Window Shop Blog Hop : GIVE & Receive!

 

Amazing Designs by Marlene Cupo

This is my favorite from her collection -

 

Bold and Beautiful Faux Turquoise and Copper Necklace

 
A bold and long necklace of hand shaped faux turquoise beads accented with extruded green and copper swirl beads, and a focal of a hammered copper swirl with a turquoise flower attached, by Heather Kelly Marston. The turquoise beads are capped with copper findings, and it has a copper toggle closure on this 26" eyestopper.
 

 

The Window Shop Blog Hop is sponsored by

Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends

 

 

 

Jewel School Friends (host)www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

A Grateful Artist http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Libellula Jewelryhttp://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/


Knot Just Macrame

http://www.knotjustmacrame.com


Amazing Designs by Marlene

http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com


Antiquity Travelers
http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/


Spice Box Designs
http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com/


Freestyle Elementshttp://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/


Alankarshilpahttp://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com


Pretty Things
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/Lindy's Designs
http://lindysdesigns.blogspot.com/

The Adventures of Belle West
http://bellewest925.blogspot.com/

Octoberfest!

Octoberfest!  ... and it's RITA's birthday too!

Octoberfest is being hosted by Rita of Jewel School Friends.

I love autumn. I love the colors, the textures and the smells.

I am visiting my sister in Central New York and it is one of the most beautiful places to be in the fall. The leaves are out in all their glory. There are all kinds of fun activities happening around town. Corn stalks and pumpkins on the porch! Scarecrows on the lawn. The aroma of cinnamon and apples! YUMMY!

I love yellow and orange mixed with copper - so to celebrate the season I created these earrings.

Lampwork beads made by Johanna Stephenson of Canyon Echoes
and the copper polymer charms were made by me!

 

 


Here's a little treat to make at your house -    
   

Pumpkin Pie-sicles

The recipe made with butternut squash

is from Family Fun magazine

Thank you Rita for hosting Octoberfest...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

 Follow the Octoberfest Hop...

 

 

Heather Otto http://www.thecrafthopper.com

Mischelle Fanucchi http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com

Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Shelley Graham Turner  YOU ARE HERE!

Shelly Joyce http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com

Charlie Jacka http://clay-space.com/blog

Pam Sears http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Margareta Saari http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com

Marita Suominen http://momentofjewelry.blogspot.fi

Lisa Posthumus https://www.facebook.com/lisa.posthumusharper

Jeannie Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Arlene Dean http://aglassbash.blogspot.com

Duffy Blevins http://bubbasjewels1.blogspot.com

Susan Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com

Dita Basu http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Sonya Ann Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Audrey Allen https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrapped-Up-In-Magic/145456948869148

Kashmira Patel http://sadafulee.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Kris Mattingly https://www.facebook.com/kris.h.mattingly

Lennis Carrier http://www.windbent.net

Shannon Hicks http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

Paula Hisel http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Karin Slaton http://backstorybeads.blogspot.com

Shirley Moore http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca

Valeria G. Rome http://fancysphynxdesigns.blogspot.com

Lo http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com

Zoe Marcin http://beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Kimberly Booth http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com

Sherri Stokey http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Tanya McGuire http://www.tanyamcguire.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Christine Stonefield http://sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com

Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Evelyn Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com

 

Host - Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

 

REVEAL DAY: Holiday Bling Blog Hop

Created by Rita of Toltec Jewels

It's finally here...REVEAL DAY for our Holiday Bling Blog Hop!

What is the Holiday Bling Blog Hop you ask...

Back in August my friend Marlene Cupo and I were talking the holidays, yes in August! What can I say, we are proactive! We wanted to swap ornaments. Then we decided to open it up to our other friends so everyone could have some fun,  and HBBH was born! The plan was to partner up people and the partners would then decide what they'd exchange – could be handmade ornaments, jewelry, decor, whatever – it just had to be Holiday themed. With all of our diverse backgrounds we said they could choose any holiday, but it should be a winter holiday. Examples given were Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa , Ashura, Bodhi Day, or Boxing Day.  

After signups the partners were assigned. I was very lucky (did I tell you I have great bead Karma!) and got partnered up with Rita of Toltec Jewels! Turned out that Rita is THE Queen of Christmas. She loves the holidays and goes all out! She has SEVERAL trees decorated throughout her home.  So CHRISTMAS as our holiday choice was a no-brainer.

After some discussion back and forth it was decided we would exchange window ornaments! Hmmm, what the heck am I going to do? Off to the library I went. Loaded with about a dozen books on holiday decorating I began my research. First thing I discovered was that holiday decorating books are probably the largest, heaviest books in the library. They are NOT make for reading in bed!
So after reading book after book I still didn't have a clue, and since I don't have Martha Stewart on speed-dial I was at a standstill (story of my life!).

What to do?  DING! Go back to one of my former haunts - stained glass! Hmmm... I don't have any of those tools anymore. AH-HA but I do have some clay! See I may not always have an idea but I AM resourceful so I knew that once I was on a path I'd figure out how to get it done.

First I went online and googled "christmas coloring books" under images. I chose a picture I liked - this one ------>>>>

I extruded some black clay and used it to outline the design. Once the whole image was outlined I baked the clay. Then I filled each cavity with translucent clay. Around the outer edge, the background of the image, I filled with translucent clay mixed with bits of silver leaf. Just to give it a little sparkle. Within the designs I gave each section its own texture. I embellished some: drawing in the veins in the holly leaves;  building up the bulbs to give them a rounded appearance; adding embossed designs to differentiate the two bulbs.

Then I baked it again. This was a pretty tedious process so I did take shortcuts! I SHOULD have really colored each clay before I filled the cavities, creating a richer color but I didn't - not this time around anyways! I ended up 'painting' the finished mini-window (6"x6") with alcohol inks. The colors weren't as pretty as I had expected. The translucent clay kind of dulled them, but it was acceptable for a first try - I guess.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product...

ALL LIT UP!



Wasn't 100% happy but I put hours into it, so I sent it along to Rita.

AND then Rita sent me her holiday bling...and it is BLING!

I opened the package to find my very first 2012 Christmas card!!

Then I peeked inside the box... red and green loveliness!

Look at this beautiful holiday windchime! Isn't it the cutest, blingy-est, holiday birdy-est thing you ever did see? AND it sounds great and bling-bling-blings in the sunshine!!

And then on top of that, she sent me a cute little change purse with a chainmaille Christmas tree charm inside. SHE MADE THAT! Amazing, right?!
Man it's only October and I am already have a grand start on a beautiful Christmas (my first one without snow too! I'm gonna miss NY!)... so a special thank you my friend Rita!

 

Oh don't be sad and feel left out... we can't have that!  St Nick is joining in the fun and will be giving out gifts to three randomly-picked HBBH participants.  BUT in addition, ONE lucky blog reader will also be receiving a gift. To enter just leave a comment below.  When you comment, make sure your email is attached, or add it to your comment. Winners will be chosen and announced here on October 20th, so come on back!

 

Now GO, look at what everyone made and exchanged...go on, get some inspiration because the holidays ARE right around the corner!

PS: Due to unforeseen problems, some of our participants did not receive their goodies in time for this hop. Please check back later for an update on their blog.



Michelle Fanucchi		http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart		http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Therese Frank		http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Heather Otto		http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton		http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com
Linda Florian		http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Rasmussen		http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache		http://www.allprettythings.ca
Ginger Bishop		http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Lo/  Lynn Jobber		http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus		http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Rita/Toltec Jewels		http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com
Shelly Joyce		http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com
Shai Williams		http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud		http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lennis Carrier		http://www.windbent.net
Marla Gibson		http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Howell Govaars		http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Linda Younkmann		www.lindysdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Jones Moore		http://​www.beadsandbread.blo​gspot.com
Melinda Orr		http://www.orrtec.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo		http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner		YOU ARE HERE right now!
Sonya Stille		http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell		http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Anindita Basu		http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie		http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett		http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Lori Jean Poppe		http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com
Charlie Jacka		http://clay-space.com/blog
Stephanie Stamper (Woods)		http://skwds.blogspot.com
Mary Hicks, Shannon Hicks		http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

 

 

And let me be the first to say...HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

 

 

PLAY DATE artist : Rita of Toltec Jewels

 

 

Today is my first play date! Today's playmate is Rita of Toltec Jewels. 

 

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.

Here's what I sent to Rita -

 

 

The palette I sent is one I absolutely love, purple and lime green. I love how the colors pop when placed side by side (in fact, I am painting my new studio space with these colors!) The larger purple polymer beads are part of my SILLY RABBIT series.

 

I make them in vivid colors and they remind me of one of my favorite childhood cereals - TWIX! 

My "Silly Rabbit" Beads


 

I like to make bracelets so I set off to try a technique I haven't tried before - a triple row beaded wrap bracelet. I really like the way it turned out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now a little about my playmate, Rita of Toltec Jewels. Rita is an encourager and an inspiration. She's just one of those people who always finds a way to offer a kind word and put a positive spin on a situation. THAT is a gift! I feel blessed to call Rita a friend.

 

So come with me and see what Rita did with her bead mix - CLICK HERE!
 

READ Rita also took part in our Holiday Bling Blog Hop as well as What's in a Name Blog Hop! We are getting verrrry chummy!

 

Please be sure to tune in next time for another episode of PDa!