ART CHARM SWAP

Today is the Big reveal from all the awesome artists and the charms they made just for this fun swap.  There is one little thing different in this swap, we all send in an extra charm and then the wonderful Jennifer Cameron will post them on Ebay for auction, with the proceeds benefiting Beads Of Courage. As many of you know Beads Of  Courage is a group very dear to my heart. I do not do many swaps,  but this one...  a have too!  My Grandson is a member and has many strands of Bead of Courage beads himself!

This years theme was Love,WOW how fitting!!

I had lots of Ideas in my head but nothing ever seemed to be just right,  I knew it had to be a heart,  so I ordered these cute little hearts in copper.  Again they set around for a week before I had any idea what I wanted to do. Then I remember my embossing folder with X's and O's  and everything fell into place!  I mean come on...everyone knows X's and O's from a 4 year old is the full meaning of Love!! (ok so maybe its a grandma thing!!)
So I cut the brass discs, drilled a zillion holes, stamped love on them,  and added the mini bolts and nuts! Ran them through the tumbler and wah laaa!!

I was very happy with the results, even the time it took to get there,  all for a great cause,  and I got a few charms back myself!!  I have some awesome charms and I have decided just what I am going to do with them!! I am going to take them and add last years charms to the group and make a long necklace,  with only those charms!!  It might get to heavy to wear,  but it will look great on the wall in my studio when it does, where I can see it every day!!

    

Check out all the other awesome artists blogs!!

Jen Cameron: http://glassaddictions.com/blog/

Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.co.uk

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

Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale : http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Cassi Paslick: http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com

Alenka Obid: http://www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

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

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

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com

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

Lennis Carter: http://windbent.wordpress.com

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Perri Jackson: http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Ginger Bishop: http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Jean Peter: http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com

Linda Florian: http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com

Patricia Pulliam: http://rusticstudio.blogspot.com

Karin Grosset Grange: http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Julie Bowen: http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com

Susan Delaney: http://ladyflowersbysusan.wordpress.com

Emma Todd: http://www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com

Carolyn Chenault : http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com

Terri Del Signore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Cheryl (Lee) Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

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

Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Jacqueline Carlson: http://www.beadgypsy.blogspot.com

Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

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

Kristi Bowman: http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com

2nd Reveal Bead Soup Blog Hop

WOW  Its time already, we did get a little extra time  and I for one am  So totally thankful for it!! I have one of the greatest partners out there Tracy Kruse  

First batch of soup!

She has been a fun person to get to know.  (and she has good taste too!!) Seems like this hop has been harder to get things done,  Not sure why, as I think my life is still the same,  oh maybe I have just gotten lazier!
Anyway  on to the soup!! This Wonderful person sent a great soup Lots of fun items Many made by Tracy her self which are some of my fav's!! But to top it off this silly girl had ordered silk ribbon to go with the beads  but it was not in on time,  so she sent it when  she got it,  and sent even MORE beads!! Now I am not complaining,  But  she just made it even harder,  I had tons to choose from now!! I had enough to feed several Beaders. . . .   But  no I did not share 

Both batches of soup!!

both batches spread out a little

Now in every swap I have done  Blue seems to be the most used color,  Blue used to be my least favorite/used color,  But I am guessing  the swappers out there got together and decided That was not to be!! Now I am not hooked on blue per-say But I did buy 3 new shirts to go with this color scheme!!  and I painted  my living room turquoise so I must be coming around!!

 Now about my new pretties  I made  just for me!
I spent a good amount of mixing on this soup I just wanted something different and was not coming up with anything (overwhelmed!!)

  The bracelet comes from the silk ribbon she sent  I used a connector that Tracy made as a focal making a hook to finish it as a clasp. I did macrame over a heavier cord for strength

 The next 3 pictures show the necklace. since I only wear long necklaces I wanted it airy and not real heavy. I used one of the embossed washers  at the end of the focal so I had somewhere to put all the fun dangles!!  The back of the necklace is knotted pearls on silk cord, helps with the weight.  This is fun to wear,  and feels good on! I still  have a lot of soup left  and do have another necklace started, and hoped to share it too,  but I took it with me to work on at a friends,  and it came home in a tangled mess! its 8 strands knotted and macrame.

This is a better picture of some of the links, I have the knotted part wrapped twice.  (BTW that blue in the background is the new color of my living room!! :)  )

















                                                               Full view of necklace

 

Close up of  focal!!  Wonderful Lampwork!!

Hope you all take time to visit all the blogs Link here:  Bead Soup Blog Hop   and  be sure to stop by Tracy Kruse and see her awesome art!