{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Cynthia of Antiquity Travelers

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.




Cynthia of Antiquity Travelers is the sixth blogger to post her spool creations and without further ado, here are some images of what Cynthia made.  Please click on her highlighted name to see more images of her spools.

 (photos from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

These capture my heart for their Native flair, their symbolism,  and their simple colors and for their downright beauty and creativity.  AND FRINGE!



Cynthia is one of the few bloggers I have had the immense pleasure of meeting.  We have gotten together 4 times now and each time we are together, we run out of time to talk about all the things we want to talk about.  And we run out of time to share all the beads and fibers and books we want to share.

Cynthia is an incredible visionary.  She is deeply inspired by her travels.  And her curiosity about other times and cultures is limitless....food, clothing, architecture, customs, folklore~you name it~are all things Cynthia will explore.  Stopping for a few moments at Antiquity Travelers is like being transported away from your seat and into another world.  She has a knack of putting you "there".

Cynthia is the Lead Editor of Bead Chat Magazine and is a member of the Znet Design Group.  She was also on the Nina Design Team.


Here are a few samples of what you will find at Antiquity Travelers:

Inspired by Georgia

This piece is so Southwest Georgia O'Keeffe and is a great example of how these influences seep inside Cynthia's head and translate so beautifully into unique wearable art.  Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm...so good!











(photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

Pearls and Suede and Fringe
I don't even need to further comment on these Beautiful Babies!!!
Check out the link for some more pearl goodness Cynthia created for the Pearls!Pearls!!Pearls!!! Blog Hop.  I saw that rattling bones leather and pearl bracelet in person and was it cool!

(photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

Beady Boho Goodness

Cynthia took a piece of leather with the flowers already stamped on it and punched holes in it and added the beads.  Big BIG LOVE!  Big Love.





(photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

As seen in Stringing Magazine

I know, I know~this is similar to the above earrings but don't we want to see more of this style?!  Her colors, her Great Gatsby inspiration, her textures.  Can't you taste the champagne just looking at this?  Do you want to be this lady for the night?











(photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)

Biker Chic

The link will bring you to the page that has a link to the tutorial...check it out!  Cynthia combined pillow trim and beadweaving.  Awesome and original!

(photo from Antiquity Travelers Blog)



Thank you Cynthia~for your support, point of view, reality check, passion, generosity.  And for sharing your stash.  It goes beyond "Thank You" but I think you know what I mean :-)

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Bobbie of Beadsong

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. 




To have this hop without Bobbie of Beadsong would be unthinkable.  Thankfully, I didn't have to twist her arm to agree to do this.
Here is what she made with her spool.  Click on her highlighted name above to see the close-ups and read about the tender inspiration of this piece.

                                               
                                               (photo from Beadsong Blog)


Isn't she amazing?!  She is so good at capturing a feeling, a vision, a memory, a moment, a landscape, and translating it into wearable art.  This cathedral window pattern is such a strong image in the quilting world.  And she made a jewelry piece that clearly captures the inspiration of her quilt.



Bobbie's humor is the huge bonus to all the beautiful and creative jewelry that brought me to Beadsong in the first place.  I mean, all someone has to do it type the word "Bobbie" and I smile...BIG.  Along with that humor, she has style, she has vision, she has originality, and is truly making exquisite jewelry that reflects all of those strong qualities.  Bobbie does quite a few outdoor shows every year and blogs about them and all the funny things that go on there.  Sometimes, it isn't funny until she has had some time put between her and the event...time can bring out the humor in most absurdities and calamities.  She is on the ZNet team of designers.  And she hosted a hop called Hats Off Challenge~Jewelry Inspired by Kentucky Derby Hats.  Her passion is infectious because all us hoppers caught Derby Hat Fever :-)

Take a closer look on all the goodness that comes out of Bobbie's mind and hands:

The Monster Bobbie Tamed

It left me speechless.  Look at what she did here!  She mentions that it took FORever to make/finish, but in the end, goodness this great was well worth the wait and the pain (of course it wasn't OUR pain, so that is easy to say!).  Those round turquoise beads being the curving thread to pull all these colorful whirlpools and the ruffled chain together is a mark of her eye for finishing things off right...even if it took some time to get there.







(photo from Beadsong Blog)

Mississippi Mud Romance


Bobbie made this for the Challenge of Color Hop.    The feeling of wandering and of journey is clearly felt in this meandering river piece.












(photo from Beadsong Blog)

Long lingering UFO that finally found its time to shine!

Aren't our eyes and brains glad this baby was finally born?!  Circle...good!  Beading around the agate...good!  Adventurine dangles...so darn goooood!












(photo from Beadsong Blog)

 Challenge of Music

Bobbie participated in the Challenge of Music Hop and made this piece out of a violin bridge!  The vision and the way this is done is unique and genius and gorgeous.  Click on the link and you can read about her family of musicians.  And you will see another genius piece...beaded beads all representing different types of music and all strung on one of her husband's old violin strings!  Holy crap!  Seriously great post!
(photo from Beadsong Blog)

Time to Start Following Beadsong's Blog

I think this was the piece that got my attention and made me a faithful follower of Bobbie.  This is : Divine.  Gorgeous.  Visionary.  A Show Stopper.






(photo from Beadsong Blog)




Thank you Bobbie~for making me laugh, for talking Freddie with me, for your beautiful and highly creative artwork, and for agreeing to be a part of this Hop.  I adore everything you do.

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

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.



I was thrilled when Maryanne said yes to this challenge.  Not only does she make beautiful jewelry, but she creates art with fibers and paper and other items.  So there was really no telling what she would do with the spools.  So exciting!
Here is what she did:

I am surprised in the best of ways!  Don't you just LOVE the minimalist look, the absolute appropriate saying, the color, the dimension, and the texture?!  I know I do!!!  So much goodness going on in a seemingly simple piece.
To see some closeups and the description of Maryanne's process in making this piece, click on her highlighted name.


It seems as though Maryanne has always been in my blog comments.  I cannot remember the precise moment I realized we were followers of each other.  Therese probably had a hand in it, though.  But Maryanne is always there with a kind word, a friendly e-mail, an array of art to show us all at Zingala's Workshop.  Beads, wire, metal, fibers, paper, paints, cut outs, tags, jewelry, books, ornaments~she does it all!  Bead needles, pliers, knitting needles, paintbrushes, scissors...the work space must be full of useful tools and fun ideas! A lot of it is foreign to me, but I think that is good~I can get lost in the beauty without trying to figure out the technicalities. That is for Maryanne to figure out.  And thankfully, she likes doing just that!


Here are some examples of Maryanne's work...Enjoy!

Loom work

Maryanne took a class with Erin Simonetti and made this unbelievably GORgeous amulet bag.  Look at that Fringe!  Look at that smocking!  Click on the words above and look at the backside!
Maryanne tells me there is another loom project in the works.  Cannot wait!











(photo from Zingala's Workshop Blog)

Witch's Brew


Those bottles!  The spill rings and the bottles make this piece dimensional and intriguing...almost more intriguing that what lies within the pages of that book.  The process of how this came to be reads like a foreign language to me but you might know about all the art supplies Maryanne describes as she tells the process of bringing this work to life.





(photo from Zingala's Workshop Blog)

Maryanne's Metal Cuff

In this post from 2012, she says this is her first metal cuff...I sure hope there have been more!  Lovin' this style.  What great texture and touches of sparkle!







(photo from Zingala's Workshop Blog)

Little Book


Maryanne made this little book, with a littler book attached, for her daughter who is a librarian.  That tiny metal book has pages!  Click on the link to see the inside of this sweet book!






(photo from Zingala's Workshop Blog)

Knitted matching cuffs

Everyone needs a pair of these cuffs!  Just looking at them gives a warm and comforting feeling.  Love the style and the width of these.








(photo from Zingala's Workshop Blog)



Thank you Maryanne, for sharing your beautiful artistry with us all and for being a warm, positive presence in my little world :-)  And for doing this Hop without knowing what you might be getting into.  You done good...I  knew you would!

She Made~She Made : October

Therese picked the rose and the yellow agates for our October She Made/She Made challenge.

You know how your head gets stuck on something and you can't let it go?
My head got stuck on Blue Roses...from Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.  Laura and Jim talk about high school when Laura said she had pleurosis and Jim thought she said "Blue Roses".  Lines from the play kept looping in my head.  The next thing I knew:

The chain is a spiral done with peanut beads and tear drops.

Let's go over to Therese's Treasures and see what She Made!

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Tanya of A Work in Progress

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, Tanya of A Work in Progress is the Rolling Blog Hop Feature and here is what she made (click on her name to see more photos of her piece) :

                                                (photos from A Work in Progress Blog)

Oh please go and take a look at Tanya's close ups of these Gorgeous necklaces!  She has combined beadweaving and chain maille.  The look of the mix of the two is incredible~the stitches she used and the link designs compliment each other beautifully.  And her spools~are downright fun!  Frankenstein and a Jack-o-Lantern done in peyote.  Too cute!


I do not know much about Tanya other than the fact that she makes gorgeous jewelry.  She is always in my Top Two of jewelry makers.  Her jewelry looks so wearable and beautiful...whether the occasions calls for denim or silk.  She is a creative weaver, a worker of wire and metal.  She is someone who always shows stellar pieces.  She makes it look easy, even though we all know it is not.  Tanya is simply someone I have always admired, have blog interaction with, and just wanted to see what she could do with these spools.  She is also someone I would love to have teach me some new techniques and stitches.  It looks like patterns and designs and tutorials just click with her.


Here are a few examples of what makes Tanya so darn good at what she does:

Tanya's Original Design made for the Challenge of Travel 2012.


She was inspired by the Japanese flag and its meaning: circle of the sun.  It is hard to imagine Tanya's work can get better than this!  What an absolute beauty.  The link will bring you to a sweet beadwoven kimono too.









(photo from A Work in Progress Blog)

A Spinner Ring Tanya made when she took a class at Bead and Button with Robyn Cornelius.


The textures and the movement are playful and tactile. What a touchstone when things need to be pondered, or a place to work out some worries.












(photo from A Work in Progress Blog)

Bracelet from the Challenge of Travel 2013.

A perfect example of Tanya executing a pattern by Heather Collin.
There is also a necklace on this link that you should see!  Chain maille and beadweaving.  So good together.



(photo from A Work in Progress Blog)

Chain Maille.  Click on those two words.  You will see more and it is sooooo worth your time!


That drape...Can you feel it?!






(photo from A Work in Progress Blog)

And last but Certainly Not least...Tanya's Original Design for Bead and Button Bead Soup.  

Sayin' it again...it is hard to imagine Tanya's work can get better than this.
When I saw this, I said, "Now THIS...is IT".  This one has it all!  Metal, beads, weaving, funk, glamour.  Wow.   Just Wow!

(photo from A Work in Progress Blog)




Tanya, it was our e-mails a while back that got the ideas brewing for this.  I mentioned that Rosanne Cash has a song "44 Stories" and that I wanted to do a theme of 44 as I close out my 44th year of this life.  I couldn't find a theme I wanted to work with until I saw the spools.  Then I knew that the theme was something I wanted others to participate in.  I wanted to send out 44 spools, keep a few for myself, and see how it all unfolded from there.  And knowing some spools will go unused forever or for a while is ok.  Because not all stories are written yet.
Thank you, Tanya.  I deeply appreciate you being a part of this.

{Rolling Blog Hop Challenge} Hope of Crafty Hope

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. 


Hope of Crafty Hope Fame, has posted her vintage spool creations and here they are (to see more of her photos of what she made, click on her highlighted name):

(photos from Crafty Hope Blog)

Hope writes that she hopes the French words on that first one aren't nasty :-D Aren't these wonderful?!  Paper, buttons, beads, and :Poof: ~wearable art, instant conversation pieces.  She is SO GOOD at taking the ordinary and the forgotten and making them memorable.  Please go to her blog to read how she made these and see all the other photos she took.  

I have been following Hope since I first started blogging.  Hers was the second "follower" button I ever clicked.  It took me a while to figure out how to comment.  But when I finally did start commenting, I was greeted with warmth.  Each Monday, Hope posts a menu plan for the week, complete with recipes and recipe reviews.  She goes thrifting and antiquing a lot and takes wonderful photos of her new old loot!  There are always a few goodies in these photos that catch my eye and it is interesting to wait and watch for them in her jewelry.  She can see the beauty in all these objects and brings them to life.  Just following her blog will make one see any object in a different light.  She is really talented that way!  And the photos she takes along the Gulf are incredibly soothing and inspiring.  Please, take a little time at Crafty Hope, enjoy her DIY posts, and learn something new :-) 


Here is some creative eye candy from Crafty Hope's Etsy Page:

Leather Feather Earrings


Hope cut these feathers herself.  The leather looks so luscious.  Can't you imagine how these beauties sway and how they feel?! 


(photo from Crafty Hope Etsy Page)

Etched Copper Flower Necklace

Hope etched this copper piece with a pretty flower design.  The ceramic beads she chose compliment the copper beautifully.  Love the colors here!













(photo from Crafty Hope Etsy Page)

Dawn Necklace


This piece shows what Hope does best...color palettes, blending of beads (polymer, wood, stone, ceramic, glass, metal), and flow.  This one has it ALL! 












(photo from Crafty Hope Etsy Page)

Bracelet featured in Stringing Magazine

That simple addition of the red seed beads makes the whole bracelet pop.  The quiet genius of Hope.  Lovely lovely bracelet.  She calls this Fire Toasted Marshmallow.  Are you salivating?  Can you smell the fire and hear it crackling?


(photo from Crafty Hope Etsy Page)

Copper Washer Earrings


Hope textured these washers and antiqued them.  The movement of these must be wonderful!









(photo from Crafty Hope Etsy Page)




Hope is also very involved in ZNetShows and has been Very instrumental in putting out their first Glossi.  Click on that whole line for the link :-)


Thank you Hope, for always being quick with an e-mail, helpful tips, and kind words.  And thank you for being willing to do this :-)  You were slightly ahead of me on this one, and it gave me a good chuckle!

A Time To Stitch 4

Therese and I have tallied up the participants and all of the stitch suggestions.  We are excited to reveal the participant list and the three other stitches for this challenge.  So with out further ado here is the list and the stitches.

Your Hostesses 

Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller 

Amy Severino

Janet Bocciardi

Cynthia Machata

Alicia Marinache

Paula Kramer

Kim Hora

Dee Alcalde

Degi (Kokopelli)

Maryanne Gross

Liz E

Sally Russick

Becky Pancake

Katherine Gale

Jasvanti Patel

Karin Slaton

Alenka

Sarah Sequins

Tanya Goodwin

Debbie Rasmussen

The tally of the suggested stitches:

RAW - 2

Chenille - 2

Spiral Rope - 5

Pondo Stitch - 1

Herringbone - 1

Flat Spiral - 1

Flat Cellini - 1

Chevron - 4

Brick Stitch - 1 

CRAW - 1

The ones with the most votes 1. Spiral Rope, 2. Chevron, and tied for 3. RAW and Chenille

The four stitches are: Net stitch (mandatory), Spiral Rope, Chevron stitch, and Chenille 

Therese and I decided that the third suggested stitch would be Chenille, since RAW was in a past ATTS challenge.

Challenge Rules:

The Net stitch is the mandatory stitch and must be used in one of your pieces.  You must choose at least one of the other three stitches for your other piece.

The Spiral Rope can be done in the Spiral Rope stitch, or any of the other spiral stitches, that is your choice.

RAW can be used in your design, as long as, one of the other 4 challenge stitches is use as the main stitch.

Therese and I are pretty easy going, so if you missed the sign up and would really like to be a part of this challenge, just leave a comment on either mine or Therese's blog and we will put you on the list.

We are looking forward to see what each of you have created and the stitches you chose to use on the blog hop day January 15, 2014.

(thanks for writing this up, Therese! ~cvd)