Love My Art Jewelry giveaway x 2 and a glimse of my sweet friends awesomeness!

Okay so you all know that I love handmade and would love to have any of the pieces that any one of these artists have made so I am here to tell you once again that I think you should check them all out and yes there is a giveaway too!

Love My Art Jewelry: A giveaway x 2: by MaryAnn Carroll To celebrate our Art Spark theme of gratitude we have two wonderful donations by two wonderful designers. That mea...

Now before you go over I would like to tell you all about Erin @ Treasures Found.   I met her through her blog and frankly I was totally amazed.  First her writing is captivating and really tells her story in ways I wish I could sometimes write.  Then there are her outstanding creations in jewelry that also tell so many stories.  WOW just look at these pieces she just posted about working with Girl scouts and teaching them about embossing!

This is not all of what she does.  She is so supportive and provides in site and inspiration to me even though she doesn't work with seeds.  I am so lucky to have her take a few minutes to give me a boost or offer a suggestion.  Right now she is also hosting "Challenge of Color".  I almost missed getting involved this time.  Whew she squeezed me in.  I participated in her last challenge you can see here.  I had so much fun and I plan to again this time!

But that is not all.  She started a venture a while back that has me in awe every time I see these little treasures.  "Simple Truths" are her spectacular creations and honestly you have to go and look at all of them.  She has a way of capturing your feelings and true soul with them and I guarantee you WILL fall in love with one or all of them.

Here are a few of my favorites.

So that is my little bit for the day.  And as she always says "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." ~ Anonymous

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Vanishing Pearl: Fan Page Giveaway!

Vanishing Pearl: Fan Page Giveaway!: After much deliberating, I have decided to give away a piece of jewelry for my 150 Facebook fan page celebration. I am at 144 likes right no...

Now I tell you all this because I think this girl is awesome! She did a spectacular destash in OTTBS a few weeks ago and I am just getting around to tell you all about it... Shame on me! This is what I was lucky enough to receive.  (with a little help from a dear granny pants wearing friend!)

Also I have to tell you I am so going to try and make this!

You all know I love using hardware so this is so totally up my ally!  She posted the tutorial on her blog here. Tamara is not only generous but incredibly sweet and even though I am old enough (just) to be her mother her beading skills are beyond her years.  Please stop by and check her out!

On a much more personal note I have to tell you that my sweet Buddy has started Kindergarten!

Ain't he just the cutest!  I am having a bit of a time getting used to all the changes going on here with my sweet girl in College and Buddy in school now and I have been volunteering during lunch at his school (boy those little ones can keep you hoppin) so changing up my routine is also a big adjustment.  Hey why is it that when the kids go off to school everyone thinks you have so much more time on your hands?  There is still all the housework to do.  I have also been working on the most gorgeous Trellis Rope with the WORST 15's I have ever purchased!  I would scrap them but the color is perfect so I am struggling with it.  We will have to see how it works because I will tell you right now the pattern is sooooooo not the problem.  Anyway that is a glimpse into my craziness at the moment.  Stay tuned because tomorrow...YES tomorrow I will be posting a great review on another pattern I have completed!

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Giveaway Alert!

Still a bit out of it but I thought I would share this one with you!

Hugs and Blessings
KK

Quick post containing Giveaway info and a thought, I know I said it was quick!

First let me tell you about my friend Amy.  She had an awesome opportunity to shop at a closing store (collective tears here as we hate to see any shop close) and hit the mother load.  Her blog is Spyder Jewels and I love it!  She posts her creations, both quilting and beading and I love them both.  Please go check her out and show her much blog love!  Here is just a same of what she is giving ( ME I Hope!)

See why I WANT!

Also I had a thought yesterday ( okay just stop giggling right now it really does happen )  I was curious about whether or not the non seed beaders out there who like the look of it would be open purchasing their favorite pattern/beads and then having someone else make it for them for a small fee?  What do you think?

My sweet hubby has planned some cool staycation activities for us over the next few days so I will be back on Tuesday to check up on you all!  Happy 4th of July and a belated Happy Canada Day to all my sweet Canadian friends!

Hugs and Blessings

KK

More Great Giveaways!

I am hooking you up again today with the first of three awesome giveaways.

Mortira over at Inspirational Beading has put together another incredible mix of beads and paired with an abundance of gorgeous seeds you really need to check out!  I had totally missed it until this morning!  I so love her blog and her Bracelet a Week posts!

Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio and Lori at Pretty Things are both having...........

Yep you guessed it an incredible giveaway from their trip to Bead and Button!  You have to check out what they are giving away and yes yes yes WATCH the video!  I loved hearing the voices to these lovely ladies that I have followed it was truly a gift to hear their excitement and exhaustion!  Thank you both for that!!!

Still hectic here but the countdown begins!  

3 days til Derek's Preschool graduation

7 Days til his 6th Birthday

AND

10 Days til my sweet sweet Shelby Graduates from High School!

I am such a proud Mom!  However there are still presents to get.  Decorations to decide on.  Food to order.  House to clean.  And lets not forget Father's Day is Sunday!  Just in case there wasn't enough to throw in the mix!

Hugs and wish me sanity!

KK

UPDATED!!!!Just came across this fantastic Blog! AND Bead Ninja's unite!

I popped over to Lana's blog just to see what she had for a giveaway and I am hooked! She is a miss talky like me and she is also having a fab and I mean FAB giveaway. You have to go check it out right now and make sure to take a few minutes to read she sounds like someone we should all get to know!

somethinguniquebylana: Blog Love..Fav Etsy Shops & A Giveaway.......: "Finally I Can Share The Love.......... I have been wanting to do this for quite some time now but with everything that has been going on in..."

Oh I am calling a meeting of the Bead Ninjas!  We need to head over to Amy's and raid her stash right now!  I am so wanting to play with all the glorious beads she obtains! And she is having a giveaway!
somethinguniquebylana: Copper Diem PIF Giveaway.......: "Amy over at Copper Diem received a gift in the mail and to PIF she is having a Generous giveaway!! Just hop over to her blog  for all t..."

I am trying to keep up with all of you and my crazy life right now so if I miss something you know I should see shoot me an e-mail and I won't miss it.  Hugs to all of you and after next Saturday I should be back to just normal craziness!

Hugs

KK
Okay I also came across Kate of Tropical Blonde and she is amazing with polymer clay!  She is also having a giveaway that I sooooooo want to win!
How I came across her is my sweet friend Laura at Little Treats and believe me there is nothing little about her treats!  She is a superb seed beader and a sweet girl too!  She is also having a sweet little giveaway!   
AND
Nicole over at Beadwright is giving away a really awesome book!  Go check out the review and enter!  If she says it's good you will so want it!


BTW I want all of these so if any of you win I will be stalking!  LOL!

You Have to check these giveaways out

A CRAFTY WORLD: My Giveaway Announcement (Watercolor Impressions P...: "This is it...my promised giveaway!!! There's so much to celebrate that I figured it is about that time again to have a giveaway.... First..."

A gorgeous pendent!!

Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs: DIY Glass Image Art ~ Giveaway!: "DIY Glass Image art ~ Giveaway! Through the summer a big part of our road show is Glass Image Art ~  We are now offering DIY (Do it yourself..."

 A DIY glass kit!   I Wants it!

Go ahead and check I will wait.................................

Did you enter? I love Penny and Melinda's work and once again I am adding it to my temper tantrum stamping feet I WANT wish list.  It is also a blast to read how they get to the finish on her projects. I may have offended them as of late with my silliness so I truly want to make it up to them! 

 

So yesterday we, and when I say we I am meaning the entire preschool class..of 29.  Yes both the morning and afternoon class went to the Strong National Museum of Play.  This is not your ordinary museum it is literally a museum of play.  You would have thought that we never let our children out to play EVER.  They went nuts!  Nuts in a good way like when we all go to a bead show and get over excited never knowing where to start.  They also have a butterfly conservatory with is small but awesome.  I felt like a little girl watching all the butterfly's flying inches from my head.  It was awesome BUT if you have never visited a butterfly conservatory attached to a museum of play let me give you a couple of tips.  Visit the Butterfly's first especially if it is 93 and humid beyond normal outside.  The butterfly's are kept in a very tropical environment and you will roast and you also have been running around the museum and then have to get on a hot hot hot school bus for a 40 minute ride home and even with ALL the windows open the air is still hot!  You will look much like a melted version of yourself and come home to hopefully a beautifully air conditioned house to melt on your couch for a couple of hours.  So visit the butterfly's first and don't go on a bus if you can help it.  Got it?  I would have some pictures but hey they are on my phone and I have to use a cord to upload them.  Remember not puter savvy? Also by the time I figure it all out I HAVE to Volunteer at school today so then there would be no post and I so couldn't do that to Penny or Melinda.  Remember them at the top of the post?

Hugs and Blessings

KK 

Validations

I know today is Valentines' Day and I hope you are all surrounded with the love you deserve but (this is where my title comes in) What is the meaning of this day?  Do you really need candy, flowers and cards?  Not really I think we are all looking for validation.  I think we all want to know and feel that we are loved and values by those we love.  I think we all need the validation that we matter.  So this year instead of the "stuff" I am validating my family with my actions today and everyday.

The idea for this post came to me when I realized it would be my 100th post.  OMG have you all listened to me that long?  I was pondering what this blog means to me, why has it become so important.  Well that is when 'validation' popped in.  I started this as a way to validate my creations and see if I could be a part of this community.  I wanted to share my love of my family and the joys and trials and to know that I am not alone.  Boy did you all deliver in a big way.  I can't believe how welcoming and supportive you all are.  You make each other smile, offer advice, rally when one is in need.  I have made some of the most cherished friendships I ever though possible.  I have been so lucky to have this beautiful garden of friends in my life.

Can you picture my garden?  Here let me help a little by describing my flowers....

There is the gorgeous purple one that has changed the tape recorder in my brain.

There is the bright orange one who is helping my spirit soar.

There is the twin pink ones who bring smiles and laughter to my day.

There is the variegated yellow and cream one who reminds me to look deeper, remember and challenge me to be a better me.

There is the pretty red one who gave me the courage to put my art out there.

There is a new blue one that reminded me that "I am enough".

There is a grouping of teal ones that I keep close when I am troubled.

And there are the fillers that blend together to create a complete and beautiful support group that I count on.

Do you see yourselves?  You should because every one of you makes my day.  That is why I have spend the last few days not only pondering the post but catching up with all of you.  This is important to me because I want to make sure you feel as validated as I do.  I still have a few to catch up on but I am going to get there for sure.

So if you have listened to my babble this far I do have a reward for you if you would like it.  These need a family and although I love them I can't seem to make them into what they deserve.  Do any of you want them?  Yes I am having my first giveaway!  To Pay it Forward and to tell you all how much you matter to me.  I will draw names on Friday the 18th most likely in the evening.  Are you in?

Hugs and Blessing to all of you!

KK

A giveaway to hop on a plane for!

Look at these beauties.....

My best chickie friend Juls @ Julsbeads is actually parting with some seed beads.  This is a super pile of overthetopgoodness that I WANT!!!!!!!  I am only telling all of you this because it may increase my chances to get these goodies!   And if you say my pathetic stash from a couple of posts ago you know I so need them! (Did I guilt any of you?)  If I could I would hop on a plane right now and snap up those sweet babies myself (oh and get the chance to visit with Juls of course oh wait maybe I will just go visit her that would be better than anything!)

Good Luck everyone!

KK

Giveaways!

Sorry it has been a very busy few days but I wanted to let you know about 2 great giveaways going on!

This is Marcie's giveaway at Labella Joya and while I would love any one of her creations I do not wear headbands so I am telling all of you about it!

Isn't it stunning! Please go and enter and also check out her great holiday sale going on!

Also guess what Artbeads is having a fantastic giveaway so just click the link and enter!  Who wouldn't love $100 of free beads!

I will be catching up with all of you tomorrow as right now we are off to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws before they leave for the winter.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded with Love!

Hugs and blessings to all!

KK

Don't read this because I want these all to myself

As the Queen, Empress, President and CEO of Julsbeads fan club( stalker too but that is just between us OK) I am obligated to post the Awesomest Giveaway she has posted.  Now I am hoping that you will all realized that I want to be one of the 3 (yes 3) winners of this fabulishousness and that you just can't find it in your heart to deny me these and choose not to enter!  But in case you are just as selfish as I am LOOK at these pretties!

Let me tell you also that if you have never had one of her beads in your hot little hand you are so missing out!  These are of the highest fairy peed on quality to come out of a shiny little shack eva!!!!!! So once again please do not click the link, do not post your desires and do not tell her that I am stalking her!  That is supposed to be between us!

Two Fantastic Givaways and an Invitation

I need to post these two great giveaways so here it goes...

Lori over at Out of the Flames is giving away a sweet little package and it includes the cutest of cute bat that I so want!!!!  She has a lot of fun and sweet beads over there and you really need to check her blog out!!  Seriously check it out!

Next is Amy over at Copper Diem.  She just posted her 'First Friday Giveaway' for October!  She made these gorgeous clay beads in one of MY favorite color combinations.  And she has a great blog too.  I love her 'Window shopping' and "Palette" posts!

Oh I just joined this great site called CreatingTheHive you can join too by clicking on this link I think it will be loads of fun!!!

http://creatingthehive.com/signup/windyrockbeads

Sorry this is such a short post but we had a field trip to the Apple Farm today and I am exhausted!

Hugs and Blessing to All

Kristen

Has it really been that long? and PSST another great giveaway

I can't believe that I haven't posted in a week!  Actually I can cuz we have been so busy here I haven't been able to catch up on what my blogger friends have been up to (I'll be there soon I promise!).

First..... I promised I would post this great giveaway Amy is doing over at CopperDiem.  She won some really cool Halloween beads and is now paying it forward with some added extras!  How Sweet is She!  Please check her blog out!

Second... OMG How cool is this!  I won the comment contest over a Beadwright!  Nicole has been such a good friend and supporter and now she is sending me more gifts!  You all know I will post these treasures as soon as I get them!  Nicole you have no idea what you mean to me and I treasure your friendship beyond words!

Third.....YEAH!! After 5 tries on making a bracelet that was inspired by my Mystic vacation I finally found what I was looking for in a Cellini Spiral!  I so love this pairing!   The drops make it feel like butter on my wrist!  I also love the color but ya know it is not easy to match this aqua!  I bought the drops in Mystic and found the 11/0s at the bead show.  The 8/0s were left over from another project and I used 15/0s to keep is on the small side!  The shirt I had originally thought of using is too green so I found this one on the clearance rack (YIPPEE) to go with it!

Oh and as I snapped the picture Smallus Handus appeared in the photo.  (See Belinda it happens here too ok and he does like to play with beads but I usually get them back!)

Well Shelby starts her SENIOR YEAR tomorrow!  I cannot believe how the time does fly.  She also had her first job interview yesterday!  We did all the school shopping this past week as Michael took 6 days off.  Derek starts Pre-K next week so there is a little break between both of them being gone to school.  I may use that time for making bracelets (or more likely cleaning) we'll see.  I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Hugs

Kristen

Oh Yeah My silly feet got a pedicure!  No pic though sorry!

You just gotta see this giveaway!

I can't even give words to this giveaway it is truly a gift to the winner!

Check out Maria's site and help her celebrate her anniversary!

Check out this giveaway!

This is the first time I have posted a giveaway so I hope it works!  I so love sand dollars and these are so gorgeous!  I am not a stringer but I would sure like to incorporate these into a seed bead creation!  Visit Erin's blog for your chance to win (although I hope I do)

Always Believe,
Kristen