Personal Photo - Stormy Weather

Well here in "Sunny" Florida is has been a rainy start to our "summer time" weather patterns.  So when the personal challenge this month was for stormy weather...I was like "yes" that I can do...no problem.....

We were told,  Photography shouldn't be limited to only sunny days. Stormy weather conditions provide many opportunities to capture moody, dramatic, and creative images.  For example, you can take stormy weather photographs from the dry comfort of a porch or from a vehicle.

Well we had stormy weather and I took some of my photos from the vehicle. I was on my way into town.  I think they give a very "end of the world" feel sometimes when the clouds get really dark and en mass! 

So then I tried taking pictures outside while it was raining. But that is really hard to do, but I did manage to get a few with the yard light illuminating the rain.  One one I used the flash and you can see the rain drops...well sort of. The bottom left looks like there is lightening in the sky...at least that is what I think it is.

And then of course there is always that sweet aftermath when everything looks and smell clean. I love the smell after the rain!

So there you have my pictures of stormy weather.  I used Picasa3 on my computer to edit the pictures and create the collages...(which I love to do)

My camera is a Fujifilm Finepix ax. Nothing fancy, but does the job!

Thanks for looking and check out Donna's site for more!

Photo - A - Day - Challenge - June

Well I have decided to join another site...(imagine that???) where I can post some of my pics....and as most know...I take lots of pics....

So I think for now I will post on Sat of the words from the week....Here we go.

1. leaf - from my yard

2. Fav Color - Purple - didn't have much of that....

3. Weather - pics from a storm in my town, and the rain outside in front of the pole light

4. On the wall - well, I am a little strange....I like to take pics of nature....

5. Sunglasses - My youngest granddaughter being silly!

6. Dot - jewelry pieces my daughter made with plastic dots...(can't think of the name)

7. Water...well there was plenty of water around...this is from our trip to Gatorland in Florida last weekend...

So there you have it...my week in words...cool huh?

For more great pics head over to Katie's Little Corner

The Ocean Blog Hop 1st Reveal - May 31, 2014

I am part of the Ocean Blog Hop being sponsored by Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist.. 

Back in March I received some beautiful glass beads in blues and greens with aquatic silver beads and spaces.  Also included were little silver acrylic dagger beads.

Of course I forgot to take pictures but this is a picture of what was left....

I can tell you I went through several different patterns and ideas....but below is what I finally settled on, modeled by my daughter...Sydny. Of course since we are out of town, I am having to use my sons computer that doesn't have the edit software I needed so I couldn't do my collage...so it is all individual pics.  I did a necklace, bracelet, and earrings.  I had started a ring...but couldn't get the design to behave.....I will post that picture later if I can get the beads to behave.

The little mermaid bead in the center piece I purchased Pamelia at her shop on etsy.  https://www.etsy.com/people/mermaidlagoonbeads

The rest of the beads came from Lisa. I tried many new techniques with the wire forming and the sewing the round beads together.  Not sure I got them all down pat....may have to do some redos....lol. But thanks for looking!

For more great creations check out the links below!

  

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera (you are here!)

Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out 

Mary Ann Macri Jacobs, Trucksville Crafts

Jeanne Steck, Gems by Jeanne Marie

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Margaret Pelech's Ocean Blog

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Gem Stone and Metal 2014 Hop Teaser

Again I am in another challenge put on by Lisa Lodge at The Grateful Artist and since I always forget to take beginning pics...I did somewhat remember today...so I will post a few teaser pics

Ocean Blog Hop May 31st Teaser

I am part of the Ocean Blog Hop being sponsored by Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist. 


Of course I forgot to take before pics...but here is a pic of the beads that are left over...you will have to come back on the 31st to the full results.

Bead Soup Blog Hop # 8 - Whoot, whoot.....it's here!

I am sooooo glad this day has arrived! And while I so sorry for Lori being sick....those few extra days helped....

For those who are just checking us out and really don't know what Bead Soup Blog Hop is all about...here is a quick overview...

              What is the Bead Soup Blog Party® ?

Want to know more about this exciting, once a year event?

Detailed information is below, but the basic facts:  

::  I pair you with another jewelry designer.  ::

::  You send each other a quality package of beads.  ::

 ::  You make one or more pieces of jewelry with those beads, 

incorporating beads from your own stash as needed.  

The focal and clasp you were sent MUST be used.  ::

::  You post your creation on your reveal day, 

and you try to visit as many of the other designers' blogs. ::

Last year was my first time, and it was GREAT! Our fearless, and tireless leader is Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog.  She is just a fantabbulous person! Even with the illness she battles she was able with some help from her awesome husband and wonderful close friends to pull this off!   

This year as with last year there are over 500 entries.  It will take time to see them all and I can't wait!

This year my partner was Valerie Cook. Ironically, we are both in the tax business so were pretty busy up until April 15th.  I can't wait to hop over and see what she has done. 

Below is the soup I sent to her.

This is the soup I received from her!

Funny how we both went towards orange and greens!

The first picture are of two sets of earrings I made with beads I had left from the necklaces. Now I have to be honest, there is one necklace I was doing bead weaving on and ran out of the thread...I have it ordered....but I think the snail got lost!

Anyway, here are the earrings:

The yellow pair were made after seeing a yellow and black hat posted on the bead soup web site by Bobbie Rafferty at BeadSong Jewelry, who usually host a Kentucky Derby hat challenge, but since it was at the same time as BSBP, she postponed it. Anyway, there was a yellow and black hat and I just had to use it! Thanks Bobbie!

The other pair of earrings I call my space ship earrings because the two circle disk with "bumps" on them remind me of space ships!

The next picture is two of the necklaces I made with the beads from Valerie. First I used the white heart beads with a necklace I had started but put away because I didn't like it. And wouldn't you know the heart beads were just what they needed. And one of the two clasp she sent worked just perfect!

The second necklace I used the green and amber beads that were wired together along with some darker amber beads wired together that I had. I then used the green pendant and two drop beads and hung them off of a one side of a toggle clasp that I seem to have tons of.  I really like this piece! It is hard to see but there is a hint of amber in the green pendant.

The next picture is of a set I made using some more of the beads. Believe it or not, the golden yellow center piece is a scrapbooking embellishment that I stuck on the black backing and started bead weaving around it!  The outside stitches are from "Bored By Backstitch" by Cindi Lavin at Beading Arts. They are a convoluted brick stitch motif that I created using her directions for the brick stitch. 

I tried to get creative with my stitches and in the center of the pendant, it may be hard to see, I created a "v" and filled with the beads from the design then created a bail from the seed beads I had used.  

The spotted, yellow and green beads are from Valerie's stash also. 

The earrings started out nothing like they ended up....but I strung size 8 seed beads in matching colors on the wire then curled the wire on both ends with the green saucer beads in the center. I ran a small delicate chain through the middle of each spiral on one end of each earring and attached it to the ear wires.  

I still have just a couple of beads left I plan on using and if my thread get here, I will finish the other necklace and post.

This was great fun, and although I KNOW Lori is exhausted!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Lori and if you are up to it next year, just post the day and I will be there. 

And a big thank you to Valeria for her great beads.

For the rest of the 500+ sites, check out Lori's site!

Till next year!

Keep on Beading!

Veralynne

ABS - April 2014

I was afraid I would miss this months as I absolutely loved the picture!   I knew what colors to do but really had no idea what to do.

So I have been perusing etsy for weeks..though I have been out for a few days for eye surgery. I finally found the colors and shapes I wanted at Hyperdoggie on Etsy.  So I ordered  triangular aqua and orange beads, and round "saucer" aqua and orange beads, and aqua and orange drops. The drops reminded me of the ballet slippers, and the others of their skirts and leotards. Aren't they just the greatest looking! I am in awe of people who do glass work...I know I couldn't do it!

Of course when I got them in...I really hadn't decided upon a design....but while I was laying with the ice packs on my eyes, the design using aqua and light orange lace with the beads on memory wire came to me.  Of course it was hard to wait out the time under ice...but I did.

Once I had the bracelet done, the earrings just kinda came together.

So this is my offering for the ABS April challenge.

Enjoy!