Saturday 20 July 2013

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal


Hello there! 
Welcome to my corner of the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop. 
Thanks for stopping by. 

I love the premise of this hop - to use the beads that you have been 
stashing away. 
So I've used it as an opportunity to use up the bags of freebie beads 
that I've been accumulating over the years. 
You know, the nice little complementary bags that lovely companies sometimes
send out to thank you for your custom. 

Because I didn't chose them I haven't really had a project in mind for them, 
so I am pleased to be able to finally get them out and use them up! 

I've tried to keep my designs to mainly using the freebies without too many 
'extras' from the rest of my stash so here we go: 

First piece:  




I started with the bumpy pink with black and white dots focal bead
and took the design from there.
The neon pink cracked bubble beads made me think
of the neon signs in Japan so I went for a stylised slightly kawaii 
 kitschy pink black and white look.
Do you find yourself thinking up names for your jewellery as 
you are making it? 
I do, and the name I had in mind for this one was
Geisha Rose.
I know it doesn't look especially Geisha like
but that is the name that sprang to mind so I'm going with it!  

  

Second Piece: 
If the first design was coming from Japan, this piece is straight out
of an English country garden! 


I stitched tiny delicate pink 'leaves' coming off the main 
necklace to complement the green leaf focal from the Jilly Beads 
mix.  


I was so pleased to use up  the lovely gold plated flower clasp 
which I've had in my stash for
ages... 



Third Piece: 
I was looking at these two spotty beads for a while thinking 
how I could use them both in a design, when I only had the two 
and they were different shapes.
When it struck me that one on top of the other they made a rather fetching 
toadstool... 


- Yes, I can't believe I made a toadstool either! 

Moving swiftly onto piece four: 

The Jilly Beads soup mix combined perfectly with the 
faux amethyst chips freebie from Little Crafty Beaders 
to make this butterfly bracelet. 


And finally we have piece number five, 
my personal favourite, a simple pendant and earrings 
set.   


So there's my freebie makes.  
It's quite satisfying to 
take a look at them and think how they were just 
a pile of stashed beads before this blog hop.

Even better to think that I now have seven items of  jewellery  
to wear that were, in the most part, free! 

Thank you to Lori Anderson  for hosting this event 
and giving me the impetus to make use of these 
overlooked lovelies! 


Participants list : 

YOU ARE HERE: 145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

(For the full list click HERE)


Monday 15 July 2013

Beading Discount Codes




10% discount at The Bead Cellar using the code:
BEAD 
(end date wasn't advertised)

Beads Direct : Use code
SUNSHINE 
for £5 off when you spend £35
They are also offering 20% off all seed beads 
 Both offers end midnight tonight!  

Whilst not technically a discount code Totally Beads
are having a summer sale with savings of up to 90% 
Yes, 90% Woo! 

Boxes and Busts presently have an offer to
buy any 10 packs of: Organza bags, findings, glass pearls,
 Chinese crystals, Swarovski, display pieces,
or semi precious beads and get 10% off.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Inspire Me: Pre-Raphaelite Art Work





I always think that this type of art work is so beautiful. 
The skills of the artists were just amazing. 

With it being summer time and seeing the roses out in bloom I think 
it's the right time for a little Pre-Raphaelite inspiration! 

All these goodies are available from Big Bead Little Bead
and if that wasn't enough they actually sell a
 'Create your own Pre-Raphaelite' 
selection bead box!







*Dalliance with knight in shining armour optional! 



Thursday 4 July 2013

Operation Tackle That Bead Stash - June Challenge



I recently stumbled across 


A marvellous blog with the ideology 
 to encourage you to 
work with and use up some of your 
ever growing bead stash.

If you are anything like me, that sounds like a good plan! 

Along with free tutorials and bountiful give aways 
they also hold a monthly themed challenge
where all entries are put into a random draw to win a prize. 

The June challenge was to use Turquoise and Pink beads
and you can see my entry in the photo above. 

The next challenge is open so why not hop across and 
join in!