The talented Cathie Carroll....

Over the weekend I received my necklace that I won from the Bead soup Blog Party.

It was created by Cathie Carroll.  I was so excited because it is prettier in person!  I love the verdigris elements on this piece.

Check out the "sticks" she created by rolling strips of sheet metal and then adding a verdigris patina.  Another lovely feature of this necklace is Cathie's use of cording.  I can't wait to study it more so I can try something like it.

Please go and take a look at Cathie's jewelry, here.   Her work is amazing. It has loads of texture and I love the way she combines the elegant and simple, with the raw look of metals and patinas.
Thank you Cathie!!!

Give-Away Winner

And the winner is... Jo!  Jo of Jo in Wonderland!  You have won my Grooms bookmark!  I hope you like it!  Use it in your favorite book while your reading!  I made lots of these in a different style a couple of years ago for a craft show and I love them!

I will send you a message for your address.  Congrats!   Thank you for joining my blog and commenting!  XO Laura

~Bead Soup Blog Party~

A big welcome to our hostess Lori Anderson and to my partner Linda of Lindy's Designs.

~Reveal~
and Give-away

My post is a bit long, sorry, if your impatient 
scroll down for the pictures! 

Theme

~TITANIC HONEYMOON~

"Its alright little girl. You go. I will stay." -Daniel Warner Marvin, 

April 15th 1912 

Daniel was just 1 young soul who perished in the Titanic Sinking 100 years ago.

There were 13 couples on their honeymoon when the Titanic set sail. After hitting the iceberg, men made sure their wives were in lifeboats if they could, and kissed them goodbye. The men who got in lifeboats and survived were scorned in society after the sinking. 

Daniel Marvin was just 18 years old when he saved his young bride of  17. 

~TITANIC WIDOW NECKLACE~

I loved working with the beautiful beads Linda sent me!
Click on the pictures for a closer look.

 I had recently been to the Titanic exhibit just before I sat down and played with my soup mix, shades of blue, moonstone, and the frame that I had added a 
tintype picture of the gentlemen, from Susan Lenart Kazmer. 

Suddenly,  it all came together to make this Widow necklace.
As soon as I opened my soup from Linda, I knew I would use
this polymer frame for a focal in a necklace.  

 The iceberg, the cold night, the frigid waters, the men who were lost, the souls forever linked together, all are represented here, in this necklace. 
The moonstone, the deep blue hues of the beads, and the chain all symbolize 
what happened that fateful night so many years ago. 

Everything here is from my soup, 
I only added a couple of beads and bead caps.  

I have an attachment to it now,
after viewing the names of the departed and the survivors on a large wall of the exhibit.  Walking by 100 year old remnants that were brought up from the wreckage, is an experience you must take in if the exhibit comes to your city.  

The iceberg exhibit was the part that stuck with me, a large 10 foot slab of ice in the shape of an iceberg, that visitors touched, hand prints embedded in the ice.  When you place your hand there, you were awakened to just how cold the water was that night, April 15, 1912 

Thank You Linda! 
A special thanks to Lori, for all your hard work on this event and her help and encouragement with my blog.  But wait, there's more ...

~Titanic Honeymoon ~
Grooms Bookmark

Join my site and comment about the 
give-away for a chance to win this bookmark!

For this piece I used the black glass bead, faceted crystal glass, 
and the blue leather, from my bead soup. 
I added the focal connector I made with a reproduction tin type photo and Mica tile.   
I can imagine the groom keeping this in his book.

Quotes relating to Eileen and Dean- both perished on their honeymoon, Eileen was 19 years old.

However, Eileen's effects were retained and how sad it is to relate that she was wearing the beautiful blouse with the little blue anchor when she was found. Her treasured wedding ring was on her finger and the ticket for the voyage was in her purse.

Amid the grief back in Salisbury her mother recalled, "They were so excited about the voyage and their new life together.  I was with Eileen when she was packing her trunk and the last thing she put in was her bible Mr. Pritchard gave her." From Eileens mother.

But wait, there is more!

~Titanic Honeymoon~

Astor Baby Bracelet

In my research, I found 2 babies that were born to the honeymoon 
widows from the Titanic. Baby Astor and baby  Smith

For this piece, I used the blue barrel beads, deep blue lapis rounds, 

light blue raku beads, 
silver beads, leather and white chain.

I went looking for white headpins for the beads
 but couldn't find them in stores. 
So I made spirals on the ends of the beads with white wire. 
I also used some white enamel findings I had in my stash from a 
years ago, when I was purchasing white supplies. 

Baby charm- Nickle silver, mica and tintype photo
  

~TITANIC HONEYMOON ~

Maiden Voyage Earrings

~Clip on Earrings~ 

Clear faceted beads, gorgeous midnight blue

 Picasso finish beads with layered brass findings.

Thanks for visiting Blue Antiquities.  Enjoy the last reveal! Be sure to 

join my site and comment about the give-away for a chance to win the Grooms bookmark!

The winner will be announced on September 1.

Hugs to all, Laura

Here is the link for the rest of the participants, go and check out some beautiful designs! 

And please check out my friend Linda here, my bead soup partner!

Blue Antiquities Give-A-Way
and How to Join my Blog

Join my site (follow my blog) by clicking on the "Join my Site" blue button on the right sidebar. Sign in with your existing email account or create a new email with Google. Use this email to follow any blog you like. 
Once signed in, leave a comment 
about the give-a-way and enter to win 1 of my pieces 

I have created for the Bead Soup Blog Party!  

You will find out what it is on 

August 25th.

 It could be a necklace, bracelet, 

or maybe it isn't jewelry at all!  

Thank you! Laura 

Email me if you need help joining my site, lkguen@comcast.net

Drawing will be Saturday September 1, 

good luck everyone!  Laura  

What I have been Doing!  

I have been busy working with my new enamels and preparing to open my Etsy Shop.  Here is what I have been working on.  It is so fun to have new colors to play with!  I am working on some new techniques that the wonderful Barbara Lewis has taught me.   I hope you like them.  It seems it is taking forever to get my jewelry done, photographed and listed.   I need a clone! 

The FIRST Reveal has arrived!  Click on Lori Anderson's link below to view the participants creations! 

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

Have fun! There are some beautiful designs to see! 

Bead Soup Ingredients

Who doesn't love soup? 

You can add so many different ingredients to soup to make it tasty.  Add some spices to make a zesty flavor.  Add salt for a soup that is bland.

 You can load it with heavy ingredients to

  make a full meal, or have it on the side to compliment your sandwich.

This is what is so fun about Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!  Each participant will take the soup ingredients sent to them and create their very own soup (jewelry piece ) to compliment the flavor of the artist in themselves.

The challenge has little requirements.  The participant must use the focal bead and the clasp sent to them.  The challenge must be completed by the reveal date assigned.  The artist can add their own beads, make several small pieces   of jewelry or maybe 1 exquisite necklace with zesty colors! Add a bead here, some findings there, how about some spicy color right about...here, oh yeah, this is looking fantastic!   

The artist doesn't have to stick with jewelry either.  

Now for anyone who knows me well, this is my kind of cooking!

I will have a link for all the artists/blogs participating in this event. 

It is really fun to see what everyone has created with these bead soups, even if you don't make jewelry. This Bead Soup Blog Party has over 300 artists!

Our reveal date is August 25th.

Thank you Lori Anderson for creating this amazing event! 

Here are my ingredients for my delicious soup!

And below are the ingredients for my partner in the Beading Kitchen, Linda.

                                     Beads from my partner Linda, this is what I will work with.

                                                             Soup for Linda~ Blue

Soup for Linda~ Green 

Bead Soup Blog Party

Today and tomorrow I am preparing my soup ingredients for the Blog Party. I am very excited to finally participate in this event!  

Meet Linda Younkman, my partner.  She is like me, a mother of 3. 

 . 

She is sweet as can be, and pretty too!  Hi Linda!  

 She also makes wonderful jewelry! The designs that caught my attention are the intricate woven and beaded bracelets with leather and buttons.  I always wanted to do those.  However, I really do not have the patience for it.  She also does a lot with seed beads. 

 I admire anyone who does that, for the same reason. 

Linda loves semi-precious stones and she is learning to enamel the Barbara Lewis way.  She is just starting to pick this up, so I can help her with this! YAY! 

Check out Lindy's Designs here on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LindysDesigns?page=1

Pictures of Linda's Jewelry 

These are awesome earrings!!!

Going to get my ingredients together.  I am going to need a very HOT burner!

Vacation NEWS

Hi Everyone from sunny Florida.  

Well, Debby stormed out of here in a huff.  I began to pout when she didn't leave after I got angry.  

Finally she got the hint!  She took the wind in her sails and got out of dodge.  Well, good riddance! 

That was last Tuesday evening.  Since then it has been wonderful weather.  Wednesday, the ocean was still very choppy and brown, but by Thursday it began to calm down and the beautiful green sea was back.
Ah, yes, this is why we came.

Well, what have we been doing, you ask? We celebrated Andrew's birthday at the pool and on the beach.  He is not the beach bum that his brother is.  More of a pool kid. He had his party in Atlanta, so a mellow day.  Here he is, officially 8...

I will tell you about my time with Barbara and PWF here in a minute.  Next to her shop is Taco Bus featured on Diners, Drive ins, and Dives.  Kevin noticed it right away.  He nabbed some lunch and while eating the tacos he said, "This has the same ingredients as the tacos I make at home!"  Then later, he said, " Wait a minute, that is where I got the recipe, form the show DDD!"  LOL

 Kevin at Taco Bus

The Taco Bus Slogan...Love it!

Okay, now my workshop with Barbara...FUN FUN FUN!

I was jealous of the workers.  I want to get a job there.  I have been teasing Barbara for a long time about hiring me!  Right Barbara?  Anyway, her shop and work studio is just beautiful!  The paint colors she chose, the layout of the store and studio where the torches are, all work out so nice.  It is inviting. and comfortable.  When you walk in, you instantly want to find out what Painting With Fire is all about!  The buzz is starting to build about her place and she already has a full class ready and waiting.    Really, her place is wonderful.  I had a great time visiting, I enjoy Barbara's friendship so much.  I loved picking out new colors of enamel, and I purchased sari silk, and copper to enamel.  We worked on plans for my business as well. I am very excited about what is coming for Blue Antiquities!

Here are some pictures I took of her fabulous shop.  

                                                  Fourth Of July Window Display~  Fabulous!      

                                                        Detail~ 4th of July Window display

                                                  Absolutely stunning necklace in the front window

                                                    some of the finished enamel components
                                                               available for sale at PWF
                                                        all done with the immersion technique

                                               lovely banner by the front check out counter

I loved this!

So, we have had some fun. Yesterday we took the dogs to a dog beach at Fort Desoto Park.

It was a beautiful area and park with natural landscape and gorgeous yachts and sailboats with docks and very upscale homes.  The beach had been washed with ugly Debby!  That lady sure is an angry one.  She left a mess. A nice lady we talked to told us normally this beach is gorgeous.  It was not yesterday. The water was brown and there was yellow blobs of gushy stuff from the ocean laying everywhere.  We managed to have a great time anyway.  Bella ran free and in the ocean but didnt go out and swim.  Breyers, well we couldn't let him run free because all he wanted to do...is ride piggy back on the girl dogs!  So, he remained on the leash.  Here is Bella, I didn't get a good shot of Breyers. Bella has lots of sand on her nose.  There were lots of other dogs there.

My 15 year son is becoming a beach bum!  He was supposed to do the sailing camp with the kids with Aspergers.  It didnt work out with the storm. The camp was not offered this week.  But we ended up buying him a new skim board.  He has been skim boarding since he was 5, on the same board.  So, he got a bigger one.  We found a camp for this week. YAY!  This morning he found shark teeth!  He has learned some tricks, (spinning) and they have done paddle boarding.

Shark teeth, Bradley found today

Thats a wrap for today.  I hope everyone stays cool today for the 4th Of July week. Please check back to my blog when you can.  I will be posting soon about my partner for the Bead soup Blog party. I like my partner already!!!  Hugs to all, Laura

Vacation, Debby, Cards

Hello everyone!  Well, we are here in the midst of Debby. It has been a vacation buster for sure.  But, what do you do?  The lodging is booked with no refund.  Debby is hellbent on dragging herself over Florida.  The wind is unbelievable.  On 1 of our Florida trips years ago, we arrived just as a hurricane was downgraded and arrived.  The next day it was gone. The wind is what I remember. So yes, here we are with gusty, knock you down wind. 

Yesterday was Kevins 50Th Birthday.  We made the best of it considering the weather.  We ate at a place right across the street.  He really enjoyed all the cards.  He has a soft side, a gentle heart.  Thank you everyone for sending them!  We received 34 cards. That was awesome.  i told him he could pretend his was 34 again! He only got 1 duplicate. Here is a pic of some of them...

One of the nicest cards came from my sister Kelley...

And so many funny cards, he loved them!!!

these were especially funny, from nieces, 

Annie and Michelle on the Guenther side 

Thank You again, the cards made his day! 

i will leave you with a picture of Florida's coast with Debby...

Check back soon.  i did bring some jewelry making supplies, 

and that is what i have been doing while Debby is visiting.

I will be opening my shop in July.

hugs to all, Laura

Vacation~ Florida

Hello Everyone!  I am so happy about our vacation!  We head out tomorrow.  We did not travel last summer, so this is a needed family trip! We are going to the Tampa/St. Pete area for 2 weeks! Yep, 2 weeks!  I have several things I am looking forward to besides sitting on the beach looking at the ocean. Here, I will tell you.

My husband Kevin is turning 50!  Since we will not be at home or going back to our home town for a party, I have arranged for people to send cards. I am hoping for 50 cards!  They are being sent to my friends house. I pick them up tonight!  

Okay, so another exciting thing,  my son Bradley is taking a camp called Camp Awesome. It is a sailing camp for kids with Aspergers. He will go for a week. So far, there are 7 boys in the group going each morning for 4 hours. He will learn to sail, and be around kids like him.  So excited for him!

Okay, Next up.  I am taking a workshop with the talented Barbara Lewis! 

I get to see her new shop and learn with her. I also get to meet Carol, and we are doing a top secret 2 day workshop. Whoohoo! This is fantastic, I tell you! 

 And last but not least, Olivia and Andrew are so happy we are bringing our doggies with us! We are glad we dont have to leave them for 2 weeks.  I hope they do okay.  Bella, the smaller one, will be fine.  But Breyers, our pretty coated boy dog, he has issues, from being abused.  He is a rescue dog.  We shall see.

Watch for my blog posts on the trip, if your interested.  Hugs to all.

Laura 

BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY

OH Wow, I am very excited to join Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party! I have long admired the jewelry and the celebration that comes from this event!  Finally, I can participate, now that I have a blog. Whoohoo, that's what I am talking about!  Thank You Lori! 

I decided I would take on Lori's suggestion of writing a post about how I started creating jewelry.

It was out of need! Ha! Really, My husband and I were seriously getting rid of a big junk of debt.  We let the credit cards get too much on them! So, we were very thrifty for years until this debt was gone. Once it was gone, wow what a relief!  So, how does this pertain to making jewelry you ask?  Well, it's called Christmas.

I came across some pretty glass beads at the craft store and thought surely I can make earrings (Christmas presents) out of these! I did.  I had a pliers but my wraps were terrible! I looked at 1 of my earrings and just twisted it so the bead would stay on! I ended up with earrings...be it shabby wire working!  HA! It couldn't be too bad, because my sister says she still wears them.  I guess my wire held the bead on, amazing! 

From there, I kept my interest up and began "the bead buying".  But not on a credit card! 

I finally figured out that I needed to read the instructions on "the basics of jewelry making"!   I know...

A brilliant mind.