I always enjoy participating in Lisa Lodge's blog hops. Lisa sells us a kit and we create on the theme she suggests. This time it is gentle spring. The colors were soft pink and purple. The first necklace I created used the large pink and small white pearls with the silver spacer beads  for the strap sections. The focal is made with white ceramic large hole rondelles that have pink roses and purple violets. I knew that I wanted to use these flowered beads as soon as the theme was announced.   These are spaced with purple glass rondelles also from Lisa.  The ends  of the center section have silver bead caps and purple fire polished beads. the focal section is strung on wire. A silver toggle clasp finishes the necklace.

I used one of the large pink pearls and embellished it with two hole triangle beads and seed beads to make the focal. A simple pink silk cord holds the pearl. I made a gold clasp from wire for the closure.

Next I made a bracelet from the pink pearls. Pink two hole tiles were used as a base. Two hole pink infinity beads were placed between the tiles. White seed beads and pink bicone crystals make up the embellishment. A seed bead loop and one of the pearls act as the closure for this feminine bracelet that is very spring like.

Necklace number three uses the white pearls with purple fire polished rounds and rondelles. I spaced these with small transparent lilac fire polished rounds. I used two purple glass swirled beads and silver spaces at the center to show off the lapmworked beads which are the focal. A purple stone drop finishes the bottom. I chose a S clasp as the closure. There are earrings to match this necklace.

A right angle weave base is the foundation for this bracelet. The lilac sea glass squares from my kit are the main focus of this piece. Seed bead picots show them off well. Small shiny purple drops embellish the sides. I used a silver toggle clasp for the closure. This bracelet is comfortable and easy to wear.

When I opened my kit the first thing I saw was the pair of lilac curved sea glass pieces. They shouted earrings to me. A white pearl, silver chain, and a shiny purple drop were all it took to make them come alive. These are simple but everyone I have shown them to has wanted them. Thank you Lisa for another fun challenge and hop. To see what the other participants created with the kits they received please go to http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Fern Daggers is the name of this piece. I took a class from Diane Fitzgerald and learned this technique. She had the ferns suspended from a ladder but I chose to do a spiral rope. I added the crystal rondelles for extra sparkle. I also made earrings to wear with the necklace.

Another necklace that I finished at retreat is "Riding the Waves." This pattern was designed by my friend Jean Erickson. She had the waves go all the way around but I like chain at the back so I altered it. This was fun to create and the color goes well with a lot of my clothes.

Spring retreat at my bead group was March 17 to the 20th. This is something I always look forward to excitedly. A whole weekend with other beaders, no cooking or interruptions. Heaven. This time I brought unfinished projects. At the top of my list was this pearl lariat. Back in 2013 I saw The Great Gatsby. When I got home I knew I wanted to create a pearl lariat like Daisy would have worn. I have had the strand done for a very long time but the tassels were not done. I finished it at retreat. Yeah. The pearls came from my husband's Mother and Grandmother. Defiantly vintage. One of the packages  was priced 29 cents. I am proud of my accomplishment.

Here is the third necklace for the I wish it were summer hop. Yesterday did not go as planned so I just finished the necklace this morning. I used the stone rectangles and drops as the focus of the necklace. Spaced between the stones are small goldstone rounds, bronze flowers discs, and orange glass discs. I thought that the bronze flowers gave the necklace some needed punch of color, but did not distract from  nor compete with the stones. There are smoky glass fire polished beads at the ends of both strung sections. I made links from the two colors of orange sea glass drops to be the strap sections of the necklace. The wire I used is magnetic copper. This is one of my favorite wires to work with. It is darker and richer than regular copper wire. The coating also keeps the copper from turning green like regular copper does. I also made the clasp from this wire. Each link is joined by two jump rings. I made earrings from the last two drops. I hope that you like my new creation.

Here is the kit that I received from Lisa Lodge of http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
for today's blog hop. The theme is "I wish it were summer." Aren't the colors yummy? The aqua family is my favorite color to work with. One of the best parts of summer for me is the water. I really enjoy swimming so that is what I used as my inspiration for the first two necklaces that I made.

I used the sea glass barrels, discs, rounds, and fish to look like water. I also used the seahorse and teal glass discs from the kit. I added the pendant, small glass discs, and bead capped pearls from my stash. I like chain at the back of a necklace because it make the necklace lighter to wear and there is nothing poking the back of my neck, so that is how I finished my necklace. I used the two kinds of discs and the sea shells for earrings. I embellished the shells with nail polish and I am very pleased with how they turned out.

The second necklace I called Sea and Sand. The lampworked focal reminds me of the shore. I used two of the lovely crystal rondelles from the kit and two small tan fire polished beads to complete the focal. The gold wire attaches it to a sea glass barrel. Two of the teal glass discs flank the barrel. I had some aqua and white striped small nuggets that looked like water to me and I spaced them apart with tan seed beads. The turquoise bay sea glass teardrops and aqua discs are from the kit. A simple gold toggle clasp is my closure. I have a third necklace almost done that uses the orange stone beads from the kit if you come back this afternoon I will have it posted. Thank you Lisa for another fun challenge. To see what everyone else made click on Lisa's link at the beginning of my post.

Bead It Forward is a cause that is dear to my heart. Jeanette Shanigan started the project to honor her mother who died of beast cancer. It has turned into an international project. Beaders from all over the world stitch squares on a theme. This years theme was   “Space: Out there somewhere, there’s a cure”. These squares are assembled into quilts, shadowboxes, ornaments, and other items. These items are auctioned off and the funds go to breast cancer research. The top pic shows the two squares that I stitched this year. I asked the members of my bead group to participate also. The second pic shows the squares that I received. I have joined in this worthwhile effort of 6 years now. My Mom and sister have both had breast cancer so anything I can do to help eradicate this terrible disease I want to. I just learned yesterday that a friend of mine has breast cancer.