I’m taking in part in Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party! What is a bead soup blog party? Well, you can click that link to find out more of the details, but basically… a whole LOT of people sign up, get a partner, send each other beads that are out of their partners usual style and then you create something using the beads you receive.

It is challenging because it forces you to use materials you wouldn’t normally work with or be drawn to and it’s a lot of fun!

My lovely partner is Virginie from Vivibijoux who I already knew a bit as she is also a member of the Etsy Ireland Team. What luck!!

She makes beautiful, feminine, colourful jewellery and sent me some of the most beautiful handmade lampwork beads, along with some gorgeous glass, some Swarovski and a cute little Sterling heart toggle!

(click to enlarge)

Now I just have to make something with them. Using all of them or some of them, but I must incorporate the focal (not a problem!) and the clasp. I have a while to get it together and I don’t want to rush it.

I can’t wait to play with them, though. Don’t they look good enough to eat?! Like, candy?

I hope she enjoys what I sent her, too.

I’ll be posting the completed piece here on the day of the party, which is Saturday, February 26th.

Can’t wait!

Thank you, Virginie!!

This is a great, extremely useful free online tool for creating color schemes. There are many, many ways to configure your preferences and I’ve been playing with it for  a few days. It’s kind of a time suck. But, that’s ok!

Can see it being handy for many different applications. Check it out!

Color Scheme Designer 3.

- Restless General Store has many, many things I want. And the photographs are fantastic.

- hello darling! vintage has some super cute home decor, as well as clothes and shoes.

- purple pumpkins has some wonderful old trims and ribbons!

- A Good Vintage has lovely goodies, like these…

- and Refound Relics has a lot of lovely rustic pieces.

My paypal acct. is suffering, but I am very happy. That is what’s important here.

It’s an easy peasy recipe, took about 5 minutes to throw all the ingredients together. That’s my kind of recipe!

I went with 3/4 cups of sugar and added some mini White Chocolate chips. It’s a good thing I took these photos of it when it came out of the oven because it’s all eaten up now!

Of course I didn’t take a screenshot of the before, but here is  a tiny image I found online.

I got rid of all my shop flash widgets, changed theme colours, etc. I’m hoping to eventually create my own original share icons again, but for now these will do.

I never did get around to retaking my packaging photo, as discussed in my last post comments, but I will! Hubby is home ill so I’ve been tending to him – that is my excuse!

And if you’d like to see even further back, you can check out this old post.

I have a whole new appreciation for web/graphic designers.  I wish I could afford a professional, but alas, it’s just me.

Thoughts?

“The company started with the belief that great design should be easy to find, and great designers should receive support for all the wonderful things they create.”

I agree, they should!  And this site does a wonderful job of it.

I am happy to now be a part of  Fey Handmade as well.    Go have a look!

And be prepared to get happily lost in there for a bit.

Crochet Snowflake Ornament from small packages

Full Moon Ornament from minouette

Fly Agaric Mushroom Ornaments from minouette

Set of 5 Miniature Mushrooms with wire stems from craftsty

Herbie the Hedgehog ornament from BeeLoveLee

I would have loved to have  photos of them on the tree for this post, but it’s 4pm already and completely dark. I can assure you though, they look fantastic on my tree!

Blog | Website | Etsy | Imagekind Shop

1. Guests For Tea Locket Necklace from Locket2You

2. Adaline Brown Flower Strap Sandal from Alternative Outfitters

3. Tara Checks Wrap Dress from Matta

4. Woven Beige Satchel from Engage Green