the necklace and in the earrings.

Please visit Erin's website (2nd-annual-challenge-of-travel)  to see the list of other participants.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will come again.

Carolyn

Millenium Moment Giveaway

Pips from Pips Jewellery is having a giveaway (a-millenium-moment-calls-for-giveaway) to celebrate having 1000 likes on her Facebook page. 

Pips is a polymer clay bead artist from Bath, United Kingdom.  She is giving away of some of her newly designed polymer clay beads.  She has pictures of some of her current beads on her giveaway blog page that are so beautiful.  Here are a couple of beads from her web page that I like.

Remember leaves

Clemetis bud

I am looking forward to seeing what the new beads look like and would love to win some.

If you would like a chance to win some free beads, please visit the link above and find out how to enter the giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by.

Be sure to come back on Saturday, August 31, to see what I made for Erin's Travel Staycation Challenge.  See you then if not before.

Carolyn