Thursday, August 30, 2012

Tips, Tricks and Cleverness

 How to find the original source of an image on



Have you ever found an interesting photo on Pinterest, only to click for the link and find that someone has pinned it from Yahoo Search or to the main page of a blog, not the post itself? Talk about frustrating!
I wanna share with you a quick and easy trick to finding the ORIGINAL SOURCE of an image.


Step 1: When you find an image with the bad link, open a new browser tab (or window) and type in images.google.com into the address bar.


Step 2: Click back on the Pinterest tab (or window). Then click and drag the image to the Google tab and into the Google search bar. When your cursor moves over the search bar it will turn into a larger, blue box. Drop your image there.


Step 3: Google works its magic and you have the original link! Happy Pinning!




I shared this trick, with another tutorial, on the Facebook Bead Soup Cafe page and it received quite a response, so I thought I'd try my hand at creating my own tutorial. I hope it is clear enough to follow and that you find it useful!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Key to the Heart

A little while back, I participated in a supply swap and received some beautiful gifts from my partner, Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures. There was no obligation to create anything, this was simply to share beads and components, so I hadn't gotten around to using these goodies until this weekend.



I used both the key focal and large cable chain in a gunmetal finish. First, I had to alter the key a bit to use as a pendant. I used the dremel to create a bit of a distressed look and then glued a heart shaped jewel on to the the middle. It looked like it needed some color there! The chain was added to a strand of red Malaysia Jade and Jet gemstone beads to create an asymmetrical design. This finished necklace is about 36 inches long with no clasp, as it can easily slip over the head.





This necklace is available at my etsy shop, here.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Put a smile on your face

I don't know about you, but I could really use a laugh today...









Saturday, August 11, 2012

Bead Soup Reveal

Welcome to my Bead Soup Blog Party reveal!

Here is a little refresher of the beautiful beads I received from my blog soup partner, Lisa of Whimsy's Wonders.


Lisa was so generous and sent so many beads! First I made some fun and colorful earrings. These all scream 'summer' to me :)




The clasp I was sent is by Green Girl studios and is absolutely stunning! I knew I wanted to do something simple and have the hand cast clasp as a focal. I used Amethyst, Citrine and glass seed beads for this three strand bracelet.



And finally, the necklace! I was floored when I received this pendant, as I have been dying for something from Golem Studios. It figures that this is the piece I struggled with most. I ended up using only the pendant and 2 beads from my soup in this entire necklace! lol I am pleased with how it came out though. The colors pick up those in the pendant without over powering the busy focal. The dragonfly clasp I have had for years and am glad to finally have found the perfect home for it.


I still have so many beads left from my soup and plan to use them all in more projects to come. So, like my other BSBP reveals, there will be a Part II! I do hope you'll come back and see what else I have done with my gifts from Lisa!
Don't forget to head over to Lisa's blog as see what she made with the bead soup I sent her! As well as the other participants of the blog hop.



Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 
Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead


Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio


Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads


Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae


Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders - My partner


Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place


 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs


Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle - You are here

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads


Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 


Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Monday, August 6, 2012

Summer Starfish Necklace




Above is a picture of my sketch book in which I used one of Design Seeds awesome color palettes to put together this bright and summery necklace.



Made with Serpentine and dyed Quartz gemstones, blue vintage lucite and two handmade orange lampwork beads. Plated pendant and lobster claw clasp.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Thrift Store Blog Hop

Sarah, over at Pookledo, is hosting a blog hop today! You all know how much I love participating in these, but this one just seemed like it was meant for me. Her challenge to the participants was to purchase an item from a thrift shop worth less than $1.50 and to create a piece of jewelry using that object. I do that ALL the time!


I purchased a necklace from Goodwill for $1.99. I went a little over budget, but this is Connecticut people. They don't sell anything for a buck, everything is overpriced here. What I really liked about this necklace was the dark teal color. The gold irregular shaped beads are okay, but it's the round beads I was really drooling over.



The bracelet I made uses these teal beads, as well as, Serpentine and lucite coral colored beads. The focal bead is handmade, however I do not have the information on who created it. (please help me give credit if you know!) The bracelet is finished with a large lobster claw clasp.



Don't forget to visit the rest of the participants in the blog hop!

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com 
Rochelle - www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com 
? -   http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk/ 

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