JDK's 7th Do Over Challenge 04/19/2014

Hi Everyone, today is Jeannie's 7th Do Over Challenge reveal day.  Jeannie is the host of this challenge and in it each of the participants are sent one or two items of jewelry that she made WAYYYYY back when ( most of us have them too) she first started making jewelry. Our job is to take it apart and recreate using the beads and a few of our own if need be. 

Now I had two and the first one, you see below, I thought was just perfect the way it was...but that isn't the challenge, so I sadly cut it apart and put the beads together to see what they had to say. The bottom right picture is the before picture. I can tell you we went through many, many, "discussions"  before we settled on this design.  Though now that it is finished, I think it still needs to be tweaked...but for now, the beads are satisfied.

It had pearls, swarovski crystals, cloisonne beads and seed beads. The middle of the pendant is a gold button that I cut the shank off of. Luckily, one of the bead shops I go to had the cloisonne dangles that matched the main beads Jeannie sent.  I really like the piece and am not sure if I will give it up....

For my second one, the beads talked to me right away and we got busy and everyone played nicely and we got the job done! The before picture is in the middle.

It was a simple piece and just seemed to scream "add more". So I did and then I could see it as a hair piece and WA LA...it came together! I used acrylic beads so it is light weight.  I haven't had my hair up like this in forever....lol...might just have to do it so I can show off my piece.

I didn't use any art beads for either pieces, but the first one I did do all the stitching. I used a pattern I found in a Sherry Serefini's book. Though mine doesn't look like hers....I am still practicing.

For more pieces to drool over check out the links below.  I love do this challenge, it is my second and I can't wait for the next one.....

Thanks for visiting...

Jeannie K Dukic

Dagi

Judy Campbell

Veralynne Malone

Christine Murrow

Shai Williams

Lola Surwillo

Christina Hickman

Katrina Taylor

Becky Pancake

Roxanne Mendoza

Charlene Jacka

Inge von Roos

Mary Govaars

Penny Houghton

Beti Horvath

Ginger Davis-Allman

Molly Alexander

Linda Britt

Color of Dreams Blog Hop

The Beads:

As a Florida artist, Patricia has a way of reflecting the amazing beauty and color and optimism -- the tranquility and tropical paradise -- of our pretty state. It's like a little vacation in a bead! I find her work renewing and inspiring. I hope you find your pillow bead to be as nurturing as I do. 

The Design Challenge:

Feel free to create in any way you wish, using your bead as inspiration for your colorway, theme, technique. You are welcome to use additional Color of Dreams beads in your design, as well as artisan beads and gems and anything you like. You are not limited to jewelry.

You may share a dream that has come true, one you are working on now, or one you hope for in the future. The one goal of the hop: we'll focus on our dreams as entirely possible, with the idea, "If we can dream it, we can achieve it." So, try creating "from the end" -- as if your dream has already come true -- using your jewelry design to do so.

When my bead arrived....we sat and looked at each other for a while...then some more....then again....I turned it all kinds of way...but the one thing that stood out to me what that the colors looked like flower petals....Soooooo I tried again and again to get a flower out of that bead...no go....finally.....we started to get in tune with each other....petals...flowers...garden...gardener.......GARDEN FAIRY!!!! 

Finally, I didn't think we would make it....but ta da...below is my garden fairy. She is strung on green cotton cord to look like a vine with some purple flowers and green leaves.  The chain that hangs as her skirt, represents the flower petals and the yellow beads in the middle the stamens.  She is wearing a purple flower shawl, and a yellow flower hat with a crown....I have already tried her out and she was the hit of the party.  

I couldn't be happier with the bead I got!!!! Can you find her in the picture above?????

To see what the rest of the group received and created hop over to Jewel School Friends and check them out....Thanks for looking.

Bead Soup 8 update....

Received my wonderful soup from my great partner, Valerie Cook.  I am already stirring and mixing and cant wait for reveal. Not going to need to add much to this "soup"   Can't wait to dive in!  So much is "speaking" to me already!!!!! GADS they are noisy!

Stay tuned!!!!

Bead Soup 8

Funny how Lori works....my partner is in the tax business too, so she has been super busy. But below is a "picture" of what I sent. I hope she likes it.

It should be interesting since both of us will be busy into April.  But I know we will prevail!

Hopefully soon things will calm down and we can "interview" each other and blog....


But since we want this to be a surprise....I "picssa"ed my picture.  Though I guess you can still see somewhat the materials, but not the colors......

All wrapped and ready to mail!

Stay tuned, I know this is going to be a killer Bead Soup Blog year!!!!!

V

3rd Annual Challenge of Music

The 3rd Annual Challenge of Music

This year our wonderful "challenge leader" Erin from Treasure Found has challenged to create with music that mean something to us.

   For this, the third annual Challenge of Music, I want to take walk down a musical memory lane with you. I want    to relive the songs of my past, the ones that connect me to my history and that hold a special place in my heart. For this year's Challenge of Music, I want to focus on our own personal playlists. 

   1::Pick a year that is significant to your life story.
   2::Find a song that was on the top charts for that significant year. 
   3:: Create!
   4::Mark your calendar: Blog Hop on Saturday, March 1st. 
   5::Sign up to play!

Since I was born in 1956, I consider myself a 60's child....yep, I guess you could say I was kinda of a hippy, though with strict parents...it was a mild form.  I do remember when the Beatles came to the US, oh man....swoon....swoon.....then rock really took hold.  I remember my first "LP" record. Yep no CD's,ipod or tablets back then.  Just the good ole record player.  My first record was Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Back then the songs were considered corrupt....lol...my favorite was "Money". I would put my head phones on and "belt" out the songs til my Mother would pound on the door and yell at me to stop with the foul language.  It had the word "damn" in it....ahhhh so much we 60's children did to shape the word today....the barriers we broke, the limits we pushed, so much we did...

Anyway, my piece, a bracelet,  is designed around the title "Dark Side of the Moon"  I have had these curved black and white pieces for ever from a challenge I did over 5 years ago and they have been screaming at me lately to use them.  As we know the moon has it light side and dark side depending upon which side is facing the sun.  So I choose all black and white beads. My dangle charms are moon and the moon and sun side by side.  It is a bit big so I do have enough wire to shorten it a bit. 

For more wonderful Challenge of Music stories, hop over to:

An InLinkz Link-up

And see the other participants                       .

Til next time...."See ya later Alligator...."

Veralynne

Art Bead Scene - January Challenge

Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928? 

by Lois Mailou Jones

Tempera on Paper

About the Art

Lois Mailou Jones would return summer after summer to paint on the Vineyard. In Boston, Lois Jones’ mother was a beautician and had a beauty shop with a friend. One of her private customers, Mrs. Gibson, lived in Vineyard Haven. She wrote, “Mrs. Gibson discovered that I was talented and she said I must come and paint in her garden. She had a wonderful set of Japanese books of handpainted flowers. That is very important in my career because she said, “Let Lois come over and paint in my garden and then she can borrow these books.”
“I used those flowers for my cretonne designs and those cretonne designs were printed and sold all over the country, as far as California. It was all going back to Mrs. Gibson who lived in Vineyard Haven.” These early textile designs are a testament to Jones’ exceptional versatility as an artist. Interestingly enough it was these textile designs that eventually launched her into a fine art career.

About the Artist

Lois Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998) was a prize winning artist who lived into her nineties and who painted and influenced others during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond during her long teaching career. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts and is buried on her beloved Martha’s Vineyard in the Oak Bluffs Cemetery.

When I saw this photo I was so drawn to the colors. I knew I wanted to something in beadweaving as I am trying to become better with it as I move forward in my jewelry career.

While looking though the art bead designers I came across Three Wing Studios..she had some new handmade clay art beads that really fit the bill.... The colors matched perfectly along with the seed bead I had on hand.

The results - a bracelet with a metal flower pendant clasp.

For more great eye candy and instructions..head over to the Art Bead Scene blog.

Thanks for looking.

V 

Grow Your Blog 2014

For some reason...my computer is not wanting to cooperate so I am not sure if my blog will be working.  But here goes.

My name is Veralynne and I am a 50+ mom and grandma. Both roles that I love.  I am semi retired to take care of a disabled husband.  I am currently working part time at our local Jackson Hewitt. More to just be able to get out and interact with people.

My loves are jewelry, crochet, sewing, crafting, reading and just enjoying life.  This blogging thing is new to me so I know my blog isn't that creative or full YET. But if you look back through my post here you can see a little of what I do. I also have a blog...www.thesongsofmyheart1@blogspot.com where I put poems and such that I write. And when I get a chance I take photos for what we call Macro Monday and that site is www.verasmacromondays.blogspot.com/

But I am learning and growing and that is what it is about.

This is the most current picture of me. It is taken with my daughter, Sydny.  I do need to get in and get something done with my hair....

I have two other sons...Larry who is married to Shelly and given me two beautiful granddaughters

And my other son, Nicholas who lives at home at the moment and is going to college.

(his workspace......)

And then my daughter, Sydny, who works and her boyfriend:

And lasts by NOT least...my wonderful husband who puts up with me....

But to fill you in a bit.... I do have an Etsy store. The name is Dont Forget The Memory. I have vintage jewelry, jewelry I made myself, and other crafts and items.  I post on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook. (though who doesn't). 

I am loving life right now and while last year my word was grow and I did, this year the word is "continue" and I am continuing to grow and blossom.  So if you come back next year....you will see a whole different person.

Please check out the rest of the bloggers and please like/follow me. I can guarantee, you will see "continued Growth!

Later!

Veralynne

Grow Your Blog