I don't often show my photography because I am basically starting over because I have a digital camera I know nothing about. Here are my pictures for this weeks I Heart Macro. Please be gentle :-)
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| A nest in our yard |
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| Look Mama a coin |
~Shannon
Saturday, May 28, 2011
I Heart Macro
This is my first time participating in the I Heart Macro link up.
I don't often show my photography because I am basically starting over because I have a digital camera I know nothing about. Here are my pictures for this weeks I Heart Macro. Please be gentle :-)
I don't think there's anything sweeter than dirty little exploring fingers.
~Shannon
I don't often show my photography because I am basically starting over because I have a digital camera I know nothing about. Here are my pictures for this weeks I Heart Macro. Please be gentle :-)
~Shannon
Friday, May 27, 2011
Last Friday In May
It is the very last Friday in May :-(
Next month at this time I will have a 2 year old. The time is flying by.
The good thing about the last Friday of the month is the Artisan Clay Design Team Reveal!!!
We were given these beads:
I immediately thought "oh earrings" but then didn't want to be too simple. So I made a complicated earring out of them, epic fail. They almost ripped my ear off, waaaayyy too heavy. So I cute them apart and thought "I can make 2 of the same, like BFF necklaces" So I made the first necklace.
I think it is pretty cool. I made a coil and wire wrapped the pendant, added jump rings, silk from Marsha Neal Studio, a lampwork bead from Amanda of Sea Shore Glass and Vintaj chain and bead caps. I did that one last week and figured I had a whole week to make the other one.
Then I had a dream about a tree entwined by beautiful, leafy vines dripping with dew. I got right to work and came up with this piece. I love the twisting Vinatj wire and the sprinkling of tiny Swarovski crystals.
I was also so excited to have been given the necklace from Jeannie in my last post because the peridot chips were the perfect addition to this necklace. I also used up the rest of my silk from Marsha :-)
I hope you like the 2 necklaces I made and I hope you will check out the other artists pieces and see what they did with their pendants from Kristie.
Thanks for stopping by!
~Shannon
Marcie Abney
Shannon Chomanczuk <---you're there! :-)
Carol Dean Sharpe
Staci Louise Smith
Jen Velasquez
Susan Kennedy
Penny Neville
and the woman who made all these beauties: Kristie Roeder
Here is the Inlinz.com gadget link-
Next month at this time I will have a 2 year old. The time is flying by.
The good thing about the last Friday of the month is the Artisan Clay Design Team Reveal!!!
We were given these beads:
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| Aren't they amazing?! |
I immediately thought "oh earrings" but then didn't want to be too simple. So I made a complicated earring out of them, epic fail. They almost ripped my ear off, waaaayyy too heavy. So I cute them apart and thought "I can make 2 of the same, like BFF necklaces" So I made the first necklace.
I think it is pretty cool. I made a coil and wire wrapped the pendant, added jump rings, silk from Marsha Neal Studio, a lampwork bead from Amanda of Sea Shore Glass and Vintaj chain and bead caps. I did that one last week and figured I had a whole week to make the other one.
Then I had a dream about a tree entwined by beautiful, leafy vines dripping with dew. I got right to work and came up with this piece. I love the twisting Vinatj wire and the sprinkling of tiny Swarovski crystals.
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| Love! |
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| Doesn't it remind you of a vine? |
I was also so excited to have been given the necklace from Jeannie in my last post because the peridot chips were the perfect addition to this necklace. I also used up the rest of my silk from Marsha :-)
I hope you like the 2 necklaces I made and I hope you will check out the other artists pieces and see what they did with their pendants from Kristie.
Thanks for stopping by!
~Shannon
Marcie Abney
Shannon Chomanczuk <---you're there! :-)
Carol Dean Sharpe
Staci Louise Smith
Jen Velasquez
Susan Kennedy
Penny Neville
and the woman who made all these beauties: Kristie Roeder
Here is the Inlinz.com gadget link-
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Do Over Challenge Blog Hop Reveal
Jeannie sent each of the participants a piece of jewelry that she had made. The point of this challenge? To cut up the piece she sent us and remake it into something else. Yup, cut it apart. I know right?!
The piece I was sent wasn't all bad, it looks like something I would have made a few years ago before I knew much about gemstones and art beads.
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| Original Necklace and Earrings |
The necklace sat on my bead table/kitchen counter for several days before I cut it apart. I almost felt bad taking my cutters to the wire (almost) once I poured the beads onto the counter I started to have fun.
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| My Necklace |
I added a Vintaj blank, beads, leaf, and toggle clasp, some bronze seed beads and pendant from Mellisa of Chinook Designs.
I bet you are wondering what I did with the rest of the necklace right? Well stay tuned to the blog on Friday because those Peridot chips were exactly what I needed to finish a necklace I was working on for the Artisan Clay Design Team.
Now please go check out the other participant's blogs and what they made. I know I can't wait. We all got different things to work with so I am looking forward to seeing what everyone did. Make sure you visit Jeannie's blog too (she's listed first) :-)
~Shannon
Jeannie of Jeannie's Blog ---> http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Donna No Blog
Shannon http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com <----YOU ARE HERE
Elisabeth http://www.beadsforbusygals.com
Jamie No Blog
Nancy http://nedbeads.com
Charlene http://clay-space.com
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
New Bracelet
Well Bead Star voting ended this evening and I am pretty sure that none of my pieces got enough votes to get in the magazine. I am disappointed but I am still touched that I did get 3 pieces picked and that I did it. I entered 5 pieces, which means I made the pieces, photographed them, edited the pictures and uploaded them by the deadline! All while working 30+ hrs a week at the salon and taking care of my almost 2 yr old daughter 4 days a week. I am pretty proud of myself and it has given me the confidence to go for more contests and magazines.
I never thought my stuff was good enough to be in the pages of a magazine or even get 1 vote in a contest. I wonder if all artists are this hard on themselves.
I am loving the blog world, I have met some wonderful people who's thoughts and friendships I value. There's Patty who keeps me laughing every day, Holly, the "other" Shannon ;-), my K's- Kristie, Kristi, Kristy, Kelley, Kylie, Kerry, Marie, Hope, Heather, Cristi, Judith, Barbara, Nancy, Lori, Lorelei and the list could go on and on and on. Thanks you all for your encouragement, support and help when I send you a pm or chat about a technique or idea. Thank you for your beautiful work and beautiful pieces which keep me pushing forward even when I want to toss all the beads in the trash. Thanks for always pushing forward and getting on websites and into stores and tweeting or Face-cracking about it because even though I am a twinge jealous and want to bop you in the nose it pushes me forward because instead of being nasty about it I say why not me, what is she doing that I need to be doing, what can I learn from her!
Lastly I leave you with this bracelet I made the other night that I think is pretty. I was going to send it to a magazine but realized I have no idea how to write directions for how I knotted the leather and I also can't remember where I got a couple of the beads. So it is available for sale instead :-)
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!!
~Shannon
I never thought my stuff was good enough to be in the pages of a magazine or even get 1 vote in a contest. I wonder if all artists are this hard on themselves.
I am loving the blog world, I have met some wonderful people who's thoughts and friendships I value. There's Patty who keeps me laughing every day, Holly, the "other" Shannon ;-), my K's- Kristie, Kristi, Kristy, Kelley, Kylie, Kerry, Marie, Hope, Heather, Cristi, Judith, Barbara, Nancy, Lori, Lorelei and the list could go on and on and on. Thanks you all for your encouragement, support and help when I send you a pm or chat about a technique or idea. Thank you for your beautiful work and beautiful pieces which keep me pushing forward even when I want to toss all the beads in the trash. Thanks for always pushing forward and getting on websites and into stores and tweeting or Face-cracking about it because even though I am a twinge jealous and want to bop you in the nose it pushes me forward because instead of being nasty about it I say why not me, what is she doing that I need to be doing, what can I learn from her!
Lastly I leave you with this bracelet I made the other night that I think is pretty. I was going to send it to a magazine but realized I have no idea how to write directions for how I knotted the leather and I also can't remember where I got a couple of the beads. So it is available for sale instead :-)
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!!
~Shannon
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday Morning
Hello and happy Monday. I know you don't often hear anyone say happy Monday but I am off from the salon and home with my daughter on Monday's so it is a happy day. She is sitting next to me playing with my car keys, 2 Barbie Princesses and Mickey Mouse figurines.
I wanted to take a second this morning and wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. Especially those who have lost a pregnancy or a child. I follow a blog and they lost their daughter at 4 months old to Sids and I know yesterday was exceptionally difficult. I was going to do it yesterday but I spent a lovely day going to mass, grocery shopping and then went to my sister's house for a barbecue. It was a great day, daughter and hubby were asleep by 9pm!
I also wanted to take a second and thank everyone who has voted for my pieces in all the challenges I have been in lately. It means SO much to me to have you all take the time to vote. I also wanted to give anyone who has not voted yet or didn't know I was in these contests the links.
So for those of you that have voted already Thank You and you don't have to read on. If you haven't voted yet and would like to here's the info:
I am in the ArtBeads.com make it for mom challenge - voting ends May 10th - with this bracelet:
It has over 75 hand wrapped dangles in shades of pink and white! The voting is through facebook and all you have to do is visit the link and vote. You can share it on your wall if you would like. I could win $250 and that's definitely a good thing! You do not need to sign up for anything to vote on this challenge.
I am also in Bead Star- voting ends May 17th - in 3 categories. To vote you need to visit the main BeadingDaily.com page and sign up to receive the newsletter. Then visit each of the categories and place your votes. If you like my pieces great! I would really appreciate your vote (my piece in glass is in 3rd place right now!!! SO cool!) if not, place your vote for your favorites in each category. Here's the links...
I wanted to take a second this morning and wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. Especially those who have lost a pregnancy or a child. I follow a blog and they lost their daughter at 4 months old to Sids and I know yesterday was exceptionally difficult. I was going to do it yesterday but I spent a lovely day going to mass, grocery shopping and then went to my sister's house for a barbecue. It was a great day, daughter and hubby were asleep by 9pm!
I also wanted to take a second and thank everyone who has voted for my pieces in all the challenges I have been in lately. It means SO much to me to have you all take the time to vote. I also wanted to give anyone who has not voted yet or didn't know I was in these contests the links.
So for those of you that have voted already Thank You and you don't have to read on. If you haven't voted yet and would like to here's the info:
I am in the ArtBeads.com make it for mom challenge - voting ends May 10th - with this bracelet:
 |
| http://apps.facebook.com/promotionshq/contests/112034/voteable_entries/21458141?ogn=facebook |
It has over 75 hand wrapped dangles in shades of pink and white! The voting is through facebook and all you have to do is visit the link and vote. You can share it on your wall if you would like. I could win $250 and that's definitely a good thing! You do not need to sign up for anything to vote on this challenge.
I am also in Bead Star- voting ends May 17th - in 3 categories. To vote you need to visit the main BeadingDaily.com page and sign up to receive the newsletter. Then visit each of the categories and place your votes. If you like my pieces great! I would really appreciate your vote (my piece in glass is in 3rd place right now!!! SO cool!) if not, place your vote for your favorites in each category. Here's the links...
 | |
| http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/112852.aspx |
 |
| http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/112802.aspx |
Thanks SO much for all your support! I know it's a lot of contests and such but I do really appreciate it. The winner of artbeads.com gets $250 and the top winners in Bead Star get prizes and a spot the the Bead Star magazine!
~Shannon
Friday, May 6, 2011
What's Old is New Again
When I opened the e-mail from Artbeads.com asking me to participate in another design challenge I must admit I tripped over a stack of toys running outside to tell my husband.
I was so excited by this challenge because I love Art Beads and I love the theme for this round.
What's old is new again.
I knew exactly what I wanted to make, so I placed my order and waited for what seemed like an eternity (it was about a week). I tore into that purple wrapped gift like a kid on Christmas.
**Gasp**
The beads I ordered were perfect, not just good or could work, but perfect!
To make this necklace I used a set of rhinestone buttons I purchased from HiHo Home Market a wonderful antique store about 30 minutes from home. You have to check out this store if you live in the area. I have found many little treasures while shopping there.
Directions for necklace:
1) Cut the shanks off 3 buttons and wrap each in a 44mm Diamond Swirl Filigree from Vintaj Natural Brass. (Kabela, who I love, also have this piece available on the Art Beads website but I had the Vinatj ones already)
2) Connect each of the filigree wrapped buttons with 3-7.25mm Vintaj jump rings.
3) Using 22 gauge wire make a wrapped loop, attach the Antique Brass-Plated Cable Chain and knot the Light Pink Silk Ribbon and White Silk Ribbon . String on the Flourish Petal Bead Cap from Vinatj and make another wrapped loop. Repeat for other end and add hook end of clasp.
4) Repeat step 3 on the other side, add eye end of clasp.
Now here is where the plan changed. The buttons are square and flipped around so I couldn't do what I had originally wanted to do which was to add a cluster of beads in between each of the buttons. Instead I thought if I added the dangles to the bottom of the buttons it would give them weight so it would anchor them. Worked like a charm. Get it charm? :-)
Directions for dangles:
1) Wire wrap 1-14mm XILION Heart Pendant Light Rose set aside.
2) wire wrap 2 -10mm Faceted Heart Pendant Light Rose set aside.
3) use a headpin to wire wrap 8- Fire-Polished Bead 6mm Pink Opal set aside.
4) repeat for 8 each - Fire-Polished Bead 6mm Crystal and Pink
and 8- Czech Fire-Polished Bead Opal 6mm for a total of 28 wrapped beads.
5) Use 7.25mm jump rings to attach the wrapped beads, use 4 beads on each jump ring from white/clear down to pink.
6) Use a 4mm jump ring to add the heart made in step 1 to the center and the hearts in step 2 to each outer button.
Thank you for stopping by I wish all the moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!
Let me know what you think of my necklace, I love reading the comments and feedback.
~Shannon
The materials above were provided as part of the Artbeads blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.
I was so excited by this challenge because I love Art Beads and I love the theme for this round.
What's old is new again.
I knew exactly what I wanted to make, so I placed my order and waited for what seemed like an eternity (it was about a week). I tore into that purple wrapped gift like a kid on Christmas.
**Gasp**
The beads I ordered were perfect, not just good or could work, but perfect!
To make this necklace I used a set of rhinestone buttons I purchased from HiHo Home Market a wonderful antique store about 30 minutes from home. You have to check out this store if you live in the area. I have found many little treasures while shopping there.
Directions for necklace:
1) Cut the shanks off 3 buttons and wrap each in a 44mm Diamond Swirl Filigree from Vintaj Natural Brass. (Kabela, who I love, also have this piece available on the Art Beads website but I had the Vinatj ones already)
2) Connect each of the filigree wrapped buttons with 3-7.25mm Vintaj jump rings.
3) Using 22 gauge wire make a wrapped loop, attach the Antique Brass-Plated Cable Chain and knot the Light Pink Silk Ribbon and White Silk Ribbon . String on the Flourish Petal Bead Cap from Vinatj and make another wrapped loop. Repeat for other end and add hook end of clasp.
4) Repeat step 3 on the other side, add eye end of clasp.
Now here is where the plan changed. The buttons are square and flipped around so I couldn't do what I had originally wanted to do which was to add a cluster of beads in between each of the buttons. Instead I thought if I added the dangles to the bottom of the buttons it would give them weight so it would anchor them. Worked like a charm. Get it charm? :-)
Directions for dangles:
1) Wire wrap 1-14mm XILION Heart Pendant Light Rose set aside.
2) wire wrap 2 -10mm Faceted Heart Pendant Light Rose set aside.
3) use a headpin to wire wrap 8- Fire-Polished Bead 6mm Pink Opal set aside.
4) repeat for 8 each - Fire-Polished Bead 6mm Crystal and Pink
and 8- Czech Fire-Polished Bead Opal 6mm for a total of 28 wrapped beads.
5) Use 7.25mm jump rings to attach the wrapped beads, use 4 beads on each jump ring from white/clear down to pink.
6) Use a 4mm jump ring to add the heart made in step 1 to the center and the hearts in step 2 to each outer button.
Thank you for stopping by I wish all the moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!
Let me know what you think of my necklace, I love reading the comments and feedback.
~Shannon
The materials above were provided as part of the Artbeads blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
It's May 1st!
I cannot believe it is May 1st already! I just got done with Church, food shopping (have you seen the prices?!) and breakfast. I have been up since 5:53 AM- yes I know the time because I beat my alarm clock and that never happens.
May 1st means there are only 16 more days to vote for your favorite pieces in the Bead Star competition!!!
Why am I so excited about this?
If you didn't know it already I have 3, yes 3, pieces in this competition.
For those that don't know not every piece that is entered gets chosen to be voted on. The editors at BeadingDaily.com choose 20 pieces from each category to be voted on by the public-that's you guys.
I entered several pieces and I am thrilled to have 3 pieces in the contest. It's a pretty big deal if you hadn't figured it out already.
So, here are the pieces I have in the contest:
Summer Bloom has Vintaj Natural Brass, a handmade clasp by me, bird from Green girl Studios, handmade beads by Gaea and polymer clay beads from Humblebeads.
In Love has Vintaj Naural Brass, a handmade clasp by me, silk from Marsha Neal Studio and handmade beads from Gaea.
Autumn Cottage has antique copper chain, Swarovski Crystals, handmade clasp and headpins by me, handmade glass beads from HMB Studios, Tierra Cast spacer beads and one of my handmade copper tags.
Click on each of the pictures if you would like to vote for my pieces. I would really appreciate it!
Just remember you must register at BeadingDaily.com to vote. So if you would like to vote the easiest thing to do is to Click Here and register, then come back here and click on each of the photos above to cast your vote for my pieces. (If you like them)
If you would like to see all the other pieces in the contest Click Here. I have many friends in all the categories that have submitted beautiful pieces.
Thanks for visiting my blog, come back soon :-)
~Shannon
May 1st means there are only 16 more days to vote for your favorite pieces in the Bead Star competition!!!
Why am I so excited about this?
If you didn't know it already I have 3, yes 3, pieces in this competition.
For those that don't know not every piece that is entered gets chosen to be voted on. The editors at BeadingDaily.com choose 20 pieces from each category to be voted on by the public-that's you guys.
I entered several pieces and I am thrilled to have 3 pieces in the contest. It's a pretty big deal if you hadn't figured it out already.
So, here are the pieces I have in the contest:
| |
| Summer Blossom - Plastics Category http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/112802.aspx |
Summer Bloom has Vintaj Natural Brass, a handmade clasp by me, bird from Green girl Studios, handmade beads by Gaea and polymer clay beads from Humblebeads.
|
| In Love - Hearts Category http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/112852.aspx |
In Love has Vintaj Naural Brass, a handmade clasp by me, silk from Marsha Neal Studio and handmade beads from Gaea.
 |
| Autumn Cottage - Glass Category http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/112812.aspx |
Autumn Cottage has antique copper chain, Swarovski Crystals, handmade clasp and headpins by me, handmade glass beads from HMB Studios, Tierra Cast spacer beads and one of my handmade copper tags.
How to vote:
Just remember you must register at BeadingDaily.com to vote. So if you would like to vote the easiest thing to do is to Click Here and register, then come back here and click on each of the photos above to cast your vote for my pieces. (If you like them)
If you would like to see all the other pieces in the contest Click Here. I have many friends in all the categories that have submitted beautiful pieces.
Thanks for visiting my blog, come back soon :-)
~Shannon
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