7th Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

I received these great beads, a lovely copper hand made owl, a ceramic handmade round bead, a beautiful purple stone and a nice handmade clasp and my imagination went crazy! There was so much I didn't know where to start. Charlie really sent a great package of yummy goodness! The first thing I did was take out the purple stone because it's my favorite color and I love wire wrapping. I wanted to try this wrap that goes on both sides so I could make a bracelet. I added some of my own beads in the purple color and wire wrapped them together added some cotton string and my own handmade clasp. Here it is...

 The next step was to use the focal point bead in this case the owl. I decided to use my died hemp string to tie it up adding the striking green beads in that Charlie sent, I love the way the copper contrasts with the green! Charlie sent a few of these great pink and copper glass leaf beads but I wanted to make a nest of sorts with more so I bought some in the green colored ones and wire wrapped them in a circle with the blood stone tiny beads she sent. Here it is...

I strung some small goldstone copper beads I had together with the green chunky stones Charlie sent then continued on with the bright green beads and leaves I had left over connecting them to the clasp.  

I wire wrapped the very cool ceramic bead with some copper and the bright green bead along with some little dark green flat beads I had. Connecting this to the clasp and the hemp string. 

And she came together beautifully!

 
I had such a great time putting these beads and focal pieces together! Thanks for putting this together with all your heard work Lori!!!! And a special thanks goes out to Charlie Jacka at Clay Space who made and sent me this wonderful soup!!!

Agata Grygiel	http://inny-pamietnik.blogspot.com/
Ali McCarthy	www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com
Alice Craddick	http://www.alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/
Amy Severino	www.amybeads.blogspot.com
Ana Krepel	http://catspajamas-dogstuxedos.blogspot.com/
Andra Weber	www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank	www.heavenlanecreations.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.LeeLuCreations.blogspot.com
Annette Rivers	http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com/
Anu Tuppurainen	http://koti-ilta.blogspot.fi/
April Grinaway	http://brooklynbeadgoddess.blogspot.com/
Audrey Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
B.R.Kuhlman	http://www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Barbara Bechtel	http://secondsurf.com
Barbara Mason	www.Adorninglyyours.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath	www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Billi RS Rothove	http://www.billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty	www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Brandi Burdick	http://www.tofallorstumbleupon.com/
Candida Castleberry	http://spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com/
Carol Dillman	http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Gebert	http://kookykardinal.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Caron Reid	http://www.caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Catherine King	www.Catherines-Musings.blogspot.com
Cathy Jakicic	http://bds.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/
Chandra Merod	www.junipergoods.blogspot.com  YOU ARE HERE!
Charlene Jacka	http://clay-space.com/blog
Cheri Reed	www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Cherrie Fick	www.designsinthelight.co
Cherrie Warzocha	http://colorsofshae.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Brown	www.dragonflybeads.ca/category/blog
Cheryl Dunham	www.Renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Cheryl Foiles	www.getyourbeadon.com
Cheryl Gangle	www.RockCandyJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Chris White	http://whitedogjewelry.blogspot.com/
Christina Miles	http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/
Christine Murrow	www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Cindy Ritchie	http://mooseriverglass.blogspot.com
Clare Etheridge	www.catseatdogs.com
Cory Tompkins	www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Cris Peacock	http://crispart.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Abner	http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca/
Debi Levine	http://oneheartsblog.blogspot.co.il/
Deborah Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Deborah Read	www.deborahreadcom.blogspot.com
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Dorota Żerańska	www.gdymamczas.blogspot.com
Elaine Robitaille	http://www.tooaquarius.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Emma Todd	www.apolymerpenchant.com
Erin Guest	http://www.renlish.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Evie and Beth McCord	http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Francy Inman	http://www.8secondstudio.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen	http://gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com
Hajer Waheed	http://mybeadedworld.wordpress.com/
Hope Smitherman	http://CraftyHope.blogspot.com
Ilenia Ruzza	http://ile1974.blogspot.it/
Ilona Hegedűs	http://ilkabeads.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Janine Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Jean Peter	http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jean Wells	http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Steck	http://gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/
Jelveh Jaferian Johnson	www.jelvehdesigns.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cabic	www.jennifercabic.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Jennifer VanBenschoten	http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Jenny Robledo	http://peppasdream.blogspot.com/
Jessica Brower	http://ifcreations.blogspot.com
Jill MacKay	www.jillmackay.com
JJ Jacobs	www.comingabstractions.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	www.itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Joanne Tinley	http://www.daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com/
Johanna Rhodes Nash	http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.co.uk/
Judy Robinson	http://woodbeads.wordpress.com
Juli Cannon	www.beadnik.net
Julia Gerlach	www.beadandbutton.com/beadbuzz
Julie Bowen	http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com
Julie Panusis	http://catsmeowco.blogspot.com
K Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Karen Martinez	http://fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/
Karen Vincent	www.swallowtailjewellery.blogspot.com
Karen Williams	http://www.baublicious.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton	www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Karyn Bonfiglio	http://plussizebangles.com/blog
Kat Douglas	www.Washoekat.blogspot.com
Kate Dufour	http://mixfolios.wordpress.com/
Kate Mulligan	http://mulliganstewjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kate Richbourg	www.katerichbourg.com
Kathleen Gallant	http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Katie Nielsen-Nunez	www.Vikingcraft.blogspot.com
Kay Bolton	http://www.toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega	http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Kelli Jacobson	http://www.CreativeMoonJewelryAndThings.com
Kelly Patterson	http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kelly Ramstack	http://adventureswithkelly.blogspot.com
Kiersten Kern	http://myglassbeadlife.blogspot.com/
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	http://klaudetekoon.blogspot.com/
Klaudia Tóth	http://www.klaudiabizsu.hu/
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristin Oppold	http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com
Kym Hunter	http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lana Kinney	http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca
Laura Guenther	www.blueantiquities.blogspot.com
Lauren Fenty	http://laurenbeads.blogspot.com/
Leah Curtis	http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Lennis Carrier	www.windbent.wordpress.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://whimsyswonders.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson	www.prettythingsblog.com
Lupe Meter	http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com/
Lynn Jobber	http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Mandi Effron	http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/
Marcia Dunne	www.thealternativefoundry.blogspot.com
Margareta Saari	http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.fi/
Marianne Baxter	www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Mary Ellen Parker	www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens	http://www.glassbeadart.blogspot.com
Megan Milliken	www.maemaemills.blogspot.com
Melissa Meman	http://melissameman.blogspot.com
Melissa Mesara	http://one-earedpig.blogspot.com/
Michaela Pabeschitz	http://der-lamardebonita.blogspot.co.at/
Michelle Tucker	http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Mimi Gardner	www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Monica Phillips	http://www.monicaglassandjewelry.com/blog
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Nancy Boylan	www.snazzydoodle.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale	www.nedbeads.blogspot.com
Pat Haight	http://wigglebuttblog.blogspot.com/
Patina Queen	www.patinaqueenstudio.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Pia Kaven	http://piakaven.blogspot.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Rose Johnson	http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com
Roxanne Blanc	http://strikesmyfancy-2013.blogspot.com/
Sarah Goode	www.pookledo.blogspot.com
Sarah Singer	http://singingsongsofsixpence.blogspot.co.uk
Sarah Strover	http://beaupepys.blogspot.com
Shalini Austin	http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sherry Baun	http://www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com
Sheryl Stephens	http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Silvia Sernicola	http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Solange Collin	http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Alderson	http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie LaRosa	www.stringaholic.blogspot.com
Sue Burleigh	http://sagebreezes.blogspot.com/
Susan Bowie	http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/
Susan Kelly	http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Susan of Libellula Jewelry	www.libellulajewelry.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Fragiacomo	www.glassymom.blogspot.com
Tammi Sloan	www.mybrownwren.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Tania Hagen	http://pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz/
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Tanya Goodwin	www.pixiloo.blogspot.com
Tanya Wiles	http://studioblog.tenebroushollow.com
Tari Kahrs	http://pearlandpebble.blogspot.com/
Theresa Buchle	http://www.bead-mused.blogspot.com
Tiffany Smith	http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Tina Holden	http://beadcomber.blogspot.com
Tracey Nanstad	http://abeadifulmess.blogspot.com/
Tracie Dean	http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
Tracy Bell	www.CopperGlassAndRecycledTrash.blogspot.com
Tracy Kruse	http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com/
Veralynne Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom	http://www.clubcreativestudio.wordpress.com

Facebook Participants


D’Arsie Manzella     
Claire Brannigan Hasemeier 
Robin Showstack
Melanie Lemen Swope
Beccy Peterson
Kelli Nelson
Chris Schlicht 
Shelley Cole-Kuduk

I received my Bead Soup from Charlie!

I got my package sent with love from Clay Space on Valentines Day! How wonderful :)

She packaged everything up in individual bags and labels. When I put them all together this is what I had...

A beautiful handmade owl and clasp as well as a ceramic round piece. Many beautiful beads and stones Thanks Charlie now I am off to make something beautiful out of these.

Have a great day!
Chandra

I love you comments thanks for stopping by! :)

Love blog circle

Where there is love there is happiness. 

I am talking about real honest love. The kind of love where you cherish the other person, you wish them to be happy and free from suffering and you help them in any way you can.

Now can you say you honestly have this for another person? It seems easy and it is, if we stop thinking about ourselves all the time and what we want or expect from the other person. These days we say we love another and want them to be happy as long as they make us happy right. Well that's not real love, that's attachment. We care so much about ourselves that we cause all kinds of problems around loving those around us.

Take for instance Valentines Day. The most hyped up day of the year! The true meaning of Valentines Day is selflessness and giving whatever we can to the ones we love. But we have made it a true day of suffering for ourselves. If we have a lover we hope they give us a diamond ring, a huge bouquet of flowers or the biggest box of chocolates. If we don't get what we want we are crushed. "They only gave me one candy", we say sadly, wishing we had another partner. Then we decide they aren't good enough for us. "I got them this big present and they only got me a piece of candy. I have to find someone who really loves me! " It's crazy but we do this.
If we don't have a lover then we frantically search for one just for Valentines Day so we can go to the movies or have dinner, do something romantic. But in the back of our mind we are thinking how they must make us happy, give us what we need.
Then there are those of us that can't find anyone. Lonely, single and depressed, we tell ourselves things like I'm no good because I don't have a lover. It's crazy making how we think it is someone else who brings us happiness.

We are the only ones who make us happy, when we change our mind from negative to positive thoughts we can make ourselves happy. Stop thinking they owe me and think how can I cherish them? What can I do to make others happy, can I help in any way? Instead we think only of ourselves and it makes us suffer. We do it to ourselves. If we don't have a lover we are sad, if we do we are sad because we didn't get what we want. All this self cherishing is ruining our lives. If we thought about the other person then we would stop suffering. So instead we think, "I will get them what they want and hope this makes them happy." We rejoice in their good fortune. Then whatever we get there is no expectation, we are happy they are happy. If we don't have a lover we rejoice in others good fortune or we have compassion for their selfish behaviors. We wish all of  them to be happy, and this will bring us happiness. We need to stop thinking of ourselves and think of others. This is the way to really love others. Love is what really matters, love is beautiful- real love, giving love and wishing love. I hope you find the love you seek within your heart.

Love, Chandra

Thanks for your comments!

Here are the others in this blog circle next is Nancy, or see what the others have to say about Love...

1. Becky Cavender

http://beckyinburma.blogspot.com/

2. Amy Riddle

http://onajourneybacktoherwings.blogspot.com/

3. Karrlin Bain

http://www.Karrlinbain.blogspot.com

4. Naz Laila

http://www.angentlerebellion.com

5. Debi Minter

http://dbminter.blogspot.com/

6. Chandra Merod (You are here!)

http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com

7. Nancy Lennon

http://rainbowlightangel.com/2013/02/lovingourselves/

8. Laly Mille -

http://www.lalyblue.com/2013/02/blog-circle-10-things-i-love.html?lang=en

9. Kathie Gadd

http://www.lavenderchalet.com

10. Gail Haile

http://hailefinephotography.com/2013/02/good-overwhelms/ 

11. Jean Wagner

http://www.jeanfwagner.blogspot.com

Bead Soup Blog Party, Partner Reveal and Soup!

You might be wondering why I have these funny looking pictures here? Well I joined the Bead Soup Blog Party put on by Lori Anderson and just received my partner. She can't know what my bead soup looks like quite yet. So it is under disguise.

This one reminds me of Tron

I have to say I had a fun time putting the soup together especially for my partner, it has lots of fun goodies! But I had a super fantastic time making these pictures of the soup so you can't really tell what they are. I love photo apps!

Meet my bead soup swap partner Charlie, she is so cool! She makes metal clay jewelry pieces and pottery. I asked her a few questions about herself, here is what she said.

What's your favorite jewelry piece to make?

I am not sure I have a favorite; I just enjoy being in my studio creating. I do find that when I am designing finished jewelry I tend to gravitate towards necklaces, but I think that is mostly because there is so much "space" to work with on a necklace.  I am trying to break this habit and get into creating other things, like bookmarks and cocktail rings.

Change it up for your disguised bead soup 

Do you make your own beads?

I wish I could make all of my beads, that would certainly make me well rounded.  I do make metal clay and ceramic beads.  I tend to stay with base metals in metal clay because I am an experimenter and base metal clay is much cheaper to "waste".  On the other hand, the ceramic beads I tend to keep a bit on the modern side, very clean lines, simple, and few colors.

I think this one most people used.

 What is your job? 

Well, I feel like I have many jobs...I work full time as an engineer in the space industry, so I can bring home the bacon.  At night I work on my ceramics and metal clay, a much needed break after the stress of my day job.  On the weekends, I spend time with family or I am at my B&M store Indie Chic teaching metal clay or hosting ceramic parties.

I couldn't resist putting them all on here.

It's fun to be different!

Do you have a family? 

I have a husband, who is also an engineer.  I am not sure how he survives honestly; but he is quite frequently the brains behind the operations.  He is really good at making my ideas come to fruition; something I am very grateful for.  

I also have another man in my life, my two year old son Caleb.  Some days I am lucky and he helps me in the studio, other days its a matter of survival against the terrible twos!  He is a total hoot and he has quite the personality; I love hanging out with him and watching him absorb everything.  

I suppose I should mention my two dogs as well; Asher, a Siberian Husky, and Rocket, a Golden Retriever.  Both are rescue dogs and both are characters. 

The male gender outnumbers me significantly...but I wouldn't change anything about my family. 

If you want to know more about Charlie check out her blog Clay Space! 

This space one is my favorite! 

I can't wait to get my bead soup from Charlie and start making jewelry with it! 

Thanks Charlie for being my partner and I hope you love the soup I'm sending you!

Happy Bead Soup Blog Party!

Love, 

Chandra

Thanks everyone for stopping by I always love your comments!

International Mixed Media Postcard Swap!

I joined an International Postcard Swap and so I made some Valentines! Here they are...

I was supposed to make 10 but made more they were so fun! I love Love and hearts and paint!

I got some heart punchinella from a friend at the Mixed Media Meetup I hold in the shop. I love it!

I used acrylics, stamps, brail paper ( from another woman in my mixed media group) and cut out magazine hearts. I liked putting the ink on the brail bumps. I had a great time decorating the envelopes as well because Shannon wanted us to protect them rather than send them as a postcard in the mail. I put a cute snail stamp on the other side where the real stamp would have gone. I also had a cute To: stamp that had a mailbox filled with Valentines.

I want to thank Shannon for having this swap! I loved it. I hope those that received them did too!

 Happy Valentines! I love Valentines :) Love,

Chandra

I also love comments! Thanks for stopping by.

A wonderful upcoming photographer Andrea Michelle

Look at this beautiful art Andrea has made with my picture. She is truly amazing! I want to get this one printed on a canvas.

This one would be nice in the bathroom it's relaxing with the water and colors.

I used to be a model many years ago in L.A. I moved there out of highschool signed up with L.A. models and ended up getting mostly runway jobs. I had really long hair which they made me cut into a bob and they asked me to smile with out my gums showing. It was competitive. I did a magazine layout for a German teen magazine and won a trip to model in Japan. 

Asian me kinda?

20's flapper.

Bohemian.

I ended up not going because I was scared. Someone told me they had many models get taken for slave labor so I chickened out. The agency didn't like me much after that. They sent me out on commercial calls and sadly that's not modeling. 

Sophisticated.

In L.A. I took many pictures with various photographers some sketchy and some really great ones. My favorite were in the old mansions, in a famous house that had a great modern waterfall flowing in the pool and ones on the beach in the freezing water. Most of the pictures I do not have anymore. But some are still hanging around in my portfolio from L.A. Models. It was an interesting time but I don't recommend modeling to many people. It's too bad they pick young people for this because the older you are the wiser you get and the strength to not care about anyone else's opinion arises. You have to be tough and strong, be yourself and most of all know what to expect in the modeling business.

I am way too old to do this anymore but it was fun to dress up!

I could make one portfolio with all these pic's because she took so many with different styles and that's what they look for in the modeling industry. Versatility! So if your a young model pick Andrea to take your pic's, she will get you jobs! Take a wise adult with you to help you stay strong.

 Andrea is a model locally and she is just starting out in photography. I love how she edits them, they are so artistic. She makes me look so young! 

No wrinkles, he he! 

I'll see ya in Paris in the 20's.

I also like how she captures my personality. She was great, made me feel comfortable, told me when to move, positioned me in many great locations. She had good ideas for shots! I am so happy to have modeled for her. Please visit her FB page to find out more about her. Andrea Michelle

Thanks Andrea!

Chandra