Beads of Courage ~ 2014

Welcome to my wanderware blog site and to my very first Art Charm exchange and Beads of Courage reveal!   This is an annual event hosted by the amazing Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions where a select number of artists make 11 charms to be shared and auctioned.  I found this event last year during the auction and after bidding on the incredible charms made by artists from far and near to benefit the Beads of Courage program. I knew that I needed to be a part of this.

Beads of Courage is an organization that provides arts-in-medicine for seriously ill children.  This program is found in over 150 children's hospitals worldwide and currently supports over 30,000 children.  Based in Tucson, Arizona, Beads of Courage was founded in 2003 by Jean Baruch, an RN who sought to fill gaps in the areas that support seriously ill children and their families by providing the program as a resilience-based intervention.  Beads are used because they symbolize strength and courage and throughout history were used to award bravery and accomplishment as well as providing protection and healing.  The charms made by the artists in this exchange are being auctioned off as a fundraiser for this unique program and all the kids and families that benefit from it.  Please visit the auction site at:

http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions 

Many thanks to Jennifer for her dedication to this important cause and for all the artists who contributed charms from their hands and their hearts.  Blog links are listed below for your hopping enjoyment!

my collection

my auction charm

~ my favorite ~

the one that came home

Here are the participants in the Art Charm Exchange. Hop on over to their blogs.

Jennifer Cameron: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Alenka Obid: http://www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk

Cassi Paslick: http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/

Cate van Alphen: http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg: http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Elisabeth Auld: http://www.beadsforbusygals.com

Genevieve Gabbert: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Jami Shipp: http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Jill Bradley: http://www.jillybeads.blogspot.com

Kim Dworak: http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com

Lee Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lennis Carrier: http://www.windbent.net

Lesley Watt: http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger: http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/

Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Smith: http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

Niky Sayers: http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

Perri Jackson: http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/

Renetha Stanziano: http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Sheila Prosterman: http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Susan Delaney: http://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com

Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Terri DelSignore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

2014 theme ~ SOAR

Anchors Aweigh ~ LIRON

This is my extraordinary son, Nathan, and his one true love, Andrea. They are getting married in less than three weeks and this boat will be their home.  Nathan bought this boat about a year and a half ago and named her ''Liron" which is Hebrew for "my song" or "my joy." Shortly afterwards he met Andrea.

For this challenge, the amazing Rita of Toltec Jewels supplied all the participating artists with gorgeous anchor theme beads made with love by Diana of Suburban Girl Beads.  In the bible, the word 'anchor' is used metaphorically as an emblem of hope . . . that which supports or keeps one steadfast in the time of trial or doubt.  Nathan and Andrea's wedding invitation includes the words of Hebrews 6:19 ~ 

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul 

a hope both sure and steadfast 

and one which enters within the veil"

My piece for this challenge uses the anchor beads to symbolize the hope and strength that these two are for each other and the anchor clasp as a symbol of their amazing faith in God, who is our eternal hope.  Mazel tov, Nathan and Andrea!

~ Liron ~

~ my song . . . my joy ~

So much gratitude to both Rita of Toltec Jewels and Diana of Suburban Girl Beads for their efforts in this timely and thought provoking design challenge and blog hop.  Please visit all the artist's blog sites listed below to view their creations for this Anchors Aweigh event.

Featured & Honored Artist:        Diana Ptaszynski

Diana's Shop:                           Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's Blogs:                          Suburban Girl Studio

                                                 Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: TJ                               Jewel School Friends

Bobbie Rafferty                         Beadsong Jewelry

Chris Eisenberg                         Wanderware

Heather Richter                         Desert Jewelry Designs

Michelle McCarthy                    Firefly Design Studio

Kathy Lindemer                         Bay Moon Design

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Cynthia Machata                       Antiquity Travelers

Kathleen Breeding                     99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Linda Younkman                       Lindy's Designs

Robin Reed                                  Artistry HCBD

Marla Gibson                              Spice Box Designs

Gina Hockett                               Freestyle Elements

Renetha Stanziano                      Lamplight Crafts

Marianne Baxter                          Simply Seablime Jewelry        

Christina Miles                             Wings N Scales

Marybeth Rich                            A Few Words from Within the Pines

Shai Williams                              Shaiha's Ramblings

Cheri Reed                                  Creative Designs by Cheri

Monique Urquhart                      A Half-Baked Notion

Jennifer Reno                             Musings of a Crafty Jenny

Shirley Moore                             Beads and Bread

Tammy Adams                           Paisley Lizard

Melissa Trudinger                       Bead Recipes

Jill Bradley                                  JillyBeads

Haberdashery Blog Hop - "Re-knewed"

Welcome to my wanderware site and to a most unusual challenge ~ the very first Haberdashery Blog Hop - the brainchild of Melissa Trudinger of BeadRecipes from Melbourne, Australia.  This is Melissa's first time hosting a blog hop and she challenged the participants to raid their fabric and trims stash to create jewelry pieces out of whatever they found.  The descriptive subtitle for my wanderware line is "jewelry for the adventurous soul" and having a soul that fully meets that description made this a very fun endeavor for me!

I am very interested in upcycling materials and have been toying around with adding a line of these sorts of pieces to my wanderware collection.  I would call this collection "re-knewed" which suggests the ability to enjoy something old and worn out in an completely new and unlikely manner.  In a huge way, this blog hop has helped me jump start this new line and I am grateful to Melissa for setting the opportunity before me.

My first piece uses strips of material from four of my daughter's old t-shirts.  I had already cut out the front panels to use for a t-shirt quilt but couldn't get myself to throw the remaining fabric away knowing that there existed a perfectly wonderful destiny for it!  I braided these strips using a Kumihimo disc and came up with a soft, flexible eye-catching rope.  I added a peyote beaded tube of brass triangle beads, brass end caps, a gold rolo style chain and a magnetic clasp to finish the piece.  I thought I might add something dangling from the beaded tube but also really liked it just the way it is (which was convenient since I was running out of creating time!)  Who knew that old t-shirts could become such an intriguing piece of jewelry?!

I was having so much fun that I returned to my stash and began playing with old torn up denim jeans.  I cut the inseam strips from some jeans and rolled them up tightly to make solid flat fabric circles, arranged them  symmetrically and bound them together with black leather lacing.  I added a ceramic tube bead at the bottom, brass circles on the top two rolls and finished it with a complimentary brass chain.  This is definitely a bold piece and with the right outfit would make quite a statement!

Loads of thanks to you, Melissa Trudinger, for this wonderful "out of the box" challenge and for being instumental in helping me open this new line of wanderware.  I too had three blog hops this past weekend in addition to many other demands and appreciate the leniency of posting a bit late.  I look forward to seeing all the other pieces that the artists below have created and invite you to visit their sites as well!  Happy hopping!

Melissa Trudinger   - hostess                      http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Ann Schroeder                                                 http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com

Tammy Adams                                                http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html  

Amanda Wacasey                                           http://mandyinmystic.blogspot.com

Dolores Raml                                                   http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com 

Divya N                                                             http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com

Michelle McCarthy                                         http://www.fireflydesignstudio.BlogSpot.com

DiYana Brooks                                                 http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Kae Reed                                               http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick                                                    http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Karin Grosset Grange                                     http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Mitzie Crider                                                    http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com

Janine Lucas                                                    http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Rosantia Petkova                                           http://bairozan.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy                                                http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Leithleach Alainn Seodra                             http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/

Kathleen Breeding                                          http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Shiraz Biggie                                                    http://secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                               http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Heather Richter                                              http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/

Lennis Carrier                                                  http://www.windbent.net/

Rebecca Anderson                                         http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

Jenny Kyrlach                                                   http://anafiassa.blogspot.com

Rita Toltec Jewels                                          http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Mischelle Fanucci                                           http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell                                                 http://overthemoon-design.com

Carol Briody                                                     http://Cbriody.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                                  http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                              http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson                                                  http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Jami Shipp                                                        http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Lili Krist                                                             http://pcbylik.blogspot.com/

Evelyn Shelby                                                   http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Raissa de Guzman                                          http://www.abloro.com

Niky Sayers                                                      http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

Keren Panthaki                                                http://vasdea.wordpress.com

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets - simple gifts

The perfect challenge for a summer blog hop coupled the time, energy and imagination of Rita (Toltec Jewels) with Sue Kennedy's Chicklet beads (SueBeads.)  I received a beautiful orange and yellow hued chicklet for my project and had all sorts of fun dreaming of ways in which to utilize it in a piece of jewelry.  I decided to go with a super simple design that really focused on the artistry of the focal piece to honor the amazing work that Sue has done.  I combined my lovely little bead with leather cording and Swarovsky crystal cubes in an earthy but elegant wrap bracelet.  I loved it so much that I wore it to church this morning and it sold right off my wrist!  I think I will order a chicklet in every color and make up an assortment for my next ArtWalk in September.  Here is my creation . . . simple gifts.

Thanks Rita for a wonderful little diversion in the midst of life's craziness and for inspiring simplicity when it truly was needed.  Bravo to you Sue Kennedy for your talents and artistry . . . you are a treasure to us all and I am so glad to have found you through this challenge!!!   Please be sure to browse through all the other sweet chicklet designs found in the sites below!

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

                                                              Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess: 

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/ 

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/ 

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/ 

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com 

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com 

Jael Thorp                                                 http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/ 

Melissa Trudinger                                   http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com 

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/ 

Nan Smith                                                 http://wirednan.blogspot.com 

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com 

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com 

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com 

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com 

Robin Reed                                               http://willowdragon.blogspot.com 

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/ 

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com 

Karla Morgan                                            http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com 

Kari Asbury                                              http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com  you are here :)

Kelly Rodgers                                           https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue 

Jayne Capps                                              https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/ 

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                 https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/ 

Heather Richter                                         http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com 

Chris Eisenberg                                         www.wanderware.blogspot.com 

Kathleen Breeding                                    http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall 

Linda Landig                                              http://lindalandig.wordpress.com 

Crystal Thain                                             http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/ 

Cheri Reed                                                 http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com 

Heather d-Entremont                                http://frugalmacdougall.wordpress.com/ 

Dini Bruinsma                                            http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/ 

Lori Schneider                                           http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                          http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html 

Melinda Orr                                               http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog 

Lennis Carrier                                            http://windbent.wordpress.com/ 

Cynthia Machata                                      http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com 

Elizabeth Hodges                                     http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com 

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/ 

Tanya McGuire                                        http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/ 

Charlie Jacka                                             http://clay-space.com/blog/ 

Ev Shelby                                                  http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/ 

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                       http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

 Jasvanti Patel                                          http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Summer Carnival - Ferris Wheel

Earlier this summer, a package of wonderful surprises arrived for me from the ever faithful Lisa Lodge to inspire my creative impulses for this summertime challenge.  Out of this terrific collection, I selected the components in the black tray for my carnival creation.

My initial idea came quickly (which is really unusual) and was seriously amazing!  I have been wanting to explore metal and bead combinations more as well as develop my metal working techniques, and this challenge with these materials seemed to fit this purpose wonderfully.  The history and images of highly decorative carousel ponies captured my imagination and this picture I found on shutterstock became my starting point.

I found a piece of scrap copper sheeting that I transferred the outline of this prancing pony onto and got to work.  It was at this point, however, that my troubles began and they centered around the fact that I did not have the correct tools for this endeavor.  I spent a tremendously long time stubbornly trying to make what I did have work and was surprisingly successful until I came to the cutout for the tail.  There was no way that was going to happen with my sad assortment of rudimentary "tools."  I decided to shelve my attempt until I acquired the necessary equipment and could do justice in real life with what I had created so perfectly in my mind.  This is how far I got ~

Someday I will post my finished piece which I intended to name "merry" . . . do not hold your breath for that reveal however, as my life is seriously crazy and I have no $$$ to buy tools right now! Any recommendations on "must have" tools though, would be greatly appreciated!!!

So now as time was running out, I needed to whip something together for the quickly approaching deadline.  I decided to go with a technique I knew and something that was more symbolic visually than realistic (like my carousel pony.)  I settled on the iconic ferris wheel and made a simple focal piece suspended on a complementary brass chain.  I think it captures the open airiness of the structure, suggests the suspension and rotation of the individual seats and incorporates the festive colors and lights of a carnival at night.  For once I did not try to "hide" my weaving lines since they perfectly represented the architecture of the wheel as well as the sense of holding it all together . . . just as in my miniature rendition.  Enjoy!

  

 

Thank you for visiting my wanderware blog site today and for your ongoing commitment to your art which so obviously makes the world a happier and more beautiful place.  Applause and bouquets once again to you, Lisa, for all your hard work and inspiration.  Please visit the sites below for more summertime delights!

Our hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

 Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations

Marianne Hurley, Reads and Beads

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Marci Allen Koziolek, Krafty Max Originals