Beat the Heat with Bead Porn

Yes, it's our third day in a row of high humidity and roastingly hot temperatures.

Awesome.

And, okay, the post title is lame, I know, but it is becoming harder and harder to come up with post titles. Dude, seriously, I have been writing this blog for almost six years now. I just realized my blog-o-versary is comin' up next week! That is a LOT of post titles!

Also just realized I am coming up towards the 200 mark on followers - that is TOTALLY amazing considering I wrote for probably the first four years or so in complete and total obscurity. No readers. No comments. Just one woman determined to continuously overshare the incredibly boring details of the world's most mundane life. Oh and some beads and stuff.

But I'll write more about that next week on the actual date. Be sure to stop by because there maycould (yeah, I made up that word, but you can use it if you want to) be prizes involved ;-)

Oh, and before I forget (again), I wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent well wishes while I was dealing with the back pain. I try to reply via e-mail to as many comments as I can, but, just in case I missed anyone: THANK YOU! It was much appreciated. I'm still getting some twinges, especially when I first wake up in the morning, but am MUCH better.

Okay, everyone got their drool cloths ready?

Get set!

Go!

Yeah, sooooo....the carved flower obsession continues.

And continues...

And continues...

I'm also into pink lately. It's weird how my brain gets into these certain "modes" and I just have to go with them until they're done. These are faceted dyed quartz rondelles. I just used 'em in several designs I created last weekend which I haven't gotten around to posting yet.

These are Czech glass faceted rondelles in a Picasso finish - they're sort of a pinky-bronzey color in real life and I LOVE them. They are small, though. I'd love to get this same color scheme in a larger size! All of the above beads came from UncommonBeads.

More metal awesomeness from MissFickleMedia. This is a green-patinated chain which is just gorgeous (as if you can't tell that from the picture).

MUST...HAVE...MATCHING...TOGGLE!

Not only that, but I recently tried to talk poor Shannon into creating matching headpins, jumprings, earwires and everything. Amazingly enough, she did not tell me to go soak my head but patiently took the time to 'splain to me why I am crazy LOL!

Ah well...it was worth a shot ;-)

Found these cute branch and flower charms at TammysTreasures. Because they only have a loop on one end, I wasn't sure about them at first, but then I thought maybe that would challenge me in a good way plus make them more interesting in a design. Time will tell.

I have all these great resin beads done with beautiful French-themed artwork on them so I've been keeping my eye out for things that would go well with them eh voila! Cute little pewter Eiffel Tower charms! Same vendor as the branch charms above.

This beautiful pewter crown 3-way connector is from Lynne Davis. And I think I had an idea last night what I'm going to do with it...

I'm always on the lookout now for great bezels to put my resin and artwork in. Found this great brass one from Patina Queen that she has altered with a white patina. Perfect for that "shabby chic" look.

And I might as well get a sky blue version, too, as long as I'm there, right? Right.

I went back to Menagerie Studio and got some more lovelies. Really, I can't believe this is polymer clay!

I just loved the colors on this one.

Analiese is a new vendor for me. I thought she had a really nice style and unusual combination of materials. This pendant is made of poly clay, aged with gold paint, artwork applied and then a glass dome over the artwork.

Another new vendor, ExcellentGem, supplied this fun and bright ceramic bead mix.

I also found this stunning porcelain rose pendant there. The picture doesn't do it justice - the colors are deeper in real life and the detail on the flower is truly amazing. It has two loops on the back for stringing.

And now, let me share with you the amazingness that is Mermaid Glass.

Not only are her lampwork beads just STUNNING (as both the blue set above and this set of raku barrels clearly show), but talk about a vendor who cheerfully goes above and beyond the call of duty! I won't go into details, but when the Force of Darkness that is the Post Office decided to interfere with this transaction, she was incredibly generous re-making both sets of beads and refusing any additional compensation.

Plus, dude, she makes these beads called "fairy skirts." FAIRY SKIRTS! I am SO down! In fact, I've already made a necklace and earrings with this set AND ordered another set in a different color. Beleeee me when I tell you that you need you some Mermaid Glass today!

On that note, I think it's time to head turn on the A/C or head for the beach because it is H-O-T here in the Southland today.

KJ