Wonderful walk

This is a random post for me, but i thought i must keep blogging.
So here are some of the wonderful fungi photos taken from the lovely valley i live in.

This purple one is a first for me and i have not found out what it is yet.

This is just a small selection of the great variety of fungi that grows here, and i am always looking for more.

Octoberfest 2014

I love Autumn, it holds so many wonders and treats. The beautiful leaf colours, walks on frosty mornings followed by mugs of hot chocolate in front of a log fire.

Halloween and Guy Fawkes night.

I had a little problem with some of my plans this year, that was all of my crafting bits were boxed up and waiting to be put into my new shed!

This was just one box which was pulled from the crazy stacks of boxes at the weekend.

 so that i could make a little something that had been in my mind for a while.

And here is the resulting little project

I have made this style of brooch before and enjoy the process.

This time i added a hand painted skull to add a little Dia del los muertos vibe.

I spent a lovely afternoon needle felting a pumpkin and then got carried away and made a whole troop of cute toadstools and a weenie little creature which i have not named yet.

So this is my little slice of Autumnal goodies with lots more in the making for Halloween, one of my favourite celebrations of the year.

Hope you enjoyed your visit.

A huge thank you to Toltec Jewels for hosting.

Don't forget to hop around the other bloggers (list below)

Toltec Jewels                            Jewel School Friends (hostess)

Dini Bruinsma                           http://www.angazabychanges.blogspot.nl/

Marybeth Rich                          http:/forestofjewels.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars                           http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Mischelle Andrade-Fanucchi     http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Karin Grosset Grange               http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Andrea Zenith Glick                  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Linda Anderson                        http://CherryOnTopDesign.Co

Becky Pancake                        http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger                     http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Lennis Carrier                          http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Sue Kennedy                           http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Kim Dworak                            http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/

Jo-Ann Woolverton                  http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca

Jennifer Reno                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Veralynne Malone                    http://veradesigns.blogspot.com 

Lori Schneider                          http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Williams                        http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Alisa Siceloff                            http://armoredmermaid.blogspot.com

Pam Traub                               http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com/

Cryss Thain                              http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Maria Lourdes Rios                 http://mlourdes24.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer                       http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Carolyn Lawson                      http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                        http://www.peru-medesigns.com/

Debbie Rasmussen                  www.Kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca

Heather Richter                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Breeding                   http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Carol Dillman                          http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Chris Eisenberg                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Rebecca Sirevaag                    www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com

Sam Waghorn                          http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk

Sherri Stokey                           www.KnotJustMacrame.com

Gina Hockett                           www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com

Michelle McCarthy                  http://fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Michelle Buettner                     http://www.MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com

Dana Hickey                            http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com

Claire Fabian                            http://saraccino.blogspot.com 

Cynthia Abner                          http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano                    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Jami Shipp                               http://CelebratingLifewithDaMamaShipp.blogspot.com

Charlie                                     http://505indiechic.blogspot.com

Gloria Allen                             http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/

Lisa Johnson                             http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com

Marde Lowe                            http://fancimardesigns.blogspot.com

Jill Bradley                                http://chat2jill.blogspot.com

Toni Gifford                              https://plus.google.com/+ToniG28

Shawnda D'Arcy                      https://www.facebook.com/JewelryByShawnda

RaMona Woolson                    http://jerseygirlsbeadwork.blogspot.com

Esterina Jagiella                        http://ekleijar.blogspot.com

Sandra McGriff                        http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Mary McGraw                         http://mkaymac.blogspot.com

Alenka Obid                            http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Marianne Baxter                      http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com

Ann Schroeder                        www.beadlove.wordpress.com

Inge von Roos                          http://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Robin Reed                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Suzanne Berk                           https://www.facebook.com/IRescueJewelryDesign

Mowse Doyle                          http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com

Diana Miglionico Shiraishi         http://jasmineteadesigns.blogspot.com

RanaLea                                  http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Andrea Rivers                          http://turtlesoupcreative.blogspot.com

Janine Lucas                            http://esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Tanya McGuire                        http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com

Anindita Basu                          http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Mitzie Crider                           http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com

Deb Fortin                               http://studiok24.blogspot.ca

Cynthia Kent Machata             http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Cheri Reed                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Laurel Hanson                         http://stonewingdesigns.com/blogs/stonewingdesignsblog

Ingrid Anderson                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Lori Anderson                         www.PrettyThings.com

Louise Mccormick-Glazier       http://lilyandjasmine.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                          http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Susan Kelly                            http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com/

Lee Koopman                        http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com/

Carol Briody                          http://cbriody.blogspot.com/

Kathy Lindemer                    http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Renetha Stanziano                http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/

Divya N                               http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/

8th Bead soup reveal

              Welcome to my Blog and the 8th Bead soup reveal

I am happy to say this is my second time joining in with Lori Andersons wonderful Bead soup swap.

More info about it can be found here 8th-bead-soup-blog-party

I was really thrilled to be partnered with the wonderfully talented Linda Newnham who makes beautiful glass creations, earth-shinedesigns

So here is a reminder of what Linda sent me

Lots of beautiful beads , in some challenging colours.

For a long while the beads sat on my beading mat. 

I waited for inspiration to strike, and with trepidation started to move beads around and play with some ideas.

I really wanted to keep my work simple and let the beads speak for themselves, and so the first piece i made was this cute little bracelet

I have rarely (never) used red and green together until now. 

These beads had been grouped together on my mat and i liked how they looked together.

I used some liver of sulphur patinated copper wire to make very simple links and added a clasp.

One of linda's heart wires and a little red glass flower from my stash finish this piece as a dangle.

Next up i started with the focal and clasp Linda sent me and rooted through my stash for some beads to add to make a necklace.

I found some wonderful dyed turquoise in the perfect shade of purple and green.

This is what i came up with 

 

I loved using the wonderful glass hoops as connectors and the pretty bird focal looks fab with its little leaf and flower dangle.

Although i started on a pair of fun earrings using the two bud like wires Linda sent me i have been unable to finish them yet.

I just want to say a huge thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting this wonderful blog hop and to Linda for being a fantastic partner.

And of course to all the participants who pop by to take a look Thank you.

Permalink listed below will take you to main list

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com//2014/04/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

Bead soup blog swap 2014

I first joined the -bead-soup-blog-party last year and it was a great learning experience.
This year i have been teamed up with the wonderful Linda Newnham from http://earth-shinedesigns.blogspot.co.uk
I must admit a few weeks before the partners were announced i had been squirrelling away beads for my potential partner. But i had recently found Linda's fabulous beads and ordered some for one possible soup!
After messaging Linda who said she was fine using her own beads (who wouldn't be, they are fab) i went in a completely different direction.
I received my lovely box of goodies a few days ago this is how they were wrapped up.
And i loved opening each wonderful little packet.

And out of the wrapping 'Wow' take a look at all these fabulous goodies.

I have been totally awe stuck, Linda has sent me a real challenge and mixed two main colours one (purple) i work with a lot. And the other green i rarely use.

So now i am keeping them on my bench and moving them around until inspiration strikes.

sharing a wonderful giveaway

Sharing this give away from a wonderful lady who makes some beautiful  ceramics.http://www.grubbiceramics.co.uk/blog/4583272678/It's-Been-A-While/7723073
I have recently brought some to send to my bead soup partner and of course have a few items in my stash.

This is one of the more recent pieces (gorgeous).

Asymmetry addiction overload

My own personal jewellery hell is trying to make non - asymmetric jewellery.
Which is proving very trying whilst making assembled vintage work, which of course is very eclectic.
My last piece lent itself to asymmetric design which you can see.

But trying hard to escape my inbuilt need to have things just so and shake my style up a little bit. ( even wire wrapping in a haphazard manor gets me nervous!)
So looking at getting the balance right and finding input from outside sources, on using less regimented (internal) forms of design.
Not easy when my inner self screams at me to get all items lined up and matching.
Any input on the subject would be gratefully received.

Omg how excited am i , the 8th bead soup sign ups are coming.

I first heard about the blog hop two years ago but only joined in for the first time last year.

I had a great time making my items with the beautiful soup i was sent and although it was a little stressful worrying about doing the wonderful beads justice the experience was amazing.

It has given me the confidence to start a new blog, try new jewellery making projects and i have met and made friends with some truly wonderful people.

So huge thanks to the lovely Lori Anderson the brilliant mind behind this huge sharing experience.x