{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Erin of Elysian Studios

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ.


With a mix of excitement and sadness, our Rolling Hop is wrapping up today.  All you ladies have  made this so much more thrilling than I could have ever imagined.  I am in awe of the talent, the minds, and the genuine kindness you all have within you.  You made this fun and easy and I really enjoyed featuring each one of you :-)  Thank You!!!

Our Baker's Dozen is now complete.

Erin of Elysian Studios has posted her spool art!  Yay!  So without delay, here's what Erin made:

                                                  (photo from Elysian Studios Blog)


I knew there was a strong possibility Erin would do a painting, but I have no intelligent words for this!  What a beautiful, vivid, happy, painting showing objects from the past and what remains of their story.  Erin calls this piece "Stitched in Time".  She has some really lovely things to say about the spools themselves, as well as the thread they held.  She also has fond memories of her Grandmother, whose spools she has in her collection too.   Please go over to Elysian Studios and read for yourselves...Erin's art is bound to keep you there for a while.  It has kept me coming back for a few years now.



I came across Erin's blog during a 7000 Bracelets for Hope Hop in 2011.  It was my first hop ever, and less than a month after I started my blog.   I liked her style and I really liked that she lives in Colorado.  I silently visited her blog for a while, too intimidated to comment.  Erin is a professional artist so I wasn't sure I could say anything worthwhile.  I was new to blogging and had a lot to learn about commenting.  I was more a blog lurker at the time.  Several months in to my silent visits,  Erin did a DIY post on how to put fabric on a notebook.  She was using notebooks for her Morning Pages~an exercise from Julia Cameron's workbook, The Artist's Way.  I became interested in it and commented to Erin and it wasn't long before she commented back!  She and I started a semi-regular dialogue that is still going strong not quite 3 years later.  She convinced me to give the Artist's Way and Morning Pages a try.  The workbook is designed to take 12 weeks.  I took 9 months, but am glad I went on that journey.  And more importantly, it kept Erin and I talking.  We decided to co-host our own 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop and from that, I made even more friends.  Erin is a huge reason why I am still here blogging.

Erin is an Artist~specializing in modern abstract/modern still life/modern landscape paintings, jewelry, handmade polymer beads,  DIY tutorials, and much much more.  Elysian Studios : The Artful Life really is an wonderful, educational place to spend some time and is pleasing on the eyes too.  When I go, I pour a coffee, pop a chocolate, and settle in.  I know I am staying for a bit and want to be cozy and happy.
Not only does she continually have her work featured in galleries in Colorado and elsewhere in the Mid-West, but she also has her paintings in Calico Home (a custom decor and fabric store in Denver) and in the Grand Lodge on Peak Seven in Breckenridge.
Erin was selected to help launch a product for Martha Stewart Paints by Plaid Paints.  You can find the projects she came up with for the launch on her blog, along with many other great DIY projects.  A lot of her DIY projects are great for kids too!
Erin made a gorgeous line of polymer beads she calls Gypsy Trade beads.  I had the pleasure of working with these and some cabs she made.  What a lovely feel and what vivid, cheerful colors!



Please take some time to explore Elysian Studios and all Erin has to offer.  Her work is some of the finest I have seen.  Here is a sampling to get you started:

Released

This is currently in Erin's shop, as is one of its partners in this painting series.
The third partner in the series is currently part of the 2013 Nature's Patterns Art Exhibition at the PACE Center in Parker, Colorado.
The colors, openness, and instant outside smell and feel from seeing this are a real comfort in this piece.







(photo from Elysian Studio's Indie Made Shop)

Crop Fields

Farms.  Fields.  Crops.  Unobstructed views.  So much unseen in the fields.  A mystery out in the open.












(photo from Elysian Studio's Indie Made Shop)

Precipitation to Subsurface Flow

The colors and shapes in a 3 part Hydrology Series Erin painted are so captivating.  This was the first painting I saw at Elysian and I was instantly hooked.
This is available as a print or greeting cards at Fine Art America.

Jewelry makes me want to talk and use a lot of flowery words.  Paintings make me want to just shut up and Feel them.





(photo from Elysian Studio's Indie Made Portfolio)

Connected Twilight

Hands down,  my absolute favorite.  This is from another series Erin did.  It also comes in Midday and Sunset.  But Twilight taps into my lust for those classic Starry Night colors (oh Vincent!) and has a nighttime, quiet, lonesome feel to it.
Prints and cards are available at Fine Art America.


(photo from Elysian Studio's Indie Made Prints)

Purple Mystic

This Gorgeous bracelet features Erin's Gypsy Trade Beads.  These beads are so much fun to work with!  It is surprising how many things you can pair them up with...keeping it bohemian or pairing them with crystals and pearls.  They work with anything!
This bracelet is such a beauty with its strong purples and the contrasting copper.






(photo from Elysian Studios Etsy Shop)

What a Hoot


Just look at the detail of this little guy!
His coloring, markings, crystal eyes...the dangling branch he is sitting upon, the beads in the chain that give him all his support.  The blend of beads in this piece is exquisite  It is enough but not too much for the eye.  A perfect balance...Erin seems to know all about that :-)










(photo from Elysian Studios Etsy Shop)




A ginormous Thank You to Erin ~ she was the first blogger I shared e-mails with; the first one I texted with; she encouraged me to try the Artist's Way and because of her, I followed through to the end of the course; she knows when to give kind words of cheer and support and also knows how to support with  constructive criticism; and she was my first blog hop co-host.  She is so much more.  So very much more.  But I know she knows that.

Thank You Erin...I love you, My Friend :-)

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Therese of Therese's Treasures

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ.




Therese of Therese's Treasures posted her Vintage Wooden Spools. Take a peek!

                                                    (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)

The story she tells before she reveals her Hop piece is such a lovely and warm family story.  She grew up with a lot of love and busy, creative hands guiding her.  That explains a lot :-D
As for her spool, she seized the opportunity to try a few new techniques and she executed them so well!  This is a beautiful piece, and a really cool design with metals, stones, glass, wood, and fibers.  It has it all, Baby!  It represents what I love about Therese's work~willingness to explore something new.  Go over to Therese's Treasures to read her story and see some close ups of this piece.  What a copper beauty!



Therese and I met at some early point in my blogging life.  I am not sure exactly when but that doesn't matter.  What matters is where we have been with each other since then.  We co-host A Time To Stitch hops that focus on beadweaving stitches; we are involved in several small hops hosted by her or me or other friends; she was the first blogger I met in person on a rainy July day in 2012; and she calls me to chat about beads and life.  AND, she is my two woman She Made~She Made Monthly Challenge partner.  When we met that July day, we gave each other beads and this challenge sprung from that.  It is a lot of fun!

Therese's beadweaving skills are first rate.  Her pieces have that effortless look to them and her work is elegant and romantic.  In addition to her beadweaving, she is learning how to make fused glass cabochons.  These are colorful, beautiful pieces of art all their own.  For her birthday this year, she gifted some bloggers with her cabs so we could make something and celebrate with her in a Birthday Hop.  She is also learning Precious Metal Clay.  She does So Many Things So Well!


Here is some of her gorgeous work:

Therese's Birthday Hop piece

This is from Therese's recent 2013 birthday.  She made that glass cab then did the bead embroidery around that.  A quality piece all around~soft, curvy, romantic.  She says we will be seeing this cab again in a finished piece.  Yay!






 (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)

Another Birthday Challenge

This is from Therese's 2012 Birthday Hop.  She sent out Golem beads and cabs and this is what she made.  The colors are just so tropical and happy :-D













 (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)

Summer Lovin'


Therese made this necklace for a hop hosted by Amy of Amybeads.
Elegance and  Romance all the way!
Therese at her finest!












 (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)

Illuminated by Candlelight 

Here is an embroidery piece Therese did for a challenge.  The center quartz is the base of the candle, the crystals on top are the flame, and the pearls are the light radiating from the candle.  It is an exquisite and creative bracelet.

 (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)

By The Seashore

Therese made this piece as part of a Do Over challenge.  So much to love about this piece~organics, seed beads, turquoise howlites, beadweaving, FRINGE.









 (photo from Therese's Treasures Blog)






I am realizing just now that while I have tried to show each bloggers' diversity in skills, I picked all embroidery for Therese's feature.  I could change it, as it was totally subconscious until this very moment.  But I think I will leave it.  She is so damn good at that embroidery.  And it does show her diversity in the Objects she chooses to embroider:  her own glass cabs, clay cab, metal, quartz, shell.
I think we should all send Therese something to embroider around and see what she does with them!

Thank you, Therese ~ for always being a fun, loving, easy, caring friend and partner.  You are generous with your time and goods.  I always look forward to your company and your pushes.  You have opened my eyes to new stitches and challenges and people.  I do appreciate your commitment to this Rolling Hop and I appreciate You.

4th of July...Shooter Style (with a little George Jones)

I wanna be sitting shotgun in my nightgown right about now.  

How about you?

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Christine of One Kiss Creations

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ.


It's my turn!
My spool ideas were all over the place.  Eventually, I had it narrowed down to two ideas and did a little sketching.  Normally, I do not sketch, but have found that when I do, I can stay on track.  I think I need to do it more often.

The first idea was to saw the spool into rounds.  I was hoping to get 4 rounds out of a spool.  I was lucky enough to get two rounds.  These suckers, as we have heard, like to break and fly.  I wanted them not completely even but even enough.  I gave them a quick sand to take away the roundness and give them subtle angles.  I used ladybugs Liz from Bead Contagion gave me, orange and yellow seed beads Cynthia from Antiquity Travelers gave me, dyed howlite flowers I picked up at Michael's, red twin holes and purple seed beads I had in my stash, and green fireline I found at Cabela's on clearance.  I ran my thumb nail down it a few times to stretch it out and it softened it up nicely.  These have the flowers on both sides of the round.












Then came the second piece.
This gave me fits.
I worked up the spools just how I wanted them.  Turning it into a necklace was another story.  I seriously considered a shadow box.  Then I decided on a necklace.  I should have stuck with shadow box.  I might still do it.  We'll see.  Anyway...initially, it was strung on bamboo cord with big wooden beads.  Serious kindergarten art.  I live with it for 2 weeks and cut it all up.  Then I did what you see here.

It was when I was making the sari beads from my last post that I decided to make these cloth beads.  I was at the hardware store and picked up some annealed stainless steel wire.  I used the thicker gauge as the core of the bead, wrapped some free fabric samples I scored at an upholstery shop around the core wire, and wrapped some thinner wire around that.  The buttons are from my Gram's stash.  And some other people's Grandmas' stashes as well.  The back braided cord was from Cynthia.  I was at a loss as to what to do for the back.  This piece quite literally fell from a pile of fabric scraps and landed on my shoe.  Perfect!

The spools were the first part I completed.  They turned out just like I pictured them.

I used red size 13 charlotte beads.  For the three spools, I used more of the upholstery fabric.  I sorted through my stash until I found the blue fabric.  I wanted it to be frayed and a constant fluid piece.
Spools, needles, fabric, sewing...finding stray threads and scraps everywhere.
The other two samples don't fray quite as much.  One spool of chaos is enough.
The needles are porcupine quills Liz gifted me.  Go here to read how she found them and cleaned them so they can be used in jewelry and other art pieces.  I love these!!!
I did keep some of the bamboo cord to lace these spools together and added some buttons for a dangle.










                                                                 


                                                                     The whole of it.

This was so much more of a challenge than I thought it would be.  I thought about bowing out and just hosting a few dozen times.  But I am glad I saw it through.



If you haven't already, please go see the other spools that are posted:

Janet  ~  Hope  ~  Tanya  ~  Maryanne  ~  Bobbie  ~  Cynthia  ~  Lisa  ~  Liz  ~  Kim  ~  Cynthia again  ~  Karin

Erin  and  Therese   will post theirs in the next week or so.  I really cannot wait to see what they came up with, but it will also be a little sad knowing when they do,  this Rolling Hop is over.  You all have made this so much fun!  That is what this is all about.  Fun, smiles, with a little bit of drool here and there.  Thank you Ladies ~ this turned out better than I could have imagined :-D

She Made~She Made November

For this month's She Made~She Made, Therese chose some Marsha Neal components she gifted me.  I was stumped.  I kept trying to make them conservative.  But that wasn't working.  So~I went in the opposite direction.

I made beads with reclaimed sari ribbon from Darn Good Yarn by wrapping the scraps around copper wire (some huge ass gauge...it was the first wire I ever bought and didn't know there were different gauges.  This was several years ago...I am only slightly better now), then putting thinner gauge wire on the outside of the sari.  I joined these fiber beads with jump rings.  Anybody else thinking "Life is a Carnival" upon seeing this?  I guess this is a reflection of my scattered brain this time of year.  But at least it is in color!



Then I made this, but I think I am sending it to the chop.

I think the beadweaving will stay.  I found some great sari to go with it that has flecks of all the colors in it.  And I found a cloth button in my stash that matched too.  But it is leaving me kind of eh.


I know Therese had something in mind when she picked these out.  I cannot wait to see what She Made!

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Karin of Backstory Beads

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ.




The Tenth Roller posted her Vintage Wooden Spool creation today~Karin of Backstory Beads.  When I found the spools and debated asking the ladies if they wanted to participate, one spool in particular grabbed my attention and I kept wondering what Karin might do with it.  Now I know :-D

                                                    (photo from Backstory Beads Blog)

I don't even know what to say about this necklace.  I really don't.  It seems like any words would be trivial when held up to this elegant and creative work of wearable art.  This is Made From Spools!!!  And those dangles are vintage sewing needles!  You really need to go over to Backstory Beads right away and read Karin's post to see how this came to be.




I do not know much about Karin, other than she makes jewelry pieces that are works of art.  Her pieces are unique and wearable.  She has a style and class all her own and her jewelry is instantly recognizable as being Backstory pieces.  She blends ethnic and elegance.  The structure of her jewelry is so solid, and the foundation is well thought out.  And her ropes cannot be beat!  The vision in my head is of Karin listening to the TV, weaving rope after rope.  Ropes are either a big love or a big avoidance for most of us.  Luckily, they seem to be a big love for Karin.  When she has a new blog post, it is always worth the time to go and read and look.  To possess her mind and her eye for jewelry would be such a gift.


I would be remiss if I did not start showing you some of Karin's work with this necklace:

Winner in the Bead Soup Blog Party in the Best Use of Seed Beads Catagory

Karin learned to weave four years prior to earning this honor.  So much time and lots of thought must have gone into this beauty.  The ropes are kumihimo.  The fringe and that bail!  Oh My Oh My Oh My!











(photo from Backstory Beads Blog)

 February Art Bead Scene Challenge

Click on the link to see the painting that inspired this piece.  Clearly, this was a challenge that spoke to Karin.  The balance of the shapes and material (sea glass, bronze charm, wire, metal chain, seed beads) is perfect.  Oh to wear this piece...even if only once!












(photo from Backstory Beads Blog)

Acrobats, Harlequin, Picasso

This was another Art Bead Scene Challenge piece that inspired Karin.  That harlequin design is gorgeous!    Both the base of the bracelet and the embellishments share center stage in this piece.  It must feel so nice around the wrist of the owner of this piece.  Karin sent it in to 7000 Bracelets for Hope.




(photo from Backstory Beads Blog)

Tribal Beauty

Ammonite and Dinosaur Bone Jasper were used as the focals in this pendant Karin made for Sally's Cab Hop.
I am not sure what else to say except Holy Freakin' Wow!












(photo from Backstory Beads Blog)

Words Whispering in Your Ear

Erin's Travel of Challenge Blog Hop inspired Karin to make these colorful, funky, completely cool earrings.  The words of some southern writers are in these earrings.  The author's own words are always better than paraphrasing by a second party so please go over to the link and read about the way in which these earrings came to life.


(photo from Backstory Beads Blog)





I looked at every photo on Karin's blog.  Narrowing it down to 5 was a difficult, to say the least.  Really do treat yourself with a cruise through Backstory Beads.  I am not sure I have seen anyone channel the Art Bead Scene challenges as well as Karin.  What talent, grace, and a flair for beauty she possesses.  We are so fortunate she shares these photos with us!

Thank you Karin, for your time and commitment to this hop, and for all your kind words on my blog and in e-mails.  I am honored to share in this blogging adventure with you!

{Rolling Blog Hop} More from Cynthia of Antiquity Travelers

Cynthia posted another Spool and you really must Must MUST go to Antiquity Travelers to read about and gaze upon her inspiration for this beauty!  Go.  Now.  No need to come back here because this is all I am saying on this post.  Oh...one more thing:  Cynthia~you are unbelievably creative...your mind's eye is something I covet.

                                                    (photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Kim of Kimmykats

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ. 




Kim of Kimmykats has posted her spool designs and I am eager to share them with you all!  Now I can add her spools to that ever growing list entitled "Things I Love That Kim Makes" (that would make a GREAT Pinterest board!).  Please click on her highlighted name above to see more photos of her spools. 

                                                              (photos from Kimmykats Blog)


Wow~WoW~WOW!!!  The BirdMan was looking over my shoulder at just the right moment and went crazy over that cardinal!  These are Beautiful!!!  Kim absolutely played to a few of her numerous strengths here to give these spools the Kimmykats flair.  The tassles, the painting, and the stitching...all so strong and beautiful.  Look at that tiny winter scene, with the dimensional snow!  And the crackle paint on the last spool...so much to love here!  Go to KimmyKats so you can read the process of how these pieces went from a wooden spool to these works of art.



Kim is another person whom it seem I have always followed and Kimmykats is a place that feels like home.  Kim's photography skills add such a warmth to whatever it is she is photographing that when you look at these pictures, you can hear the fire crackling in the fireplace, smell the comfort food being baked in the oven, feel the afghan draped across your lap.  Home.  
She and her Mr.  create a lot in their home.  Their back road adventures (the best kind!) take them to places where they can look for silverware, thimbles, chandelier crystals, keys, and other goodies they can turn into jewelry, ornaments and house decorations.  When it comes to the flatware, there is hardly a piece of a fork, spoon, or knife that go unused.  Kim is SO GOOD at using up all the pieces (as you will soon see).  
Kim ventured into beadweaving, using "flying missiles"  (as she lovingly calls the seed beads...or is it through gritted teeth?!) to embellish her jewelry.  Oh how those keys and bullets took to those little beads!  She was my partner last year for Sally's ornament hop and it was seed bead fringed greatness!!!  When the tree came down, the ornament got turned into a necklace for all to see.  


So let's go see some of Kim's finest work:

Kim and her Mr had their spoons in Jewelry Affaire Magazine!

He pounds and textures 
She antiques and embellishes
Together they create such beauty















(photo from Kimmykats Blog)

I would have registered for these knives had Bloomingdales had them on display


Beau.ti.ful.  Feminine, Romantic, Dancing.  
And Please please click on this link to see a preview of Kim's Fork Tine Earrings, key jewelry, bullet jewelry, her husband's rings, and her adorable cats.  

(photo from Kimmykats Blog)

One of many wonderful permanent side bar photos

Along with these festive hand painted  holiday spoon ornaments, Kim's right side bar always has photos of her spoon necklaces, fork tine earrings, and silverware bracelets.  Go look!!!  







(photo from Kimmykats Blog)

Chandelier Necklace

This piece looks like it comes from another time~one much earlier than 2012.  So so pretty.  









(photo from Kimmykats Blog)

Clay! 

Kim learned how to make these from a tutorial.  The textures, shapes, and finishes are wonderful!  I hope we see more of these!






(photo from Kimmykats Blog)




Kim, it has been a huge pleasure going back through many blog posts.  It was hard not to show more and more of your work~you are so creative with all the items you find while you are driving along, taking in the scenery.  What treasures you create!  I know...I wear some of them :-)   You have an eye for beauty and color, and the talent to bring ordinary objects to life.  And you have been a good friend~always game, always positive, always fun.  Thanks for giving me a place to come back to time and time again.

And tell your helpers they are too darn cute!!!  But I think they already know that ;-)

!!!~Happy Birthday Therese~!!!

Happy Birthday Therese!!!

We are so happy to be celebrating with you today!  Your Birthday Hop was such a fun event last year, and even better this year since You made all the party favors.  You are amazingly talented, open to new ideas, generous with your time and talent, kind with your words, and warm with your heart.  You deserve all good things today and every day, Therese.  Thanks so much for inviting me to the party again!  

All the ladies are eager to show what they did with these cabs you generously made just for us and we cannot wait to see what you made yourself:

Alicia

Amy

Bobbie

Christine

Cynthia

Kristen

Lola

Marla

Maryanne

Shirley

Therese and Crystie

 I took your gorgeous cab and kept it simple.  I really wanted to highlight what You made.  A piece this beautiful really needs no extra embellishment.  As you know, it is a substantial cab.  I drew from the colors of the glass and used 4mm fire polish black ABs, blue zircon seeds, and black matte twisted bugles.  It came together surprisingly fast, and just how I pictured it!  I must have been touched by your Birthday Magic :-) 

 Here it is on Fleur.  She really likes it when I take her top off and photograph on her painted body ;-)

 This photo is taken on a blackboard out in the Sun.  The beads are reflecting on the blackboard...nice little touch.

The closeup shows those fire polish ABs shining.  And it shows the ladder stitch I used to make the bezel.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THERESE!!!!!  Many Happy Years To Come!  Thank you for your friendship, inspiration, pushes, and fun challenges.  You are one of the brighter lights in my life :-D

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Liz of Bead Contagion

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ.






Today, we have the pleasure of seeing what Liz of Bead Contagion did with her spools.  So, without further ado, here are her creations.  Please click on her highlighted name to see more photos.

                                               (photos from Bead Contagion Blog)


Holy guacamole!  She Put a Cab in There!  She Made a Toilet Paper Roll!  The one is hysterical and they are both awesome!  Love that macrame chain too, and the colors of the triangle beads.  What completely unique, fun, funky pieces!  When you click on her link, you will also learn about the history of toilet paper. A short, fascinating read not to be missed :-)



Liz caught my attention for the first time during Bobbie's Hats Off Challenge.  The very moment I saw her piece for that Hop, I was hooked and have followed her ever since.  Her bead embroidery is so unique and beautiful, edgy and mysterious.  It really does  make the viewer's jaw hit the floor.  The tease about these blogs we all have is that we cannot reach out and touch each other's items.  Liz's work begs to be touched...it must be quite soothing to fondle.  The pieces have great character and texture.
Liz did a whole blog post on getting, cleaning and making art with porcupine quills!  Seriously, she did!!!  This alone points toward an adventurous spirit.
And then there is her humor.  She does these little what-do-you-call-ems (seriously...what do you call them?) with HOT famous men on them, seducing us with their bead talk.  Hers are inspired by the "Hey Girl" ones over at beadedlaughter.blogspot.com.  When you cruise her blog, Johnny, Clint, Sean, George, Patrick and the rest of the boys will fill you with flirtatious laughter ;-)

Here are just a few of the good things you will find over at Bead Contagion:

The embroidery that made me throw my hat off and yell YES I AM A FOLLOWER! 

This was one of a few pieces Liz made for the Hats Off Challenge.  The colors are lovely and the spin just pulls me right in.






(photo from Bead Contagion Blog)

Quills

Please, you must go read this post.  Liz harvested these quills for the projects she made for a History Hop.  She describes the process, has some up close photos of this brilliant piece, and  also has photos of a beautiful quill necklace.  Please go.  Now.  But don't forget to come back eventually.




(photo from Bead Contagion Blog)

Pent Up Energy

Liz said her inspiration for this was a tornado but once it was done it looked like a fire dancer.  It may matter to her, the artist.  But I am not sure if it matters to us, the audience.  I see motion, chaos, the bright colors of heat in the midst of uncertainty.  But it is all so beautiful and edgy.  There is rope running through the tornado, so it gives dimension to the embroidery.  Gorgeous.










(photo from Bead Contagion Blog)

Rocks in a Stream

Liz made this for Sally's Cabochon Hop.  It absolutely looks like what she wanted it to look like...rocks in a stream.  Hopping from rock to rock while cool mountain water is running under foot.  The colors and the flow here are as soothing as those rippling waters.











(photo from Bead Contagion Blog)

Interstellar Traveler
is what Liz calls this piece.  How cool is this?!  The black/red/silver palette creates a strong image.  A ladybug is sitting on a tektite.  Click to find out about that rock and see a great closeup of the little traveler.







(photo from Bead Contagion Blog)




Thank you Liz~for generously sharing your loot with me, for your e-mails, your time, your humor, your talent.  And for being a part of this Hop.  I couldn't wait to see what funky cool thing you would do with the spools.  You didn't disappoint.  I don't think you ever will.
And...thanks for Sexy Albert.  I think he would eventually use those spools as hair rollers.

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Lisa of Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

A short while back, I asked some creative and inspiring women if they would like to participate in a loose kind of blog hop.  Instead of everyone posting on the same day, we will post as we get our projects done, with an end of November deadline.  I send them each a package containing vintage wooden spools like you see on the upper left of the blog (badge compliments of Hope's wonderful photography and Janet's tweaking...thanks ladies~it looks great!).  I found them while antiquing in NJ. 

Today's spools are from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa.  Lisa pulls this Hop over the hump, being the seventh person to post out of 13. Here is a look at what Lisa made.  Please click on the highlighted words to see more of her spools.

                                                (photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Blog)

So soft and romantic with the lace and the roses and the ribbon~so much to love here!  It really seems to come from another time.  Lisa dyed the lace part herself and she also provides a link to the history of the Coats and Clark spools, which is an interesting, short read.  Please do go over to Carefree Jewelry by Lisa to read what Lisa has to say about her necklace.


Lisa is another blog I cannot pinpoint how I got there or when.  It has been a while, probably my whole blogging life.  But I do know why I stayed.  Beautiful jewelry, photos, a friendly voice coming from her typed words, and did I mention beautiful jewelry?!  Lisa photographs lots of metal~fences, sculptures, spouts, rust~there is something about these photos that really highlights the beauty of the metal.   She also posts photos of cactus plants, which are very photogenic and full of personality.   
Lisa is in the Cousin Creative Circle.  Some real nice pieces come out of those posts (she did a boot jewelry one...so now I am looking to bling my cowgirl boots this winter!).  Also, she occasionally posts Random 5 Friday.  It is just as it sounds.  I would love to read more of these.  A nice little window into the life and mind of Lisa :-)  


And now a few examples of Lisa's jewelry:

Fine Silver Saguaro Bead

By clicking on this link, you will find the links to all the things Lisa says about this bead.  She made this bead herself, inspired by an old fallen Saguaro Cactus.  I remember the first time I saw this.  I was in awe of this piece.  Still in awe today.











(photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Blog)

Golden Eve Necklace

The golden  colors!  The lacy, ruffled beaded beads!  The textures!
The Love!








(photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Etsy)

Copper Hoop Green Bead Earrings


These hammered hoops were given a nice patina that allows these lampwork beads the opportunity to pop.  Can you see the movement in these earrings?  What a wonderful way to display these beads.











(photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Etsy)

Green Lakeside Bracelet


This beauty is a prime example of never underestimating the power of seed beads (and the occasional bugle).  Love this piece!






(photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Etsy)

Picasso Knotted Hemp Bracelet

Not quite sure what to say that the photo doesn't already say itself.  I mean, look at this bracelet!  Those discs are gorgeous.  Click on the link to see the painting that inspired this little lovely.











(photo from Carefree Jewelry by Lisa Blog)




There you have a small sampling of why you should go to Carefree and wander around there yourself :-D
Lisa will enjoy having you, I am sure.  Thank you Lisa, for participating in this event, for bringing the spool history to us, for showing us your beautiful pieces, for your thoughtful visits and for being a place for me to go to for my Southwest fix.  I appreciate it all :-)