And the Winner is . . .

I have been so busy (and who isn't at this time of year) that didn't get to the nitty gritty of choosing a Randon Winner. So, without further ado . . .

I did the count of all your wonderful comments and the winner is Stephanie Teufel.

She lives in Germany and likes chunky jewelry. So I am going to make something special for her.

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Stefanie, send me a message {artymezia(!at)yahooDOTcom} with your address and your favorite color(s).

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Thanks again, everyone, for all your comments. That was a super fun challenge and blog hop. And Thank You Erin, for hosting all the fun.

Oh, and a reminder: 10% discount in my Etsy Shop until midnight Friday. I have added a few new things. And as always, Free Shipping!

Color Challenge Blog Hop

Erin Prais-Hintz over at Treasures Found is having a blog hop! We all signed up for a challenge to make a necklace with colors inspired by Paint Store Color Chips. I got these:

The names of the colors are Jaunty Red, Perfect Harmony, Worn Sail (cream), and Bauhaus Gold.

As a matter of fact, I told my mom about the challenge and she said she wanted to "play" too, so I cut my sample in two and gave her half. Check out her blog too.

So, you want to see wha t I did for my challenge? I Love the colors and was thoroughly taken by them -- even my opening photo (top) shows my inspiration: the Jaunty Red berries of our Yaupon holly bush. The coral and fancy jasper work in Perfect Harmony with the Bauhaus Gold of the faceted citrine. (Sorry, I just couldn't work in the Worn Sail, oh, wait -- I just did!)

Jaunty Red Berries

I was also inspired by two of my favorite Etsy designers: Liz Martin at Mostly Details who sent me a batch of beautiful orphan lampwork beads including these three in the perfect colors and Lynn Davis at LynnDavis who gave me the gorgeous pewter connector some time ago. It was waiting for just the right project.

What do you think?? Leave a comment for a random drawing (deadline Midnight Sunday December 5th). The winner will receive something special from me, just for you.

Here's the list of the rest of the incredibly talented Jewelry Artists who are participating in the challenge.

Now, HOP ALONG!

Alice Peterson
Amy Freeland
Beth McCord
Brandi Hussey
Cary Scholes
Catherine Pruitt
Cindy Wimmer
Claire Maunsell
Cory Tompkins
Courtney Breul
Cristi Clothier
Cynthia Riggs
Emanda Johnson (X You are Here)

Sandy Richardson (Emanda's Mom -- unofficial hopper)
Erin Prais-Hintz
Holly Westfall
Janea McDonald
Jeannie Dukic
Jennifer Cameron
Judy Campbell
Karyn White
Keirsten Giles
Kelly Morgan
Kristie Roeder
Kristin Stevens
Lisa Godfrey
Lisa Tracy
Lori Anderson
Mallory Hoffman
Marie Voyer-Cramp
Mary McGraw
Nicole Keller
Nicole Valentine
Paige Maxim
Patty Gasparino
Rebecca Anderson
Renate Stark-Krammer
Rita Parra
Shannon Chomanczuk
Sheila Summers
Stefanie Teufel
Yelisa Rojas

Kate Has Done It Again!

Remember the challenge I had earlier? I posted some images of the works of Richard Shilling as a challenge and Kate Clawson of Organic Odessy was the winner. Read about it {HERE}

This is the image that inspired Kate. It is called Mayday.

And this is Kate's entry . . . don't you just love it?

Well, when I told Kate she was the winner, she said she wanted to do something special for me. I had no idea . . .

Earlier this week I got a package in the mail. I knew right away it was from Kate because I know she makes her own mailing packages from calendar pages and magazine covers.

Look what I found inside! Miniature Mayday Earrings.

They are just a bit large for my style, but I will hang them in my studio area as a reminder of my creative friends.

If you were to collaborate, what would you do and who would you want to work with? Do Tell!

What's Up?!

I have had an overwhelming response of three (that's right, 3) people about the Land Art Bracelet Challenge. Is this something that is just not appealing? Am I timing this all wrong for my faithful readers? Are you thinking about the challenge, even beginning a piece to enter but have not said so publicly? What's up?!

I will happily withdraw the challenge and offer it later if folks just are not ready for it at this time. I just need to know. Please let me know what you are thinking -- my crystal ball is in the shop for a tune up.

Emanda

LandArt Bracelet Challenge

As you all know, I am a big fan of the self-taught Land Artist, Richard Shilling. He lives in the Lancashire region (Northwest) of England and makes his art in the forest, meadows, and beaches near where he lives.

I have posted several of his works on this blog and many of you have found his work to be as inspirational as I have. I have corresponded with Richard and he has agreed to allow us to use some of his beautiful photographs of his ephemeral works for this challenge. If this challenge is successful and well received by you, dear reader, I will host another challenge at a later date.

Now, for this challenge. The images:

Here are the individual photographs:


Ice and Snow Sandwich Towers


Constriction Balance


Middlewood Trust Project


Icicle Sunset


Mayday Colour Totem

Here are the details of the challenge! {With Thanks to Kelly Morgan of the Silver Parrot for the text I modified for this post! No reason to re-invent the wheel!}

Select one of these photos and create a bracelet whose color scheme is inspired by the photo. Post it on your blog with a bit of explanation as to why you chose that particular photo and how you incorporated the color scheme into your bracelet. Come back here to the comments and leave a link to your blog post.

Please post a link to Richard’s site in your blog, so that he benefits from this challenge as well (http://jrlandart.blogspot.com )

Prize: Some Beady Goodness (one pound of assorted beads and things) and a surprise! More about that in a later post.

Rules:

1. You can create and post as much as you like, but you will only get one contest entry.

2. For anyone who publicizes the challenge (and links back here) on their blog, Facebook or Twitter, I will put in a second entry – MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE ME A COMMENT SO I KNOW YOU DID THIS.

3. I have to limit this contest to people with shipping addresses in the U.S. unless you’re willing to pay the shipping on your prize. If you are outside the U.S. but are willing to pay shipping, make sure to note that in your comment so I know about it.

4. Deadline to post your entries and comments is midnight May 31st.

5. Winner will be randomly drawn from all the entries on June 1st.

That should cover everything, but feel free to contact me with questions.

YeeeHaaa, 5,000 visitors! Thank You!

It seems like yesterday that I started to blog. I am not a daily blogger, though I would like to be, I just do not seem to have an interesting topic to share every day. However, with the help of you, and you and yes, you too, I have amassed over 5,000 (five-thousand!) visitors to my blog.

I never thought it would happen, but it did. THANK YOU!

Later today I will posting a design challenge using images from my friend and artist Richard Shilling, so please return to find out all the details.

Lindipearls

What a week! I started a new job in the Stockyards of Ft. Worth that is an hour commute from my home. It is a tourist destination now, but it was the end of the road for billions of cattle in the old days.

The shop where I work, the Brazos Collection {online HERE}, is a bead and fashion jewelry wholesaler that sells direct to the public at wholesale prices. It takes all of my reserve to not bring home all my wages in beads and finding! As a matter of fact, I bought part of the gorgeous beads for the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet (in the banner above) from their main store in Salado, Texas a year ago.

I am loving learning the stock, you know, petting all the pretty beads and fondling all the findings. What I do not love is that do not have any is free time. I leave the house for an hour drive and return home ten hours later, exhausted.

Before I go any further, I wanted to show you these:

The large ones are the size of a large chickpea and they are graduated on down from there to about 3mm.

Pretty aren't they? Well, I will not be making a necklace or bracelet from these even though they cost over $600.

They were home grown and harvested Lindi-pearls. What are Lindi-pearls? I will get to that in a minute.

On Tuesday of my first week at a new job, my little Mini-Schnauzer went under the knife for bladder surgery. She has apparently been suffering for a very long time, but we had no idea why. The vet was astonished when he looked at the x-ray film. Her bladder was filled -- FILLED -- with over 35 stones of varying sizes from small marble to tiny chips. Well, see for yourself -- part of the harvest is in the photo above!

So now we believe Lindi is full-blooded mini-Schnauzer with a recessive oyster gene.

Lindi is feeling a whole lot better now.

Thank you for asking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next time I post, I will have drawn the name of one of the entrants to the Pass It On Challenge. You have until Midnight Sunday April 18th. Go {HERE} to enter.

Ah, Spring!

One of my favorite artists, Richard Shilling was interviewed on Esty, the UK edition, this weekend, {read it HERE}. He makes beautiful land art using objects found in nature. One of my most favorite of his pieces is called River Squares (above) and I use it as my computer’s wallpaper. It is so serene and subtle, bold and beautiful all at the same time. Check out his Flickr account too {HERE}.

I have been a bit under the weather the last few days with horrid allergies. I take out the dogs in the morning and I sneeze my head off for about the next an hour, then things calm down to where I can actually see straight. Then the doggie darlings want to go out -- again! (Imagine that!) More sneezing and sputtering, calming, and then – you guessed it – they want to go out AGAIN!

Whew!

Wears me out.

As you know, this is post #98. Two more and I will be drawing for the Bindweed Bracelet (in the banner) for my 100th post. So, go {HERE}to comment and Pass-It-On.

So, what Do You think?

I have been preparing myself to relinquish the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet (above) to the winner of the Pass It On Challenge {enter HERE} in just three more posts. I have changed my banner and blog background so that even when the bracelet is gone, I will still have it.

Clever, huh?

Look What I found This Morning!

This is going to be a short post. I have a job interview this afternoon and I am asking that you send out good thoughts about this. I have been out of work since July and this would be a perfect time to start work again, don't you agree?

I took a look at a patch of clover in our yard (I swear it wasn't there yesterday!) and look what I found! I am taking it as a sign. This is NOT an April Fool's Joke.

UPDATE! ~~~~~~~
I got the job and will be commuting to the Fort Worth Stockyards to work for The Brazos Collection, a bead wholesaler. (OMG!!) If you purchase online, please let them know I sent you.

Go {HERE} to enter the Pass It On Challenge to win the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet when I publish my 100th post (This is #96)

It is Holy Week, and for those who do not know what that is, it is the rememberance of the Passion of Christ, his final days and hours before his death. In our house (a clergy household, my hubby is an Episcopal priest) the schedule of extra services can be a bit hectic.

The first year we were married, our One Year Anniversary fell on the day after Easter. Not really so bad, except my husband, who had been serving two small churches and therefore double the number of extra services, was exhausted. (I think we counted 13 services from Sunday to Sunday and the churches were 22 miles apart). I was exhausted too, because I was expected to be present at both communities' special services. Whew! We laugh about it now that he only serves one church, but that was rough!

I sometimes say that Holy Week in a clergy household is kind of like "Hell Week" at a frat house! Oy! For that reason, I try to schedule as little as possible in my life so that I can be a pool of calm for my beloved, when he comes home from work.

This year, things are a bit different. I have an interview tomorrow (fingers crossed!!) and I have been making some jewelry. I was pleasantly surprised by the order of a Salvation Bracelet in my Etsy Shop this morning. I had to scramble a bit because I thought I had run out of the cloisonne crosses. I searched high and low, and then went looking in the local Hobby Lobby and Michael's without success (no surprise here). While I was looking for an acceptable alternative in my stash, I found two cloisonne crosses!

So, here is the finished product. It is going to be a confirmation gift for a young lady.


So, tell me, what are your plans for this weekend? Are you going to any special religious services (It's Passover too)? are you going to hit the parks and enjoy the beautiful spring weather? Are you going to spend time with family and/or friends? Inquiring (and nosy) minds want to know!

P.S. Go {HERE} to enter the Pass It On Challenge to win the Bendweed Beetle Bracelet when I publish my 100th post (this is #95)

Finding your genius

Get in touch with your Genius! Listen to Elizabeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Love, Pray" to the very end -- this is fantastic! (Thanks to Beth Hemmila at Hint for posting this video)

This is Post #94. Go {HERE} to be entered in the Pass-It-On Challenge and win the Bindweed Beetle bracelet on the day I post my 100th blog post.

Winning is FUN!

Don't you just love it?

Winning is so much fun and sometimes it is easier than falling off a log. Take this for example: Erin over at {Treasures Found} pulled my name out of a hat (the old-fashioned random kind of drawing) and all I had to do was to leave a comment. Couldn't be easier!

What did I win? Some of the same goodies Erin used to make this lovely piece called {Lily at Twilight}

Now that you know how it's done, go {HERE} and enter my Pass-It-On Challenge. The odds are really good at the moment and you could win a beautiful bracelet when I publish my 100th post (this is #93)

Thank You! 4,000

While you have been waiting for my 100th post (this is #90) for the PASS IT ON challenge, my 4,000 (four-thousandth!!!)visitor sneaked up on me! Thank you one and all.

As I write this I am awaiting a "call-back" for a possible bead-related job that has fallen out of the sky. Keep your fingers crossed!

On Retreat

This is post #88 (in my run up to 100) and I am going to be away from my computer for the next four days. I will return Sunday night.

Where am I going? Just down the road a piece to a little retreat center with 60 of my closest quilting buddies for four days of laughing, sewing, eating and laughing some more.

Do not forget the Pass It On challenge. Rules are HERE

See you Sunday evening!

You know you want it!

This item is the most popular item in my Etsy shop {LINK} by far and it all came about in a challenge hosted by Kelly at Silver Parrot Designs {LINK}. I was the big winner of the challenge and I want to pay it forward and at the same time celebrate my 100th post (this is post #87).

This great bracelet could be your if you win my

Pass It On Challenge
(rules and post links are here; {LINK})

There may be more prizes depending on how many participate.

There are three ways to get your hat in the ring:

1. Find a budding artist in need of encouragement (whatever medium you work or enjoy)

2. De-stash some object/items/tool/books from your studio and pass them on to the budding artist

3. Blog about it with a link to yesterday's post {LINK} and tell me about your blog post with the URL address (counts as one entry)

4. Comment on yesterday's post {LINK} (counts as another entry)

5. Become a follower of my blog, remind me in a comment if you already are a follower {LINK} (counts as yet another entry)

Easy peasy, you can do this! And just think, some budding artist you know will truly benefit!

PASS IT ON Challenge

In mid-December I received an incredibly bountiful package from Kelly at Silver Parrot {LINK}for winning her Bracelet Challenge giveaway and blogged about it here {LINK }. In the envelope were three books and a box of beads. It was so exciting! What I did not write in the post is that I had already purchased the Enchanted Adornments book, so it was a duplicate for me.

What could I do but to pass it on.

There is a young girl at church who is blossoming before our very eyes, from a sullen early teen to a lovely young lady with much, much more confidence. She creates the cutest felt food characters (French Toast with a French mustache, happy little cupcakes, that sort of thing). She also makes jewelry from what she has around.

I thought, “Someone should encourage this budding young artist!” So I did.

I put together a box of goodies from my stash: inexpensive duplicate tools, a bag of costume jewelry parts I had been given, earring findings, and these two books to instruct her. I gave the package to her yesterday and she was very excited! I cannot wait to see what she makes. I have encouraged her to set up an Etsy shop and I hope to help her there.

It cost me next to nothing, and yet I got so much joy from seeing her face light up. It is like planting a seed, so small and almost insignificant, and yet, there is no telling how far a little nurturing will go and what type of fruit it might produce.

Here is my challenge to you:
1. Find a budding artist in need of encouragement (whatever medium you work or enjoy)

2. De-stash some object/items/tool/books from your studio and pass them on to the budding artist

3. Blog about it with a link to this post and tell me about your blog post with the URL address (counts as one entry)

4. Comment on this post (counts as another entry)

5. Become a follower of my blog, remind me in a comment if you already are a follower (counts as yet another entry)

So, that’s three chances to win.

When I post my 100th blog-post, I will announce the winner of a random drawing (this is post 86, so about 2-3 weeks – around St. Patrick’s Day). The prize is the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet, which only seems fair since it was the winner in Kelly’s bracelet challenge and the start of the bounty {LINK } back in November.

Now get out there and pass it on!

Party! Party! Virtual Bead Soup Party! {Woohoo}

I am going to have a drawing for this pair of earrings from the comments on this blog post – (I will draw a random number on Saturday afternoon).

There are 85 (eighty-five!!) participants in the Virtual Bead Soup Party and the big REVEAL is TODAY!!! Check out the list below.

Judy Glende was my swap buddy. Here’s what I did with the gorgeous turquoise beads and the hand-wrought copper cross she sent me.

{Click on photo to enlarge} Originally I thought we were to create something from the beads and send it back to our partner. I was so excited to make something especially for her – then I found out what I was making was for ME! You need to make sure you visit her blog (http://judithdesigns.blogspot.com/ ) to see what she did with the enameled butterfly and beads I sent to her.

It took me three sessions to check out all the participants when the list was posted on Lori Anderson's blog but my suggestion is to jump in the middle of the list and work backwards or forwards – just make sure you see all the blogs and make a comment.

Now sit back and enjoy all this wonderful beady goodness provided by all these talented artists.

Party Participants
1. Lori, Pretty Things Blog OUR HOSTESS
2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads
3. Terri, Blooming Ideas
4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio
5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts
7. Erin, Treasures Found
8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry
9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs
10. Nan, Spirit Rattles
11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings
14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle
15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks
16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
17. Lisa, Lo and Behold
18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas
19. Judith, Judith B. MY SWAP BUDDY
20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium
21. Maria, Garden Path Beads
22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design
23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life
24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa
26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea
27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design
28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals
29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction
30. Leslie, Bei Mondi
31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta
32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry
33. Kathie, The Bead Cult
34. Patty, Plays With Fire
35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire
37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry
38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle
39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio {ME}
40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
41. Marcie, La Bella Joya
42. Suzann, Beadphoria
43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass
45. Janiece, J Birds Garden
46. Kate, Organic Odysseys
47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale
48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure
49. Sue, Sue Beads
50. Janeen, Janeen 365
51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
52. Kristie, Artisan Clay
53. Regina, Regina's Writings
54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
55. Lyn, Lyn Foley
56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz
57. Cathryn, Chile Cats
58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook
59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter
60. Juli, Jul's Beads
61. Julie, RockerJewlz
62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too
63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
64. Katie, My Life and My Beads
65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay
66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth
67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design
68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio
69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery
70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs
71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights
73. Chas, One Woman's Haven
74. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry
75. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky
76. Maire, Maire Dodd
77. Janet, Singing Woods
78. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads
79. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels
80. Joann, Jo's Jewels
81. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
82. Mel, Kookie Designs
83. Erin, Every Heart Crafts
84. Dale, Flights of Fancy
85. Dee, Runako Designs

Bindweed Beetle Bracelet in a Treasury

My lovely Bindweed Beetle Bracelet has been included in a treasury designed by "Jewelry by NaLa" until then (and until Tuesday), check it out for yourself {LINK}

This is just such a treat. It seems to be the favorite item in my shop with lots of views and it was from a challenge. Hmmm, a challenge. Yes, I should challenge myself more often. Stay tuned.

Bracelet Challenge

When I saw KJ’s Bracelet Challenge with the beautiful bug photos I kne­w in an instant that the bracelet I was going to make would have to be from those beautiful beads. I purchased these beads over a year ago because their colors took my breath away. The round beads are resin and the ovals are stone, but I never found out what kind. The golden beads are AB faceted Czech glass and the leaves are dyed mother of pearl.

I choice this photograph for my inspiration.

Not only was I thoroughly inspired by these really cool bugs, I found more information about them. They are called Tortoise Beetles or Bindweed Beetles and this particular variety is found in Nicaragua (LINK ).

Here’s my bracelet for the challenge.

I love a challenge, don’t you?