Strawberry with Sprinkles

These beads reminded me of strawberry ice cream with sprinkles!  They are a mix of tiny pale pink pearlized seed beads and clear bugle beads lined with bright pink.  The bugle beads catch the light and have a little sparkle to them!  It's one long strand crocheted and then twisted together.  I finished it with a pale pink organza ribbon that ties in the back.  This is the first time I've used ribbon but it just seemed to go with this one since it's so dainty and girly!

Hope you're having a nice Easter weekend!

~Today's Quote~

Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere!

"Mermaid" Wire Crochet Necklace

It was fun to work with these bright colors!  The shell pendant and ocean colors make me think of a mermaid and the green wire seaweed.

There are six strands of peridot wire with tiny seed beads in green and blue with an iridescent finish and some 6/0 gold lined green beads.  Each strand is a little different. 

The weather has been beautiful this week!  I'm sure there is more winter to come but this has been such a nice break!  And look at the gorgeous sunset we had the other night...

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.” 

~Elbert Hubbard

"Nomad" Black & Silver Spool Knitted Necklace

When I saw this pendant from Blue Moon Beads' Global Nomad collection I immediately thought how perfect it would look on a spool knitted necklace.  I used silver wire, adding an opaque black 6/0 seed bead into each stitch, slid the pendant on and finished it with silver end cones and a lobster clasp.   

I do two craft shows each year.  The first one this year is next Saturday, the 20th, at the "Pecanfest" in Chetopa, KS.   If you're from our area, come check it out!  There will lots of fun things going on.  I'm looking forward to some homemade fudge from the "fudge lady"!  She has so many kinds to choose from but I always get Cherry Mash cause it's my favorite!

~Today's Quote~

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

~Charles M. Schulz

"Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining"

Beads in whites and greys like a cloudy sky and an occasional silver sparkly bead prompted the name for this necklace.  

I was thinking about this as I was making it so I thought I'd type the phrase in an internet search.  This is a portion of what I found:

Idiom Definitions for 'Every cloud has a silver lining '~ People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem. 

I also learned something new today!  I had to look up the definition of "Idiom".  In case you don't know either, here is what it is: 

Definition of Idiom ~ A phrase which has a meaning that is commonly understood by speakers of the language, but whose meaning is often different from the normal meaning of the words is called an idiom. 

So the thought for today is to remember to be positive and alway's look for the silver lining!

A "Winning" Combination

"Audrey"

In earlier posts I told about winning a couple of blog giveaways.  This is a combination of beads that I won.   The larger beads are 8mm Fire Polish beads in "Crystal and Rose Porphyr" that I received from Jewelry by Jessica.  (Porphyr beads have "swirled" colors.) The seed beads are some of the seed beads that I received from JustATish.  They're a perfect match!  Thanks again, girls!

The center section is crocheted and I made a matching spool knitted "chain" to connect to each side.  I originally planned on attaching regular chain but nothing I had looked right so I decided to add the spool knitted pieces.

I like to give them names so I'm going to call this one "Audrey".  It's such a soft romantic piece and that name just seems to fit to me.

~Today's Quote~

"You may delay, but time will not."

~Benjamin Franklin

Isn't that the truth!

Blue Turquoise Grotto & Copper Necklace

For this necklace I used a seed bead mix called "Blue Turquoise Grotto", Czech Fire Polished beads in "Blue Turquoise" and "Carnelian", and some "Cinnamon Spice" bicones all crocheted on dark copper wire.  I also crocheted a matching pendant for this one. 

I'm not real sure that this color mix makes me think of a grotto but it sure is a pretty name!

~Today's Quote~

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day."

~Sally Koch

"Lime Twist" Wire Crochet Necklace

  Again, one of my favorite colors!  For this five strand necklace, I crocheted a mixture of  lime, gold and antique gold seed and bugle beads on Peridot wire.  (Actually, chartreuse may be a better description of the color, but I couldn't think of a name to go with chartreuse!)  I left long ends on each side of the center section.  They are fastened to a big gold toggle clasp in the back.  The gold end cones make a nice finish on each side of the crocheted section.  There's quite a bit of sparkle to this one, too.  The bugle beads really catch the light.  This has to be one of my all time favorites! 

~Today's Quote~

The little things? The little moments ? They are not little!

"Salsa Dance" Wire Crochet Necklace

"Salsa Dance" in shades of bright orange and lime green! 

These are two of my favorite colors.  I love them separately or together!  So summery!  I crocheted the beads on silver wire and added a brightly colored glass pendant.  This one has a big fun toggle clasp.

But there is a problem.  I noticed when I decided to take a photograph of the clasp {which is poor, by the way, because I didn't want to go outside!  It's 94 with a heat index of 113 out there!} that one of the wires is broken near the clasp.  That never happens.  I don't know what caused it this time but it will have to be fixed.

~Today's Quote~

Make a wish and place it in  your heart.  Anything you want, everything you want.  Do you have it?  Good.  Now believe it can come true.  You never know where the next miracle is gonna come from, the next smile, the next wish come true.  But if you believe that it's right around the corner, and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it, you just might get the thing you're wishing for.  The world is full of magic.  You just have to believe in it.  So make your wish.  Do you have it?  Good.  Now believe in it.  With all your heart.

"Summertime" with Artbeads Necklace

Artbeads and Summertime Blogging Fun

As a design partner with Artbeads I got to choose items from their huge selection of pendants, charms and glass beads for the theme, "Summertime".  It was such a hard decision because they have so much to choose from.  I looked and looked but just kept coming back to this stoneware peace sign pendant.  I just love the bright flowers and little lady bug (and the peace sign!).  This is such a fun pendant!  The colors are so bright and it has a nice glossy finish. 

I wanted to incorporate all the bright colors in the pendant, so to complete the necklace I chose the following from their selection of glass beads:

Stoneware Small Cube Bead - Red

Stoneware Small Cube Bead - Yellow

6/0 TOHO Seed Beads Orange/Blue/White Stripes

8/0 TOHO Seed Beads in Opaque Cherry

8/0 TOHO Seed Beads in Opaque Shamrock

8/0 TOHO Seed Beads in Dark Yellow

8/0 TOHO Seed Beads in Sunset Orange

8/0 TOHO Seed Beads in Opaque White

Thank you, Artbeads!

Disclosure: I am a Blogging for Beaders partner with Artbeads. The above noted items were provided to me free of charge, to be used for design purposes, or for my honest review of them. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Checkout Artbeads' "The World Greatest Bead" Sweepstakes.  Click here for details!

~Today's Quote~

How do we change the world?

One single act of random kindness at a time.

~from the movie, Evan Almighty

Inspired by Wedding Flowers and The Wedding Story

Erin of Treasures Found::Inspiration is Everywhere does a monthly challenge.  The challenge this month is to create something “Inspired by Wedding Flowers".   I decided to use my daughter’s wedding flowers as my inspiration. 

Please note that I didn't properly follow the rules for this challenge.  I just used it as a starting point for my own enjoyment!  If you're interested in joining the challenge please read the rules!

The Wedding Story…
Once upon a time there was a 16 year old girl who fell in love with a 25 year old guy.  They decided it was time to tell the parents. The young man came to talk to my husband.  Now my husband is a big guy so you have to admire the courage it took for this young man to tell him that he was in love with his daughter!  Well, my husband told him in no uncertain terms to stay away from his daughter!  We knew him and didn’t have a problem with him personally. He’s a nice young man and we approved of him, but as parents had a problem with the age difference since our daughter was still in high school.

Well, they continued to talk on the phone, but I’m sure they didn’t see each other because that was forbidden.  (Uh huh, I’ll just keep on believing that!)  The subject of them dating kept coming up and finally my husband agreed, with strict conditions!  They continued to date through her high school years and the day came that he proposed.  The wedding plans began!


We planned an outdoor wedding for May 6 at a garden a few miles from here.  Imagine walking through a vine covered canopy, down a lovely wooded path, past a small waterfall to arrive at the wedding site.  It was going to be beautiful!  Her flowers were Stargazer Lilies.  The wedding colors were hot pink and lime green.  She walked down the aisle to "Beautiful Mess “ by Diamond Rio.  A little unconventional but that is “their” song.  That’s what I love about weddings now days.  You can be unique, you can be you, you can do anything you want to do!


We planned to have the reception there, also.  I envisioned this lovely “afternoon tea” setting with guests lingering, enjoying the beautiful gardens, while having their cake and punch. Well, that was not to be…


It rained and rained and rained.  All day.  It wasn’t sprinkles, it wasn’t pouring.  Just a nice steady shower.  There was a small chapel on the property and that was our back-up plan if necessary.  We knew it would be very crowded but it would work.  She was so disappointed and determined that she wanted to be married outside.  Luckily, one of the guests was a Boy Scout leader and, “always being prepared”, he arrived early AND he had a canopy with him! They quickly set it up for the wedding party.  We sent someone to town to buy all the umbrellas they could find and she was married in the garden!


It was a quick ceremony due to the rain.  The unity candle and reception were moved to a hall they had rented for the party afterwards.  Due to our oldest daughter “knowing people” we were able to have an arch and yards of tulle and twinkle lights delivered and managed to set up a very pretty backdrop for the reception table!

As they say, “All’s well that ends well“.  It wasn’t exactly the wedding of her dreams but it still turned out beautiful and they just celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary!

I put together a little slide show with some of the wedding pictures.

And now for the jewelry:

"Katie's Bouquet"

I used small white seed beads with a pearl finish, and pink, green and yellow seed beads as accents on black wire.  I added some Czech Fire Polished beads. The color in these beads ranges from the palest pink to dark pink.  The pendant is from a garage sale find.  I think it resembles a lily.  If I had shopped for beads for this project it would have been more elaborate, but due to the distance of the nearest bead shop and the temptations involved with ordering online I just used what I had on hand!

  I enjoyed this trip down memory lane and hope you did, too! 

~Today's Quote~

"Some see age as a restriction, some see age as a number, I see age as mind over matter.

 If you don't mind it don't matter!"

Grandma's Rose Garden

Shades of Antique Roses and Pearls inspired me to name this necklace "Grandma's Rose Garden".

I used lots of glass seed beads in shades of pink along with mauve cultured potato pearls.  It looks very soft and romantic! 

I kind of liked the way the crocheted earrings with the shells turned out so I made a pair to go with this necklace.  I think the delicate look of them goes especially well with this necklace.

~Today's Quote~

There's a story behind today's quote!

.  I bought a little hand painted heart shaped wall hanging that said

"If Grandma's were roses, I'd pick you."

for my Grandma when she was in the nursing home and it hung on her door.  When she passed away, unknown to me, my Mom kept it.  Not long ago my Grandaughter gave it to me. I never imagined when I bought it that someday I would be a Grandma and it would be hanging on my wall.

"Treasures of the Sea" Necklace & Earrings

"Treasures of the Sea" features a large shell pendant. 

 For this wire crochet necklace I used a seed bead mixture in whites and purples, including some with a pearlized finish, to pick up the purple color on the shell.   I also added in some small seashells. The sparkling beads, pearls and shells remind me of a deep sea treasure.

This is the first time I've used wire crochet in earrings.  I crocheted a very small section with a seashell and a few beads, attached it to the earwire, then attached a shell disk to it. 

~Today's Quote~

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right,

and forget about the ones who don't

and believe that everything happens for a reason. 

 If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it. 

Nobody said that it would be easy,

they just promised it would be worth it.

~♥~

"Callie", Inspired by California Dreaming

♫ "California Dreaming on such a winter's day..." ♫

I was working on this necklace this weekend as 10" of snow was falling.  I must say it was just a little depressing for the first day of spring!  The colors in these beads cheered me up a bit.  They remind me of  beach glass.  It was nice to imagine a nice warm walk on the beach on such a nasty day! 

I used a mixture of Czech glass beads, Czech Fire Polished Beads, and 6/0 seed beads to make the focal point of this necklace and completed it with silver chain.

Don't forget you have until March 31st to enter the giveaway in my previous post!

~Today's Quote~

There are many things in life that will catch your eye,

 but only a few will catch your heart...

Pursue those.

~Anonymous