Stringing Fool

It's here, it's here!

The Summer Color Surprise Blog Hop is here!

And I almost missed it! Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist - Pine Ridge Treasures announced this Blog Hop months ago. I signed up and ordered my beads. I've been gazing at them from time to time ever since. Adding and subtracting the beads to add from my stash.

And then... I stopped. August 24 was sooooo far away. Then this afternoon, thankfully, I saw a Facebook posting by Lisa, inviting people to her blog hop. Tomorrow. Saturday! So I got busy! Fortunately, everything was together, and I was able to make a bracelet and two pairs of earrings with no problem. The bracelet started life as a necklace in my mind, but I think it makes a better bracelet! This photography could be better, but that's what you get when you wait until the last minute!

The lovely beads Lisa Sent me
Ceramic Beads by Shatera

The base beads, plus some I was trying out with them

With the lovely palette I had starting out, I did not need to add much. I was not sure what I would do with the lovely floral links, since I wanted to string the bracelet on wire, but just wait!

After making the bracelet, I had used every type of bead, but those links were still staring at me. Use me. Ussseeee meeeeeeee!

Earrings!

I have more of these beads, and may make another bracelet, and a ton more earrings. Thank you Lisa Lodge!!

The other fabulous participants.

Your Hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Chris Eisenberg, Wander Ware
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

Charlene Bausinger Jacka, Clay Space

Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

Renetha Williams Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Toltec Jewels, Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Julie Lockhart, Copar Aingeal

Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations

Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads

Mowse Doyle, Mowse Made This

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

What's this all about?

Last summer I started this blog with the express purpose of joining the Bead Soup Blog Party and other blog hops and similar events. I was very immersed in my jewelry making, and I was soaking up styles, techniques and the work of amazing, talented, and generous people.

I participated in a craft show last summer, and sold more than I ever have at that show, and had a fine time selling at work, as I usually do. I began setting up my long-promised Etsy shop, and I made jewelry as usual.

And then around the first of the year, I stopped making jewelry. I have been exploring other art forms, but somehow I start very few jewelry projects, and haven't finished...anything. Hmmm. The Bead Soup Blog Party is coming along, and maybe that will get me going. In the meantime, I have been reviewing some things that I've made recently.