Bead Soup Blog Party, 1st Reveal!

Alicia Marinache	All The Pretty Things
Amber Dawn Goldish	Inventive Soul
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	Country Frog Creations
Birgitta Lejonklou	Create With Spirit
Breana Fry	Vault 31
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	B'Sue Boutiques
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	Carol DeeZigns
Carolyn Chenault	Carolyn Chenault
Cassi Paslick	Beads:  Rolling Downhill
Cece Cormier	The Beading Yogini
Cheryl McCloud	One Thing Leads to Another
Cindy Wilson	It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain	Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Riggs	Cynth's Blog
Dana Hickey	Wind Dancer Studios
Dana James	Dana's Jewelry Designs
Darlene Fortier	Delicious Rejuvenations
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	From the Heart Creations
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/
Denise McCabe	CabeWoman
Diana Frey	Tattered Adornments
Diana Welte	Lilyweeds
Dini Bruinsma	Angaza by Changes
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	Beads for Busy Gals
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	Perl-eni
Erin Grant	Erin's Jewelry Creations
Eva Kovacs	Ewa Gyongyos Vilaga
Eva Sherman	Eva Sherman Designs
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	Blissful Garden Beads
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	Humblebeads
Ingrid McCue	Wrapped in Silver
Jacqueline Marchant	FiddleDeeDee Jewelry
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	Jewelry by Jasvanti
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	Mama's Gotta Doodle
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	Glass Addictions | by Jen Cameron
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	lilruby jewelry
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	The Peaceful Bead
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	Lyn Foley
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	Studio Marcy
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	Willow Street Shops
Marianna Boylan	Star Girl Shop
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	Beautifully Broken Me
Nan Emmett	Spirit Rattles :: Spirited Earth
Niky Sayers	Silver Nik Nats
Pam Chesbro	A Fortunate Soul
Pam Farren	Re-maker
Pam Sandy	Pam's Eclectic Stuff
Pam Traub	Klassy Joolz
Pamela Gangler	She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Paula Hisel	Simply Stated
Peggy Gabrielson	Georgia Mountain Arts
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	A Creative Chelle
Rose Rushbrooke	The Art of Rose Rushbrooke
Ruth Szapa	New Things
Sally Russick	The Studio Sublime
Sandi Volpe	Sandi Volpe
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	blog by salla
Shannon Hicks	falling into the sky
Shari Replogle	Plays With Paper
Sheila Daniels	Cheeky Magpie
Sheila Davis	Stone Designs
Shiraz Biggie	Secret Song Designs
Shirley Moore	Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z	Brising Beads
Staci Smith	Staci Louise Originals
Stacy Pomerleau	Craft En Ville
Stephanie Weiss	Uniquely Me - Beads, Wire, and Desire
Sumi Rani	Hundred Colors
Susan Sheehan	Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzette Bentley	Ellie's Bijoux
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	BumbleBeads Designs
Tracy Stillman	Tracy Stillman Designs
Valerie Norton	Hot Art
Vicki Holliday	Flop Cat Design

You're awesome

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

This installment of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Hop is a little different. We didn't partner up and test the boundaries of our design skills.  Instead, we are honoring the people in our lives that mean so much to us.

Click here for Lori's full story as to why she made this hop a little different, but this quote beast sums it up: "I created this blog hop as a way of remembering no just Mari, but other people who have deep meaning in our lives."

First up, a confession.  I didn't create a new piece for this hop.  I tried.  I have a couple of different half-created necklaces on my work bench, but none of them clicked for me with the meaning.  I kept comparing them to this simple pendant I created years ago.

A few years ago, two of my oldest friends each received some difficult news a couple of months apart.        I made this goddess to represent the strength and freedom of my friends. No matter how much you want to, you can't take away someone's pain, and you can't fight their battles for them.  The best you can do is give them support and love, a shoulder to cry upon, a place to come to when they need to get away.  My friends have always done this for me, and I try to do this as much as I can for them.

Please take some time and go blog hopping.  These are some wonderful artists, and I cannot wait to read their stories.

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods

Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

A Few Early Shots of Some Jewelry

I love living in Michigan, and I love all five seasons (can't forget about construction season).  The downside is that in the winter it is dark when I leave for work and dark before I return home.  I hope to take some better pictures this weekend and list some new goodies.

For now, here is a sneak peek...

A little boho...

And a little raku...

Obligatory Positive New Year's Day Post

Preparing to be more

I had a wonderful time yesterday at my last show of the year. It was held at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. We were busy all day and I met some wonderful people!  I hope they decide to do the show in the spring, too.

I love the Nature Center because it is so peaceful and tranquil.  I love the green lushness of all the trees, even this time of year.  I look at the bare trees and know they are simply preparing to be fuller, larger, and more of what they are supposed to be next year.  I love feeling I get when I walk in a forest, a feeling of being lost and exactly where I belong at the same time.

It is very appropriate that my last was at the Nature Center.  2012 has left me stripped and bare, but not empty or dead.  I am simply preparing to be more next year.

Buy Local Art & Gift Show

This weekend Tracy & I will be at the Buy Local Art & Gift Show at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.  It is the first year either of us have done this show, and we are both very excited.  I do love local shows, and I love to buy from local artisits.

You're probably going to see a lit of this gif.  It just makes me giggle.

Thankful

I am thankful today, and every day, for my friends and family.  I could have survived this year; but life is to be lived, not merely survived.  I cannot thank all of you enough for all of the love and support you have given me this year.  You gave me a shoulder to cry upon, gave me big, squishy hugs, dragged my ass out of the house when I didn't want to leave, let me stay in when I really needed to, hatched the evilest of plans (and realized none of us look good in prison orange), fed me a good stiff drink (or three) when I needed it, and most of all, made me laugh my ass off.  Thank you all for the light and laughter you bring to me.

bent not broken

Dreamer of Impossible Dreams

I'm sure most of you who read my blog also read Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog. The only thing better than her jewelry is her writing.  She is warm, compassionate, and easy to relate to.

I firmly believe in openly and honestly talking about mental health issues, especially depression. Her post today is Where Lao Tzu and I Battle Depression.  It joins this post from Hyperbole and a Half and this post from The Bloggess as my favorite thatisbrilliantdamnIwishIcouldexpressmyselfthateloquently posts about depression.

My favorite line from her post today is: "Ironically, being depressed does NOT mean I'm not enjoying my life - it's just a little harder to."  This sentence sums up how difficult it can be to explain the complexity of depression to people, especially those close to us. Sadly, sometimes we never can, no matter how hard we try.

Show this Weekend

This weekend Tracy and I will be at the Pennfield Middle School Arts and Crafts Show in Pennfield, Michigan. Here is a quickie pic of some of my new stuff:

This is the first of the last three shows of the year. Check out my show page for the dates and times.

I Love Halloween

I have been making beads and jewelry in preparation for the holiday shows, but I am having so much fun decorating for Halloween. So no pics of my recent work, but here is the AWESOME zombie gnome I bought from this guy:

If he didn't weigh close to 15 pounds, I would probably carry him around like a baby.

And Not So Sassy...

I love Halloween.

I have had a sinus headaches for four days now.

Here is one picture for both of those statements.

feh

Feeling Sassy and Sparkly!

This weekend I was a vendor at the Bead Bonanza in Southfield, Michigan.  It was a good show. but my highlight was meeting the incredible Ofilia Cinta.  I took my first lampwork class back in 2004, and one of the first artists I discovered online was Ofilia. Not coincidentally, some of the first beads I made were fish:

I gave them my own twist and added multiple eyes, and you can't see it, but this fish (as most of mine did) had a butt.

This is the fish I bought from Ofilia:

See the similarity?  Neither do I. :)  My point is, great art and great people make you you want to strive for more, to do more, and to be a better you. What is great art? For me, it is something that stimulates and makes you think. What is a great person?  Someone who smiles at you (and doesn't look for the exits) as you babble on about your divorceandyouroventhatburnseverythingnomatterthetemperatureandhowmuchyouveadmiredherworkforoversevenyearsandyouaresogeekedtomeetyou...

And now for your moment of cuteness...

Gearing Up For the Holiday Season

Stop by the Great Lakes Bead Bonanza this Sunday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tracy and I will be there, along with nearly 50 wonderful artisans!  We will have plenty of beads, findings, and finished jewelry.

Why Buy Art?

This weekend I picked up the 2012-2013 West Michigan Art Guide (ah, if only I had time and money...).  On one of the pages they have an article, Why Buy Art? This (along with why buy handmade) is something I try to stress with friends and strangers alike. Here are a few of the reasons that I can relate to the most:

• Transport you to other places
• Inspire your creativity
• Change your attitude for the better
• Bring beauty joy and conversation into your life