My blogging review of 2012

I began blogging late in 2011.  2012, then, was my first full year blogging.

Throughout the year, I've tried to develop both my beading skills and my photography skills.

I spent a good part of 2012 participating in Lori Plyler's i heart macro series.  I was usually able to take pictures while playing/walking/running with the kiddo.  (Okay, she was doing the running.)  This post is a good example of me making use of my time while the kiddo was busy climbing, swinging, sliding and running around the playground.

My beading skills were put to the test by Karyn, from Releases by Rufydoof.  Karyn started Beading Babes group in 2011 and the group created some wonderful pieces in 2012.  It's hard to pick a favorite, but I love that I was able to use some African bronze beads to compliment Nancy Dale's Trellis necklace in project 4.  (If you want to try Nancy's pattern, it's available in her etsy shop.)

I received my 1st brown belt in karate and in kobujutsu in 2012.  (My black belt is looming around the corner -- 99 days, but who's counting?)

Around the time of our anniversary, my husband and I saw The Avengers, the *best* superhero movie to date.  (All hail Joss Whedon.)

I was able to convince my husband to take a few vacation days in 2012.  We traveled to Colorado for our first family vacation.

2012 was also the year the kiddo started kindergarten.  I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

Throughout 2012, I participated in several beading challenges, my favorite of which was the 3rd annual Challenge of Color, hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz of Treasures Found and Brandi Hussey of Brandi Girl Blog.  (Erin's entry and permalinks to all the participants are here.)

I also spent the year following other bloggers.  I feel like I know Therese, Kim, Amy and Marla, to name a few, through their words and through their work.  I also found Sharyl's blog.  Sharyl and I were able to take advantage of our close proximity and spend a few afternoons watching the kiddo play.

I'm sure there are events I am forgetting, but these stand out to me.

My blog also had a good year.  According to google analytics, from January 1 - December 31, 2012, a whopping 7,007 people visited my blog a total of 10,695 times.  Of those visits, 3,688 (or 34.48%) were from returning guests.

Those 7,007 people viewed a total of 20,398 pages.

In 2012, I wrote 91 posts and received 793 comments (thank you all!).

While most of my blog traffic originated from google searches, a few referring sites stood out:

• many people found my blog thanks to Lori's i heart macro series on her blog, Studio Waterstone
• my love for challenges helped generate visits from Lorelei Eurto's blog and from Erin Prais-Hintz's blog, Treasures Found
• several people visited after seeing this post from Beading Daily 
• this post from Sharyl's Jewelry has brought many new visitors to my blog throughout the year (thank you, Sharyl)

This was my most popular post in 2012, though it was written in 2011. (Wow .. my photography has improved since then.)

I would like to thank everyone who has visited, commented on and followed my blog in 2012.  Every page hit and every comment means the world to me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2013.

Beading Babes project 7

It's time again for our Beading Babes reveal.

This time around, instead of selecting projects for us, Karyn asked our Facebook group for ideas.  Collectively, we chose four projects.

The first project was "Enchanted Rivoli Earrings," designed by Csilla Csirmaz and published in the August 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I really enjoyed this project.  The earrings are comprised of a bezeled rivoli and a strip of herringbone rope.

The pattern called for several different sizes of seed beads so that the herringbone rope slowly increases in size.  I didn't have the size 9 seed beads called for, so I improvised.

I adore how they turned out.

Next was "Roller Beads," designed by Cathy Lampole and published in the October 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

I was pleased to see Cathy's name.  I love Cathy's shop and highly recommend her patterns.  Please take some time to check it out.

I was impressed by the finished roller bead.  The base is made from 4mm and 3mm pearls and embellished with crystals.  It looks great from the side or from the front.

I decided to something a bit different with these.  I made a metal wire frame and hung the bead from it.  I love my roller bead earrings.

Our third project was also published in the October 2012 issue of Bead and Button.  It is "Scalloped Pearls," designed by Angelle Procopio

I had a hard time deciding on a color scheme for this project.  I couldn't find bugle beads and pearls that I liked together.  Then Marcie Abney Carroll was kind enough to share the beads she used for the teal version of her picture frame pendant.  (This is a wonderful pattern, by the way.  I have it and highly recommend it and all of Marcie's patterns.)

I loved those teal bugles, so I started with those.  

I ended up improvising here as well.  I accidently ordered the 9mm bugles instead of 6 mm.  I also didn't have any cube  beads, so I used size 8 seed beads and 3mm crystals instead.

I tried to add a bronze clasp, but I didn't like how it attached to the bugle beads.  Instead, I created a small flower clasp which mimics the waves in the bracelet.

I used a snap closure which is hidden behind the flower.  I love how it came out.

Our last project was "Gothic Butterfly Bracelet," designed by Mikki Ferrugiaro and published in the December 2010 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I had been wanting to make this bracelet since I saw it almost two years ago, but never got around to it.  Thankfully, Karyn gave me the "push" I needed.

Looking at this bracelet, I thought the wings were flat peyote and the connector strips were sewn on top.  That is not the case.  The wings (including the beginning of the connector strip) is one piece of peyote which folds up because of the different bead sizes.

I was also amazed that the wings are shaped pieces.  The wings don't droop or sag -- they sit perfectly on the top of your wrist.

Everything about this bracelet is stunning, from the focal, to the wings, to the straps.

I love how the top of the bracelet sits on your wrist easily.

Mikki has many more beautiful designs in her Artfire shop.  I highly suggest you take a look.

Karyn, thank you again for putting this together.  It was fun, as always.  I really enjoyed (finally) getting to a favorite project and finding a few new favorites.

Beading Babes Project 6 - long version

Karyn chose an impressive four projects this time around.  I should warn you, with four projects (and my ramblings), this post will be rather long.  If you would rather see only the finished projects, check out this short and sweet post.

Our first project was Retro Daisies, designed by Janice Chatham, and published in the April 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

This is yet another project I wouldn't have started without our Beading Babes group.  The bracelet is very cute, but the combination of cross stitch and brick stitch around the components would have driven me away.

As much as I don't like making multiple components, the daisies worked up quickly and were easy to make in front of the television.  (My husband and I had been watching back episodes of Eureka when I made these.)

The base of the bracelet also worked up quickly.  I had to make the base a bit longer than called for in the pattern because I used size 15 seed beads instead of charlottes.  I whipped up an extra few flower components and I was in business.

I made the base long enough to overlap about a half inch and sewed on a snap.  I like the way the snap is hidden in the bracelet.

Our second project was the Ripple Effect Cuff, designed by Sherry Serafini, and published in the June 2011 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I was really excited to try this because I had never tried bead embroidery before.  I started looking for a cabochon and found this awesome daisy by Tracee Dock, of The Classic Bead.  (You should really check out Tracee's etsy shop, by the way.  Her work is amazing.)

I cut out my bead backing, found my adhesive, closed my eyes for a minute, and dove in.  I really liked the embroidery flowed together and really set off the cabochon.

My version isn't exactly like Sherry's example.  My cabochon was a bit larger, so I used 8mm honey blue tiger eye discs as the center of my ripples.  The 15 seed beads were, of course, dwarfed by the discs, so I used 11s.

The bracelet ended up a bit bigger than the example.  I tried to compensate by using a different edging technique I found in Jamie Cloud Eakin's Dimensional Bead Embroidery.

I learned a great deal while finishing this bracelet--especially what *not* to do.  I cut the backing a bit short and wasn't able to secure it to the leather in a few places.  The edge beads are a bit too close in a few places (mostly where I started the edging).

I was happy to see that my technique improved as I went along.  If you look closely, you can see a difference between  early and later stitches in both the ripples and the edging.  If I hadn't invested so much time in this bracelet, I'd be tempted to redo it.  Instead, I'm just going to say that the early stitches add "character."  :)

I absolutely love Tracee's pendant and I *adore* the pearl bezel that Sherry designed.

We were all very excited to try a soutache project.  Karyn chose Soutastic Soutache Earrings, designed by Amee McNamara, and published in the June 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

I honestly thought I would be able to sit down and stitch these babies up in an hour.  It's an *earring* project!  As you might have guessed, that didn't really happen.  Soutache is another one of those things that takes practice and patience.

The initial sewing wasn't too bad, but I couldn't figure out how to do the edging and make it look, well, "finished" to my eye.  I put the earrings down for a while and only picked them back up a few days before the deadline.  I re-read the instructions and plunged in.

I have no idea why it took me so long to finish these.  The edging went quickly and looked beautiful.

The earrings were not my style, so I linked them together and added some chain .. instant bracelet.

Our last project was Josephine's Collar, designed by Jill Devon and published in the June 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

This was probably my favorite project in this round.  Bead weaving is my first love and while I enjoyed soutache and embroidery, I was happy to start on the beaded squares and circles in this necklace.

I wish I could say the project went without a hitch, but, like most of my projects, I encountered a slight problem.  The pendant took me a few tries because the bezel was a bit different.  Two sides build up from the same row on the base.  This may not sound like an issue, but it was terribly hard to get my needle through the right beads.  I ended up modifying the order of the rounds to make it work for me.

That said, the rest of the necklace was glitch free.

I really liked adding the ribbon to the beaded components.  The small ring of beads around the ribbon is a genius idea.

I love this necklace.  It really is a show stopper.  I find myself reasoning that it *totally* works with jeans and a t-shirt just so I can wear it from time to time.

I could also envision a simpler version with only a pendant and the silk.  (Actually, I found a smaller helios pendant and will be trying a simpler version soon -- stay tuned.)

If you would like to see even more versions of these projects, please check out Karyn's blog, Releases by Rufydoof for a full list of participants.

Karyn, thank you again for putting this together.  The projects were so much fun and I had a blast trying some new techniques.

Beading Babes Project 6 - short version

Karyn chose an impressive four projects this time around.  Since I have several projects to show you (and you know how wordy I can get), I will keep this post short and move my ramblings and extra pictures to this post.

Our first project was Retro Daisies, designed by Janice Chatham, and published in the April 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

Our second project was the Ripple Effect Cuff, designed by Sherry Serafini, and published in the June 2011 issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I didn't follow the pattern exactly on this one.  I used bigger beads on the ripples and used a different edging technique.

We were all very excited to try a soutache project.  Karyn chose Soutastic Soutache Earrings, designed by Amee McNamara, and published in the June 2012 issue of Bead and Button for our third project.

I finished the earrings, but wasn't sure if I would wear them.  Instead, I linked them together and turned them into a bracelet.

Our last project was Josephine's Collar, designed by Jill Devon and published in the June 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

If you would like to read more about my beading process and see more pictures, check out the longer version of this post here.

If you would like to see even more versions of these projects, please check out Karyn's blog, Releases by Rufydoof for a full list of participants.

Karyn, thank you again for putting this together.  The projects were so much fun and I had a blast trying some new techniques.

And what I'm still working on ...

A few days ago, I showed you what I've completed over the past weeks.  Today, I want to share what else  has been moving through my bead table.

I'm slowly putting together my creation for Erin Prais-Hintz's and Marcie Abney's Challenge of Travel.  I chose Japan and am hoping to produce something worthy of the country's rich cultural heritage.

My original idea didn't pan out, so I went back to the beading board.  I'm hoping to create two different pieces, one literal and one interpretative.

I'll let you guess which one this is.

Karyn chose four projects for our Beading Babes group this time around.  I have a two completed and am in the process of finishing the other two.

I can't show you the projects until our reveal date, but I can share a few teaser pictures.

My favorite project this round is "Josephine's Collar," designed by Jill Devon and published in the June 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I had so much fun with this, I set everything else aside so I could finish it.

I also finished "Retro Daisies," designed by Janice Chatham, and published in the April 2012 issue of Bead and Button.

I need to complete the edging for the "Ripple Effect Cuff," designed by Sherry Serafini, and published in the June 2011 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I also need to finish the "Soutastic Soutache Earrings," designed by Amee McNamara, and published in the June 2012 issue of Bead and Button.    This may or may not happen as the soutache is giving me fits.  (It's entirely my fault, of course.  The soutache itself is soft and and cuddly.)

When those are complete, I can start on a piece for Lisa Lodge's My Bead Table Blog Hop.  Lisa sent me the following selection of stray and orphan beads from her own stash.

The colors are right up my alley and I am hoping to do her proud.

Please check back in a week for the Challenge of Travel reveal.  The reveal date for our Beading Babes group is September 16 and Lisa's My Bead Table Blog Hop reveal is October 13.  I hope to see you then!

Family Vacation

A few months ago, my husband decided he needed a vacation.  He kindly allowed the kiddo and I to accompany him.  :)  Actually, he decided a family vacation might be in order and the kiddo and I agreed on the spot.

We chose to visit Estes Park, Colorado.  My husband loves to hike and the scenery in Estes Park can't be beat.  We live in Kansas and while the state isn't entirely flat, cornfields are not the prettiest things to view.

Yeah, even with rain clouds in the background, mountains beat cornfields in the aesthetics department.

The kiddo was great in the airport and on the plane.  She loved that we traveled by car (to KCI), plane, train (in DIA), bus (to the rental car) and car (to Estes).

Our first day, we took a short hike to Copeland Falls.  My father in-law was kind enough to add something to his pack so the kiddo could walk hands free.

With her friend safely stowed, the kiddo was ready to go.

(Yes, those are Batman socks.  The kiddo is awesome!)

The falls were really something to see.

The next day, my husband and father in-law started at the same trail and went several miles further to Bluebird Lake.  They passed the Calypso Cascades

and even managed to make a friend.

My mother in-law, the kiddo and I went shopping instead.  We paid a visit to the Estes Ark and picked up a new friend for the kiddo.  We also stopped at the Red Rose Rock Shop.  Both the kiddo and I picked up a few shiny things.

The kiddo picked up some honey quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite (the dark blue), beryl, rose quartz and a pretty pink striped glass shard.

Of course, I picked up a few things for myself.

Above are thin slaps of blue jasper, crazy lace agate and Brazilian agate.  They are thin and light enough that I could try some bead embroidery with them.

I also picked up a few stones:  labradorite, lepidolite and blue lace agate.  These are a bit thicker, but would work with a bead or wire bezel.

I couldn't resist the copper flecks or heavy copper slugs.

I also had to restrain myself and buy only two of these fabulous stone buttons.  I adore these.

After we finished shopping, the kiddo and I treated ourselves to our first ever mother/daughter pedicure.

Seriously, how cute is it that the kiddo's skirt matched her flip flops?

Later that day, we drove out to the Alluvial Fan.  My husband said the Alluvial Fan was a nice waterfall with some rocks to play on.  I was in no way prepared for this:

Oh .. and by the way, see that red arrow?  The kiddo climbed to there.  She wanted to go to the top, but my husband (wisely) told her that might not be such a good idea.

The next morning, we rented a paddleboat (for me and my mother in-law) and a kayak (for my husband and father in-law).  As it turns out, the paddle boat was too slow for the kiddo and she wanted to try the kayak.

My husband was more than pleased to take her for a ride.  I don't think she really wanted to stop.

We also drove to Loveland later in the day.  We made a point to visit the Benson Sculpture Garden while there.  The Benson Sculpture Garden is a park that provides a home to over 100 sculptures.

We didn't get to see nearly all the sculptures, but I was taken by "Evening Jazz" by Warren Cullar.  I love the soft colors Warren used.  The pieces just takes you right into to the mood.

I also loved "Storm's Brewing" by Jeannine Young.  My father is a fan of old Westerns and I watched more than one growing up.  This sculpture brought to mind Clint Eastwood and the Man with No Name.  I love the detail on this sculpture.

Since Ft. Collins is only a short drive from Loveland, I asked my husband to drive a bit further.  He and my in-laws took the kiddo for ice cream while I paid a visit to the Bead Cache.

The Bead Cache had a marvelous selection of seed beads.

I found a few colors of delicas I hadn't seen before.

I also picked up a few odds and ends.  I love the ribbon in the background.  The teal and brown pearls have large holes (perfect to string on leather).  I treated myself to some bone circles, a bone spacer, some Czech lentil drop beads and those awesome black and white beads in the front.

On our last day, we did a bit more sightseeing.

We also managed to visit Fun City.  This place certainly lives up to its name.  The kiddo and I started out on the giant slide.

Of course, she wanted to try on her own, so I watched her climb the mountain of stairs and slide down, laughing all the way.

I took the kiddo on the bumper cars and go karts.  Her favorite, however, was the bungee trampoline.

I have never seen a smile so big on anyone's face.

In case you are wondering, I did get some beading in while on vacation.

I didn't do as much as I had hoped, but I got most of the components finished for Josephine's Collar, designed by Jill Devon and published in the June 2012 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

This necklace is one of the projects for our Beading Babes group.  You can find out more about the projects in this round here.

We had a good time on vacation, but it is always nice to be home.  It will be nice to get back into our usual routine this week.

With packing, vacation and unpacking, I missed a few too many karate classes and I need to get back before I forget everything.

The kiddo is gearing up for kindergarten and it's only a short few weeks until school starts.  I think we can make it until then.  :)