REVEAL DAY: Tiny Tin Challenge and Blog Hop!

It's reveal day for the Tiny Tin Challenge and Blog Hop, with host Michelle Mach of Beads & Books. Everyone in this challenge received two round steel tins to decorate. The challenge was to decorate one or both tins using any techniques or materials. You can read more about the challenge in Michelle's original post.

I didn't have a clue what I was going to do!  I finally decided to use some of my polymer clay pieces I had made when I was experimenting with the Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks. I covered the tin with a mixture of acrylic paints and embossing powders, glued on a few polymer clay pieces in purples and blues, and mixed in some of my stash and VIOLA! a pretty tin that I will use to put away my favorite earrings - well, my current favorites anyways!

Make sure to check out all the great work by ALL  the artists who took part in this challenge - there are some really gorgeous tins here that I would love to have!

            Michelle - Beads & Books - Our Hostess

1. Amy - Amybeads
2. Brenda - B'Sue Boutiques
3. Dawn - Morning Glory Beading
4. Debbie
5. Jeannie - Jeannie's Blog
6. Kay - Palm Coast Art
7. Kim - CianciBlue
8. Mary - MLH Jewelry Designs
9. Mary Shannon - Falling into the Sky
10. Michelle - Firefly Visions
11. Molly - Beautifully Broken Me
12. Pamela - The Crazy Creative Corner
13. Patricia G. - My Life Under the Bus
14. Patricia L.
15. Robyn - A Ponderance of Things
16. Shelley - Fabric of My Life      <<<< YOU ARE HERE!
17. Terry - Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
18. Therese - Domestic Goddess Enterprises
19. Therese - Therese's Treasures

REVEAL DAY: Cocktail Hour Blog Hop - It's Cocktail Hour!

Today is reveal day for the Cocktail Hour Blog Hop sponsored by Amy Freeland of Copper Diem.

My assigned cocktail is the Sea Breeze. Its both sweet and sour and especially yummy during hot summer months. Originally created in the 1920's the Sea Breeze was originally made with gin and grenadine.

Here's the recipe as it's made today:
 *   1.5 ounces of vodka
 *   4 ounces of cranberry juice
 *   1.5 ounces of grapefruit juice

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice, shake it to create a foamy head. Garnish with a generous slice of lime.

AND here's what I was inspired to create ~

I love the way the liquids in the cocktail separate into layers of pink, orange and scarlet. The foamy head excites me,  but not as much as the bright splash of lime green. Love these colors together!

My bracelet and earrings were made with my own polymer clay beads using this same color palette and were dusted with a touch of sparkley irridescent to depict the foam. The small wood spacer beads hint at the lime granish in the Sea Breeze.

This was a fun challenge! Not only do I have a few new pieces of jewelry,  but now I have a new cocktail to add to my list of summer favorites.

Make sure to visit all of the stops on the Cocktail Hour Blog Hop to see what other artists have been inspired to create  -

Hostess:  Copper Diem

Stefanies Sammelsurium

Lorelei's Blog

My Bead Journey

Adventures with Kelly

Mama's Got To Doodle

Sadafulee

Wait Just One More Bead

Cynth's Blog

Palm Coast Art

Green Shoot Jewellery Designs

Cianci Blue

Dreamin Of Beads / SAS Jewelry Designs

Beads for Busy Gals

Oregon Made Jewelry

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Moods by Mari

Soul of Mine Embodiment

Uniquely Yunikua

Firefly Visions

Indigo Heart

The Peaceful Bead

Casa de Everly

Heaven Lane Creations

Sue Beads

Durga Jewelry

Honey Bijou

A Bird in the Hand Art

SilverNikNats

Rainy Day Designs

Tell Your Girlfriends

Consignment

I was approached by a woman who is opening a new shop. She had seen my work on Etsy and wondered if I'd be interested in placing some of my jewelry pieces in her shop under consignment. Seeing as how I just began creating jewelry I was totally flattered, but overwhelmed at the same time. I mean I just began my adventure with polymer clay and jewelry making. Yes, I had placed a few items on Etsy, but did I expect to move this quickly? The answer is NO!

After some thought I decided to go ahead and try it. I contacted her by email with my decision and she requested we meet. Problem was that she wanted to meet in just a few days and I really didn't have too much to show her. I had loads of beads and charms that I had made playing around with my polymer clay, but only about eight finished pieces/sets. On top of this I still had my grandbabies, a 2 1/2 and a one year old, running around!

My husband offered to watch the kids so I went ahead and closed myself up in my little studio and got to work. A day and a half later, I ended up with twenty-eight items to present to her, plus I reworked my logo and packaging too! She ended up taking all my pieces.  I guess it just proves what a little motivation can do, right?

Here are a few of the new pieces (and the new logo - an owl! Tori means bird, Sophia means wisdom):- please excuse the photos, they were just snapped in a quick effort to track what I was sending.

 

  

    

Yup, I'm a virgin!

It's true and I am not afraid to say it (well write it). I'm a VIRGIN! I have NEVER taken part in a swap.

For those of you who never heard of a bead swap... what it is, is when you exchange items with someone who you are partnered up with by the swap hostess. You get goodies in the mail! You share the details and pictures plus items you create on your own blog on a prearranged date/time - called a blog hop. A swap's a way to meet new people, get new stash and it forces you to stretch your imagination. You don't select the items you receive, you work with what you receive from your partner. It is also a great way to drive traffic to your blog!

Sooo, I bit the bullet and signed myself up with a swap sponsored by Lisa Lowe, of Lisa's Flight of Fancy. This particular swap was for supplies.

I was partnered up with Marla Gibson, of Spice Box Designs , she lives in Mississippi. First we exchanged our info by e-mail.  I really lucked out. Marla is a sweetie. But not just sweet, she's one talented lady too. She strings beads beautifully (see example below).

We both received our packages from each other on the same day. So here is the stash I received. It's generous and much more than was outlined in the swap.

And she sent me a few gifts too! Woo hoo!

A beautiful beaded ring...










and some g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s earrings.
(Picture doesn't do it justice, the blues are breathtaking!) TOLD YA she was talented!





Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with it all. "To whom much is given, much is required!" - Check back, the Blog Hop is May 20th!