Time for the Button Swap Reveal, a fun challenge organized by the lovely Cindy of Sweet Bead Studio. Grab a partner, swap a small collection of gorgeous buttons and create. I was paired with the talented Rebecca Anderson of Songbirds and received four beautiful handcrafted buttons and a special pair of earrings… adorable Rebecca, thank you :0) I apologize for not taking a before photo of the group, but before I could say “bangers and mash”, one of the buttons was finding it’s perfect spot in a design.

I had recently purchased the download Ebook version of the absolutely incredible Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry Designs book, by Erin Siegel and Lorelei Eurto and had wasted no time to order a few bits and bobs to complete one of the projects. The beautiful artisan, heart shaped button was ideal to incorporate into the project and as usual my favorite sweet little seed beads made an appearance and were stitched together to create the ring of the clasp.  A wonderful project with easy to follow instructions and just my style.

The large handcrafted, ceramic button was screaming to be a dead center, focal… it really is large.  A few knots here and a few knots there, a few strips of Greek leather, Irish linen and stunning pink seed beads and my second creation was complete.  This design just kind of happened, no real direction at the start, just went with what felt right… I love how it turned out.

I now have two buttons left from Rebecca’s button swap and after staring at them for over a week, have yet to come up with a design that I’m happy with.  I’m not one to rush things and so will wait patiently, inspiration will come when I least expect it, it always does…

A huge thank you to Cindy for organizing this wonderful and original Button Hop and to Rebecca, who send me a real handful of goodies. Now go, go and enjoy the rest of the participant’s creations :0)

Alice Peterson  and Kim Bender
Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove
Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame
Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren
Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen
Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman
Cat Kerr and Heather Powers
Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic
Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm
Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston
Christine Stonefield and Dana James
Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud
Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner
Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson
Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney
Dana James and Christine Stonefield
Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz
Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson
Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski
Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage
Heather Powers and Cat Kerr
 Holly Westfall and Sally Russick
Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano
Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak
Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier
Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison
Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip
Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe
Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata
Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman
Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka
Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano
Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars
Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk
Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven
Kim Bender and Alice Peterson
Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps
Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers
Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede
Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley
Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor
Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino
Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett
Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto
Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca
Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers
Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins
Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs
Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter
Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler
Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen
 Mary Harding and Stacie Florer 
Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell
Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick
Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson
Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer
Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners
Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer
Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson
Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic
Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy
Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas
Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy
Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell
Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson
 Sally Russick and Holly Westfall
Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor
Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson
Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya
Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel
Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone
 Stacie Florer and Mary Harding
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Sue Hamel and Terry Carter
Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne
Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle
 Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne
 Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey
Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque
Terry Carter and Sue Hamel
Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin
Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov
Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan
Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

Resist and not take part in this challenge, I think not! When I spotted the Wrapped, Stacked and Layered Bracelet Challenge I couldn’t believe my luck. I adore creating bracelets and to create a bunch of them, that work in harmony, is right up my alley. I will actually be vacating in the Bahamas on the day of the big reveal and therefore this blog post was written before my departure, My plan, to push the “Publish” button on the big day. So, hopefully you will be reading this and my plan has worked :0)

Naturally I had to include my sweet little seed beads in this challenge and so first off, I created this leather bracelet using my dainty beaded beads in a rich shimmering purple. This design is not for the faint hearted… took me bloody hours to bead all those beaded beads :0)

Second in the line up, a simple, natural bracelet to divide the bright colors of my bracelet stack. I added the lone green bead to add a little rebellion to the design. My daughter calls this one “Dare to be Different”…

Last, but not least, I created this waxed Irish linen knotted bracelet from a collection of vintage Lucite beads I’d been stashing for quite some time… the perfect splash of color to compliment and balance the purple in the top bracelet.

Ta-Dah!

SOLD

Thank you for visiting and taking a look at my challenge pieces. I apologize for not including all the links of the other participants, I was unable to add them to this post using my IPhone… will add them when I arrive home. Thank you to Tracy for organizing all of us… a brilliant idea for a challenge.
Warmest hugs, Em ♥

Whatcha think? After creating this decorated cab, I’m not sure how to finish off this beauty. Shall I design a bangle, connect it to a dainty copper chain? Thoughts anyone? It measures just over an inch.

Alrighty then, off to pack for our family trip to the Bahamas. A week on a boat, just the four of us, I can’t wait. A time to connect with the kiddies again and be really cool parents. Time to drink cocktails, scuba dive, kayak and just splash around in the ocean.  This trip will be bitter sweet, a trip to create special memories.  My Navy husband is off to the Middle East for a year in early July.

I haven’t forgotten the “Wrapped, Stacked and Layered Bracelet Challenge” reveal on the 21st. My bracelets are complete, my blog post is written and I intend to push the “Publish” button while sitting in the sun, sipping my Banana Daiquiri :0)
To everyone attending Bead Fest Spring, hope you have loads of fun. Warmest hugs, Em ♥

Giving myself permission to step back, chill for awhile and further explore the marvelous world of beads, has opened up time in my life to participate in some of the wonderful challenges and blog hops that my fellow beaders offer. I couldn’t resist the Mini-Charm Challenge over at La Bella Joya. The challenge, to create a charm using Marcie’s instructions in Beadwork Magazine. These little beauties are what I came up with and I love ‘em. Great pattern Marcie :0), easy to follow and just delightful to stitch… thank you. Pop on over to La Bella Joya to view the other beautiful designs in this challenge.

Happy Easter everyone. Warmest hugs, Em ♥

The Fredbean’s Nook shop has closed for a little break. Do you ever get the feeling you’re traveling on the wrong path, in the wrong direction? I’ve been experiencing these niggling thoughts for some time and decided it was time to address the situation. I’m not a mass-producer sort of gal. To create the same design day in, day out is not what I’m all about and it actually makes me feel quite flat. My goal, in 2011, was to attend craft shows, obtain wholesale accounts, but as I was moving in this direction, my creativity seemed to fall by the wayside. I thought this was the next step, the un-written law, to build a successful business. What I let slip, ALWAYS stay true to myself. Maybe this is not the direction I’m destined to go and after much thought, it is not the way I intend to move forward.

So here I am, working quietly in my studio again, happy, content and on a different path that is just delightful. My focus now… writing a book, teaching classes, submitting creations to magazines and filling my shop with “one-of-a-kind” pieces that inspire me, that capture my creative spirit, it’s as simple as that :O)

With contentment comes energy and I actually made myself a pair of earrings yesterday. It makes me laugh that my personal jewelry stash doesn’t include many of my own designed pieces. My small collection embraces other talented artisans though and my favorite pieces are this gorgeaus bracelet by Erin Siegal and a flower necklace by Maryellen Kim… just lovely.

On another note, what with Picnic closing and Google Friends Connect not available on WordPress, I’m in slight panic mode. Any suggestions… any new editing programs out there, any sneaky ways around the whole Google Friends Connect predicament?

Warmest hugs, Em ♥

It’s pretty amazing that being a seed bead lover for rather a long time now, I’ve never, ever tried bead embroidery. Maybe a little intimidated, maybe just stuck in my own little style, whatever the reason, it just felt the time was right to give it a whirl. I ordered the cab and all the fun bits and bobs and set off on my stitching journey and came up with this…

I’m loving it already… a simple design, but not bad for my first attempt :0) Anyhoo, it was while I was attaching the last few beads that I came up with a fun project. What about if I stopped here and sent it on to someone else who could add the edging, add their own personal touch and either send it on again or finish the whole necklace. What do you think? Anyone up for the challenge? I only ask that you show me the results on your blog. Let me know if you are interested and I will send it off on it’s own merry way to your home.

Hope everyone is having a cozy, relaxing day… it’s chilly here. Warmest hugs, Em ♥

It’s Monday morning and time to announce the winner of the “Guesstimate” giveaway. After a fiddly 20 minutes, separating the little beads into groups of ten, counting and recounting, I can conclude that there were 523 seed beads in the jar.  Congratulation to Kim who guessed 600… not far off at all :0)  Kim, if you can go ahead and E:MAIL me with your choice of color and contact details, a pair of Class Hoop Earrings will be in the mail to you asap.  Thank you once again everyone for participating.

On a different note, how ’bout them Broncos??? We are huge fans in this household and last night was definitely an adrenaline rush.  And, the icing on the cake, we ‘re off to Gillette Stadium next Saturday to watch Tim and Tom… GO Tebrow!!!

Have a great week everyone. Warmest hugs, Em ♥

The New Year 2011 Giveaway was such a success and a whole load of fun, I’ve decided to celebrate 2012 with the “guess how many sweets in the jar” game once again :0) Just give an educated “guesstimate” of how many seed beads are in the jar and leave your answer in the comment box below… one entry per person. The winner will be announced first thing on Monday 9th January. A few little clues include; the seed beads are size 15 and the jar is approximately one and a half inches in height.
The winner receives a pair of Classic Hoop Earrings, in the color of their choice… by far, still my favorite Fredbean’s Nook creation!

Good luck and wishing you all an inspirational,magical and healthy 2012. Warmest hugs, Em ♥

I’m here, I promise.  Lurking in the background, reading what you all have to say, just not good at updating my own blog… I really, REALLY must get my act together and write more frequently.  Life is good, busy, but good.  I’ve been dabbling in wholesale the latter part of this year and actually find the whole experience very rewarding… there’s nothing quite like walking into a store and seeing Fredbean’s Nook jewelry displayed in such a beautiful way for all the world to see. Makes me feel that people “get” me, they understand my designs and my love for stitching those tiny beads into yummy creations.

My energy has definitely been directed away from Etsy lately, which I can’t say has been a bad thing. Change is good, doesn’t have to be a permanent, but a little breather aids the mind, refreshes the creative spirit and feeds inspiration once more.  I do have a very personal project in the works and every bone in my body is crossed, hoping that all goes to plan… will let you know if it does :0)

As we move towards 2012, our thoughts often turn to what the new year holds, we have new ideas, new challenges.  My list for 2012 is beginning to take shape and I really do fancy learning a new technique, I think Felting is at the top.  A little Internet searching, a little click on here, a little click on there and a few more clicks led me to this video today… absolutely adorable, makes me want to scoop up some friends and have a crafting day.

I’m sure I’ve seen this magazine out the corner of my eye in Barnes and Noble. Tomorrow I’m off to investigate, but if I come home empty handed, my sweet sister may pity me and send one over from England… thank you Dawn :0)

Anyhoo, wishing you all a safe, warm and merry Christmas, a fantastic New Year and a chocolate filled Valentines… I know, a little early, but as I’ve said before, my blogging schedule cannot be trusted… I’m covering all bases :0)

Warmest hugs, Em ♥

I’m labeling, I’m packing, I’m finally, just about ready, to take all my beaded goodies to Providence. Craftland kicks off it’s 10th annual Holiday Show on Friday, 25th November, 2011 and I’m ecstatic to be a part of this month long show. Featuring handcrafted goods by 200 artists from around New England and the entire country, this is “THE” place to shop for all your handmade Christmas gifts. Located at 235 Westminster Street, Providence, RI, I know where I will be shopping this season :0)

In other news, I’ve kind of gone a little mad with my magazine submissions lately… I’m addicted :0)  Keep an eye out for a selection of creations by little old me in a variety of 2012 publications.  Warmest hugs, Em ♥