7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop

 I am again participating in a blog hop for a GREAT cause.

The 7000 Bracelets for Hope Hop  

TheGlobal Genes Project collects blue jean/denim inspired bracelets for families living with rare disease, the campaign is called “7,000 Bracelets forHope.”  To help them raise awareness they are asking 7,000 jewelry designers, volunteers from the craft community and various artists to donate one bracelet to this campaign to show their support for kids living with rare disease, disorders or conditions. These bracelets will then be distributed to participating families.   

My hope is that this small contribution just might be a bright spot in a families day.  May it be a reminder that they are being held in our hearts and in our prayers.  

Messed up and originally posted this picture:

But this is the one I am really sending in!!  :(  Sorry for the mess up!

 A big huge THANK YOU to

Erin Fickert-Rowland of Elysian Studios   

 and Christine Altmiller of One Kiss Creations

for organizing this awesome hop.  

Now get to hopping, their are many participants who have no doubt made beautiful bracelets that will be a bright spot to many families.

Participants:

  

The Studio Sublime

Crafty Hope

The Gossiping Goddess

SilverRose Designs

Firefly Visions

Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Michelle Mach

Pine Ridge Treasures

Backstory Beads

Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

Sue Beads

MiShel Designs

Created Treasures

Taralinda Muses

My Life Under The Bus

Elizabeth Creates

SilverNikNats

Erin Siegel Jewelry

Carolyn’s Creations

My Life…one bead at a time

Fresh Baked Designs

Songbeads

Sunshine Bliss

Lori Anderson

Rainy Days Designs

Pat Barden Jewelry

Tell Your Girlfriends

Therese's Treasures

Windrock Studio

Bead Lola Bead

Spice Box Designs

Antiquity Travelers

Vitamin C...A Daily Dose of Creativity

Beads and Bread

Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections

Ahtee's Blog

Thoughtful-Notions

Beads for Brains:365

Wild Sally Road

All The Pretty Things

Skye's Creative Chaos

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Lindy's Designs

Falling Into The Sky

Star Hitched Wagon

Mama's Got to Doodle

10KDgroup

Felt pebbles...

These wonderful felt pebbles couldn't be more fun!!  

They are handmade by Smika - who is extremely talented and wonderfully sweet!!!

I absolutely love using them in my jewelry - they add such a fun 

unique and unexpected look to the pieces they grace!!

So...I just ordered about 100 new pebbles in about 14  new colors!!! 

 Oh the fun I will have...the spring and summer line will be full of felt felt touches! 

 Can't wait!!

My Love of Art

I am participating in The Love of Art Blog Party today hosted by Rachel Payne

What a wonderful thing...writing about why we love art!

I am sure each of us is very different in the type of art we create

and the type of art we love or are drawn to

but I bet the reasons we love art are probably very very similar!

For me it's very basic at it's core...

I love art because it makes me happy!

When I am in the process of creating I am at peace.

Without those moments of creativity I am a mess...

nothing else can fall into place...

because I am not in place.

As long as I am creating at some level on a regular basis...

well it makes the rest fall into place a little easier.

(beautiful wooden heart by my sister Jamie)

Art connects!!!

This is another huge reason that I love art.

The artist community is a wonderful place...

meeting and chatting and brainstorming with other artists...

oh what an awesome thing... 

it leads to more courage, bigger ideas, and new possibilities...

and the discovery of some extremely awesome ARTISTS...

those Kindred Spirits...

(beautiful tin heart made by one of my favorite artists Carissa Fox of Brown Eyed Fox)

and their beautiful ART!!!

ART that now graces the walls of my home...

ART that brings a smile to my face...

ART that might just inspire more ART!!!

Not to mention the good artists do...

I have had the opportunity to help others through my art.

There have been times when maybe I haven't been able to give money to a worthy cause...

but I can always donate a piece of my art...

and it can be sold or auctioned off and maybe bring a slight blessing to another.

What's not to love about that.

So see it's simple...

art makes me happy...

I simply cannot be me without art!!

(posted both here and at Curry Chaos)

Ribbon Messages.....

Do you have a message you want to send someone....and would like a unique way to remind them?  How about a ribbon message necklace? 
Gorgeous silk ribbons or cords hang on to beautiful little reminders:

 They can be found here: Ribbon Messages

The good stuff....

SO excited for my 2nd go at Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!!!  I swear magic happens....truly stretches one as an artist...moves us outside our comfort zone but in a really good way!!

Partners have been picked and I am excited to be swap beads with Nadezhda Parfyonova of Nally's Creations.

Stay tuned for the big reveal....September 17th!!!

Muffin Tin Challenge

I love the idea of this challenge...the muffin tin challenge.  Leave it to Heather to inspire and challenge us in a new way.  I love it!

So the goal is - 12 projects - beady combinations pulled from our stashes and organized neatly in our muffins tins - 12 projects that you can complete in a week....this works really well for me...sometimes I want to play with my beads and think about putting a project together but don't have the time to figure out the design.  So now I can put the combinations together and then come back to them as I have the time.  I cheated a little by not using a muffin tin (I store my beads semi permanently in my available muffin tins) - I instead used my treasured vintage tart molds placed on a vintage tray for easy transport from place to place in my house if need be.

So the challenge is to finish 12 projects in a week....pushes one to be productive...I like this.  I have finished two sets to date...think I am a little behind...need to finish 10 more before Monday.  I am hoping to get it done.  However...if I don't I do have a GOOD reason - my beautiful daughter just joined us in Wyoming after not seeing her for 3 weeks...so I may be a little preoccupied!!!  Man have I missed her crazy like.

 So are you doing the muffin tin challenge?  I can't wait to see your colorful combinations and your beautiful pieces of completed art .  Check back here on Monday the 27th of June to see if I completed the challenge.....

7000 Bracelets for Hope

Here is a wonderful, very easy gesture to help raise awareness of all the kids who are living with rare disease, disorders or conditions.  Their goal is to reach 7,000 jewelry designers - each one donating just one bracelet - that's it - one bracelet - to show support our support for these sweet kids - these bracelets will be distributed to participating families in December 2011. How about you???  Can you make a bracelet?  Please join myself and the rest of these amazing artists and do a little good!

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

Thanks Lori for organizing this blog hop and for making me aware.

Here is my blue bracelet for hope:

March Call to Create....

Time....will I find time this weekend to create something beautiful for Love My Art Jewelry's Call to Create?   I would love to take some time off from painting and organizing the house....just to play with my beads or to do ANYTHING creative.  

Just look at March's challenge:

 

what fun inspiration they had:

(http://www.bhg.com/halloween/parties/monster-cupcakes-for-halloween/)

Has me thinking about my last Bead Table Wednesday mix:

See - if I just focus on these colors:

I would be using:

Gorgeous Lampwork beads by Melissa Rediger of Sea Glass Beads 

Beautiful felted pebbles by Smika

And that wise old owl from Green Girl Studios  

And this mix has been begging to be used for a while now....and I really don't want to paint and clean aaallllll weekend long - and it's a long weekend.....so I just need to create!  That is all there is to it!  Thanks Love My Art Jewelry girls for the shove I needed to do something fun!  :)