Button Swap Blog Hop - Sneak Peek

Hello! I'm participating in Cindy Wimmer's Button Swap Blog Hop which has a reveal date of May 13. Cindy is one of the co-founders of Art Bliss (I'd love to get there some day) art retreat and Sweet Bead Studio. Cindy paired me with the lovely Cilla Watkins of Tell Your Girlfriends.

We are to create something using one or all of our buttons to reveal on May 13, our creations can be anything not just jewelry. Cilla sent me a lovely collection of buttons.

The is the contemporary polymer button from Jane Perala Designs, a white ceramic heart with an embossed pattern, and two ceramic floral buttons - the orange button reminds me of a poppy and the tealish-gray reminds me of a rose.Three of them coordinate amazingly with the bead soup Mary sent me so I'm quite sure I'm going to incorporate one or two into a piece with those beads. I just need to decide if I want to move in a contemporary or vintage feel with the piece, which will most likely become a necklace. The orange poppy button, however, is going in a totally different direction. I hope I can create what is in my head!

Here is a sneak peek at the buttons I've sent to Cilla. I'll reveal the actual buttons once she's received them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Bead Swap

Hi folks! Lori Anderson of Bead Soup Blog Party fame had suggested a bead swap in our facebook Bead Soup Cafe a little while ago. Folks who were interested tossed their names into the proverbial hat and Lori matched us up. No specific requirements for the swap were set by Lori and there's no "reveal" date as with the BSBP.

Lori paired me up with Mary Govaars. Mary happened to be my partner for the last Bead Soup Blog Hop. Shhhh! Don't tell Lori we were paired up again, LOL! Mary and I spoke via email and neither of us had particular preferences for types of beads or colors. It's fun that way, I think. The picture above is the "soup" I sent to Mary (appearing a bit bright as the morning sun was streaming through my dining room windows, the red is really not that orange).

The lampworked beads are boro beads by Kristan Child of Redside Designs. They're bluish, greenish, rusty-red with a little bit of bronzy-gold. Love them. I've been hoarding them for quite a while (and kept a few for myself). I paired them with some vintage copper chain in a sort of twisty link, amazonite rounds, kyanite rondelels, copperish pearls and some vintage rusty-red moonglow lucite saucers - all from The Beadin' Path.

I made the stacked clasp using a vintage copper 3-petal flower component from The Beadin' Path, one of the coordinating lampworked beads, a Swarovski marguerite in vitrail (I think), a copper balled end headpin and single ball hook. How did I make the clasp you ask? Well, I'm taking The Art of Closure e-course from the lovely and very talented Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime. It's the only clasp I've made so far (and there are so many, along with loads of tips and tricks from Deryn), and I still have some work to do (practice, practice, practice) but I'm happy with it. I hope Mary is too!

This is the soup Mary sent to me! It includes vintage pieces - LOVE! There are some vintage pink and white givre glass beads. Love the shape of them. Vintage white beads which I believe are lucite, and rose quartz rounds.

A vintage brass-toned pendant with a pale, pearly pink center:

 There is a half strand of tourmaline (one of my favorites)!

And a set of lampworked beads in white, pink and black by Laurie Hyatt of Heavenly Gifts:

I have several thoughts swirling through my head about these beads and the pendant. I actually have a couple of lampworked beads (very expensive ones) that I've been hoarding for years by Julie Wong of Uglibeads (I don't think she's lampworking any more. A shame, these beads are beauties - such detail.) that would go great with this soup. I'm also thinking that I need to haul out my torch-fired enameling supplies that I've had for a year plus and haven't used yet. Stay tuned!

April Is National Donate Life Month

Did you know that? Becoming an organ donor is easy and it doesn't hurt. If you already are a registered donor I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you aren't, won't you please consider it? We are a donor family. Our oldest child T.J. became an organ donor almost eight years ago - on Mother's Day, May 9, 2004. He saved the lives of 5 people with major organ donations - heart, liver, pancreas and kidneys. Two people who were going blind can see today. Countless others have been saved with his tissue and bone donations. You can read more about our beautiful boy on my T.J./Donate Life page.

The wife of T.J.'s best friend was saved with a heart transplant not all that long after he died. My friend Doreen's not quite three month old grandson is at Boston Children's awaiting a transplant. Please, be a hero donate life. 113,115 patients are awaiting transplant.

Here are some facts from the Donate Life America website:
Fact: Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
Fact: All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased.
Fact: When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status.
Fact: An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.

Scott Hamann - Candidate for Maine State Representative District 123

Hi folks. If you live in South Portland in District 123 (which comprises part of South Portland and part of Cape Elizabeth) I'd like to ask for your help. My friend Jane Eberle, current Representative for District 123, is the campaign treasurer for Scott Hamann who is running for Jane's seat. Term limits prevent Jane from running for re-election and she whole-heartedly supports Scott. I'm asking for your help to help Scott win.

Scott is a Democrat and is running a clean election campaign. If you can, please go to www.maine.gov/ethics to make a $5 contribution (the maximum contribution) for Scott's campaign. Anyone who lives in District 123 can donate $5 - Democrat, Republican, Independent it doesn't matter. Donations must be made by this Friday, April 20!

Please check out Scott's website to learn more about him: www.HamannForHouse.com . I support Scott, he could use yours too!

The Art Bead Love Tour is on the move!

The Art Bead Love Tour chain is on the move again! Boy would I love to receive this lovely piece of art to hold in my hands, remove the pieces that appeal to me and add some beauties back onto it! It's currently at home with Patty of My Life Under The Bus. Check Patty's blog for details on how you could win the opportunity for the chain to visit your home!

Seed of a Sunflower

The baby girl has started a blog. I think it's great and I hope you will too. Check it out - Seed of a Sunflower