New Year?

What needs your attention this year? Everything you say? Okay, your right there is just too much, but for me that’s only because I’ve let too much get out of hand. I want to get one thing done in January. Something that can be maintained with little to no effort. I’ll let you know what I come up with.

Menorahs too

http://juniperbooks.com/thatcher-makes-a-creative-hanukah-menorah-from-books

LESSON HERE: Never toss a book

Christmas trees

When I see a cool craft, I want to drop what I’m doing and go make it.

This one is very simple but it will take some time.

Do a Google search-> using the keywords-> paperback book christmas tree craft.

See what pops up and then you tell me if that’s not a cool craft for the holidays! ( I understand that it is an old craft  and that they would used Reader Digests)

Problem: where to put my necklaces?

Solution: Stretched fabric on wooded art canvas frame OR buy a canvas already stretched. Count the number of necklaces you have and add 5 that’s how many buttons (shanks work the best) you need to sew on your fabric. That’s not enough??? go with smaller canvases and paint a whole flock of paintings! Don’t forget to sew on the buttons. Post Pictures of Your Project!

Something New

Watch here for Art done with a need to know attitude. Necessity is the mother of all invention and art as well.

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Sept 17, 2011

Hello and Welcome!

My Bead Soup Ingredients

My instinct at first was to combine all the elements into one gigantic statement piece. Something I am familiar with. I started thinking about how I should challenge myself.  Keep it simple, design more pieces, push my limits, learn new techniques and just have fun. I decided to do it all!

So here goes I hope you enjoy

Using a majority of the beads Patty sent to me, this first piece incorporates the focal bee pendant. This necklace is strung on a single strand of Soft Flex heavy weight antique brass wire and the chain is just free flowing leaving it dangle on one side for even more movement. Originally I had planned on incorporating the blue suede cord that Patty sent me, but instead I used vintage brass coils that I had picked up at a bead show I attended last year.

This necklace is simple, asymmetrical and very balanced.

cooking time: less than 1 hour
This necklace is so easy to make, you can make it too!

The size of the clasp I recieved did not work with the scale of the necklace I designed; and with so many elements left over I was literally stumped for a few days, until the light bulb went off in my head. What lay in front of me is just bead soup so why not
get out the cookbooks and start looking for recipes! I found in my stash of
books Semi Precious Salvage by Stephanie Lee. This is when I really started cooking.

This bracelet is my interpretation of the “Rooted Cuff”.  I knew when I saw this recipe that I had bee fabric. The fabric has 24K gold thread running through and was used as part of a bedroom makeover when I used to work at a Design Studio. I was always grabbing the end cuts of the fabric after the girls had cut out the pattern. Why not? Perfectly good expensive fabric shouldn’t be tossed in the garbage bin. I just had to save it! Well, anyway.. I was able to use the clasp as well as the etched brass bee Patty made and sent me. I roughed the bee up a little as I was afraid to punch holes in it. The blue ceramic bead was created by Bonnie Polinsky a friend of mine, she just happened to stop by on her way out of town and I well, she gave it to me.. This bracelet turned out fabulous, light and fun to wear. In fact the a local store has ordered more! The honey dew drop is a serpentine quartz briolette. My first attempt at wire wrapping a briolette. I used antique bronze wire and boy was it easy to work with!

Coming up next you see another necklace which incorporates the book paper my soup was wrapped in. I thought that was so clever! I made my own sterling headpins for these charms too.

Back to the recipe book. With my interpretation of the armlet recipe I made the following fun treasure bangles using up more of my soup. The button on the second bracelet is old and lost its luster, so I dremeled the snot out of it! It is now smooth and very rustic looking! The Jasper has the full attention in these. I even re-purposed ribbon from the packages!

Now this next piece was easy to create. A really long length of that bee fabric, two squeeze on brass connectors and two beautiful serpentine wire wrapped chunk gemstone dangles. Bingo! You have one really long bookmark!

cooking time: less than 10 minutes

Now last but not least… I just finished this piece the night before last. What to do with that suede cord! Oh my… As I was doing some research I came across a flooding of wrapped silk bracelets, now trying to find a tutorial on the internet on how to close these bracelets was a monumental task. Seems you just tie them closed yourself. That did not compute with me. I finally gave up looking. I gave it the old school try and came up with this next and final piece. Is it a bracelet or can it be a necklace! Both.. I am so happy.. Maybe, just maybe I’ll make more of these!

There were many ideas from which to choose, many more designs I created, and a little bit of bead soup leftover that I just had to put back into stock for the next dish!

My inspiration not only came from the color choices Patty picked for me but all the ingredients. From twisting, hammering, pounding, weaving, wrapping, stringing, crimping, beading, torching, waiting for the sun to come out, taking pictures, and even pickling! I found this whole challenge fascinating. I have to tell you I am full. Thank you Lori for pulling this all together! Good luck with your Bead Soup Book!

Now for my partner ~ Patty Gasparino on her blog!

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York
2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson
3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino
4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner
5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier
6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins
7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor
8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen
9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller 

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare 

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman 

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps 

13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka 

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson 

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy 

16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price 

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland 

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John 

19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel  

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase 

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb 

23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign 

24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall 

25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll 

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley 

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala 

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman 

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz 

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen 

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards 

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson 

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier 

35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander 

36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye 

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock 

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone 

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf 

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi
41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll 

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick 

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg 

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey 

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer 

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James 

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins 

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford 

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis 

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering 

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith 

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes 

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher 

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya 

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk 

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young 

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent 

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj 

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman 

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald 

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick 

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner 

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert 

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez 

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris 

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith 

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday 

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman 

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore 

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones 

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz 

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim 

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable 

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag 

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post 

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton 

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter 

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride 

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller 

79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley 

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson 

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor 

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen 

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman 

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy 

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora 

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg 

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann 

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay 

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh 

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski 

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan 

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean 

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt 

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski 

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio 

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts 

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker 

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford 

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck 

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto 

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark 

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika 

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen 

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec 

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson 

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long 

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson 

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney 

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson 

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger 

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy 

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw 

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher 

115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca 

116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser 

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse 

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington 

119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton 

119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter 

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson 

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir 

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank 

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks 

124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron 

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe 

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon 

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore 

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller 

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke 

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum 

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr 

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp 

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara 

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James 

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz 

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi 

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman 

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper 

140. Mary McGraw and Laurel Steven 

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner 

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners 

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy 

144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri 

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna 

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell 

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry 

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson 

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna 

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers 

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari 

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan 

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag 

154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks 

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka 

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe 

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain 

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins 

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub 

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya 

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs 

162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett 

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell 

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams 

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin 

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small 

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner 

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk 

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley 

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley 

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman 

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin 

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor 

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa 

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton 

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin 

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones 

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser 

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk 

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager 

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

362 people making jewelry! 

Amazing!

The next Bead Soup Blog Party will take place around February, 2012.

Art Fair Adventure Just Cuz

Sue and I went to the Port Clinton Art Festival today, it was huge it was overwhelming. I was as always absorbing my surroundings to find inspiration, today most of what I experienced 3 dimensional an interesting discovery as art keeps moving in different directions…

Sue and I have different tastes, what turns her on doesn’t necessarily turn me on.  Meaning for today she was enamored by this artist who creates copper trees out of re-purposed copper cable wire.  Bonsai Trees!  She can’t figure out how to keep one healthy at home. She was excited, she is now sitting in front of her TV picking at copper cable trying to make a healthy Bonsai Tree while I am here blogging about our experience.

Jewelry I always look at jewelry but today everything was the same same, what caught my eye was this oil painting.

Get me to pick up a paint brush, not so much!

The dress series… This Painting called “Rodeo Dress” was created Marketa Sivek. She states she created this series “Out of the innocence and purity of childhood.” She states with this series “We will continue to remember who we were then, while retaining who we are now.”  No wonder this painting caught my eye today. Just for that moment.

Check this out!

Rodeo Dress "Marketa Sivek"

Find out more about Marketa Sivek and her art on her website…

Good Reads just for kids.

Toots and the Upside Down House by Carol Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

So – Whatcha doin’?

Let us know.  We can post your “art fever”.

 

Just Cuz Art, we art because we can.

Sharing ideas and tricks of the trade
Everything we show is semi handmade.
We all get ideas and spin off from there
we make it our own and then we will share.