by Cindy on September 14, 2011
Hello friends
I know I have been all but absent lately. I’m simply not online much these days….NO time! Once school started it just seems as if I felt a sudden urgency of deadlines and events. I’m sure you’re feeling this way too. I apologize if I haven’t visited your blog in a while…I will be making more rounds again once these next two weekends are over.
For Bead Table Wednesday, I have a scene of my desk (that was actually taken over the weekend) in the midst of creating a piece for the 4th Bead Soup Blog Party. I had fun creating with the beautiful components I received from my partner, Riki Schumacher. Is anyone else out there putting the finishing touches on their BSBP piece? The big blog hop day is just days away! In between shuttling the kids to robotics club, lacrosse practice, and hosting a Harry Potter birthday party for my son this Saturday, I’ll be starting my trek of visiting the over 300 blogs. It may take a while (I’m talking weeks), but I’m looking forward to it!!! 🙂
-Cindy
by Cindy on September 8, 2011
Is it too late to mention anything to do with the ocean? Maybe you have moved on now that school has started and people are wearing sweaters (out of no where!). Over Labor Day weekend, we made a point to enjoy every last ounce of the sun and the sand. We enjoyed the beach at Assateague Island so much that we went back again the next day.
Hurricane Irene created this amazing raging river of water that cut through the beach and led fiercely back to the ocean. There weren’t many people on this part of the beach, and those that were there were in for a rare treasure hunt! I love to search for shells, and on the beaches that we ordinarily visit, I’m happy just to find broken clam or oyster shells. On the Assateague beach, we found so many shells that we could hardly carry them all in our buckets (so we returned the next day better prepared!). We walked the beach bent over for hours – searching both in the sand and in warm water. To top it all off, we enjoyed a seafood dinner at Laura and Ray Twiford’s restaurant – it was great to catch up with Laura (til we meet again soon at ArtBLISS!). I have to say this was one of my favorite weekends of the entire summer (but boy was there many!).
I created these earrings to keep a little part of the ocean around after summer is long gone. Little brass Vintaj sand dollar charms are combined with vintage rhinestone buttons. I balled sterling wire to create the ear wires. Available in my Etsy shop.
On another note, I recently created this simple necklace – a combination of vintage Weiss earbobs and a sparkly brooch. A little something shabby chic.
Thank you for stopping by!
-Cindy
by Cindy on September 3, 2011
Hello friends
The very first thing I would like to say is thank you. Thank you for all of the heartfelt words that you left for me after my last blog post. Your stories, words of understanding, and virtual ((hugs)) meant so much to me and gave me comfort.
Have you enjoyed seeing the many Bead Soup Blog Party sneak peaks happening in blogs across the land (and beyond)? This will be my 3rd round in the Bead Soup Blog Party, and I was really psyched to be be paired with Riki Schumacher of Riki Jewelry. I have been an online friend and a huge fan of Riki for some time now, so this was a real treat for me. When you visit Riki’s blog, you’ll see her tagline right there in her beautiful blog banner: romantic relics. I had that idea in mind when I selected the components for Riki.
While on our recent trip to Maine, we stopped in a few antique stores around Kennebunkport. That’s where I found this gorgeous 1940’s/1950’s brass and rhinestone brooch. Not your typical bead focal, but one that I just knew Riki could certainly work her magic with.
I found these vintage metal leaves at the Beadin’ Path up in Portland, ME. The leaves seemed to go so well with the old brooch. I added a mix of vintage chain too.
Not your ordinary bead mix…. I chose a pair of vintage mixed metal earrings and rhinestone dangles to add to the soup. Riki incorporates many beautiful old pieces in her work. I figured that although my bead soup components may be like an old friend for her, the challenge would really be in the fact that the soup is not a mix of beads at all, but one-of-a-kind treasures from the past.
Would you like to see the amazing bead soup that Riki sent to me? You can see her recent blog post here. While you’re visiting her blog, be sure to check out the brand new blog that she just launched, Riki Schumacher’s e-Workshops. Riki will be sharing online courses, kits, freebies, and information on workshops given by other jewelry designers. Riki’s new site will be sure to foster a collaborative community and will be a great place to go for inspiration! Before I sign off, I just had to share this beautiful handmade pouch…. Riki sent my Bead Soup in such sweet, vintage sytle! Thank you, Riki!
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