Showing posts with label Bead Soup Blog Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bead Soup Blog Party. Show all posts

Soup's On! (Bead Soup, that is!)

If you're looking for Week 17 of the
Focus on Life: 52 Photos Challenge - Click HERE!
 
And now,...It's time for the 3rd Reveal in
 
 
 
First, a super hearty thank you to our hostess, Lori Anderson who puts together the best "Soup Parties" on the planet!  Lori's knack for bringing people together from all over the world is just phenomenal and with this, the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party, there are 541 participants in 28 countries on 4 continents having fun creating fabulous designs of all kinds with heaps of 'beads soups' that were traded out between partners. With three 'Reveals' over the last few weeks in order to accommodate everyone who wanted to play along, my hat's off to Lori (and her hubby!) for all the hard work and coordinating efforts this huge bead party takes to make it such a success!!

And so now, with out further ado,...

Lori paired me with the uber-talented 
(and super sweet!) Francesca Watson.
 
My Bead Soup Partner, Francesca Watson
 
 
Francesca and I shared our 'Bead Soups' we sent each other in our posts, here and here.  
 
I'll say it again - she's super sweet - and the Bead Soup Francesca sent me was just over the top, filled to the brim of my bowl with yummy bead-goodness! 
 
 
Bead Soup I received from Francesca!
 
 
Remember?!!
 
 
 
Bead Soup is meant to get you to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.  Try as I might to step out of my comfort zone, my lack of skills kept me from accomplishing the things that were inside of my head (which looked really cool in my brain, by the way!) and so my pieces were assembled, taken apart, re-assembled,....  

However, I was having lots of fun playing around with all the beads Francesca had sent and was truly enjoying all their wonderful colors and shapes.
 
 
Click Photos To Enlarge ;-)

 
The first necklace I finished has the beautiful stone pendant that Francesca sent along with several of the gemstone beads she sent as well. I love the colors and texture and how this necklace feels when it's on (it feels fabulous!!).

I really wanted to somehow make a brass backing/bezel for it in order to highlight it a bit more, but I need to get some thinner gauge metal sheet to do this.  The sheet I have is so thick I can't cut it w/anything but a jewelry saw and (luckily) I'm out of saw blades (because my sawing skills are horrible. That's a compliment, trust me!).   My hubby says this one has my sister written all over it - color and texture wise - and I think he's right!
 
 
 

Here's the earrings I created to go with the necklace.
 
 
 
 
I REALLY like these!
 
Next, I took the amazing copper enameled (2nd) focal pendant that Francesca sent me and played around with it. I actually thought that most of the beads she sent would look fabulous all knotted in waxed linen in a multi-strand necklace with this focal. They did look fabulous all knotted, but again, the design just wasn't doing it for me, so that's another one of the designs that got scrapped.
 
Click Photos to Enlarge! :-)
 

I ended up creating these tube-shaped paper beads from a magazine add that had a picture of the Grand Canyon it - the colors match perfectly and really (my opinion here) let the focal pendant take center stage. I also used the third focal that Francesca sent me - the carved, dyed horn bead - as one of the beads in the necklace - I just LOVE this bead!  It was hard not to make that bead the focal of a hand-knotted/beaded type of wrap bracelet, let me tell you, but I was trying to steer away from my 'usual' here,....at least a tiny bit anyway!
 
 
 
I'm so in love with this necklace!
These colors,...totally my colors!!
I could wear this every day of the week!!

And then this bracelet is where I used the super fabulous clasp that Francesca made herself and sent me.  These aren't colors I usually work with or wear, but I'm finding them fun and they were much easier to work with than I thought they would be. (Green really does go w/everything!)  
 
 
 
 
I decided after all the 're-dos' I had w/the necklaces, that I deserved a nice, simple (design-wise) new bracelet all my own! I strung the bracelet on waxed linen and it feels so good on. I'm wearing this one right now, along with the earrings, too. (well, as I write this post I have it on!)
 
 



I've got a ton (yes a TON) of beads left over from the wonderful bead soup that Francesca sent me and I've got a couple of bracelets and earrings in the works using them, but nothing to show off as of yet.

I want to thank Francesca for sending such a lovely soup recipe to me and for allowing me to step out of my box a bit and try some shapes and colors of beads that I don't normally try and also for the wonderful focal pendants and clasp she sent me - I couldn't have asked for components that were more beautiful or fun!

Please stop by Francesca's Blog and see what she has cooked up with the beads I sent her - I know it will be wonderful - her designs always are!

Click HERE to go to
Lori Anderson's Blog, Pretty Things,
and see the 3rd Reveal Participants with their links so you can hop around the 'world' (literally) and drool over all the amazing soups that everyone else has simmering!

Have fun!

Thanks again to Lori Anderson for another successful and super fun Bead Soup Blog Party!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Bead Soup Fun!
Cheers,
~Shel~
 

Quick Reminders

Just wanted to give you a quick reminder of a couple of things happening in the blog world right now,...
 
First up, don't forget that this weekend (starting January 25th) is Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party Sign Ups - and there's only one Party each year - so don't miss out if this is what you've been wanting to do!
 
 
 
 
Also, Artisan Whimsy's got a couple of challenges that are sure to catch your eye and it's the place to go to find out all sorts of info and stay informed, so be sure to drop by there this week.


 
 
 
 
Also, if you're up for a fun photo challenge this year, be sure to check out Sally Russick's Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly challenge over on the Studio Sublime - we're on week 4 this Saturday, but you can join in any time!

 
 
There's tons more out there this week/month,....so be sure to share all the fun things you know about here in the comments so other's can find them too!
 
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Fun Things to Do!
Cheers,
~Shel~

BTW and a Discount Coupon For You!

I'm still playing around with some of these today, re-stringing (finally) some jewelry for a friend and contemplating a few other things.

Vintaj embossed blanks that I've been playing around with


What's on YOUR Bead Table Today? 

I'm putting a few new pieces up in the
MiShel Designs Etsy Store later this week. 


Mystery Earrings that could possibly show up in my store this week!


Use coupon code "Valentine25" in the MiShel Designs Etsy Store upon check out and get 25% off your order! 


Faceted Amethyst Nugget Earrings


This coupon code is just for my blog friends and my facebook/twitter followers - it's not posted in my shop - so enjoy it while you can!

Leather and Hematite Wrap Bracelet available in the
MiShel Designs Etsy Store


On another note, I must not have rubbed my rabbit's foot the right way, cause I didn't get selected by the random number picker that Lori Anderson did for this round of the Bead Soup Blog Party
 


Congrats to all those who did get selected - you're going to have a blast!

Plus, it's still going to be super fun hopping around all over the internet on March 3rd  and drooling over what all the particpants created. 

It will be like "Disneyland on steriods" for all us bead lovers!


Everyone have a great "Hump Day" as you coast on into the weekend, okay?

Barbie's still hanging out on my Bead Table!!


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Random Stuff!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Linking up with Bead Table Wednesday today
over on Flickr!

Today's Your Last Chance!

Today's your last day to register for the



She's doing a lottery style drawing this time around 
to keep in manageable since last time
there were well over 300 particpants.

So, if you've never participated before, or even if you have, go check it out and register for a chance to get in on the fun!!

Untile Next Time,
Peace, Love and Fun Things!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Spreading the LOVE in 2012,....

This is kind of like my Friday's Fab Favorites again.  I wanted to share a few sites that I love to go check out and read - they're fabulous, have great content and some of them are even having give-a-ways and challenges to boot! 

Regina's Writings - LOVE her blog!  She has gorgeous jewelry and shares wonderful content and right now she's having a great Give-A-Way on her blog if you leave a comment and tell her about your New Year's Plans - so head on over there right now.

The necklace she's giving away is beautiful!!

Regina's Writings - Blog Give-A-Way


Michelle Mach's blog Beads and Books is always a fun place to check out and right now she's having a Valentine's challenge and it's not a bead challenge either!

Michelle Mach's Valentine's Challenge


And, it's FREE!  (Can you believe I'm posting something that's not related to jewelry in some fashion?)   Check out the cool challenge she's got going on and join in the fun!

Then, you know what's coming up right? 

Yep, it's the
and registration starts this weekend! 


It's gotten absolutely HUGE the last couple of times she's hosted this awesome event and so this time it's going to be run by a lottery to keep it down to a do-able size for everyone. 

So, head on over to Lori's Blog between 
and then hold your lucky rabbit's foot or whatever else you do for luck and pray you're one of the fortunate 200 who are randomly picked!!  I participated this past fall and had a wonderful partner and a great time!



Lori does an excellent job of keeping everything fair, fun and fantastic!! (what a job though - I cannot even begin to imagine all she goes through to accomplish such a wonderful event!) And, even if I don't get to participate this go-around, I'm really looking forward to the reveal date on March 3rd (Just a few weeks prior to my birthday!) when everyone's creations will be revealed and I can drool over all the fabulous designs everyone creates - that part is SOOO much fun, let me tell you!!

I love sharing what other's are doing out there on the web in 'Jewelry and Craft Land' because there's so many talented people with awesome give-a-way, challenges, ideas and fun parties going on - what's not to love about all of them!

Drop me a line and let me know what you've got going on over on your blog and I'll do a little mention here or on my MiShel Designs Facebook Page and I'll send a couple of Tweets out into Cyberland for you as well! 

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Spreading the LOVE in 2012!!

Cheers!
~Shel~

Blog Give-A-Way!

Happy Monday Everyone!

I'm only 7 peeps away from having
100 followers on my blog - Woo Hoo! 

Okay, I know,...I know,...there's folks who have thousands of followers, but I'm excited and very grateful for the
93 of you that I have!!

Once I hit 100 followers I'm going to be putting everyone's name in the pot and doing a Blog Give-A-Way as an appreciation gift to everyone who follows along in my quirkly little corner of the world.

There will be three winners in my Blog Give-A-Way.



The 1st item to be given away will be this 
Romantic Rose necklace and complimentary earring set
that I created for the Bead Soup Blog Party this fall that everyone gave me such nice compliments on.
(Thank you for the kind words, by the way!)

2nd Up will be my "Follow Your Dreams" Necklace with pewter charm, leather cord and one of my handcrafted sterling silver swirl clasps. 



I love this necklace because even with it's
simplistic style, it speaks volumes!

And 3rd on the Give-A-Way block with be my
"Butterscotch" beaded brass wire-wrapped bracelet which, with it's assortment of wire wrapped beads, is fun and funky!



Once I hit "100" I'll be doing the drawing and posting the results of the "100 Followers Give-A-Way" so check back often and see how things are going!

Also, this Monday, I wanted to tell you about a pretty big event that's happening online the 26th of November through the 3rd of December with Lori Anderson



She's such an innovative one, this lovely beady blogger, and she's come up with the First Annual Virtual Craft Show which she's hosting over on her blog, Pretty Things

You'll definitely want to check it out! 
Click on over to her blog now for the all the juicy details!

Also, don't forget, the Holiday Shop Hop 2011 will take place right here on my blog (and several other's blogs as well!) for two days the weekend of December 3rd and 4th as well. 



You'll be able to hop around to several shops and blogs and check out some wonderful handmade items and support the art community when you do your holiday shopping this year.

So, that's it for this Monday.  Here's to a creative week everyone!

Until Next Time,


Cheers,

Hopping, Hopping, Hopping,...

Well, I'm still blog hopping this week,
trying to get to everyone who participated in
this past Saturday.


I've encountered so many wonderful blogs, made new friends, seen some of the most amazing jewelry designs ever
(I'm w/Lori - my hat's off to all the peeps working w/seed beads - you amaze me!!)
and I love all the various mediums people have utilized - simply amazing!!

I have even picked up a few "Great Finds" here and there
from some of the wonderful artists I've encountered.

Like these lovelies from Raida Disbrow over at
Havana Beads - Oh My! 

Havana Beads on Etsy

How lovely are these goodies?  
They arrived yesterday (Thank you Raida!!) and WOW!

"Love" - Ceramic Bead by Raida Disbrow of Havana Beads

Coolio, huh? I know,...I know!!
They're so SWEET!

So, what are some of your great finds from the

Do Share!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Cool Finds!!

Cheers,

Bead Table Wednesday

Okay - so 'everyone' (and I really mean literally almost everyone on the planet!)
participates in BTW - Bead Table Wednesday -  so I thought I'd
share with you what's on my bead table today.

So, here goes:

Earring Wire and Findings Orders to Fill
I love the "Bronze" earring wires - so Autumn like!

Here's a bunch of orders from my Shel's Jewelry Supplies Etsy Shop 
that I'm getting ready to pop into the tumbler. 
She's gonna be a busy tumbler today because
I don't mix my metals and these orders are only half finished!

Brass, Bronze, Copper - Yummy! 
Clasps and Earring Wirese Ready for the Tumbler!

Bead Table Wednesday - All Sorts of Stuff Today!

Then, there's these things over here on this table,....
a bracelet I keep taking various pieces of Sari Silk off of because
it's just not looking right at all.


There's all those goodies I won from Kristi Bowman with Dreamsome,......oh yeah, baby!!
I've been looking at those for a couple of weeks now,...nothing seems good enough for them.

Yet, anyway!

And yes, that's a skull bead on a bracelet you see sticking out way over to the upper left corner of the pic.  I do love skull beads,...although you've probably never seen them in any of my designs (unless you're a family member who's received some or seen my bead stash!)

And, there's the left over Bead Soup Mix from the big Bead Soup Blog Party
that happened this weekend.



What?!???

You didn't hear about it?

Just click on the button at the top of my blog here that says
"Bead Soup 2011" and go check it all out.
There's even links to everyone who participated - over 360 peeps - so you can check out all their lovely designs!

So, that's what's on my bead table today,...and for the rest of the week!

What's on yours? 

Head on over to the Flickr group and check out everyone else's BTW!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and BTW!

Cheers,

Lights, Camera,....Oops!

Ocean Blue by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Bead Soup Blog Party - Fall 2011

Okay - so, if you were blog hopping this weekend for the
and you made  it to my entry here, you may have read down far enough where
I told you that as I was taking the pics of my last "Bead Soup Creation"
that my camera went all hay-wire on me.

Well, I pulled out my old camera (which is now the 'family' camera) and got some shots yesterday of the necklace I created with the remainder of the beads my bead soup partner, Melissa, sent me.

I am still having trouble with the new camera - keeps reverting back to 'normal settings' even though I keep adjusting the iso, f-stop, white balance, etc. for my macro shots - so not sure what's up there, but thank goodness my old camera doesn't take half bad shots, cause the new one's taking stuff that's all fuzzy, grainy and sort of 'filtered' looking - weird! 

I'm sure it's something I've set it on to revert back to the original settings or whatever, but it should at least take the picture the way I want right after I set it, right? 
Nope,...that would be too easy to figure out then, wouldn't it?

So, here was my inspiration for the opalite beads and those cute little 'birdie links' Melissa sent me. 

Birdie on the Beach!


Anyone who knows me at all knows I LOVE the beach and I take a zillion pictures of it anytime we're there and there's always way more pics of the ocean than of us as a family while on vacation!


More Birdies on the Beach

This is "Ocean Blue" - A macrame necklace with waxed cotton cord, opalite links, one cute little birdie, a few glass beads that are supposed to resemble beach glass and some recycled Sari Silk ribbon tied on for a bit more texture and color.

Ocean Blue by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Bead Soup Blog Party - Fall 2011
Ocean Blue by Michelle Buettner

So, enjoy the beach shots, and wish me luck w/the new camera
and future shots this week as I try to figure out where I'm messing up.

California's Ocean Blue - March 2010

P.S. - We're not telling the hubby about the whole camera thingy yet as this was my birthday gift back in March,...and I can't find the receipt (and don't want to ask him!!)! 


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Working Camera Karma!!
Cheers,