Donating to a Silent Auction

My friends and relatives know that I am always ready to donate my jewelry to a silent auction.  I really enjoy being able to contribute to a good cause.  This month I've been working on a necklace to donate for Inspirational Sounds, a gospel choir that my mother-in-law is in.  I wanted to make something that had a musical or Christian theme, but I was not feeling inspired. 

About a month ago, I caught a terrible stomach flu.  I was sick in bed, unable to move, when the idea hit me - I could bead a necklace inspired by sheet music.  I could see it all in my mind, the technical aspects of how I would make the necklace.

I had to buy some supplies because I did not have any 5 hole spacers.  I had never made beaded notes before, so I wasn't sure how big they would be or how the spacing would work out on the beaded "staff".  I chose an easy hymn to depict, one that is well known:  Jesus Loves Me

I had a few problems making this necklace.  When I was a child, I had a tendency to copy musical notes backward.  Evidently, I still do that, because I attached the first two measures backward!  I had to cut to notes off and start over. 

Now I need to get this necklace in the mail in time for the auction. 
Do any of you ever donate your work to charity?  What are your favorite charities?  I'd love to hear from you!

Finally Finished!

Have you ever had one of those projects that seemed to take forever? 
Me too!  I wrote about my summer project and how I was having trouble finishing it.  All your encouraging comments helped me focus on getting it finished.

Yesterday, I pulled my kitchen table outside onto my deck.  I worked in pleasantly warm sunshine, filtered by my leafy grape vine.  I finally finished my project and this morning I listed it.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.  It meant a lot to me.

Has anyone ever encouraged you when you were stuck?

Summer Beadwork Project

This necklace is the project I've been working on for the last month or so.

I wanted it to represent frothy waves in the deep ocean. I made a special trip to Shipwreck Beads to find more shell, mother of pearl and peal to put in this necklace. I also got some more glass beads in the shades of blue I wanted to use.
















I've used the large beads to make a random netted framework. Now I am filling in with smaller pieces of randomly netted seed beads.

I am almost done; I have about half a round left in the darkest blue color. This project has been unusually slow going for me. I've taken it apart twice now. I am very stubborn, though. I will finish this necklace - maybe this week!

Keep an eye out for a new listing soon :)

New Photos

Up to this point, I've been focused only on list new items, not revising the items I have already listed. Lately I've decided that to try re-doing some of my listings.

Here are some examples:

Stylish Stripes
Old... New...

Grapevine Necklace
Old... New...

Sweet Blossom Necklace
Old... New...

Fall Striped Bracelet
Old... New...

What do you think?

If you want to see more, you can look in my shop. I've finished the first 8 listings.

My Mother's Necklace

These are pictures of a necklace you will never see for sale. My mother, who is my greatest fan, wanted this one. It was a little long for her, so I took out two star-flower shapes from each end and made them into earrings.

It is truly wonderful to have someone who loves me and supports my dreams like my mother does.

Thank you so much, Mom!

Example of Netted Beadwork

This is an example of a necklace I made using netting, one of the first techniques I learned.

In this technique I string a group of beads, then "pass through" one of the beads in the string again. This creates a loop. As I keep building up the loops, they become a lattice.