Green Thumb

This is what happens when you plant cactus cuttings.  I've planted and washed my hands twice before taking these pictures.  They don't hurt because I'm use to it now.  About twice a year my cacti get top heavy and start blowing over.

This picture is how crazy it was back in December.  This one & 3 others from previous cutting projects gave me 36 babies this time.  Some of them always die, but I've never had more than 7-8 rooting at once.  I waited way too long this time.

What am I going to do with 40 cacti?

Here's the 4 big boys after their haircuts.

Just in case you were counting this makes 40.

 It's not a green thumb, but it's immune to thorns.  Sorry life's been boring here recently so this is the most exciting thing going on.  Hey I'll take boring sometimes.  It's way better than stressful.

Wishing you a stress-free day!

 

Check out Tree Wings Studio

I just ordered some beads from this artist, and while waiting for them to arrive found a giveaway on her blog.

one of the 3 giveaway sets

Check out the Tree Wings Studio blog.  

Better yet check out her etsy shop plus get a 10% discount off all purchases till March 20th. 

Not your style? That's an even better reason to order.  Get a piece to test you skills and teach you more about yourself and your abilities.  I've learned more in the 3 months I've been working with things that aren't typically me than I have in the last 3 years making pieces in my comfort zone.  The response to my new work is overwhelming as well.

Enjoy your yourself no matter where today takes you! 

What's on the table?

I found myself without a project tray today.  After looking around I realized why.  Here's what's going on here:

Ndebele Bracelet by Lori Schmidt

This button hole took me 4 hours Saturday because it was klutz week for me, and hubby brought home the first season of a show and I got hooked.  The kit was a Christmas gift and so was this one:

Twisted Sister Bracelet by Jill Wiseman

I love this one.  The colors are hard to photograph because they are iridescent.  This pattern is 6 beads per round. It's quick and fun when I need a break from the other projects.  Yep, there is one more.

Beading Babes' new projects are great.  I have to order some things for the necklace, but I had somethings that I think will work for the bracelet.  Very summery like the bracelet I just finished with Martina's flowers, but the cold snap here has me craving summer.

I love it so far.

Ok time to stop talking about these projects and get back to work.  I hope your are enjoying what you're currently working on as much as I am.

Martina's flowers

I've mentioned before that my partner, Martina Nagele, from the Bead Soup Party is intimidatingly amazing.  She made her own bead caps for some of the beads I sent her.  Then she adapted the bead cap design into cute dangling flowers which you can see on her blog: http://mariposa8000.blogspot.com 

Well, I tried my hand at them. My colors are a bit more summery, but only when trying to pick things for this project I realize that I have no red seed beads or dark purple ones either.  That still baffles me.  Well here's my go at it:

Looks way better on that flat.

Love that coral with fire-opal center!

These little guys didn't go with the rest.  Not sure what they'll be yet.

Not too bad for one evening's work.  Better for me than a bowl of ice cream too.

Beading Babes

It's reveal day for me again.  This time as a challenge from Karyn at Releases by Rufydoof.  Since I let myself be unbelievably distracted by the blog hop for the Bead Soup I forgot to even find this piece.  I must say that my new attempt to make simple jewelry for my t-shirt and jeans lifestyle had me try 6 different stitches for the chain before I was happy with it.  Though it looks simple it was a lot of work making it simple.  I think if I'd continued the pattern it would have been much easier, but it'd have been yet another piece I'd never wear.  Oh and I threw together a set of earring using my favorite beading pattern and the beads for this project.  I love them together!  I wish I wasn't having a self-conscious day because they look amazing on. Well here they are:

Pattern found in December 2011 issue of Bead & Button magazine.  Ravishing Rosettes pattern designed by Smadar Grossman (page 38).

Reveal Day-Hooray!

"Today's the day!  The sun is shining. The tank is clean. The TANK is CLEAN!"
-Finding Nemo

Ever woke up and thought, "Today is going to be amazing!" only to realize you're already 3 hours & 2 projects behind schedule before your feet even hit the floor?  Yep, I'm running a little behind schedule, but I finished my work for the Soup last night.

See more of the amazing Bead Soup sent from Germany to Japan just for me in The Bead Post. 

SO without further adieu,

what you've all been waiting for....

my Bead Soup Creations.

Pendant: lampwork & wood beads with stone disc spacers

Necklace with clasp, lampwork & drop beads from soup

stone discs and wood beads from stash

Earthy Girl Necklace

earrings: pearl sticks from soup & knot balls from local shop

bracelet with caramel bicones from soup

bracelet of 5yen coins, green bicones, chain & clasp from stash

This is the piece I feel the most proud of because it was totally spontaneous I was just playing with things on my bead table.  There are not accidents.  That pile of pocket change was there for a reason other than I was too lazy to find my purse.

Amazing lampwork focal with pearls & metal lotus accents

check out the swirl

These flower centers swirl like the piece and magically they bloomed on reveal day.

None of these capture how great this piece is.  I had to keep it simple, but I wanted you to be able to see the whole thing.  So this piece spins!  As you move this focal rolls up and down your decolletage.  So all sides of the focal are visible.  Super strong magnet clasp finishes off the piece because the focal has great weight.  All right that it for me.  Now Go! Check out the artistry of the other Bead Soup participants.  (Psst...start with my partner...she Rocks!)

My Bead Soup partner, Martina can do superb things with beads. 

Amazing gift from my Bead Soup partner, Martina.

Take time for the other fantastic participants as they share their Bead Soup creations.

Mastermind & Inventor of Bead Soup Party, Lori Anderson
Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

YOU ARE HERE--->  45.  Ginger Bishop (Japan) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Find Linky Tools links on Reveal Teaser post.

Bead Challenge #2

Well it's a little over 2 hours till my Bead Soup post. The efforts of my first ever beading challenge are about to be splashed upon the screen for the world to see.  So what's next for me?  A second beading challenge? That's right, and it's due to post March 4th! This one from Karyn is project 3 for the Beading Babes.  This is the first time I'll join in on the fun. So I guess I better go photograph that one, huh?  When we last saw it I was here:

Check back March 4th to see the finished piece.

Reveal Teaser

Since it's technically already the 3rd here in Japan I'm showing you a glimpse of the pieces I've created.

It finally made it!

I mailed my Bead Soup to Germany on Jan 23rd.  It arrived this week!  I've been frantic for days and stressed for weeks.  I didn't want to let her down.  Well, now that it has arrived I can show you what I sent.

Wrapping with seashell that reads "Happy Beading"

clear box that held the goodies (photo added to lid)

Orchid pendant is yet another of my Okinawa photos

The Beads...yes the wrapping was a color hint

 Okey-dokie! Check back soon to see what I made from the beads she sent me and check out her blog, Mariposas Schatzkiste, on blog hop day to see what she created in no time (literally) with these.