Bead Peeps Swap 2015

Yea!  I'm in......

I just signed up to be a part of the Bead Peeps Swap 2015.  300 artists from all over the world participate. 

We are paired up and then exchange beads, 

at least one focal and one unusual clasp.  

We all create with our new beads and then post on our blogs on May 2, 2015.  

Then the fun really begins, we hop all over blog-land to see the work of all the participants.

This is a piece I did a few years ago in this swap.

Fine Arts Club Art Exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum

I  have been back at the local community college for 4 years.  Earned an AA in Art.  

Developed a new creative process, that being collage and assemblage art.  

I was very honored to have an art piece accepted into the juried student show this last Fall.  It was to be shown at the very well known Crocker Art Museum in my home town.  Just being in the show was amazing, as there were about 200 entries and only 36 chosen. 

At the closing reception in the beginning of January, 

my piece was chosen as the best 3D piece. 

I am so pleased and appreciative.  

Here are a few photos of my piece.  It is titled "Disappearing Ink"

It is in honor of the written word, that is slowly disappearing to new technology.  As a child, I have very fond memories of reading our World Book Encyclopedia  It transported me to distant lands and taught me so much.  I used the end pages of an old World Book Encyclopedia as the center focal piece.

There is quite a few hidden gems......a little window into a book, another book having a doorknob.  The top surface is an old window and has library card catalog cards collaged all over.  I drilled holes in all the books and threaded them on a threaded rod.  The large book that serves as the base is a heavy piece of wood, a cardboard cover and the leather spine is made from a thrifted leather jacket.

I had the opportunity to experience glass blowing this last Saturday. My son gave me a gift of a glass blowing class.  The teacher has over 20 years of experience. He did about 60 percent and left about 40 percent for me. Which seems about right since I didn't know anything about glass blowing. 

 Here are photos of the process.......

It was a hot day and the kilns were so hot. I am glad this is not my full time job, 

or it would only be a winter time job ~smile~

It looks like my vase  is orange, that is just because it is HOT, HOT, HOT glass.  It is really the greenish color that can be seen in the last photo as the teacher is taking it off the pole.

And my bud vase revealed........tune in tomorrow.

Tiny Books.........

While I love all books, tiny books make my heart smile.  I just recently put up this shelf area to display some of my collection.  I find these mini books at thrift stores and flea markets.  I usually don't buy them from antique stores as the price are too high for my thrifty soul. I look for books about the size of my palm or smaller. 

Closeups of each shelf.....

I love this little postal scale.  Just 2.00 at a local flea market

I found the sweet child's tea cup at the thrift store for .99

The set of Shakespeare books were found at a flea market.  When I asked how much they were the seller said "Oh those are old, they are expensive"  I asked how expensive.  The answer?  5.00 for all 5 books.  Yes, please, I'll take them.

These are not really mini books, but I love them.  A desk set of address labels, photos corners and the like, only 4.00 at the flea market.  Most of the boxes are full.  Also the tiny children's card game sets, 1.00 each at the flea market.

Akro Agate Tea Sets

I have always loved the little Depression Era tea sets called Akro Agate.  I found two sets at the thrift store for 20.00 each.

Not dirt cheap thrift store prices, but good enough when I have always wanted a set. I bought one for myself and my adult son bought the other for me for Mother's day. I set them up on one of the shelves in my Hoosier.  Added a few books and vintage Scottie dogs I had on hand.  Super cute.....

This is the third year I have been able to be a part of a very amazing Internet happening - the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party.  Folks from all over the world get paired up and exchange beads.  Each sends a focal (sort of the centerpiece), a special clasp, and beads, beads, beads.  We all design and create with our "Soup"  Then posting our work on a specific day and time, we all start blog hopping to see the A.MAZ.ING creations.

This is all the made possible by the Herculean efforts of Lori Anderson. She spends hours and hours putting it all together for our benefit.  I want to send her the BIGGEST of THANKS!!

Here is the "Soup" I received from my partner, Theresa Buchle   http://www.bead-mused.blogspot.com/  Be sure to drop in on her blog and see what she is up too.

She generously sent me two "soups" - One is built around rose quartz and the other around an ammonite and some jaspers and agates. She also included a little pair of earrings she made just for me. Those are made of niobium, copper, mookite, and glass.

And here is what I made with my delightful "soup".........I had an old worn vintage compact in my stash, and thought the little dragonfly Theresa sent would be perfect as my focal. Drilled some holes in the compact, attached the dragonfly, used some vintage pearls from my stash, mixed with the "soup" green stone beads to round it all out.  I even created a little surprise inside the compact.  I plan on storing little slips of paper with encouraging quotes inside the compact.  Only I'll know what they say........until I decide to share  ~~~smile~~~

I thought I'd link my two other "Bead Soups"

2013 - Wisdom necklace

2012 - Project # 1

2012 - Project # 2


Click here to find all of the 2014 Bead Soup participants......

Thrift Store (Find) Thursday......turns out my .99 old picture purchase is a colored engraving signed by Victor Valery.

A French artist, this piece is of Reims Cathedral in ruins after WWI. This "find" was in the bin of stuff waiting to be put on the shelves (Goodwill style) It had a bunch of stuff on top of it and I could barely see the corner of it. Something about the fading color caught my attention and I dug it out. So glad I did.