5 Degrees of Inspiration! Giveaway!

Inspiration Avenue http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-degrees-in-inspiration-blog-party.htmlis having a wonderful blog party but the due date for the giveaways is August 1st so there is not much time!!! Check it out! I wanted to post about it and now I MUST go back to check out the other blogs that are participating...

I have so many things to post but I will get back to you sometime soooon!!

Sharon

The choice is Katheryn Elizabeth

We want to thank each and every one of you for sending such lovely name suggestions! My baby doll finally has a new name:

Katheryn Elizabeth

Doesn't that name "just fit" her?

As you can imagine, it was a VERY hard decision for us to make. With many discussions and weighing which name was best....Katheryn Elizabeth was it! But thank you again for playing along! (I will be sending this lilac necklace to the winner tomorrow or the next day. The winner is a non-blogger and wanted to keep their name private.) I want to thank her for sending Katheryn's name for us. For the bloggers that sent in a sweet name suggestion, we want to thank each one of you! (So does Katheryn Elizabeth!)

Tonight I had an offer about posting my jewelry in their online store! (When we get all of the details worked out I will let you know all of the good news.) In the mean time, I had been praying for some way to show my jewelry to more people who might want to buy a piece or two. (I have sold several pieces,which I am truly grateful for, but it is not moving as quickly as we wanted.) Money is short here in our abode, like so very many families. I have so much money invested in the materials that are waiting to be turned into something gorgeous. Plus I have over 150 pieces made up and no one needs that many pieces of jewelry "just hanging around". I have received emails from several successful bloggers, trying to help me find the right direction to pursue. I considered trade shows, art shows, consignment and about every avenue that I could think of with very little success.

Wish me lots of blessings and whisper a prayer that the Lord will bless this adventure or shut the door. I am open to whatever the Lord has for us.

Once again, I want to thank Lynn of http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com for making Katheryn's lovely wardrobe!!! Her work is so beautiful!!!

Be sure to keep in touch & drop me a comment once in a while.

I love hearing from you!

Blessings to you all.

Sharon

p.s. The little girl picture,at the top, is from a card I sent my Momma in 1983 and she dated it & kept it amongst her other collection of cards. Isn't she precious? You may use her in any project for your personal use if you will right click on her to save. I saved it in a 300 dpi format so that you can enlarge her for a card or whatever your imagination wants. Please do not sell this in a collage or package. Thank you.

The Mail Person will be getting packages tomorow because.Creative Minds at work, again!

I wanted to show you my "newest" creations. I have been working on a gift swap for "I thought about you" and my partner is Louise at http://whisperingpoppies.blogspot.com/! One of these lovelies is going to be included in her box. I take blood pressure meds and the new container is this strange pull out box. Well, my mind works really strange around 3:00AM and I thought this could be a fun "something" so I made it into a scripture box. I haven't seen anything like this out in blogland. I guess, I am the first to come up with it. If not, please let me know. I love recycling used objects. Once I got started I covered both side with pretty designs then added the pull out card with scriptures on both sides.
I HAVE to take this medicine and I wanted to make something unusual out of a useless carton. It is so much more interesting that the ordinary round rust colored boring containers they usually put pills in. There is a "button" on the top that you have to push hard on to get the card from inside. (I guess it keeps children from getting in your meds) But the lock button makes the final card quite a mystery to the receiver. I added a ribbon to the pull out to help with the process but you still have to push the button.

I have been wrapping packages all weekend. One goes to LuLu Kellogg http://coastalsistersnews.blogspot.com/that bought my Fiori necklace and I just had to enclose some goodies with her purchase. What a charming lady! Have you checked out her posts? She is sooo funny.
I am sending a thank you to Cathe http://justsomethingimade.blogspot.com/. She always has such lovely gifts for all of us and I thought a small gift was due to her for her generosity. It isn't much but the thought that counts, right? As time goes on I am going to have a surprise for others who have been so kind to me. So this love gift is just the beginning....


Well, the girls got home this evening so we will be choosing a name for my baby doll and I will get the winners gift out to them right away. I think I will close the name suggestions on Wed. as it is my birthday and I would like to get this giveaway done. So I am cutting is shorter than I originally planned. I have updated the list of names that have been suggested. (be sure to check back a couple of posts to see the list.) They are ALL so lovely!!! If your suggestion is not on the list PLEASE let me know!!!!! If you have not already sent in your suggestions, do so right away, up to 12:00 on July 29th!!! Time is short. I hope I hear from you soon...Sharon

Revision on "Leaves on leaves"

This pattern is such a pleasure to make. There is no limit on how to rearrange the leaves. I made this out of tiny deep metallic purple delicas with rose gold delica accent beads. It is strung on garnets with the garnet beads incorporated into the leaf pattern. (Please, right click on the picture to see the details.) I just wanted to show you how the arrangement of beads and change of colors makes a whole new design.
Wow! Another week has come and gone! I can not believe how quickly time goes! Blessings to all, Sharon

Giveaway is ready & waiting!!

Well, here it is! I have finally gotten the "giveaway" finished and ready to go. I have gotten so many wonderful suggestions for names for my baby doll. I love each one and therefore I am going to heavily rely upon my grand daughters to pick a name. This pattern is so fun to create. Can you tell that is the same pattern as I recently submitted "Dancing Dangles"? It is the same pattern with totally different colors and shapes of beads. The necklace is lovely shades of lilacs with deep purples. It is closed with an antique button from my Mommas button collection. What do you think?
It could be yours if you will send me a comment with a suggestion of a name for my dolly. (Check back a couple of posts for all the information.) I am getting excited to be able to send out this creation....

PLUS...I have made a couple of "runner up" gifts! (It is a surprise.) I was working on them and looked up at the clock and it was 2:30AM. Does that ever happen to you? I just got lost and time slipped away because I was having so much fun. Besides that I am working on the "I thought about you" swap. That has to be in the mail next week and I can not post about that until my "swap partner" receives it around August 8th.
By the way, July 29th is my birthday! My daughter, Melissa & my grand daughters plus a couple of my friends are taking me out for lunch and to antiques stores in a town called Braselton, GA. Braselton has rows and rows of antique stores. It sounds so fun! (I MUST remember to take my camera so I can share the lovely shops with you.)
So, as you can tell, I have been a busy girl!!! Thank you for stopping by & please take time to let me know you are "out there"....Sharon

Necklace is done and ready for the prize winner of my Giveaway!

I have been busy busy busy working on the GIVEAWAY for naming my precious little dolly. It is all complete and tomorrow I will get out the picture of this "special" piece! It is 2:30am and I must go to bed but I wanted you to know it is all done, plus a "few" extra things I am creating. Best of luck, girls, I am going to go to North Carolina and pick up my Grand Daughters on Monday. I have not seen them for one month or more and I have missed them sooooo much and can't wait to see them plus they will be able to pick out the name that my baby will have.
Blessings to all and thank you again, & again for your lovely comments & suggestions. Good night, ya' all....sharon
p.s. It is not too late to get in your pick of a name...Write soon..

Jewelry Giveaway & Baby finally gets her name!

Greeting everyone ! I thought I would let you know the wonderful suggestions that have been sent in. I am so excited! I love them all but only one will be chosen by the two little Grand daughters next door.

Here is the list:
Catharine Grace
Lucy
Laurel Elizabeth
Ms. Dollie Pearl
Charity
Rose
Bella
Lily
April
Julianne Rose
Emily Rose
Precious Pearl
Fiona Marie
Chloe Faith
Little Babette Rosette
Genevive
Sweet Sally Sue
Leah Grace
Cherry Rose
Emma Grace
Christina Noel
Mary Elizabeth
Sarah Elizabeth
Christina
Martha Evangeline
Fiona Marie
Victoria Roseabella
Emma Louise
Katheryn Elizabeth
Emily Rose
Amelia
Baby Bella
Baby Angelica
Lauren Lucille.......
Aren't they ALL lovely? (I am even going to frame a picture of her and hang it in my studio to remind me of all of the lovely comments you have left on my posts.) Thank each and everyone of you that have taken the time to send in your suggestions. If you have not taken the time to leave your choice of names be sure to do so by midnight July 31st (eastern time)!!
For those who have not caught the previous posts, I am making a very special piece of jewelry for the person who can find a name for my baby doll. She just received a beautiful new dress, (made with loving hands by Lynn at http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com/ ). So we are celebrating with a party!
I am looking forward to hearing from each one of you. Thanks for stopping in...Sharon & Baby Doll

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

Baby wants/needs a name!

"My Dear Friends,

Thank each one of you who have sent my Momma suggestions for my new name! I am so excited! Please keep them coming. Mom is working on something very special to send to my new God Mother who gives me a new start in life. (I still LOVE my new outfit! Lynn, http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com/ thank you so much! I feel like a queen!) The birthday party will be August 1st! Don't forget to send in your suggestion to give me my name!"
Baby ?

Terry http://www.ladylibertypatriot.com sent me a lovely award! Thank you, Terry, for thinking of me. You are too kind!

Have you seen the post by Sherri Mitchell at http://punkrosejournal.blogspot.com/ ??? You should see some of the beauties she is giving away!!! Dawn directed me there and I must go back there right now to read more! Her style is right down my alley...Catch you later...Sharon

Just Because Swap--Jewels & Baby Gowns

On Thursday, Lynn (http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com/) & I met at my favorite restaurant Niko-Niko Japanese. Yummy! We finally uncovered our goodies (Lynn got jewelry & I got my baby back). Mine came in a gorgeous pink large jeweled sack! (Actually, I was so excited that I had to open it up just before we got done eating.) Inside was my "baby girl"!!! (Gosh, I did not know how much I had been missing her.) When all of the wrappings came off, my heart skipped several beats. There before me was the most precious work I have ever received. Babies hat---all I could think was WOWOWWEE! All of the detail, all of the intricate stitches, the soft fluffy yarn in creams & soft rose, the ribbons and the pearls, each tiny detail was not missed by my eyes. Look at that darling rose colored perfection that rims the bonnet!!! Lynn, oh, Lynn, you far out did yourself!! (Now all of that just begins to describe the bonnet.) Next the dress... Rows and rows & rows of details all tied up with creamy ribbons, the neckline, all the way down to the hem of rose and pearls is absolute perfection. Well, I thought that was absolutely the BEST! But then I looked on down ....Baby finally got her shoes (with pearls and all the trim)!
I have attached the BEFORE (oh, my poor baby doll looked so sad) and now I have the best AFTER I could have ever hoped for! Didn't Lynn do a wonderfully delicious job???

Baby has a few words to say:
"Look at my dashing new dress! Don't you just LOVE it??? I am so excited that I want to have a party, will you come? I am making out the invitations, right now, all I need is your comments & you will be invited! Oh, wait, I guess you might not know who the invitation is from because I don't even have a name. Will you give me a REAL name? My Momma has called me "baby" for 37 years and I am so over that!!!! (Mom was 26 years old when I was given to her! I guess I am close to an antique by now..an antique with no name) In order to have a birth certificate & make me a real citizen in good standing, I will need to have a real honest to goodness name, (like all the other girls). Now that I have a new outfit the party date has been set for August 1, 2009. Will you send your ideas to my Momma? On August 1st she will have the two neighbor girls to pick out a name that will go with my new dress & it will be my name for the rest of my life! I am soooo excited! Thank you ahead of time!"
Yours truly, Used to be The Baby
This is what I wanted to do...You send a comment with a name that is appropriate for this little one & my two grand daughters will pick out the name that "fits" her personality then I will award you a new piece of jewelry.... So think hard, leave a comment with a name & you may/will receive one of my newest creations!!!
Thanks for playing along & "thank you again, Lynn, for your creation & for your dear friendship".
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

Leaves on leaves!

I wanted to show you what I have been doing for the last several days! I used the Floral Motif pattern, twisted and turned the leaves into a 3D effect. I put two leaves on top of each other in the center & started to build from there. This one is made with gold plated delicas and a mauve hex delica. Each leaf is a little different shades of the two blended together. I started using more of the gold with a little mauve accent then as I headed for the back I used more mauve than gold. (I can not get the camera to take a good picture so that you can see the correct coloring, sorry.) I added a deep mauve crystal bicone in the center of the cluster & used them to separate & attach each leaf. The closer is an antique cuff link with a peyote ring to hold it secure.

What do you think?

What is YOUR favorite color combinations?

Let me know IF you want me to make another one in a different colors....

Sharon

Sometimes Gossip is Wonderful!

Dawn, at the Feathered Nest told us about Just Something I Made having a tutorial on making birds nests. Well, you guessed it, I went on to find wonderful, clear, & complete directions. (Thank you, Cathi Holden, so much for your information & generosity!) (By the way, I boiled three eggs and pealed them/crushed the shells then put, the far left nest, into a baggy for a couple of days and it automatically antiqued the nest. Now it is not so shiny and new looking) I also made my own clasps from a heavier gauge wire.

Today I went to see Linda at White Linen-Lavender Fields and she had some stunning nests that I fell in love with them! Then I went to another blog (Primitive Seasons) and there was a gorgeous card.

Bird nests are springing up everywhere and Dawn started me on this roll.

Isn't that just like life? We can affect & effect so many just by the words that come out of our souls. Dawn, is such a pure & kind soul. We feel it by how she writes & her love of our blog world. We somehow "connect" with those who are of a "like spirit" & a love of the creative spirit within each of us.
Bloggers everywhere are touching so many people/for the good or negative . I just "happened" to find this delightful group of wonderful & uplifting ladies that spiritually encourage my soul as well as encouraging my creative side! Thank each and everyone of you that are so kind, generous, & encouraging. You truly make my experience of blogging a true pleasure.

Blessings to you,

Sharon

Digital Two For Tuesday's Challenge!!

Cora at Digital Two For Tuesday/Clearly Vintage Blogs has given us these stamps and we are to make something using these lovely pictures. I hope you will join us to come up with your own creations.

Aren't the Victorian ladies lovely?

Please, Join us!

I have four cards made up already (two of which I have posted). I took a background print from Graphics Fairy & removed the lettering from the paper then added my own. Then I created a "stamp" out of this weeks gorgeous ladies & stamped the image onto the background. One the card with the beautiful flowers (sorry that I can not name the person who posted this flower grouping) I cut out a cluster of the flowers and made them into a 3D effect. Two of the cards did not come out of my scanner clearly so I will take pictures of them today sometime. I have sent all four scans to Cora for her critique. Plus, she has asked me to "host" Digital Two's Designers in August. I have never done anything like that but I am more than willing to learn!

I am looking forward to seeing what other designers create out of these same lovely ladies!

Sharon