Saturday 25 May 2013

My Country.....Of Thee I Bead May 31st deadline for sign up

Thank you to all the talented jewelry designers who have already signed up for the Blog hop/challenge on June 29th. It is going to be so much fun to see what everyone comes up with.Please remember to include your email/ blog address when you comment. I'll post all of the participants next weekend.You can use any country you have a connection with or feel inspired by to create jewelry for this challenge. There will be some bits of Canadiana  prizes!!!
Thank you so much , Dini Bruinsma  of Angaza by Changes for helping out and creating the fabulous badge for me. You can put in on your blog if you like.
Here's the Blog Hop Badge:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGOiDK-KnxpZKAtaEKSQRtptVuvPA3bI05L7mzlY47xPo4Hk99IHEdoRsxjpWpXo9ofnomnf9GmdpPITzeQXQz_3JCsAXT0YTaZO4Pqxg8q5phyjtIrePKMgW_JBi9PC2pmiuFJ-3BtJL/s1600/Dini's+Badge+for+Country+Blog+2013.jpg
Have fun!!!!!!!

Monday 20 May 2013

Reveal for Earring Blog Hop!

Thanks  are deserved by Jessica of Whimsical Monkey for coming up with this idea and organizing it for all of us. Unfortunately it seems there are people who were unhappy with the rules and took it out on her.  She certainly doesn't deserve grief for organizing this.  The rules were very clear from the beginning.This stuff is just supposed to  be fun ! Thanks again, Jessica!!!!!
These blog hops are great for our community and encourage everybody to reach out to other jewelry makers and share our enthusiasm for this art.
I was paired up with Leah Tees, a jewelry artist from northern Ontario, who does incredible work with seed beads including soutache ! I am in awe of her talent and style. It was a challenge to make something for her since our styles are completely different. I hope she likes the earrings I sent!

I love,love,love the earrings she made for me.
"Stella" by Leah Tees
They are gorgeous , lacy and elegant.....perfect for a little black dress! If I had one! I might have to get one! She used rizo and rulla beads, delicas and crystal drops!
Aren't they stunning? My photographs don't do them justice. They remind me of delicate squares of beautiful black lace with gorgeous pale purple crystals dangling from them. They suit me to a "T". 
Thanks Leah.... I will cherish them forever.
Now hop over to her blog to see what I made for her. and visit the other participants blogs and see what they made and swapped.


Inge von Roos: ingetraud.wordpress.com
Jessica Murray: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com
Marianne Baxter: http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/
Leah Tees: mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca
Andrea Trank: www.heavenlanecreations.com
Miranda Ackerley: http://blog.mirandack.com/
Cheri Mitchell-Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy: www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Michele Dotson: http://star-jewels.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox: www.deannaaki.WordPress.com
Shelley Graham Turner: www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue: www.wrappedinsilver.com
Lennis Carrier: http://windbent.wordpress.com
Ginger Davis Allman: http://thebluebottletree.com/
Mary Anne Flesch: www.handcraftedserenity.blogspot.com
Nicole Valentine Rimmer: www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Stephanie Weiss: uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/
Silvia Sernicola: http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Karla Morgan: www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson: http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Paula Hisel: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Carol Dillman: http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Spun Sugar Beadworks: Spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Tara Plote: http://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/
Rachel Baron: http://rbarondesigns.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe: http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Kashmira Patel: http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett: http://www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Shellie Grindy: http://www.creativeeclectica.com/
Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell: http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Mimi Gardner: www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Jessica McMullen: http://pheonixgatedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jennifer LaVite: www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Laura Medeiros: http://zoeowyn.blogspot.com/
Alenka Obid: www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Elsie Fonseca: http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Dunham: www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Sandra McGriff: http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tania Spivey: http://moobiegrace.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle:  http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com

Facebook:
Beccy Peterson: Beccy's Baubles
Mischelle Fanucchi: www.facebook.com/micheladasmusings
Marde Lowe: FanciMar Designs

Thank  you for looking and for your comments if you feel so moved!!!

Sunday 5 May 2013

Sunday, Sunday

Just catching up after a busy weekend in Toronto (my home).
The neighbourhood just 4 blocks away from me is known as "The Junction" so called because of the junction of 4 railway lines.  Before the railway lines were laid down it was a native Indian trading route.The area has an interesting history of manufacturing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As factories relocated to larger areas  in the suburbs the area became somewhat run-down but has now been revitalized by the influx of artists who moved in due to lower rents. Another interesting fact is the area was "dry " for the entire 20th century. Alcohol was first served in the neighbourhood in 2000. With that change more restaurants and bars started opening for business and it is now one of the most "happening" areas of the city with a mix of independent retailers, bakeries, coffee shops, art galleries, clubs and restaurants. Recently 2 craft breweries  set up shop in the Junction. It is really a very cool part of Toronto which most tourists don't hear about. There's a warm , family oriented atmosphere and many generations of families have lived there.

Yesterday , I was walking home from a friend's  place and discovered the opening of the ScotiaBank Photography Festival with multiple venues in the Junction. It was great to saunter into a shop or gallery and see the photographic art of up and coming artists and have a chance to chat with them as well. Almost every stop was offering wine, beer and nibblies so my walk home took much longer than expected!!!
Considering this has been the first warm, sunny weekend after a very long winter it was a lovely way to spend Sat. evening.

Today was another stunning day!!!! Warm and sunny but with a lovely breeze.
I've been waiting for weeks to hear when the cherry blossoms in High Park were going to blossom and this is the weekend. My brother and I had decided to scatter my mother's ashes there so we had a lovely family walk to the cherry blossom trees where we joined about half the population of Toronto to savour their beauty. Even though it's not strictly legal nobody seemed to mind as we scattered the ashes around the roots of several baby cherry blossom trees. We tried to be subtle about it. It was a lovely place because my mother loved High Park and flowers and she would have loved this. She passed away 6 years ago and it's taken us until now to find her final resting place. It's nice to think she will help the saplings grow and we can visit her there for years to come. My good friend, Meg; my brother Brian and his husband, Coman and my son, Robbie and his girlfriend, Stephanie were all there with me.
My sweetie with his sweetie!
 Seeing the blossoms was lovely however there were just too many people there so I'm going back tomorrow to see them in a more peaceful setting when all the families are back to school and work.

That's what I've been up too this weekend . Today was also my friend's birthday and I can now safely post the bracelet I made for her because she has it now.
The focal is from Ema K Designs. Meg loves all things birdy so this was perfect for her.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, too.

Saturday 4 May 2013

Hats Off Challenge

This hat is fabulous. Perfect shape and colour for spring. the green ribbon and pink and orange feathers are perfect toppers. Very elegant!


This hat inspired me to create a necklace but orange isn't a colour I use often . However ,for some reason ,I have a lot of orange beads!! It's not as elegant as this hat but hopefully you'll agree that it picked up on the colour palette. please let me know in the comments. I really struggled with this colour combination!



This lilac hat is stunning and needs very little jewelry to adorn it. Simple pearls or diamonds would be the choice of most but I'd like to add a little fun with my flower earrings!!! What do you think?



That's all for my reveal in the Hats Off Challenge hosted by Bobbie  of Beadsong Jewelry. This was a great idea for jewelry inspiration and I can't wait to see what everyone has created. 
Here's the list of the other participants:
Bobbie Rafferty www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Christine Altmiller www.onekisscreations.blogspot.com
Nan Smith www.wirednan.blogspot.com  (this is me!)
Susan Nelson Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com

Thursday 2 May 2013

My Country , Of Thee I Bead!

In honour of Canada Day (July 1st) and Independence Day-USA (July 4th) I am hosting a challenge to make a piece of jewelry that reflects your national pride whatever your country. It should be based on something that is distinctive to your home nation eg. flag, emblem, anthem or anything  else that you feel is representative of your country. The reveal will be June 29th. Please sign up by May 31st.
If you need help jumpstarting the muse I've pulled a few samples off Etsy to help inspire you.

Canada
   
                                http://www.etsy.com/shop/lulubugjewelry
USA
Great Britain
Sweden
Germany


 Please share with your jewelry friends all over the world. I'd love to make this a truly international event. Please sign up by May 31st and post on your blog June 29th.Just leave your email and blog info in the comments section below.Oh and please include your country.


Have fun and be proud!!!