Extreme Bead Shopping

17 stores, over 430 miles in only 2 days. I owe this adventure to the Bead Shop Hop.  We have 10 more stores to visit this weekend.  Do you really think I could visit that many stores without buying anything? Of course not!

I went crazy with copper findings and a small amount of beads.  Check out the new additions to my stash.

Just a few of the findings. There are way more. I didn't want to spill out all of the tiny pieces.

Finally, I have pendants.

Beads!

More beads!

And a few more..

Beads & Beads.

Colorful Beads!

What, no more beads?!

The first creation from the shop hop.

I also bought tools and a Kumihimo kit.  Can't wait to try everything out.  Stay tuned for more jewelry and even more beads!

IN THE PINK

Thank you so much to Lori Anderson for her awesome efforts with the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party.  I was lucky enough to participate for the very first time.

I came across Lori's blog, her Bead Soup Café facebook group and the Bead Soup Blog Party about 4 months ago.  In that short time, Lori had made a huge impact on my life.  I made a promise to myself that I would become very active with my jewelry designing.  There is no way this would have happened without her. 

I learned all about challenges and blog hops and have made many bead friends.  I get wonderful tips and feedback from the cafe members and visit numerous blogs and websites for inspiration.

Unfortunately, I suffer from depression and in the past it has been difficult to keep active with things I love.  I am taking the plunge and sticking to my commitments.  Overall, I am happier and have beading and designing to look forward to after a long day of work.

Thank you Lori for helping me find a place in this community and ultimately making me a better designer. Your support and challenges means the world to me.  I can only hope to make a difference in at least one person's life let alone the hundreds that you have touched. You truly are a wonderful person and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate in the BSBP.

Lori, I've been PINKED!

Please visit all of the "in the pink" participants to see how they got their "pink" on.

Gail Vanderster-Zwang http://angelmoose.blogspot.com
Lea Avroch http://lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Leslie Wayment  http://www.aabeadsonline.com/blog
Kelley Katherine Hagerty-Fogle  http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Sheila Davis http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com
Amanda Effron http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com
‎Solange Collin  http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten   http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Isolina Perez  http://IsolinaPerez.blogspot.com
Toltec Jewels www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com
Mary Howell Govaars  http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Bee Kuhlman http://mixedmayhemstudios.blogspot.com
Lynnea Perry Bennett   http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache  http://www.allprettythings.ca
Heather Otto http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Kimberly Flood  http://www.goddessesandbeads.blogspot.com
Courtney White Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com
Lisa Liddy  http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com
Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Marianne Baxter  http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Mária Horváth   http://horimarikabeads.blogspot.hu
Andrea Beth Trank www.heavenlanecreations.com
Heidi Mansfield Kingman  http://mybeadtherapy.blogspot.com
Emoke Schmidt  http://emoke1.blogspot.com
Sandra MrtzDiaz www.petaloazuljewelry.blogspot.com
Lupe Meter  http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com
Tanya Boden http://fusionmusebangkok.blogspot.com
Ambra Chicandfrog http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com
Kumi Fisher http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Sandra Young  http://blog.gypsyroadbeads.ca
Sandi Marinaro Volpe  http://www.sandivolpe.com
Gretchen Nation  http://www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Mimi Gardner  http://www.othercuriosities.blogspot.com
Marian Hertzog http://mhertzog-msplace.blogspot.com
Sonya Ingersoll-Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Terry Matuszyk   http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com
Audrey Belangér  http://esperianterra.blogspot.com
Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Sally Bohner Anderson
Mowse Doyle
Judy Daly Reganti
Brenda Lee Sigafoos

Reconstructed

I love chunky necklaces, but I've always been afraid to bead something with large stones.  I have a few strings of chunky beads that I love.  Often, large stones can be heavy. I'm always fearful that I will make a necklace and it will break while I'm wearing it.  It has happened once or twice, and beads go a dropping.

A few months ago, I made a chunky necklace while riding in a car.  Original post here: Car Beading.  The stones are pretty heavy once they are all strung together.  I asked for advice on strengthening the necklace.  After many great tips, and months of other beading projects, I finally reconstructed the necklace.

Hope you enjoy the new look!

I doubled up the wire and the crimps.  I also added wire protectors and shortened the necklace by reducing the quantity of black beads at the end.

Closeup of the gorgeous stones.

I can wear it proudly, now that it feels way more secure.

Week 6 - Rings

Recently, for some unknown reason, I've stopped wearing rings.  This weeks ring challenge posed an interesting issue.  How do I inspire myself to make something I don't normally wear?  Well,  I tried a tutorial, and love the ring.  I think I'll start wearing them again.

Left to right (Rosette Wire Wrapped Ring, Simple Wire Wrapped Ring, Wire Wrapped Ring

I found a fun wire ring tutorial through Craft Gossip Rosette Wire Wrapper Ring Tutorial.  I love Craft Gossip.  The site features articles on all sorts of crafty tutorials and ideas.

The next ring was made using this tutorial Simple Wire Wrapped Ring Tutorial.

The tutorial for the third ring was emailed to me and I can't find a link to post.  Sorry.

Similar to the ring in the email tutorial

A red rosette, an attempt at leaves, and another view of the ring above

Making rings (and wearing them) was more fun than I expected.  Everything was quick to make and fairly simple.

This week, I will be making a necklace or bracelet that showcases the wire used to string the beads.