You Won't Believe This!

My Birthday Giveaway garnered 21 participant.

These lovelies are heading off to. . .

The Winner is . . .
(drumroll, please) . . .

Heather Pyle! -- My Bead Buddy
SHE MADE THE BEADS!

A Big Thank You to:

Copper Diem, Spirited Earth, moonlitfantaseas, Regina, Nicki, tyneboden, MoonRae, Loretta, Kate, Alterity Button Jewelry, Boot ~C, Marianna, yogavq, dfherden, Beatnheart, Emerald Window, Rebecca, Alesha, Heather, Moags and Smeet, and Paige for participating.

Psst -- Heather, I think I still have your address, but please email just in case.

In My Shop Now

I wrote about these two wall-hanging in this post a couple of days ago. Once again the local gallery has decided to overlooked my artistic endeavors. However, I have posted these two art quilts in my Etsy shop and will sell individually or together. I see a few more of these pieces in the future.

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!! -- (I will do a Random Drawing on June 30th, that way, if you are slow at reading all these wonderful blogs, you will still have a chance to win.)

I Won!

The Bead Soup Party was a huge success (Thanks Lori!) and along the way I found more fabulous artists to follow. There were giveaways along the way too. I found Amanda Davie at Articulations and fell in love with her eclectic, magical style. She had a giveaway and I just found out that I won!

Look at these luscious goodies! Mmm!

All Wrapped Up

And a little surprise something! Can't Wait!!

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!! -- (I will do a Random Drawing on June 30th, that way, if you are slow at reading all these wonderful blogs, you will still have a chance to win.)

Art Quilts and Last Call for Bead Soup! Day#8

I got a late start on the Bead Soup today because I was working on another art project. I have spent a lot of time lately on beading and jewelry making, but I am also an Art Quilter/Fiber Artist.

At quilt retreat a few months ago, I worked up two small quilt-tops (approx. 25"x15"). They were inspired by my travels and my interest in Art History. For the last few days, I quilted and finished these little wall-hangings just in time to submit them (this afternoon, whew!) for an art show at a local gallery with the theme "Great Escapes -- landscapes and travels". I will not hear until Tuesday to know if they will be in the show, but I thought I would REVEAL them here for you.

This one is called "Older than Stonehenge". It is my interpretation of a relatively complete, small stone circle called Castlerigg in the northwest of England near the Lakes District. My husband and I visited it with two dear friends who were living in England at the time. There it was in the middle of a farmer's field surrounded by a simple wire fence. No guard hut, no gift shop, just out there -- in the natural surroundings. It was very magical.
The next piece is called "Crusaders broke into this mound"-- Maeshowe, Okney, Scotland. The name of this piece comes from one of the many Viking rune graffiti left in the mound in about 1153.

I stitched a plan of the interior of the mound in gold thread . . .

and the Viking rune graffiti (the title) is stitched out in gold thread as well.

I am fascinated by Maeshowe, not just because it is in a breathtakingly beautiful natural setting, but because thousands of years ago, a group of people constructed it over a long period of time and with exact alignment to the setting of the sun on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. As a matter of fact, this little quilt shows the two sunsets one sees behind the Hill of Hoy (to the far left).

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The sun sets and then pops out again for a minute or two in the lower crook of the hill. All the while, the light is traveling down the tiny passage to strike a stone in the center of the chamber with a momentary flash of light in the darkness. Maeshowe have may signified the death of the old year and the birth of a new one with the days growing increasingly longer. The mound reminds me of the pregnant womb of Mother-Earth.

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Anyway, here is the last list of the Bead Soup Artists. Please visit them and post comments on their blogs. They have waited a LONG TIME to REVEAL their masterpieces.

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June 26th

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads

86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork

87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof

88. Denise, Bling on the Blog

89. Doris, Glaszwerg

90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor

91. Jo, Daisychain Designs

92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design

93. Kristie, Artisan Clay

94. Jess, Vintaj

95. Suzann, Beadphoria

96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

97. Michelle, bMichelle

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If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!! -- (I will do a Random Drawing on June 30th, that way, if you are slow at reading all these wonderful blogs, you will still have a chance to win.)

Bead Soup Part Day #7 -- My Partner's Reveal!

I have waited almost a whole week (well, actually a lot longer than that) to see what Heather Pyle from My Muse did with the bead soup ingredients I sent her in May.

This is what I sent . . .
And this is what she did with it.

and this . . . and this . . . .

Now get on over there and tell what a great job she did! (She is #81 below)

June 25th

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs

73. Valerie, Hot Art

74. Courtney, Beads by Breul

75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations

76. Shea, gr8findings

77. Julie, Pryce Designs

78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog

79. Patricia, Verre Design

80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman

81. Heather, My Muse My bead swap buddy

82. Susan, Night Beader at Large

83. Sonja, Drachenei

84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!!

Day #6 of the Bead Soup Movable Feast

Have you been seeing all those giveaways while checking out the Bead Soup Blogs? I have and so has Cenya over at Emerald Window. I think she will be adding to the list as she finds them, but if you are having a giveaway, let her know and she will post a link to your blog too. These are the latest giveaways she has listed.

Song Beads
Star Girl Jewelry
Artemisia Studio <= Have you signed up yet? No? Click {HERE}*
EB Bead and Metal Works
Andrew Thornton
Second Surf
Spirit Rattles
Denise Yezbak Moore
Organic Odysseys

Now, for Day #6 of the Bead Soup Movable Feast.
June 24th
60. Carol, Carol Bradley Designs
61. Wanda, A Frayed of Fibers
62. Diana, Vintage Blue Studio
63. Marieke, Marieke's Blog
64. KJ, Silver Parrot
65. Maire, Maire Dodd
66. Shannon, Miss Fickle Media
67. Dana, Dana's Jewelry Designs
68. Charlene, The Bead Dreamer
69. Elisabeth, Beads for Busy Gals
70. Cathryn, Chile Cats
71. Missy, Melissa Rappaport

*If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!!

Bead Soup Bash -- Day #5

Giveaway Prize -- Alamo Stone Earrings

Some of my favorite artists are in this next list. Stop by and leave them a comment (we all love comments, don't we?)

June 23th

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. The prize is the pair of earring shown above.

Bead Soup Party Day #4

Here is another set of Lisi's beautiful lampwork beads made into earrings. There are a dozen such lovelies in my Etsy Shop. Please take a moment to take a look around.

June 22th

37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird
38. Lyn, Lyn Foley
39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
40. Rebecca, Song Beads
41. Regina, Regina's Writings
42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
44. Maria, Garden Path Beads
45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane
46. Ann, My Critical Eye
47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio
(and now we are half-way through the Bead Soup participants -- more to come!)

Also, if you have not already, sign up for my Birthday Giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

Bead Soup Party Day #3

Day Three of the Bead Soup Swap -- If you have not checked the blogs from the previous two days, you need to do it! They all are just amazing! Below is a list of today's Bead Soup Swap Participant Reveals -- But first . . . .

My Necklace over my black mock-turtle neck blouse. I hope this give you a sense of scale of the piece.
Also, here is a pair of earrings I made with some of the "leftover" Soup ingredients.

June 21th

27. Lisa, Alterity

28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy

29. Melanie, Kookie Designs

30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass

31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart

32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique

33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do

34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef

35. Virginie, ViviBijoux

36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

Bead Soup Part Day #2 -- My Reveal

The Bead Soup Swap Party started yesterday! Visit the artists listed below and return to tell me who is your favorite!

You will notice that today is my scheduled Reveal date and Heather Pyle of My Muse my bead buddy's is several days away. That is so we can all ohh and ahhh over the wonderful masterpieces that have been created in this monumental swap/challenge involving nearly 100 artists all organized by Lori Anderson of Pretty Thing.

This is what I got from Heather in May. The inspiration is the carved limestone Heather had seen at the Alamo. I have an ancestral connection to the Alamo and also love medieval carvings which I described in this blog {HERE} I was so excited to receive these gorgeous beads. And I loved the strand of wood beads as well as the patinated deep bronze chain and toggle set.
This is the Sneak Peek I posted a few days ago.

And another closer look at the beautiful filigree ring and key toggle.

And here is the finished piece. I wore it a couple of time and receive loads of compliments and the 'stones' are as light as a feather so I did not get a headache -- love that!

I had enough left over to make at least one more piece and a set or two of earrings. I will post those during the week.

This is what I sent to Heather. Stay tuned, her Reveal is June 25th

Now go out there into Blog-o-land and visit these fine artists, leave comments -- we all love comments!

June 20th

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks

15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth

16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio (YOU ARE HERE X)

17. Marie, Skye Jewels

18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta

19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's

20. Joanna, Filcowe

21. Diane, Diane Hawkey

22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things

23. Anna, The Laughing Raven

24. Marcie, La Bella Joya

25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?

26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Also, if you have not already, sign up for my Birthday Giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

Parr-Tay! Day #1

The Bead Soup Swap Party has begun!
Visit these artists and return to tell me who is your favorite!

June 19th

June 19th
1. Lori, Pretty Things The Hostess with the Mostess! Thank her for starting the whole thing
2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141
3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas
4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks
5. Katie, KatieBead
6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn
7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
9. Kate, Tropical Blonde
10. Janet, Singing Woods
11. Julianna, Juls Beads
12. Erin, Treasures Found


If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won.

What a Birthday!

Today was my birthday (also Kelly Morgan's over at Silver Parrot). It was one of my best birthdays, and I mean that too. My husband has taken a day off here and there this past couple of weeks and, of course, took today off to help me celebrate.
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It was such a lovely, leisurely day.
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First, we watched the USA vs. Slovenia World Cup Game while I photographed my finished Bead Soup Swap piece. Here is a sneak peek.
I wore it last night to Quilt Guild and today when we went to my favorite museum and got loads of compliments! I cannot wait to do the full fledged REVEAL on Sunday. (One of my online friends sent me a note stating that the dates in the previous post were incorrect -- so I changed them to the correct dates - sorry 'bout that!)
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Well, we drove from Denton to Fort Worth with a short stop at Cabela's for my sweetie. Then we went to the Kimbell Museum for the remainder of the day and had a lovely lunch there as well. The Kimbell is a small, very fine museum that usually has to put most of their permanent collection away when they have a traveling show. But today I saw more of their collection than I ever have before, plus the newly acquired Michelangelo (click on the link above to see it). It was a real treat!

Okay, I promised a birthday celebration giveaway. Here is how it works -- post a comment on this blog post with your email address and I will draw a random number at the end of the week (at the end of the Bead Soup Blog Party!) Keep checking here for the Party participants revealing their masterpieces each day.

Is It Soup Yet? -- Almost --Corrected!

(Dates have been corrected!)
WELCOME to the party!

Starting Saturday we will be revealing the pieces we made with the beads and goodies our swap partners sent us back in May. This is Lori Anderson's second swap party and it is even bigger than the first with nearly 100 participants. Because the group is so large, Lori has broken the group down into a smaller groups with about a dozen participants revealing their creations each day. My date is in the second group on June 20th and my bead partner, Heather Pyle from My Muse (#81)will reveal on the 24th. So, get ready for a fabulous week of wonderful websites of jewelry and bead artists

Blog Soup Party Goers Reveal Dates
June 19th
1. Lori, Pretty Things The Hostess with the Mostess!
2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141
3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas
4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks
5. Katie, KatieBead
6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn
7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
9. Kate, Tropical Blonde
10. Janet, Singing Woods
11. Julianna, Juls Beads
12. Erin, Treasures Found

June 20th
14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth
16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio
17. Marie, Skye Jewels
18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta
19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's
20. Joanna, Filcowe
21. Diane, Diane Hawkey
22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
23. Anna, The Laughing Raven
24. Marcie, La Bella Joya
25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?
26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

June 21th
27. Lisa, Alterity
28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy
29. Melanie, Kookie Designs
30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass
31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do
34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
35. Virginie, ViviBijoux
36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

June 22th
37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird
38. Lyn, Lyn Foley
39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
40. Rebecca, Song Beads
41. Regina, Regina's Writings
42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
44. Maria, Garden Path Beads
45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane
46. Ann, My Critical Eye
47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

June 23th
48. Nan, Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

June 24th
60. Carol, Carol Bradley Designs
61. Wanda, A Frayed of Fibers
62. Diana, Vintage Blue Studio
63. Marieke, Marieke's Blog
64. KJ, Silver Parrot
65. Maire, Maire Dodd
66. Shannon, Miss Fickle
Media67. Dana, Dana's Jewelry Designs
68. Charlene, The Bead Dreamer
69. Elisabeth, Beads for Busy Gals
70. Cathryn, Chile Cats
71. Missy, Melissa Rappaport

June 25th
72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs
73. Valerie, Hot Art
74. Courtney, Beads by Breul
75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations
76. Shea, gr8findings
77. Julie, Pryce Designs
78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog
79. Patricia, Verre Design
80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman
81. Heather, My Muse My bead swap buddy
82. Susan, Night Beader at Large
83. Sonja, Drachenei
84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

June 26th
85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads
86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork
87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof
88. Denise, Bling on the Blog
89. Doris, Glaszwerg
90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor
91. Jo, Daisychain Designs
92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design
93. Kristie, Artisan Clay
94. Jess, Vintaj
95. Suzann, Beadphoria
96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
97. Michelle, bMichelle

Lisi's Orphans -- Give them a good home

I recently posted about Lisi's Lampwork Beads and the 80 orphans I adopted. I used seven in two commissions and decided that the rest should go out into the world as Noah intended: two-by-two, (or as Earrings).I have nineteen (19!) pairs of earrings I am about to post in my Etsy shop Artemisia's Studio. It would probably be a good idea to give me until tomorrow to finish posting.
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These really are really yummy.
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The Lampwork beads are nearly identical ("nearly" is why they are orphans) and measure approx. 8.5mm x 12mm on 1/16" mandrels. They are topped with a crystal and silver roundel, a faceted color crystal to match the bead, a daisy spacer and another tiny crystal for just perfect touch of bling. The lever-back earring findings are silver-plated, but can be changed out for other kinds of ear-wires.

Friday is my Birthday

A lot is going on this week:

*I need to finish my Bead Soup Swap piece for the "reveal" this weekend.

*My dear husband is taking off a few days of vacation time (we are not going anywhere, but staying close to home).

*Our local Quilt Guild is having a silent auction and fundraiser

*I am volunteering with our local health-care center.

*Next Sunday is Father's Day.

*And this Friday is my BIRTHDAY!

Yep, another year older (-and wiser? mmm not sure.)

Please help me celebrate my birthday.

I am having a giveaway of a piece of jewelry made from some of the elements I received in the Bead Soup Swap from my buddy Heather Pyle. I have two piece: one is the "Official Bead Soup Swap Piece" and the other is from some of the remaining pieces I did not use in the "official" piece. Obviously, I cannot show either piece until the scheduled reveal (which starts June 19th, but I do not show mine until Saturday June 20th). I will announce the rules of the game on my birthday Friday 18th of June.

Treasury!

Deb from ZurDesigns and Handmade Artists Forum (HAF) posted a beautiful Treasury that includes one of my Anglican Rosary Bracelets. The Treasury is called "Your love is better than chocolate" Mmmm! Click the photo to go to the treasury and check out my companions. Thanks Deb!

And the Winner of the Bracelet Challenge is. . .

Kate Clawson of Ongoing Explorations of an Organic Artist.

Here is her entry! Check out her blog {HERE} to read about her inspiration and process. Thank you, Kate, for your beautiful submission.

And thank you to Richard Shilling for allowing me to use his beautiful Land Art for the challenge.
(Psst, Kate! Send me your address to artymezia{!at}yahoo{dot}com and I will send you your pound of beads!)