Trying Something New

So lets hope this works!!!!

I've decided to follow some advice and use a mail service to help get my blog out to subscribers; you'll notice a little sign-up box to your left. It's also going to enhance the way I do the blog hops, I'm going to try to create a separate list for each one, then email the linky list to participants after the signup deadline.

Please bear with me while I work out the kinks, and please take a moment to subscribe!!!!!! Thanks everyone!

Foot Bling Blog Hop Results!!!

First, a great big juicy thank you again to everyone who participated!!! Here's the list of artists, don't forget to visit their blogs to see all the beautiful creations!


Sue Beads
Shellie G
Therese's Treasures
Patricia Lynne
Nutkitten
Renata's Arts and Crafts

and now, for my little project.

I've often been teased about my penchant for jewelry that makes lovely, jingly noises when I walk. Even before I started making my own jewelry, I used to love those little bell anklets. One of the great things about making your own jewelry is that you can take that idea and run with it (har har)

I started this piece with a variation on helm chain, using really really big (12mm) jump rings. I thought the chain looked rather empty, so I added some 9mm jump rings in between and I LOVED the result. I'm definitely using this little variation again. Here's a closeup:

This anklet sits really low on the ankle, and the coins sort of spread around the upper part of the foot. It's SO MUCH fun to wear!! And it makes those wonderful jingly sounds when I walk too!!!!

Foot Bling Blog List

First, I'd like to send out a humongous thank you to everyone participating in June's Foot Bling Blog Hop!!

My own piece is nearly done, and I'll be shooting pictures tonight, but for those participating here's the blog list so that you can post whenever you're ready!!

Sue Beads
Shellie G
Therese's Treasures
Patricia Lynne
Nutkitten
Renata's Arts and Crafts

Can't wait to see all the beautiful designs!!!

June's Blog Hop - Foot Bling!!!

Ah, summer is here at last. The time for short shorts, strappy sandals, and PEDICURES!!! There's something so freeing about "scraping the winter off of my feet" as my eloquent cousin once phrased it.

So in honor of summer, bare strappy sandals, and all the other wonderful things that go along with it, June's blog hop is centered on Foot Bling!!! Foot bling entails almost any jewelry you can wear on your feet, so break out your beads and make me some toe rings, anklets, foot thongs, barefoot sandals, beaded footwear - whatever you've got. I can't wait to see all of them, so put your best foot bling forward!!

I'm going to let the signups run for a really long time this month - so signups are from now until June 25, 2011. The blog post itself will be Thursday, June 30th. On June 29th, I'll publish a blog post with the list of participants, so don't worry if you don't get an email ahead of time!

To enter, simply comment on this post, and don't forget to paste a link to your blog! Even if you've joined before, it makes putting the linky list together a WHOLE lot easier if I don't have to go hunting.

Vampire Jewelry Blog Hop Results

First of all, I want to apologize to all of the participants that I haven't yet gotten back to. I started a new job this month, and it's taking up a HUGE amount of my time, so I haven't had much of a chance to bead OR to blog.

I had meant for the hop itsself to be on a Friday, but I guess I sort of messed up the date ... That's OK, though!!!!!! I managed to finish my piece and get it photographed, so I'm posting a leeetle bit before midnight so that everyone can get the blog list in time.

First of all, my piece.

I call it "Love Bites." This is an asymmetrical helm chain choker executed in gunmetal with a little bit of a vampire bite off center. It's simple, yet has a very elegant feel:

Make sure that you check out all of the other talented participants!!! Here's the list!!!

Zerenity Designs by Inca
Hand-crafted Baubles
Beads By Breul
Wyndsong Designs
NutKitten's Jewelry
Patricia Lynne
Mary C

Make sure you stop by and take a look at all of the vampy creations!!!!

Last Call for Signups - Vampire Jewelry Blog Hop

I just wanted to remind everyone that signups for the Vampire Jewelry Blog hop will end at midnight EST on Friday night, so make sure sign up in time!!! You can do so by commenting here. This promises to be a really fun one, so even if you can't join, remember to come back at the end of the month to check it out!

I'm sort of planning on making these blog hops a monthly thing, because I have so much fun doing them, so even if you can't join this one, stay tuned for the details of the next one in June!!!!!!

Bead Star Voting is Here!!!!

Every year, I look forward to Bead Star. It's one of the biggest beading and jewelry making contests out there, the competition is pretty stiff, and the creations that are submitted are good for hours of ooooh-ing and aaaaah-ing on my part.

This year's entries are no exception. There are several categories to vote in, and each one has tons of incredibly beautiful pieces. I wanted to share with you all the ones that I voted for! Click on the pictures to link you to the pages where you can vote for these designs!

In the crystals category, I had to vote for this funky, geometrical design:



The stones category was a tough one to choose, but this wonderful piece caught my eye immediately:



In the pearls category ... ok, I'll admit it, I had to vote for myself. How could I resist???



The metals category is close to my heart, and it's the category I usually enter. This year, however, my metals design didn't make the cut, but this piece immediately made me swoon with longing:



In the new seed bead category, this funky cuff stood out from the crowd beautifully



The hearts category was another really tough one. I finally settled on the quiet, earthy feel of this stunning piece:



In the glass category, the vibrant colors and the big honking dragonfly were my hands-down favorites



and lastly, with the earthy tones against the cool, pale blue, this standout from the plastics category got my vote:



So if you're a Beading Daily member, get over there and vote for your favorite (preferably mine <grin>) and if you're NOT a Beading Daily member, get over there and register, then vote for your favorite (preferably mine <grinning again>. Can't wait to see the outcome this year!!!!