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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

A Time To Stitch 5, with a Special Guest Hopper


Welcome to A Time To Stitch 5!  The assignment for this hop was to use the same stitch, same piece (all bracelets/earrings, etc) but different beads in each piece the weaver made.  This would show how size, shape, or color changes the piece.  Some changes might be subtle and some might give it a whole new look.  
Thank you, Therese!  You really did all the work on this one.  It was a tough time of year for me to help co-host.  One of the things I love about co-hosting with Therese...when one of us cannot do as much, the other fills right in.  She is a great partner! 

I had every intent on making bracelets for this hop, but then decided to take care of two commitments and do earrings to be sent on to Ears to You.  I have committed to making 60 pair in the 2014 calendar year.  At last count, I had 40something pair made.  

There is so much more to come for this post, so let me get right to the earrings.  I made these first three pair using Ladder Stitch and bugles.  From left to right, I used 3mm bugles, 6mm bugles, and 6mm twisted bugles.  I used 11mm seeds, teardrops, and bicone crystals on all of them. 






On the second set of three pair of earrings, I used peyote.  At least, I think it is peyote...is it peyote when you are only doing two rows?  I used size 11 delicas for the first pair, 1.5mm cubes for the second pair, 3mm bugles for the third pair.  I added size 11 seed beads and crystals to them.   



It was a fun experiment and in my mind, I thought I would like certain sizes or shapes more than others but when all was done, that wound up not to be the case.  Interesting.  


As the title promised, there is a Special Guest Hopper today...Take it away, Sunshine Girl!!!    




So it's official. 7th Grade zipped by, and Friday is the last day of school! I decided about 2 weeks ago, "Why not make some bracelets for my teachers?" After all, they're wonderful teachers who had to deal with some not-so-wonderful students. They deserve some kind of reward!

I told my mom about my idea. She said it was very kind and thoughtful of me. A few days later, when I was picking out the beads, she told me about this hop. She asked me, "Do you want to do it?" to which I replied, "Uh, YEAH!" And then I started jumping up and down giggling, "I'm gonna do a hop! I'm gonna do a HOP!" My mom always tells us about her blog hops, and we comment with a "cool, I like it," and a smile. (I mean, we mean it, we really love her jewelry.) But now that I'm doing a hop, everything is different.

These bracelets are for my diligent teachers in 7th Grade Math, Science, Reading, English, and, my favorite, American History. They are flat spiral stitch with cream colored seed beads on the sides. The differences:
1.) The beads going straight down the middle
2.) The clasps (but some are still the same)





These are the same bracelets, they're just "posing" differently.





I want to give some credit to my mom. She allowed me to use her materials and helped me whenever I needed it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this extra special hop! Maybe I'll be back.

Back to you, Mom, to finish it off!



I am so happy to have Sunshine Girl here in my blog space.  She loves the flat spiral and it shows ~ she does it so well! 

And now the list of all the participants...go see what they have made!  I am extra excited about this one, since we have no idea what stitches everyone used.  Thank you to Therese, once again.  Thank you to all you ladies who continually sign up for this hop...there is no hop without you!  And to Sunshine Girl for always having an open mind and an open heart.  










24 comments:

Lilik Kristiani said...

Your teachers must be very happy to receive that special bracelet =)
Simple but chic...the colors is neutral, so perfect to wear it everyday. Good pieces Christine...

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

You are such a generous soul for making and donating all those gorgeous earrings - bravo! Those bracelets are so fabulous - I can imagine how excited the teachers will be (or were, if past tense) to receive such a heartfelt, handmade gift.

On a side note, you MUST be one proud mama to have a daughter with THAT MUCH TALENT to follow in your footsteps! :)

Shirley said...

Ok, you and Sunshine girl made me tear up! I love it when my kids are excited about my jewelry. Now I'm wishing I had asked my girl to participate. Since I didn't, y'all need to get busy on the next challenge!
Love the earrings, and huge kudos to you for committing to 40 pair. I have such a block with earrings, so I can't wait to see all your ideas.
Flat spiral was one of the first stitches I learned, and I love how versatile it is, just from changing the beads.
Well done, both of you!

windrock studio said...

You both just light up my day ... some of the prettiest earrings & bracelets ever! Wonderful art pieces from very talented girls.

Maryanne said...

I love those earrings, Christine, and doing 40 already is amazing, but then so are you!! And, Sunshine Girl, well you are just so special!! Your teachers must love having you in their class! And, I'm sure they love their bracelets! They're beautiful. It's wonderful to hear from you in your mom's post. I have a feeling mom is very proud of you. I would be!!
Mom, it's so much fun to share with our daughters! I love sharing paper art and sewing with mine. Thanks for this hop, Christine. It was great!

Liz said...

Well done! Those cubes in the peyote caught my eye right away. what a great idea. I never use cubes.

The best part, though, was the "guest post". Those bracelets are such an awesome gift! Each one came out GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope we get to hear from Sunshine girl again :-)

Thanks for hosting yet another fun hop.

Bobbie said...

First, to Christine: the earrings are all wonderful examples of how simple beads can become intricate little treasures. And they give people a way to wear something beautiful regardless of whether they prefer something delicate or a little bolder.

Now, for Sunshine Girl: holy cow, what beautiful bracelets these are! Your teachers are going to be so touched that you took the time to give them something truly from your heart!

AntiquityTravelers said...

I love that you're doing the ears to you challenge, and these are going to look fan-tab-ulous on! I think I kinda like those peyote drops a LOT! I might just have to try that! Really cute ideas for these!!

Yeah Lanie!! First hop girl :) I bet you were jumping around with some excitement. I always do on hop day - ha! Just like your mom, you two are so generous to be gifting away your work! But this is your signature style, and it is beautiful. I bet your teachers do a little jump when they see them :)

Empty nester at last said...

Awesome pieces! And isn't it fun when your daughter gets involved?! I love it when mine has the time as she works.

great job to both of you!

kimmykats said...

I wore a big smile the whole way through the post.....as well as your teachers will. love the dangly earring too...love the twisted bugles(have some) and love the little cubes. Thank you so much Christine for your help getting me playing with the "flying missiles" what a wonderful world of creativity you have helped open. Looking forward to your next challenge!

Lola said...

Your little apple didn't fall far from it's creative and generous tree! The earring and bracelet recipients will be so delighted with their new treasures! Thanks for hosting another awesome challenge Christine, and well done Sunshine Girl!!! =)

Bits of Learning said...

With such beautiful bracelets and beautifully written words I think someone needs to be a Guest Blogger more often!! Your teachers are going to love them!

Oh Christine, such gorgeous earrings for a wonderful cause! (the ladders are my favorite!)
THANK YOU for another amazing challenge, these are buy far my favorite!

Wendy said...

what beautiful bracelets! I love the pattern and the different colours

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Christine,
Thank you for your most gracious compliment, I appreciate your friendship and partnership. This hop would not be the same without you!
I love the earrings and so will the lucky person receiving them. My favorite is the one you made with the cubes. Lanie, you did an awesome job on the Flat Spiral bracelets and your teachers are going to love the ones they receive. Please come back and join in on the up coming ATTS challenges. I am looking forward to seeing how much you progress.
Thank you once again Christine for being a wonderful partner. Looking forward to planning ATTS 6.
Therese

Karin G said...

What lovely earrings and bracelets you both did, those who will receive them will be so lucky and this mother-daughter collaboration is so rich, thank you for sharing this!

KJ said...

I am in the midst of chaos... almost too busy to read and certainly too busy to comment, except:

Bravo to you Sunshine Girl beautiful work and what a fabulous gift for your teachers. I am sure they will treasure those bracelets for years to come.

Karin Slaton said...

Such fun earring designs, Christine. Sure to brighten the spirits of all the women who receive them. (And they illustrate our challenge so well!)

Great to see the love of making art pass from one generation to the next. So cool that Sunshine Girl is inspired to follow in your footsteps, while creating a path that's all her own!

Jasvanti said...

Wow, I am really impressed.
You made earrings for charity and bracelets for teachers.
That only means one thing, you have good karma coming your way!!

Amy S. said...

THIS WAS LITERALLY MY FAVORITE POST I EVER READ in I don't know how long. WELCOME to the blogosphere Sunshine Girl....although you've been around, but not like this!! So Christine, I love your take on this challenge. The earrings are so cool and you really show how neat it is to change thing up even if just a little! And WOW Sunshine!! First, you write very well. I hope I can read more from you in the future. Your bracelets are awesome. Again, a great illustration on how changing up a color or finish or shape really influences the design. I'm sure your teachers were thrilled! Beautiful work, both of you!!! :)

Amy S. said...

P.s. - thanks for telling me about Ears To You! I have seriously a TON of earrings that I made and never wore that I am going to send. I am reviewing the guidelines now!

Mary Harding said...

Your earrings are so cool. I will have to try some!!
Sunshine Girl is so talented. Love seeing young folks engaged in beading and with such enthusiasm.
Thank you so much for including me in this blog hop. It has been a real pleasure. I am working on the third bracelet and hope to update my post in a few days.!! The need to do lots
of weeding is distracting me!!

ACBeads said...

Thank you, Christine, for hosting this fun blog hop. I love your beadwork and admire your generosity in donating 40 pairs of earrings - that is 80 earrings in total. Your daughter is a kind soul too, thinking about her teachers.

Kokopelli said...

WOW, I love those bracelets! I tried a small sample of flat spiral last year, but never came that far.

Honey from the Bee said...

What sweeties!! Both of you. Those are some very pretty bracelets. They must have felt so honored that she created something for them from her own hands.

I love how she mentioned that they just say yeah, cool when you talk about your latest hop, but how it's so different when she was involved! I get the dull eyes feedback where they don't even know what I'm talking about, but can hear in my voice that I think it's cool.

I love those blue beads - some of my favorites and love the spirit you gave to them.