Bead Soup Blog Party 7 Reveal 2!!!!

Oh my, what a wild few weeks our family has had. Originally, I was signed up for the 2nd reveal, then I had to go and get my appendix out. What was suppose to be an easy procedure turned out to be quiet an ordeal with me being laid up in the hospital for 8 days, but that is a whole other post.

So then I was moved to the 3rd reveal, seconds after I was able to get my bead soup posted almost a week late; so now, here we go with my 3rd/2nd reveal, lol......

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs, sent me some really fun beads, and I had a blast putting them together to create the following. Before I go on, I have to tell you all something. Many of the pieces that I created for this blog party, I entered into a regional arts and craft competition. Several of my pieces earned some ribbons, some even FIRST place! All first place pieces will be going to state this summer for an opportunity to win CASH prizes!!!! I'll have to keep ya'll up to date as to how they do.

The first piece I made was nothing like I have ever done before, and I had fun making it. I took some of the sari ribbon, the chip beads and one of the polymer clay beads she made for me and added some chain and copper wire to it. I loved the clasp she sent, so I put it where it can be seen. This piece won a second place ribbon.

Don't you just love the bead she made?

This next necklace (below) received a third place ribbon. It is made of the ribbon, chain, glass beads, wire and one of Tammie's handmade beads. I attempted to make the clasp.

Tammie actually sent me several polymer beads. I love them. I'm thinking about learning to make them.

I took some more of the clay beads and paired it with some of the glass and wood beads she sent, added some chain and jump rings and came up with this.

Then I made these earrings.....

and a matching necklace. I wear this set quite a bit.

This is another favorite of mine that I wear A LOT!!!

 As soon as I saw the glass beads she sent, I knew what I wanted to do with them.

I wanted to use the other clasp she made along with the wood an crystal beads and crochet a necklace with wire.  This necklace took first place in it's category (crochet jewelry).

Tammie sent me some really pretty turquoise and blue polymer clay beads. I had some turquoise and silver chain, and turquoise and green glass beads, so I  put it all together to create this.

The earrings are very fun to wear.

I had received sari turquoise ribbon in my soup, so I made another necklace. 

I combined the two necklaces along with the earrings and won first place in this category of Beading. I feel quite certain, Tammie's gorgeous handmade polymer clay beads is what helped me to win first place in this category!

Here is what I sent Tammie. You need to go check her site out to see what she put together. I'm sure you won't be disappointed, because she is really creative!

Well, there you have it. My Soup is complete, now go and see some of the other beautiful creations from the rest of the guests.

I've been trying to get the list of 3rd revealers posted to this post, but for some reason I am having an issue. So click here to go on over to Lori Anderson's blog and you will see the list there. Sorry. I kinda had to throw this together because of my appendix, which all occurred two weeks before our 30th wedding anniversary cruise.  Ok, enough of the excuses.....

HOMEMADE D. O. FOR YOUR B. O.

 Since I found out I am allergic to several ingredients that are in our hair, body and makeup stuff, I have decided to try to make some of it. I put in an order for some of the ingredients and it came...very quickly. As soon as it arrived, I nabbed it off the porch, opened the box, and took out all my new things.

 The first thing I wanted to make was deodorant.  A couple of years ago, I started to break out under my arms. The rash was not only unsightful, but was very, very itchy!!! I tried all kinds of underarm stuff, even the ones that claimed they were for sensitive skin. Living in Louisiana and walking four miles everyday, I needed something, especially in the summer. When all the underarm stuff didn't work, I tried baby power and then medicated powder.  I figured I was just going to be stinky for the rest of my life. Actually, I am lucky that I don't really sweat are smell too bad.

Again, I got this wonderful recipe from Robin over at Thank Your Body. Told you I would be referring to her site a lot. Her recipe called for:
2 Tblsp baking soda
1/3 cup arrow root powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
10 to 15 drops of essential oil
I left out the oils for two reasons, one--I don't have any, and two--my dermatologist that did all my allergy testing said not to use any smelly stuff, even essential oils for a couple of months. DARN!!!

I used virgin coconut oil, which smells divine!  I love the way coconut smells, so really, I don't need the essential oils.

 I first mixed the dry ingredients real well, then added the coconut oil. Now for those of you who are not familiar with coconut oil, it is a funny thing. When it is cool, like it was today, it is a solid. When it is warm, it turns into a liquid. I found it a little difficult to mix the coconut oil, but I just kept working at it. I used a fork to break up the coconut oil, and then the back of a spoon to smoosh it all together. Then I spooned it all into a baby food jar. 

My only complaint is the jar I put it in. Just because the lid does not stay on too well. I think this stuff will probably last me awhile. It is still on the cool side, so I really can't give you a good review on how well it works. In a few weeks, I will be down in Florida and the Caribbean on a cruise, so I am sure by the time I get back, I will know if this is a go or no go. I sure hope it is a go. 

Coconut/Vitamin E DIY Lotion

Now that I found out that I am allergic to many of the lotions and creams out there on the market, I've been doing some investigating on how to make my own. Here is one of the recipes I've tried, and so far, so good.

Place  1 cup extra virgin coconut oil and 1 Tablespoon vitamin E into a bowl. It whips up better if it is in its solid form.

Then blend it up. My instructions said to whip it for seven minutes, but I put this into my small food processor and pulsed it until it was pretty well mixed. Then I set it to mix for a couple of minutes. I placed it into a glass jar, and boy did it smell wonderful (extra virgin coconut oil smells just like coconuts). The texture is really nice. You don't need a whole lot on your skin; a lot goes a LOONG way! 

Cruise Jewelry

In a very short while, my husband and I are going to be setting sail on the open seas! Yes, we are taking a cruise. We will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. Both our mom's are coming along. My mom loves to cruise, and my mother in law has never been, so we decided to invite them to come along. I'm so glad I have a mom and mother in law that are very easy to get along with.

I've been going through my closet to try to figure out what I want to bring. I do not plan to buy any new clothes, but I do plan to make me a few new pieces of jewelry so I feel as if I have a new outfit. I've got so many beads and such, I don't have to buy anything to make new pieces.

One of the dresses I plan to bring has a very bright (and loud) print to it. After digging around my beads, I finally came up with this necklace.

Looking at these two pictures, it seems that they really don't go very well, but before I started stringing up the beads, I made sure the matched.

Perfect!!!

I started to put together a pair of earrings, then I realized I had these pretty sterling daisies with the robin egg turquoise stone in the center. They don't match exactly, but they will be way up on my ears, so you really won't be able to tell much of a difference.

I am really glad that I can just go into my (very messy) craft room and put together something like this. It makes me feel as if I have a new outfit. I might just have to put together something else before I head out on the wide open seas...

foto friday

landscape

This past month (March) our photography club's theme for Take A Picture Everyday For A Year, was.....

LANDSCAPE

Here are the pictures I took this month. March started out like lion with snow the first couple of days, and went out as a lamb...still cold, but with some of our trees already blooming. 

March 1

March 2

March 3

The first three pictures were taken of our backyard; in fact most of the pictures I took were of our backyard.

March 4

A friend and I went out to the park one day, and I took a bunch of really pretty pictures. It was hard to choose which one, but I finally chose this one of the tree trees by the lake.

March 5

The next day it snowed again! This year our area got more snow in just the first few months than it did the whole last year. Crazy!

March 5

You will see that I doubled up on some days, because I was not able to get out every day for a picture.

March 6

March 7

This picture of the black birds in the tree was a popular one. A lady from our photography group liked it so much that she bought a print of it. My first photography print sale!

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March 8

One early morning I got up to let our dog out to potty, and I saw this gorgeous sight. The sun was just beginning to peak out and the moon was above the trees.

March 9

My husband and I took a stroll at the park and, again, I had some really nice shots. I like this one of the man fishing.

March 10

The next morning, another beautiful sunrise.

March 15

As you can see, I skipped almost a whole week. Not sure what happened, probably life. The picture above was taken close to Waverly, Tennessee. I'd been looking for an old building all month, and finally was able to find this old place.

March 16

While in Waverly, we went to visit my father in laws grave and I was able to take this shot of the bull, it's like he posed for me.

March 17

Back at home, I took this. Not all that great, but it was one of those crazy rainy days, and I was not going to get out there with my camera.

March 18

After all the rain we got the day before, the clouds hung around for a couple of days. It allowed me to get this shot of all the beautiful colors.

March 21

March 22

March 24

Finally, the buds are beginning to come out!

March 25

Then came some more snow. The day I had to leave to travel to my doctor in Louisville, KY...about three hours away. Most of you think, no biggy, but I am a deep south girl. Not use to driving in ANY snow. I called to find out the weather, and it seemed that Southern Kentucky got more snow than the north, so off we went. Glad I went because not only was I able to find out about my rash, but I got some really pretty pictures, one of which one first place in our monthly photography club contest!

March 26

My mother in law came with me, and we stayed with her cousin. He lived really close to the train tracks. I was able to get a few pictures of train stuff. I was glad, because this was something I wanted to get for this month.

March 26

Here's the train speeding through the night.

March 27

And here is one I took of us while going over the tracks. Not too bad for a picture taken from a moving car...

The Louisville area has some really nice parks. Cousin Bill took us around to see some of them while we were there. 

March 28

The picture above is the one that won first place in our contest. I think it was the oar by the lake that gave it the right touch.

March 28 

March 28

March 28

I know, there are a lot of March 28, but I was trying to make up for the week I had not done. Besides, there were so many nice things to take pictures of...I took over 130 in just one day. Yep, you could say I went just a little crazy!!!

The next picture, I took in Waverly. After our stay in Louisville, we met my husband down in Tennessee---turkey season had started. On our way back home, my husband took me by this old place. He knew I was looking for something like this and thought it would make a great picture. He was right!

March 30

March 31

The last day of March, Easter Sunday, was a very nice day. It was a bit on the chilly side, but the sun was out and I noticed that there were more blooms on our tree at the side of our house. The tree is just right out some of our windows, and I love looking at them while sitting down to eat at our dining room table, or on the couch watching TV.  Even though March was still a little dreary looking, I think I was able to get some nice shots. I am really looking forward to next month. April's them is WATER. Since I will be spending a lot of April down in Florida and some of it on a cruise, I'm sure there will be a lot of opportunity to get a few good shots.  Too bad my son has to stay back and take care of the house...I'm sure he would enjoy coming too. Oh well....maybe next time!