Beading & Surfing, Beading & collecting new friends!

Valentines Day

is just around the corner so I am busy sharing the love. 

I have been having such a wonderful time finding new and old friends on the HUGE giveaway blogs.

 In between surfing all of the wonderful blogs on

the Magic Carpet Ride http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html

I have been beading a little!

(These hearts are NOT part of the giveaway!!!)

I just wanted to share with you what I have been up to besides meeting so many wonderful people on my excursions.  I have added numerous wonderful new blogs to my blog roll,

(afterall that is the purpose of the Magic Carpet Ride) 

I have visited over

858 blogs

 (yes, I have visited each and every single one, so far!)

since January 25th!

  I have even had time to put a few beads together!   

"How", you ask???

Well, I have often said I don't sleep well at night so what better way to spend ones time than getting to know

women/men from around the world. 

 Have you seen some of the great giveaways? 
I personally have received over 300 bloggers stopping by and signing up for my beaded bracelet.  It is so overwhelming and WONDERFUL to have 300 people drop by and leave you a note!  Then to be a "nice girl" I went to their blogs and
thanked them for stopping by. 

Yes, I think I have stopped by every single one of the 300 that took the time to leave a comment. 

I thank each and everyone for your sweet comments on my jewelry, just in case I missed a few. 
It is truly wonderful to meet so many nice people who are talented, creative, and blog their ideas for me to be inspired by!

(Aunties Beads donated most of the beads for this project from

Aunties Beads.com. 

Don't you love that name?  It is a wonderful sight to find every style and type of bead that one would want to use.  They gave me the beads with no strings attached but I wanted to give them the credit for such lovely textures and colors.  I will post more about this delightful store after the big giveaways are completed. In the meantime be sure to stop by the

button on my right hand side bar icon.

  "Thank you, Clint, for your assistance in getting my beautiful beads for me.")

Valentines Hearts!

So what do you think? 

Are the hearts going to say

 "I love You!!!"

to family and friends?

I have never made a beaded embroidery heart before this one. 

So I Googled for a heart template. 

(I sorta got carried away with the size but it

definately catches the eye!)

The larger Valentine is to be hung on a neck piece or a chain which is mainly pinks with touches of a deep burgundy and silver!  It  measures 3inches by 2inches.  It has a large Swarvoski crystal surrounded by a gorgeous pink Swarvoski AB rose colored bicone. 

I love it! 

(I wore it out last night to supper and had numerous

women ask me where I got it.)

The second one is a broach with a pin on the back side and I tried to make it have strong red accents with silver.  It is one and one half inches by one inch.  Again, there is a heart shaped Swarvoski crystal in a ruby red that is surrounded with beautiful red Swarvoski crystals.  The left side has two rows of Czech fire polished beads separated by a tiny silver bead.  One of the things I like about it is the bugle beads that radiate out from the focal bead.  Then I ended it with antique crystals hanging from the bottom.  Each piece is backed with beautiful bright red leather!

Please be sure to stop by the post just before this one to see what I am giving away on Feb. 15th!  I will be using the random number generator to pick the winner. 

Please leave a note on that post to enter my giveaway. 

I would love to have each one win something

but it is just not possible. 

Be sure to see all of the wonderful blogs who are participating.

Blessings to each and everyone of you on this cold, icy, rainy evening in Georgia.  I hope you are staying warm and enjoyed seeing my newest creations.

Sharon

One World One Heart Giveaways, Everyone welcome to participate!

I just found this blog and wanted to share it with you.   Basically it is saying that this is a good way to get 900 plus people looking at your blog  and promoting your blog to numeous others.  I think it is a great idea so I am entering my "giveaway" present and see how it goes.  Would you like to join me?  Just think people from all over the world will be looking at your blog and hopefully returning numbeous times.  Because it is international I have decided to giveaway a piece of jewelry (because of postage costs for shipping possibly over seas).  This bracelet is elegant yet a fun to wear with blue jeans.  It has a neutral peyote base with silver beads up to the center and the center is a rich purple triangular bead center and closed with an antique brass button. 

This will be my first attempt to participate in the International Blog event and I am looking forward to meeting people from all over the world!  Come join me!

The information and details are below or go over to

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

I have been on here all night long meeting the most wonderful people from around the world.
Join in the fun! 
There are so many lovely items for giveaways.
Good luck!
Sharon

Vintage Catnip/Catnip Studio Giveaway

Have you been over to Kathy's Vintage Catnip's FREE clip art??

Or have you seen the goodies she designs at Catnip Studio?

 I won her Valentine giveaway plus she must have known I needed some inspirations for Valentines.

I received this lovely package of goodies on Friday! 

I wanted to share with you my treasures. 

IF you have not been over to see the lovely

FREE clip art, please do so right now! 
Kathy also has another blog called the Catnip Studio.  I love the name of both of her blogs.  They just seems to scream, 
"come see what I am all about."

Thank you, Kathy, for all of the wonderful treasures.  I am thrilled with each handmade tag, the tin boxes and the contents of ribbons, hearts, stamps and punches....  Punches, did I mention that there was a large lovely heart punch (I did not own one)  and also included were  gorgeous paper mini napkins.

Kathy also has an etsy shop and has photostream along with freebie vintage images and her studio.

I have been busy all day creating Valentines for loved ones but wanted to stop to say;

"Thank you Kathy for EVERYTHING!"

I love getting lovely things in the mail, don't you? 

So on this gloomy January day, I have been blessed! 

Be sure to stop by her lovely posts, her store on etsy and

the Catnip Studio!!! 
http://catnipstudio.blogspot.com/

Thank you again for stopping by,

Sharon

 

http://catnipstudio.blogspot.com/

http://vintagecatnip.blogspot.com/

Bead Embroidery

Bead Embroidery

I have had this gorgeous Swarvoski 22mm square stone for several months.  (It is 1/2 of a pair of large earrings I purchased at a local antique store.) 

I had been looking for a way to "show case" its beauty.  

I began to bead around it and embelish the tiny beading around the main stone.

  I then added the round Swarvoski 10mm to the top that just happened to be the same color.  

(This is one of those "do as you go" projects.) 

The colors of the stones are absolutely gorgeous!

As you can see, there are alot of brilliant emerald purples, pinks and

delicious greens in the focal stones. 

(Bead embroidery is my way of relaxing while I am beading.) 

There are unlimited resources of designs and patterns in embroidery. 

The center piece is exactly 3 inches long by 1 and 3/4 inches wide.

I attached a Celini Spiral chain, using the same beads that I used in the center piece.   The total length of the necklace is exactly 20 inches.  I really like the way it turned out. 

Now I just need to find someone who will love it as much as I do!

(I am sorry, I had failed to mention that ArtBeads has supplied me with some of the beads for this project.  They have been very helpful in supplying me with my gorgeous bead collection!)

http://www.artbeads.com/

Beaded Wreath

This was a project that I finished while beading with Tammy over Christmas. 

 I started with an ordinary 2 inch metal ring (a key ring would work).  Because I was just "playing around" I had asked my son to strip some copper wiring that he had in the garage.  (I used the same principal as the sweet birds nests that I had done in the summer.)  I cut the braided wire into four inch lengths and tied them around the ring.  Then I un-twisted the wire and wound it around the end of my needle nose pliers.  I added a bead here and there...not too many...not to sparse. 

Well, this is as far as I got but it turned out pretty neat. 

What do you think? 

It might need a bow or something before next Christmas.  In the mean time, I am hoping that it will develop a patina so that it is not so shiny.  I have the chemical that smells like rotten eggs (liver of sulfur) but I am going to wait to see what happens between now and December. 

I will have to say that it took a long long time to make but it had a theraputic sense about it. 

Maybe I will make one out of rosey pinks, sunshine yellows, and

robins egg blues (to similate flowers) for spring? 

"So many projects so little time."

Georgia Get Together

Yes, girls, I am working on ideas for our

Georgia Bloggers Spring Fling.

(I even got an email from Kelley, in Florida,

who wants to come!!) 

Everyone is welcome, no matter where you live.

I am still needing an idea of how many to expect???

Do you have any ideas for a day of fun and festivities 

to make it a delightful spring day??

Thank you so much for stopping in!  I really do appreciate everyone being so kind and when they leave a comment makes it such a blessing.  It certainly "makes my day"!!!!

Sharon

Now for the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC)

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the seed beads above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.

Cotton Candy, Flat Celini, Crystal Stars, Right Angle Goodness

Cotton Candy

I have been very busy playing! 

Over Christmas I was able to get some beading into my schedule. 

A year ago,Tammy (my daughter-in-love) , sent me a beautiful bracelet in golds and silvers. (WE are a beading family...lol)  I had wanted to make one like it for spring sooooo...while I was visiting her this year she showed me how she made the original gift.  I made mine to celebrate spring with hot pinks, greens and yellows. (If you will enlarge the picture you will be able to see the details.)  Nestled deep inside for interest I added some pretty green and pink leaves.  Can you see them?

Flat Celini

Next I made this "Flat Celini" using a beautiful bronzy tiny delica and topped it with a bronze and blue Czech fire polished bead.  You can get the definate ridge by using tiny delica beads and working up to the larger beads.  It is a very comfortable bracelet to wear.  I ended the bracelet with a circle of fine beads and a rod catch.

Crystal Stars

This particular "Tennis Bracelet" design is an easy pattern of Swarvoski crystals in two colors so that it can be reversed depending upon what you are wearing for an occasion.  On one side it is a gorgeous teal AB 2X (this is the finish that makes the beads really sparkle and stand out).  Then on the other side I used a bright pink AB 2X with the teal Swarvoski in between. I thought it looked like a leaf.  What do you think?  I have made this bracelet numerous times from black and white, gold and cream, blue and teal, each color makes this bracelet so special.

Right Angle Weave

Last but definately not the least is this gorgeous gift that my precious daughter, Melissam made for my Christmas gift. 

 Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?? 

 It is made with a right angle weave pattern of Czech firepolished glass beads that sparkle with each move.  I absolutely love her work and was pleased when I unwrapped this precious gift.  We love beading together, (when we can get a few hours alone.)  Her designs are much more dramatic and free spirited than mine.  She comes up with the most stunning pieces and most often she does not use a pattern.  I always admire her work but when it becomes "mine" I love each piece evn more~

Spring is just around the corner so today I choose to think spring!  If I were going to leave my art room, this would be the bracelet of choice today....

Layered Loops

.

Smadar Grossman

http://smadarstreasures.blogspot.com/

is one of my favorite jewelry designers! 

I was thrilled to see she had a pattern in Bead and Button Magazine this month.  I just HAD to try it!   The pattern is called "Layered Loops".  I just happened to have the same color of beads as she used.  It took a long long time to complete the project but I finally completed it last night.  (Because of the flaps of beads that over lap the base it was like making two bracelets.  It was a tedious task but I think the final design is lovely.) 

I hope your week has been filled with lots of creating, lots of hugs and a few giggles along the way.

Let me know what you think of the few things I created over the Holiday season.

Blessings to you, all of my friends in blogland!!!

Sharon

p.s. I am still working on the Georgia Gal get together and appreciate all of the input!  Thank you!  If there are other GA bloggers that are interested, PLEASE contact me.  It is leaning toward late March early April.  What do you think???

Calling ALL Georgia Girls!!!!

Hey, Georgia Bloggers,

Let's have a celebration of
Georgia blogger buds!

Spring is just around the corner!!!

I am wanting all of us to get together,

somewhere,

sometime,

this year! 

There are so many of you that have "mentioned" that you would like to meet everyone else.

  SOOOO, I would like to start the ball rolling for a

"Spring Fling"

in the spring, of course. 

 Wouldn't that give us something to look forward to?  It would get us through this cold snap and give us reason for adventure. 

I need to know your ideas on

When?

Where?

How?

I would be glad to start putting it together

but I need your help to plan it....

I am thinking we could meet somewhere centrally located so the most of us could attend.

Wouldn't it be fun to finally put a face to a name?

Let me know what you would like to do...

Where you live....

What month you would be able to meet...

What is the best time...

What ideas you might have....

Please contact me at

saf47@yahoo.com

I would love to hear from each Georgia blogger!

"It is one more day closer to spring"

Sharon

p.s.  If there is anyone out there with good ideas for a "theme" or just fun things to do or places to go, PLEASE send me some ideas.  I want this time to be extra special for everyone who attends. (anyone, even outside of GA can attend too)

Brrrrr! Picnic anyone?

My heart is full and thankful for a wonderful wonderful time with my precious son and his wonderful family.  I arrived safely in Iowa from Georgia on December 20th to bitter cold weather but beautiful scenery.  Everything was covered with a blanket of white crystals even his patio and lawn chairs.  It was truly awesome to behold.  A white Christmas just for me! 

(In Georgia we don't "normally" get much snow)

First thing I did was go to see my sister in Ames, IA and we had a wonderful reunion of hugs and gift exchanges.  The next day we went to a lovely gift and tea store (sorry I did not take a single pic) We had a wonderful lunch there of quiche and chicken salads and talked and talked. 

It is awesome to have my sister as my friend too.

Next I headed south to DesMoines to my son's sweet home.  I was welcomed with open arms and a loaded schedule.  We went to all of my favorite resturants, shopped at my favorite places, beaded with my sweet Tammy and snuggled into their warm/loving home.  Christmas eve was just like a story book Christmas.  It snowed another six inches over night so we woke to a blanket of beautiful

white covering over everything. 

(I parked my car all of the time I was there because I did not have snow tires so you see what my car looked like on Christmas morn.)

Here is my son out shoveling the drive on Christmas day! 

I was then thrilled to have lunch with my cousin LaRae and her daughter Debra after tooooo many years apart.  It was just like we had never been separated by miles.  We picked up right where we left off some 17 years ago. 

On Saturday Shawn, Tammy, Ethyn and I were privledged to celebrate Christmas at Tammy's Mom's house.  We entered a table heavy ladened with every wonderful candy and deserts one could imagine.  Then she had another table around ten feet long with turkey and all the fixins'.  They even had a stocking for me filled with chocolate covered cherries and Andies mints.  They gave me two wonderful beading books and lots of other goodies.  I felt so warm and so honored to be in their home to celebrate with them. 

I said all of this to say that I am so very content to be safely home but my visit was absolutely wonderful.  Tammy and I talked beading, shopped beads and even had time to bead a few things together.  Tammy started another blog and I am hoping she will post the items she made while I was there.  Please check to see her creations at GetBusyWithCrafts.blogspot.com

(I will show you what I got finished in my next post.)

Thank you, sweet Tammy for welcoming me into your precious family and for making me feel so special while I was there with you.  I love you, dear girl, and treasure our friendship, your son, and your hubby.  I am truly truly blessed to have you in my family!

On January 2nd I decided it was way toooo cold  to stay any longer so I headed south. (it got down to -9 degrees below 0)  Guess what!  The cold weather followed me all the way to Georgia and we are to get 3 inches of SNOW on Thursday!!!  So I have to apologize to each one in Georgia.  I didn't mean to do it, it just happened....lol

I have been away for so long but my thoughts were never far away from all of my blogging buddies!  I have missed you all so much and I am anxious to get around to catching up with each one of you.

Drop me a note if you have the time and be sure to have a wonderful year!

Sharon
P.S. Lynn dropped me off a warm hat and lovely long scarf she made for me that kept me nice and warm while I was freezing up North!  Thank you, sweet girl, for thinking of me and for all of the warm thoughts that came along with your love gift. 
You are such a blessing to me!