Treasures by Louise

I just won a blog giveaway of a Journal and Freezer Paper! Now if you are a beader and not a quilter, that second item will not make much sense! But freezer paper is a handy tool for creating applique and stenciling, and perhaps other things you do to make marks on cloth. Printing or dyeing your own cloth is a wonderful way to make your quilts ART and beyond what you can purchase. I have some wonderful marbled and dyed fabric in my stash... but that is another story for another post. If you can, check out the blog of Julie B Booth,  http://www.threadbornblog before February 14th. She's the author of a new book entitled: Fabric Printing at Home.!!! This book will have you pulling the whole produce drawer from the fridge and starting to print on fabric. Be sure to follow the links on the book tour for about 15 chances to win this book. You'll be inspired and intrigued. I know I want to find out what else I can do with my freezer paper! 

This giveaway is closed now. Congratulations to the winner! Please check out Lorelei's Blog for a giveaway of her fantastic linen cord: Week-of-giveaways-wednesday and go back again for more giveaways on Thursday and Friday! Pretty colors from Lorelei's "A Jewelry Accord on Etsy"

Check out the giveaway at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Blog: Edit: This giveaway is over. Congrats to the winner! There's another giveaway,  (you know how I love these) and you can win a marvelous book; seven chances to win in all! Check out Lori's post and review. Here's the link: calling-all-seed-beaders-book-giveaway.html The title is Beading All-Stars: 20 Jewelry Projects It looks to be just the thing to kick up my skills a couple of notches! Have Fun and Good Luck! This is a Beaded Bead I made earlier this year - just for fun! P.S. I can't get the link for a picture of the book to work, so here is a beaded bead ( not from the book ).

Back in February, I participated in the monthly Earrings Everyday challenge. I made a pair of earrings inspired by the beautiful Damselflies in Love photo from National Geographic. I shared those earrings in a previous blog post.  Earrings to summon summer days   That was great fun to be part of the challenge. In addition, I won a pair of polymer clay Hibiscus charms from Kristi Bowman Designs! Thank you Kristi! They came in some neat packaging, and the wrapping was as much fun as the prize inside. I love the handmade paper wrapper and the fibers used to tie everything together. The fibers are Sari Silk Yarn from Swallowtail Fiber Arts on Etsy. I'm sure they will find their way into a finished project one day! Intriguing packaging, beautiful business card! Polymer clay Hibiscus charms from Kristi Bowman The charms are beautiful tropical colors,  so I decided to add shell disc beads, bronze Czech glass, and brass wire. I love how they came out, so...

Here's a link I wanted to share, on this giveaway, Valentine's Day is coming very soon. You deserve to win these beads. I'd like to win the Chocolate Heart shaped bead. ;) Lori Bergmann is giving away a choice of two beautiful handcrafted beads: Lori Bergmann Giveaway Beads Here's a link to the blog post. Read there to find out how to have a chance to win one of these beautiful beads. http://loribergmann.blogspot.com/2014/02/share-love-giveaway.html Thanks, everyone for stopping by. Now I'm off to sign up for the Bead Soup Blog Party. I'm so excited!!!! February 17th Note: I am doubly excited to say that I was chosen as the winner - name pulled out of a heart-shaped bowl. I have selected the heart bead as my prize. Thanks Lori , I look forward to playing/designing a simple necklace to incorporate the bead as a focal.

I found another giveaway to share with you: This one ends tonight at 10 pm so check it out soon! Donna Millard Art Glass is giving away a set of lampworked beads from her Winter Holiday Line. Here is a link to her blog post explaining the contest: im-thankful-giveaway Donna Millard: I'm thankful giveaway I'm just imagining what I could make with these beautiful beads: Would I use them all in one set? Necklace, bracelet and earrings? or would I divide them up and make several sets, by adding beads to coordinate? So many possibilities. While you are checking out Donna's beautiful glass lampwork, also  check out on her Etsy site, what she does with vintage metal - handcrafted bead caps!  Vintage bead caps  - Fun ! Such a cool idea. Here's a link to her Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaMillard . Just a note that if you enter, you must have an active blog address, or share on Facebook. Have fun!

Oh Boy! It's a big giveaway: Krafty Max Originals is giving away findings, beads, jewelry components, and a beading book from her own stash. Yes, I try to enter some of the many Giveaways! Somebody has to win, so why not me! But you can try too! Just go to this link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code That's: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NzRjNDVjNzFlNjgwOTA0YTQyNmFkNmZkMDdhMWUwOjY1/ Here's a pic of all that's included:

I'm making progress, on the green and grey birthday necklace... Ideas are germinating and sprouting! Meanwhile, another giveaway, I'd like to win: these earrings. This lady does some very nice work with lamp work glass beads. Visit Dillman's Dallies to share and comment for your chance to win. Dillman's Dallies

I have a request from a special person for a Birthday Necklace and these glass beads are part of the inspiration. We had the black and green faceted beads first, to me they resemble reptile skin with their coloration. The green faceted beads brighten things up a little and they go nicely with the dress. Hematite works but it all is a bit too dark. I made a (center) wire wrapped section of three links, but am at a stand still for the moment. Glass and Hematite beads The dress is a white background with black, grey and green large 3-5" floral motif . I have some creamy white shell beads and some pale green quartzite and some green quartzite chips. I'm also considering some silver beads to brighten things up. If you have ideas on what you'd add to these beads, please leave a comment.  I don't have a focal bead in mind but one of the pewter animal beads in this Giveaway might be just the thing. Don't you think I should win!?? I'm sharing a link to Lor...

Here is a link to many hand-crafted beads: Check out the Beads of Clay blog for links to various bead makers. They all make beautiful clay beads and I love supporting hand-crafters.   Beads of Clay Sunday Sale  

Here's another work-in-progress: a whimsical approach to adding the creative touch in your projects. This is a re-purposed pepper mill that I imagine as a way to "sprinkle on" the inspiration. What colors would you fill it with? What inspires you to create? And how do you work around those creative blocks that happen on occasion?