Sue Beads

I have been participating in Sally Russick's Ornament Swap/Blog Hop for years, and it's so much fun every year!  Sally partners us with someone and we make a holiday ornament for them!  Today is the reveal! My partner was Alicia Marinache from Canada! She makes awesome jewelry which you can find here in her ArtFire store ! This is what Alicia made me: Isn't it wonderful?  Her wirework on this piece is really awesome!  It can be worn as a pendant OR used as an ornament!  I'm thrilled with it!  Thank you so much Alicia! And here's what I sent Alicia!  I always stress over what I'm going to make, and it takes me a little bit of time, but I'm really happy with what I came up with this year! This year I made a red lentil shaped bead (it's large, 1 1/4 inches) and wrapped it in pure 22k gold leaf with a swirl imprint.  I strung it on beading wire with rhinestones, gold saucer beads and a swirl star charm! Please visit everyone else to s...

Every year for 3 years now, Sally Russick has hosted an ornament swap.  I have participated each year and it's always so thrilling to get a work of art from someone else to put on your tree.  This year was no exception.  In fact, I received TWO works of art from Patti Vanderbloemen .  I had the pleasure of finally meeting Patti in person at ArtBLISS this year, and she's as wonderful in person as she is on-line!  This first ornament features Patti's wirework, meant to look like an actual round ornament, and I'd say she did an amazing job!  She used a focal from Donna Millard, who makes the most wonderful lampwork beads!  If I wasn't lucky enough, she made me another ornament using a set of clay beads from Gaea.  She made this one to fill that "empty" part of the tree you always see after you're done decorating! I did want to specifically show you her wirework in these ornaments because it's amazing.  Her work always looks so rich and...