September Reader's Challenge & Art Bead Earring Swap

Whelp, I've bitten off quite a bit this month, but I'm very much looking forward to it! Not only is September the reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by the lovely and talented Lori Anderson of Pretty Beads, but I've also joined two other activities this month as well.



First up will be the reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party on September 17th. I haven't created my pieces yet, but I have everything pulled together. Now, for a full day of no interruptions!



Then it's the Art Bead Earring Swap hosted by the sweet and very talented Diana Ptaszynski, a ceramic/porcelain bead artist/metalsmith/jewelry designer, of Suburban Girl Studio. If you'd like to join, you have until September 8th to do so! My partner will be assigned on September 10 and the earrings need to be in the mail by the 24th with the reveal on October 5. I believe this is the first time Diana's hosted this event and I'm really looking forward to it. I already have a concept in mind and need a couple of hours to pull it together (depending upon who I'm paired with).



Finally, to round out the month, it's the very kind and talented Andrew Thornton's September Reader's Challenge (which is sold out). I was very fortunate to be among the first participants of Andrew's Reader's Challenge in July. It was really fun, and a little bit of a stretch for me. I wasn't able to snag a kit for the second challenge August, but I did score a Design Kit for the third challenge this month. Terrific beads in a palette I don't normally use. I'm really looking forward to receiving my kit. The reveal date for the Challenge is Friday, September 30.



That's how I'm creatively spending my September. How are you spending yours?



And The Winner Is .....

Sarah!!! And, because I don't know how to put the Random Number Generator into the blog post here's a picture to prove it!

Thanks for playing along ladies! Sarah, you'll receive your book tomorrow!





Another Book Giveaway: Jewelry Designs from Nature

Jenny Cameron of Glass Addictions is having a book giveaway on her blog. It's for the new book, Jewelry Designs from Nature by the very, very talented Heather Powers of Humblebeads. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book, whether I win it or purchase it. From the updates and videos Heather has had on her blog, this book is amazing!

Quick, go to Jenny's blog - the winner will be drawn on Monday, September 5!

Bead Soup, Beach, Book

I know, that's an incredible title isn't it? They're all related, sort of. Well, first, I wanted to post a picture of the Bead Soup that I sent to my partner Marci.

If you've read this blog even once it's pretty clear that I love the Beach. Don't get me wrong, I love the lake too; the lake and a pool are my favorite places to swim. However, I love the beauty and serenity of the beach and ocean. It grounds me, loosens the knots in my neck and shoulders, and brings me great peace and joy. I love to walk the beach, sit on the sand or a rock and look at the water, and spend countless hours collecting and photographing. Lots of days I arrive, a total ball of stress; I leave in a state of nirvana.

That's what inspired my choice of beads for Marci. The wooden tube beads reminded me of driftwood (which I have heaps of - a story for another day), white shell beads which remind me of the shells I collect (yep, I collect white snail shells, not the shells pictured - again, a story for another day), sea glass chips I drilled (brown, green and clear - the most common and abundant colors I find locally; we don't really want to discuss the amount of sea glass I've collected), frosted green cube beads which remind me of seaweed, rough apatite beads in ocean shades along with a soldered aqua sea glass connector I created, African metal beads, a sterling toggle, and a sand dollar inspired pendant that I made. I hope you love the soup Marci, can't wait to see what you create!!

The Book (or should I say books) - Beach: A Book of Treasure by Josie Iselin and the Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook by C.S. Lambert. My daughter Caiti went to Wells, Ogunquit, and Kennebunkport the other day with her fiancee to shop. She brought me both of these books. I have all of Carole Lambert's books and I adore them. I had previously picked up the Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook, but Cait didn't know it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Beach: A Book of Treasure. I had no idea about the books Josie Iselin had written. This book is amazing. If you love the beach and collecting as much as I do, you need this book. You know what's a bummer? She was in Maine earlier this summer and had a couple of book signings and she had an exhibit that ended a couple of weeks ago. Rats! She also has a book titled Heart Stones - I know! Shut.The.Front. Door!!! (I collect those too!), and guess what? She's coming out with a small book on Valentine's Day 2012! What do you think it's about?!? - Sea Glass Hearts!!!! (I have those too!!) Anyhoo, they're great books be sure to check them out.

Now, I don't need two copies of Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook so I'm going to give one away (not the copy Caiti just gave me, but the copy I purchased for myself)! So how can you win this book? Leave a comment to this question - "What do you love to collect and why?" Would you like additional chances to win the book? You can blog about it, then leave a comment here with the link and/or you can post a facebook status with a link to this entry and leave another comment. I'll close the comments at midnight on Sunday night, September 4 and announce the winner (using the Random Number Generator) on Monday, September 5 (my anniversary!). I can't wait to read your comments!