We're All Ears - May 2015

This month we were challenged with colorful dancers.  Below is the information from Erin about the dancers.

One of the perks of having daughter in a dance school is the chance to witness to some amazing performances. Last weekend was our own dance recital/spotlight showcase (which is truly the best amateur dance performance in Central Wisconsin), but on Tuesday evening about 25 of us traveled about an hour away to the Appleton Performing Arts Center to view an evening of dance from world renowned troupe Pilobolus.


It was thrilling to watch this troupe of about 8 dancers transform on stage. They did a total of five different dances that ranged from raw and gritty to a celebration of the beauty and power of the human form. There was heaven and hell represented along with a great dose of humor in an illusion of escapes through a collaboration with magicians Penn & Teller.
The most traditional piece that we saw was a tango with six of the dancers set against a backdrop of shifting video of colorful buildings in Los Angeles. The dancers were on stage for a total of about 8 counts and cycled on and off at quite amazing regularity, each time wearing something completely different. And I mean, completely different, right down to the shirts, pants, dresses, and jackets that would match the rainbow colors on the screen. 

I had so many ideas, but I created them in my head, but just couldn't get them to fruition. Below is one that I did try..

But it didn't flow like I wanted. I wanted something that would swing when you moved to kind of represent the dancers moving and turning.

After much looking through my stash and thinking I found this chain fringe that I had purchased on a whim from a bead store. I figured they, swung when you walked to I attached the different color crystals to the bottom and ear wires at the top and this is what I came up with.

I put then on and they do swing around and "lock legs" when I move.

For more beautiful earrings check out Erin's site at Earrings Everyday.

Til next month...

Keep on Beading
Veralynne

Pine Ridge Flora Challenge May 2, 2015

Hello all, welcome back! Last time I told you I would be participating in another of Lisa Lodges challenges and that I would be posting it on May 2. So here it is. Above is a picture of the colors she chose for this Flora challenge. They are very deep rich colors!

For my submission I sat and looked at those beads forever...well, maybe for a week since I had to get hopping. But I really wasn't inspired....

 

Though I was drawn to the sparkly crystals at the top..I just couldn't get the beads to talk.  So I decided to look around at the other beads I had laying around for inspiration. I had some destash beads and such from Lisa sitting with my beads and low and behold....inspiration!!!!

The colors in the crystals and pearls went perfectly with this...so I whipped out my seed beads and stitched around this beauty. I wanted to try something a little different that I had seen Cindi Lavin of Beading Arts do and that was to add jump rings on the side of the cabochon when she stitched it.  It isn't perfect but you get the idea. The beads in the center are size 15 and are the same color as the larger beads around the outside. The pink wire I used at the top wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I made it work! There were also a set of leaves that matched the color scheme of the cabochon.

So with this beaded I got to work on my design and below is what I came up with! I did add in green glass crystal beads to pick up the greenish color in the cabochon and the crystals.

The leaves I hung on black chain to pick up the black in the cabochon. While it is hard to see in the picture, the beads and the crystals all accent each other and the colors are picked up in the cabochon.

 Here are some more shots of the necklace..

  

  

Here is the toggle clasp that was provided.  

I also made some earring mimicking the patterns in the strands on the necklace. 

I really love how this set turned out and I think I may just keep it.  

I have another challenge coming up on May 16 hosted by Lori Anderson...it is called the Awareness Challenge...so don't forget to check back then and see what I created.

Thanks for stopping by and til next time..

Happy Beading!

Veralynne - Designed By Vera

Hurrah For Spring - 2015

Hurrah for Spring Challenge April 25th, 2015

Once again Lisa of gratefulartist.blogspot.com has sent out a challenge to us. Using spring colored stones and beads.

And it is revel time for the Hurrah for Spring Challenge....While I posted on facebook, I am also posting on my blog...this time I remembered to take before pictures...

Picture of everything and then close up of the little butterflies and crystals.

It really amazes me how sometimes you get beads in and they just jump up and speak to you and the whole thing is done in a few hours...while other times..............they sit and glare at you. But anyway, the first piece just jumped up and I had the necklace and earrings done rather quickly.  My daughter is my model for this shoot...

The flower beads in the middle of the second row I bought from Lori Anderson in a destash purchase. She must have known I was going to be needing those beads. I also used two in the earrings.

A couple of close ups of the necklace.

    


I had some left over turquoise glass pearls from another challenge and they just blended right in. The bottom row with the big butterfly pendant has two different blue colored sea glass beads, small antique gold metal flower spacers and the small green beads. The second row has the flower beads with pink and white large seed beads used to accent the flower beads. Along with the flower beads are three clear glass beads with blue and white dots. To finish up the second row I used more of the turquoise glass pearls, the green glass pearls and the antique gold butterflies.  The third row is composed of the turquoise glass pearl beads and green and clear crystal beads. I have all three rows connected together in the back using an antique gold flower toggle clasp, which I forgot to take a picture of.

For the earrings: I used an antique gold metal flower bead, a clear crystal and green crystal bead, then a butterfly bead, then the small green beads with the clear glass bead with white dots. I connected it to one of the round blue sea glass beads. I used antique gold wires and ear wires.

Next up is a bracelet I made using more of the blue sea glass beads. These were square. I use orange glass beads as the accent color. 

 I used silver memory wire and the last of the diamond shaped blue sea glass bead. 



And lastly, to use up more of the sea glass beads, I made two sets of earrings, though my daughter has snagged the ones with the silver feathers.

 The first one I used small red glass beads with blue and white sea glass for a somewhat patriotic look.

The one below I used the blue sea glass with two silver feathers hanging. I used silver head pins and ear wires for both pairs.

So there you have it, my offerings for the Hurrah for Spring Challenge. 

I am doing another of her challenges called Flora, stay tuned and check back next Sat, May 2 to see it. As a teaser here are the beads....

Til next time...

Keep on beading!

Veralynne

Pine Ridge Jasper Blog Hop - 04-04-2015

Once again Lisa has challenged up to step out of our box and create.  I tried stepping out of my box but with being a tax preparer I have been so busy I wasn't able to step out much...but here goes


Once again I forgot to take beginning pictures of the great beads Lisa sent. I really need to get in the habit of taking them..but for my first piece the beads just seem to scream bracelet so that is what I made with matching earrings. Far be it for me to argue with the bead! I do think the lobster claw is to big...so I am going to have to find another one a bit smaller.

This second one is a bracelet too, but my daughter came up with this design. Again, I am going to have to get a smaller lobster claw.. I think I may try to move the beads closer together too.

And last, a necklace. I really like this one as it is fairly simple and almost monochromatic. I also didn't realize til it was to late the clasp was photographed upside down...lol.

So there you have it...my offerings for this wonderful Jasper Blog Hop.

For more inspiration hop over to Lisa Lodge Grateful Artist

Our next challenge is on April 25 called Hurray For Spring. I can't wait. so come on back on the 25th for more goodies. 

Pine Ridge Treasures Vintage Organic Challenge - March 14, 2015

Today is the reveal for Lisa's Pine Ridge Treasure Vintage Organic Challenge.  I received pearls and beads in red, rose, vineyard green, apricot illusion, and grape,

Not realizing I would be in the middle of tax season, I was only able to make two sets for the reveal.

The first one I made per my daughters instructions for her using the red, green, and apricot illusion colored pearls with matching shades of chain. It also has a set of pierced earrings.

The second one is a simple necklace using the red beads with ivory glass seed beads. I had the left over oriental bead that matched the colors I was using to make a pendant. It is attached to a simple silver tone chain with a lobster claw closure.

Thanks for stopping by.  I truly enjoyed this challenge and look forward the many more she has coming up!

Ordinary Extraordinary Everyday: The Art of Chronicling Everyday Life. Day 11 - 15 2015

Wow the time has flown and now it is time for the last of the pictures of our Mini Challenge hosted by Sally..

11. Macro - In trying to stay with the "love" connection this week, this is a macro picture of some Lip duck tape my daughter had purchased to wrap her "goody box" for her boyfriend.

                                                                                                                                                               

12. Temptation - Ice cream is ALWAYS  Temptation for me!

13. Sweetness - I picked up some red velvet cake for Valentines Day along with the ice cream above. Together they were really really sweet!

14. And for my love - my hubby.....

15. And since my life has been crazy since the holidays, the only together pics I could find were the ones of Christmas 2014 that were taken Jan 18 because we were waiting on my daughter to get moved out here.

So there you have it....

This has been a great mini challenge and I am looking forward to the next...

For more great pics, check out the links below.

Til next time..

Keep on snapping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Ordinary Extraordinary Everyday: The Art of Chronicling Everyday Life. Day 6-11 2015

6: Minimal - I had a hard time with this one trying to figure out something minimal. Today I was at the Drs. office and this "painting" was on the wall. To me it said minimal because the "canvas" was large and dark brown, the focal picture canvases were minimal compared to the large dark background.

7. Chaos - This was easy...my desk is always in chaos!

8. Words- This needs no explanation..words!

9. Night Time Calm - This one is of my daughter - she has to have the sleep mask on and at least one of her cats on her at night to go to sleep....so this is her

10. Outside - My son and I were running errands today and drove past a field of winter hay I think...anyway it was pretty so I took a picture and it was outside!

For more amazing pictures, check out the links below.

Till next time

Snap on!

An InLinkz Link-up