2nd Annual Challenge of Travel Blog Hop - Long Beach Staycation

Once again, I'm participating in the Challenge of Travel Blog Hop.  Last year, I had a blast "visiting Japan".  This year, the theme was the Staycation Edition.  The lovely Erin over at Treasures Found is our gracious hose and you can find all of the other blog participants linked there.  

 This is my gorgeous city, Long Beach, California.  I am surrounded by lovely vintage objects, architecture, and history (and don't forget the Pacific Ocean).  My house was built in 1927 and is a Spanish Bungalow.  There are many wonderful neighborhoods filled with charming Craftsmen, Tudor, Spanish Revival and other classic style homes.  

When  first started making jewelry, I hadn't discovered art beads yet and I would simply create my pieces after looking at classic pieces from the eras I loved.  

Below are some of the more public site of my fair city and my great influences. When Long Beach became the permanent home of the Fabulously Deco Queen Mary, the city got even more vintage clout.  I've stayed at the QM before, and it really is lovely and very vintage.  I can picture someone on the ship wearing one of my creations.   

I've gotten rusty at making the type of jewelry I used to make.  I find so much inspiration from art beads in my current work than I found it difficult to go back to just being happy with my fantastic vintage bead stash.  But, for this exercise, I decided to concentrate on the Vintage and not so much on the Art Beads (although there are a few pieces with resin pieces I have done in the past.  I've included both old and new, mostly because I want to use this exercise as my own inspiration, Incorporating some of the vintage shaped into more modern jewelry using art beads.  We will see where this takes me.

Meanwhile, some work - both old and new - using vintage inspiration. But first, a valid excuse as to why my photos are quite a nice as I'd like them to be.....May I present Sid in my handmade photo booth.  Grrrrr.  Thank you Koolaid Man Sid.  Oh Yeah. (NOOOO)

Here's a VERY early piece I made that was COMPLETELY 1920's inspired (but not a vintage bead to be found).

New piece (that I LOVE) with vintage bakelite, lucite and crystal beads.  

A couple of 1940's Style pieces.  I could wear this style every day and be happy. My vintage stash makes me happy in general.

This is an older 1950's inspired piece that I made for Disneyland's 50th Birthday using vintage beads and a resin collage I made out of old Disney ephemera.

This is the real deal!  Simple yet elegant.

Vintage lucite with a modern twist using a little bird pendant I drew.

And the only pair of earrings I've included.  There are very simple and more 1930's.

A whole mess of vintage and vintage inspired that really should be on the dresser in the boudoir of the Queen Mary Stateroom.

That's my little staycation for now.  I guess I didn't really stay put, I just traveled back in time.  

Please check out the other bloggers listed on Erin's Blog.  There will be many treasures found there, I'm sure.

Lisa

LORELEI'S MICHAEL'S CHALLENGE

Lorelei Eurto  hosts some pretty interesting blog hops.  I just happened to have a trip to Michael's planned when I saw her invite for a Michael's Challenge.  The concept was simple,  Lorelei choose a few "ingredients" and we made things out of them.

Here were the pieces we were all supposed to purchase:

I was able to find all of the items EXCEPT the Owl buttons.  Oh well, never mind, I just added a few things from my own stash and added a pop of red into the mix and here's what I came up with.....

I added a pewter Owl from Green Girl Studios, a brass button and some Japanese cord I had on hand with the Michael's beads to make this piece. The amazing Roger Fojas Photography took the beautiful staged pic of the necklace.  (The bracelet and earrings were not done yet, so you just get my boring photography for those.)

The Bracelet was inspired by the lovely leather bracelets Lorelei has been creating lately.  I found this suede also at Michael's and used some antique Kimono fabric I had just scored at a garage sale.  I also added a red wavy lampwork disc from Serena's Beadery (along with a few bits of the Michael's stash).

For the earrings, I used just two of the Michael's beads (plus these little red beaded beads) and made a simple, but festive pair of earrings.  I even made the ear wires!

To see the other blog hop participants, visit Lorelei's blog for the entire list.


Lisa

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

Hello!

So, Lori Anderson over at the wonderful and inspirational Pretty Things blog had an idea for a Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.  Now, I will admit to being a hoarder of beads (among other things), but I haven't participated in a blog hop for a while because a) I have very little time due to this other thing I love called PreFurred Pet Care and b) I have failed miserably at blog hops in the past.  OK, maybe not failed, but I can't take a decent picture for the life of me and I'm a picky bitch which makes me curl up in a little ball and hide.  Really?  Do I take this THAT seriously?  Apparently I do.  But, I really wanted to participate and I decided I would do it even if it was on a small scale.  If I seriously looked at ALL of my stash I would go back to that hiding ball thing.

Lori's description of this blog hop is this:

"This was one of those blog hop ideas I'm so glad I came up with.  Tons of people collect things and then store them away because they're "too special", "too expensive", or in some cases, you just KNEW you HAD to have it but had no idea what you would ever do with it. This is true for designers with fabric, paper, paint, beads .... you can fill in pretty much anything there."

 So I decided to make it simple and concentrate on a new technique I've been wanted to focus on and use some of the metal I have lying around and really start playing with the art of patina.  I found I had a TON of these beautiful brass leaves from Vintaj.  I don't even remember buying them - that's how old they are (or how forgetful I am).

  I went to town on these.  I pounded, hammered, textured, shaped, played with layers of patina, and wax and LOVED what the results were!  The first three leaves resulted in these pieces.

Bracelet with leather, chain, Genea Beads Genea Wing Ding and lampwork spacer

Light patina by me with Mis Fickle Media rings, Czech glass and waxed  linen.

I got so much joy out of these leaves (not to mention the sheer joy of hitting things with a hammer) that I continued on.

Lovely verdigris (love this color mix - I hope I can achieve it again!) with Czech glass.

Genea Beads Genea headpins with wooly wire and Czech Glass

Miss Fickle Media missficklemedia.rings with indonesian glass and Wooly Wire.

Then I found more metal leaves - this time real vintage pieces with a patina that only needed slight enhancing.  They are so perfect paired with Genea Beads Genea Wingdings and Czech glass.  (Oh, and I had a blast with those messy wraps).

Genea Geneawingdings (again - I adore these!) with vintage patina leaves and Czech glass.

So, these next 3 pieces aren't really beads I've been hoarding.  But, new components I got that were 100% inspired by my experiments with the leaves.  I'm all over interesting metal finishes these days.  Here's some of my not-hoarded inspiration pieces.

 Genea beads wind dings again with Czech glass and AMAZING intertwined metal loops with a fabulous purple patina from Miss Fickle Media missficklemedia.

Some flame torched metal from Gail Grenade-Accinelli, czech glass and glass beads from the fabulous Magdalena Ruiz magdalenaruiz.

Kristy Bowman Designs Metal Clay KristiBowmanDesign with Magdalena Ruiz baubles magdalenaruiz

There are 167 participants in this blog hop!  So, I'm going to shut up so you can start hopping!  I had a blast.  Here's the list.

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish


11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments - YOU ARE HERE!
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict


21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri


31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads


41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts


51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics


61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes


71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork


81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8


91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives


101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa


111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry


121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy


131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations


141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla


151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted


161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Have Fun Hopping and Thanks for Visiting!

Lisa