Remember the song "Bo Jangles"?

I don't know exactly why this bracelet made me think of that song but here it is. "Bo Jangles"

 I think all the dangles and chain inspired a tambourine like sound in my head.  

I can't remember to take my memory herbs so why would I remember where I got these rich swirly colored and textured beads but now that I have used them I want more!! 

I am trying to get serious about making an inventory of my supplies and suppliers so I don't end up in this situation.  Organization is not a natural state for me but I truly need it in my life.  It is little things like this that remind me how helpful it would be to keep the flow going. 

My first contest!! 

I would love to hear from you:  

How do you organize your supplies and suppliers?

I will randomly select a winner from all the people who leave comments and helpful tips regarding this issue here on my blog.

The Prize:

Two of my two -sided flower beads!  

Here is the front

and here is the back

I have not drilled the holes in these yet so the Winner will have a say where he/she would like said holes. 

So post your Tips.  

I will announce the winner here on Sunday, June 6th.

The winner will need to contact me with shipping info so I can mail them their fabulous prize.

Ooooooooo precious,

Remember that ugly naked troll like creature in "The Lord of the Rings"?  What was his name?   I will be crouched in the bushes (and there are not that many in the desert therefore I will be clothed so I don't get arrested for extremely (at my age, just trust me)  indecent exposure and miss the deadline) 
stalking my Postman whispering; "Oooooo, precious, where is my precious...."
I can't wait to get this lovely treasure from my Bead Soup Buddy!!  She allowed me a sneak peek which means my mind is already churning with design ideas and those are my most favorite colors, how did she know that!!! There is something very "tingly" about all this.
Here is my treasure:

My Bead Soup Buddy is Emanda Johnson. She is a jewelry artist who combines unique assortments of lamp work beads, pearls, precious stones and what not into lovely designs.  She makes very beautiful rosary bead sets also.  

Click HERE to see her blog 

and 

HERE to go to her Etsy Shop. 

Thank you for the lovely ingredients Emanda I hope my soup is good enough to eat!!

Sneak Peek at Bead Soup...

The ingredients for the bead soup have been shipped off to my partner Emanda Johnson.  Here is a sneak peek, Shhhhhh... I wonder if she will check my blog during the week.

 I had to make an emergency trip to my second favorite bead store in town, Bead Haven, to find a really nice brass closure for this .  Mission accomplished but it got in the bag before I could take a picture.  

These are some of the off-white Alamo inspired beads I made from polymer clay.  I stamped both sides by squeezing thick sheets of clay between two different stamps then cut them out and roughed the edges with crinkled aluminum foil. Next the clay was tinted with alcohol inks and then baked.  Last I spray two coats of an archival quality acrylic protectant so the alcohol inks will not react to perfume or hairspray. There were several things about the Alamo that inspired me; the carved limestone, the rough hand hewn wood and the wrought iron decor on windows, gates.... That is why I included the wood beads and the brass components.  I am very anxious to see what Emanda will do with these beads!! 

It's Official: I am now a member of the "Etsy Does Vegas" Team!!

This is very exciting as over 100 Etsy artisans and crafters from Las Vegas have joined the team already and it is brand new!  Here is the Logo 

and if you click on "ETSY DOES VEGAS" you will go directly to the group blog where you can visit some of these amazing people and see what they make and sell.  Have Fun!  

Okay so it looks like Christmas%*!

This necklace is my second design attempt with my little polymer clay flower beads.  

The inspiration came from a bed of red lettuce poppies at the San Antonio Botanical Garden we visited in April.  Now that it is all done I think it looks a little more like Pointsettias .

What the hey it would be great with a very simple dress for a Holiday Party in December.  What do you think?

The bourgandy flower petals and green leaves I free motioned stitched in a quilt sandwich and then cut out with my very sharp little scissors.  The material under the flower beads is organza which I hope will fray a bit more and look softer.  The pink beads are little frosted lucite flowers from-

Delphine's Flower Bead Shop

A great place to visit if you are a Beadaholic! 

I have been looking for ways to mix my art quilting with my jewelry.  It is fun to create off the wall "Project Runway" type items.  I don't know who will ever wear them but they end up not just jewelry but ART. 

Extra Bead Sale!!

I have been very busy making new polymer clay beads all of April and then taking pictures. 
Here are some of the left over beads from my Alamo inspired necklace. I will be selling them on Etsy.
                        Here is the link to my etsy shop Aquariart- www.heatherp22.etsy.com

And here are the back sides of the same beads.

Last of all a close up so you can judge the size of these beads.

My new two sided flower beads are an off-white blend of polymer clay with alcohol inks used to color them before they bake. They almost look ceramic.  Love the rustic edges which are roughed up with crumpled aluminum foil before I bake them. 

When you look at the next pictures you will be seeing the front side of the beads

and then the backs.

Of course I needed a mix of smaller similar beads to use with these larger disk beads.

The backs of these are plainer but I like the watercolor wash effect of the alcohol inks.

That's all for today but I have lots more.  I finally got all the pictures taken so check back later this week. 

Big Learning Curves...

I keep telling myself I was just born a little too early to catch up with all of this technology. Once I learn it I am fine but the fear factor gets in the way. I want to click my little red shoes and go back to Kansas!

So here is the way I will introduce you all to my most favorite group of Art Bead Artists. 

 I just learned how to link in a post. 

 So click on this- ART BEAD SCENE BLOG

and you will fly away to a very fun place