Tacky Holiday Earring Blog Hop

My friend Diana put out a challenge on Facebook a few weeks ago to create a tacky pair of earrings to sport with those lovely ugly Christmas sweaters. I thought it sounded like fun and jumped on board. 

Unfortunately I can't wear earrings, but that doesn't stop me from making them! I wanted to create earrings that I could gift to my 20-something daughter and niece, who are always up for fun. 

I'm not sure if these are exactly tacky, but they are bit more wild than things I'd normally create. So grade me on my Humblebeads scale, these are pretty out there for me! 

My first pair I used my folk earring charms that were inspired by the patterns of knitted socks. I used large wood beads with Czech glass and tied tinsel-ish ribbon between the beads. I could so see my daughter wearing these with a cute pink sweater, rocking around the Christmas tree. 

I spotted these triangle frames at the craft store and immediately thought they'd make a good Christmas tree. I knotted them with Czech glass beads in between and added a bit of sparkle for the star. These are some seriously long earrings, the tiny bits of waxed linen at the bottom touch the shoulders! These will go to my niece who wears super huge earrings all the time. 

I recommend listening to Hipster Holiday on Pandora, grab a candy cane and enjoy the zany creations by my fellow bloggers:

Diana Ptaszynksi - Our host! 

Michelle Ann McCarthy
Heather Powers - You are here!
Loralee Kolton
Sue Kennedy
Melissa Trudinger
Kari Asbury
Sandi Volpe
Lindsay Starr
Laney Mead

Heather Boardman 

AJE Firefly Challenge

Earlier this month the Art Jewelry Elements posted a challenge for summer inspired by Fireflies. I had to jump on it. I love these night time dancers that entertain us during hot and humid summer nights. The fields around my house light up with their display and I have fond memories of chasing fireflies as a kid growing up in the country. 

My first pendant is a simple design with one of my firefly charms, Czech glass, a feathery Humblebead disk and a brass colored dyed hematite. I worked the chain up with a series of large jump rings juxtaposed by a copper flower clasp.

My next piece is a bracelet that uses similar beads to match my pendant.

My final pendant I pulled out a bead I had been hording for years, years I tell you! Isn't that funny how you can fall in love with a bead but you have to wait until it really speaks to you before you take it out of the bead box. 

This pewter pendant is Mamacita Beadworks. I stacked a series of art beads on top of the pendant to suggest a summer night - a golden disk bead with tree branches wrapped around it. A lampwork bead from Sea of Glass that looks like a starry night. A ceramic bead from Earthenwood Studio that reminds of wood and the forests, along with a little wooden bead. And finally a tiny disk bead with wings wrapped around it. 

The best part of the firefly pendant - those squirmy little legs underneath! It reminds me of a character straight out of Tim Burton's James and Giant Peach.

Visit the other participants and see their firefly inspirations!

Guest Designers:
Melissa Trudinger - https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/aje-firefly-challenge-reveal/
Mary Detray - http://www.brassrabbitstudio.com/blog
Keren Panthaki - https://vasdea.wordpress.com
Tammy Adams - http://www.paisleylizard.com/
Veralynne Malone - www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Terri Del Signore - http://artisticaos.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers - http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com (you're here!)
Susan Delphine Delaney - https://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com

AJE Team:
Jenny Davies-Reazor - http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Lesley Watt - http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Niky Sayers - http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Caroline Dewison - http://blueberribeads.co.uk
Jen Cameron - http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Art of Awareness Blog Hop

Welcome, today I'm taking part in a blog hop hosted by Lori Anderson and Heather Millican of Swoondimples that is about raising awareness for causes that we want to support.

Based on the ribbon awareness campaign, beadmaker Heather Millian of Swoondimples created bean beads for us with our cause color and a word or two that we requested. When I saw the little "be." beads in Heather's shop, I knew those were the ones that I wanted for this hop.

For my cause I'm supporting mental health awareness with the color green and depression in particular.

It's difficult to watch someone I love struggle with a depression that causes them to not function or makes them feel completely hopeless. I can't fathom them not feeling worthy of friends or love or that they feel so much despair that death seems like a better choice.

Depression is terrible. It's not just the blues or feeling sad. It steals people from us, not only having them withdraw and change but depression is a disease that can sometimes be fatal. Think about that, someone struggling from this disease is at risk of dying if they don't get help. And even then, in a flash of a moment and a lapse in judgment, they could be gone. And that breaks my heart and keeps me awake sometimes.

There is help for depression, although it's a long road to recovery and may be an illness that is managed rather than cured. Start here if you think you are suffering from depression or worried about a loved one.

Here are 7 great ways you can support and help someone suffering from depression.  Click here for more ways to support a loved one.

If you know someone suffering from mental illness, of any kind, treat them with respect, kindness and caring. Let them know that they are important to you. Spend time with them, even if it's difficult. Don't expect them to snap out of it, if they could they would do it in a heartbeat! And keep in mind that just because someone has a mental illness doesn't mean that aren't intelligent, brilliant and amazing.

For my awareness pieces I created two bracelets. I love the "be." bead. Be. period. What an important idea for someone with depression. Not be happy or be hopeful. Just be, as in live. No matter what, just be because when depression has swallowed someone whole, survival is all that required while they fight their way back.

Just be here, with us, with those that love you.

And we'll be here for you, ready to love you and see you through.

Here is the list of those participating in the blog hop:

Lori Heather	Anderson Millican	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com (hostess) www.facebook.com/swoondimples (bead artist)
Candida	Castleberry	www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
mischelle	andrade	https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Paige	Maxim	http://delightfullittlegems.blogspot.com/
Laurie	Vyselaar	www.lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Marybeth	Rich	http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Alice	Peterson	www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kim	Dworak	http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Audrey	Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
Karen	mitchell	www.overthemoon-design.com
Joan	Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jean	Wells	Jean A. Wells
Ann	Schroeder	www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Gail	Accinelli	facebook.com/oregonmadejewelry
Tania	Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Mallory	Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Mary K	McGraw	mkaymac.blogspot.com
Shai	Williams	www.shaihasramblings.com/
Beth	Emery	storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Catie	Doman	http://drcatie.blogspot.com
Lorelei	Eurto	Http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com
Lee	Koopman	www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Tammy	Adams	www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Katie	Nelson	https://www.facebook.com/katiebead
Patty	Miller	http://pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Chris	Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Cassi	Paslick	http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/
Charlee	Griffith	https://www.facebook.com/charlee.griffith
Kelli	Nelson	www.afamilyaffarekelli.blogspot.com
Catherine	King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Melissa	Trudinger	beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Susan	Bowie	https://susanbowie.wordpress.com
Jennifer	Justman	www.soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Cassi	Paslick	http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/
K	Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Veralynne	Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Evie and Beth	McCord	http://ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com/
Mihaela	Georgescu	http://michellemaya2005.wordpress.com
Rebecca	Anderson	Www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Charlene	Jacka	www.clay-space.com
Kim	Stevens	www.pickingpoppies.blogspot.com
Susan	McClelland	Mistheword12.wordpress.com
Gina	Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Mona	Arnott	bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Sandi	Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Andrea	Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Janine	Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Lori	Bowring Michaud	www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Christie	Murrow	Www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
B.R.	Kuhlman	www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Lupe	Meter	www.gesmpccorner.blogspot.com
Lucy	Bejarano	www.lucybejaranojewelry.blogspot.com/
Stephanie	Perry	www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Elisabeth	Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Carolyn	Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Heather	Powers	www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Katie	Hacker	www.katiehacker.blogspot.com
Kepi	Rasmussen	www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca
Gail	Vanderster-Zwang	www.angelmoose.blogspot.com
Elizabeth	Hodges	http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com/

Game of Thrones Jewelry Reveal

A few weeks ago I put out a challenge for my fellow jewelry designers to create a piece of jewelry inspired by Game of Thrones. 

For my creations I was inspired by the Women of Westeros. 

My first creation is inspired by Sansa Stark - whose jewelry got her into all sorts of trouble last season. (PS - don't go to a wedding in Westeros, ever!)

I loved the transformation at the end of last season and seeing that Sansa has decided to drop the damsel in distress act and take her fate into her own hands, at least somewhat. I hate to see her as a pawn of Baelish - he is such a weasel. 

I loved the darker look that she adopted while at the Eyrie. I think she would have opted for something that gave a nod to the House of Arryn and I could see her wearing this while avoiding her unhinged aunt. 

Among the Clouds Necklace

The necklace features artisan beads that I created and clasp by Green Girl Studios.

Chain provided by Stinky Dog Beads.

My next inspiration was the Mother of Dragons - Daenerys Targaryen. Oh my gosh, who doesn't love her? 

I created a pendant that pulled in elements that reminded me of her. This bead has the look of a dragon eye so I decided Daenerys would definitely be wearing this while ruling her growing empire.

She would rub the bead while dreaming of of the Iron Throne with her three dragons circling above. She'd have on one of those silky blue dresses that she is always sporting. 

Eye of Protection Jewel Pendant

 The pendant features a lampwork bead from Genea Beads and art beads that I created.

And dragon scale earrings because what else would the Mother of Dragons wear? I like the slightly scorched look of the ceramic beads in this one. You can't rule dragons without getting a little burnt, right?

Dragon Scale Earrings

The earrings feature pewter charms from Invicti, ceramic bead from White Clover Kiln and beads I created. 

The next character who I love to watch what she is going to do next is Margaery Tyrell. What a dangerous woman, she doesn't want to be a queen - she wants to be THE queen. I loved that. She is all about using beauty and charm to disarm her enemies and get what she wants. 

Since her family is the House of Tyrell and the rose is their symbol with their motto as "Growing Strong" I went with a floral design that she might have brought back from Highgarden. 

I used tiny bits of silk wrapped in wire that I felt looked a dress she would wear - of course it would be cut way too low. I can't wait to see what happens next to this character who appears to be the luckiest unlucky bride in all the seven kingdoms.  Two husbands dead already and she hasn't got her first gray hair!

Beauty in the Thorns Bracelet

The bracelet features a house bead that I created, enamel beads from Gardanne Beads and pewter leaves from Green Girl Studios.

Enter to Win The Dragon Jewel Pendant!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win this artisan Dragon Jewel Pendant.

It features a handcrafted lampwork bead by Genea Beads and accents with a brass filigree pendant and polymer clay beads. The gunmetal chain measures 26" long.

Retail value $55. US residents only, must be 18 years of older to enter.

If you are playing along with the challenge, enter your blog link below. I'm counting down the days until Sunday - can't wait to watch how the game is played this season!

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Add Your Link Here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Micheals Beading Challenge with a Twist Blog Hop Reveal

Welcome to the Micheals Beading Challenge with a Twist! The twist was to support your local bead shop, small bead business or beadmaker with your creations using the above beads from Micheals. I know it's a crazy busy time, so I hope a few of you have decided to join me and play along! I teamed up with my friend Lorelei again for this challenge so head over to her blog and see what she has created! 

So without further ado here are my creations for the challenge. 

First up I created a necklace with one of my bezel pendants of willow branches. It has such a wintry feel and matched the colors of the challenge beads perfectly. I wanted to keep my techniques simple for these projects and what could be simpler than stringing - it's always fun to puzzle out a pleasing design. 

I used a component from Green Girl Studios as my clasp for my twist piece for the necklace. I borrowed a little branch toggle from another GG clasp. One tip: attach your toggle bar with chain or 2-3 jump rings so that your clasp will lay flat and not bunch up on top of your beads. 

At first I thought it was a waste to use such a great clasp in the back, but then I thought "um J-Lo would agree that having some assets in the back can be the best thing in the world!" So I went with the fancy clasp that maybe only the wearer will see, but it makes the necklace! (Does that date me that I thought of J-Lo instead of Kim Kardashian? Perhaps!)

I went with two stands of beading wire to have the double stand of round beads to beef up the design and mimic the roundness of the pendant. I also added a little etched jump ring to the pendant, I thought it needed just a touch of texture there. 

My next design is a bracelet that uses just a few of the beads from the challenge and my "Twist" beads are a lovely set of ceramic beads from White Clover Kiln and a two of my polymer clay beads. 

I love how the crackle effect of both of the Michaels beads add an icy feel. If you saw my wintry inspiration that inspired the challenge, I think you'd agree that this piece best captures the feeling of that inspiration photo. Again, super easy design with simple loops of steel wire to link the beads together. 

And my last piece, doesn't really fit with the challenge since I just used one bead, but what the hey. It's my party so I will break the rules. The earrings feature lampwork beads from Gardanne and my polymer clay disks. I made some tiny tassels from brass chain. 

So that's what I created, I can't wait to see what other bloggers have created. Add you link with the InLinkz tool below. 

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Micheals Beading Challenge Blog Hop with a Twist

Are you ready for a big dose of color and bead inspiration? I'm so exited to announce that Lorelei Eurto and I are co-hosting another Michael's Beading Challenge Blog Hop.

And we want you to play along!

Go to your Michael's craft store and buy these beads. This week, for an extra incentive to play along, the Bead Gallery beads are 40% off! There is an extra 25% coupon off even sale items today. Check the coupon page for details.

The bead details:

So here are the rules: 

You must have a blog to participate. It's a blog hop! 

Don't have one but want to start one? Lorelei has a nice ecourse on setting up a blogger blog from start to finish. Get it here. 

Use the beads shown here, and you can add in up to 2 additional bead types to your design. 

And the twist? Let's also support small businesses. 

If you are able, have your +2 types of beads from a beadmaker, local bead store or indie bead seller online. Your +2 beads can be ones you pick up for the challenge or ones in your stash. Make sure you include a shout out to the small business that you are supporting in your blog post.

Create any piece of jewelry you like, with the beads, using your own choice of focal.  If you want to make a necklace, and some matching bracelet and earrings... the sky is the limit.

Choose any design you like, using any technique - that'll be the fun part of the whole thing- to see what different things you can do with these same beads.

Not to worry! If you find similar beads somewhere like Hobby Lobby, go ahead and use 'em.  Seeing what everyone does with similar beads, is half the fun. If you can't find a particular bead strand at Michael's you can substitute a similar one. 

Reveal Date: December 18th

If you want to participate -  Come to my blog the morning of December 18th (reveal Day) and use the Link Up tool to add your blog links. I find this to be the easiest way to keep track of all the participants. So mark your calendars, buy the beads, create beautiful things, and get your blog posts ready for December 18th for a great hop. 

We know it's a crazy busy time of year - use the challenge to make a gift or two. You'll have an interesting blog post and an item checked off your holiday gift list - get two things done at once! 

Please feel free to leave comments on this post, or questions too.

Psst...like that color palette above? Check out the new issue of Step by Step Wire to see my contribution to as the new Color Canvas guru! 

(In case you are wondering, this isn't a sponsored post by Michael's or Halcraft Beads. Just two creative girls looking for a way to connect with our beady friends and share some inspiration!)

Michael's Beading Challenge Blog Hop Reveal

So a few weeks ago I teamed up with my beady friend Lorelei Eurto for a Michael's Challenge Blog Hop.  Above are the beads we used for the challenge that I picked up from Michael's. We invited anyone who wanted to join in the fun to play along. Today we are sharing the results. I can't wait to see what everyone made!

This was my inspiration palette for the challenge. I really wanted to make a necklace to match the shirt in this photo.

My dear friend Erin made the pendant for me a few years ago, I have wanted to make myself a necklace with it since but just never made the time. Yeah for the blog hop, finally something crossed off my to-do list! 

I paired Erin's pendant up with the the pink beads knotted on teal waxed linen along with the window glass beads and white turquoise beads. The second strand of beads are looped together on steel wire and mixed with etched brass jump rings. That strand has Czech glass and those boho-inspired inlay beads. A Vintaj Arte Metal chain finishes the design with a simple toggle clasp.

A close up of Erin's pendant - she has the heart of a poet and includes the most beautiful sayings on her designs. You can see more of her work at Tesori Trovati. 

For the next necklace I pulled back the palette and selected only a few strands of the beads to work with for this design. The wood and ceramic beads from Micheal's Bead Gallery are mixed with a few of my new butterfly wing beads and an etched butterfly pendant. (Those were made for my retreat class projects.)

The necklace is knotted on brown waxed linen. I seem to always underestimate the linen to knot ratio and ended up having to redo one side when I realized I was going to run out of cord before I finished. This happens to me often. 

Both designs capture a great summer bohemian feel that I'm digging right now. I loved using the waxed linen and tried very hard to remember the knots that Erin Siegel showed me on last Bead Cruise. I'm still trying to perfect them! 

If you played along include your link using the InLinkz tool below. 

Have fun visiting the other participants today. 

If you are stopping by early in the morning, 

you might want to check back this afternoon or evening to see more links/blogs. 

Happy Hopping!

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Art Bead Scene Editors Blog Hop

So the creative team behind the Art Bead Scene decided to challenge ourselves to participate in July's Monthly Challenge and host a little hop to reveal our results.

The inspiration painting is Edmund Dulac's Little Mermaid illustration from 1911. You can read all about the challenge and play along this month too, click here for details.

I seem to have an abundance of art beads with a sea-inspired theme so this challenge first started with a treasure hunt through my bead boxes to find the perfect beads. For this necklace I grabbed a beautiful Lisa Peters Art ceramic pendant that I picked up a few years ago at Bead & Button.  I think it perfectly captures the feeling of seaweed floating in the current. I layered a Girl Girl Studio shibuichi mermaid pendant right on top of the ceramic one - yep you can do that! I paired them up with a disk bead that I created. Although it's a Van Gogh Almond Blossom bead, I thought it worked with the theme and the colors. The lovely lampworkbead is from by friend Anne of Gardanne Beads. 

My next creation is one I will wear all summer long. This bracelet started with one of my urchin beads that have a beautiful patina. On bronze leather I knotted dyed wooden beads along with more of those Van Gogh Almond disk beads and a ceramic bead from Gaea Beads. 

The clasp is a spectacular shibuichi piece from Green Girl Studios. And a little enameled flower bead cap from Gardanne Beads to add just a little touch of color.

My final piece for the challenge is a sweet pair of earrings using the tiniest little urchins I've ever seen.  They are actually bead caps, but I think they make lovely charms too.  The urchins are from Green Girl Studios and I paired them up with summery peach Wobbles with golden speckles and a tiny faceted brass beads. 

Visit the participating Art Bead Scene editor's blogs to check out how they channeled their inner mermaid this week!

Mary Harding
Rebecca Anderson
Ema Kilroy
Claire Lockwood
Humblebeads - you are here!

Resources: Humblebeads. Green Girl Studios. Gardanne Beads. Gaea Beads. Lisa Peters Art.