Challenge of Literature

Welcome to my little corner of the Challenge of Literature hosted by the amazingly sweet, creative and well just down right awesome Erin of Treasures Found!

I was very disappointed in myself that until yesterday (well actually today because that is when I am writing this) I hadn't signed up.  I have participated in every one of Erin's challenges (here, here, and here.) so not to be in this one was lingering in the back of my mine as a failure on my part.  I had so much going on that I totally thought this was out of the question.  HA  It must have been closer to the front of my mind than I had thought. So I contacted Erin and asked (more likely begged) to be included!  Whew I told you she was sweet right!

Last week I had this idea pop into my head and it needed to be tried in beads as soon as I could because the picture was so clear.  As I made the pendant and started seeing how it would look on the chain it struck me.  "Eragon" 

"Eragon" written by Christopher Paolini is a young adult book I read with my daughter when it first came out.  It is about a young man who is destined to find a very very special egg.  In this glorious egg is a dragon.  Yes I do love dragons.  His dragons name....Saphira.  The twist and turns in this fantastical journey kept Shelby and I enthralled for weeks as we read a chapter at a time each evening.  This is also the last of the books we shared together each evening.  Bittersweet memories surround each memory of Eragon and Saphira's story.  

As my piece began taking shape I saw it.  The name fit perfectly.  I saw all the memories, began rereading the story in my mind.  Bittersweet....sadness.....happiness....."Saphira's Tear"  

All the happy and sad wrapped in one.  In the chain I created I see dragon scales and the pendant well I have to tell you I see it all.  What a dragon's tear would look like flowing from those dark eyes along the iridescent scales of her face.  I see all the happy memories of the times Shelby and I shared and the little twinge of sadness that they are gone.

Also I have to tell you that it works amazingly with my version of Nancy Dale of NEDbeads Runway tutorial?  Yes I think so.  If you have ever wanted to try twin beads or have some on hand you should so get this awesome tutorial.  Very easy to follow instructions and a relaxing piece to make.  It has sparked so many ideas for me!  A 1,000,000,000 star recommendation from me!!!!

Thank you so much and please visit everyone to see how they interpreted their pieces.

I am linking you back to Erin for the complete list of participants.

Thank you Erin with all my heart for always inspiring me!

Hugs and Blessings

KK 

Oh a total PS!  I have done it my friends I have opened my very own ETSY Shop!

Introducing.......You guessed it.....Beadwork by KAS!

Echo Creative Club - April and the 6 women who contributed to it!

Okay now friends this is going to be a bit on the sappy side.  I know you are all surprised by this.  LOL  

So I need to tell you about my title.  There are six amazing women without whom I don't think I would have come this far in my journey.  They touch my heart in ways that boost me when I need it and make me think or they have given me the shoulder that I so desperately needed during my down moments.

First there is Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie who with out her totally rock star beads and sweetness for letting me be a part of this awesome group there would not be a reveal at all.  She not only inspires me to go outside my comfort zone with the beautiful beads she sends me she also gives me such awesome feedback that she has earned my friend ship for Life!

Second there is Miss Erin of Treasures Found.  Now she knows that she inspires and she knows that she can make you think but I am not sure if she truly knows how she has affected me personally.  A few posts ago in her blog she talked about breaking out of your shell.  I could not comment at that time because it hit me in such a way that I really ended up thinking about it ever since.  I have cracked my shell many times.  I say only cracked because I have always had a bit of a safety net since I started this journey.  I thought and thought about how to break my shell and so on this particular necklace I did bounce ideas off my safety net but I completed it before I showed it.  This is a first for me.  Not a huge break but still I needed this challenge.  Thank you sooooooo much Erin!

Now the next 3 women are indeed part of my safety net I just told you about.  Each of them has become such a major part of not only my beading journey but life in general.  They are there for everything.  They are the ones I bounce ideas off.  They are there when I need to cry or complain. They are there to inspire me and most of all the make me smile, laugh and fill my life with friendship. They are just there and for that I need them to know how much I truly love them.  Dawn, Nancy and Shirley you are such wonderful friends and I am so lucky to have you!

Now let me tell you about Shannon of Missficklemedia.  A while back we did a bit of a swap and she sent me the most wonderful gifts.  I have hoarded these treasures and pulled them out every now and then looking for the perfect piece to use them in.  She is one of the sweetest women on the planet and if you have seen her creations you know what a gift she has if you haven't you need to get you some of those goodies.

With all that said I will now show you Butterscotch Gift.  Named for all the gifts I have been blessed to receive from these amazing women.

As you can see this is one of Jeannie's Cherry Blossom Pendants, With Missficklemedia Saffron Chain and clasp and the beaded chain is inspired my NEDbeads Runway pattern (which totally rocks by the way!)

Please pop over to check out all the other members creations and if you have a chance send some love to these amazing women I mentioned above.

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Birgitta Lejonklou  http://lejonklou.blogspot.com/
Cindy Cima Edwards http://www.cindycima.com/
Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/
Michelle Buettner http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/
Molly Alexander http://www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/
Shannon Chomanczuk http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Oh I am so in for this one...Are you?

Oh I am so excited about this next challenge of Erin's.  She inspires me beyond words. AND since I am currently confined to this........

Yep 6 week of this gorgeous (NOT) boot!  Whoo Hoo!  I think I can get this done!

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Wikileaks was after me but......

I didn't spill!  The heard me doing the very sad version of the "Rocky" victory dance and the worst sounding "Oh Yeah Baby they are all Mine" song but I didn't spill.  Whew I did only have to wait a couple of hours so I am gonna show what I won!

You all have to know this it so awesome for me!  This actually increases my seed bead stash by 3 times.  I shouldn't have told my sweet hubby though cuz you all know what he said... "guess you won't need beads for a while huh?"  well we'll see about that baby.  You all know this came from my sweet girlie friend Juls @ Julsbeads and I will tell you I was feeling a little guilty for entering the giveaway because she is such a good friend to me I never want to take advantage of that.   I am so excited though I nearly fell down the stairs while I was rushing to get the house clean in anticipation of these beauties coming.

I also got a fabulous pattern by Sabine Lippert @ Try to Bead and let me tell you this is not only a gorgeous bracelet designed by a very sweet woman the instructions are flawless!  I read through it the first time and understood every step and the step by step pictures are amazing!  I unfortunately ran out of the beads I was using for my first version but with the help of an awesome connection made on FB I found Amy of Beads and Glass .  She had exactly what I needed.  Her shop is not online but you can contact them and they are so awesome to talk to!  This is the pattern I got...

Again I need to tell you that this pattern is well worth the money and Sabine will answer questions for you if you need help.  Patterns with support are awesome although I have not had to use it as I said it is so easy to follow! (for those of you who are wondering though it is not recommended to be tipsy while working on this one!)

I had a few more things I wanted to tell you but they have escaped me. Oh yeah I did want you all to right now go over to visit Erin @ Treasures Found and check out this pendant she created using Earthenwood Studio treasures.  Not only did Melanie create gorgeous components she has asked some of her friends to design pieces using them.  I am so totally in awe of this creation of Erin's it is now my computer background.  If I can not own it I will at least get the chance to look at it every day!

Hugs and Blessings

KK