I Promise!

The I am promise, to buy one thing handcrafted once a month!

How easy is that? and with that little promise the influence we all could have in local economies, supporting local small business and artists!  I love to buy from individuals who create out of love, so I make my promise to buy one thing handcrafted per month from an individual, do you?

The Big Reveal, well, maybe little......

This is my second Bead Soup Blog Hop Party, hosted by Lori Anderson and it has been so enjoyable.  I had a huge bead soup from my partner so I had some left over and will continue to add to my soup! Thank you Kris!

I received all these wonderful beads, chains, and clasps from my partner, Kris Binsfield, from Cherish Designs.  You can see the bead soup in my prior post.  Her handcrafted pendant was so wonderful and the clasps she sent, oh my, bling and more bling, I just couldn't decide what to do.

So, I just had to use the sparkly clasp in a bracelet to show it off.  Here is what I created with the some of the chain, beads, and clasp.

and the pendant, I just though it deserved to be the focal, I tried add beads and I just didn't like it, so I kept it simple with the chains and I just love it, but that is more my style, simple and blingy!

well, that leads me to the fact, I have plans for the rest of the soup, so there will be more to come, I have more to do and hope to have it done by the next reveal date, so please come back and check!  A little view of the rest of the soup that needs to be done! 

and a few more photos just because..................

The rest of the party, go check them out!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs

Amy Schmidt, Amy’s Treasure

Amy Severino, Amy Beads

Ana Krepel, Cat’s Pajamas, Dog’s Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra’s Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna’s Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll’s Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez’Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy’s Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes…

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni’s Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q’Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei’s Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M’s Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK’s Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi’s Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina’s Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It’s a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin’ of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese’s Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

New Bead Soup arrived............

I am participating in another bead soup blog party and I just got my "bead" soup from my partner, Kris Binsfield from Cherish Designs.  After the excitement tearing open the outer package I found these, yeah.....

and so I opened them to find this..

In box 1, the long box was this wonderful group of beads and chain..

In box 2, was this awesome group of beads, chain, etc...

with this amazing focal pendant made by Kris.....

so I am off to stir up my soup and see what I can create!

If you are interested, here is a sneak peak of the soup I sent my partner, but she needs to reveal the rest, until later.......

Life Inspired, what exactly does that mean???

I had a real hard time coming up with a tag line for my jewelry.  Still not sure it describes my jewelry, but it does describe my business.

A few weeks ago, I got an email from a soldier oversees that his wife's birthday and their anniversary was coming up and could I make something for her.  So, I had my mission, I asked a few questions and was off planning, creating and more.  The more was I wrapped the gift and hand delivered it to her at her job.  I got to shed a few happy tears with her. This experience and hoping that I have made a small difference in someone's day, is priceless.

And this, is what I mean by life inspired, getting to be a part of these special moments in peoples lives, getting to be just a small piece of joy in a gift for a special day, event, time, etc..  If my jewelry or I can make someone's day a bit brighter, happier, or even more tolerable (in the case of sad life events), that is what it is all about for me.

Recently, I made lots of fingerprint charms for Mother's Day gifts, I am currently working on some wedding jewelry and a gift for a new mother, so this is where the line, life inspired jewelry comes from.

A new gift on it's way to Rachael Ray

I was lucky enough to be included in a special gifting to Rachael Ray.  She loves handmade and loves jewelry, a great fit for me.  I will be sending this necklace on to her next week!

I am really loving working with the bronze metal clay, the warm color for spring and summer is just delightful and the colored beads and pearls just look so pretty with it!

Have a great week and Happy Spring!