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Sunday, May 19, 2013

7th Bead Soup Blog Party

The 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.

I touched on this fabulous online creative event in my first blog entry. This is the whole reason I started blogging. What is it? Well..... Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is the genius behind this event. Here's how it works.....

1. You have to have a blog.  (that's why I'm here)

2. You sign up.

3. Lori matches you up with partner.  (At this point, it could be anyone/anywhere. This is an international affaire.)

4. You swap beads with your partner. You send a focal piece, a clasp, and some coordinating spacers or beads. The items don't have to be hand made by you....but they should be hand made by an artisan. I don't think beads from Michaels or A.C. Moore are appropriate for this party.

5. The idea is to use the pieces your partner sends you with beads from your own stash and create something "outside" of your box or comfort zone.

6. You post pictures of what you sent your partner, what she sent you, and what you both made out of the swap on your blog.

7. Then Lori posts all of the blog addresses on her website (so do all of the bloggers involved) so everyone can hop around and see what everyone else did!

8. Then if you want, you can enter your items in a contest judged by Lori's invited guests who are in the jewelry making business.

9. If you are lucky..... she may choose your design to be published in her next book!

You should check out the following links if you are interested in knowing more.

Lori Anderson's blog   Pretty Things.

The Pinterest Page for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party participants to be judged.  

Bead Soup Cafe on Facebook

Lori's Book   Bead Soup: 32 Projects Show What Happens When 26 Beaders Swap Their Stash

As I said before......I was too late to participate in this one......but I WANT TO PLAY TOO! So next time....I'm set up with a blog and I will be on top of it. Look for it!

Here is a pic of one of my favorite creations from the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party by Doris Stumpf. I'm not sure who sent her the beads. But there are soooooo very many talented artists on this site. I have no idea how they can possibly choose just a few winners.

Bracelet by Doris Stumpf and entered in the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party





Sunday, May 12, 2013

My talented mom.

My parents were childhood friends and sweethearts. They married right out of high school and my dad joined the United States Air Force at 18 years of age. My mom became a "military wife." She stayed at home and raised her kids while my dad jetted around the world keeping our country safe.  I have nothing but the happiest of memories of my childhood.  And my mom is largely responsible for that.

My mom is a very talented crafter/artist. She was sewing and knitting and crocheting for as long as I can remember.  She knitted my Barbie's wardrobe.....chic and modern for her time in the 1960s. And my nieces, her grand daughters,  dress their Barbies in gorgeous detailed victorian gowns and hats created by my mom.

Halloween was probably my favorite holiday...beating out Christmas and Easter by a nose. But it was so much fun to dress up in funny costumes and go door to door begging for candy. Candy! I loved the stuff. Anyway.... my mom always sewed my costumes.... and they were awesome......albeit not very scary......  this is the year I was a clown! 


Trick or treat! Give me candy or I'll make you die laughing!


My mom always had us doing artsy crafty things at holidays.  Of course we decorated Easter eggs. Made Easter baskets. We decorated Christmas cookies and home-made Christmas ornaments.  We decorated shoe boxes for Valentines day.  I had paint sets and crayons in every color. And she proudly hung my artwork on the refrigerator. 

My mother sews, knits, crochets, does macramé. She does very intricate needlework. Cross stitch, pulled threads, hardanger. Tatting. She has painted. Taught painting. My dad built her a workshop in the garage where she taught friends and ladies from the neighborhood step by step. For awhile she was making some money stenciling and painting decorative scenes on the walls of homes. 

It's because of my mom that I now truly appreciate all things hand-made. And I believe I got my creative gene from her.  And I just wanted to take this special day when we all honor our mothers, to thank her. For all the fun times we spent together creating.  And for all of her love.


Aren't my parents cute!?