Lampwork & Clay Blog Hop - The Reveal!

A few months go, Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures organized this wonderful blog hop. We had the choice of either lampwork or clay. Since I really like both, it was a hard decision.

Lampwork won out on the coin toss up! 

The beads are beautiful! Marcia Seever of ShaZazz Glass is the wonderful creator of these beauties! What beauties you might say .... well  I did it again!   I forgot to take pictures of the lampwork before I began - SIGH! ;)
Does anyone else relate to this "Problem"!!!!????  :) 

It took me awhile to decide how to show off these beauties. In fact, I didn't come up with an idea until midnight last night!  I think my muse was sleepy! .........  However, after much brainstorming & dragging out a bunch of beads & wire, she finally woke &  ...... This is my newest bracelet!

(From left to right) The lampwork beauties are the first bead - brown & white swirl, the third bead - brown with black & orange, and the last bead that is multi-colors of blue, white, brown & orange (it actually reminds me of a fish. Aren't they gorgeous?! I added accents of turquoise, tiger's eye, brown Chinese crystals of different shades from ZnetShows , black Czech crystals, & a stone (the round grey with red) I found down in Mexico that I have no clue what it is.

Thank you Lisa!

Check out the other participants from the list below! I'm off to blog hop  -- ENJOY :))

Our hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's

Connie Tipton, TBD

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Michele Dotson, Star Jewels

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Jennifer Clifford, TBD

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Loretta, Loretta's Boutique

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles (reveal will be delayed a few days)

Octoberfest 2013 - Home & Hearth Blog Hop

Hoorah! 

October 2013 has arrived!

A Splendorous, Splendiferous, & Splendacious Month! 

It's time to celebrate with Rita of Jewel School Friends in the Home & Hearth Blog Hop about Beads, Jewelry, Home Decor, Food, Family & Friends!!!

October has always been a special month in my life.

#1  I was born in October - Yahoo! :)  53 years ago - Boohoo! :(  Time is moving on!

#2  I got married in October - Yeehaw!  32 years ago :)  We thought we were so OLD - 21 & 23 yrs!

                                                                Oh, to be that young again :)

#3  My daughter was married in October - Woohoo!   9 years ago :)  Where has the time gone????

#4  The weather finally gets cooler & the leaves change in October - Yeah! Only in our area not as much as further north.

#5  I'm getting ready for my first jewelry show in November, so I've been working in my "spare" time. Here are a few of the pendants.

#6  Pumpkins become plentiful & can finally be purchased to make yummy Pumpkin Butter - MMgood!

#7  Lastly, here is a pumpkin pie recipe I hope you enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie has never been a favorite of mine until now. I have altered several recipes until I came up with one that is tasty not blah. If any of you try it, I would love your feedback on what you think.

Crust: 

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 stick of chilled butter cut into pieces & slightly softened (not quite at room temp)
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Sift flour & powdered sugar together.
3. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly either in the mixer, food processor or with a whisk (you choose - I prefer my Kitchen Aid mixer).
4. Add vanilla & whipping cream until dough clumps.
5. Form dough up by hand into a nice ball & then flatten. Wrap with Seran Wrap (plastic), place in glass pie pan & chill both for about 15-30 min. 
6. Remove from refrigerator, roll out dough on a floured surface until about 14-inches round. 
7. Place dough in glass 9-inch pie dish. Trim edges.
8. Line crust edge with foil, bake for about 15 minutes, until crust is pale brown.

Filling:

• 2 solid packed cups of fresh mashed pumpkin or a 16 oz can of pumpkin
• 3 Tbsp packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1-2 Tbsp corn starch or flour

Directions:

1. Mix brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, vanilla, corn starch until well mixed.
2. Add in pumpkin, blend until no lumps.
3. Add in whipping cream & sour cream.
4. Add in eggs.
5. Mix well, pour into pie shell.
6. Bake until filling puffs at the edges and center is almost set, about 45 min. Remove foil from crust, bake another 10 min.
7. Chill until cold or serve warm. 

Topping: 

• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Place mixing bowl & whipping cream in freezer for about 10-20 minutes.
2. Remove, & whisk in sugar until stiff peaks form.
3. Dollop each piece of pie with "cream"!

NOTE: THIS IS A SWEET PIE!

• To reduce sweet, reduce brown sugar to 1-2 Tbsp & sugar to 1/2 cup.  
• To reduce fat, use half-n-half instead of heavy whipping cream & use reduced fat or no fat sour cream.

I, of course, feel that if you are going to eat sweets, you might as well do it right & enjoy the moment! Then walk, walk, walk or exercise! so you can enjoy another "moment".  :)


Now it's time to go blog hopping!  Thank you Rita for putting this wonderful hop together! :)

Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
  Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/               
Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/   
Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com       ME
   Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/          
    Susan                                              http://libellulajewelry.com                           
Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/
Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com
Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/
Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/
Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/
Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/
Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/
Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/
Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com
Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca
Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/
Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com
Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/
Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com
Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/
Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Toltec Jewels (Rita, our hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
 

Anklet Blog Hop - The REVEAL!!!

In April, I heard about the Anklet Blog Hop that Kashmira Patel was hosting. How fun! Since, I've never made an anklet before, I  HAD  to join in!  Yes, it has been a blast!   &  Very interesting too! I've never looked at my ankles so much :)))

The first anklet I did out of chainmaille. It's the European Rosette pattern. Next I added coral & tiger's eye chips. It dangles on the skin so nice!  This anklet turned out to be 10 inches, which from everything I've read is average for an anklet or else I just have big ankles!

At first, I added only a few beads, but then decided it didn't look finished so.....

Added more beads to finish the bracelet. I think it looks better on the ankle & it definitely feels great.


Since I was on a roll, I still had time before the reveal & was looking at a new book that Kalmbach sent me to do a book review on: Metallic Seed Bead Splendor. (Book Review will be coming soon!) I couldn't resist making another project! Page 41 is "Going Baroque with Pearls". Well.....

The pearls and seed beads I have didn't really look right together, therefore.... it was time for adaptations!  Purple crystals & iridescent pink/purple seed beads.  Sorry seed beaders - I'm still learning the names of all the crystals & seed beads. There are sooo many!!!!

This anklet is also about 10 inches long. It looks so good on the ankle and is so pretty, I think I'll make earrings & a bracelet to match.

This was fun! I've learned some new techniques & a new style of beading that I love. Thank you Kashmira! :)))

Here is a list of our wonderful hostess and the 27 participants. HAPPY BLOG HOPPING! :)
Name  Blog Kashmira Patel http://sadafulee.blogspot.com Kaushambi Shah Will post on Kashmira's blog Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ Mischelle Fanucchi http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/ Shellie Grindie http://www.creativeeclectica.com/ Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/ Monique U http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com Libellula http://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/ Kay Thomerson http://www.kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/ Mimi Gardner http://othercuriosities.blogspot.com/ Anindita Basu http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/ Rita (Toltec Jewels) http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/ Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/ Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com Jessica Murray http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/ Dyanne Cantrell http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/ Ema Kilroy http://emakaye.blogspot.com/ Emma Todd http://www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/ K Morgan www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com Sharyl McMillian-Nelson http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/ Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/ Rochelle Brisson http://acreativechelle.blogspot.com/ Michelle Buettner http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/ Sandra McGriff http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/ Stephanie Weiss http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/ Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/ Vickie Foley http://ohabbyday.blogspot.com/ Lynda Carson Roxanne Mendoza Dagi http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com/ http://roxidesigns.blogspot.com/ http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/
Sorry for the long length of "blank" that follows but it has something to do with the way the list of participants copied & I can't get it to delete off. :(