Treasures by Louise

Hello! If you're looking for the Grow Your Blog Party post, click here . I plan to sign up for the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party. These are not my beads, but I wouldn't mind winning them!  This is my first time so I'm a bit nervous about the whole swapping thing. Most of my beads are nice, nothing special, and mostly commercial. So I decided to go shopping (online) at Kristi Bowman Designs, http://www.etsy.com/shop/KristiBowmanDesign and at Lima Beads: http://www.limabeads.com/ . It was a case of when you don't know who you're shopping for, buy what you'd like to receive. But in this case, I wanted 'em for myself too! Guess what: one for me, one for you... My calendar is marked for February 9th. It's sure to be fun, I hope I get to particpate.

Welcome New Visitors ! Thank you for stopping by to visit! Here I talk about making jewelry and my beading passion, or perhaps that is my shopping for beads obsession. ;) scroll down for the link   I work for a craft store, so most of my bead collection is commercial beads and supplies, but I am finding so much to tempt me with true handcrafted beads, both lampwork glass and polymer clay. I just ordered some special polymer clay beads for a bead soup party that I plan on joining, and I have a few ceramic beads from ceramic artists, so I have made the first steps. I work for a craft store, so most of my bead collection is commercial beads and supplies, but I am finding so much to tempt me with true handcrafted beads, both lampwork glass and polymer clay. {I recently bought some special polymer clay beads on Etsy for a bead soup party that I plan on joining, and I have a few ceramic beads from ceramic artists, so I have made the first steps!} But, I also have a fabric st...

New Years Resolutions I had almost resolved to NOT make any New Years Resolutions, but it actually feels like I might accomplish this one: To learn new techniques and think outside-the-box. I am teaching myself Chain Maille, though it seems more tedious than I'd like. I'm hoping as I get more skilled at it, it will go more smoothly. I have convinced myself of the necessity to close jump rings that appear "closed", though it seems redundant! And I'm getting better at it. I recommend a task light, for sure, and a magnifier if you need one. I have found two books that are really great for beginners: The first, I found at my local library, and think I must really purchase: I miss this book and was sad to have to return it, I must have renewed it three times! It was a wonderful introduction to Chain Maille patterns and is encyclopedic in it's coverage. Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop by Karen Karon is available both in softcover and as an e-book from many pla...

While at the Library, I was looking for bead related books, to see if there was something new. I was thinking seed beads: off-loom bead-weaving or bead embroidery. I wanted to learn more about doing a picot edge for a bracelet that I started. (It won't need that picot edge for a while, but I was anticipating the challenge!) I found my tutorial on beaded picot edge in a wonderful book about beaded quilts. Wow! Two of my great passions together in one book, and what quilts they were, too! Whether you are a beader or a quilter, you will LOVE looking at this book.  My first passion, and the cause of my overflowing fabric stash was quilting, or collecting quilt fabrics, if you will. ;) While I have set aside making quilts in the last few years, I still have a love and appreciation of fabric, bed quilts, art quilts, and all things mixed-media. So I highly recommend this book for both the tutorials on bead embroidery and the beautiful quilts pictured inside. Here is a link to Amaz...

I hope you are enjoying your last-minute gift making and shopping for the Holidays! If you find anything in my Etsy site:  LilyAndJasmine on Etsy , I recommend the last day for first class shipping would be December 19, at the very latest. The USPS says December 20, so that would give me time to package, label and drop off at the post office on the way to work! Enjoy your days leading up to the holidays! December 21st note: My shop is on vacation, while I spend time baking cookies and enjoying family traditions. Hugs!

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!

Our wonderful Guild had our Bead Bonanza yesterday. I am a new member, and volunteered to be a runner: A person who brings food or drinks from the food vendor to the booth members, or watches a booth while a vendor runs to the rest room. It was a great way to see the show and meet some of the wonderful people who come in to sell their wares. I hope everyone had a successful show and was happy to be there. Brenda Schweder was there promoting her Now That's a Jig, with her book and had a free make and take.  http://www.brendaschweder.com (Dark Side) I had fun working with Dark Annealed Steel Wire, and made a neat charm. I may have found a new favorite wire! (pics later) I found more Kazuri beads - from Tamie Simpson of Small and Beautiful Beads. http://smallandbeautifulbeads.com/ She also had some cool wavy spacers that should look great with the Kazuri Beads. I also got some neat metal charms from Lipstick Ranch,  http://stores.thelipstickranch.com I picked up a special...

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:

Yay! I just found out I am the winner of the earrings I posted about last Thursday. I  want to share a link to Dillman's Diversions, the Etsy store of the artist who makes the beads: Check out this beautiful Lime green & Black bracelet (http://www.etsy.com/listing/153530210/lampwork-bead-bracelet-in-lime-green-and?ref=shop_home_active) Follow the link above to see this bracelet and the whole store! I hope to finish Amy's Green and Grey necklace in the next two days,... so check back Friday to see the finished project.

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...

Yes, I am a Bead Hoarder! Thanking Lori Anderson for this wonderful challenge: It has gotten me started on creating again, and using what's on hand is a great way to stretch one's design ideas. (So are almost 170 other beaders, LOL. I want to visit all the hoppers and will, but it is taking a while!) First is a necklace from a set of assorted beads already pre-coordinated by Bead Landing. To see the stash I blogged about, click: Here  (Purchased on clearance.) I added the copper beads and the central howlite disc from my stash. Easy peasy, just need to decide the arrangement and add the spacers. Blue - Copper "Color Splash" Necklace - beads from Michaels I created this first attempt at 'bead weaving' ( I think it is actually netting, if you are getting specific ), while I was on vacation with my family in June. I dug out the bead stringing thread, needles and little and big crystals from way back in the drawer to take a small project for working on ...

I have been sorting through my hoard for the Lori Anderson's Bead Hoarders blog hop , and it appears my storage strategy is sorely lacking. I have three under-bed storage boxes, and inside there are loose strands, as well as some nicely sorted beads in divided storage containers. Storage bin and random beads Some beads were stored in empty prescription bottles that my dear mother gave me. Well, I thought it was a poor solution since the bottles are amber and you can't easily see what you have. I have also learned these bottles are fairly breakable when you quickly stack lots of bins on top of them. :( Don't try this at home! I now have one six-drawer storage unit with plastic drawers from Office Depot. I am transferring beads, and will probably need at least one more. These can be labeled with categories, such as: seed beads, wire, stringing materials, wood beads, glass, and miscellaneous. I'm sure there are more categories that will come to mind. Making...

One of the fun things about swaps, is you get to see and work with beads that are unusual. The black glass disc beads with the silver carving here have a design that looks like a spider, but not enough that you could only use them seasonally for Halloween. I have been busy designing, with the spider beads that my partner Crystal sent me in our swap! Here is the first necklace. The amethyst seed beads and amethyst bicone crystals are from my stash. Necklace: Silver and Amethyst tones I had fun making this piece using a lark's head knot with seed beads strung on beading wire. I like the black, silver and purple colors. It's a bit different than colors I usually choose. I am very pleasantly surprised with the combination. Silver and Amethyst Surprise