Earrings, a pin and a collaboration in progress

I am having the best time! In addition to making pins/brooches for a swap at the Bead Retreat, I beaded up a couple of items for a fund raising auction at work. Seems it's that time of year.



One last (for now) pair of earrings. They just might be my favorites. I've had these vintage German glass cabs for a few years and just love them. They look like Lily of the Valley flowers to me - what do you think?



They are tiny, all beads used are size 15. The ear wires are 14k gold filled and they are backed with brown Ultrasuede



Next, I finished a brooch. I started with a beautiful raku button by Lisa Peters, it has a brown swirl with blue flecks in the background - I love her 'stuff'.



I was having a little issue with glare on the day I snapped the photos, so 2 of them here - between the two of them I think the colors are well represented.



It measures about 2 inches including the outside beads, the dangle adds about another inch. It is backed with brown Ultrasuede.

I'm also working on a beaded pin as part of a collaboration with a couple of friends for a fund raiser for Candlelighters for Children with cancer in Portland. We have worked together on a couple of other quilted/beaded projects and always have a great time doing it. We live in different states (Oregon, Minnesota, Indiana) and manage to coordinate some pretty neat projects, all by email.

My partners... Bobbie in Oregon and Anne in Minnesota, they are sisters and between them have an amazing array of creative talents including (but not limited to) sewing, quilting, painting, knitting, beading, felting and creating pottery. Several years ago, we happened to meet on a volunteer vacation in Eastern Kentucky. I would be remiss if I did not mention Sammie (from Washington) - the woman that completes our circle, she keeps up laughing and very well fed when we are together. I would direct you to photos of their work, but alas - none of them have websites or blogs. They donate the bulk of their creations to a wide range of worthy causes. I'm lucky to call them my friends!

So the project we are working on now began with a large (approx 24 x 45 inches) Laural Burch panel - Secret Jungle. Bobbie will be working some sort of quilt magic and Anne will add her beautiful embroidery to the piece. For my part, Bobbie sent an extra panel of the fabric - I cut out one of the cat faces (I know... it felt so wrong to cut into it) and am working on beading it up and adding a pin back. It will then be attached to the larger piece as a removable/wearable component. The entire piece will be auctioned off at the Harvest of Hope Dinner in Portland, OR on October 24.

While I'm on the topic of kids with cancer, and if you're so inclined - please pray/send positive thoughts for a precious and brave little girl named Regina and her equally brave and precious family. They could use it right now. I don't know them personally, but have been following her blog for quite awhile.