Beads!

My soup came! The box of beads was waiting for me when I came in the door. I love boxes of beads.

Vintage glass, fresh water pearls, a toggle clasp, just enough seed beads and, oh my stars, this:

Tina told me that it was from a souvenir spoon that she flattened and drilled. It's going to make a lovely pendant and I already have an idea for the necklace. What did I send to her? I'm glad you asked.

She actually got two soups. One is built around rose quartz and the other around an ammonite and some jaspers and agates. I will provide more details on everything later. I can't wait to see what she makes. I also included a little pair of earrings I made just because. Those are niobium, copper, mookite, and glass.

And the sweetest picture this week:

Luke had a big welcoming reception when he got home. It is just too sweet how his big brothers can't stop touching him and kissing him. I really didn't want to leave but I'll be going back again soon.

Giveaway Alert!

It's been a while, but this is a double giveaway and the items are fabulous! Not a designer? Look at the necklace!

Hop over to the Esfera Travel blog and check this out:

From Thea Elements - a wonderful set of beads (selfishly, I want this - back off!).

And from Esfera's blog this CUTE owl necklace (okay, I want this to - ignore this post).

Hop over and follow the rules. Good luck! (But we all know I'll win, right?)

Got My Partner!

I have a new partner, well at least for the Bead Soup Blog Party. She is none other than Julia Gerlach, editor for Bead and Button magazine. I'll post a sneak peek at what she's going to receive tomorrow.

In the meantime, here is a photo of this weekend's class at Nomadic Notions. It's called "I Want to Bead Alone". Yeah, I said that.

It works up so fast!

It's almost instant gratification. You could possibly leave with a new necklace!

Saturday, February 9, 1:00 - 5:00.

Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain

Of course it's raining. Duh. We gave Bella a bath last night. Now she can go out and get her pretty blond hair muddy. Sheesh. We have had a lot of rain overnight. Taking the girls to school this morning I drove over a low water crossing that the water was just starting to cover. Fortunately it's not a running stream with any force. It's just a dip in the road, but I'm thinking we may have to use a different route tomorrow morning.

Here is a very cool link that I came across thanks to Suzanne Cooper. I agree with Suzanne's observation that beaders have been doing all of these for years, so we're a step ahead of the trend.

Lorelei is hosting the FIFTH Green Girl Studios giveaway. Hurry over and leave your comment to be entered.

And now I must be off. I'm moving on to the next teaching sample. Yes, pictures will be posted as soon as allowed. I had a bit of frustration yesterday. I thought I had the perfect ending for a piece I had been working on. I originally designed it as a bracelet and had just the right amount of supplies, but it would have been too similar to something that Kim Stathis had designed and I really hate stepping on the toes of other designers and teachers so it became a necklace. Unfortunately, I was eight little beads short of finishing the embellishment. On the upside, this one is not due until January so I have time to get to my favorite area Swarovsk pusher, Mica Jewelry and Beads in San Antonio. Today is a gemstone and seed bead kind of day in red, rosy red fading to paler shades. I know. It's totally unlike me, right? It's almost as unusual as orange! And on that note I leave you. Keep on beading on, beadlings!