Friday, August 29, 2014

Tis the Season!

Oh my Gosh!!! Are y'all as frantically tired as I am?? School has started with a bang!


I addition to that, I've got lots of new irons in the fire.One of which is the honor of being a guest blogger for Art Jewelry Elements! I love this blog, it's one of the few I actually keep up with on a regular basis.
I know, I have been a total slacker on posts...All I can say is, I'm trying to do better. It is rather hard to keep up with all the social media outlets and keep your finger in the pie, so to speak.
Facebook can literally eat up your day, but if you don't maintain a presence there, you're not going to have folks remember you when they are in need of a pretty piece of jewelry, you know?
I do have a Twitter account, and Instagram. I use the Twitter to post for giveaways, and that's about it.
I post pics of food I make on Instagram, and the adorable clay pieces my daughter creates.

I'm in the process  of creating an online shop to finally! sell my designs. That was a looonngg time coming, let me tell you! I still don't have all the ins and outs figured out, but I just can't wait til I do, otherwise I'll be dead and someone else will be selling them!

Hope you're all doing well, gearing up for the Holiday Season! It is an exciting time, I love this part of the year, even though it's rather hectic. The weather turns cooler...


I start baking PUMPKIN EVERTHING!!!!!








So, what about you? Do you love this season of busyness, or dread it? Blessings, Shirley


Sunday, August 3, 2014

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets...Reveal time baby!

 Ok, this was such a fun challenge!
The awesome Rita (Toltec Jewels) put out a request for artists interested in playing with some of Sue Kennedy's new bead design, chicklets.
If you've ever had the pleasure of designing with Sue's beads, you will totally understand why it was a joy to create with this bead!

I received the top bead on the last row. Yes, that yummy orangey pinkey color. Sooo gorgeous!!!
This is a small bead, so you would think I would choose to create a bracelet, right?
Nope.
I wanted to make a necklace, so I could feature this baby front and center.
Wanna see? Course you do, that's why you came. Insert dramatic cloak swishing....TADA!!!!!!!



I created a double rope with kumihimo and 3 bead spiral peyote.

 Here is a close up of the kumihimo. I looped the end, and added some jump rings to the loop for a fun texture. This has 8 elements, with a chocolate bamboo yarn creating grounding for the sparkle yarns in burgundy, yellow, and orange.

 The peyote spiral picks up the darker tones in the bead, along with a softer shade of the oranges. The spiral has two size 8's, and 1 size 11 seed bead. This is a quick spiral that packs a lot of visual punch.
 I created a butterfly bail to suspend the bead from the ropes, 

 and added some simple fringe to the bottom. The butterfly bail gives such a nice contrast to the ropes, and the darker beads just point straight to that fabulous chicklet!!
 I may go back and add more fringe, it's driving me crazy the way it keeps separating to either side!

Here are the rest of the lucky participants!
Thanks Rita, for another super fun challenge!



ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog
                                                               Art Jewelry Elements
Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads
SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                                http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                     http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                                             http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers                                          https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps                                            https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                    https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter                                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding                                   http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                           http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain                                           http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont                               http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                                          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider                                         http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                        http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr                                            http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                         http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                                     http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges                                    http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                       http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                          http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                                               http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                        http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                                        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Thanks for joining me in celebrating this challenge. Blessings, Shirley