Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog hop. Show all posts

Saturday, May 4, 2013

...And They're Off!!!

My dad and I always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby and see the "Run for the Roses" in all its glory.  But we contented ourselves with watching the pageantry on TV together.   And now that he's gone, I've continued the tradition on my own.
 
So when I saw Bobbie Rafferty's Hat's Off  Challenge, I had to jump in! 
 
The challenge?  Choose one of the amazingly over-the-top hats that have been worn to the Kentucky Derby over the years and create a piece of jewelry that is inspired by that hat.  (Here's the link to all the hats we had to choose from:  Hats Off Challenge)
 
 My favorite is this vintage hat...I loved the colors and the movement of the feathers.    
 
    
  So I started with a nice sized piece of white sea glass, grabbed my beading needles and started going through my bead stash!
 
I decided to use variegated green 11/0 seed beads for the beaded bezel and the main color of the necklace.
 
 
I had never created anything using the St. Petersburg stitch...so since I try to learn something new for the challenges, this was my time to dive in! 
  
The necklace is created with a double St. Petersburg stitch.  The necklace is mostly the variegated green 11/0 beads, with orange and pink 11/0 beads as the accent colors.   
  
 
Not colors I would have normally chosen, but perfect for the warmer weather that is (finally!) coming our way!
  
 
Thanks for dropping by to see my challenge creation!  Here's a list of everyone who is part of the Hat's Off Challenge...please be sure to visit and see all the amazing creations inspired by the Derby hats! 
  

Bobbie Rafferty www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com  You are here!
Susan Nelson Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com


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Friday, March 8, 2013

Sand and Sea

Growing up, we lived a bike ride away from East Point Lighthouse.  It's located on a little inlet off the Deleware Bay in Heislerville, NJ and is an amazing place to visit.
 
  
 The ocean has always been a special place for me to go...the smell of the salt in the air, the sound of the waves crashing along the beach...I love everything about it!
   
This blog hop has been put together by Lisa Lodge and there are about 20 of us participating.  Lisa sent each of us a beautiful selection of beads, either "Sand" (tans, creams, oranges and browns) or "Sea" (blues, greens and purples).
   
  As you can see, my selection of beads was inspired by the sea.  Isn't this an amazing selection to work with?!?
  
   
(I have to admit, there are a few beads I didn't use in this challenge because they just didn't work in the designs I created, but I have some ideas I've been doodling that will showcase them perfectly!)
  
 
I love long earrings! (I have long hair and small, delicate earrings tend to get lost in it all.)  I like creating earrings with a bit of sparkle and movement. 
 
This wasn't the original design, however.  I planned to make these earrings dangle with lots of these amazing triangle beads and some of the round blue and green beads.  But when I put these on to start the design, I was struck by their simple beauty.  So I left the design alone instead of trying to make it fit the image in my head.
  
  
Charm bracelets are a favorite of mine to create and I really love the sparkle of this one!  I originally started with a silver chain, but the clasp Lisa sent looked so much better with the gunmetal chain.  I used a combination of black head pins and dull silver head pins just because I didn't want it to become too dark.  
  
The smallest beads on the bracelet are my favorite of the whole bunch.  They are small triangle-shaped glass beads that have blue and green and yellow hues.  They are so small and I wanted to create a piece where they were an important part of the design, not just an accent to the larger beads.
   
 
  This necklace was actually the first piece I created.  I wanted to make a longer length necklace than I usually do (it ended up being 30 inches!)  
 
I love the milky round beads that were part of my "Sea."  They compliment the bright blues and greens of the other beads. 
  
  
This is my favorite creation of this challenge!  I wire wrapped alternating clear and blue beads for the main part of the necklace.  I added a silver toggle clasp that reminded me of the life preservers on boats and kept with the nautical theme. 
 
I love the front section of the necklace!  I took the long beads, the rest of those little triangle beads, some blue beads, two rondelles and a bunch of daisy spacers and strung them together.  I tried wrapping them into sections but just didn't like the look.   
  
 
Here is the list of the other people who are a part of this blog hop...I hope you are able to check out the amazing jewelry they created with their kits! 
     

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
 
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Leah Tees, My Beady Littleeyes
Christie Murrow, www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart, A Half Baked Notion
Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs
Cindy Anderson Wilson, It's My Sea of Dreams
Suzi Campbell, Suzi Campbell Creations
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess


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