8th Bead Soup Blog Party Partner and Soup Teaser

I've signed up for Lori Anderson's latest Bead Soup Blog Party. I love these. This is the 8th one. She pairs you with a partner, you e-mail back and forth so you can get to know each other a little bit and the you create a 'soup' of beads and other materials to send to each other to play with and create something with. I've always been in awe of all the talent I see while blog hopping all the other participants in the Blog Hop. (By the way, that's a requirement. You have to have a blog so that on a specified day, you blog about your 'soup', what inspired you and what you created).
This time around I was paired with Katrina Taylor. This is her first time to participate, so I'm doubly honored to not only get to participate, but be able to help/have fun with someone new to the Party!  She just started creating jewelry again about a year ago and most of what she makes right now is for friends and family. But after checking out her blog, I wanna go out, you wouldn't guess she'd only been doing it for a year.  She loves Metal beads, Polymer and Metal clay and glass, but says she doesn't really have a style. She mainly just lets the beads and materials 'speak' to her about what to make. She makes some of her own beads and focals and loves BLUE! LOL  As many of you know, blue is one of my least favorite colors, although I seem to be using a lot of blue lately.
She is a veterinarian, so we have something in common, since she likes working with animals and we do Wildlife management here on our small Texas ranch. She also likes to eat out a lot. LOL  So here is a teaser of the 'Soup' I put together for her.

And here is the wrapping it was sent in. Can you guess the theme for her soup?  

Come back in a few days and you'll get to see the soup I sent, the soup I received and find out the Theme behind the soup I sent. And don't forget to check back May 3rd for the Reveal. Be sure to check out my shop, KayzKreationz for my other jewelry, Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass 'kreationz' for your Home and Garden.

ZNETshows Winter Pearl Challenge

As part of the ZNETshows design team, our newest challenge was for the Winter Glossi.  It is a Winter Pearls Challenge.  We were to pick out 3 pearl items and 2 other items, either crystals or base metal.  These are the items I picked:

Pearls

BDS1868-17 glass pearls teardrop round Beads 0 Raspberry Color K0588  9x7mm 

BDS1894-22 glass pearls round Beads 0 -off white K0822   16mm 

BDS1923-02FIVE glass pearls rice Beads 0 Butter Color K0121(15.5-in-str)  6x4mm   and

Crystals

RT250-05AB Chinese crystal designer glass cube Beads faceted 05AB-Cherry Red AB (50-pc-str)  4mm

 Base Metal

M0513-AS Base Metal Alloy leaf Necklace antique silver tone Chains-antique silver  about 3-9mm 

I have always wanted some of that leaf chain to work with, so this was a great opportunity.  Now I knew those 16mm round glass pearls would be large, but I guess I didn't realize HOW large. LOL  I had googled the size and it just didn't register, I guess, because when I received them, I was in shock for a little while.  I hadn't ever worked with something that large and round.  So, this has been a little bit of a challenge for me.  Here's a picture of what I picked and received.

I knew I wanted to make a sweet pair of earrings with that leaf chain and some of the small rice pearls and the cherry red glass cubes. I love the way these turned out.

And I finally decided I wanted to make a bracelet with some of the large round Pearls.  During all this time, my son and daughter-in-law have been here visiting and helping us do some work on the ranch, so I've been limited in my time to work on my designs.  But she suggested I use some of my pink silk/fiber in my bracelet and necklace design.  So I got it out, cut it up, accordion folded it and punched through it with a large darning needle and strung it between the Raspberry teardrop pearls and the large Off-white Pearls.  I added a small silver toggle clasp and love the way it turned out.

The necklace has been giving me fits, though. I just haven't liked any design I've come up with so far.  But I finally decided to try this. I strung some of the large Off-white Pearls with the Raspberry teardrops and the pink fiber.  Then in the center I added a section of the leaf chain as the focal with the small Red glass cubes and the Butter rice pearls as dangles.  I think I like the way it turned out.  Hopefully ZNET and Hope will like it too and feature it in the ZNETshows Winter Pearl Challenge Glossi coming out in December.

To see more of my Jewelry or Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass items for your Home and Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.

Work around the Ranch, Deck flower bed replanted

We've finally been getting a ton or work done around our small Texas ranch.  We had redone the skirting/foundation around the bottom of the house in March, but had never gotten it done around the deck to completely close off the underneath of the house so we wouldn't get any more critters under the house. (Especially skunks, which always seem to choose the middle of the night to spray under my bedroom and wake me up.)  We restacked the rocks around the deck and then I finally got to replant my flower beds. I had some Rosemary that was supposed to be prostrate rosemary and sage there before, but nobody had told them they were supposed to stay fairly small and it had become a jungle. I transplanted it all, but alas, the Rosemary didn't survive. I suppose after being in the same spot for about 15 years, they had a right to be a little upset. I will now have to get some more Rosemary and plant out by the yard gate into the pasture, because I love my Rosemary.  I chose to replant with some Drift Roses that I know will stay fairly small, some Guara for the butterflies and hummingbirds and some daylilies.  I had found 3 at my local nurseries that weren't just your run of the mill daylilies like everyone else has, but couldn't find anything else, so I turned to E-Bay. I found 3 fantastic ones that hopefully will be gorgeous when they bloom next year. I had only wanted one more, but couldn't resist the other 2.  I got everything planted, found a large clay saucer for the top of the cactus bird bath (the original bird bath saucer had gotten broke), composted everything with some great compost from Bell County Regional Compost Facility and some mulch.  This is my newly replanted flower bed.  I wanted to make sure it didn't get too full and I didn't want to cover up all the great rock we put around the bottom of the deck.  It was a lot of work, but I'm really happy with it and can't wait to see it as it matures and all my daylilies start blooming next year.  The roses are already settling in and blooming.  Enjoy the pics.  This was before.

And this is after.

 

I'll try to post more pictures as it matures.  I love the way it turned out.  I make Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass kreationz for your Home and Garden, so if you're looking for that unique piece for your garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.

My Garden Twirlers-Being Redesigned

I love these little Garden Twirlers. They are my own creation. They just dangle, twirl and dance in the wind.  I love things for the garden and in playing around with my glass, wanted to make something besides windchimes for my garden. Viola!  The problem is, they don't really show well in pictures online.  In person, they draw quite a crowd and sales at shows.  But in pictures they hang too long and just don't show up well.  So, I've decided to redesign them for my online shops, KayzKreationz at Etsy, and KayzKreationz at Artfire.  The first one to be redone will be this Beige and Purple Garden Twirler that is featured on Artfire.  It's beige and purple diamond shaped glass pieces hung from a piece of driftwood found on our small Texas Wildlife Ranch.  So if you've hearted this Garden Twirler on Artfire and want it the way it is, you'll have to make up your mind pretty quick.  I'll be redesigning it in the next day or so and it will be no more.  Also, unfortunately the price will have to go up, since I'll be adding some extra things to it.  I'm hoping to get better pricing on it, though.  This Purple Garden Twirler on Etsy will be next.  Again, if you've hearted it or been watching it, make your move now before it's redone.  I'm hoping the new design will sell better online.  I'll be posting when I get them redesigned with the new pics and the new listings.  Meanwhile, if you're dying for some Glass Kreationz for you Home or Garden be sure to check out both my shops.  KayzKreationz on Etsy and KayzKreationz on Artfire.  Enjoy.

Hummingbirds are here.

A few weeks ago, I posted 2 different posts with some interesting facts about hummingbirds.  I put up 2 of my feeders and have been rewarded with hummingbirds all around trying to get to the nectar, not only at my feeders, but also at all my plants that are blooming right now.  As part of our Wildlife management, we have to plant things that will attract butterflies, small songbirds, game birds, other birds, etc.  We've had some success with it. We now have turkeys hanging around all the time in the back pasture by our water trough, birds everywhere by the water trough and the birdbaths.  A multitude of other birds by the plants, grasses, water, etc.  We even have some resident buzzards that love hanging around for some reason.  Anyway, as promised, here's a couple of pictures I got of one of the hummingbirds at one of my feeders, along with a picture of one of the turkeys, and one of our buzzards.  I hope you enjoy them.  And for some great Mosaic Stained Glass feeders to feed your birds, check out my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz.  I'm also working on getting some Glass Kreationz hummingbird feeders made and listed.

Bud Lite Beer Bottle Windchime-Recycled

I love making these windchimes.  They're made out of Beer Bottles-Recycled.  I take the labels off, clean the bottles well, fire them slowly in my kiln with wire fused in them for hanging.  Once they've cooled, I take them out, clean them and decoupage the labels back on with a decoupage glue.  Then I hang them from a piece of driftwood from our small Texas ranch with strong fishing line and then use screw eyes and chain to hang the entire windchime.  Everybody seems to have a favorite.  And these seem to be a favorite with my customers.  I even did one this summer for a lady here in Texas.  It had a Coors Lite, Miller Lite and Bud Lite bottle for her "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" area in her home.  These make great gifts and look great hanging either in your home or outside on your deck/porch.  But, I have to warn you, they make LOTS of noise. LOL.  Also, if you're hanging them outside, you may want to seal the tops of the bottles so water doesn't get down in them and freeze and break your bottles. (I learned this the hard way.  The man I bought my first set from didn't tell me that.)  The Bud Lite Beer Bottle Windchime-Recycled can be purchased in my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz.  I'm currently also working on a Corona Beer Bottle windchime.
And for more Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.

The Turkeys are Back!

I was so excited.  While getting some work done around, in, and outside the house we heard our turkeys gobbling out back.  Went to look out the window and there they were!  Somewhere between 8 and 10 of them in the pasture behind the house.  We hear them quite often, but this is only about the 3rd time or so we've been able to get some pictures of them.  The deer were not sure they liked the turkeys being out in "their" pasture.  LOL  And I don't think they quite knew what they were and what was going on.  Or that they trusted them.  But my hubby was able to get some pretty good pictures of them in the pasture. 
We do wildlife managment on our small 30 acre ranch and it is so exciting and gratifying to see that our efforts are paying off.  We have to plant grasses, seeds, plants and other food supplies.  Plus provide water and shelter to attract the wildlife. Since we have a small acreage, we mainly manage for small wildlife, butterflies, birds, etc.  Although we have lots of deer, they don't consider our acreage large enough to manage for them.  But they've never been trying to drive down my drive in the evening and watching the 10-15 deer that are ALWAYS along the road and in the pasture on either side of the drive.
Hope you can see them and enjoy the pictures.

"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" Beer Bottle windchime

Woohoo! I got my first Custom request. A customer on Etsy convo'd my shop, KayzKreationz, and asked about a custom Beer Bottle windchime. She has a "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" area on her back porch/deck and wanted a beer bottle windchime, like the Miller Lite one I had listed some time back. But she wanted a Miller Lite, Bud Lite, and Coors Lite bottle on it. (One of each) I got the bottles fired fairly quick, but it took me a while to find a suitable piece of "driftwood" from off our small Texas ranch to hang it from. I finally got it finished today and listed for her. She loves it. So if you're interested in something similar, just post here, convo me on Etsy or tweet me: KayzKreationz and I'll be glad to make you your own Custom Beer Bottle windchime. (If I have the bottles, since I'm not a big beer drinker.) :) Here's a pic or two and a link if you want to check it out. Enjoy.

And for more Glass Kreationz for your home or garden be sure to check out my Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass in my shop, KayzKreationz.

Tiger, Garfield, Cheyenne and Time to let go.

We had to have our kitty, Tiger, put to sleep last week. She was an old farm cat, but we'd had her for 13 years. She "belonged" to my oldest son, but when he got moved out, there was no place to take her and she'd always been on our small ranch property, so she stayed with us. And then when he got married his wife is allergic to cats, so she continued to stay with us. She was an ornery old cat. When we first got her, she did NOT like people, so was happy to stay outside. As some of the other cats we had died off or just disappeared, as farm cats do, she mellowed out some and decided we weren't so bad and enjoyed coming in to eat, laying around a little and getting her belly scratched. But she always enjoyed being outside. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed she had started walking kind of sideways. By the next day or two, she was falling over when she tried to walk to fast to the door to come in for food and when she jumped down from the deck railing she would fall. After about 3 days or so of that I decided it was time to go to the vet. I had already taken Cheyenne (my heeler) into the vet the Friday before and found out she had heartworms and would have to undergo treatment, and didn't really want any more bad news, but she needed to be checked out. When we took Cheyenne in for her treatment on that Monday, we also took Tiger with us. The vet said she knew for sure she had an ear infection, but couldn't tell for sure whether she'd also had a small stroke or some other neurological problem. And while they could treat the inner ear infection, it was possible she would never walk right again. Which of course meant she could not defend herself or get away from anything that might try to attack her. (I'd already had to rescue her from a cat fight the night before) And last year, she'd gotten attacked by something, (we never were sure what) that had ripped her back leg open almost to the bone. We didn't think she would live through that, and it did take several months for it to heal enough for her to be able to use it to walk again, but she kept right on plugging. But this time, the vet said she had way outlived her life as an old barn cat and she didn't think she would get through this. To add to the problem, this was on Monday and on Thursday we were leaving for some volunteer work, so she would have been on her own for a little. So the vet suggested having her put to sleep, which we had already discussed. But I couldn't make the decision, so my hubby decided it would be better for her sake. This was one of the last good pictures I got of her back in May. So now, Cheyenne is missing her buddy. They had played some and slept some together. Cheyenne thought she needed to round her up, after we sold our horses, which Tiger did NOT appreciate, but otherwise they got along fine. The other cat in the second picture is Garfield, my youngest son's cat that he had just taken to live with him about 3 weeks before. Garfield and Cheyenne did not get along, but he and Tiger were pretty good friends and Tiger had been missing him, too. But it was time to let Tiger go.

New Featured Shop of the Day

The newest shop of the day is: http://shupg.etsy.com
Since we do wildlife management on our Texas property, check out the cute little fawn to the right. And since I love gardening, check out the adorable red watering can necklace to the right.

Also, check out my ladybug plant stake to go with those plants you're watering: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16669600

New Flickr photos

Hi all. I just joined Flickr. Put up a few pictures of my family and my Miller Lite Beer Bottle Windchime. Check it out if you want to see some pics of our my family, our Texas property, and Beer Bottles. :)