It wasn't only bills that came in the Mailbox

Janet from Honey From the Bee send me some wonderful goodies! 
Seattle Chocolates (the Dead Sea Salt and Toffee is a mere wrapper now, the Cappuccino Crunch will be the next to go, and then the Pike Place Espresso ), and beads of  freshwater pearls, mother of pearl & agate.

AND these Super Cool, Super Fun, Super Beautiful, Super Swingin' Earrings made from agate beads I sent her!
(Karen Williams, if you are reading, these are the ones I sent to you because they reminded me of fish tails and you were making your adorable fish at that time.  I sent them to Janet without a word as to what I saw (fishtails), what my family saw (bats, Xmas tree base) and she came back with Flower Pots!)

Me wearing the Flower Pots. 
The flower swings independent of the leaves and pot!  And it makes a great little sound when it swings.  I love jewelry that jingles or clacks.   It is hard to be anything other than happy when there is light jingling going on while I am moving about my day. 

Me Super Happy about the earrings! 
and Beads!  and Chocolate!  and Janet!  She really is as Sweet as Honey...her Blog is aptly named.


Thank you, Janet.  Thank you Thank you Thank you :-D  Your friendship has brought me sweetness to all my senses, including my heart. 




(it is really hard to take a profile picture on one's self and have it turn out even slightly ok!)





And take a look here at some more of Janet's Beauties for your ears (photos belong to Janet):

And while we are talking about earrings, Amy over at Copper Diem is having a Blog Hop for a great cause.  It is to make earrings  for Ears to You, an organization that gives earrings to women who are going through chemo.  Please click on Amy's link to learn more about Ears to You and the details of the Hop.  I already signed up! 

Blogger Award Hop

So many blogs I enjoy, so many to choose from, so many who deserve recognition, so many who light my fire and so many who keep it burning.  I need more chocolate.  I cannot make these decisions!

It is no secret in the blog world that Therese and I have a little love affair going on...of the platonic variety.  To not put Therese on any of my awards lists seems wrong.  So very wrong.  But she and I are always linking to each other and you all know I adore her, so I am going to spread the word about some other blogs in my awards. 
And to not award Cynthia seems equally wrong.  But if you look at yesterday's post, you will see how much I appreciate and enjoy all things at Antiquity Travelers, including the creator herself!  She is generous, kind, funny, talented...and a real treasure :-) And a big Thank You goes out to her for all the time and energy she put into this Hop. 
 
A brief recap...Cynthia was awarded a trio of awards and in turn, passed them on to 7 people.  In a week-long series, she did a write up on each of us and  asked us to participate in today's hop.   Then Cynthia created a new series of 5 awards to be given out today to blogs we think best represent the categories. 

And now, the New Award Series for the Blogger Award Hop, Created By the Antiquity Traveler Herself!!

Artistic: A blogger whose work (what they create) is consistently beautiful to you


    

 


Susan at Windrock Studio ~ always, Always beautiful.  always warm (a cuddling up by the fireplace kind of warmth).  always feels like home.  Susan's leather purses, wall hangings, mudhuts and photos are not to be missed.  Her husband Larry creates people with clay and you swear you can hear them talking.  Susan speaks volumes with very few words.  I admire that deeply..... 
(these photos belong to Susan)





Penny from Copper Penny Designs ~ So much to love...Penny's jewelry is art, her words are art, her feelings are art.  I just love her sense of color and how her jewelry is like a peek into the soul. She has a tenderness and a strength about her that radiates beauty. 
(this photo belongs to Penny)

Bobbie from Beadsong Jewelry ~ I really thought about adding another category to Cynthia's list of 5.  I wanted Bobbie to have Artisty, but I also wanted to add Humor.  She is a freakin' riot and makes some seriously beautiful jewelry while being funny!  So an award for Humor too ~ my little Gnome will be the mascot of this award :-)  But here is why Bobbie is so deserving of Artistry (it was this piece that made me start following her in earnest!).  Look at that necklace!!!
(dirty gnome photo is taken by me, necklace photo belongs to Bobbie)

Style: A blog that uses style to inspire, one that is photographically beautiful










 Janet at Honey from the Bee ~ collages of styles that flow together, gorgeous quality jewelry made by hand, photos of nature and travel. Photographically Luscious...Janet really has it all going on with her blog.  It is one of the more inspiring stops when I visit blogs.  Really do yourself a favor and go to Janet's blog.  She is working on a piece of jewelry now that I cannot get out of my head...I love the idea of "what it could be" almost as much as the idea of seeing it finished.  The photograph evokes that hint of the grand potential.  Go find it for yourself and in the meantime, maybe this will get you clicking on her link!  
(this photo belongs to Janet)

 Journalistic: A blog you feel is really well written, informative and inspires discussion










Erin at Elysian Studios ~ Well written.  Check.  Inspires discussion.  Check.  Informative.  Check check check check check.  I want award Erin EVERY award except Newbie.  She is Artistic, Stylish, Journalistic and Educational.  Go see for yourself!  She really is the complete package.  She writes about art shows and art festivals in her area.  She writes book reviews.  She has her paintings hanging in a local business and sells her jewelry on the web.   She is organized, motivated, and a real inspiration in every way.  Look at these vibrant beauties~talk about inspiring! 
(this photo belongs to Erin)

 

Hope of Crafty Hope ~ Hope holds the trifecta in this category too!  Well written, informative, inspires discussion.  She is super at linking to other blogs that have info like recipes, giveaways, hop sign ups.  Her list of New Year's resolutions is a great list for discussion.  She is dedicated to holding herself accountable even if she doesn't stay on task.  I just love her blog and her enthusiasm.  Even if she is having an off day, she is rather enthusiastic about it :-)  Her photos are a slice of everyday life and totally relatable.  And when I read her Meal Plan Mondays, I wish she lived nearby and we could cook together!  It just sounds like good food and food I *might* be able to make.  She was one of the first blogs I started following.  And each time I read a post, I think, "I want to hang out with her!"  She is just honest and real and a joy! 

(These photos belong to Hope)

 Educator: A blogger providing great, usable tutorials that are easy to follow












Karen at Baubilicious and Skunk Hill Studio ~ she got me to understand Right Angle Weave through her tutorial.  She accomplished what no one else could accomplish in the 6ish years I have been weaving.  That certainly deserves some kind of award! Karen offers tutorials on Right Angle Weave, Freeform Peyote Earrings, Snowflakes, and Concrete and Epoxy cabs, just to name some.  She writes about the Color Wheel and color temps, hue, intensity, value, contrast, etc. ~ all things color related.  If you are a weaver and you know about colors, tiny seed beads can do a lot of talking!  And you might want to add her book to your bookshelf.  Just look at the cover piece!  
(photo belongs to Karen)

Mandy at Beads for Brains ~ oh Mandy!  She is truly and endless well of tutorial links and is so unbelievably inspiring.  She started a 365 project...make something for 365 days in a row.  She was in the last stretch when she had to stop doing it each and every day but is still chipping away at it.  She will certainly reach her goal!  She is learning 365 new beadweaving stitches, techniques and patterns.  With each post, she links to the tutorial she followed.  For the ones that are not on line, she lists the publications she got them from.  Definitely well deserved Educator award :-)  
(this photo belongs to Mandy)

Erin from Elysian Studios ~ as I said before, Erin certainly deserves 4 out of the 5 awards.   So I am slipping her in here for a second shout out!  This time, the link will take you directly to her tutorials.  She has them for origami cranes, baby gifts, jewelry ideas, and more!  She also links to Morning Pages.  It was over this that our friendship started to form.  I read her post about Morning Pages and decided to do it.  She then encouraged me to do the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and we started talking on a regular basis and co-hosted a blog hop together.  Here is a picture from her Zentangle tutorial.

(this photo belongs to Erin)   

 Newbie: A favorite new blog (with less than 100 followers, and blogging less than 1 year)

Katherine from Terra Beadworks ~ the Artistic Award should certainly go to Katherine too...I mean, take a look!!!  She is  such a beautiful weaver.  After cruising her blog and seeing photos of where she lives, it is easy to see where she gets her inspiration.   We met through blogging not too long ago and she was someone so easy to talk.  Kind person, beautiful work, gorgeous scenery in her photos ~ I certainly hope this "Newbie" is around for a L O N G time :-)  
(this photo belongs to Katherine)



Doug of the Diettante Cocktailer ~ Nepotism.  Yep.  Doug is my brother.  And in the true Spirit of Notheast PA nepotism, he doesn't *quite* fit the rules of this award but we will make some room for him.  He has been blogging for more than a year.  But he doesn't have the number of followers he deserves.  His blog is about drinks.  Good stiff drinks.  And how to enjoy them.  I come back often not because he is my brother, but because of the eye candy.  He is a fantastic photographer (let's encourage him to open an etsy shop for his photography!) and when I see the drink pictures, I always run for my shaker!  I only ever make Manhattans, but still.....

Take a look at this Margarita photo!   
(this photo belongs to Doug)

















If you stuck with me this far, stick around for just a few clicks more!   

Here is a list of the Ladies Participating in this Blog Hop.  Pour another tea or coffee or cider and see who they love:

Cynthia (our lovely and generous Hostess) 

Alicia

Gloria 

Therese  

Kashmira

Janice


Now that I have written my list and read it over and over, I see that the majority of blogs I frequent are jewelry blogs.  Maybe this hop and seeing who is on everyone else's lists will help me branch out a bit more.



Thank You All for sticking with me on this lengthy, link-filled blog, and thank you for sticking with me in the beading and blogging journey for the past year and a half.
Congrats to all of you...well deserved!  You all keep me going :-D 

All you lovely ladies and Doug, please click on the linky below and add yourselves so everyone can link up.  Feel free to pass these awards on to people you follow and maybe they will link up too.  It is a big ol' love fest and I am happy to be here. 

Tomorrow's Hop

Cynthia at Antiquity Travelers 
was awarded 3 blogger appreciation awards.

There are not many blogs out there more deserving than hers!  When you take a look, I know you will agree :-)





With her great ideas and big heart, she awarded 7 of us appreciation awards and came up with new categories we are to pass on to those blogs we follow that best embody the new categories.  Who I picked will all be revealed tomorrow, and all the other ladies will reveal theirs tomorrow too. 



Cynthia interviewed each of us and posted those interviews throughout this past week.  The women Cynthia picked are very talented and warm and dear to Cynthia's heart.  And it is easy to know why, after I cruised all their sites this week. 


So please take a little time to look at Antiquity Travelers 
and read the posts about all the women and visit them too!


Then tune in tomorrow to see who we all picked to honor with the new set of awards Cynthia created.  




 Here is a little sneak peek of what you will find over in Cynthia's world.  A whole lot of beauty and some world history to go with it! 

I Can't Believe I Am Not Dizzy Yet

I cannot seem to stop going around in Circles.
 I wonder what I am trying to work out in my life.
  I think I am currently happy and well adjusted, but I am obsessively weaving circles. 
                                  Why ask why? 

I am also working hard on my A Time To Stitch projects.  But I cannot reveal those just yet.  I am loving St. Petersburg and trying to find  peace with Right Angle Weave.  We still  argue, though.  

She Made~She Made

This summer, I had the very sweet pleasure of meeting Therese of Therese's Treasures fame :-D

Therese is the first blogger I have met and it was easy from the start.  There was none of the awkward silences, as we instantly had something to talk about...BEADS and BEADS!  We met in Carlisle, PA and went to The Rolling Bead bead store and got the good stuff.  After that, we met Therese's Mom for lunch and exchanged gifts. We both gave each other a box of beads (what else?!).  Therese was so incredibly generous with her beads.  I was blown away!  After I was all done opening every last ziplock, Therese told me she had her own stash of all the beads she gave me.  I realized that I had all but one strand and one cab that I gave her.  So we decided that each month, we would pick beads to work with and we would each make something out of those beads and post it.  So, "She Made~She Made" was born. 

Here are some pictures of the beads, earrings, kit, journal, seal from her place of employment, and rocks I got from Therese.

Therese gave me some fabulous art beads!  As we post each month, I will list who made what art beads with links to their blogs. 

For the first "She Made~She Made", Therese asked me to choose the bead.  So here it is!

                                                                    Blue Amazonite! 

Our "She Made~She Made" reveal will be October 1st.  Can't wait to see what Therese makes!!!




~Also, we are continuing to take sign ups for our "A Stitch In Time 2" Blog Hop featuring  Right Angle Weave and St. Petersburg Stitch.  Click Here for more details!

:Blog Hop Announcement:::A Time To Stitch 2:

Therese of Therese's Treasures and I decided to do another Beadweaving Blog Hop!  We really enjoyed the first one and you all seemed to enjoy it too so we came back for more. 

The rules for this one: 

~make something using Right Angle Weave.  Karen Williams has this wonderful tutorial for RAW.  Check it out if you need RAW help like I do! 

OR

~make something using St. Petersburg Stitch.  Here is a good youtube video:

Other important rules:

~even if you have samples and no finished work, show us!!!  I am really uncomfortable with RAW.  And only did St. Petersburg once, so most of you are probably way far ahead of me with this Hop.  And if you are beginning too, we can learn at the same time :-)  Just show any work you attempted. 

~Sign Ups are Today, September 4th through Saturday September 8th.  To make it on the Hop List you can comment on my blog or Therese's.  And you must list your e-mail address so we can contact you. 

~Reveal Date is Thursday October 25th. 

~Take the badge, Spread the word, Have Fun!!!