Hoping in....

"Loves Hope"

I love a good challenge.

It truly always pushes me into a direction I would not take otherwise.

This challenge once again proved the same.

A couple of months ago, Carmi Cimicata of Resin Crafts asked if I'd like to participate in a blog hop featuring a new line, called Instant Glam, within a line of products called 

Metal Complex.

She sent a couple of components, one of which was a silver bezel.

I chose to use it for the hop!

 I had found this gorgeous rhinestone necklace at the antique festival this past Spring.

I knew it was destined for beauty.

I first oxidized the bezel, as it was much too shiny for me.

Then I sanded it a bit, just before I added a couple soft layers of Gilders Paste.

Damask was first, and then I topped it with Silver.

I reached into my bag of goodies

(really my shelf of supplies)

picking up some pewter hearts I had purchased from Thomas Mann.

This is the one I chose!  Just perfect, 

as it has a great little oval shaped well in the middle.

I found a rhinestone connector that had a hint of turquoise in it, 

snipping off the two end connectors.  

Then I pulled out my vintage book of Shakespeare, 

to find my next word,

hope. 

 I looked across my desk, 

finding some resin covered sheet music I had used in a previous project.

The title of the song had the word I was looking for,

Loves.

The name of my piece was born.

I attached the paper inside the bezel.  Mixed up a batch of Ice Resin and attached the heart inside the bezel using the resin.

I gently lowered the rhinestone connector, which now held the word hope,

into the tiny well in the middle of the heart.

As the resin was drying, I decided I wanted a few drops of silver inside the well,

so I added some silver glass micro beads.

Simply divine.  I am so in love with this piece.  

Thank you Carmi for asking me to be part of the hop!

It was a blast =) 

lending a hand

I have so much to be thankful for.

Maybe you feel the same way.

There are so many who need our help after experiencing the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy. 

Sallianne, from Art is...You, contacted Barb Solem & I, along with Linda Young, Zinnia Galliher, and Cindy Woods, in an effort to bring the art world together, 

to help lend a hand to the many victims of Sandy.

I am just a small part of a much bigger picture,

so please hop over here, where you will see how you too can give to those who so desperately need our help right now.

I myself am donating one of my 

Rhinestone Dreams necklaces.

If you are able, there are several options to choose from, 

so please go here.

Your name will then be added to a drawing that will be held at the end of the month, where you will be eligible to win art from not only me, 
but some other fabulous artists,

such as Pam Carriker, Sue Pelleteir and Jodi Ohl.

Won't you consider helping?

 Thanks so much!

~ diane

xo

and the winner is....

Christine

of 

Sweet Girl Design

You are the winner of the Bead Soup Book Blog Tour Give Away...

Please contact me with your address so I can get your goodies out to you right away =)

Congrats!

 

Book Blog Tour Give Away

Just as promised, 

here are the goodies I have gathered (and made!) to give away to one very fortunate reader who leaves a comment here for the book blog tour

of Lori Anderson's new book,

Bead Soup.

If you look at my previous post,

you will know what it's all about, and who's involved.

Many wonderfully talented jewelry artists, not to mention the super creative and equally talented author of the book, Lori Anderson. 

Just stop by each and every designer, comment on their post, and you will have the opportunity to win their stash of goodies!

Not to mention the GRAND PRIZE that Lori will be giving away between the 8th & 9th!

Details again for the Grand Prize are: 

For every blog you comment on, your name will ALSO go into the BIG bowl for the Grand Prize! 

How cool is that?

Be sure and check back here between the 8th & 9th to see who wins my

Bead Soup =)

~diane

xo

book blog tour for BEAD SOUP

More than a year ago, my friend Lori Anderson, 

asked if I would like to be a part of her upcoming book called

Bead Soup.

I was to design a piece (or pieces) of jewelry using the above goodies, along with some of my very own...just as I had done in the Bead Soup Blog Parties several times before.

Of course I accepted, with much gratitude....

I have to tell you I had never used a cameo in any of my designs, so this bead soup challenge stayed true to the test!

Here's the jewelry i designed, 

named Old-Fashioned Oyster Stew by Lori.  

If you just flip over to pages 84 & 85 in the book, 

you'll see a list of all my ingredients, 

including the ones sent to me (pictured above) by Lori, and how you too can design your very own necklace using ingredients just like or similar to these.

So with much anticipation, AND to celebrate Lori's new book...

beginning tomorrow, 

there will be 8 straight days of reviews & giveaways from a good number of the 25 contributing artists in the book, including me =)

Each day just hop over to the artist's blogs listed below, 

to see what she will be giving away! 

My giveaway....a bead soup stash that I put together just for you!

And, if you know me, there certainly will be some vintage rhinestones in that stash =)

I'll pick a winner, from those who comment on my post on Wednesday, October 3rd, 

doing so the night of October 8th or morning of the 9th.

In addition to the drawing I'll have here, don't forget to leave a comment on Lori's blog and/or on the other participants blogs each day to be eligible to win the Grand Prize -- because for each & every comment you make, 

you'll be in the running for some pretty cool prizes, some of which are shown here.

See you again on the 3rd.

Have fun!!

Monday, October 1st

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Rebecca Anderson -- http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com-

Barbara Bechtel -- http://secondsurf.com/wordpress/
 

Tuesday, October 2nd

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com


Kerry Bogert --   http://kabsconcepts.com/wp/

Melanie Brooks -- http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com

Jennifer Cameron -- http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com 
 


Wednesday, October 3rd

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Diane Cook -- www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

Malin de Koning -- www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com 



Thursday, October 4th

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Cassie Donlen -- http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com

Jeannie Dukic -- http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog  

Nan Emmett  -- http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/ 


Lyn Foley --  http://lynfoleyblog.com  


Friday, October 5th

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Brandi Hussey -- http://www.brandigirlblog.com

Cindy Wimmer -- www.SweetBeadStudio 
 

Barbara Lewis -- Painting With Fire

Saturday, October 6th

Lori Anderson -- http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

Melissa Meman -- http://www.melissameman.blogspot.com/ 


Stefanie Teufel -- http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/

Shannon LeVart -- http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/



Sunday, October 7th

Sharon Palac -- http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Heather Powers -- http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com

Erin Prais-Hintz -- http://treasures-found.blogspot.com  

inspiring...lindsey stirling

Didn't catch her on AGT, but did she her on TV this morning...amazing!  

♥ her music, her dance, and most of all

her creative imagination...enjoy!

Going to Tucson with Vivi Magoo

Watchful Resin Charms with a Dash of Bangles

...is just one of the new classes I'll teach next year.  This one will make it's debut in 
Tucson next February!

Yep, Vivi Magoo is headed to Tucson...during the same time of the HUGE

Gem Show! 
I've never been, and going on a field trip the day before the classes begin 
sounds like a whole 'lotta fun to me!  Barb has it all planned out for us here.

On Friday, 
we'll be working with resin and vintage watch bezels,
along with heavy gauge wire and a bit of fire, 
to make some really cool bangles! 

Then...

Time to Nest
 ...on Saturday, I'll teach another new class, using some fun components~mother of pearl buckles & buttons, a vintage watch case, recycled sari silk, a beautiful brass focal, and whatever other goodies you want to add to your piece.

 And, last but not least,
on Sunday....

The Gilded Heart
 One of my gilding with solder classes!  Oh, you won't want to miss this one...

Won't you join us in the desert next February? 
Barb says it is the most gorgeous time of the year to be in Arizona,
and the venue sure looks inviting...
with some really great perks! 

if i close my eyes tight enought i'm still there...

Coronado was way more than I expected.

I really had no idea how beautiful it actually would be...

 

The Glorietta Bay Inn was gorgeous.

The flowers vibrant.

If you add those factors along with a wonderful group of super enthusiastic students,

you know each class was a huge success!

 Marbi, =), Barb, Anne, Kim

There was so much to see, so much beauty everywhere I looked.

Not to mention some gorgeous jewelry made by some wonderful ladies...

Crystal Confetti Necklaces

Window to my Heart Cuffs

and

Heart Strings

Art Retreat by the Beach will again be in Coronado in 2013, 

but in May instead of June!

I hope you can join us....it truly is one of the BEST places in the world to take a class.

More details are coming soon....

4th Annual Where Bloggers Create

It is once again time to share our studio space in celebration of 

Karen Valentine's 

4th Annual 

Where Bloggers Create

Here's a short video of my space...

Hope you likey...

Don't forget to stop by some of the other bloggers to see their creative spaces.

The names of the many participants, 

are listed on Karen's sidebar, 

in alphabetical groupings!

p.s. you can super size the video by clicking on the little frame you see at the far right bottom margin of the video.

looking forward to Coronado

Time has really been flying faster than a speeding bullet for me...

as in just 4 short days I will have already landed in

Coronado, California,

getting ready to teach three days of some of my favorite classes.

I have already packed up and shipped two boxes of supplies,

sending them off with many prayers that they'll land there safely on Tuesday!

I have enjoyed much family time this past week, but have also been happily enjoying my 

first of two summer online classes which began on June 6th.  The one that's going on now, 

Heart Strings, is the one I'll be teaching on Sunday (in person),
at Art Retreat by the Beach.

This past week I designed a Heart Strings I'll be wearing this next weekend,

called "My Grandmothers".

Another thankful nod to two ladies that gave birth to my parents, 

and taught me more than they probably ever realized.

After sharing these beauties in my previous post, I knew I had to use at least one of the three beautiful rhinestone watch bezels, so indeed I did...

in my newest Heart Strings.

Oh, now this was some fun...using that wonderful picture of my grandparents as a very young couple which I shared with you, seems like eons ago.

I also decided to use a resin bezel I had of my other grandmother, Rosa,

thus giving me the name for my piece.

I used some other great vintage pieces in this necklace,

an old tiny diary key, a vintage rosary, another vintage crucifix & religious metal, a sprinkle of vintage rhinestone buttons, a heart taken from some retro earrings, some of my favorite rhinestone connectors, oxidized rhinestone crystal rondells, and some gorgeous faceted Peruvian Opals.

I really am in love with the box chain I used in this Heart Strings...wish I had more.

But, I'm sure you know how that goes.

And, of course, I added some wonderful vintage lace, trim, tulle and some of my 

current favorite colors of recycled sari silk.  Yum.

 

Oh yes, and one of my Tiny Etched Books,

which is currently shown in the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry~

along with step-out photos!

These are all fun elements we will be working on in Coronado,

in just one short week, as this class in on Sunday.

And, just so you know, you still have until the 20th to enroll in Heart Strings online,
even as we speak, at Artful Gathering.

Some great pieces are beginning to show up in the AG photo gallery...

Like this Heart Strings made by one of my students, Mary Royals.
What a great job Mary!

Maybe I'll see you in Coronado...or perhaps online.

~diane

xo

artful gathering and art retreat by the beach

Much of my inspiration is not premeditated, 

(I suppose inspiration always most often comes that way)

so when IT happens I still get all tingly inside & out.

Right now I am joyfully involved in my first ever online class that began 

last Wednesday at Artful Gathering.

I am beginning to answer questions, learn more about the students as they introduce themselves....all very, very exciting!

But with all that to keep me busy, yesterday I began to focus on my little trip to California, which is coming up quicker than I can imagine.

In a little less than 2 weeks, I will be teaching  three classes at 

Art Retreat by the Beach.

One of which, is Heart Strings,

which is the very class going on right now at AG.

So, as I feed my students tidbits of inspiration, 

maybe with the latest stash of recycled sari silk I have come in the mail...

 I magically find some myself.  What a bonus....

  I had no idea when I found these gorgeous vintage rhinestone watch bezels in an Etsy dealer's shop, that I might be using them in my next Heart Strings piece.

All three of them are more than gorgeous to me, and so very imperfect...one missing a rhinestone baguette, and its crystal.

But, then I remembered a watch I've had tucked away since my step-mother's passing quite a few years ago.

It was the watch she always wore.  A lovely Bulova, with a sprinkle of tiny diamonds on each side of the face.

It has been safely tucked away with many other pieces of vintage jewelry I have bought.

This one is more important to me though, as it was Jewel's.

Just this last January, I had a small group of ladies come to my house to design their very own Heart Strings.

One, which has become a wonderful new friend, Bridget, used watch bezels in her Heart Strings, along with a vintage ID bracelet.  The watch bezel was from her father's watch.

I blogged about the class here, and then just a week (or so) later we got together and she had her finished necklace along to show me.

It really touched my heart.

I do hope to see a few of you (in person) in just a couple of weeks in Coronado.

The venue is gorgeous, and no doubt, Barb will have goodies for everyone.

The classes are small.

I have begun to love small classes.  

So much more intimate, 

and so much more time for talking and spending time with you....

 (goodies found at a local antique shop in downtown Katy)