3rd Annual Challenge of Color - Reveal

Annnnndddd, that scheduled blog post didn't work. Some day I'll figure this out. Sorry my post for the Challenge of Color is a day late and a dollar short!

Good day to you! Today 80 creative souls are revealing their creations for the 3rd annual Challenge of Color blog hop hosted by the very lovely Miss Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati the and Treasures Found blog. Erin and her friend Brandi Hussey of Brandi Girl Blog teamed up for this go-round. Brandi created wonderful palettes based on the Earth As Art satellite images from the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA. Fabulous!! I had the greatest of intentions to make two pieces for this hop, one for each of the two palettes Miss Erin sent to me. However, life, as usual, got in the way and I only finished one in time for the hop because:

My new studio looks like this:

bad phone camera photo

My kitchen/dining room/former studio look like this:

There is dust and dirt everywhere and Christmas Eve is in 23 days!! Will this all be done before the holidays? NO, but I still need to have it clean and decorated. I'll be scrubbing, moving and organizing all weekend. The wonderful thing is that my family will now be able to sit at and move around the dining room table comfortably. It will be heaven when it's finished. Many thanks to my husband, our son Matt, our daughter's boyfriend Josh, and our very talented, very good friend Mark. It wouldn't have happened without him.

On to the hop! The first palette Miss Erin sent to me is:
Coahuila, Mexico:

Love it! I also see a dusky plum in the photo so I pulled that into my necklace as well. I opted for simple for this necklace and I really like it:

I challenged myself to use only items I already owned. The lampworked cone is an art bead that I've hoarded for a very long time; it's by Jennifer Scott Geldard. I haven't purchased many art beads over the last few years because I have so many that I've had for a long time. Why I haven't used them I don't know, it's time. Anyhoo, I added some gunmetalish, textured oval chain, a few pierced metal beads, MOP beads and to decorate the tassel, Swarovski crystals and some stone beads. I want to fill out the tassel a bit more by adding a few more strands of chain and some more crystals and stones in the aqua, plum and green colors. The clasp is a sterling silver clasp set with a pearl that I've had forever as well. It's just a bit tarnished to it works well with the chain.

My second palette is:

The Bogda Mountains of China

Aren't the colors in the palette gorgeous?! While I wasn't able to complete my piece in time for the hop, it's in the pipeline. I, again, have an art bead by Sandy Seaman that I've been hoarding that will be the focal. It goes with this color palette like it was made for it. I'll post a pic when it's finished, probably after Christmas, but you never know - I may finish it before. This is the state of the necklace at the moment. It'll look a whole lot different by the time it's finished, I'm sure.:

                                                         

Thank you for hosting such a fun challenge Miss Erin; Brandi, thanks for such beautiful palettes! Now, go hop along and see what everyone else has created!

Erin Prais-Hintz    http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer    http://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks    http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso    http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk    http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone    http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington    http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette    http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak    http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Beth Emery    http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren    http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington    http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer    http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank    http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin    http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli    http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green    http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson    http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman    http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman    http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord    http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed    http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa    http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan    http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville    http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake    http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson    http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega    http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price    http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid    http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs    http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross    http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein    http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman    http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sherri Stokey    http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo    http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson    http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley    http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd    http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins    http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub    http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker    http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart    http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen    http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt    http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White    http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/Lynn_White_Jewelry/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog.html
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com

And the winner is.......

Were you expecting to find out who the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament was yesterday? Me too! I, however, have been sick as a dog for the last several days and have spent what energy I've had laying in bed or on the couch watching the History Channel, BRAVO (Lord help me), HGTV and the Food Network. I finally have enough energy to sit up for a while. Sorry for the delay!

I had indicated in my previous blog post that I'd accept comments 'til 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday (10/30) and announce the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament on the 31st (again, I'm a day late and a dollar short.....), the same day Jennifer announced who won Mr. Snow on her blog. However, Jennifer had a glitch on her blog last week and the giveaway post was down for a number of days. She's extending the giveaway date for Mr. Snow 'til November 7. Because of her re-post I received a number of comments after Tuesday evening. So, this is what I'm going to do - Today I've drawn a name from the 8 comments I received by 10/30 at 9 p.m., AND I'll draw a second winner from ALL comments received ON THIS POST (go the original post to comment) including the 8 today on Tuesday, November 6. Your comment MUST be date/time stamped by 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6. I'll post the winner's name on Wednesday, November 7. I don't know what that ornament will be yet, but I'm thinking it will be a snow person of some sort to keep with the theme. I have a couple of ideas running around in my head - we'll see how they turn out this weekend when I have some time in the studio. Sound good? Make sure you either leave your email address in your comment, or have the ability for me to contact you through your blog!

Now, drum roll please..... the winner of the Mrs. Snow ornament is - Jodi-usairdoll (Jeanne Gwin)! Congratulations Jeanne!! I've sent you an email!

A Giveaway at Jangles!!

Have you met Jennifer Heynen, aka Jennifer Jangles yet? Well, if you haven't, you should! Jennifer is the creative force behind Jangles - she's a multi-talented artist from Georgia. She creates the most colorful, whimsical clay beads, buttons and components for jewelry artists, mugs, ornaments and other pottery, she is an author, and most recently she has been designing playful fabric lines and sewing patterns. How she does it all, I don't know - home, young family, business...my family is grown and I can't begin to accomplish what Jennifer does!

I've been reading and being inspired by Jennifer's blog for several years. Each year in the fall she sends out her Holiday Projects Newsletter, ten weeks of newsletters, and hosts giveaways for her readers as part of the fun. This year she asked her readers if they'd like to contribute prizes for some of the giveaways. Well, I took a huge leap, for me, and sent Jennifer an email with pictures of some of my hand painted, stained glass ornaments - ornaments I've been making for my family and friends for years. She said yes, and here we are!! Thank you for this opportunity, Jennifer!

Today is my giveaway! Hop on over to Jennifer's blog and leave a comment and you could win my Mr. Snow ornament! The winner will be announced on her blog next Wednesday, October 31st! Don't forget to sign up for her Holiday Projects Newsletter while you're there (the newsletter sign up is on the right side toolbar on her blog)!

I'm in the process of creating items for my Etsy shop, but please check back - I'll hopefully have some ornaments listed by this weekend!

As an added bonus, I'm going to host a little giveaway here as well! Leave a comment below and I'll pull a name out of the hat ('cause I'm all low-tech like that) next Tuesday evening (cut off at 9 p.m.) and post the winner's name on Wednesday, October 31 (make sure your comment either links to email or you leave me your email address so I can contact you)! The lucky winner will win Mrs. Snow:

Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap

Hello and welcome! Today is reveal day for the Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap hosted by the lovely Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Beads and Suburban Girl Studio. Thank you so much Diana for hosting such a wonderful swap, I know it's a lot of work and a bit of frustration to put these together! These are the first pair of really mismatched earrings I've made or received. It was a challenge, you should have seen my dining room table.....

Diana paired me for this swap with the very, very talented Lesley Watt of THEAtoo jewelry components and THEAjewellery. Lesley is not only a talented component designer, her jewelry designs are simply amazing. Lesley sent me a pair of earrings that goes with so many things - I love them!! They go with so many of my tops!

Lesley featured bronze clay bead caps that she made along with lampworked beads by two artisans: Josephine Wadman crafted the larger patterned beads and Pebbledreamss created the smaller solid colored beads. Aren't they great!?! Thank you again Lesley for being such a wonderful swap partner! You can check out Lesley's blog The Gossiping Goddess to see the autumnal earrings I created for her using some vintage and hand painted components! Here's a little sneaky peak:

Now, go visit all of these other talented designers to see what they received and swapped!:

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

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

Lesley Watt  http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Lori Bowring Michaud  http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano  http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Holly Westfall   http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Theresa Fosdick  http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

Ali McCarthy  http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Iveth Caruso  http://www.creativeatelier.net/blog.html

Carolyn Collins  http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com

Elaine Ray  http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Charlene Jacka   http://clay-space.com/blog

Jan Onipenco  http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com

Stephanie Woods  http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Shelby Foxwell  http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Pam Sears  http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Mary Harding  http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

Lisa Johnson  http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com

Kashmira Patel  http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Penny Neville  http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com

Dee Elgie  http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah Small  http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson  http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Karin Slaton  http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Ashleigh Becker  http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Kay Hand  http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com

Rana L. Wilson  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Dawn Pierro  http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

Shelley Graham Turner  http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell  http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Holiday Bling Blog Hop - Reveal!

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Art Is.....ME!

Squeeee! I leave today for my very first art retreat Art is...You in Stamford, CT. I. CAN. NOT. WAIT!!! I have wanted to attend one for years and didn't think I'd ever be able to. I've treated myself for my 50th! I've spent my life putting everyone else first the vast majority of the time that I thought it was time I did it for me. As my friend Sue says, "treat yourself like company"!

Prepping my trades - sea glass chip and resin filled bezels.

I am stepping waaayyyyy outside of my comfort zone on many levels, and I'm hoping it pays off it many ways, for a long time. I'm rooming with a gracious woman whom I've never met - we've only exchanged several emails. I've never really stayed away without my family. It's going to be great! I have my mini-Moo cards, my trades (I hope they're okay), a smile, and an open heart!

I'm taking two classes with the amazing Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime and Jewelry Works. I've read Deryn's blog for several years. She is a lovely, faith-filled, talented woman. I've taken two of her online classes and thought that was the closest I'd get to taking a class with her. She's from Texas, and I don't know that I'll ever get to the south or our west for a retreat. Well, lucky day!, her son is attending the Culinary Institute of America in upstate New York and was able to combine this teaching opportunity with a visit! I'm taking both her Wildwood Earrings class and A Charming Reliquary. As a bonus, I'm taking a polymer clay class with the very talented Laurie Mika of MikaArts. Laurie is an author (Mixed Media Mosaics) and national/international teacher. I'm taking her Ornamental class. It looks fabulous!
Whelp, I need to pack (I have not packed one item.....) and I'm off!

Finished!

And a very happy 25th birthday to our son Matthew - may you have many, many more my boy! We are so very proud of you and love you so very much!