bead soup and a drawing

I don't think I've had the opportunity to share the big news about my east coast friend 
Lori Anderson's

Bead Soup book coming out this fall.
Not only that, I am honored to be a part of it.
Lori is the brainstorm queen behind the semi-annual
Bead Soup Blog Hop...
which resulted in the Bead Soup book!
This Saturday, March 3rd, you will be able to see the creations made by
200 participants.
This is my third participation, and I must say,
it really is one of the highlights of my year.
It stretches me and gives me a refreshing prompt.  If you are a new jewelry designer, 
or an ole' seasoned metalsmither, you will like it.  I promise.
Taking what you receive from your swap partner and putting your stamp on it,
is what it's all about.
I like to think of what Forest Gump's mama said,
Life is like a box of chocolates.  You just never know what you're gonna get. 

 The same goes for the Bead Soup Blog Hop.

Take what you get and make it work.  Make it yours.

You have no idea where it can take you, and where you can go from there.

In celebration and preparation for this fun event,

I am having a itty bitty drawing.

I would love if you would leave a comment, talk about it on Facebook, tweet about,  or whatever.

And, if you decide to follow along with me on my blog, well that will be icing on the cake,

and another drop in the hat for you =)

So, now...what will you win?

Well, since using vintage rhinestone jewelry in my jewelry designs is one of my many passions, I have created a little video tutorial called

Transforming a Vintage Earring into a Connector, 

which is about to end up in my Etsy shop.

If you have ever wanted to know how to make a connector out of a vintage scatter pin, brooch, ear bob or screw back earring, this will show & tell you how.

It is one of the techniques I used in a piece of jewelry I'll be revealing for the hop on Saturday! 

I will be giving away two of these tutorials

on the first day of Spring, which is

March 20th!

 Here's a sneak pic.

 So please stop by on Saturday to see my blog hop jewelry.

I've made several pieces with the stash of goodies sent by my bead soup partner, 

Lyn Foley.

And, don't forget to leave your comment here and there~BOTH DAYS~if you like.

All names on these two days will go into the hat for the drawing.

I will also have a snippet clip of the video on Saturday!

BTW...here was my post from the last Bead Soup Blog Hop, 

when I was paired up with the ever talented,  

Kerry Bogert.

And, the one before that,

when I was swap buddies with a wonderful lampwork bead artist named,

Melissa Mesara.

P.S. Don't forget to let me know how to get in touch with you, if your email address isn't attached to your name via your comment!

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,

Open for Registration!

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!

Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's.
   

Week by week we'll go from one blog to the next!

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing

Christy Meyers of CC's Whimsies

http://www.ccswhimsies.blogspot.com;
(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

feet first

"she was meek"

The name given my newest Heart Strings, 

which by the way, is the necklace I just completed 

and is used as the class example for the online class I will be teaching this summer 
at Artful Gathering.

Teaching an online class is something I have wanted to do for quite some time, 

but really didn't have the time or the know how.

So, I thought the best way to accomplish both these goals was to just go ahead and do it.

Yes, that's me.  Commit and then learn.

You could say I learn by fire...quite the concept, don't you think?

"Heart Strings"

So, as I look at the word meek, 

added over a week ago to the tiny book designed during the taping of my newest 

Heart Strings,

I feel humbled as I reflect upon what I've learned so far...  

1. I am part of a group of ladies who are incredibly giving and supportive. 
2. I could not have chosen a better group to help me begin learning the ins and outs of teaching an online class, than the group I am a part of at Artful Gathering.
3. I am so glad that I have completed the first of my two classes today, and am now half way through my commitment. 
4. I really enjoy the videoing part of the class, but the editing is just about as much fun for me.  (I know this is where my creative side begins to kick in, even though I have only tipped the iceberg...this time around =)
5. I still have much to learn about what all goes into teaching online classes. 
6. I love learning new things, once I get past the actual part of beginning to learn new things. 
7. I can hardly stop myself from thinking ahead, into future classes I would like to offer...online.
8. I am thankful for other artists who love to share Information as much as I do.
9. I love teaching and sharing what I know about the little that I know =)
10. I am glad I have a supportive husband, because if I didn't have him, none of this would mean a thing to me.

third time's a charm

A taste of goodies I sent to my bead soup partner...

faceted ruby quartz and druzy crystal quartz hearts.

This is my third time to participate in Lori Anderson's  

Bead Soup Blog Party.

 I was fortunate to be paired with a fellow Texan

and gifted lampwork glass bead artist,

Lyn Foley.

I received her lovely package that was filled to the max with a mix of goodies.

 Freshwater pearls and more....

 Antique beads from India.

And, of course, 
some of Lyn's gorgeous ruffled glass beads.

Super light and airy.

My mind is buzzing.

What I sent to Lyn, begins with the picture you saw at the opening of this post.

A group of faceted ruby quartz beads...in graduating size.

A couple of druzy hearts.

And...

a vintage faceted glass necklace AND large vintage rhinestone brooch.

All tucked inside this antique love bird pewter box.

Do you think I had Valentine's Day in mind?

Yep, I did.

I almost chuckled when I read Lyn's post about what I sent her here.

Can't wait to see what she designs. 

Can't wait to see what I design.

Stay tuned.  Big reveal date is March 3rd.

xoxo

The Next in Line

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

 

 Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,

 Open for Registration!

 Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!

Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerry's.

 Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerry's.

Week by week we'll go from one blog to the next!
 

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!
 

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing Mixed Media Artist
 

Mary Jane Chadbourne
 

http://desertdreamstudios.weebly.com/

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)
 

Poppy Love

 I admit I am a sucker for poppies.

Why?

Because each Easter my grandmother had the most 

amazing poppies in her garden.

I still see them in my mind's eye....

Today, I have a guest post on 

Come visit,

and take a stroll down memory lane with me 

there.

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

 
 Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat,

 Open for Registration!

 Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

 Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

 You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!

 Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerrys.

 Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerrys.

Week by week we'll go from one blog to the next!

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing Mixed Media Jewelry Artist...  

Nellie Wortman  

http://www.earlymorningthoughts.typepad.com/ 

(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)
 

the girls

If you didn't get to skip over to
Love My Art Jewelry
yesterday to read my guest post,
I thought I'd share it with you here today.

*******

I could never had predicted how important this torn cabinet card would become in the years to come in my artistic journey.

A picture of two sisters, who actually are distant cousins of mine.

Found in a dresser drawer of my grandparent's home, both long gone, 

the most precious treasure, worth more to me than silver and gold.

Stacks of family cabinet cards, given to my grandparents, 

that seam to reveal a close knit family full of sharing.

I was blessed to inherit the 1920 farmhouse from my bachelor uncle,  

an older brother of my father,

who before that had inherited it from his parents and my grandparents.

Dear Lord, Let me always dance with heart....

*******

I originally shared the story above almost three years ago in the fall 2009 issue of
Somerset Memories, 

called Cabinet Card Sisters.

I had made a couple of soldered jewelry pendants, one using this very same picture.

They eventually made their way into my marketing, as one day sitting at my computer,

I pulled up this very picture in one of my editing programs.  

I hit crop and when I did...the idea was born.

I first began using a black and white version of this picture on the front of my class handouts.

But later that year, I had a designer, Susie Hibdon, 

use it to design my business cards, postcards and as a banner for my shows.

Next, I placed them in resin filled bezels.

"Art Sistas"

With many more bezels in the waiting...

I've used the sisters together.  I've used them one at a time.

Obviously I've used only their hands.

But, I have found that I love to use only their feet!

 

"dance with heart"

Window to My Heart Class

(I will be teaching at Spring Beads on May 12, 2012, in Spring, Texas)

And, just their faces too!

I've used them in larger soldered pendants.

"happy and blest"

Believe Soldered Pendant Necklace Class

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

And covered them with mica.

These necklaces were just featured in the winter 2011 issue of 

Belle Armoire Jewelry.

"sisters"

Framed 

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

Recently I used one of the little girls as my blog favicon.

 And last, but certainly not least,

I put together a group of images for a group of Moo stickers,

which I have been using as the closure on my class kit bags.  

The message, one I had written, 

rings strong and true as I travel this artistic road I have chosen.  

It has proven to be never dull, ever winding, and worth every minute.

heart strings at home

I could not have chosen a better group of ladies to spend my day with, last Saturday,
for my first in home class,
that wasn't a one on one special request.

The beauty of it began with the number of ladies who were able to join me.

Three.  Not only, but actually.

Maybe that sounds small, but not for my home.

And certainly not for the students.

What they enjoyed was a day packed with much learning and laughter,
which included a day full of my undivided (except by 3) attention.

 I sat at our breakfast table and was able to give short demos,
which included talks on my design process.

They were able to pull up a chair without feeling crowded.

It makes me happy just sitting here thinking about it.

And, 

they were so excited about all the 

new and wonderful tips and techniques I was able to share with them.
Since then I have been busy recording/editing/taking pictures for my classes at
Artful Gathering,
the first being my Heart Strings class which will be part of Session One this summer.
BTW, if you haven't noticed, but maybe you have,
my intro video link is up near the top on my right sidebar.
It gives you a glimpse into my studio, as small as it is!
And,
if you'd like to hear a bit about a little creative process of mine,
that has spanned almost four years,
tomorrow I will have a guest post on
Love My Art Jewelry.
It will explain how I arrived here....