Hopefully, I'll get the energy over Christmas to break out the camera again and show you what I've been up to.
But that's not what this post is about.
I joined a handmade ornament swap hosted by Karen Williams and was partnered with Judy Jacobs. After I looked at Judy's website, I was a bit intimidated, to say the least. Look at all her gorgeous paintings. Seriously, they are fabulous. And she's a glass artist also?
Luckily, Judy is very sweet and insisted she would love anything beady I might send.
I ended up making two ornaments for Judy, but before I show you what I sent, I would like to show you the wonderful ornament Judy gifted to me.
How gorgeous is that? Judy made the beads dangling and the rest, she said, is fused.
The colors are gorgeous and so bright and cheery. Here's a close up of Judy's beads.
My daughter helped me open the package. Before I could do or say anything, the ornament was on the tree, very high up, where all her favorite ornaments hang.
We'll keep it in the office after Christmas, so we can enjoy it all year round.
Judy also sent a mini painting of a seascape that will reside on my desk so I can watch the waves every day. :)
Now, on to what I sent Judy.
I knew I wanted to make a beaded ornament, but couldn't decide on a design. After a a bit of back and forth, I decided on this pattern by threadabead. I liked the simplicity of the design and I loved that it was double sided.
The front:
and the back:
This was fun to make and I loved how it came together.
I also sent this chain maille ornament, the maillers choice for December from Blue Buddha Boutique. :
I really like the rubber rings in this. (I liked it so much, I made a ton of ornaments and a pair of earrings that the kiddo immediately claimed as her own.)
Please check Judy's blog to see her entry.
If you want to see what the others made, check out Karen's blog. She will have links to those participants with blogs and entries for those participants who don't have blogs.
Karen, thank you for hosting. It's such a wonderful idea!
Judy, the ornament is beautiful! Thank you so much! It was so nice getting to know you!
Lovely to see you blogging Tanya! I missed the call on Karen's swap, but having fun checking out what everyone made. Love your beaded ornament - such a beautiful pattern and the colors a gorgeous! I'm sure Judy will love it!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Both of your ornaments are absolutely delightful, and they really show off some of the diversity of your skills! I kind of wish you'd taken a picture of the side view of the flower though, as I've been trying to visualize how the two sides go together. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't JJ's work fun? She and I were paired for a Bead Soup party way back when - it was the first time for both of us doing a bead exchange like that and we had such a great time. I've used several of her beads in my work, and just love it.
Thank you so much for joining in my Ornament Swap! And for helping to make it such a success! Happy holidays to you and your family.
What a great job you did!Love those beaded stars, and have added THAT pattern page to my collection on Pinterest *g*. I'm also a chainmailler, and I wish I'd thought to work that one up...so cute!!
ReplyDeleteMy dear Tanya - I can't thank you enough for being my partner and for sending me the exquisite ornaments you made. I'm heading to the theatre in a couple of hours for a Holiday show and am wearing the little tree as a pendant with my outfit :-) And the double sided beaded "star flower" ornament is simply amazing. It blends with my sea decor perfectly and will be seen year-round in my little (actually rather large) art collection of favorite, handmade treasures. Thank you again and Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your beaded star/flower is gorgeous. I have been eyeing some similar patterns, but none of them were double sided. I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteAnd your little chainmaille tree is adorable! What a great way to use those little rubber rings. I have tried doing that style of chainmaille before and was quite frustrated. I think the trick is having the perfect sized jump rings for the linking. Mine clearly weren't.