Clay and Metal Blog Hop Reveal!

Blog Hop giveaway winners are: 1). Rebecca Ednie - Beautiful components from Sharyl McMillian-Nelson and 2). Shaiha Williams - lovely bead kit from Lisa Lodge.  Congratulations, Rebecca and Shaiha!

The reveal is finally here!  I have been looking forward to this blog hop for quite a while.  Three years ago, Sharyl Mc-Millian Nelson was one of the first artists I connected with on-line when I started making jewelry.  She was always very helpful and encouraging. We have followed each others "jewelry journeys" these past few years.  Sharyl is not only a talented jewelry artist, she is also a talented component maker. I am proud to be able to host a blog hop featuring her awesome components. Here is an example of her altered metal, and handmade polymer clay items:

 

Hammered Brass Ovals

Polymer Clay Set

 I asked Sharyl to write a short bio so you could get to know her better.  Here it is:

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson has been making jewelry since her graduate school days, but in 2011 she began a business and online store using the name, “Sharyl’s Jewelry.” As her jewelry business and interest in art beads grew, she began making and selling handmade metal components, wire findings, and polymer clay beads and pendants too.

Recently, she opened 2 “Metapolies™” stores, one on Etsy and one on ACM.  Are you wondering about that curious new store name?  

       

METAL + POLymer clay = METAPOLIES!    

       It’s  pronounced  “Meh-TOP-oh-leez.”

Her focus is on artisan-made, one-of-kind pieces.  Her work has been published in “Bead Trends,” “Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry,” “Jewelry Stringing,” and the online “Bead Chat” magazine.

She currently has stores in the following online locations:

     Metapolies™  (Etsy)    http://www.etsy.com/shop/Metapolies    (jewelry & components)

     Metapolies™ (ACM)   http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/metapolies/   (components only)

     Sharyl’s Jewely (Artfire)  http://www.sharylsjewely.artfire.com   (jewelry & components)

To keep up-to-date on all the latest Metapolies™ and Sharyl’s Jewelry™ news, sales, publications, and more:
please follow her blog: http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/
and business Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharyls-Jewelry/139920432784411

Moving on to the blog hop...

I made a pair of earrings using Sharyl's nifty starfish charms:

Natural Shell Starfish Dangle Earrings

Of course their is a giveaway!  In fact, there are TWO giveaways! Sharyl has put together an awesome prize package featuring her components, and I have put together a fun bead kit of goodies. All you need to do is to leave ONE comment on this post to enter. I will draw the two winning names on November 23rd, 2014, so have your entry in by midnight on the 22nd. The first name drawn will win Sharyl's prize, and the second will win my bead packet.


Please hop around the blogs and see everyone's awesome creations:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Clay and Metal Blog Hop Link List

Here is the link list.  Please let me know as soon as possible if there is an error - thanks!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Creative Spark Magazine Fall 2014 Reveal!

I love being on the design team for Znet Shows!  They are a great company with a wide variety of beads at reasonable prices.  They sell retail and wholesale, so there is something for everyone. For the fall issue of Creative Spark,  the participants were split into three categories: fall themed jewelry,  tutorials and "found object" jewelry. I chose to make fall themed jewelry.

My inspiration for my Autumn Collection (which I call "Amber Sparkle") was driving along a Michigan road in late September. I rounded a curve and saw a group of trees with their leaves just starting to turn color. It was a lovely mix of amber tones. With the sun coming through the trees, a flash of sparkle hit my eye.

I created a necklace, bracelet, and several pair of earrings.

So much beautiful jewelry is waiting for you to view! Also, helpful tutorials await you. Please click on the link and take a peek at all the beautiful jewelry the design team members have created.

Blue Fantasy Blog Hop Reveal

 UPDATE: Laurie Vyselaar is the giveaway winner!

This is going to be a fun hop!  I LOVE the color blue, in all its shade variations. It is so versatile.  Here are some "inspiration" photos to get everyone in a "blue mood" - in a good way, of course!  

The talented participants were sent a variety of beads and pendants in multiple shades of blue, as well as plated metal goodies. They were asked to create jewelry or other art using as many beads from the kit as possible.  The beautiful cultured seaglass, Tiaria crystal, and most of the plated metal for this hop are from ZnetShows.  Check out their  selections: ZnetShows Cultured Seaglass, ZnetShows Tiaria Crystal  and ZnetShows Plated Metal

It just would not be a blog hop without a giveaway, right?  Leave a comment (by midnight EST September 13th) on this post and let me know what shade of blue is your favorite, and why. I will draw a name on September 14th.  The winner will receive a bead package from me full of special goodies!

Without further ado, here are the participants!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Raissa de Guzman, Abloro

Jill Bradley, Jilly Beads