Pay it Forward

A few weeks ago I was over at Alicia's blog who was posting about a blog hop called Pay it Forward. I could not tell where this hop began as I clicked backwards from Alicia's blog, to Lisa's to Patti's to Cilla's. 

What a great idea. Here's how it works. The three first commenters to this blog post will get a surprise gift from me. The gift will be one of my handmade pieces of jewelry that I send to you within the next 365 days. 

Both the item and the when you receive it will be a surprise. Hopefully a little something in the mailbox to brighten your day.

To sign up all you need to do is leave me a comment and make sure to include your email address so I can send you a note to find out your mail address and ask you a couple of questions (likes, dislikes, colors, style ...) to make that surprise a little more custom for you.

If you decide you want to play, the rules are you MUST also play along and pledge to Pay it Forward to three more people. Do a blog post similar to this one and let your readers know you'll be sending out a surprise to the first three who comment on your post.

So if you're game, I'm game. Leave a comment and your email. 

Blog Hop: Sequintastic

Like any self-respecting beader ... I like to torture challenge myself with pushing the limits of what I can create. Working with sequins might just be out there somewhere in the mists of Avalon. 


















I started small. I decided that I wanted to have a cascade of sequins coming down from a large shell. But as I connected the sequins ... one) they kept slipping off the shell, and two) they kept bunching up in a cluster. I gave up after much swearing and claimed that it was exactly what I meant to do, and duplicated my mistake pattern with a second earring.

Next I pulled out some grosgrain ribbon. I decided that sequins were made to be sewn, and I moved on to a bracelet. I added a velvet ribbon down the middle with freshwater pearls lining each side. I figured I should just go with the whole medieval maiden thing and added a ribbon as the closure. Now if you happen to have a 'ladies maid' to tie it on in the morning; you'll be all set.

I have such a new found respect for Sarah's work with sequins. Her work is quite amazing, but now that I've tried my hand at working with sequins, I can honestly say I have no idea how she does it?! After several stabbings (by my needle), multiple ripping out of my pattern, corrective stitching of wayward beads, I am willing to admit complete and utter defeat to the sequins. I am going back to wire wrapping and stringing. 

For the rest of the participates in the Sequintstic blog hop please click here for list on Sarah's blog

Thursday Favorites: Pantone Bead Swap

I am a bit over due showing you all the bead swap I got from Mary for Lori Anderson's Fall/Winter Pantone Bead Soup. Oh man, isn't it the best when you get a little surprise in the mailbox? Something picked out just for you, and it turns out to be exactly the thing you would have picked yourself? Just look at these gorgeous beads! 



I absolutely love the colors and can't wait to use them. I've got a few ideas floating around that I will hopefully be back to show you before too long.

I also sent Mary a few things from my collection. I tried to send a range of colors with fun focal beads. I picked up these beads literally from around the world. I LOVE shopping for beads, much to my hubby's chagrin. I've been on a very strict bead diet lately, sadly for me. But this stash I sent Mary hails from my UK trip, the jaunt down to NZ to see my sister, several trips over to Rhode Island, a trip out to California, a few beads I shared from gorgeous hand-made enamels sent to me from Keri over at Pink Lemonade (South Carolina) and then of course the many trips around Manhattan where I work. I hope she likes them!

BLOG 6 Award: Late Addition to the List

By popular demand, there is a write in addition to the BLOG 5 awards .... one for humor. I suppose that makes it the BLOG 6 awards, but what's a girl to do? And so we add one more award to the list. I noted two blogs for their sense of humor, and thus I'm going to award them both with this additional award. Note the gnome. Yes the graphic was decided by the write in co-host .... ahem... Christine who decided that we had forgotten a category. 

So without further ado, I give two more blogs the honor of the humor award: Beadsong Jewelry and Life on Peanut Layne. I've already mentioned them both, and noted their wicked sense of humor. But in case you missed it ....

Peanut Layne is one of the most hilarious writers I've come across in awhile. I am usually laughing and snorting over my cup of tea on Saturday mornings with the rest of my family wanting to hear what's up. The last time it was this post on grocery stores. Her motto "providing laughter, entertainment and permanent birth control to the entire neighborhood." She had me on the floor laughing with a post on come backs for dumb questions people ask about why she had so many kids.

One blog that gives me constant inspiration is Beadsong Jewelry. Bobbie's work is beautiful, but she is also one of the hardest working artists out there. She has been 'on the road' to bead shows for months, and living through disastrous circumstances, hot as the 'hinges of hell' weather, and taking it all in stride. Her stamina is awe inspiring. She has such a wonderful outlook on this crazy beady world, and a wicked sense of humor that seems to keep her going. A recent post where she is passing on the honor of a blogger award shows her quirky side, and apparently just how much she hates to hem a pair of pants. Her list of bead artists is well worth a look. Check it out.

For the rest of the awards, just scroll down to yesterday's post.

The BLOG 5 Awards: Artistic, Style, Journalistic, Educator, Newbie

Today, seven of us will be awarding the BLOG 5 Awards through a blog hop linky. Here's how it works. Myself and my 6 co-hosts (Kashmira, Janice, Gloria, Alicia, Christine and Therese) will each be giving our awards on our blogs; you can find links to each of our blogs on the linky below (or the links above). We've chosen bloggers who we believe best represent one of the 5 categories. When a blogger is given one of the awards, we are inviting them to join the hop and continue building a linky group of awarded bloggers. 

So sit back, grab your favorite beverage ... be that coffee, tea or perhaps a lovely glass of wine, and visit a fantastic list of bloggers. You might just find a favorite new one you didn't know was out there. Now, let's get started! 

EDUCATOR:
There is a blog I try to never miss each week; Duni's Studio. She is an amazing seamstress and crafter extraordinaire. She is regularly showing her readers just how she does it. I tell you, I can't sew worth a darn, but it makes no difference --- I love her blog. It is wonderfully written; she peppers it with all kinds of fun stuff like setting a gorgeous afternoon tea complete with recipes. And of course she's made the table cloth, the decorations, the cake, the cards, and likely the party favors for the guests including the gift box it came in. She is simply amazing.

A second blog that I have more recently been following Erin Siegel's. It's not a new blog, and it most certainly has many, many followers. In fact she just published one of my favorite new books: Bohemian Inspired Jewelry. Anyone who follows my blog knows how much I like Boho, and this book has become my 'go-to' book. It is on my bead table most days. What I've noticed most about Erin is just how much she enjoys teaching, sharing her ideas and helping people learn how to improve their craft. I'm sure many of you already follow her, and know her. But she absolutely deserves an award like this.

JOURNALISTIC:
There are two blogs that I only recently started following, but it is like a good book you just can't put down. I'm always scrolling through my blogger list to see if either of these two blogs have a new post: Introverted Art and Life on Peanut Layne. 

Peanut Layne is one of the most hilarious writers I've come across in awhile. I am usually laughing and snorting over my cup of tea on Saturday mornings with the rest of my family wanting to hear what's up. The last time it was this post on grocery stores. Her motto "providing laughter, entertainment and permanent birth control to the entire neighborhood." She had me on the floor laughing with a post on come backs for dumb questions people ask about why she had so many kids.

If you prefer to ponder deep questions, then try Introverted Art. It is an intellectual forum infused with beautiful artwork that she creates --- and that usually matches the theme of her discussion. She gets quite a lively debate going on midlife crisis, fear of dying, intolerance, bad managers in the work force. Pretty much nothing is off limits. I love how she writes, how she serves up a topic and how she does it in a way to spark a lively debate and not a rant. She's got quite a gift.

ARTISTIC:
I have complete photo envy when I look at Alchemy of Art. Visually this site is stunning. The photography captures moments and colors in time. And the macro shots are freak'n amazing! Not only is the photography outstanding, but then there is the beadwork. Oh come on now ... you're killing me. Fantastic, intricate beadwork that is shot in an ultra-macro style. Seriously, if you haven't yet been to this site you've got to check it out.

Another artist's work that I absolutely love to see is MoonflyGirl. I could come back day, after day and just marvel at how she turns old pottery shards from the banks of the Thames into gorgeous bezeled jewelry. The term is called mudlarking, which comes from the 18th-19th centuries for Londoners who would scavenges river mud for items of value to resell. Have I mentioned that I'm a sucker for history? She will bring back a pile of what looks like bits and pieces of a lost time and shapes them into stunning, unique charms, pendants, bezels ... complete with metal work she also does. Lately she's been creating 'Owlies' . Love these little guys.

One blog that gives me constant inspiration is Beadsong Jewelry. Bobbie's work is beautiful, but she is also one of the hardest working artists out there. She has been 'on the road' to bead shows for months, and living through disastrous circumstances, hot as the 'hinges of hell' weather, and taking it all in stride. Her stamina is awe inspiring. She has such a wonderful outlook on this crazy beady world, and a wicked sense of humor that seems to keep her going. A recent post where she is passing on the honor of a blogger award shows her quirky side, and apparently just how much she hates to hem a pair of pants. Her list of bead artists is well worth a look. Check it out.

STYLE:
It goes without saying for those that follow my blog that I am a huge fan of the blog Fashionadictas. So much to love with Marcela's style. While on the surface it is fashion in it's purest sense ... a runway. What Marcela has done is truly unique; she has blended the fabrics, style, colors and the feeling of a runway show with the emotion, movement and colors of art. It always amazes me to see how she puts her posts together. 

Mona's Picturesque is such a beautiful blog in so many ways. The photography is simple, lush and emotional. I just love it. She takes pictures of the beautiful Finnish countryside, of the wild flowers and of her two gorgeous girls. I mean, you can just imagine the giggles of these girls in the pictures --- they are that good! I think the mother-daughter moments are my favorite part of her blog. You sort of feel like you've walked into a private moment. It is captivating.

NEWBIE:
There are some great new bloggers out there, and so my co-hosts and I wanted to be sure to point a few of them out in case you haven't yet had the chance to stop by their blogs.

Let's start with Marla from Spice Box Designs, someone who embodies the saying 'looking for the silver-lining.' She has such a great attitude, and is always up for trying something new. Her blog is a mix of beautiful beadwork and everyday inspiration on life. This blogger has serious beadweaving talents, a heart the size of Texas (or Mississippi --- her home state) and just lights up any beady challenge. I love to see her name on the list.

Another new favorite blog of mine is Sexta-feira, written by an English teacher in Greece who does the kind of travel I wish I could do! She provides a plethora of reviews on movies, music, concerts ... and American TV? But, she had me at 'hello' with her post of one of her Greek Island excursions. Can you even imagine if this were your view? It is a really well done blog, and she's been stacking up the blogger awards! So here is one more for your collection.

I want to mention just one more of my new favorite blogs: Cheapskate Blethering. I'm really enjoying her tips and recipes, and her dog is seriously cute. But what I like most is her writing style. It's fun to read, really informative and makes me laugh. All good in my opinion.

THE BLOG HOP RULES: there are no rules, but we do have some suggestions. These awards were designed to point out some of the great blogs out there. And you can choose to pass on your award to as few, or as many as you like. So if you've been tapped on the shoulder and given one of these awards, we would love to see you display it proudly on your blog. Join the blog hop and show off that lovely blog of yours. We would, of course, love to hear why you like to blog, and why you chose a fellow blogger for an award. So let's get hopping!
 

Blogger Award Feature: Tresese's Treasures

Therese, much like Christine (from my post yesterday), started blogging in earnest to join one of the many blog hops that run through the beading community. For Therese, it was Lori Anderson's Bead Soup that pushed her to start blogging regularly, and when she started her own blog Therese's Treasures. However, Therese says "I discovered a world that is so much more then bead soup!"

She says that she continues to blog to stay in touch with all her new online friends, and make new ones. She also notes that blogging helped her stay in touch with other beaders and challenges, and that this helped to improve her skills as a bead weaver and jewelry designer.

What Therese says she likes most about blogging is visiting the other blogs. She says "I follow to see what my friends have been up to and leave encouraging comments about what they have blogged about."  She of course, loves reading the comments from those that have  visited her blog because as she says "let's face it isn't that one of the reason we all keep blogging?" She also confessed, "I also still do a happy dance when I see that I have a new follower."  

She says that she likes to follow blogs that are just starting out, and that sometimes if "I think what they are doing is interesting I will pass on a word or two about their blog." 

The blog that most inspired her is Marcy's La Bella Joya. Her blog was the first that Therese followed when she was just starting to blog. Marcy's blog was what encouraged Therese to really get into bead weaving, which is amazing if you've ever seen Therese's work! She says that Marcy's color challenges really helped "me improve my stitching by branching out and trying new stitches."

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Therese's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Award Feature: One Kiss Creations

Christine really began blogging in earnest about 2 years ago, and what really propelled her to get serious about blogland was an event called 7000 Bracelets for Hope. An incredibly worthy effort to help bring a little smile to the mother caring for a child with a rare disease. It is part of the Global Genes Project, which is a community representing the many rare diseases globally. They say that collectively, the group is larger than the AIDS and Cancer communities combined, but despite its size the community lacks a unified voice. Only 15% of rare diseases have organizations or foundations providing support, or research. They also estimate that 95% of all rare diseases do not have a single FDA approved drug treatment, and there are currently less than 400 treatments approved by the FDA for the nearly 7000 rare diseases that have been identified. 

Christine said that she had "flirted with the idea of blogging for about a year." But when she saw the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop, she says "I just did it" and that is when One Kiss Creations took off for her.


She says that she continues to blog because of the people. "I love the people I have come to know in the blogging world," she says. "They are creative and funny and generous with their time and knowledge." One of the things she says she loves most about blogging is the "personal connections I have made." "There are so many blogs out there, yet I seem to come across just the right ones for my interests and comfort."

She tells me that when she reads blogs, or writes her own, that she sits back with a cup of coffee (and perhaps a little dark chocolate) and invites people into her world, or she goes visiting by reading other people's blogs. She notes, "I make an event out of it," and she adds "what a sweet way to spend small pockets of time!" 

Christine says that there are several blogs that inspire her, and that it is hard to choose just one. But she does note that Windrock Studio is a favorite. She met the author, Susan, during the first 7000 Bracelets for Hope hop back in 2011. She says Susan's blog is mostly photos of her surroundings, and some of her wall hangings and purses. She raves "they are divine! I instantly felt like Windrock was the place for me." I can just picture her curled up in a favorite chair with her coffee and chocolate perusing the blog. She says that "Susan has a great warmth and way of speaking volumes with very few words."

Another blog that Christine connects with is Erin's at Elysian Studios. She says that she is a constant inspiration to her, and that "she excels in so many mediums --- painting, jewelry, textiles, photography." She says, "she is a font of information and a person I greatly admire. She is confident and professional and organized." She notes, she is "just a goodhearted person."

One last one she mentioned is called Cabin Porn (not an adult site - I promise!). It is simply a scroll of pictures of cabins in gorgeous outdoor settings. From Canada and Iceland to Colorado and Vermont ... it truly is a chronicle of beautiful off-the-beaten-path locations. It is now one of my newest blogs that I'm following! It made me laugh as my husband always calls my bead books my 'jewelry porn,' which of course he's right. I guess I'll have to add cabin porn to my list of guilty pleasures as well.

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Christine's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Award Feature: All The Pretty Things

Alicia has been blogging for over five years; a real veteran in Blogland. The blog where I first met Alicia, All the Pretty Things, is one she's been writing for almost a year now. 

Alicia says that she started blogging because "it's the perfect tool to interact with people; with your customers." She says "it's easy to let your customers know what kind of a person and artist you are and that makes for a more personal relationship." She uses Artfire for her shop which allows her to include a blog to give more background on who she is as an artist. And on several of her designs she includes the story and inspiration behind the piece. As an example, here is an excerpt from her piece Infinity is:

Faith is the subtle chain which binds us to the infinite. ~ Elizabeth O. Smith  Both my parents are teachers - one of math, the other of physics. Which means that I am a very logical, precise and mathematical person, of course. As an artist I have a special relationship with the circle: the perfect shape, the shape with largest area for the same perimeter, the never-ending shape... and so on. Not long ago I came upon 3 different sizes of silver plated rings and I knew I had to have them. Getting home, I tried different ideas until I paired them with some fresh-water pearls, very close to the perfect spherical shape... That's how the 'Infinity' set was born.

Alicia tells me that she continues to blog because she loves the interaction with people "plus I really love expressing myself," she says. She expresses herself through a number of ways, whether that be the jewelry she designs or the blog articles she writes and the tutorials she provides. 

Her husband, on the other hand, says that this is not entirely accurate. She says that, according to her husband "the truth is that I can be very chatty."  Oh well, can't we all out there in the blogosphere! 

Alicia has a pretty extensive list of blogs she likes to follow. She says her list to read grows every day as "I virtually meet new artists, new people, I want to read more and more."  As for which ones are her favorites, well we'll all need to wait until this upcoming Saturday (Sep 22) for her reveal of the bloggers she's picked to give awards.

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Alicia's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Award Feature: New End Studio

Gloria of New End Studio tells me that when she first started blogging that she had no idea what she was getting into by writing a blog.  She goes on to say "it began in March of 2010 as a means to scratch a little crack into the shell I had built up around myself, with the hope that eventually I would break through." She decided to keep working at opening herself up and that, as she says, "somehow, someway, my sharing would make someone feel good about themselves and they might get to takeaway something worthwhile, and boy, that would be wonderful."

Well some 2 years later, she's still at it and sharing stories about herself, her life, her sweet dog, her art --- and so many of us would say that we are finding something worthwhile and wonderful about visiting Gloria's blog.

But I think that Gloria is also, in return, getting quite a bit back from getting out there in the blogosphere. She has blown that shell around herself wide open. She is enjoying the interaction with readers and says "their comments are some of the best."  "They make me laugh and they fill baskets to the top with wisdom, inquiry and gentleness."

Gloria says, "for me, I like to read across the board, almost all subjects.  I love to find a takeaway, a seed, a mood, and a little treasure to carry with me for a while."

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Gloria's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Award Feature: BIKBIK & RORO

Janice, of Bikbik & Roro, describes herself as "a Mom who writes, draws and makes things." It is no mistake that the first thing she says about herself is that she is a Mom. Being a Mom to her two wonderful little girls is what defines her. It is what drives her passions, her handmade products, her writing, her creativity and her lens on life. You can tell that she has a very special relationship with her girls when you read her blog about her excursions with her girls --- off to the museums, the parks or just a day shopping. It always seems like they are off on an adventure and having fun doing it.

Her creativity is something that has driven her passions for some time. Before motherhood, she was an editor, writer and illustrator, which explains why she has such an eye for colors and design as well as wonderfully written blogs. Now that she is a full-time Mom, she devotes her time to handmade items like toys (softies mainly), children's clothing, pins and jewelry. She opened up her Etsy store to expand her business to a global platform. As a Mom, she said in a recent interview "I personally endeavor to make Bikbik & Roro and their friends as child-safe as possible, sewing with reinforced stitching, and avoiding the use of choke-able items like buttons. I like re-purposing fabrics, and using Asian textiles like vibrant Indonesian batiks and cute Japanese prints." 







Janice says that her "children are one of the biggest inspirations" for her work; "the way they look at the world, the way they interpret things, the way they draw, dress, mix patterns and colours." She says "my kids are so central in my life, they just change the way you look at things."

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Janice's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Award Feature: Sadafulee Always in Bloom

Kashmira has been blogging for some time now. I got to know her through her jewelry blog Sadafulee, which she started this year. 

But she started blogging years ago, back in March of 2008 with a blog called Me wanna to talk talk and talk. Her first post was very introspective talking about having low self esteem and whether parents who do everything for their children actually hinders their ability to be independent later in life? All good questions.

She actually has five blogs! Her other ones are called This I Have Learnt Today, Me wanna be a photographer too, and craftalicious (a private blog). She is quite a busy little blogger this one! She tells me that she loves to blog because she loves reaching out to people through her blogging. That is exactly how I met Kashmira! She is so approachable, and easy to chat with -- we instantly just started commenting back and forth through our blogs, and then just moved on to email! This blogger does 'wanna talk talk and talk!' And I love it, as I'm just as much a talker as she is.

Kashimra says that blogging is a way to grow personally (as you can see with some of the titles of her blogs) and she uses blogging as a sort of journal. She says "I find myself going back to old posts and remembering things long forgotten, that bring a smile to my face all over again!" What she loves most about blogging are the friendships that she's made. She says "I have made so many wonderful friends, who are always there for me, even if I have never met them" in person.

Kashmira told me that she does read a lot of other blogs, and that she has 250 blogs that she follows. She says that she has so many on her list "because I love them, and they inspire me in one way or another." She follows a wide range of topics from art, to self-help and somewhere in between like cooking, photography, lifestyle, jewelry design, travel and social impact blogs. She is well-read when it comes to blogging!

While they all inspire her in one way or another, there is one that inspired her to start her jewelry business called Project Why. This organization she donates her proceeds to, and she says "it has helped me gain some perspective in my life, even given me some sort of direction!"

This post is part of a series of featured bloggers who I have given appreciation awards to, please stop by and visit Kashmira's blog and congratulate her!

Blogger Awards: Sunshine - Premio Colors - Appreciation

Yesterday I told you that Marcela of Fashionadictas gave me three lovely blogger appreciation awards. And today, I'm going to be telling you all a little about 7 other bloggers that have given me much encouragement, support and friendship in the blogosphere. And for that, I'd like to give them my appreciation and these awards. So without further ado, here are the bloggers that I would like to thank for their support.

SADAFULEE
I'm going to start with Kashmira who is one of my newest bloggy friends. I am so enjoying getting to know her! She is such a natural at making jewelry and seems to pick up new techniques, patterns and styles so easily. She's also not afraid to try something and to encourage others to do the same. I recently ran across a post from her where she was talking about how she started making jewelry. She explained how 'rough' her first attempts were. Her story was meant to encourage others to just get out there and try it. Not to worry about that early work because it gets better with time. Her post encouraged me to do the same. To tell my story of the early work. 

But her early work is behind her now. She is making gorgeous jewelry, and a style all its own. Check out her shop on Luulla. She was recently published in Stringing magazine for one of her earring designs. Congratulations my friend! It is a pleasure to give you these awards.

THERESE'S TREASURES
Therese is an amazing seed beader, and I just love to see what she's created. I met her through one of the many blog hops and instantly saw the warmth and  inspiration she gives to all the other beaders. So on top of all that talent, she is a voice of encouragement to all us other beaders out there --- always telling us to just give it a try. And that is exactly what she did this year for me! I have been afraid to try several bead weaving stitches, but through a little encouragement I did gave it a try. And so glad that I did! It wasn't that hard after all. Now, she and Christine have another bead weaving challenge coming up and I hope you all stop by either of their blogs to sign up for round 2 of Time to Stitch. 

ONE KISS CREATIONS

Christine is also an amazing seed beader, and Therese's partner in crime. Christine was cheering me on as I tried herringbone for the first time. I ripped that pattern out at least 3-4 times before I actually finished it. Thank you Christine for the encouragement! Christine is one of those bloggers who just makes me smile when I get a message from her. She seems to take it all in stride, has a positive outlook on life and is just fun to blog and bead with. It is such a pleasure to give these awards to her!

You can find her creations on Etsy, and her summer adventures on her blog. It looks like they had a fantastic time this summer with plenty of fishing. Her daughter caught some 64 fish, and apparently kissed each one after she caught them -- there are pictures to prove it! Don't forget to stop by her blog and sign up for round 2 of Time to Stitch.

BIKBIK & RORO

Janice is such a thoughtful, kind soul and so deserving of this collection of blogger awards! I always look forward to reading her blog, or getting a message on mine from her. She blogs about helping the environment, rethinking what is humane for animals and is regularly pulling together beautiful handmade items from all over the Etsy crowd. She has quite a collection that she has personally curated on Etsy! I love her eye for color, style and texture. She brings these items together so beautifully, which is such an encouraging way to reward all the handmade artists out there.

In addition, she creates an amazing line of handmade items for children. She makes child-safe toys, children’s clothing as well as all sorts of items for dolls houses (including the house itself!) You can see more of her items in her Etsy shop. She takes so much care with her items to ensure that they are safe for kids by avoiding choke-able items like buttons, and reinforcing seams. She makes them as though she were thinking about her own kids. She is one amazing person.

NEW END STUDIO 
I'm trying to remember when I first met Gloria as it seems we've always been friends. She is just one of those positive forces in the blogosphere, and I'm so glad our paths crossed. We became fast friends over long discussions about our dogs, and have been chatting about all kinds of things ever since. 

Gloria has a wonderful blog showing her art, her jewelry, recipes and crafty ideas. You can find some of her crafty goodies on Storenvy. She has such a creative mind, as you can see in one of her posts she used Oz art on songbook pages to illustrate for a Wizard of Oz Blog Hop!

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS
Alicia is one of those bloggers who is teaching and giving back to our beady community. I recently signed up for a pay it forward effort she's doing where she creates a special surprise and sends it out to you at an unspecified time so that it is a lovely surprise. Something to lift your spirits when you least expect it. So thoughtful!   

She has also recently opened up her new online shop through ArtFire to sell her beautiful line of jewelry inspired by nature. She uses lots of pearls and natural stones - materials that I just love. She also is incredible with wire wrapping. Not only does she make gorgeous pendants, but then she creates tutorials to help new, aspiring jewelry designers learn the craft. She is a such a positive spirit in our little beady world.

MISS VAL'S CREATIONS
Val was one of the first bloggers to reach out and start following me, and I have found her bloggy friendship so encouraging and supportive. She has been a constant in my blogging experience, and a friendship that I have really enjoyed. Thank you for that Miss Val. It is a pleasure for me to give you these awards.

Val has a thriving line of jewelry that she sells on her own site and a top rated ebay shop. Lately, she has been very busy with the back to school crowd as one of her top sellers is a lariat that is perfect for teachers, librarians and well anyone with glasses who carry them around all day!

Val's blog chronicles her travels through New England (she has been to some wonderful places this summer) and her beautiful garden that she tends immaculately (I could use her help over at my place!). I love how Val photographs her adventures as though you are taking a walk with her through a town, a garden or along the shore. It's a wonderful, and beautiful escape. 

Each of these lovely ladies have agreed to help me co-host an award blog hop this Saturday (Sept 22). But before we give away another set of awards, please come back this week as I tell you a little bit more about these lovely ladies and why they began blogging, why they continue to blog and what inspires them. I have planned an entire week of interviews for you all to enjoy and get to know these bloggers better.

And then on Saturday (Sept 22) we will all be awarding a new set of bloggers with awards along with a blog link up. I hope you all get a chance to stop by and visit each of these wonderful blogs over the coming week! 

Freedom Fridays: Blogger Awards

I can't tell you what a surprise it was for me when Marcela at Fashionadictas told me that she was giving me these lovely awards. It means so much to me as they are awards from a peer. Thank you Marcela! And that something that makes me happy (blogging) is something that people want to read. 

I so wish that I could turn around and do the same for Marcela. I would love to give these same awards to her.
I am still relatively new to all this. I've been at it for about 9 months now, and she's has been so encouraging and supportive of my blogging. For that, I thank her from the bottom of my heart. I am in awe of her bloggy talents. Each blog is stunning-- it is a beautiful fusion of runway paired with art. Gorgeous art that is fashion itself. Be sure to check out her blog if you have yet to see it.

The hardest part for me is that I now need to give these awards to other bloggers. I have met so many new friends through blogging. So many people that I look forward to reading about, talking about their projects, getting feedback on my projects. But what these awards mean to me is a way to tell a few of my bloggy friends how much I've appreciated their friendship and their encouragement for me to keep blogging -- to keep trying new techniques, to keep making something I love ... jewelry. Tomorrow I will reveal some of the bloggers that have most inspired me through their constant support and friendship.

Anniversaries: Wedding Pearls

A year ago today, my friends Tony and Melissa were married in a beautiful outdoor wedding. She looked stunning in a gorgeous J. Crew, long summer sheath (Seraphina Gown). And she was wearing a triple-strand pearl necklace that I created for her. Yep, she trusted me with her wedding necklace! In fact she said "surprise me, I trust you." Now mind you, she is a clothing designer by trade, so this blew me away! She asked for pearls, lots and lots of them, with a bit of silver and bling (earlier post). I was so thrilled that she liked what I created. She declared "perfect" when I handed her the final design.


I met Melissa on my daily commute into Manhattan. It is funny what fast friends you make held captive on a 1-hour train, day after day. You end up talking about anything and everything. You talk about your boss, the crazy neighbor, your man's quirks (if my darling husband is reading this I swear I didn't reveal ... much). Needless to say you start to know your 'train crowd' (as we call it) better then the rest of your friends that you are forever trying to find a time that works to get together.


At the moment, Melissa and Tony are traveling through France to celebrate their first married year together. Visiting chateaux', tasting wine, sipping real Champagne (not just sparkling wine), trying fantastic smelly French cheese, practicing their French and well generally having a lot more fun than I am at my day job in hot & steamy New York City! 

I can't wait to see the pictures when they get back. They always take such inspiring trips. The honeymoon was in Spain including a newly renovated, ultra modern hotel with spectacular views. They went to Madrid, Barcelona and down along the Southern coast. Serious day-dreaming material. Sigh.

I will have to take notes -- very detailed notes, and then bug my hubby about taking a trip. Wish me luck!

Freedom Fridays: Southwestern Zen

I have been on a serious boho kick lately, and when I saw this stone blue deer skin leather cord from Nina Designs I was thrilled! I could not wait to pair it up with a pretty natural stone and a touch of silver. Nothing says boho quite like a little Southwestern twist.

I started with an African opal stone, which matched perfectly with the leather cord. I added a silver wire wrap down over the top of the stone and then threaded a carved bone disc above to complete a unique pendant.

Next I threaded a tube bail with the leather cord and attached the pendant. I used a silver wire wrap at the ends of leather for a nice finishing touch. I can not tell you how much I love this leather. It is incredibly soft and easy to work with, but strong as well. I've worked with suede quite a bit, and while I love the look of suede it has a tendency to break. I can't count how many times the suede has snapped on me in the middle of a project --- insert swear word. But this leather can withstand my pulling and twisting.

As a finishing touch, I added a hand hammered toggle and pulled it to the front because I didn't want to hide it in the back. The result is a simple leather cord necklace with a style all its own. A friend saw my final design and called it Southwestern Zen. I think that is what I'll have to call this design.

The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author. 

Thursday Favorites: Pearls & Silk

Today I am co-hosting a favorite blog hop of mine: Katherine's Corner weekly blog hop. You might notice that each Thursday I write about one of my favorite things. No surprise that it usually is jewelry, or a favorite component (read on and you'll see this week it is pearls and silk). Or perhaps you've noticed that I have the button on the right sidebar. That's because I try to join this hop each week as I really enjoy linking up and meeting lots of new bloggy friends. This week, I asked if she'd let me co-host. She is so sweet; she said yes. 

First I'm going to give you my Thursday favorite of the week, and then I'm going to give you a few rules for the hop. Not too many --- just a few. So read on, link up and join the hop this week!






Pearls have always been a favorite for me and a must have element in my on-going beading stash. This past summer I decided to play around with a slightly different look and bought a few top drilled black freshwater pearls. I created a hand hammered silver connector that I glued into the bead itself. I've been looking for just the right piece to add this pendant. So when I got my stash from Nina Designs I knew I had to pair up the black pearl with this pretty aqua silk cord. 

For those of you who have been following my Nina series this week (and last week), this is my second necklace design. For this piece, I decided to pair up the aqua silk with the black pearl which I think has a nice play of color. But to counterbalance the dark pearl, I added a string of off white - almost pink fresh water pearls. This gave the necklace a bit more weight as the ribbon is quite light. To finish the necklace I added a few pieces of silver; including another hand hammered silver connector, which matches the main focal on the pendant, and a couple of hill tribe silver spacer beads. 

I realized when I was done that the black pearl did not pull down quite enough on the ribbon, so I went back and added a cluster of the off white pearls. I like how these final pearls add a bit more focus and prominence to the pendant. In the end the asymmetrical design did hang nicely, and the silk added a twist of boho elegance to a classic string of pearls.

Now for the Blog Hop Rules: