More bead embroidered earrings

At least one, maybe both pair will be offered up in the earring swap at the Bead Retreat in Lake Tahoe.



For this first pair, I used small vintage Lucite cabs and added Czech and Japanese seed beads.



They are backed with dark green Ultrasuede.

Last (for now anyway) ...



Vintage Japanese glass cabs surrounded by gold and purple seed beads, gold ab fire polished beads accent the top.


Click on each photo for a larger view.

They are backed with gold Ultrasuede and measure about 1 1/2 inched from the bottom of the ear wire down.



On another note... have you donated yet to the second round of the Pink Artist project? This round - the quilt is the grand prize - it is an amazing display of artistry. And that's not all, there are an ABUNDANCE of runner up prizes. The raffle runs through October 15, so if you haven't purchased your 'chances' yet there is still time. It's easy, you can send a money order OR you can paypal a donation to Monica.

If nothing else... please check out the photos of the quilt and all the other works of art up for grabs - it's sure to bring a smile.

Grab your piggy bank...

and shake it out for all it's worth!

It's TIME! You've seen the button on my blog... you've heard me 'talk' about the Pink Artist and subsequent Block Party.

Please, please - RUN, don't walk on over to Monica's blog for all the details on the amazing quilt (a collaboration between artists from all over the world) offered up, a long with all the other beautifully crafted items - any of which can be yours.

Here's the official flyer:



Go now... check it out, I don't think you'll be sorry, but I do think you'll be amazed!

Pink Artist Drawing, Part 2...my contribution

Did you notice the button over to the side? --->
Please take a minute to visit Monica's blog to learn more about how you can contribute to a wonderful cause as well as have a chance to own some beautifully crafted items, not to mention a FANTASTIC block art quilt!



I recently completed the bracelet I'm offering up for the drawing.



The beads were generously provided by Artbeads.com
The photos above and below are progress photos of the bracelet





I took a class at my local bead shop a year or so ago and learned this 'coil' pattern. I've been having fun with close up photos



I really like these 3 colors together



The bracelet is 7 3/4 inches from end to end. In addition to the size 15/0 beads and the purple Delica's, I used a Swarovski 15 x 11 mm Crystal Golden Shadow Cosmic Oval Ring (also from Art Beads) as part of the toggle clasp.

I'm really looking forward to seeing all the wonderful items offered this round. It seems many of the stories that go with the pieces are as heart warming as the pieces are beautiful. Monica has a special way of attracting that kind of energy and spirit to her projects.

Spend a few minutes (or more) and go check it out!

Are you thinking pink?

(Top card in photo by Freebird, isn't it wonderful?!)

Yet? Still? I know I AM!

Anyway, I wanted to show another runner up item I have donated for the Pink Artist Project.

Not too long ago I answered a call for artists from Mother Henna for an Inspiration & Healing deck of cards. The project guidelines requested 2 pieces of art in your chosen medium from 16 artists which would be made into cards.

Each participant received 2 decks of cards for their participation. I'm thought I'd share the beauty and offer up my second deck of cards for the Love Squared drawing and let me just say... they are magnificent. Here I have displayed just a couple of the many wonderful images found on these cards. I wanted to show the backs too with a wonderful image by Mother Henna. Many of the participants are names you might even recognize from visiting their blogs :-)

Please check out Mother Henna's blog if you are interested in reading more details on that collaboration.

In the meantime, have you purchased your chances to win the fair Lady?

Are you thinking pink?

When it comes to dolls, I have thought of little else than our own Lady Love Squared. I recently got my hands on my own copy of Art Doll Quarterly and saw the Lady up close and personal, the photos as well as the article are FANTASTIC! I've mailed off my donation for chances to win the lady. I can't imagine that I'd be lucky enough to win her, although I can dream... right?



After a dry spell of not much beading, I have had a burst of creative energy. One of the items I put together is a runner up item for the Pink Artist drawing. It is a colorful little pin, I started with a beautiful dichroic piece by Mango Tango, glued it to a piece of pellon, and started beading around it. The glass is 3 layers, so I opted for a stacked stitch around the edge rather than peyote. The stack consists of an olive colored size 8/0 bead followed by a magenta colored size 11/0 true cut and a size 15/0 light olive bead. I added an ultrasuede backing, sewing it to the base with more of the size 8/0 olive beads. It is finished off with a pointed edge stitch (found in the book - Beaded Cabochons by Jamie Cloud Eakin) using the magenta size 11/0 true cuts and a size 15/0 bright blue bead. Lots of color and sparkle packed into a small 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 square.

So... have you purchased YOUR chances to win?

Love Squared - Wordle

Have you seen or heard of 'Wordle'? Fun to play around with words in this program. I happen to be playing with words that relate to Lady Love Squared. Fun, huh?



Are you as excited about this drawing as I am? Are you buying chances to win the lovely lady? Did you contribute something for a runner up?



As the time draws near, the excitement builds!

Pink Artist Project

***All photos are the property of Jeff Magness, please do not copy without his permission***

Pink Artist Project - A community art doll project for charity.

The doll is complete. Her name is Love Squared, the beauty of the doll itself and the whole project in general defies adequate description, but I will do the best I can here. The brilliant idea was conceived by Monica Magness and executed by a whole community. It has been amazing to watch Monica bring it to life with her magic hands. I am honored to be able to call myself a participant and humbled to be included with such wonderful artists.

Love Squared is almost 40 inches tall and weighs just over 6 pounds. There are 180 individually created 2 x 2 inch squares sent to Monica from participants all over the world, in addition to that there are many little extras including a bracelet, purse, necklace (doubles as a bracelet for the lucky final owner), the ribboned crown, a felted heart, bead embroidered crown (doubles as a bracelet) and butterfly box (with over 100 hand painted butterfly 'wings').

All the details, including the progress of the doll - from inception to completion and tons of photos can be found on Monica's blog. Do yourself a favor and spend some time going through her posts on this project. It is a treat for the eyes and I think it will warm your heart.


I created 5 squares pictured above for the project, the yellow one can be seen on the upper right hand side of her skirt.


I also created the crown she wears on her head (which can double as a bracelet for the lucky winner).

This doll and all of her wonderful extras will be auctioned off at a date (to be determined) in the future to raise money for Susan G. Koman for the Cure. First she will visit Art Doll Quarterly for a photo shoot.

Monica suggested the participants make a post, show off the doll we helped make and to dedicate it to someone who touched our heart.

I dedicate this doll to my grandmother, she is the single most inspiring person I have ever known. She helped guide me through much of my life and shape the person I am today, I am forever grateful.

I want to mention 2 people that I know that have been touched by breast cancer, one is Alice Pope - the mother of a good friend of mine. I did not know Alice all that well, but what I did know is that she was a sweet and gentle woman that raised some exceptional daughters. Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer in 2001.

The other is my friend Deborah in Texas who continues to battle health issues after going through harsh treatments for both breast and anal cancer, she now battles bone cancer. I thought of both of these courageous woman and their families as well as other families that are faced with a cancer diagnosis each and every day. I only hope - one day - that I can say I do not know anyone with cancer. I hope Love Squared will help with that dream.

My sincere gratitude goes to Monica for coming up with the concept of the doll and being such a positive inspiration along the way. Monica - you have made me feel like a very special part of this project and I suspect from the comments I have read on your blog - you have made others feel the same way. It is a gift and I am grateful for it. A big thank you to her husband Jeff for supporting her in person while I could only do it from a distance through email and blog posts. AND for the wonderful photos, what a team!!!

The cat's out of the bag...

and they LIKE crowns.

They thought it was fit for a couple of princes, I had to gently remind them it was made for a queen.



Okay, now seriously... now that Monica has posted about the crown (among other treasures) on her blog , I thought I'd add some thoughts and a couple of other photos of the crown for our Pink Artist doll - Love Squared.

I've been thinking about this crown for a good while now and stared working on it about 2 weeks ago. I did not have a plan other than the shape of it... I dug through my vintage sew-ons knowing there were some in there that looked like jewels. Then just started adding the jewels, crystals and beads.

As I started taking pictures of it - it dawned on me that, not only could it serve as a crown for the doll, it just might make a neat cuff for the lucky winner - I couldn't finish it fast enough. I was unsure how I might finish the edges and attach the ultra suede backing with all those dips and points around the top. But I was determined! Thankfully this is the second cuff I made and since the first was not all that long ago - I remembered some good lessons that helped me tremendously.

Here's a shot of the beginning... originally I added the cuff just as a size reference. It was at that point I began to think it just might make a fun cuff as well as a crown.


After I finished the beading, I attached it to the cuff with a little bit of glue (E-6000). While it was drying, I cut a strip of ultra suede that would be the backing. I used a tiny bit of glue to hold the ultra suede in place and beaded a whip stitch around the bottom and up one side.

At that point I was satisfied I could now cut out the dips in the ultrasuede without worrying about it coming up too short. It was challenging, but I successful in the end (big sigh of relief!). I really wanted it to be perfect for our doll.

Here's a shot of the crown just before I finished the beading.



Included on the crown are vintage sew-ons; fresh water pearls, vintage nailheads; Swarovski lochrosen around the sew-ons and Swarovski margarita beads (volcano in color) at the top of the crown. The majority of the seed beads used are Japanese size 15/0. I used a brass 1/2 inch cuff blank.

Now I don't wear 'big' jewelry, but thought I'd include a shot so you can see what it looks like on.

Pink Artist offering, part 5

My final square for the Pink Artist project. I really had my heart set on beading something up in blue and orange, my beads on the other hand had a different idea! I think this center bead is wood, but am not sure. It is surrounded by a circle of beads, then a round of Swarovski crystals and MORE beads.


Here are all 5 squares together... Monica I hope to get these in the mail to you in the next couple of days.

Pink Artist offering, part 4...

Fourth square for the Pink Artist project, I don't think this one needs much explanation. The face/head is a vintage bumpy glass foil back cab.

I'm having so much fun with these!

Pink Artist offering, part 3...

Have a heart... have 3 more. Here's my latest square for the Pink Artist project.

The larger center heart is a ceramic cab created by Earthenwood Studio. I added vintage flower shaped sequins for the background.

I have different colors lined up for the next 2 squares, we'll see how that works out - I may change my mind... again.

Pink Artist offering... part 2

Click on the photo if you want a really enlarged view

I completed a second square today for the Pink Artist project. I've had this wonderful rose quartz flower that I have been itching to put to use in something. I had pink beads out already after working on the first square, it all just seemed right.

I really like these pink beads (did I really just say that?), don't they look good enough to eat?

Tomorrow I might be feeling red, or possibly yellow. I'll know when I get there... such fun!

Pink Artist offering

I finished my first square for the Pink Artist project... well, I think I'm finished. I'm undecided on finishing the back, right now all the stitching shows. For those of you that have already completed your square... did you finish the backs?

The metal part of this is a pin from Avon, I removed the pin back then used just a touch of E-6000 to glue 2 parts of the back to the base and then tacked it down in three places with little bead loops. The base is very similar to heavy duty pellon. I buy it in various colors from Nicole Campanella and I love it for small projects.

The sequins are vintage and the light pink beads are charlottes.

I hope to make a few more squares in the next week or so. Also in the next few days to a week, I will be posting my offering for the One World One Heart drawing. So stay tuned for that if you're interested. It will have a Valentine theme.

Go *PINK*!

You may have noticed a new button on the side bar
that says "I'm a Pink Artist".

This is a wonderful creative project organized by Monica Magness to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Please click on the Pink Artist photo and you will be taken to Monica's blog where you will find the details on this rewarding adventure.

Everyone is welcome to participate - so check it out when you get a chance and consider joining us!