Bread Today, Margie Tomorrow

So, today is reveal day for the current Margie and Me Challenge. Why don't I have my piece ready, you ask? Well, I chose to go with the softer color palette, and really, really fell in love with the color contrasts. To the point where I just got lost in looking at them on my bead tray. It happens! Stop giggling! Well, ok, so I also forgot the deadline date. I've been entering too many challenges. I started a couple of different ideas, but for one reason or another, they didn't pan out.
I should have my piece ready tomorrow, so come back and see, won't you?
I have had this recipe for a style of breadmaking for a while now. The website is called MotherEarth News, and the article is 5 minutes a day for fresh baked bread.

If you've read any of my bread posts, you know that I have been making freshly  milled, whole wheat bread for several years. The recipe for this artisan bread calls for white flour. They do use wheat, but as a portion, not a majority. That's why it's taken me so long to make this. I really wanted to do artisan bread, but I didn't want to go back to white flour. I compromised on the recipe. Just finished baking it, so we have to wait for cooling to taste it. The recipe called for 6 1/2 cups flour, so I used 3 whole wheat, and 3 1/2 white.  It's a very pretty loaf. I'll let you know tomorrow how it tasted!

Blessings,
Shirley

We won!!!

I say "we" in this post, because this win is definitely  not about me. Lisa Boucher over at Lisa's Clay Happenings gave away some wonderful autism pins she had created. I was one of the lucky winners. Check them out! Aren't they cute?

We have a new associate pastor for our church who has two young children with autism. One is high functioning, one is not. I have been around a few autistic children, and my personal feeling is that society is much harder on the high functioning children. Why? Because it is much harder to see, therefore people just assume they are being brats when they have functioning issues. One sweet little boy we knew in TN had a fixation on the color blue. And he literally couldn't handle it if he was asked to color something, and he wasn't given a blue crayon.  Autistic children can also amaze you with their intelligence. One young man (he just turned 16) can quote movies to you, line for line.
I am excited to learn even more about these special children, and to be able to use Lisa's pins to help other's understand more about autism as well.
Blessings,
Shirley

Button Swap Reveal!!!

I am so pleased with this swap. I think it really pushed me outside my comfort zone to design a project around a button. Of course I've used buttons as the toggle for bracelets before. But I wanted to try something different.  My wonderful partner, Krista French of French Elegant Jewelry, sent some great buttons. I was having such a hard time choosing which to use. And, I had a couple of other challenges during this time, so I only made one item.  I have ideas for several other pieces with the buttons.  Here are the buttons she sent me.

I chose to use that lovely variegated purple one in the back. I have lots of bracelets, so I wanted to make a necklace this time. 

I love trying new stitches, and this is one I've been wanting to try for a while. It is from Carol Cypher's book, Mastering Beadwork.  It is basically a circular peyote, carry one. The carry bead is the white drop.

 

A new camera is on my wishlist, cause you totally can't tell that the round beads are a fantastic blue goldstone. They have the most wonderful sparkle in the sunlight.  The button needed a bit more presence, so I stitched up a backing for it using the matte purple seed beads from the tube, and more of the faery drops.  This ended up a little shorter than I normally wear my necklaces, but I'm excited about the overall look.  Please head over and check out the rest of the lovely creations.
And, don't forget, each comment gives you a chance to win some awesome buttons from Michelle!!

1. Cat - Boo Beads

2. Cindy - Sweet Bead Studio

3. Cory - Art with Moxie

4. Cyndi - Beading Arts

5. Dita - Alankarshilpa

6. Donna, Marti, and Michelle - Beads & Books

7. Erin - Treasures Found

8. Hope - Crafty Hope

9. Inca - Zerenity Design

10. Katrine - Army of Sock Monsters

11. Krista - French Elegant Jewelry

12. Kristie - Artisan Clay

13. Linda D. - Lutka and Co.

14. Linda L. - Linda's Bead Blog

15. Lody - Lody's Beadworks

16. Lori - Pretty Things

17. Loretta - Loretta's Boutique

18. Malin - Beading by Malin de Koning

19. Mary - MK's Creative Musings

20. Maryanne - Zingala's Workshop

21. Melinda - Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs

22. Saskia - Perlendistel

23. Shannon - For My Sweet Daughter

24. Shirley - Beads and Bread **You Are Here**

25. Stephanie - Confessions of a Bead Hoader

Button Swap and Giveaway is tomorrow!!!!

Stay tuned for the Button Swap tomorrow! The lovely Michelle Mach is hosting this swap, and she has been kind enough to attach a giveaway to it. Yeah! So, if you leave a comment at each site from the participating blogs, you will be entered to win a wonderful set of buttons. There are 25 participants, so if you leave a comment on each blog, you get 25 entries to win!!!
Blessings,
Shirley

7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop

Today's the day! I had so much fun creating a bracelet for this project. Lori Anderson of Pretty Things connected us with the Global Genes Project. I really hope you'll take the time to head to their site and read about them. It is a wonderful cause. We were all asked to make a bracelet to be sent to a mom of a child with a rare disease.  Since you don't know a specific wrist size, it is a bit challenging. So I decided to go with a memory wire bracelet. This design was from BeadWork Oct/Nov 2010 issue.  Shelley Nybakke used peyote stitch to dress up the memory wire. Mine is not exactly the same pattern, but it is where I got the inspiration from.
I love the delicate, lacey look from the silver lined white beads.  I used a variety of blue colors to represent the many types of strength necessary to deal with a serious life situation. I pray that this will be a blessing to the woman who receives it.

Please visit the rest of the participants to see all the lovely projects!

Bracelet Blog Hop

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle 
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium 
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss 
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place 
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads 
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy 
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

7000 Bracelets for Hope

Our wonderful Lori Anderson is at it again! This is a great project to help awareness of rare diseases.  The info from the website, Global Genes Project, states that there are 30 million people with rare diseases, and of that number, 75% are children. It really breaks your heart. So here's a little something you can do to help out. Just one bracelet, to show your support. Hurry on over to Lori's site, this is only open til tomorrow.
I got so excited about it, that I spent most of today working on my bracelet! And finished it! So sorry, can't post about it til April 16th. So come back then and see. Once again, it was a new venture for me, something I've never worked with before. Yeah!!
Blessings,
Shirley

Margie and Me Reveal Day!

Yeah! It feels like it took forever for this one to get here. I kept thinking, I could do another piece, maybe, no, yes.....but with all the other stuff I've involved myself in, I decided not to try to squeeze it in and maybe do a poor job.  This challenge was a lovely painting called, "The Sower with the Setting Sun".

I really love all the vibrant colors in this painting. I knew when I looked at it, that I wanted to find something to represent the glorious sun with all the color sprangling out from it. (Yes, I know sprangling is not a word, but it works for me.)

So, my decision for a pattern came from the tiny lines of color in this piece. Let's see what you think!

 A St. Petersburg chain!

The closure is a yellow button, slipped into a peyote round with yellow fringe.

The body of the chain was worked in a rainbow grey seed bead, with an embellishment on the top of matte purple.

Bright and bold sunshine!

 I'm like most people, I don't tend to wear a lot of yellow, but this bracelet is surprisingly easy to coordinate with lots of stuff in my wardrobe.  The orderly person in me has a bit of an issue with the fringe, but I try to imagine the painting, with those short strokes, creating a lovely work of art, and just go with it. Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to head over to LaBellaJoya to see the rest of the designs!

Blessings, Shirley

Happy Anniversary--to Me!

If you have ever wondered if God answers prayers, I can tell you He does. Because when a little girl of the 60's, from a divorced homelife, said every night, "I just want to be married"; He honored that prayer.  We celebrate 22 years of marriage, and 26 years of friendship. (Yes, it did take a while to get him to the altar).  We started out ridiculously in love, and built into a tried and true friendship. And, just like all the rest of your friends, sometimes we don't like each other! We have grown to understand that it's ok to want to be in another state  room from each other, cause you'll get over it eventually. We have learned the value of communication, even when the truth hurts.  And, even when I want to be naive about things, and just not know, he won't let me, cause he believes in me, and my ability to handle the tough stuff.
I pray that my children will be just as blessed in their marriages as we have been. I pray that if you have been frustrated with your spouse, or not, you will give them a big hug and kiss today. When they ask what that's for, just tell them it's for being who you are, cause our men have to handle a lot of tough stuff in this world today too.
Blessings,
Shirley