Have a Merry Merry Christmas 

&

A Wonderful New Year

Finished one of the kits I won

Back in late June I won a  

copy of Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry by Erin and Lorelei and two earring kits from a giveaway that Erin held.  

Here is one of the finished kits.

I added a little bling of crystals to the bottom bead and there were two extra beads so I added them to the top of the earwire.

They really look adorable on. 

And just a little added cuteness for the week!

My oldman kitty Joe-Joe.

Have a great one.

Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap Blog-Hop

Welcome to Thoughtful-Notions

and the Mismatched Art Bead Earring Swap.

First off let me introduce you to my amazing partner Ali McCarthy of Northwoods Creative Studio.  Ali sent me quite a spectacular mismatched pair of enameled earrings.  I absolutely love red and yellow together.   

Ali formed these flowers from copper discs then they were enameled by her.  The matching beads are from copper tube that were also enameled.

Then matching red and yellow crystals were added and all wrapped together with heat treated copper wire.  She also hand forged the copper earwires.  

Thank you so much Ali it has been such a joy to be partnered with you.  You can also find more of Ali's work at her etsy shop Northwoods Creative Studio.

And a huge THANKS to Diana for organizing such a fun SWAP.

Now have fun checking out all the other amazing mismatched earrings...

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Anderson  http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com

Lesley Watt  http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Lori Bowring Michaud  http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano  http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Holly Westfall   http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Theresa Fosdick  http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

Ali McCarthy  http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Iveth Caruso  http://www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog.html 

Carolyn Collins  http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com

Elaine Ray  http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Charlene Jacka  http://www.clay-space.com

Jan Onipenco  http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com

Stephanie Woods  http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Shelby Foxwell  http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Pam Sears  http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Mary Harding  http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com

Lisa Johnson  http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com

Kashmira Patel  http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Penny Neville  http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com

Dee Elgie  http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah Small  http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson  http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Karin Slaton  http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Ashleigh Becker  http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Kay Hand  http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com

Rana L. Wilson  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://www.skyescreativec

Dawn Pierro  http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me

Shelley Graham Turner  http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell  http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

My Art is You Weekend

 This was my first time attending a Art Retreat and boy-oh-boy I sure don't want to make it my last.

  

It was AMAZING!!! 

And to be around all that inspiration...

  

The first night I took Diana Frey's Twisted Sistah Cuff class.  LOVED IT!

I have taken classes with Diana before and let me tell you it's always a TREAT. 

Still working on my cuff I will have to show it later.

Then the next two days I took Richard Salley's classes.  Here I am with Richard and his lovely assistant Jessica Papke who is also an amazing artist you have to check out her site.  They are also teamed up for some great classes coming up at 

Art Retreat in the Desert.

Saturday was the Rock & Riveted Cuff and here is what I made.  I was actually able to complete my cuff in class.  Yaaaa! 

Sunday was Lasting Impressions-Pendants and Earrings.  We made etched stamps to stamp images onto the solder.  I made these after I came home(been busy).  I added some lettuce colored alcohol ink to the solder I really like the effect.  Then wired up a cool chain with steel wire and some chips.  

It reminds me of a bike chain.

I also made these earrings from the same technique I was taught.  Can you see a GREEN THING going on here?   

Well thanks for visiting and have a wonderful relaxing week.

Busy Bee...

I just love making these soldered pendants...

I should be busy too, busy packing up for the weekend. 

 I am heading out to Petaluma for 

Art Is You!!!  

My stomach is tied in knots with excitement :)

Helping Hand

Yea!

I finished my pendants I am donating to the animal rescue thrift store.

I may just have to make a few extra for my etsy :)

It's for a very sweet cause.

Little Miss Maggie my foster-girl 

Hug & Kiss

Bead Table Wednesday!

This is my first ever Bead Table Wednesday post.

You really aren't seeing my table though because I can't even find it :)

I never seem to work on one thing at a time.  Every piece gives me ideas of something else.  I am making this Alice in Wonderland theme necklace for my daughter Roxanne and the necklace part is giving me fits.  I am just not feeling IT!

HELP  

I like the dangles, the bottle is lacking soon to be soldered top.

So in frustration I started the Sing necklace, made the nest and the metal plate this morning.  While I tumbled them I started the  I love Fostering pendant.  I will be soldering around the glass and hang from ball chain.  I am donating some of these pendants for a doggie foster group I help. 

And here is the sweet little face of my foster boy Maverick.  

Well click the Bead Table Photo to the right and visit the other BTW'S

Have a Wonderful Day!

Time to play

Well I am between jobs right now so I have time to play YAAAA!

I made this belated birthday gift for a friend, she loves pins so I pulled up my spring nest tutorial from Humble Beads and went to work.  I even made my own polymer clay egg.

While I had my clay out I made these cute little bird beads.

                 

And can't leave without one little brag post about my baby-boy.  Last weekend my son Trey (in the back) and his best buddy Eddie entered in a neighborhood boxcar derby.  They were the youngest at sixteen, the only two seater and of course the cutest :)                                                                   

                                Have a wonderful week!

JUST HAD TO SHARE

               Have a wonderful week!

LUCKY WINNER :)

I received my AWESOME copy of Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry signed by both Erin and Lorelei also TWO earring kits that I can't wait to get started on.  I was the LUCKY winner of Erin's generous give-away!  Just love this book you really have to check it out...  

Time for the Button Swap Blog Hop!!!

Hello Everyone

 Welcome To The Button Swap

Blog Hop

 &

 Happy Mothers Day To All The Ladies 

Well here we go...

My terrific button partner is Melissa Martin of Kensington Cottage Blog

I was sent a bunch of beauties and here they are 

I started with the larger metal button.  It was mirrored in the inside back just gorgeous and a perfect fit for what I was needing to finish a pendant that I made in a class taken from 

Riki Schumacher.

This is what I had after the class

And this is now

My next button choice was to use the pair of flower buttons.  I just love these buttons.   I had seen a post that Melissa made with these buttons, she had just found them along with some others and I was drooling over them then, to my delight they were sent in my swap. 

And here is what I made with them and I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they turned out. 

Many thanks to Cindy for organizing this GREAT HOP!!! and my partner Melissa thank you for sharing your stash...

Now have a GREAT time visiting the rest of these button hoarders...

I mean swappers :)

Alice Peterson  and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

 Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

 Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

 Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

 Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

 Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

 Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

 Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

 Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

 Christine Stonefield and Dana James

 Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

 Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

 Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

 Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

 Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

 Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

 Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

 Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

 Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

 Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

 Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

 Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

 Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

 Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

 Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

 Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

 Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

 Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

 Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

 Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

 Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

 Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

 Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

 Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.

 Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

 Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

 Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

 Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

 Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

 Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

 Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

 Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

 Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

 Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

 Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

 Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

 Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

 Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

 Mary Harding and Stacie Florer 

 Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

 Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

 Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

 Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

 Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

 Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

 Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

 Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

 Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

 Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

 Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

 Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

 Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

 Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

 Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

 Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

 Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

 Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

 Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

 Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

 Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

 Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

 Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

 Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

 Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

 Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

 Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

 Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

 Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

 Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore