I think it's time for Bead Soup!

Hello and welcome to the Bead Soup Blog Party!  This is the second time I have participated in this wonderful event.  I would like to say a huge "Thank You" to Lori Anderson for all her hard work and organizational skills in putting this event together.  Lori - you are amazing!!!  My lovely bead soup partner is Christina Stofmeel.  She lives in the Netherlands and is a self taught lampwork bead artist.  She teaches classes and has written a couple of books.  Check out her beautiful beads on Etsy.  Yay!  I just received my beads on Thursday evening.  Here is the bead soup I received from Christina :) 



Beautiful lampies in blues and greens

 


Gorgeous hollow bead, frit beads and pebble spacer beads by Christina  

 

Beautiful ribbon, Russian amazonite, Mykanos beads, czech glass beads

As you can see I had a wonderful selection of beads and beautiful colour combination to work with.  The hollow focal bead was a bit of a challenge (in a very good way).  I have never made anything with a hollow bead before and I must confess that it had me flumoxed for a a few minutes.  After studying it a bit longer I decided that it looks like one of those glass buoys you see with fisherman's netting around them. I love anything to do with the sea so I set about making the necklace below. 





"Diving Bell" Necklace

I used the Russian Amazonite chips with freshwater pearls and dangled a teensie seahorse charm and an anchor charm.  The chunky/rustic chain reminds me of old treasures from the ocean.  I wound wire and hammered it flat and then added a brass bead I had coloured with patina and then the gorgeous focal bead.  The chain,wire and charms are beautiful Fallen Angel Brass.

The bracelet below also has a beach theme.  I love the frit beads and the pebble spacer beads.  They are such gorgeous blues and greens.  I paired them with silver spacer beads, freshwater pearls and peanut beads.  The starfish charm is pewter and matches the toggle clasp beautifully. 

"Tide Pool" Bracelet

For the earrings I used Christina's gorgeous frit beads and added flattened Vintaj Brass bead caps.  I repeated the look of the bracelet by using the little silver spacer beads and the tiny czech glass seed beads. 

Sea Urchin Earrings

Thanks to my wonderful bead soup partner Christina for sending me such beautiful beads to play with.  Click on a name below to visit other participating blogs.  Have fun!!! 

Thanks for visiting ~ Karen

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

Another Cup of Bead Soup!

Hello! 
Well it is sad to say that I have very much neglected you dear blog over the past couple of months!  Yikes - didn't realize how long it was since my last post.  Hope that everyone is enjoying the summer and keeping cool!
I am excited to be participating in the 6th Bead Soup Blog Hop Party.  You can find out more information about the blog hop by going to Lori Anderson's blog.  399 people signed up and there are three reveal dates.  My thanks to Lori Anderson who organizes Bead Soup so wonderfully - it is a lot of time and effort on her part and it is very much appreciated! Lori Rocks!! :)
Yay!!  My partner this time is Christina Stoomfel from The Netherlands.  Christina is a jewellery designer and a self taught lampwork artist and her beads are just gorgeous!  Check out Christina's work on Etsy and also on her blog.  I am thrilled to be Christina's partner for my second Bead Soup Blog Hop!  I am looking forward to getting to know Christina over the coming weeks. Stop back and see photos of our Bead Soup soon!  Our reveal date is August 11th 2012. 
Thanks for stopping by! 
~ Karen ~

And the Winner of our Giveaway Is ......

Good Morning! 
It's time to reveal our giveaway winner! First we want to say a big "thank you" to everyone who entered.  We had a wonderful time reading everyone's comments and we welcome our new blog followers.  Random.org was used to draw the winner.  We put in 88 names - minus our one comment - Lol :)  The winner is Kim!!  Woohoo!!  Congratulations!!  Kim if you could please email us with your address at swallowtailjewellery@gmail.com we will send you the earring and necklace set below :) 

We currently have 280 FB fans and will announce another giveaway when we reach 350 fans.  Stay tuned to this page! 
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
~ Karen ~




There were 88 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Kim
2. Alicia
3. Kimberly, Bakin#39; Goddess
4. Despina
5. Quiltingjewel39
6. Shannon
7. Ginger Bishop
8. Lisa Chapman
9. Melinda Orr
10. Tumblestone Handmakery
11. Helen Bowen
12. Pixiloo
13. Penny Neville
14. Shannon
15. Sandra
16. Alicia Coats
17. Kristibasket
18. Patti Van
19. Shannon
20. Sweetrose 74
21. RoEnchanted Designs
22. Shyme
23. Fireflymyst
24. Lorraine
25. Sarah Bunney
26. Pine Ridge Treasures
27. Cheri
28. Kashmira
29. Sweetrose 74
30. Despina
31. Cheri
32. Marla James
33. Rochelle
34. Lisa Chapman
35. Yolanda M
36. Marla James
37. Kashmira
38. Fireflymyst
39. Pine Ridge Treasures
40. Marla
41. Hurrundi
42. Helen Bowen
43. Rochelle
44. Quiltingjewel39
45. Yolanda M
46. Alicia
47. Kim
48. Quiltingjewel39
49. Sweet Freedom
50. Alicia Coats
51. Sarah Bunney
52. Kashmira
53. Patti Van
54. Penny Neville
55. Kim
56. Sweetrose 74
57. Kimberly, Bakin#39; Goddess
58. Dreaminofbeads
59. RoEnchanted Designs
60. Patti Van
61. Shyme
62. Shannon Chomanczuk
63. Fireflymyst
64. Shyme
65. Kimberly, Bakin#39; Goddess
66. Lisa Chapman
67. Sweet Freedom
68. Lorraine
69. Lorraine
70. Helen Bowen
71. Mary Hicks
72. Marla
73. Patty
74. Tumblestone Handmakery
75. Dreaminofbeads
76. Dreaminofbeads
77. Marla James
78. Quiltingjewel39
79. Sandra
80. Lisa S
81. Ginger Bishop
82. J-Lynn Jewels
83. Alicia
84. Sweet Freedom
85. Penny Neville
86. Traci
87. Marla
88. Stepha

Timestamp: 2012-04-19 20:16:45 UTC

Woot! Woot! It's Giveaway Time!!

Hello and Welcome to our new blog followers! We've had a wonderful month with some gorgeous weather.   Hope you have all had the chance to enjoy some outdoor time too.

Exciting news!! We hit 250 fans on our Facebook Page so to celebrate we are hosting a little giveaway. If you would like to win the earrings and necklace in the photo below, here's what you need to do :)

You can enter to win up to 3 times. 
1.  Leave a comment on this post.
2. Share on Facebook and leave another comment on this post to say you shared.
3. Join our blog and leave another comment on this post to say you joined. 

GOOD LUCK!

We will pick a winner with Random.org on Thursday 19th April 2012.

We will post the winner's name on our blog on Friday 20th April 2012.

Have a wonderful day!

~ Karen ~

Yippee! Join us for Bead Soup Blog Hop/Reveal

Hello and welcome to Bead Soup Blog Party!  I am so excited to see everyone's designs.  My blog partner is Helene Goldberg.  She lives in Melbourne, Australia.  Helene has a busy life looking after her mum and her new grandson as well as juggling her own household commitments.  She is a crafty lady - check out her blog - she sews, knits and quilts as well as jewellery making and card making. My beading goodies consisted of two sizes of turquoise beads, two sizes of zebra jasper beads, tiny brown glass beads, silver spacer beads, silver toggle clasp and gorgeous metal flower focal.  I love the flower focal because it is very different from the beads I usually buy.  I haven't designed with silver components for a very long time so I had to venture outside of my sometimes narrow creating box to think of ways to incorporate them with my existing bead stash. This is good!  I like and need to be challenged.  Thank you Helene :)   

Bead Soup lovelies!


Here are my designs.  The first is a necklace using the scrummy flower focal.  I wanted to create a frame for the focal and I love the jingly jangly noise the beads make when you pick this necklace up.


Shabby Chic Rose Necklace

Blue Bear Bracelet

The blue bear bracelet uses turquoise beads, zebra jasper beads,

large silver beads from my stash, brass disc beads and brass bead

caps.  The little blue bear was waiting patiently in my bead stash. I

thought he was ideal for this bracelet.  At first I wasn't sure about

the silver and brass together but I think it works and I won't be

frightened to use that combination again.   

Turquoise Earrings

The turquoise earrings are very simple.  I paired the turquoise beads with a carved bone bead.  



 

After the Rain Bracelet



I used the silver spacer beads in the "After the Rain" bracelet.  They are paired with Czech glass beads, the small turquoise beads and a blue seaglass bead.  I made a simple S hook for the clasp.  The brass is blank is textured and has a scarab attached to it.  

Shabby Chic Rose Necklace

Thank you so much to Lori Anderson for organizing this amazing Bead Soup Blog Party.  She is truly an awesome lady.  Thanks also to my wonderful bead soup partner Helene for sending such a gorgeous selection of Bead Soup to play with. 

Click on a name below to visit other participating blogs.  Thanks for visiting and have fun blog hopping! ~ Karen :)

Hostess, Lori Anderson Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Bead Soup Reveal is nearly here!

Join us tomorrow Saturday March 3rd 2012 for the 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop.  I am so excited to see everyone's designs!

Here are the beads that I sent to my bead soup blog partner Helene Goldberg.  I hope she has had fun creating some jewellery for herself using these goodies. 

Helene sent me the gorgeous beads pictured below. Check back tomorrow to see what I made with these lovelies :) 

Have a wonderful day ~ Karen  

Helene sent me these gorgeous beads

Cakie Fix

Close up of the cakes in my previous post for anyone who needs a cakie fix this morning Lol :) I'm putting on weight just looking at them!   Have a wonderful day ~ Karen

Fun in the sun and a shot of sugar





Osprey with catch of the day

After a week of sun and sand hubby and I arrived back in Iowa to 8F temps.  This was somewhat of a shock since we had been basking in 80F temps all week.  We were in south west Florida on vacation.  Had a great time kayaking in the mangroves, cycling around Sanibel Island and just walking on the beach every day. We saw loads of wildlife, gators, manatees, otters, dolphins, osprey, pellies and loads of seabirds.  Oops almost forgot about the No-see-ums, they certainly saw me Lol.  Now I have to admit to being a bit of a twitcher and have always been fascinated by birds of prey so when this Osprey landed right in front of us on the beach it made my day.  Luckily we had the camera with us and managed to get several good photos.  We also visited Tarpon Springs the Sponge Capitol of the World :)  I had never seen sponges like the ones in the photo before. Some of them are huge. The docks are well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.  There are lots of Greek restaurants and cafes and of course we had to save room for one of the scrummy cakes in the photo!
Enjoy your day ~ Karen

Sponge Vases





Scrummy Cakes and Pastries



They arrived from a land down under!



Hello!  Exciting news! A parcel of beads arrived this week from my bead soup blog partner Helene Goldberg in Australia.  They are gorgeous and I cannot wait to create something with them.  Check out Helene's blog 25 Reasons. I love the silver toggle clasp, tiny silver beads and flower focal.   Helene also sent me a beautiful card and some tags. She also sews and has been busy with her new grandson and looking after her mum. 

I have a few ideas of what I want to make with these scrummies but can't let you in on that little secret just yet :) 





Love the gorgeous handmade card and tags!  Thank you Helene!

Have a great weekend everyone.

~ Karen





Etsy goodies getting the better of me :)

I had so many things that I should have done this week but didn't Lol :)  I found myself caught up with all the lovely goodies in my favourite Etsy shops.  Oh dear .... I got very distracted.  Does that ever happen to you?  Well it happened to me big time this week!  I have beading goodies coming from J-Lynn Jewels, Indian Creek Studios, White Clover Kiln, and Suburban Girl Beads.  Check out their Etsy stores for lots of scrummy eye candy!  Yippee!  Can't wait :)  Will share photos when I get my stash!  I received some gorgeous boro beads from Christina Burkhart this week and am eager to use them in a new design.  Hop on over and check out her Etsy store for more beautiful beads. 

Today I have accomplished over half of my to do list so I'm feeling pretty good about that. I also sneaked in a bit of beadie time and revamped a couple of designs I wasn't happy with.  I added blue and purple freshwater dyed pearls to the embossed butterfly blank and put a regular clasp on it. The filigree butterfly has Czech glass rondelles and cathedral beads. 
Have a wonderful evening ~ Karen :)

A Cup of Bead Soup and Winter Arrives

Good Morning! :)  Woohoo!  I am excited to be participating in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop.  My blog partner is Helene Goldberg from Australia.  Check out her blog 25reasons on our sidebar.  Can't wait to see what beads I receive and have a pretty good idea about what I am going to send to Helene :)

Well we finally got some cold weather and snow!  Yesterday was very windy.  Snow was blowing across the driveway and I had to shovel for the first time this winter.  Pretty good for Iowa!  I took this photo of our screen door this morning.  It has funky snow and ice patterns on it.  So pretty!

Yesterday I received my package from J-Lynn Jewels.  I love J-Lynn's tiles.  The colours on these latest tiles are just beautiful.  Photos don't really do them full justice.  I made some earrings with the dog tag tiles and have two heart tiles to design with.  Aren't they gorgeous? 

Have been working on a design for "Saving 2nd Base" to raffle at their Relay for Life event on June 2nd 2012 in Shelton, CT.  Will be mailing the necklace this week.  If anyone wants to help out with a donation please visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/mysaving2ndbase for details. 

Have a great day!
~ Karen :)