It's time for the Bead Soup Party Blog Hop first reveal..
Many thanks to our host and creator of this wonderful event, Lori Anderson, of Pretty Things Blog

I was thrilled to have Lee Anne Messerschmidt selected as my partner for the 7th Bead Soup Party, she sent a beautiful soup mix of greens and purples in Czech glass and enameled steel that she created.

While I loved everything about this soup mix as I worked along I felt my skill level wasn't quite up to working with the stiffer steel pieces...I did incorporate some but I did hold some back until I have a chance to practice a bit more with steel wire..might sound silly but I just couldn't face ruining them.
I wanted to used the focal that Lee Anne made as a dangle bit..attached that to a ceramic flower I had made..Lee Anne also made the enameled wire beads..

Please visit Lori's blog to find a full list of participants and their links
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2013/03/the-7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first.html
Please hop over to Lee Anne's blog to see what wonderful things she created from the bead soup I sent ..
http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/the-7th-bead-soup-blog-party-begins/

Bead Soup

The 7th Bead Soup Party is underway ,created and hosted by Lori Anderson...of Pretty Things Blog

I've been fortunate to have participated in all 7 events..I was also a contributor to Lori's book based on the Bead Soup Party blog hop...if you've not seen this book..you really must check it out..filled with wonderful designs and information.
This time around Lori has paired me with Lee Anne Messerschmidt of
Wired Hammered nworn on wordpress. I'm very excited to work with the soup Lee Anne sent, beautiful Czech beads ,lovely enameled discs, headpins and really cool enameled wire beads...I love the unusual focal too. these arrived wrapped in a lovely hand painted paper ...this will be very best kind of challenge,as  I've never worked with enamel...
Here are the soup ingredients from Lee Anne..I appropriated her group photo that she beautifully organized..

as you all know I take the worst photos..

but  you just have to see a close up of the focal..amazing.

         enameled disc head pins...lime green head pins and enameled wire beads..love all these

Below is the bead soup I sent to Lee Anne

ceramic flower pendant, connector focal, ceramic flower connector ,bird,flower and melon beads by me-Spirited Earth ...orange jade, faceted brown Czech, turquoise Czech , purple Indonesia glass, fluted metal beads,brown pearls and carved cream beads

Please check back in a few weeks for the first reveal to see what we've created out of these ingredients..also be sure to visit our hosts blog,Pretty Things, for up to date info about the Bead Soup Party blog hop.

         

Bead Soup Party Blog Hop # 7 Sign ups

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2013/01/the-7th-bead-soup-blog-party-sign-ups.html
It's that time again.. Bead Soup Party sign ups begin Friday..Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party Blog Hop is  amazing..I've been fortunate to have participated in all 6 previous BSBParties, it's soo much fun...Lori is hosting this event only once this year..you really don't want to miss out..so many fine designers creating stunning designs from mystery soup mixes..
follow the link over to Lori's blog to read all about this event...and sign up this weekend.

Memories and Thanks

Welcome to Lori Anderson's Memories and Thanks blog hop.
I had set aside a little redbird nugget for myself, and when I first signed up for Lori's blog hop, I thought it would be a perfect focal, because Marianna was  fond of redbirds..
I love redbirds too ,as does my mom.  There is quite a colony nesting in our neighborhood..their territory doesn't range very far from where they were born...they seem bright and cheery..up early, busy bird..but shy as well and more than just a little territorial ...I hear one peeping in the hedges outside right now..

It started me thinking about my mom and what a funny person she is..neither this or that...grumpy and happy too...able to delight in small things...she is now headed toward 90 and still  amazingly spry and alert..smart..common sense like you can't believe...
What started out to be a memory for Marianna has ended up being more of a Thanks to my mom ..I was certainly a challenge for her from the very beginning....a most willful, free thinking, busy child ..somehow different from the rest of her family ..she ( and dad too) took time to teach me about so many things..not so much LIFE in the big way..but how things work in general ..she taught me cursive writing by making the letters into funny images, on road trips, we would have discussions about the crops and animals we passed by, we planted gardens and flowers, and she read to me, everyday. In looking back I realize how fortunate I was to have a mom who would spend so much time with me..even if she didn't "get" me..Thanks mom, you taught me more than you will ever know.

please visit Lori's blog to link to the other Memories and Thanks participants
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2013/01/memories-and-thanks-blog-hop-reveal.html

I've been remiss keeping up with Blog reading over the Holiday's..
This morning the first one I read was Lorelei's..she is joining her husband in a weight loss challenge using Dr.Oz's week long crash diet..
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/oz-approved-7-day-crash-diet

I like Dr. Oz and I've been dancing around all Fall with dropping some pounds.. one of the things on my Loooong  To Do list ( not resolutions, which seem to fail) for 2013 is to get back to Cooking.. good simple healthy meals. ..Lorelei's diet challenge seems like a good way to start out the new year and start COOKING, yikes..

It's coming ...The Holidays are on the way!!

I have been neglecting my poor little blog..Lori just reminded us to Blog..so before heading to get some sleep...I give you a rambling thought for the day...

Tomorrow is December 1st..how the heck did that get here soo quickly..and in one month, the Year will be over..a whole year has zoomed past.. and 2013 is looming..
Of course, we have that pesky Mayan calendar stuff to deal with...I've got my money riding on us still being here on Dec 22nd..and 23rd etc..same ol' same ol'.. there seems to be a lot of varying thoughts what the ending of that calendar could mean.. the idea that something might happen to awaken us as a world is  interesting...but I am not one to want life overly dramatic..a nice steady pace is much preferred...no hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, rising tides..aliens from another planet ..etc
I would ,however,like to place a request in  to the Universe...just a small thing ..
that everyone on the planet  become 10% smarter overnight ,BAM!..and 25% more compassionate..that's not a huge wish but I do think it might prove to be earth shaking.. yea I know ..not gonna happen...still a girl can wish..
sooo...
Here's a Wise Holiday Owl

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

wise old owls

These are samples of my wise old owl design, brighten up and in a festive mood, for the holiday season. 

The flock( Parliament) will be making their way into the Etsy shop on Friday.

Please excuse this photo..taken late last night under studio lights, on the work table..

too excited about them to wait for daylight.