Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the best for the new year!  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.  Blessings.

Music Monday

New Drawing

HAPPY SALE!

I got an "A" on my midterm drawing!  Hooray!

In celebration, I'm having a sale in both of my shops, petaloazul.etsy.com and colibridesigns.etsy.com.  Everything is 20% off.  Just use coupon code 20OFF.

Oh My!

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post.

Where have I been?  Well, I decided to go back to school and I am taking 3 art classes at the local university.  I had no idea I would be so overwhelmed with projects to complete.  This is taking a lot of my time and it's no easy feat while trying to maintain my house and take care of my kids, lol.  But I'm pushing ahead.

Here's a drawing I did for my drawing class that is perfect for the halloween season.

Recent Listings

Fine silver textured oval links with lamp work beads















Fine silver textured tear drop charms with faceted moonstones















Available here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PetaloAzul?ref=seller_info&atr_uid=0

END OF SUMMER SALE!

End of Summer Sale - 20% off everything in store.

Use Coupon Code - PITYPARTY20

Today through Monday. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PetaloAzul

Honoring Mieko Takahashi Shull and Lucia Gulino, Etsy Metalclay Team Raffle

From Lorena Angulo's blog:

Honoring Mieko Takahashi Shull and Lucia Gulino: Etsy Metalclay Team Raffle

I am honor to be part of the Etsy Metalclay Team and it was in this group were I met Mieko and Lucia. These two wonderful ladies were not only talented but the nicest persons all the time. They always have nice words and a lot of support for all the other members of the team. Their work was beautiful and you could really see how much they enjoyed life and doing what they were doing.

Sadly for all of us in the team, our teammates and friends Mieko and Lucia passed away recently. We are all very sad to have lost two beautiful souls and wanted to do something in their honor. Members of the team donated a hand made charm made with silver, bronze or copper to create two bracelets. The bracelet chains are hand made with fused argentium sterling silver links with custom made taggles for each bracelet. The bracelet is 7 1/4 inches.

We will raffle the two bracelets and all the proceeds will be donated to charities in their memory. The proceeds will be split 50/50 between World Vision (Mieko's favorite charity) and an art scholarship in Lucia's name.

I made one of these beautiful charms, it is the bracelet with the flower toggle in memory of Mieko.

Please help me and my team member by supporting our raffle, you will love to have one of these bracelets. Buying one ticket ($5 each) will give you two opportunities to win a bracelet.

Visit this page to find out more information and to buy your ticket.

Etsy Metalclay Team Raffle

Thank You in advance for your help !

Love,

Lorena ♥

6th Bead Soup Blog Party, 2nd Reveal!

Thank you for stopping by.  Many of you know that the awesome Lori Anderson is the organizer for the Bead Soup Blog Party and this is the 6th event she has hosted.  Thank you Lori, for all your hard work!  This has become such a popular affair that this time around there are 400 participants.  As a result, today is the the second reveal date, of which I am a part.

This is the bead soup I received from my partner Regina Santerre

Please make sure to visit her blog to see what she has created with the bead soup I sent her.

So here is what I made with part of Regina's bead soup:

In this necklace, I used her butterfly (which is magnesite or howlite) as the focal and the rest of the beads are from my stash which include Czech glass, wood beads, solid bronze beads, and metallic bronze leather.

In the second necklace, I used Regina's Red Creek Jasper as the focal, the Green Girl Studios Toggle clasp and the bronze shell beads.  I added from my stash Czech glass, two of my own fine silver rings, sterling silver daisy spacers and solid bronze chain.

These are the beads I had left over and I already have ideas for these.  So I hope to have photos of those pieces soon.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my designs.  Here are the rest of the participants for this 2nd reveal:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 

Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Back Home

We're back home and we had a great time catching up with all our friends. We are settling back into our routine and getting ready for school.  The boys start school on August 8th, so this is our last week to chill.

Below are a few more photos of our vacation.


                                                                      Donna's pool

                                                               Le Creperie

L'Amande Bakery

  

Pho Hanna Restaurant 

I am going through all the blogs to see the first reveal of Lori's Bead Soup Blog Party.  So far I have seen lots of wonderful work.  Can't wait to see them all.

Chillin' In California

My boys and I have been busy, busy visiting friends back home in California.  Here are a few shots of the fun.
                                             Don Pedro Lake

                                                         Yosemite

                                             Terranea Resort

                                             Lake house at La Grange

                                             Legoland Water Park

Great Giveaway Opportunity!

Lori Anderson has an awesome giveaway happening right now.  Check out her blog for a chance to win one of these items:

Bead Soup!

Here's the soup I received from Regina Santerre.  She also sent me a lovely card with the beads.  The Bead Soup Party is so fun because first you get to play with your beads and pick out something for your partner, then there's the anticipation of receiving your bead soup.  I know it's not the best photo, so here's a list of what I received:

Howlite or Magnesite Butterfly

Ceramic Pendant by Birgitta Lejonklou of Sweden

Green Girl Studio Owl & Branch Toggle Clasp

Red Creek Jasper

A string of Aqua Terra Jasper

Bronze Shell 

Chinese Crystals

Lucite Leaves

Green Freshwater Pearls

Our reveal date is August 11, 2012.

Thank you Regina!  Looking forward to playing with these fun beads.

Bead Soup Party

I've been absent here again.  I've had a string of migraines that have me wiped out.  When I'm finally out of the cloud, everything has fallen behind.  So then it's catch up time.  


I'm finally able to sit down here and post about about my partner in the Bead Soup Party.  My partner is Regina Santerre and the following are her shop and blog.  Please visit and take a look at her lovely work.


http://www.rubylane.com/shop/sundancegems
http://reginaswritings.blogspot.com/

I  sent my package to Regina yesterday and she'll be getting it Saturday.  I hope she likes her package.  I'm waiting to receive her package and I am excited to work with what she sends me.


Our reveal date is August 11, 2012.