Holiday Bling Blog Hop 3

I once again decided to participate in Shelly and Marlene's Holiday Blog Hop, this is the third and I have done all three.  They really are such fun.  This time around I was partnered with the lovely Tiffany Smith of Southern Gals Designs.  Tiffany makes wonderful ceramic pieces.  For those of you that are owl fans you have to go check them out....so cute! 

Tiffany and I decided that we were going to make each other Valentine's themed jewelry.  She made me a really cute bracelet with a ceramic heart she made, and matching earrings.  I just love them.  If you want to see please visit her blog.

I have been in a bit of a rut and have been having a difficult time with things.  I really needed this to get me going again.  I utilize a variety of techniques in my jewelry making but bead weaving is by far my favorite.  Since Tiffany does not bead weave this was perfect.  I flipped through my huge stack of magazines and found some patterns I really liked....was not really so out of the rut that I was going to come up with an original design, and these are really pretty. 

The bracelet is a free  bracelet design by Sabine Lippert called Mingles.  I used Swarovoski bicone crystals and glass pearls. 

                      

The earrings are from a bracelet design by Nancy Peterson called pretty picots.  Instead of doing them all for the bracelet I just did the one unit and made earrings.  I think they are perfect with this bracelet.  I also made Tiffany a  bead woven Medallion pendant that is designed by Marcie Abney of La Bella Joya.  This was a fun pendant to make.   I really hope Tiffany enjoys what I made for her.  Please visit her blog, Face book page, and all the other participants.  

 

Alicia Marinache	www.allprettythings.ca
Catherine King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Chris Schlicht	TBD
Cynthia Machata	http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Laura Reed	TBD
Leanne Loftus	http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lennis Carrier	http://www.windbent.net
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Marti Conrad	http://marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars	http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels	http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Sandra McGriff	http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Sarah Goode	http://www.pookledo.com
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Therese Frank	http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith	http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

   BLOG - www. MarShellSwaps. blogspot.com
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/278484128939796/
E-mail - marshellswaps@gmail.com

Lack of Posts

 I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

Things in my life have just been sort of crazy and I feel the huge need to just

and do nothing! 

This will only last for a short while.  I will be back soon.

Jewelry Making Classes Online at Beaducation: The Blog: GIVEAWAY with Beaducation Academy!

Jewelry Making Classes Online at Beaducation: The Blog: GIVEAWAY with Beaducation Academy!: We are really excited about Beaducation Academy . And the feedback we have gotten lets us know that you are too! We want to give everyone a ...

Lorelei's Blog: 7 Days of Giveaways Day 7 and Final Day

Lorelei's Blog: 7 Days of Giveaways Day 7 and Final Day: ATTENTION:  RENEE C ! Contact me, you won yesterday! Welcome to the final day of the week of giveaways! What a fun we've had eh?? Prett...

Focus on Life 2013 Week 3 Take Time and week 4 Create Art

I missed week three of  Sally's Focus on Life 2013.  Week three we were supposed to take some time just for ourselves.  Well that week the entire family was SICK with the flu.  It was just miserable.  When I first received her prompt I thought oh what a wonderful excuse to get a pedicure, but no that did not happen. We finally started feeling better by Friday/Saturday.   On Sunday my Husband and I were invited to go to the Atlanta Falcons Championship game in Atlanta.  Having two small boys it is not too often that we get to go out and do fun things with other adults, life just has a way of getting in the way.  I am sure many of you can relate.  Well we went, had a good time and that is my piece of time for myself. 

Week four: Create Art
My creation of art involves Jewelry making and I feel like I do not get to do it often enough, so this goes hand in hand with taking time.  This week I set up my enameling station and torched some beads.  I also did some bead weaving and am in the process of making a bracelet. 

Some blues that I sent a new friend.

 

The above shows parts of the bracelet.

 This is going to be the clasp, I believe.  I am actually making it up as I go.

 Snowflake, that I may use form something upcoming....stay tuned!

Part of a heart, still have to do the back side. 
As you can tell I have a difficult time just starting one project, getting it done and moving on, I often do a few at a time.

Please visit The Studio Sublime and see how the others spent their week.  Be sure to come back next Saturday!

BSBP and making friends

It is time once again to sign up for Lori Anderson's BSBP  and I have already signed up again.  This will be my third time.  I am participating again for several reasons. 
1.  I love the challenge, receiving something unexpected, perhaps something I would not buy for myself.

Like this really cool bead by Lisa Boucher, which inspired me to create something very out of my element.

Receiving things made by my partner, like this beautiful bead by Michelle Escano-Cabellero  of http://cabbycraft.blogspot.com/ .

With this bead I created a necklace that my Mom LOVES!

 

 

I received this pretty bead from Sara Oehler of http://softflexgirl.blogspot.com/  When I first saw it I would never have imagined that I would create this really cool necklace.

So you can see that I really do love the challenge and excitement of getting cool things from my partner.

2.  I love seeing all the wonderful things others create.  I would love to add some pictures of some of my favorite pieces from the past hops but I would not be able to give the artists their due credit.

3. Making new friends.  Sometimes it feels as if some of the people I have met through this blog hop and FB group seem like instant friends and kindred spirits.  One of those people is the extremely talented Michelle Escano-Cabellero of http://cabbycraft.blogspot.com/.  If you visit her blog you can see some of the amazing things she had made.  She does some stunning things with polymer clay and makes the coolest cards.  This week I received this amazing ornament that I commented on in her blog.  She is so sweet and generous.  I love it and will cherish it.  I can't wait till it can hang from my tree at Christmas!

  Michelle, Thanks so much for this amazing ornament!  I truly LOVE it!


So if you too would like to join in on the fun just visit Lori's blog and sign up.  Sign ups are open until Sunday the 27th. 

Lorelei's Blog: 7 Days of Giveaways: DAY THREE

Lorelei's Blog: 7 Days of Giveaways: DAY THREE: Welcome back! It's day three!! I am excited to share these new giveaways with you today!! If you are new to the scene, I am giving away bea...