http://www.magpiegemstones.com/how_many_beads.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GUESS I FORGOT TO GIVE YOU THE SITE SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY AGAIN. THIS IS A COOL CONTEST RUNNING OVER AT MAGPIEGEMSTONES, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT! YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOW MANY BEADS? Did you keep up with us on Facebook to see our latest bead buying adventure? We went on a gem buying spree in the beginning of April, about 900 kilos of gemstones to be exact! We wanted you to get excited along with us. Everyday I took pictures of the beads and here they are all now in the jar. Guess below how many beads are in the jar! The FIRST person who guesses the closest will win the beads and the winner will be chosen on May 11th at noon Central Time. Their name will be announced in the weekly newsletter on May 12th 2012 and they will have two weeks to contact us with their mailing address to receive their jar of beauties! On our Free Beads page we have the rules that govern all Magpie games and contests be sure to check that out before you guess. What's in the jar? Coral Rutilated Quartz Peruvian Blue Opal Pearls Carnelian Moonstone Amethyst Pendant Kambaba Pendant Mosaic Shell Purple Stone Pendant White Shell Heishi Amethyst Beads

Another Bead Soup Blog Party

This time there is a much smaller group~ There are only 4 of us.
We were not chosen by random by Lori Anderson for her Bead Soup Party so we are having our own.
Well it will make it ALOT easier to hop thru only 3 other spots than 199 spots!!
I was sent some beautiful pieces to work with. One of which was a piece of glass that my partner Sandra Richardson handmade. I could not bring myself to use it for this swap because I want to take more time and use it for a piece that is bead embroidery. I have already gone over to the local bead store and talked to them about the background as alot of it is clear. I was told to hold it up against different clothing items to get a good feel for what color to make it. Then get some Lacey's stiff stuff and color it with dabbing motion in the color of my choice. Then I can mount it and get going.
I needed something a bit less time consuming for the swap so without further delay, I show you my creation:
Do not forget to stop by and see my partner's blogs:
SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com
http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/
http://moonlitfantaseas.blogspot.com/
enjoy.................

my latest blog hop

http://bsueboutiques.typepad.com/bsue_boutiques_jewelry_su/2011/08/sari-ribbon-party-blog-hopyoure-invited.html

Want to try something new??
Join me in another blog hop!!

It is sure to be fun...
I have wanted to try this ribbon for awhile and here is my "excuse" Hope to see you there........

Also, If I have not visited your Blog Soup yet, do not be alarmed or offended, I am taking my time and working thru them, I am about to 80 so far. I have met some very talented artists and some that have taught me a lot.

Happy beading or Happy surfing which ever the case may be

Alice

~ WELCOME TO THE PARTY~

First I would like to say a huge thanks to Lori Anderson for all of her hard work to make our party a huge success. Next I would like to thank my partner Sandra Richardson for the bead soup she sent me to work with. If you click on the button of the Bead soup Blog you can check out all of us. Here is Sandra's link, be sure to check out what I sent her and what she did with it. http://www.sandyscoloringbox.blogspot.com/
The challenge I was faced with is that I hardly ever use gold toned in my work I use silver or silver colored metal. I know that may seem miner but it was hard for me to do it. Also I could not seem to fit my focal and toggle in the same piece to give them both the justice they deserved. I love the toggle and did not want to hide it in the back of a piece. I added a nugget of goldstone to bring out the beautiful colors and sparkle in the toggle.
Also I thought the butterfly by itself looked older fashioned and I wanted to make it have a younger feel to the piece.I hope you like what I have done with my soup.

I still have lots of beads left to make more pieces. I especially can't wait to use the monkey lampwork bead. I am still not sure if I am going to use it for a ID badge holder or a bracelet.

Alice

toggle and focal piece

I just wanted to share with you before the BIG reveal- The focal and toggle that my wonderful partner is Sandra Richardson sent me.

With no further ado, here they are:
Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the big Party!!!

Bead Soup Time Again

Summer is winding down, I have been busy trying to get the kids ready to go back to school. My youngest will be a freshman this year and so his band class is now marching band. I can already see this will be taking up a lot of my time. As the season is changing we have started another bead soup blog party. They are so much fun. I wish I had more time to concentrate on it.
My new partner is Sandy Richardson, Here is here blog site: http://www.sandyscoloringbox.blogspot.com/
She does some wonderful work.
I am super excited about having her for a partner because I think I could learn a lot about color from her.

I got my package of goodies in the mail the other day. We are to post pics of the stuff that we got and then make something using the clasp and main piece. I have so much to choose from.
The goal is to push yourself to do something different or a new style.
I rarely use gold toned findings and that is what she sent so that in itself will be different for me, also I have to try to figure out how to use my clasp so it can be seen and use the butterfly as well. Adding that to a piece will be something I have never done before. I mostly do seed bead work.
So without further adoo~ here is the soup!!
BE SURE TO COME BACK SEPT. 17th to see what I made out of my soup
and to follow all of us click on the following link:
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

ALICE'S BEADS AND BAUBLES