Fabric of My Life with Shelley Graham Turner: December 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

PRIZES: HBBH2 Prize Awards!

Blow the horns, tap those drums, strike up the band!

No it's not a parade, but it is time to PARTY again!

We, Shelley Graham Turner and Marlene Cupo had a fantastic response to our Holiday Bling Blog Hop 2 party. Hope everyone is enjoying their goodies from their swap partners.

Neither of us think it's a real party until the presents are given out and today is the day to announce them.

We used Random.org to pick the winners of the $25 Gift Certificates from Rio Grande and they are:

Ginger Bishop

and

Dyanne Cantrell

CONGRATULATIONS ladies!

There is nothing better than a "Post-Holiday" spending spree, especially one for yourself - so enjoy!!

Of course, we have one more gift, a $15 Gift Certificate from that very same Rio Grande, for one of the commenters on our blogs. That winner, also picked by the Random.org site, is:

Angi Mullis

Thanks for your sweet comment, and we hope you enjoy too!

BTW, Rio Grande is closed until Jan. 2nd, so watch your email on that day for your Gift Certificate.

We have had so much fun organizing and running these blog hops, sharing with old friends, and meeting so many new great artists and crafters, that we don't want the parties to end, so.....

With the New Year we will be up to some new tricks. Look for further details on January 15th on our NEW BLOG Swaps by Marlene and Shelley, or join us on our Facebook Group Marshellswaps, so you don't miss out (yes, we have all bases covered!)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

REVEAL DAY: Holiday Bling Blog Hop 2 - THE SEQUEL!

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

REVEAL DAY: ABS Annual Ornament Blog Hop

Heather Powers of Art Bead Scene is hosting the annual ABS Ornament Blog Hop. The challenge is to create a holiday ornament using a handmade component or artbead. Hey, I can do that!! Don't you think?

Of course I can...and I did!

First let me apologize. The other day I showed you a peek of what I was working on, but that was the OTHER day...I changed my mind since then! I ALWAYS second guess myself. I'm thinking it's probably a GOOD thing that I tend to put things off to the last minute. Otherwise I would redo a design a hundred-and-one times! EXHAUSTING!

So in the end I decided to move away from the traditional green and gold I had begun to play with, and I took a little turn. I ended up with a teal and copper combo. Two of my favs! How do you like it?

The "medallion" is made from polymer clay which was textured using my own handcarved swirly texture plate. I painted it with teal colored glitter paint and dusted it with copper pigment.

I wrapped it with copper wire (hey, I am actually getting better with my metal wrapping skills! yay!).

Then I strung on a teal crystal and an antiqued copper metal bead.

Next I added this pretty crystal embellished butterfly to give just a touch more bling, and then finished it off with a l ittle embellished hook from which it could be hung.

I don't usually do such "fancy" things, I am more a nature-inspired chick, but it is the HOLIDAYS afterall, so I guess a little bling is called for!

I can't wait to see what my fellow artists have created, come with me and let's find out -

Art Bead Scene

Humblebeads
Treasures Found

Song Beads

Viki O'Dell

Sue Beads
Modern Nature Studio

Island Girl's Insights
Life By The Seat Of My Pants

Too Aquarius

Shelley Graham Turner of TORI SOPHIA <<-- You are here
Artfully Ornamental

Charis Designs Jewelry

Harrison Hollow Designs

Sunday, December 2, 2012

PLAY DATE Artist: Shirley Moore of Beads and Bread

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog. I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash.

This week's playdate is Shirley Moore of Bread and Beads!

Shirley Moore is a fabulous beadweaver. I am in awe of the work that goes into the pieces she creates. The imagination, the workmanship, the patience that goes into each of her pieces - it just blows my mind. With Shirley being a beadweaver I wondered what she would come up with in using the beads I sent to her.

As is the usual drill we both started with the same little package of beads and bits. Our mix included a few of my new beads, Fall Remnants.

Remember we didn't HAVE to use all of the pieces in the pack, just these focus beads, Fall Remnants. These beads were made with translucent polymer clay which has been textured and then coated with inks, chalks and liquid sculpey.

I decided to attempt a necklace. If you follow my journey in jewelry making you know it is one of my least favorite things to make. But I attempted it, and GUESS WHAT? I actually like what I ended up with. I started last evening (yup, my MO is procrastination!) but didn't feel well so I ended up going to bed at like 7:30 pm. I got up this morning at 5:30 and got back to work. I guess that was a good idea because once I began this morning the creativity just flowed!