June 29th - My country, of Thee I bead!

What a great Challenge this one also is!  Thank you Nan Smith for this great idea
for the Blog Hop as well as for organizing it.  
Another one  in a row of Challenges, this summer@ Facebook.

 

The theme is ‘My Country of Thee I bead’. Well, my country is The Netherlands. 
What pictures you have in mind, when thinking of The Netherlands?  It’s a country 
with a lot of touristic attractions like famous museums with paintings of
Rembrandt &Van Gogh, the House of Anne Frank, tulips, daffodils,
windmills, canals, and delicious Gouda cheese.
And… our flat flat scenery! Could I bead of that? Yes, I could, but there
is more… In April we had the coronation of our new King, Willem-Alexander.
Finally a King, after having  a Queen as a head of our state for 107 years!
 

Click to enlarge

At the coronation, his mom Princess Beatrix, his wife Queen Máxima, and

the 3 little princesses  were wearing lovely ‘Royal Blue’ dresses. I picked that

colour to make some glass tulips, here they are :-)

The orange facetted Agate beads I choose  because it’s the colour

of our House of Orange!

Click to enlarge

Maybe you like to see a bit more of the coronation?

Watch this small movie (appr. 4 min). on Youtube:

 

I hope you like the necklace and the little in’s and out’s behind my story!


Have fun reading the blogs of the other participants!

http://wirednan.blogspot.ca/2013_06_01_archive.html
 

✿❀  

 

Inspired Design Challenge No. 2 - Spring Hyacinth

 Lori Bergmann is the great organiser of another (for me) new Challenge,
thank you  so much Lori. Her biweekly Challenge is 'defiant',
and I’ll try to participate as often as possible. It’s fun!

When looking at her photo I got touched  by the very intense colours
of this beautiful hyacinth, I could almost smell it! Every year when seeing this flower,
I  know it soon will be springtime with hopefully ☼ lots of sunshine… ☼

My contribution is a simple one, a bracelet in hyacinth-‘ish’ colours,
the 2 glass beads are made by me. The blue kyanite beads are going so well
with the colours of the hyacinth, that was my first thought when searching
for beads in my stash! 

I added some Shell Pearls, Abalone, rough Lapis Lazuli
chunks and Montana Rock Crystal beads. The green colours you find
in the glass beads and in the Abalone charms.

In Greek Mythology there is a story about Hyacinthus,
just follow the link  if you like to read it...

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyacinth_(mythology)

Enjoy!

Click to enlarge :-)

 

 

It's Sum-Sum-Summertime!

 

Thank you so much dear Rita / Toltec Jewels,
for organising this Summer Elements Blog Hop!

That was a ♫ great song ♫ in the past, do you remember it?

For me, every season has something special...
what I like about this time of the year is the warmth of the sun, and
the long long summer's evenings with lovely temperatures!
And not to forget all the bright, shiny, vivid colours of beautiful summer flowers.

 

Some flowers attract a lot of butterflies, I love these dreamy little creatures.
They inspired me to make Necklace Mariposa. The 2 glass bead
butterflies and some glass discs are made by me.
The gemmies are Jasper combined with facetted Agate.

 

Focal: made by Birgitta Lejonklou

 

Have fun you all, hopping and visiting all the other participants!
For this you can follow the links...

 

The Summer Elements Blog Hop Participants are: 

Toltec Jewels (Hostess)     http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

Marlene Cupo                   http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                        http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Ailsa Cordner                    http://www.bramalfiebeadsetc.co.uk/

Robin Reed                       http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                         http://www.wirednan.blogspot.com/

Sherri Stokey                     http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/

Christie (Charis Designs)    http://charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Carolyn Lawson                 http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com/

Susie Harris                        http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

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

Nelly May                          http://smellynelly.blogspot.com/

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

Dini Bruinsma                     http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

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

Cory Tompkins                  http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com/

Gina Hockett                     http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Karen Martinez                 http://www.fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/

Liz                                    http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                     http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com/

Solange Collin                    http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com/

Gerda                                http://gerdascraftsblog.blogspot.com/

Karla Morgan                    http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Anindita Basu                     http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache                http://www.allprettythings.ca/

Andrea Trank                    http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/

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

Tanty Sri Hartanti               http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/

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

Mary Govaars                    http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Becca Sirevaag                  http://godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/

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

Regina Wood                     http://www.gina-design.blogspot.com/

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

Kathleen Breeding             https://www.facebook.com/99BOBOTW

 

 

 

 





The Jewellery Maker by Gyula Tornai. Source Wikimedia.

 

  ✿❀ Thank you so much Leah, for organizing this great Blog Hop!!!   ✿❀  

I've always been interested in history, and Celts were a part of that... Thinking of Celts,
I have a picture in my mind of hard working people, strong women,
sturdy warriors, bronze, symbols, beautiful jewellery and lovely patterns.
Two of my favourites are spirals and knots.

 

Click on the picture to enlarge

I decided to design a bracelet and a pair of earrings for this hop...

I made 5 glass beads with Celtic inspired designs and added a lot of bronze :-) coloured charms.
The little spirals are inked. The earrings I made  with the Big Kick machine and deco etched
bronze blanks, I added a knot charm for the finishing touch, it's all inked too...
It was great fun, working on this jewellery!

✿❀ ✿❀  ✿❀

 

Enjoy the work of all the other participants :-) here's the list!

 

 

Leah Curtis - Indus Valley - beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk

Laney Mead - Māori - laney-izzybeads.blogspot.co.uk

Becca - Art Nouveau - godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com

Melissa - English Romanticism and Mourning Jewelry - beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Tracy Stillman - Native American - tracystillmandesigns.com

Gerda - English Romanticism and Mourning Jewelry - gerdascraftsblog.blogspot.com

Liz E - Native North American - beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Ahowin - Māori (New Zealand)  - blog.ahowinjewelry.com 

Jasvanti - Indus Valley - jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Lizzie - Art Nouveau - theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk

Julia Hay - Merovingian - pandanimal.blogspot.co.uk

here you are - Dini Bruinsma - Celtic - angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Caroline - Art Nouveau - blueberribeads.co.uk 

Charlie - Moche of Peru - clay-space.com/blog

Karin - China - maverickbeads.blogspot.com

Niky Sayers - Rome - silverniknats.blogspot.com

Marcia Dunne - Celtic and Mourning Jewelry - thealternativefoundry.blogspot.co.uk

anafiassa - Mesopotamia - anafiassa.blogspot.com

Kokopelli - Native American - kokopellidesign.blogspot.com

Christa - Native American - adventuresofwonebeadywoman.blogspot.com

Clair - Roman - obstinatepursuit.blogspot.co.uk

Susan Bowie - Native American - susanbowie.wordpress.com

Gloria Allen - English Romanticism - gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com

Sheila Garrett - Early Russia - 4brownowl.blogspot.co.uk 

Kuala Lumpur

Another Blogger - Non Blogger Challenge!!!

hosted by me

 

 

 

♫ For the second time ♫, I'm the hostess of
the Blogger -Non Blogger Challenge in Facebook's Bead Soup Café...
That's always great fun!
Every hostess - winner of the last Challenge - chooses a picture that
will inspire all the participants,
It's so special to see everybody's (completely different) results.

Gloria Allen posted her jewellery impression of my picture in her Blog:

Gloria Allen Designs

Here's is Sam Waghorn's weblog
http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/new-day-new-challenge.html#links 
with a story behind her jewellery

Shalini Austin also wrote a webblog
http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/my-kuala-lumpur-challenge-earrings.html#.UZ8XeJnCTIU 

 

And Ana Cravidão's

http://acbeads.blogspot.pt/2013/05/desafio-challenge.html

 

Enjoy reading!

 May 4 - Hats Off Challenge - the Reveal

 

There are a lot of Challenges going on, and I ♥love♥ love♥ love♥ it to participate...

What I see helps me to think outside my own -safe- box. What a Challenge this one is too!
Bobbie Rafferty is the big initiator, and let me thank her first for organizing it.
Today -May 4-  is Kentucky Derby Day and our Reveal Day too.

We could pick a picture from her weblog to inspire us. Any piece of jewellery
is allowed to make. I choose to design a necklace in black & white.
I'm fond of black and white, okay, my own safe box :-) but... I really love that color
combination, for years!!! :-))))) So, here's the picture that inspired me

 

 

 

 

and this is the necklace I designed:

"Baby it's just Black and White"!

 

 

 

Here's the complete list of all participants:

Arlene Dean www.aglassbash.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Charlie www.505indiechic.blogspot.com
Cheryl Dunham www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Chris www.furzalsjewellry.blogspot.com
Christine Altmiller www.onekisscreations.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata www.antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Deanna Riles-Cox https://www.facebook.com/deanna.rilescox
Debbie Rasmussen www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma      http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Jasvanti Patel www.jewelrybyjasvant.blogspot.com
Jean Yates www.prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com
Jennifer LaVite www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Kashmira www.sadafulee.blogspot.com
Laney Mead http://laney-izzybeads.blogspot.com/
Leah Tees www.mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca
Liz E www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Lola www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Micheladas www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Nan Smith www.wirednan.blogspot.com
Robin Reed www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Sally Russick www.thestudiosublime.com
Shiraz www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Susan Nelson Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com
Therese www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Vera www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

 

 

Have fun with all the beautiful pieces and Robbie's inspiring pictures!

20 Steps and a Bracelet

 

Isn't it a lovely Blue- & Grey-combination, these 2 pictures?

2 Little doves on a distance of 4 mtrs. from the house. Sitting and 'kissing'
on the rail of our balcony
and...
a new bracelet in my Springtime Collection!
I hope you like it! 

 

 

 

www.angaza.nl

 

There are more "20 Steppers" to visit,
just click on their names, and enjoy their pic's:

Nicole Valentine
Mimi Roy
Shena Meadowcroft
Amy Waldman

Ken Miner

Terri Rodstrom
Marti Conrad

20 Steps Outside my Door

 

There is a lovely cherry tree just a few meters behind the house, in our backyard...
The temperature in The Netherlands, was far to low during a long long period.
But it's finally getting better :-) It's changing, it's time for springtime!!!

We had some sunshine during a few days, and look what happens to the tree.
I't starts blossoming. I love♥ the soft pink color of the little flowers so much,
I hope you like it too... So, enjoy and have a nice week,
with lots of colourful moments!

 

 

I'm a member of a group of Bloggers who will write every Monday about what happens
20 Steps outside their Doors... please follow the links below
to find more pretty pic's♥ and/or beautiful text!

Nicole Valentine
Mimi Roy 
Shena Meadowcroft
Amy Waldman

Ken Miner

Terri Rodstrom
 Marti Conrad

Color Combo Challenge

 

Week 124. 
All those beautiful Blues, I love them!
Here's my small contribution for this week...with homemade
beadcaps and glass beads.

 

A lake, snow on the mountains, a waterfall...

 

Participants of the 7th. Bead Soup Blog Party

 

Look what a wonderfull map Lori made on this rainy day in The Netherlands.
Here you find all the countries the 541 participants are coming from!
Just follow the link below this picture!

♥ all the participant's countries♥



Little raindrops on a rainy day in The Netherlands...