Getting Read For the Show - Bead Table Wednesday

She started it!

Who?

 Heather Powers, of course!

What?

Bead Table Wednesday, of course!

So, since you are reading this tomorrow,

and

I am writing this yesterday,

I'll show you what my bead table looked like yesterday.

I have a small bead show coming up in May.

I'm looking forward to this show, and I do need to get ready for it,

so,

today, which really was yesterday,

you can see what my bead table looked like.

Bracelets were my focus today, I mean, yesterday.

I used some of my bigger hole beads and some of my wire beads.

Did you see my mini tutorial yesterday on making wire beads?  If not, click here.  

 This is just a closer look at my wire beads.  Here's a link to them, too.

 

Here are some of  the bracelets.  There will be enough for the show.

Here they are!

I hope to put a couple in my Etsy store, too.

Take a peek when you can, or if you are interested in any of them, 

send me an email.

The one thing I didn't show on my bead table were my

Hope Charms for Jenny.

More on that later.

Until next week!

Easy Peasy Wire Bead Tutorial

There are many ways to make a wire bead.

This is how I do it, 

and,

it's very easy to do.

Here's what you need.

Wire (I like 20gauge the best.)

a ruler

wire cutters

pliers

a mandrel of some sort

(I used a steel chopstick, but I also use knitting needles for mandrels.)

and one thing not shown

a small file

 Cut about 18 inches of wire.

Begin to wrap the wire around the mandrel about 5 times for a smaller bead.

If you want to make a larger bead, cut a longer length of wire and wrap it more times around the mandrel.

Squeeze the end flat on the mandrel.

To secure the wire, make a loop and thread the wire into the loop. 

Using your pliers, pull the wire through the loop.

Begin to wrap the wire around your base, and, at times, secure the wire by pulling it through a loop you make on the bead.

As you finish your bead, make sure to tuck the excess wire into the bead.  Feel around the bead for sharp edges.  Use your file to take care of the sharp edges.

Here's the completed bead.

Here's the bead hole.  You can make the bead hole smaller by using a smaller mandrel.  

All of these beads are made with 20 gauge wire.

My favorite craft wire is Para Wire.  It is excellent wire.

In this photo, I also used copper, brass and dark annealed wire.

See what I mean?

Easy peasy!

Making Roses Then and Now

Since I was a child,

I have loved roses.

Roses grew wild in the backyard where I grew up.

My grandmother had a climbing rose that she cherished.

When I first started making glass beads,

I knew I had to try and make a rose.

I waited until I felt confident enough to begin doing some sculptural work.

Then came my first rose.

In truth, I thought it was really good.

I even made one and gave it to a friend for her birthday.

She loved it!

She thought it was good and so did I.

Lately, I've again felt the urge to make roses.

I like these roses, too!

So, what do you think?

Here's my first rose.

Notice I even tried to add some shading.

These are my new roses!

I truly like all of them!!

What do you think?

Six Word Story Sunday - Sayings

A

Picture's

Worth 

a Thousand

Words.

Again,

if you know me, you know that,

most times,

six words just aren't enough.

Just know,

I paid my taxes

yesterday.

I'm still in shock!

Bracelet Blog Hop - 7000 Bracelets of Hope - Reveal

Well, this is the post that started it.

Click on this link.

If you are a fan of Lori Anderson's work and her blog,

you will know what an amazingly kind person she is and of her love for helping others.

Today is the reveal day for the blog hop, which Lori started, for 7000 Bracelets for Hope.

The Global Genes Project will distribute the bracelets to families with children who have rare diseases.

Our task, as participants, is to make one blue themed bracelet to be sent to the Global Genes Project with a note of encouragement for the recipient.

Easy!

It was!

I will reveal my bracelet in just a moment, 

but I want to say that there were over 100 willing participants in this project as a result of Lori's idea to have a blog hop.

You will see the list of participants at the end of this blog.

Be sure to click on each link to see what the other participants have designed.

And now,

drum roll please!

ththththththththhthththththththhththththththth!

This is my contribution to the cause!

And now, here's the list of blog participants.

Feel free to click on each one to see their bracelets.

Bracelet Blog Hop

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride

11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef

21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 


31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 

41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry


52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart

61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman


71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 


81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy 
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts


91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 

101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne


 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.