Totally Worth It

Did I really need to spend 230 calories on a bag of milk chocolate M&Ms just now?

If I wanted to avoid (a) a completely undignified faceplant into my desk in front of my co-workers, (b) slapping someone for no other reason than hunger made me crazy or (c) breaking into my colleague's locked office to raid her mini-Reese's cups stash....then yes, yes, I totally needed these M&Ms.

Don't judge. Although if you could admit that you're craving some now, too, it would make me feel better!

Time To Stitch 3 Reveal

The lovely Therese and Christine have gone and done it again, tempting weavers with a challenge to learn or get reacquainted with some beadweaving stitches in the third Time to Stitch challenge.  This time around we were to make something with a spiral stitch (African helix, Russian spiral or Cellini) and something with a flat stitch (either brick or square). 

 

In my typical fashion, I made grand plans of an elaborate piece that would somehow incorporate all of the stitches.  But the reality of my schedule thought that level of ambition was friggin hilarious, so that plan was shelved for now.  However, I did manage to get a few things done, so settle in and wander down the beadweavy path with me....

 

First up was my brick stitch adventure.  This isn't a stitch I use a lot, and I wonder why not.  It's quick, it's easy, and who doesn't need a little instant gratification in their lives sometimes, right?  My plan was to make a brick stitch bracelet, adding interest to the basic stitch by using a variety of bead sizes.  I got through one sequence of the varied sizes, and realized I had a really cool ring staring back at me.  So I stitched it up and made another!

 

 

I'll probably go back and actually make a bracelet or two (or twenty) from this idea.

 

And it was then on to the spirals.  I'd done African helix and Cellini before, so I tackled the Russian Spiral first.  I queued up the video tutorial Therese and Christine had provided, and watched intently.  Several times.  And despite my careful attention, I ended up with a butt ugly mass of seed beads by about the third or fourth row, and I just could not figure out what was going on.  So I'd mutter a little curse, rip the ugly thing apart, and walk away.

 

Finally, with nerves firmly in hand, beads at the ready, and needle well threaded, I decided to take another swipe at it. This time, instead of trying to work alongside the video tutorial, I printed out a pdf of some instructions.

 

It still didn't work.  I was starting to seriously doubt myself here.
 

Until after the 4,000th time I was unstringing after it had mysteriously gone wrong AGAIN at some point during the third round. I looked at the instructions, and realized that the initial stringing pattern is two small, one large, etc...NOT, as I had been doing, three small, one large...

 

I hadn't felt quite so blonde in a long time.  I shared my experience with Christine, who'd expressed her own frustrations with spirals, and then finished the Russian Spiral, which you can see as the centerpiece here:

It looks innocent, but it nearly drove me nuts to get it going...

 

 

I did have moments when I thought this thing was going to kill me.

 

Then, just to convince myself that I could do a spiral stitch without losing the precious little that's left of my mind, I worked up a Cellini spiral.  I've done the stitch before, and both love it and realize that it is a giant time suck.  But I really wanted to work in the other color palette I'd selected, so long hours be damned, I jumped in. 

 

It was all good until right before I started weaving the ends shut, when the tube split right along the crystals.  Just like the shorts on a tourist who's had one too many trips to the buffet line before he bent over to pick up that dropped item, this baby split like the seat of a pair of too-tight pants.

 

Yes, I said some words that would have shocked my mother.  But I got it woven back together, and here's the final spiral:

 

When deciding how to finish it, I was trying all kinds of stringing patterns, but finally realized that it's a bold, substantial piece of weaving that needed a substantial necklace to balance it out, lest it look as oddly proportioned as an ostrich in ballet slippers:


I love Disney's Fantasia, and the dancing
animals always make me laugh





 So here's the final product, asymmetrial and bold:

 

 

Thanks to Christine and Therese, for stretching our skills, our imagination, and my patience.  And thanks to you for listening to my ramblings.  Now, treat yourself to some beautiful work by the others who participated:

 

Therese Frank

Christine Altmiller

 

Maryanne Gross

Cynthia Machata

Bobbie Rafferty  (you are here!)

Katherine Gale

Sally Russick

Niky

Alenka

Kim Hora

Karin Slaton

Shirley Moore

Tami Norris

Amy Severino

Alicia Marinache

Lola Surwillo

Mandy Duffy

Kristen Stevens

Diamonds in the Rough

A couple of months ago, the good folks at ZNet Shows invited me to be part of their design team. It's a chance to work with a wide assortment of their cultured sea glass and other wholesale beads.

The latest challenge is "Diamonds in the Rough" -- I was invited to select beads and other components that have gone under-appreciated in their catalog, and make something that might spark ideas for other jewelry makers.  So I chose some things that would challenge me and played!  In case you're interested, the ZNet catalog numbers are included in the photo captions.

The first is a pair of earrings made with some Murano style glass puffed squares.  I dangled some red crystals from gold plated chain, and added them to a jump ring behind the Murano squares.  Easy peasy, but lots of swingy fun.

PT472 Gold foil Murano pendant
chain and beads were my own

These Murano donuts are quite blingy, with a silver background.  I dangled these from a fine link sterling chain, and then dangled some ZNet cultured sea glass nuggets from more chain.  I like how the muted color of the sea glass compliments yet tones down the sparkle of the donuts, and the chain lets them swing beautifully.

PT466 Silver foil Murano donut pendants
cultured sea glass nuggets

This necklace combines another Murano style puffed diamond, knotted on waxed linen with these glass quartz ovals in the most ethereal shade of blue.  I also included some of ZNet's barrel spaces and crystals.  The clasp is my own creation.

PT472 Gold foil Murano diamond pendant
SCBDG47 sky blue glass quartz oval puffed beads
ZNet antique copper spacers and green crystals

Finally, I must subconsciously want to go to the beach, because this necklace makes me feel like sand and surf.  The Murano style teardrop is paired with a shell rectangle, knotted simply on waxed linen and highlighted with sea green matte crystals.  Can you hear the roar of the ocean?

SCPDG256 black lip shell pendant
PT471  Gold foil Murano teardrop
ZNet matte crystals

I think these Murano beauties would be terrific in bead embroidered pieces as well, and will be breaking out the seed beads to work with them soon.  But the designs above are, hopefully, accessible for beaders of all experience levels, and can be dressed up or down to suit your tastes.  Thanks to Bill and the great people at ZNet Shows for providing me with another chance to stretch my creative wings with their products!

Hats Off Challenge - The Reveal

Today's the day - the first Hats Off Challenge, not so coincidentally on the day of the Kentucky Derby.  The idea is to make jewelry inspired by Derby (or Ascot) hats. There are a good number of beaders in the field today, so pull up a comfy seat, mix up a nice mint julep, and enjoy the eye candy!

As hostess of the challenge, I had hoped to make lots of pieces, including some beadwoven pieces.  Yeah, and life intervened.  So my selection is not as extensive nor elaborate as I might have envisioned, and there is no significant weaving involved, but that means that you can move through this post more quickly and go on to enjoy the creations of the other participants.  See?  Silver lining!

First, my "Inspired By Nature" entry, inspired by hats like these:

I made these:

Rose quartz, lucite flower, pewter flower, sterling clasp
(this is more substantial than is apparent here -- the  blue flower is about 2" across)

Millifiore glass with freshwater pearl sticks

 For the "Color, Texture and Shape" inspiration, with hats like this:

and this

I made this:

Glass diamonds, crystal, rhinestone spacers

And this lovely hat

Inspired these (they may be my favorite, I think):

faceted carnelian, crystal, fiber -  I love how the fibers are
reminiscent of the feathers on the hat!

For the "Unconventional Materials" category like this:

I turned a wine cork into a pendant (because, even though it might fit the Kentucky Derby theme, a bourbon bottle is WAY too big to wear as a pendant!)

And finally, for the "Sculptural" inspiration like this:

I broke out the seed beads and a spike bead, which I've been so eager to use, and made this:

I wore the ring to Churchill Downs today, and look what I discovered --

the ring

pardon the lint...

kinda looks like Churchill Downs' iconic Twin Spires!  It was purely subconscious, I swear!

Yep, I got to wear the Challenge Hat and the Spire Ring to Churchill Downs today --
with my handsome sweetie.

Thanks so much for visiting - and be sure to visit the other participants.  My hat's off to them!

Arlene Dean www.aglassbash.blogspot.com

Bobbie Rafferty www.beadsong.blogspot.com

Charlie www.505indiechic.blogspot.com

Cheryl Dunham www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com

Chris www.furzalsjewellry.blogspot.com

Christine Altmiller www.onekisscreations.blogspot.com

Cindy Wilson www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com

Cynthia Machata www.antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Deanna Riles-Cox https://www.facebook.com/deanna.rilescox

Debbie Rasmussen www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Dini Bruinsma http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Jasvanti Patel www.jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Jean Yates www.prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com

Jennifer LaVite www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/

Karin Slaton www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Kashmira www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Laney Mead http://laney-izzybeads.blogspot.com/

Liz E www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Lola www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Micheladas www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Nan Smith www.wirednan.blogspot.com

Robin Reed www.willowdragon.blogspot.com

Sally Russick www.thestudiosublime.com

Shiraz www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com

Susan Nelson Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com

Therese www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Vera www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Hats Off Challenge -- Beaders, To Your Gates

Last fall, when visiting old friends in another town, I said, "You should come to Derby some day."

A couple of weeks ago, one of those friends called and said, "So, that invitation to Derby? I'm coming up!"

This inspired several reactions from me:

1) Yay, our friend is coming to visit!

2) Oh, crap, when the heck am I gonna find time to clean this house for house guests?!?

3) Hooray, I get to wear a hat!!!

Now, what you have to understand is that, unless you're willing to sit in the Churchill Downs infield alongside the college kids and the random drunk in a Speedo, you're going to have to invest big money to get tickets to Derby, particularly at this late date.  I mean, mortgage the house - sell a kidney - pawn the children kind of money.

These are scenes from the infield.  Yeah, I'm not gonna be sitting there.

Not being willing to do any of those, we got tickets to the Oaks, the day before Derby -- and hats are just as necessary. 

The Oaks is a race for fillies, and instead of the Run for the Roses, it's the Run for the Lilies.
This photo shows the parade of survivors before the race,
when breast cancer survivors are honored.

So, the hat that's in the Hats Off Challenge badge?  I'm wearing it to the Oaks. 

Gonna have to balance beading with housecleaning, which is changing my beading plans, but I'm getting ready for the challenge reveal next Saturday.  How are you coming with your challenge?

Hats Off! Challenge Update

If you're looking for my Bead Soup reveal, go here!

Last night was the official kickoff of Derby season around here, with an absolutely enormous air and fireworks show called Thunder Over Louisville.  Officials estimated over half a million people went to the banks of the Ohio River to watch. And the crowd was down this year due to cold weather.  I"ve heard of years when there were up to 800,000 people downtown.

Me?  I stayed home in my nice warm house and watched it on television.  I live close enough to the river that I can hear the percussion of the fireworks - most of the fun, none of the traffic or inebriated festival goers.  My mama didn't raise no dummy.

And it also marks the two-week countdown to the reveal for the Hats Off Challenge!  Below is a list of the participants so far.  If you've signed up, first of all, thanks! Second, please check your link to make sure it actually goes to your blog instead of some horrifying and unexpected site.

Arlene Dean               www.aglassbash.blogspot.com

Charlie                       www.505indiechick.blogspot.com

Cheryl Dunham           www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com

Chris                          www.furzalsjewellry.blogspot.com

Christine Altmiller        www.onekisscreations.blogspot.com

Cynthia Machata         www.antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Deanna Riles-Cox        help! I need a blog address!

Debbie Rasmussen      www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Dini Bruinsma              help! I need a blog address!

Jasvanti Patel              www.jewelrybyjasvant.blogspot.com

Jean Yates                  www.prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com

Jennifer                       www.drygulchbeadesandjewelry.blogspot.com

Karin Slaton                www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Kashmira                    www.sadafulee.blogspot.com

Laney Mead                www.laney-izzybeads.com

Leah Tees                   help! I need a blog address!

Liz E                          www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Lola                           www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Micheladas                 www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Nan Smith                  www.wirednan.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                 www.willowdragon.blogspot.com

Sally Russick              www.thestudiosublime.com

Sea of Dreams            www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com

Shiraz                         www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com

Susan Nelson Bowie   www.susanbowie.wordpress.com

Therese                      www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Vera                           www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

You'll also see some holes in the information -- if you know any of these folks, please help me fill in the blanks.

And if you want to sign up, please let me know (please, with your blog and email address!)

Giddyup, y'all, it's almost time for the challenge!

BSBP7 Reveal! Hooray!

If you're looking for the Hats Off Challenge sign ups, go here!

The spectacular Lori Anderson is throwing another world-wide celebration of creativity, the Bead Soup Blog Hop.  My partner this time is the astonishingly talented Nancy Dale. If you don't know her work, go check it out here, and check out the beautiful things she created with the soup I sent her here.

After seeing Nancy's work, you can perhaps understand why I was a little nervous about doing justice to the soup she sent me. ("A little nervous" = "shaking in my shoes, staring at the wall and murmuring mantras to myself")

And in Nancy's case, "soup" = "soups".  She sent two distinct colorways, both featuring lampwork by JulsBeads.

gorgeous turquoises, creams, sterling, gemstones, and seed bead mix

warm greens and golds, vermeil, seed bead mix

I started with the turquoise mix, wanting to use as much of Nancy's soup and add little (or nothing) from my own stash.  I know it's a sign of hell freezing over - denying myself the excuse to go bead shopping!!  But seriously, Nancy spoiled me so completely, there was really no need to enhance it.

The first piece, a necklace, uses many of the lampwork beads, turquoise and jade beads, crystals from the seed bead mix, sterling spacers, and the silk ribbon that Nancy had tied the bead soup package closed with (too pretty to waste!)  All I added here was my own handforged clasp, and the textured silver rings.

Nancy and I are both beadweavers (though I realize I'm flattering myself to put myself in the same sentence with her name), so I had to do a freeform peyote piece.  I detached the triple strand portions from the clasp, and used the toggle and loop here.

And what would a soup be without a few pairs of earrings coming from it?

Lampwork, turquoise, sterling spacers

Peyote woven bead mix, turquoise, jade, sterling spacers

Sterling triple strand clasp used as earring components, shells, bead mix

There is very little of the blue soup left over!

Then I tackled the green mix, and landed in the middle of a vision that I could only partially complete before time to share.  But if your stomach is strong enough to handle it in its immodestly incomplete state, here it is:

Nancy does some amazing bead embroidery, so I really wanted to do at least one embroidered piece.  I used the green focal as the center of the medallion, and did a play on the bead's tendrils (which have a beautiful blue luster) as an inspiration of the blue tendrils that spread out.  The rest of the medallion was to be filled in with a mosaic of the seed bead mix from Nancy, but I was worried that it would be a little bulky - so I cut out small amorphous shapes from the backing to echo the shapes between tendrils on the focal. Eventually, when the backing is added to the medallion, I'll do a bead edging around each of the cutouts with gold 15s, and edge the outer edge as well.  It's honking big (about 5" across!!), so the necklace that it finally becomes part of will be a real statement!

Thank you Nancy, for being a great partner and a good new friend.  Thank you Lori, for being the hostess with the mostest once again.  And thank you, for staying with me through this extremely long post.  I'd love for you to leave a comment before you go enjoy the eye candy at these other blogs!

Agata Grygiel	http://inny-pamietnik.blogspot.com/
Ali McCarthy	www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com
Alice Craddick	http://www.alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/
Amy Severino	www.amybeads.blogspot.com
Ana Krepel	http://catspajamas-dogstuxedos.blogspot.com/
Andra Weber	www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank	www.heavenlanecreations.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.LeeLuCreations.blogspot.com
Annette Rivers	http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com/
Anu Tuppurainen	http://koti-ilta.blogspot.fi/
April Grinaway	http://brooklynbeadgoddess.blogspot.com/
Audrey Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
B.R.Kuhlman	http://www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Barbara Bechtel	http://secondsurf.com
Barbara Mason	www.Adorninglyyours.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath	www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Billi RS Rothove	http://www.billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty	www.beadsong.blogspot.com   You are here! Thanks for stopping by!
Brandi Burdick	http://www.tofallorstumbleupon.com/
Candida Castleberry	http://spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com/
Carol Dillman	http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Gebert	http://kookykardinal.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Caron Reid	http://www.caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Catherine King	www.Catherines-Musings.blogspot.com
Cathy Jakicic	http://bds.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/
Chandra Merod	www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Charlene Jacka	http://clay-space.com/blog
Cheri Reed	www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Cherrie Fick	www.designsinthelight.co
Cherrie Warzocha	http://colorsofshae.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Brown	www.dragonflybeads.ca/category/blog
Cheryl Dunham	www.Renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Cheryl Foiles	www.getyourbeadon.com
Cheryl Gangle	www.RockCandyJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Chris White	http://dzeyenrstudio.blogspot.com/
Christina Miles	http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/
Christine Murrow	www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Cindy Ritchie	http://mooseriverglass.blogspot.com
Clare Etheridge	www.catseatdogs.com
Cory Tompkins	www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Cris Peacock	http://crispart.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Abner	http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca/
Debi Levine	http://oneheartsblog.blogspot.co.il/
Deborah Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Deborah Read	www.deborahreadcom.blogspot.com
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Dorota Żerańska	www.gdymamczas.blogspot.com
Elaine Robitaille	http://www.tooaquarius.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Emma Todd	www.apolymerpenchant.com
Erin Guest	http://www.renlish.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Evie and Beth McCord	http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Francy Inman	http://www.8secondstudio.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen	http://gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com
Hajer Waheed	http://mybeadedworld.wordpress.com/
Hope Smitherman	http://CraftyHope.blogspot.com
Ilenia Ruzza	http://ile1974.blogspot.it/
Ilona Hegedűs	http://ilkabeads.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Janine Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Jean Peter	http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jean Wells	http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Steck	http://gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/
Jelveh Jaferian Johnson	www.jelvehdesigns.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cabic	www.jennifercabic.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Jennifer VanBenschoten	http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Jenny Robledo	http://peppasdream.blogspot.com/
Jessica Brower	http://ifcreations.blogspot.com
Jill MacKay	www.jillmackay.com
JJ Jacobs	www.comingabstractions.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	www.itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Joanne Tinley	http://www.daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com/
Johanna Rhodes Nash	http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.co.uk/
Judy Robinson	http://woodbeads.wordpress.com
Juli Cannon	www.beadnik.net
Julia Gerlach	www.beadandbutton.com/beadbuzz
Julie Bowen	http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com
Julie Panusis	http://catsmeowco.blogspot.com
K Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Karen Martinez	http://fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/
Karen Vincent	www.swallowtailjewellery.blogspot.com
Karen Williams	http://www.baublicious.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton	www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Karyn Bonfiglio	http://plussizebangles.com/blog
Kat Douglas	www.Washoekat.blogspot.com
Kate Dufour	http://mixfolios.wordpress.com/
Kate Mulligan	http://mulliganstewjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kate Richbourg	www.katerichbourg.com
Kathleen Gallant	http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Katie Nielsen-Nunez	www.Vikingcraft.blogspot.com
Kay Bolton	http://www.toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega	http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Kelli Jacobson	http://www.CreativeMoonJewelryAndThings.com
Kelly Patterson	http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kelly Ramstack	http://adventureswithkelly.blogspot.com
Kiersten Kern	http://myglassbeadlife.blogspot.com/
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	http://klaudetekoon.blogspot.com/
Klaudia Tóth	http://www.klaudiabizsu.hu/
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristin Oppold	http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com
Kym Hunter	http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lana Kinney	http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca
Laura Guenther	www.blueantiquities.blogspot.com
Lauren Fenty	http://laurenbeads.blogspot.com/
Leah Curtis	http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Lennis Carrier	www.windbent.wordpress.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://whimsyswonders.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson	www.prettythingsblog.com
Lupe Meter	http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com/
Lynn Jobber	http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Mandi Effron	http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/
Marcia Dunne	www.thealternativefoundry.blogspot.com
Margareta Saari	http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.fi/
Marianne Baxter	www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Mary Ellen Parker	www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens	http://www.glassbeadart.blogspot.com
Megan Milliken	www.maemaemills.blogspot.com
Melissa Meman	http://melissameman.blogspot.com
Melissa Mesara	http://one-earedpig.blogspot.com/
Michaela Pabeschitz	http://der-lamardebonita.blogspot.co.at/
Michelle Tucker	http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Mimi Gardner	www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Monica Phillips	http://www.monicaglassandjewelry.com/blog
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Nancy Boylan	www.snazzydoodle.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale	www.nedbeads.blogspot.com
Pat Haight	http://wigglebuttblog.blogspot.com/
Patina Queen	www.patinaqueenstudio.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Pia Kaven	http://piakaven.blogspot.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Rose Johnson	http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com
Roxanne Blanc	http://strikesmyfancy-2013.blogspot.com/
Sarah Goode	www.pookledo.blogspot.com
Sarah Singer	http://singingsongsofsixpence.blogspot.co.uk
Sarah Strover	http://beaupepys.blogspot.com
Shalini Austin	http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sherry Baun	http://www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com
Sheryl Stephens	http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Silvia Sernicola	http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Solange Collin	http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Alderson	http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie LaRosa	www.stringaholic.blogspot.com
Sue Burleigh	http://sagebreezes.blogspot.com/
Susan Bowie	http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/
Susan Kelly	http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Susan of Libellula Jewelry	www.libellulajewelry.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Fragiacomo	www.glassymom.blogspot.com
Tammi Sloan	www.mybrownwren.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Tania Hagen	http://pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz/
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Tanya Goodwin	www.pixiloo.blogspot.com
Tanya Wiles	http://studioblog.tenebroushollow.com
Tari Kahrs	http://pearlandpebble.blogspot.com/
Theresa Buchle	http://www.bead-mused.blogspot.com
Tiffany Smith	http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Tina Holden	http://beadcomber.blogspot.com
Tracey Nanstad	http://abeadifulmess.blogspot.com/
Tracie Dean	http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
Tracy Bell	www.CopperGlassAndRecycledTrash.blogspot.com
Tracy Kruse	http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com/
Veralynne Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
	http://www.clubcreativestudio.wordpress.com