Bead Peeps Bead Swap Reveal 2019!

About six weeks ago, I signed up for a bead swap and hop. Bead Peeps, Linda Anderson of Cherry on Top Design organized the fun, and she paired me up with Cynthia O'Toole of Sparkles and Sweets.

Check out, in detail, all the things I sent Cynthia here...

and go here to see all the pretties, in detail, she sent me.

any who.....

The day has finally come! Today is the big reveal!!!

so....I'm going to just hop right into it...

First, I decided to make a bunch of earrings. Since I had so many beads and fun stuff, I knew they would make some pretties for your ears.

I really like how the links turned out as earrings!

Here are more links and beads. I added some howlite beads I already had on hand for a pop of color.

More of my own stash of howlite on these for added color.

Since coral is the color of the year, I decided to add some coral colored beads for a pop of color to these.

Love how the howlite enhances the amber color in these glass beads.

...and then the coral with the amber looks so summery fun!

How about a pair of mismatched summer earrings?

I think the earrings pair nicely with this necklace!

I love the boho hippie style, and this rose is prefect on the cream hemp cording and glass beads.

Some more boho hippie...

Normally, I don't wear crosses. I am Christian, but we like to reflect on the resurrection of the Savior, not His death.

That being said...I am part of a line dance group, and the ladies like to wear their crosses. This will be a perfect piece for me to wear when we perform.

One of the items I make quite frequently are the wax cord adjustable bracelets. I love how the crystal starfish looks with the blue and white cording.

Here is another one of my surfer style wax cord, adjustable bracelets.

Remember the really pretty stone I mentioned in an earlier post? I mentioned I would like to have kitchen counter tops like this. Well, this is what I made with it. I took some silver tone wire to make a pendant and hung it onto the coconut beads Cynthia sent. I had some sea foam green sea glass beads I added, along with some silver tone chain, and a fun toggle clasp I had in my stash. I really love the way this piece turned out. This is a very versatile piece, and I have a feeling I will be wearing this quite a bit.

In this bead swap challenge, there is a few side challenges..and their are prizes too!

One of the things we are challenged to do is to think outside the box.

This last piece is not jewelry for your body, but jewelry for our car!

Yes...a rearview mirror dangle, or charm, or hanger. Not really sure what you call them. But it is something for you to hang onto the rearview mirror of your car!

I love the little lovebirds that hang from this piece!

The other categories in the design challenge are

Best Design

Best of Color.

Well, there ya have it. Bead Peeps 2019 Bead Swap Challenge by TappingflamingoBling!

Now....go check out the other talented people in the swap!

Below, is a list of all the very talented designers. They first group are non seed beaders, and they second group are seed beaders.

Linda Anderson http://www.instagram.com/cherryontopdesign

jeanne parker http://www.instagram.com/silverwoodstudio

Fay Wolfenden http://beadsbitsbaubles.blogspot.com

Teri Del Signore http://instagram.com/artisticaos_studio

Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com/

Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/

Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

Rozantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/

Kari Asbury https://www.facebook.com/kariasburyjewelry/

Sarah Reid http://www.instagram.com/sarahreiddesigns

Robin Reed http://www.facebook.com/artistryhcbd

Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com

Samantha Jones https://www.facebook.com/Arm-Candy-by-Sam-1735179996705639/

andrea frank https://www.instagram.com/andreazeef/

Inge von Roos https://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Lois Sherwood http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps.

Valarie Dunsmore http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps.

Marde Lowe http://www.instagram.com/mardel1947

Raquel Rosario http://facebook.com/seaglassparadisetreasures

gloria allen https://www.facebook.com/GloriaAllenDesigns

Leah Schneider http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps

Cheri Mitchell-Reed https://www.facebook.com/creativedesignsbycheri

Kathy Lindemer https://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Strehler http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps

Terry Jeanette Carter https://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com

Cynthia O'Toole https://www.facebook.com/Sparkles-and-Sweets-211404598956160/

Christina Hickman https://www.instagram.com/laughingsalmon/

Cindy Peterson https://www.facebook.com/howlingdogjewelry

Hope Smitherman http://CraftyHope.com

Bonnie Robbins https://www.instagram.com/brobbins_wireandwonder/

Sarah Auerbach http://www.jewelrybecause.com

Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/

Nadine Edris https://www.facebook.com/moondancejewelrymaine/

michelle marson https://www.instagram.com/ellecountry/

Lori Poppe http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Kristina Peck https://tealeavesandtinyhats.blogspot.com

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Seed Beaders

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Dora Oresic https://m.facebook.com/nakitich/

Krafty Max http://www.kraftymax.net

Susanne Stelljes https://www.facebook.com/sbeadz/

Penny Houghton https://www.instagram.com/forgottentrack/

naomi knafla https://www.instagram.com/naomiknafla/

Heather Faaborg https://www.facebook.com/heather.faaborg

Marcy Roll http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps

Carla Fry http://www.instagram.com/carlafrycreations

Renetha Stanziano https://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/

Dain Schlegel http://www.facebook.com/daintydesignsco

Tina Hemr http://instagram.com/mariecaroldesigns

Kelly Rodgers http://beadinblacknblue.blogspot.com

Shannon Luthy https://www.facebook.com/BeYoutifulBeads207/

Marianne Baxter http://www.facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps

Heather Canepa http://www.instagram.com/canepaheather

Sue wagner https://www.facebook.com/SueZeeBracelets/

Deborah Apodaca http://www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com

Barbara Harbuck http://ww.facebopk.com/groups/beadPeeps

The 100 Day Project

Yesterday, I was scrolling through Instagram, and saw that one of my friends was participating in a challenge. I am always up for a challenge, so I stopped and had a closer look.

#the100daychallenge is what it was. It started April 2...yesterday and goes until 10 July. As I investigated further, I remember my daughter did this a couple of years ago. She challenged herself to press into a handstand, and she did this while she was pregnant. Most everyday, you would see her post on facebook and instagram. She was able to accomplish her goal.

As I read up on the challenge, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I spoke with my daughter, who is a dance and yoga instructor, and the thought came to me to do something with yoga. 

The thing is, I really wanted to something that had some thought in it, and to me, yoga just didn't have enough of that. 

Several years ago, I started a facebook page called TLC for Body, Mind and Spirit. My initials are TLC, and the page is basically full of uplifting quotes and thoughts. I have decided to use this page as a platform. Each day, I will do something and post onto this page, and my tappingflamingobling Instagram. 

My first day, yesterday, was just a post that I am going to do this. Today, it is this blog. This challenge is not necessarily something you have to put a ton of time into...just 5 to 10 minutes a day, or more if you can. Some days I will do more than just the 5 to 10 minutes. 

I think it is important that we all take time for ourselves. But the time needs to be something meaningful. Not just sitting on one's duff. 

Besides coming up with an idea as what I will do for my project, yesterday I did go to dance. I practiced what we will be performing next week, and I also went to a dance class where I was able to help others learn a new dance. I also went to dulcimer practice. 

Dance and music are very important to our well being, and these two...dance and dulcimer are very much an enjoyment in my life.

If you would like to take this journey with me...#the100dayproject, click here for more information. I hope you go check out my TLC for Body, Mind and Spirit Facebook page too. If you decided to participate in the challenge, let me know how it goes. 

TappingflamingoBling is Trying to be More Green....

Like many of you, I care about our planet. There is a lot of waste in our society, and I try to do my part not to be so wasteful. 

One way I do this is reuse and repurpose. Not long ago, I blogged about how I recycle guitar strings into jewelry and ornaments. 

One other thing I like to do is reuse shipping packaging. Not only does it save me money as a business owner, but it also cuts down on the cost to you...and!!!! It helps the planet out.

So, if you order from TappingflamingoBling, there is a good chance that I reused something to wrap and/or send your piece off. I may have reused tissue paper, or a bow, or even the mailer. 

Do you recycle? What are some of the things you are doing to be more GREEN?

Bead Peeps Bead Swap Partner

On my last post, I told you what I sent my Bead Peeps partner for the bead swap. In this post, I am going to share what my partner sent me!

Linda Anderson of Bead Peeps is the administrator of this event. Thank you, Linda for all the hard work you do. I can only imagine how much work goes into organizing something like this! 

There were a couple of rules to follow, the most important one was to send something that is an artisan piece. What is an artisan piece? Well, that is something that is handmade by someone, not manufactured.

Linda paired me up with Cynthia O'Toole of Sparkles and Sweets.
Let me just say....she sent me a TON of stuff!!!! I was a bit overwhelmed, to say the least, lol. 

So, here is everything

Now let me break this down...

Cynthia knew I love the ocean...

So, she sent me some things 

from the sea!

Then, there were the pendants....

1

2

3

4!

...and then the beads!

oh...another pendant....5

and another....6

Some more glass beads...

There were a lot of glass pendants and beads!

We both like a little bling, so she sent me some...

Cynthia also sent me some links...

...and fancy clasps

...and some more links...

...and some split rings and bead caps!

I love bead caps!

And then, there was this piece. I love this piece! Not sure what I want to do with it, something very special. Funny thing is,  I sure would love to have my kitchen counter tops in this style and color. It kinda reminds me of specks of sea glass...

So, there you have it. Cynthia sent me a TON of stuff. Stay tuned to see what I do with it...

It's Another Bead Swap!!!

Yes! I've decided to do another bead swap. This one is with Bead Peep's Linda Anderson. I was paired with Cynthia O'Toole of Sparkle's and Sweets. I just received her package, and the package I sent should be delivered to her home today. 

Here is what I sent....

The first two things I would like to introduce are what was the one thing we were suppose to send...and that was an artisan piece. If you follow me, you know that I love my essential oils. During the Christmas holidays, I had several orders for diffuser necklaces, and so I decided to make something to send to Cynthia. This first piece is a terra cotta clay pendant that I had rolled and stamped myself. 

This next piece is a button. I actually love to use buttons as closures sometimes. They are very boho style and make a nice and secure closure.

Before I knew who my partner was, I gathered the terra cotta clay pendant and button and these strand of sea opal glass beads. I really liked the way they paired with the terra cotta.

When I found out who my partner was, and learned she like color,  decided to add these colorful dyed shell chips. I hope she likes them, because I sure do!

I love crystals, including rough cut crystals. I added these electroplated natural quartz rough nugget beads to the stash. They really have a nice hint of color to them.

Now for some more color...some turquoise glass beads. These remind me of the Caribbean Sea!

I knew that Cynthia like a bit of shine, so I added these babies. They really have a nice shine to them!

So...there you have it, I hope she like her mixture of beads.

My Two Favorite Things...

Wow! What a busy holiday we had! Our whole entire family crashed at my parent's house in Florida during Christmas and New Years. It was a bit crowded, but for the most part, everyone had a great time. We are very grateful for the beautiful weather my mother ordered, and the good Lord delivered!

We were able to visit the beach several times. 

One time we tried to get some family pictures...

But that didn't work out too well...

I was able to do some beachcombing on several occasions. Some days there were a lot of shells, other days, nothing....

We enjoyed each other's company and seeing some of the life that runs along the waters of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Two of my most favorite things...the beach and my family...and we were all able to enjoy family beach time together...

This Will Probably Never Get Read....

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? I bet you have...we all do at one time or another. 

I don't like it when I get those feelings, or feelings of inadequacy. It seems to happen a lot. I can remember, as a little girl, being bullied. It wasn't anything major, but it was bullying. I bet most of us have experienced bullying before. 

Feeling sorry for yourself, feeling inadequate and bullying others is all part of Satan's plan. He wants us to have these feelings; feelings of we are not good enough. 

So...what do we do about it? 

First off, we should NEVER bully anyone. Most of us think of bullying as someone saying terrible things about you or even beating on you, but bullying is much more than that. 

The bullying I got were things like making fun of my pale skin, or my shy nature. Teachers were really bad about this. They never made fun of my skin, but they would yell at me because I wouldn't ask questions, or want to come up to the board to work a math problem; and, yes....I would cry. They hated when I cried, and instead of trying to figure out why, they would feed into it by giving me a hard time about it. I hate it when I cry...and now, I don't. Well, not much anyway.

Some of the bullying I got was that not many people wanted to be my friend. Don't get me wrong, I had a few close friends that are still in my circle of people, but most of the kids really didn't want to have anything to do with me, because I was different. 

Experiences one has in their early life can lead to the way they behave...even being shy. I won't go into any details, but I had such an experience. I was about five, and it was something that should never happen to anyone, let alone an innocent child. 

I have tried to forget that experience, but I can't. Very few people know about it. I have forgiven the person who did it to me, and I try to see what I can learn from that experience to better other people's lives...but sadly, many times I fail.

I also have a very hard time asking for help. When I do, I feel awkward, and many times, the help I've asked for gets looked at as not important and bothersome....or so I think. 

One thing I have been working on is to remember other's...even if they are not so nice to me. We all judge, and before I judge too harshly, I try to remember maybe I don't understand what is going on in their lives. Maybe I would choose the same if I were in their shoes. 

One thing I suffer from is invisibleness. Sometimes it is a good thing, but most of the time it is not. It is very frustrating when you have worked hard on a project, and it goes unnoticed. I feel as if...why even bother?

Okay, so no more pitty party here. Let me get to the point. The point is, all of us have bad days, or bad things that happen. How we deal with them is part of the test. Do we just sit around and feel sorry for ourselves? That would be too easy. What we should do, is get up, brush ourselves off and move on. Try to look at those bad moments as a way to learn. What can we learn to help others?

Helping others is one way to forget our own troubles. There is always someone else who is going through something harder than what we are experiencing. 

Last month, there was a whole town that was burned to the ground in California. Almost 30,000 people lost everything. Some of these people I know; and a lot of these people are at a much better place than many of us that have minor issues going on in our lives. 

There is not much I can do for them, as they are 2,097 miles away. How do I know this?....well.....this summer I made a sign for our backyard. On it were all the places our family has lived, including our children's spouses...and one of them was born and raised in Paradise. 

But...back to what I can do to help. They have been in my thoughts and prayers ever since. Sometimes, when people go through hard times, that is all we can do. A listening ear or a hug, or just being their and letting them know, is maybe all we can do. 

Many times, the hardships we go through in life, are things that we put upon ourselves; the choices we make. But, many times, they are things that just happen. Yes, bad things happen to good people, but, like I've mentioned, what we do about them is the true test. 

Growing up, my parents went through some hard times. They were born during the depression, and their families were destitute. At one time my dad was living in a tent....my mom lived in a chicken coop in someone's backyard that was turned into a shelter. The stories my parents share with me are unbelievable. Did they sit around and feel sorry for themselves? NO! The fact is, until recently, I never knew about these stories. They did not dwell on the hardships they went through. Instead, they took those experiences and learned from them. Instead of continuing to be in poverty, they educated themselves. They saved their money. My dad was able to work at his dream job as a aeronautical engineer and working on the Apollo program, helping to put the first man on the moon. 

My parents gave us a good home. Sure, many times we couldn't understand why they did the thing they did and said the things they said, but now that I know the whole story, I understand more. Not saying I totally understand, because, since I didn't live through what they did, it is impossible for me to fully understand. 

So...next time you start feeling sorry for yourself, thing of others. Think of all those who are going through far more difficult times that you are. What can you do to help. If it is only to remember them in your prayers, than that is ok.....


“Up to a point a person’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and changes in the world about them. Then there comes a time when it lies within their grasp to shape the clay of their life into the sort of thing they wish it to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune or the quirks of fate. Everyone has the power to say, ‘This I am today. That I shall be tomorrow.’”
-Louis L'Amour