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 see what they made and re…

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 perfect to me i…

Today is the reveal for the Beading Around a Cabochon Challenge hosted by Sally Russick!  She not only hosted the hop, but she provided video tutorials for us newbies!  She is so incredibly generous and I can't thank her enough for doing this!  I make cabs, but never beaded one and I'm so excited to have finished it!  Here's a link to the cabochon section in my etsy store!


I started out by using one of my own cabs that I really love - it's made with pale aqua glass, silver foil and frit.  I have a lot of fun making cabs because you have to get them just right on the mandrel and it's a very zen sort of thing for me to do.











I am really happy with my choice of beads, and how it turned out! I'm going to either use a blue suede cord to hang it on, or a chain - I can't decide yet, I think the blue suede would be best.  I can't bead a rope yet, but hopefully I'll learn that someday!

I already started working on another for my mom!

Please check out everyone…

Sally Russick is hosting a Black and White Jewelry Design Challenge!  Here's my piece!


I used a black and white heart from Nancy Schindler, and I made some matching lampwork beads!  The beads were made with clear, coated in white enamel, and then striped with black!  They go great with Nancy's heart focal!

Here's a closeup - I am having a jump ring issue as you can see.  If anyone has a better idea of how I could attach the pendant to the bracelet, I'm all ears!  Right now it's with two jump rings and I just don't like it!

Here's the rest of the participants - I hope you check out what they made too!  And thanks for hosting a blog hop Sally!


Sally Russick Monique Urquhart Patti Vanderbloemen Veralynne Malone Duane Clark D Lynne Bowland Michelle Buettner Pam Sears Therese Frank Dawn Doucette Nicole Rennell Cynthia Machata Alice Peterson Carolyn Lawson Evelyn Shelby Ailsa Cordner Michelle Escano Mischelle Fanucchi Jess Green

This week, Sally's prompt was Hope.  This is literally Hope!  This is my boyfriend's daughter and she is so cute and upbeat and such a very nice teenager!  Hop on over to Sally's blog to see what everyone else was hoping this week!

Woo hoo, two weeks in a row!  This is my photo for abstract - my Andy Warhol-ized photo of some tulips in my backyard.  I did this on my phone with pixlr!  The real colors are a very pretty red and deep yellow, they are really gorgeous flowers!  Hope you visit Sally's blog to hop around and see everyone else's photos!

Sadly I have missed a few weeks, maybe I'll get caught up.  I've been busy working and just don't have time to do anything but the absolutely necessary anymore!  Here's my photo:

This was taken at my daughter's school, at her last concert performance of her high school career!  She plays the alto sax and bari sax, and has for years!  It was somewhat sad to realize it was going to probably be her last concert, unless she continues with some sort of band in college.  Please see Sally's blog for everyone else's color this week!

My tired daughter all wrapped up.  It's senior year - lots of AP courses and projects, and sports, and senioritis!

This week Sally Russick's prompt for the Focus On Life Photography Series is Knock Knock.  Photos of doors.  In or out.  What's on the other side?  My photo is from Santorini, Greece.  I was there years ago (and by years I mean probably almost 8).  I don't travel as much anymore but I have fond memories of my travels.  I went to Greece with an ex-boyfriend for business (he was an invited speaker at a conference) and before we went to the conference we decided to visit Santorini for a couple of days.  This was the door at the top of the steps that went down to the hotel we were staying in.  At the top of the photo you can see the caldera - a caldera is a sunken volcano that has filled in with water.  Imagine sitting outside on the patio chairs watching the sunset from right here!!!!!  Head on over to Sally's blog to see everyone else's doors!

Our prompt this week from Sally Russick is Beauty of Flowers!  I'm all over this one!  My daughter recently had her Senior Banquet and on the tables were potted orchids from Manchester Craftsman's Guild; all the girls got to take an orchid plant home!  This is a flower on her plant that I mixed up a little with Pixlr on my phone!  I love that app!  Just wish I could see a bit better to use it lol!  Head on over to Sally's blog to see the rest of the photos!