Past blog hops and challenges

Sunday, July 27, 2014

New blog hop - Patriot Day Blog Hop September 11

I got a response that there are several people that would be interested in participating in a Red, White, and Blue blog hop on Patriot Day, September 11.  So I am planning to host my first blog hop.  Please bare with me as I find my way.  It will be a red, white, and blue jewelry day.  Beads of your choice.



Below is some information about Patriot Day taken from Wikipedia:

In the United States, Patriot Day (known in full as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance) occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of the 2,977 killed in the  September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Initially, the day was called the Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001.

By presidential decree, the American flag is flown at half-staff at the White House and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments throughout the world; flags are also encouraged to be displayed on individual American homes.


Additionally, a moment of silence is observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The Corporation for National and Community Service is available as a clearing house for volunteer for service opportunities.
Because Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, schools and business do not close in observance of the occasion, although memorial ceremonies for the victims are held.

I am going to leave the sign-ups through August 3rd.  Be sure to leave your name, blog address, and email or way to contact you.

I will also be looking for a badge for the blog hop. (anyone know how to make one?)

Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

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

Saturday, July 19, 2014

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
Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
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)
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.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

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.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

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

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

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