Wanderware: 2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Beads of Courage ~ 2014

Welcome to my wanderware blog site and to my very first Art Charm exchange and Beads of Courage reveal! This is an annual event hosted by the amazing Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions where a select number of artists make 11 charms to be shared and auctioned. I found this event last year during the auction and after bidding on the incredible charms made by artists from far and near to benefit the Beads of Courage program. I knew that I needed to be a part of this.

Beads of Courage is an organization that provides arts-in-medicine for seriously ill children. This program is found in over 150 children's hospitals worldwide and currently supports over 30,000 children. Based in Tucson, Arizona, Beads of Courage was founded in 2003 by Jean Baruch, an RN who sought to fill gaps in the areas that support seriously ill children and their families by providing the program as a resilience-based intervention. Beads are used because they symbolize strength and courage and throughout history were used to award bravery and accomplishment as well as providing protection and healing. The charms made by the artists in this exchange are being auctioned off as a fundraiser for this unique program and all the kids and families that benefit from it. Please visit the auction site at:

http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions

Many thanks to Jennifer for her dedication to this important cause and for all the artists who contributed charms from their hands and their hearts. Blog links are listed below for your hopping enjoyment!

my collection

my auction charm

~ my favorite ~

the one that came home

2014 theme ~ SOAR

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Anchors Aweigh ~ LIRON

This is my extraordinary son, Nathan, and his one true love, Andrea. They are getting married in less than three weeks and this boat will be their home. Nathan bought this boat about a year and a half ago and named her ''Liron" which is Hebrew for "my song" or "my joy." Shortly afterwards he met Andrea.

For this challenge, the amazing Rita of Toltec Jewels supplied all the participating artists with gorgeous anchor theme beads made with love by Diana of Suburban Girl Beads. In the bible, the word 'anchor' is used metaphorically as an emblem of hope . . . that which supports or keeps one steadfast in the time of trial or doubt. Nathan and Andrea's wedding invitation includes the words of Hebrews 6:19 ~

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul

a hope both sure and steadfast

and one which enters within the veil"

My piece for this challenge uses the anchor beads to symbolize the hope and strength that these two are for each other and the anchor clasp as a symbol of their amazing faith in God, who is our eternal hope. Mazel tov, Nathan and Andrea!

~ Liron ~

~ my song . . . my joy ~

So much gratitude to both Rita of Toltec Jewels and Diana of Suburban Girl Beads for their efforts in this timely and thought provoking design challenge and blog hop. Please visit all the artist's blog sites listed below to view their creations for this Anchors Aweigh event.

Featured & Honored Artist: Diana Ptaszynski

Diana's Shop: Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's Blogs: Suburban Girl Studio

Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: TJ Jewel School Friends

Bobbie Rafferty Beadsong Jewelry

Chris Eisenberg Wanderware

Heather Richter Desert Jewelry Designs

Michelle McCarthy Firefly Design Studio

Kathy Lindemer Bay Moon Design

Dini Bruinsma Angaza by Changes

Cynthia Machata Antiquity Travelers

Kathleen Breeding 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Linda Younkman Lindy's Designs

Robin Reed Artistry HCBD

Marla Gibson Spice Box Designs

Gina Hockett Freestyle Elements

Renetha Stanziano Lamplight Crafts

Marianne Baxter Simply Seablime Jewelry

Christina Miles Wings N Scales

Marybeth Rich A Few Words from Within the Pines

Shai Williams Shaiha's Ramblings

Cheri Reed Creative Designs by Cheri

Monique Urquhart A Half-Baked Notion

Jennifer Reno Musings of a Crafty Jenny

Shirley Moore Beads and Bread

Tammy Adams Paisley Lizard

Melissa Trudinger Bead Recipes

Jill Bradley JillyBeads

Monday, August 4, 2014

Haberdashery Blog Hop - "Re-knewed"

Welcome to my wanderware site and to a most unusual challenge ~ the very first Haberdashery Blog Hop - the brainchild of Melissa Trudinger of BeadRecipes from Melbourne, Australia. This is Melissa's first time hosting a blog hop and she challenged the participants to raid their fabric and trims stash to create jewelry pieces out of whatever they found. The descriptive subtitle for my wanderware line is "jewelry for the adventurous soul" and having a soul that fully meets that description made this a very fun endeavor for me!

I am very interested in upcycling materials and have been toying around with adding a line of these sorts of pieces to my wanderware collection. I would call this collection "re-knewed" which suggests the ability to enjoy something old and worn out in an completely new and unlikely manner. In a huge way, this blog hop has helped me jump start this new line and I am grateful to Melissa for setting the opportunity before me.

My first piece uses strips of material from four of my daughter's old t-shirts. I had already cut out the front panels to use for a t-shirt quilt but couldn't get myself to throw the remaining fabric away knowing that there existed a perfectly wonderful destiny for it! I braided these strips using a Kumihimo disc and came up with a soft, flexible eye-catching rope. I added a peyote beaded tube of brass triangle beads, brass end caps, a gold rolo style chain and a magnetic clasp to finish the piece. I thought I might add something dangling from the beaded tube but also really liked it just the way it is (which was convenient since I was running out of creating time!) Who knew that old t-shirts could become such an intriguing piece of jewelry?!

I was having so much fun that I returned to my stash and began playing with old torn up denim jeans. I cut the inseam strips from some jeans and rolled them up tightly to make solid flat fabric circles, arranged them symmetrically and bound them together with black leather lacing. I added a ceramic tube bead at the bottom, brass circles on the top two rolls and finished it with a complimentary brass chain. This is definitely a bold piece and with the right outfit would make quite a statement!

Loads of thanks to you, Melissa Trudinger, for this wonderful "out of the box" challenge and for being instumental in helping me open this new line of wanderware. I too had three blog hops this past weekend in addition to many other demands and appreciate the leniency of posting a bit late. I look forward to seeing all the other pieces that the artists below have created and invite you to visit their sites as well! Happy hopping!

Melissa Trudinger - hostess http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Ann Schroeder http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com

Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Amanda Wacasey http://mandyinmystic.blogspot.com

Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com

Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com

Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.BlogSpot.com

DiYana Brooks http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Kae Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Karin Grosset Grange http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Mitzie Crider http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com

Janine Lucas http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Leithleach Alainn Seodra http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/

Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Shiraz Biggie http://secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/

Lennis Carrier http://www.windbent.net/

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

Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com

Rita Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Mischelle Fanucci http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Karen Mitchell http://overthemoon-design.com

Carol Briody http://Cbriody.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Jami Shipp http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com

Lili Krist http://pcbylik.blogspot.com/

Evelyn Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Raissa de Guzman http://www.abloro.com

Niky Sayers http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk

Keren Panthaki http://vasdea.wordpress.com

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets - simple gifts

The perfect challenge for a summer blog hop coupled the time, energy and imagination of Rita (Toltec Jewels) with Sue Kennedy's Chicklet beads (SueBeads.) I received a beautiful orange and yellow hued chicklet for my project and had all sorts of fun dreaming of ways in which to utilize it in a piece of jewelry. I decided to go with a super simple design that really focused on the artistry of the focal piece to honor the amazing work that Sue has done. I combined my lovely little bead with leather cording and Swarovsky crystal cubes in an earthy but elegant wrap bracelet. I loved it so much that I wore it to church this morning and it sold right off my wrist! I think I will order a chicklet in every color and make up an assortment for my next ArtWalk in September. Here is my creation . . . simple gifts.

Thanks Rita for a wonderful little diversion in the midst of life's craziness and for inspiring simplicity when it truly was needed. Bravo to you Sue Kennedy for your talents and artistry . . . you are a treasure to us all and I am so glad to have found you through this challenge!!! Please be sure to browse through all the other sweet chicklet designs found in the sites below!

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist: Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs: SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

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

Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com you are here :)

Kelly Rodgers https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

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

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont http://frugalmacdougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com