Spring is bursting all over my studio!

Sweet Yvette of the Charm

House

http://charmhouse.blogspot.com

had a post the other day about miniture roses made from crepe

paper.  She saw on Judys posts.

http://lindaalbrecht.typepad.com/simple_things/2010/02/the-rose-2.html

so I decided to give it a try.  All I had in my stash was a roll of crepe paper streamers so I tried that and it worked great! 

I then used water colors to give the rose a little more depth.

Well I was just not satisfied with the way they looked.

I was speaking to a lady at Hobby Lobby and she said her Mother made crepe paper roses then dipped them in wax.

I had bees wax on my counter.

Stuck it in the Microwave.

Then dipped the roses really fast.

The results were fascinating! 

The crepe paper now looks like they might be a china or bisque. 

I thought I would share them with you.

What do you think? 

Dipping them in the wax seemed to make them

stronger and more durable when I tried to arrange them.

My Easter Crosses:

I went to Hobby Lobby and they were

having a sale on paper formed boxes.

With it being Easter I wanted to make something

with a Christian theme.

I took the boxes apart and made two ornaments for the price of one.  I had gotten this cross book mark from

The Vintage Moth

and it fit perfectly inside of the box. 

I added a few flowers for a 3D effect then added those tiny mico balls on the edges in Silver and in gold.  Of course I had to cover the outside of the cross with a

purple paper that was one of my favorites.

Easter and May baskets are blooming everywhere.

I made another May/Easter basket! 

This one I made white on white with no color except for the jeweled piece I added under the bow.  It is just peaking out.

Don't you love spring things? 

My daffodils are in full bloom along

with the almond trees and the wild plum trees.

Yes, I have even made a couple of

beading projects.

Yes, I have been beading too. 

I wish you could see this bracelet in person.

I love emerald colors!

This one is a dark emerald  deep blue on one side and a lovely emerald purple on the other side.

In between the rosetts I added Vintage ravoli crystals that pick up both colors.  It truly is a stunning piece.

If you want a closer look be sure to

enlarge it by right clicking on the pictures.

So as you see I have been busy getting into the spring mood.

Easter Eggs and Bookmarks

I realize not everyone remembers back when we were always given a book mark at Easter time or when we learned my memory a verse from the Bible.  For the last couple of years I have been making bookmarks and giving them to people who mean a lot to me.  So this is my version of an Easter Bookmark.

I hope you will enjoy my labors of love and possibly

get some ideas to work with too.

Before I go I want to thank all of you that responded to my plea to interput the Blogger News article!

I got so many good, talented, and smart answers. 

Thanks girls, You are dolls for helpin' out!

I feel assured again and ready to tackle blogging again.

My God Richly Bless

you.

Sharon

And the WINNER is........

Carol

of

Carol Anne's Boutique

http://carolannesboutique.blogspot.com/

I am so happy to announce

that the number generator thingy picked number 24. 

 (I just found out how to work that program.  I love it because it takes all of the personal feelings out of a drawing and picks just the right person every time...)

(I will not reveal the surprise love gift.  Carol can have her moment in the sun...lol)

Carol has been on my blogroll and my follower

since day one, I "think". 

I found her sweet blog when she was so kind to leave me a comment to welcome me to blogland.  Now that is the perfect person to receive my little "love" gift drawing for

my great followers.

IF you haven't stopped in to see Carol, please do so.  This sweet picture and the card are the type of goodies that you will find there.

For those that did not win, I love you just as much!

Thank you to each and every person

that are "following" my posts. 

YOU are an important part of my life. 

Even if you just stop by for a chat, I appreciate you too.

It is the people who support you, care about you,

and nurture your creative spirit

that make blogging so rewarding!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

 for each comment,

each encouragement

 and each lovely individual

who has stopped for a visit. 

Please come by often.

 You make my day!

Sharon 

p.s.  I will be having more giveaways as spring gets closer so stop by often.

Going Going Gone! Jacque #24 Is the winner of my beaded bracelet

Jacque

http://jacque4u2c.blogspot.com/

was number 24 on the number generator! 

(I KNOW I am a little early but circimstances here made it necessary.)

Over 510 wonderful bloggers left a comment

on my original post

 "The One World One Heart"

giveaway and

84 others left a comment on my beaded hearts which I decided to include in the drawing! 

I was overwhelmed/thrilled by the response! 

(My Momma always taught me to return a note

so I went by to see each and everyone who left a comment!) 

Plus I went by Lisa's

 http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html

each day until I was able to look at each and everyone of the

1,088 links with 40 Countries represented!!!

I met some wonderful people,

added numerous blogs to my blog roll,

became a follower of so many that I lost count,

last but not the least,

I had so much fun!!! 

Thank you so much, Lisa!!!

What a pleasure to meet so many people from around the world.  There were so many lovely blogs but I promise I did not leave a comment (just to get something) I left an honest comment of

appreciation and admiration of each blog.

I find it hard to put into words but I was so humbled by the huge response for my beaded bracelet that I decided to add

a couple "runner ups" for my jewelry.

Marcie of The Rustic Victorian's

http://the-rustic-victorian.blogspot.com/

name was the second to be drawn!

And

Kathy of Vintage Catnip

http://vintagecatnip.blogspot.com/

are both receiving a piece of my jewelry!

(I wish I had enough to send something to each of you.

 Reality is, I would go broke just paying for the postage.) 

Speaking of Reality!

Let's go back to reality! 

 After almost 600 comments it will be hard to go back to

five to seventeen comments but what a joyful time had by all on

The Magic Carpet Ride!! 

I enjoyed the process and will do it again next year if Lisa is up to it!

I have nothing but high praise for such an adventure.

Again, I thank you, Lisa, for her generous spirit and for each one who came by to take a look and left a note.

  I hope you will come back again soon...

Blessings to all,

Sharon

Cleo is open for review

Cleo is completed!!!

She is a beauty!

I could not get a good shot of the tiny details.   This necklace consists of five tubes of the tinyest bead (size 15's) & two tubes of a tubular bead called a delica, along with numerous Czech beads for a focal point. 

It was so very time consuming but worth it all in the end.  It is a dressy necklace, with all of the its sparkle and Czech beads.  I have NO where to wear it, even though I love it so much.  (Therefore, I will be putting it up for sale, if you are interested.)  It just needs a good home and a fun place to wear it!

My first attempt of taking a photo is on a dress form I found for, (guess who?) 

 LuLu of course!  (http://coastalsistersnews.blogspot.com)

What do you think, LuLu, does she wear my necklace well?  Or is it a bit much?...lol

I hope you enjoy seeing my interpetation of
 Jimmie's Cleo.

She was a pleasure to finally  put into my "COMPLETED' file.

Have a wonderful and productive weekend!

Sharon

p.s. Be sure to check out the latest stars that I have completed for the ladies cookie exchange.at church on Sunday.

Pearls on Abalone Shell

Pearls on a Shell....the center of the "shell" is a silver flower motif with silvery grey pearls. I happened to find silver pearls that perfectly matched. I know it is a little fussy for some jewelry lovers but it just seemed to "speak" to me that it just had to be done in this fashion. I found, in my stash, grey Swarvoski crystals that were from a broken necklace that belonged to my Momma. Walla! This necklace was born.....
First I encased the round abalone shell with tiny teal delicas then I just started adding the pearls where ever they wanted to go. Next came the cluster of pearls to make four beads. I did peyote stitch beads over a piece of tubing then added the crystals and larger and smaller pearls in between.
Someone left a comment that the projects that I make "must take hours", yes, they truly do take numerous hours for each piece. This one took me over 22 hours! A while back my hubby and I figured out, if I sold a piece for $85.00 then I would be getting paid (something near) $.08 cents an hour. If I did not love this process so much then it would not be worth it but I loose track of time when I am beading. One can not charge for anything that they love to do.
I hope you like this piece as much as I do. Now on to another new project that I just came up with tonight and I am anxious to get started....
Don't forget to turn in your ideas for my dollies name so that you too might receive one of my creations!!
Blessings to each one of you, Sharon

Dancing Dangle

I finished this necklace last night, rather this morning at 6:30am. I have been whipped all day long because of my insomnia. I had to go the doctor to schedule a mammogram which will be next Wednesday. I am being a good girl and checking in every six months since they found two lumps & at my age I just need to keep an eye on the two "headlights". When I was laying down during the last cat scan I looked at the screen and it looked like a set of head lights & I began to giggle to my self. So that is why I named them the head lights. (I may as well find some humor in these "thingys" growing inside my body.)
I regress.
The necklace is made from size 8 amber hexagon bead with copper colored bicone drops. I think it turned out quite showy for an understated piece of my work. {The "V" design was created by Mary DiMatteo for the June 2008 issue of Bead & Button Magazine. } The original designer called it the St. Petersburg Chain from years and years ago. There really is nothing "new" or completely original in fashion or in jewelry. It is just updated for the times that we live in now. I often wonder what my Great Grandchildren will be collecting that we take for granted today. I have also attached the Leaves on Leaves necklace and ear rings that I made a couple of days ago. I "think" these pictures show a closer color match to the beautiful strawberry mauve beads.

I have been having a lot of problems with my posts being updated on your blog rolls. Does ANYONE out there know how I can fix the problem? I have read and read and re-read all of the information on Google but it is not fixing the situation. Please help me out if you possibly can.
P.S. I "think" I MAY have found some of my problems. Dawn, at the Feathered Nest suggested that I lift some of the restrictions on my yahoo email address. Well, I did do that and it seems some of the restrictions kept my blog from showing you the updates. We will see....????? Thanks, Dawn, so very much for your patience & information. You are a sweetheart!Thanks for stopping by to see my latest...please leave a comment if you like either piece.
Sharon