Bead Soup Blog Party 1: First Reveal!

Hey all! So, today is the first reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party v7.0! Woo!

You might remember that my partner is Roxanne from Strikes My Fancy. Unfortunately, she had some real life stuff come up and had to postpone her reveal. Don't worry, I will be sure to post when she does!

Here is a reminder of the awesome beads Roxanne sent me:



I was able to make two items from this wonderful soup (so far!). The first is a ring... yeah I know, with me it is always rings. But I love this one SOOOOOOOOOOOO much! I used some of the small gold faceted beads she sent, mixed with some of my own size 8 seed beads in black.





Such a fun funky look!



So the second piece I created is a necklace. And boy did I have trouble with it! From the beginning I knew exactly what I wanted to make... take the focal and make a lariat style necklace using macrame. However, the macrame did not like me. I could not for the life of me seem to keep my knots even... some were really really tight while others were way too loose... so adjustments were made... and made... and made... and finally about an hour ago I gave up and changed the design just so I could get it done. I attached the clasps I was sent with some simple knots. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the back... and at this point I am not going back down the stairs to take another picture so... I think what I will do is keep working on the necklace. Then once Roxanne is ready to post hers, I will post the reworked necklace! Yes, that is what I will do!

So, that is what I got done... not nearly enough. I still have plans for some earrings with the heart beads... and maybe another ring...

To visit the rest of the party, please visit the official site for the full list! Have a "Hoppy" Easter! (get it? We will all be hopping from blog to blog!)

New Ring Pattern: He Loves Me

Or maybe not... only the flowers know for sure. Not that we have seen any flowers around here, what with how it keeps snowing every other week and all... stupid spring.

I finally created a logo!

So, you may notice that the blog (and the shop) look a little different today. I finally decided to just go ahead and make my own logo. I had wanted one for a while, and have a friend who is good with graphic design that I had asked to help me. But he never quite got around to it and I kept putting it off. So, today I took the bull by the horns and made one myself!



I used Gimp and a spirograph plugin to make the outline and then filled it in to get an ombre effect. Here it is without the color:



Once I actually sat down to do it, the whole process wasn't that bad. I started at a stock logo site, just looking through to get an idea of what logos I liked. I was looking at one that was a sort of circular tribal tatoo logo, when I suddenly thought of the old spirograph I used to play with as a kid. A quick google let me know that my favorite editing program could do that, and the rest was easy breezy!

So, please let me know what you think of the new logo, as I am dying for some feedback! Thanks!

Monday Weigh In: 308.6

Honesty sucks. I really would rather lie about today's weigh in, or even just not post it. But, the whole point of all this was to be accountable, to face up to my short falls, and not hide in a dark room eating ice cream. Honesty sucks.

Leather Jewelry Design Contest: Voting now open!

Voting is now open for the Nina Designs Leather Jewelry Design Contest on Facebook. My entry is a leather and chain cuff made from a recycled belt. I ran it through my embossing machine to get the gear design and then stained it slightly darker with a leather stain.



Please feel free to vote for the entry you like best. Thanks!

Monday Weigh In: 306.6

Source: my.blackmores.com.au.html viaMyBlackmores on Pinterest

So, essentially no change. That is ok. I know that I went to a birthday party this weekend and had cake... and then leftover cake... and party food... so no change is actually good.

On the exercise front, I am up to seven minutes a night on the treadmill! It doesn't sound like much, but with the pain in my knees from RA (stupid doctor said it has been going on so long that he no longer things it is reactive arthritis but is instead the beginnings of rheumatoid arthritis. Blah...) I consider 7 minutes to be a big deal!

On the upcoming challenges front, only two more weeks till Easter. Must be strong and resist cheap after-holidays candy!

Inspiration in the round

No pattern today, instead I bring you some of the inspiration pieces I have saved on Pinterest.

Source: theawesomer.com viaSarah on Pinterest

A spinner ring with a function! To roll or not to roll, that is the question... and if you roll the dice it will answer it!

Source: thinkgeek.com viaSarah on Pinterest

A secret docoder ring! You know you want one... you are so totally humming the Mission: Impossible theme song right now!

Source: unicorniopasion.blogspot.ca viaSarah on Pinterest

I love this. I keep trying to work with these beads, but nothing I do turns out this pretty...

Source: nerd-princess-crafts.tumblr.com viaSarah on Pinterest

I love the whimsy of this. Love.

Source: zappos.com viaSarah on Pinterest

This resin ring is so very cool... and imposing... and cool.

Source: fusionbeads.com viaSarah on Pinterest

I love filigree... so delicate looking.

Source: beyondbeyond.co.uk viaSarah on Pinterest

The use of string is so very unexpected, but so very well done!



If you would like to see more of the rings that inspire me, visit my new Pinterest board Ring Inspiration. Thanks!