Bead and Button Show 2014

This past year I traveled to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee for a second time.  As before, I had a most wonderful time. I live in a rather small town so it is always nice to travel outside of that realm and get out and see a little culture. One of my favorite parts of the show (besides the shopping)is seeing some of the jewelry pieces from the different contests/challenges that are held through out the year. Here are some of the pictures I took while I was at the show of those pieces. Please excuse the quality of the pictures. I went early in the morning to take the photos and the sun was shining brightly in the lobby and reflecting off the glass on the cases.

First is Best in Show by Sarah Thompson titled: Thistle.

 

 

Next was one of my personal favorites by Heidi Kummli titled: The Shamanic Path. 

 

 

Next is Sherry Serifini titled: Rhinestone Cowboy

 

 

 And one with Sherry and Wayne Robbins.

 

 

Next we have 2 by Sue Horine. Unhinged and El Lobo.

Another piece by Betty Stephan titled Warrior Princess

Here's a piece by Diane Hyde

Emi Yamada with Suzaku and Justina Coffey with My Big Fat Pink Jellyfish

Next we have Yukikoya Mamota with Chinese Phoenix and Zhanna Vasilyeya with Lobster.

Next we have June Huber's Kirigami Star followed by Pam Horbit's Astrometry Ball.

Next we have some very colorful Three Amigos by Svetlana Chebotayeva and Andrea Grzabka's White Raven.

Next we have Guzel Bakeeva with the Shards of a Black Star and Megumi Saso with Milky Way.

Next we have Eliana Maniero with LaGrande Bellezza Necklace and Tina Hauer with Arizona Cabochons and a close up.

Finally we have Kathy King with Eighth Order and Janice Cuozzo with Hawaiian Surf.

I have a few more photos of finished pieces that I will try to post when I get some more time. They also had a beautiful display of buttons again this year. So stay tuned for those.

I highly recommend that if you get a chance try and make the trip to Milwaukee. So much talent under one roof. Plus shopping for three days.

Plus they offer many classes at the show. I took a class with Sherry Serafini and Hannah Rosner. I had wanted to tackle learning some bead embroidery for some time and this class was the perfect opportunity to do so. This is the finished cuff I made from the techniques learned in that class. It turned out just lovely.

Another one of the highlights of my trip was the opportunity to meet up with Pat Winter. It was so very nice to meet one of my internet friends in person. Wish I could actually meet all of you in person.

I am going to be away for a while because I am going to be relocating. I am moving to Florida from Northern Wisconsin. I have been hard at work packing. I really hate moving. I have done it way too many times in my life. But I want to take my business to a more populated area and I didn't want to deal with winter anymore. So Florida here I come. I leave in 2 days. See you when I get there.

Well I've been a way for awhile working hard getting ready for my flea market business this summer. I have been busy buying, pricing, sorting, and making items for sale for the up coming summer. My business is a combination of supplies that one would use for fiber arts/crazy quilting and finished jewelry. For the crazy quilter/fiber artist I will have many wonderful laces, beads, buttons, silk ribbons, and fabrics. For finished jewelry I have earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Here are a few photos of some of the earring and necklaces.

 

 

I have also made some altered art items. One is a shabby chic shadow box.

 

 

 

 

 

And other items are altered spoons and forks. I made a few of these last year and almost sold out of them. So I decided to make a few more.

 

 

Here are a few close ups

 

 

I will attending this years Bead and Button show in Milwaukee, WI again. Last year I just went to shop. I had a great time. Three days of shopping for beads. I was in heaven. This year I will be shopping again but I have also sign up for a class. I will be taking a class with Sherry Serafini and Hannah Rosner. Here is a picture of what we will be learning:

 

 

I can hardly wait. Shibori seems to be the latest craze and I am looking forward to learning how to use it. If anyone else is going to the show maybe email me and we could get a soda or something.  Well back to work. I have been researching about possibly doing some sales on Ebay.  We will see. It's a lot to learn. Any whooo..... have a great day.

Finished CQJP 2012

Well I know I have been missing in action here at my blog for a while and I do apologise for that but I have been busy trying to finish my crazy quilt from the CQJP 2012. We all know that there is still more work to do after the blocks are finished. And I have been trying to complete this quilt for a few months now. And a few days ago I finished it. Here is the finished piece.

 

 

Once all the blocks were sewn together I put feather stitches between each block. On this quilt I changed the color and type of the thread between each block. Then at the end of each feather stitch I sewed on 3 seed beads. Here are a few close ups of those stitches.

 

 

 

I really wanted to do something different on the border for this quilt so I decided to fill in the border with many different buttons, beads, charms, pearls, crystals, and multiple other items. Here are a few photos of the border.

 

 

I am a little sad to see it all to come to an end but glad to have another completed crazy quilt. I didn't even try to join this years CQJP cuz I just could not keep up with last years plus I was trying to finish 2012. In addition this year I am still trying to start a new business, I am working my regular full time job, plus the dog had puppies and I kept one of them. So as you can see my plate is and was full. I think this year I am going to try to finish some of my UFOs. I actually have a few smaller crazy quilts that are close to be done and need to be completed. SO I think I am going to tackle them next instead of starting any thing new.

 

I am also busy spending time with the newest member of our happy little family here. Meet 'Bella'.

 

 

She is a little over 4 months old now. She is full of energy and keeps me on my toes. So far everyone is getting along well. Nala finally has a play buddy and they love each other lots.

 

 

Well I'm going to see which UFO I going to pick up. Everyone have a great New Year!

New Members of the Family

Well while I have been busily working on finishing my CQJP from 2012 we have had new additions to our family here. My Golden Retriever Nala had three puppies. And yes this was a planned pregnancy. She had two girls and one boy. They are about two weeks old right now. Their eyes have just recently opened and they are just starting to pick themselves up to walk around. Everyone is doing great. Here are a few photos.

 

 

I have been seriously contemplating keeping one of the females as my dog is getting older and I probably will not bred her again. Plus it would give her someone to play with when I'm at work since I had to put Nala buddy 'Molly' down about a year ago. I just have to convince myself that I want to put the work into having a puppy around full time. Now back to my UFO that's almost finished. I now working on the border. Everyone have a wonderful week.