Book Review-Irina's Inspirations

I was recently sent the book Irina's Inspirations by Irina Miech.  It is published by Kalmbach Books.  It is a fascinating book. I had never seen any of her designs or jewelry, but from the cover to the end of the book I was hooked. She takes her inspiration from everything.  She starts out with how to recognize inspiration, then moves into Materials and Design, then the Tools and Techniques you'll need.  And finally the projects.  It is amazing.  As I looked at the photos of her inspiration and then the pieces she made I was just in awe.  She also talks about how to achieve balance and then watching the trends to know what is or will be in fashion. 
After that comes the projects.  I love the fact that with each project she posts the photo or inspiration behind it.  It really helped me to see how to see the inspiration and then how to draw from it to make a design.  She starts with simpler projects/inspiration and moves on into harder, more difficult ones towards the back of the book.  She outlines each tip/technique very well, so you can understand exactly what she's doing.  She also includes step by step photos to help.
There's something for everyone in the book.  But my 2 favorite projects would have to be the Hawaiian Isles bracelet, made with Wire mesh (which I have not been able to find yet) on page 64.  It is a contrast (with the mesh) of the lava fields of Hawaii and the tropical flowers you find there.  Even the clasp carries out the theme, since it is a floral clasp. I love it. 
My other favorite piece is the Botanical Tiles bracelet on page 88.  I love metal and she uses copper square discs that she textures as the background 'tile' for the botanical 'focal' pieces on top of them.  She uses a variety of components to achieve those botanical pieces.  It is wonderful. In fact, both of my favorite pieces can be seen in the photo of the cover of the book at the top of this post.
So if you're looking for a way to kick up your inspiration a notch, or just some wonderful designs, check out Kalmbach books and get this book.  You'll love it.

A BIG Giveaway! on Pretty Things

I love Lori's Pretty Things Blog! She always has such inspiring posts, ideas, giveaways, Blog Hops and more.  This time she's outdone herself.  She's having a BIG giveaway.  A (Five) Bead and Button Bead Giveaways!  She's got 5 different giveaways going at the same time.  They're all great.  But she makes it SOOOO difficult.  When you post a comment, you have to let her know which one of the 5 is your favorite!  I just couldn't decide.  I had it narrowed down to 3, but still couldn't decide my favorite.  So rush right over to her blog, Pretty Things and check out the giveaways, her ideas, and leave a comment to win.
This is just one of the giveaways she's got going.  Aren't they fabulous?

Silk Color Challenge

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, Voting ends today!  Marsha Neal is having a fun challenge. She has wonderful silks and has come up with a challenge using her silks and silk colors. You have to find an inspiration (photo or something) and then pick up to 10 silks that feature colors in your inspiration. I found a wonderful photo of some autumn colors and picked 10 colors (actually I had 14 at first and had to change it) that I felt were found in the photo.  You then have to make them into a Mosaic and starting next Monday, people start voting on their favorite palettes.  Plus you can buy the palettes that are made if they have the most votes.  I've called my Silk Challenge mosaic Autumn Tranquility. So please check it out and vote on it starting next Monday, the 18th.  Here's a picture of my Mosaic, Autumn Tranquility.  Vote here: Marsha Neal, starting Monday.

Button Swap Blog Hop-Part 2

Are you ready?  Today's the day!  The Button Swap Blog Hop is happening.  We were partnered up by the Great Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, then sent off buttons to our partners.  I was partnered with the adorable Shannon Chomanczuk of For My Sweet Daughter.  She sent me these wonderful buttons in this cute little box.  I love them. I put my back out this last Sunday, but I managed to finish my piece late last night. There were a couple of other things I wanted to try with this piece and the other buttons, but couldn't get them done. So here is my piece, thank you miss Shannon for your great buttons.  And please visit the list of participants below and see what everyone has done with their buttons. 

And now for the list for you to check out everyone's blog: 

Alice Peterson and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

Christine Stonefield and Dana James

Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner

Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

Janet McDonald and Kim Roberts

Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

Kim Roberts and Janet McDonald

Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

LeAnn Weih and Mary Jane Dodd

Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

Mary Harding and Stacie Florer

Mary Jane Dodd and LeAnn Weih

Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel

Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri

Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

If the list isn't clickable, click on the link for Cindy's blog at the beginning of the post and it will take you to where you'll find the complete clickable list.  Please let me know what you think of my piece. Thanks.

Button Swap Blog Hop

Well, tomorrow is the big day.  Unfortunately, I put my back out last Sunday and have not been able to stand or sit to finish my piece. I'm still hoping to get it finished tonight, however if I don't, please check back tomorrow for the list of the participants and check them all out.  I'll post my piece later this week when it's finished if I don't finish tonight.  Thanks for understanding.  Meanwhile, here's the buttons I sent to my great partner, Shannon, of For My Sweet Daughter.  And after that, you'll see the WONDERFUL buttons she sent me and the cutest little box that she sent them in.  Isn't it adorable.  Can you guess which one of the handmade buttons she sent in the last picture I'm using in my piece?  You'll have to wait till tomorrow or later this week to see it finished. :)

Texas Pepper Jams: New Braunfels Wein and Saengerfest M...

Check out their newest flavors!  Pepper Jams with Wine and Champagne!  They'll be available only for a limited time, so hurry to check it out.  They sound great.
Texas Pepper Jams: New Braunfels Wein and Saengerfest
              M...: New Braunfels Wein and Saengerfest               May 5th a.k.a. Cinco de Mayo was HOT and humid. While the temperature was in the high ...