REVEAL: HBBH 3 1/2 - A Very Merry UnBirthday Party

Yup, it's another blog hop hosted by myself and my partner in crime - MARLENE CUPO. Here's how we introduced this blog hop...

It’s time to have a VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY PARTY via our extra special HBBH 3 ½ Blog Event! Yes, we are at it again. Just like the "March Hare", the "White Rabbit", and the "Mad Hatter" invited "Alice" to their party, we are inviting you to ours!

We will assign partners, and send out e-mail notifications so you can contact one another and find out what month you each celebrate your birthday. 

So now its FINALLY party time! Time to tear open our gifts!

YEAH, right, did you really think I would wait to open my gift? I ripped that sucker open as soon as it arrived! Heeheehee...

My party partner is Janeen Burlingame. What a sweetie she is! Before we get to the gift she sent let me tell you about the wrapping. She had it wrapped so-o-o beautifully. It came in a very pretty floral bag with ruby-colored organza ribbon. Inside with the gift was a bar of CHOCOLATE, yummy Dagoba Roseberry Dark Chocolate with raspberries and rosehips! (tore that open in a New York second! - munch, munch, munch!) - wasn't sure what "rosehips" was but I ate it! 

She also enclosed a gorgeous card made from handmade paper with pressed flowers..LOVE! The message inside was sweet as well.



OKAY so now I have made all the nice comments that are expected...let's get to the goodies!
INSIDE WAS....

THIS beautiful necklace! Nice, right? The focal flowers are made from carved wood. I'm not sure if she knew, but my favorite style is nature-inspired boho so this was perfect! Turquoise and ruby colored beads (my birthstone!) ALL wrapped in antique silver findings. I LOVE IT. I love the color palette, the texture, the style, and even the weight of it! PERFECT!

Thank you Janeen, I love it, absolutely LOVE it!






So now.
What. did. I. send. Janeen?

Well,  I like to think of myself as a bit of a detective (aka nosey person). Yeah, well ANYWHO I scoped out her online presence, specifically her Pinterest. I found out she likes a certain chocolate. Dagoba's Organic Chocolate, CHAI flavored. Chocolate CHeCk!

Purchased at Abe's Market

And she seems to like Buddhas...well I found some pretty soap and since her birthstone's  Emerald- she was born in May -  I got her the GREEN tea scented ones.  Buddha, CHeCk!

Purchased at Aroma Creek on Etsy

And I also made her a little something- something. In GREEN, CHeCk!

TORI SOPHIA Designs

So that's my story. Go, mingle, meet the rest of our guests. Me? I'm going to see if I can find out what the hell ROSEHIP is! 

Ali McCarthy www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com Alicia Marinache www.allprettythings.ca Anzia Parks www.anzipanzisworkshoppe.blogspot.com Audrey Belanger www.esperianterra.blogspot.ca Cheri Reed www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com Cheryl Dunham www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com Chris Eisenberg www.wanderware.blogspot.com Christine Schlicht http://www.marshellswaps.blogspot.com/p/visiting-bloggers-reveal-day.html Cynthia Machata www.antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com D Lynne Bowland www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca Dyanne Everett-Cantrell www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com Gina Hockett www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com Ginger Bishop www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com Gloria Allen www.gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com Janeen Burlingame http://www.marshellswaps.blogspot.com/p/visiting-bloggers-reveal-day.html Joana Perez Stribel www.facebook.com/lasjoyasdejana Lori Schneider www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com Mary Govaars www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com Mischelle Fanucchi www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com Paula Gaskill www.lovelylaylabugsjewelry.blogspot.com Renetha Stanziano www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com Robin Reed www.willowdragon.blogspot.com Sherry Baun www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com Shirley Moore www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com Sierra Barrett www.giraffecanhas.wordpress.com Susan Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com Susie Harris www.jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com Mowse Doyle www.mowsemadethis.blogspot.com Cindy Muse www.facebook.com/mritech813 Ellie Grossman http://www.marshellswaps.blogspot.com/p/visiting-bloggers-reveal-day.html Marlene Cupo www.amazingdesigns-Marlene.blogspot.com Shelley Graham Turner YOU ARE HERE!

Quiet here...but NOT REALLY!!

 

 

I know it might seem like things are quiet around here but NO, not really!!

I have a new project for those who haven't heard.

JILLY's BEAD POSSE!

 

 

Its a fundraising group of fellow jewelry designers, artists and women who just love BEADS!

 

Long story short I received donations of LOADS of purple beads to make earrings for the "Walk to End Alzheimer's". (see links at the bottom if you DO need filling in!)

 

I then asked friends and family to get on board to assist me in my efforts. TO DATE, we have 70 members, 136 donated jewelry items (valued at over $1800) and a new website, http://www.jillysbeadposse.com. (and we aren't even a month old yet!)

 

 

All this has me on my toes, working 10+ a day on the project, but loving every minute of it!

 

So now YOU know...things have NOT been quiet around here!

 

 

Here's some more information :

http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/2013/02/sneak-attack.html

http://torisophia.blogspot.com/2013/03/help-wanted-calling-all-purple-people.html

http://torisophia.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-walk-to-end-alzheimers.html

 

 

 

REVEAL: Holiday Bling Blog Hop 3 - Feb/March 2013

Its here, REVEAL DAY for our third round of Holiday Bling Blog Hop (or HBBH3) which I am hosting along with my partner in crime, Marlene Cupo of Amazing Designs. 

Here's how it worked:  Those who signed up to participate were partnered up. Partners then decided what they'd exchange – could be handmade ornaments, jewelry, decor, whatever – it just had to be Holiday themed. We provided a list of holidays for the months of February/March.

My partner this round was Catherine King of Catherine's Musings. Together we chose Easter as our holiday.  Catherine sent me a beautiful gift, so pretty, so much work! I will ALWAYS cherish it.  (see link at bottom)

For these exchanges I like to sometimes go outside the box. This time I went back to my old love, mosaics.  I made this Easter frame for Catherine - 

I put my kiln to use and made the individual tiles I used to create Catherine's gift. 

While waiting for the tiles to fire I gesso'd a frame I purchased from Michael's, then painted it creamy yellow. 

Unfortunately I rushed and fired the tiles before they were completely bone dry, here's what happened...

 

Yeah, BOOM!, some pieces exploded! 

 I played with the what was left and came up with a plan -

I painted  each piece with acrylic paint in Easter colors, dry brushed with a little white paint and then sealed them -

Here is a closer look at some of the tiles -

LASTLY,  I glued them to the painted frame. No grout this time. 

 It really is an easy process.  You should give it a try!

Oh, did you want to see what Catherine created? If  you want to see, you will have to visit her blog!  CLICK HERE!

 
And let's also continue on in the blog hop and see what everyone else created!!

Alicia   Marinache           All the Pretty Things

 

Catherine King                Catherine's Musings 

 

Chris Schlicht                  Non-Blogger Visitor to Marshellswaps

 

Cynthia Machata              Antiquity Travelers

 

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell  Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

 

Gina Hockett                    Freestyle Eelements

 

Jennifer Reno                   Musings of a Crafty Jenny  

 

Laura Reed                       Non-Blogger Visitor to Marshellswaps

 

Leanne Loftus                  First Impression Design
 

Lennis Carrier                  Windbent

 

Lori Bowring Michaud    Artfully Ornamental

 

Marti Conrad                    Marti C's Clay

 

Mary Govaars                   MLH Jewelry Designs

 

Renetha Stanziano           Lamplight Crafts

 

Rita/ Toltec Jewels           Jewel School Friends

 

Sandra McGriff                  Creative Chaos!

 

Sarah Goode                       Pookledo

 

Sherri Stokey                      Knot Just Macrame   

 

Sonya Stille                         Dreaming of Beads/ SAS Jewelry Designs

 

Tammie Everly                   TTE Designs

 

Therese Frank                     Therese's Treasures

 

Tiffany Goff Smith              Southern Gals Design

 

Marlene Cupo                      Amazing Designs by Marlene

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: HBBH 3 1/2 - Very Merry UnBirthday

Hey, we thought Punxsutawney Phil forecast an early spring! So why are so many of us still dealing with all that white fluffy stuff, and temperatures only meant for the inside of a refrigerator/freezer? As if this isn’t bad enough, what makes it even worse is the next major Holiday is still a long way off!

Then again, we are in the midst of waiting for the Reveal of HBBH 3. So, what's a beady gal suppose to do with all this time on her hands, especially if it isn’t her birthday celebration time?!

OH WAIT!  That’s it!

All rights reserved to the Walt Disney Company

It’s time to have a VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY PARTY via our extra special HBBH 3 ^½ Blog Event!

Yes, we are at it again. Just like the "March Hare", the "White Rabbit",  and the "Mad Hatter" invited "Alice" to their party, we are inviting you to ours!

We will assign partners, and send out e-mail notifications so you can contact one another and find out what month you each celebrate your birthday.

Then use this Monthly Birthstone chart to make a piece of Birthday Bling for each other.

Now don’t get crazy - the chart is for color reference only. You DO NOT have to use the actual gemstone, but what the heck. I mean if you want to send diamonds and rubies, I don't think your partner will complain! LOL

Signups will run from today to March 8, and finished items should be in the mail by March 25. The  blog reveal will be April 20.


To sign up CLICK here to visit MarShellSwaps and complete the entry form at the bottom of the post.

See you at the party!  Wear your party hat, (or lampshade!) Cake and ice cream optional!