Color Palette Blog Walk

Get strollin'. 

It's time for a walk through some blogs looking at color--which, by the way, I can pronounce correctly now thanks to the continued efforts of my friend, Jason, who I drove nuts prounouncing it "keller." 

Here's the story:  I found the blog of a lovely girl named Brandi who shares the inspiration of colors.  She has herself a little brandigirlblog.  While browsing through some of her wonderful posts, I kept seeing palettes.  That's a selection of colors that have been inspired or pulled from a photo or some other piece of work.  She's hosting her second blog walk to share lots of palettes inspired by lots of other folks, even some who aren't bead people, and I'm one of 'em!!

I have two palettes to share...both are inspired by a walk that I took a couple of weeks ago in Pittsburgh.  I had the most amazing Saturday afternoon wandering around the city with my camera and, even though I was feeling cold from the wind and it seemed like sort of a drab, cold, winter day, I saw tons of cool things that captured my attention enough to make me snap a pic.

Here's the first palette...I call it Reflecting in Pittsburgh.  It was late afternoon as I was walking down a street surrounded by high-rise buildings.  I looked up and saw this amazing reflection of one building in the windows at the top of another. 

The gorgeous blue sky looked even brighter in those mirrored windows.  The greens and yellows of the reflected building were refreshingly bright.  But, my favorite part was the movement and googlieness of the shapes.  It's all about regimented edges and sharp lines mixed perfectly with melted, flowing shapes.  I took about a dozen photos of this scene that was waaaay high up near the top of the building.  I had to crop quite a bit out of the pic, but I wanted to capture just this piece that looks like a painting to me.  It's all about coolness, freshness, fun, and flow. 

Now, on to my second palette of this walk. 


I saw a big Antique sign while in the Strip district and found myself browsing through some seriously awesome goodness at Mahla & Co. Antiques.  They're part of the 16:62 Design Zone.

In about two hours browsing through the shop, I was less focused on interior design, which is their mainstay, than taking photos of some of their great pieces.  I'll share more on another post sometime, but for now I'm headed in one direction.  A display of old toys caught my eye...especially this old box of crayons.  This shot of old craftiness is the inspiration for my second palette called "Antique Crayons."

I'm not usually a primary color kind of girl, but I love the blue and red of this palette and how the golden yellow makes the orange and green so rich.  The orange gets the biggest share of the palette because it's my favorite of the bunch.

So, now you've seen what I have to offer...please go check out the rest of the folks walking with me!  There's a group for each day of this week so you can spread the love on lots of links:

The main page back at Brandi's is here:  Color Palette Blog Walk 2

Monday - 28 Feb 11

Brandi at Brandi Girl Blog - http://www.brandigirlblog.com
Erin at Treasures Found - http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Jen at Jen Judd Rocks - http://www.jenjuddrocks.com (You're here!!)
Shari at Exploring the Wonders of Life - http://exploringthewondersoflife.blogspot.com/


Tuesday - 1 Mar 11
Karen at Creative Thoughts and Inspirations - http://karen-creativethoughts.blogspot.com/
Julia at UlvDesign - http://www.ulvdesign.com/blog/
Jessa at The ReArtingDotNet Blog - http://www.ReARTing.net
Lyn at Lyn Foley Jewelry Blog - http://lynfoleyblog.com/category/lyn-foley-blog-jewelry/


Wednesday - 2 Mar 11
Jescalyn at Peach Honey Love - http://peachhoney.blogspot.com
Paige at Paige Maxim Designs - http://pmaximdesigns.blogspot.com
Katrina at Ma Joie Press - http://www.majoiepress.com/blog
Jenni at Jenni's Beads - http://jennibead.blogspot.com/

Thursday - 3 Mar 11
Christie at Displaced Urbanite - http://www.displacedurbanite.blogspot.com
Rachel at TatterBeans - http://tatterbean.blogspot.com/
Brittany at The Home Ground - http://thehomeground.com/blog
Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio - http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com

Friday - 4 Mar 11
Rachel at Balanced Crafts - http://balancedcrafts.com
Wren at Each Day - http://blog.theapronthief.com
Kelly at Mackin Art - http://mackin-art.blogspot.com
Kristy at Simply Shiny Blog - http://shinyadornments.com/simplyshiny

Bead Soup Memory Lane...

With the big reveal for the Bead Soup Party coming up on the 26th, I thought it'd be a good time to take a look back at some old party pics.

A year ago, during the first Bead Soup party hosted by Lori Anderson, I was the luckiest designer ever because I got paired up with Julie Nordine from Credit River Art Glass.  I was in awe of Julie's work and wasn't sure I could really design anything up to her standard.  But, then I amazed myself with what I came up with.  Even better, she amazed me with the fun twists and turns she took with my polymer clay bits during her reveal post.  I loved up on her glass in my post.  I still love this photo of Julie's creation from February 2010.

I again struck it lucky on the second go around in June 2010 when I met Cindy Dolezal.  She sent me an absolutely gorgeous green organic pendant that she crafted from clay.  I made it my own by mixing it with orange.  More importantly, Cindy loved on the recycled glass spiral shape and actually ended up using it as a clasp...that's so out of the box!  Here's her original soup post from that swap...and here's mine.

It has been fantastic getting to know these lovely ladies better and following their work throughout the year. So, many thanks again to Lori, the Bead Soup Master and to my two inspiring Soup compadres, Julie & Cindy. 

I can't wait to show off what I made from my Judy Soup!!  If you want a hint, check out my blog banner for this month... :)

BTW: Blue Bead Bunch Giveaway

Bead Table Wednesday means a Bead Table Clearing Giveaway!!

My color of the month has been blue. 

It has been a good color for me, as you'll see in my Bead Soup post on Saturday, but I have been a bit too busy to dig in appropriately and get some blue goods dones or bits of blue beads listed in my Etsy shop.

So, since I gathered this big bunch of blues, I'm sharing with you!!!

It's just one big stash--no splitsies this time.  There are things I've gotten in other giveaways that I'm sharing plus lots of my own random finds.  

Recycled glass, felt, resin, trade beads, lampwork glass, polymer clay, ceramic, vintage glass, stone, crystal, pearl...there has to be at least $100 worth of beads in here and I'm not really even scratching the surface in my blue bead drawers.

The handmade beads that I can identify are from...

Lisa Stevens at Seaurchin ceramics

HMB Studios lampwork glass

Marsha Neal Studio

Everything in here is good...all things I would use myself, if I actually made time to make stuff.  There are even some of my own polymer clay pieces in there.

I'll randomly select a name from the comments on this post, so if you don't have a blog, please leave your address so I can track you down to send you the goods.

I'll draw winners on Monday, 28 February at noon, so I look forward to hearing from you!

Whoo hoo!!!

p.s. 
I'll ship overseas if you don't happen to be here in the CONUS.  (That's Continental United States for you civilians out there...haaaaaaaaa)

Artbeads.com: Winter Enchantment Part 2

Back to the icy branches and my Artbeads winter enchantment inspiration.  This time I'm more literally looking at the branch shape...taking it to the charms section for some shopping.

I actually just put in the word "branch" to see what I could find and there was this really cool branch in a few antiqued base metal finishes.  I opted for the brass, since that's the latest obsession here in my workroom.  The branch looked a little bit like a creepy haunted house hand, but I got over that initial thought and now I love it featured on this necklace.

I'm a little derelict in my design duties because the very cool ceramic pendant that's also a part of this focal is from a local designer but I can't remember her name nor can I find her card.  I picked it up at an art show down in Norfolk last summer.  Of course I rounded out the design with another big-ass pearl from the Swarovski bead selections.

.

Now I'm in the mood for a frosty popsicle.

As a little bonus, Artbeads has offered a special discount to us, the awesome blog readers of the world...it's an exclusive 15% off coupon that's good until the end of February

To use the coupon, just copy and paste the code below into the ‘Coupon/Gift Certificate/Gift Card Code’ box of your shopping cart and click ‘apply’.

Exclusive Design Partners coupon code: ZZ-DESIGNER-0211

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Disclosure...As a a part of Artbeads.com blogging program, I received the big brown pearl and the branch pendant free of charge. It's my responsibility to use them and let you know if I love em' or hate 'em. I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Artbeads.com: Winter Enchantment Part 1

The sun is shining this afternoon, but the chill in the air is still enough to remind me that's it's still winter out there.  A few weeks ago I was walking down the street towards my apartment building and the frozen trees were catching the lights so beautifully that I had to run upstairs and grab the camera.  It was a bit challenging to capture the branches because the wind kept moving them, but with a ton of shots and some editing, I was able to get some good ones.

The glittery brightness of these brown branches was actually enchanting...so, when I got the note from Artbeads.com about the blog partner program for this month, I knew exactly where I'd go for inspiration:  the trees!

Pearls...glowing Swarovski crystal pearls.  The bigger the better.  Brown, copper, and bronze are warm on the inside and glistening on the outside.  My lovely friend, Casey, asked for a necklace with "something green and brown" so I immediately went for the big brown pearl and combined it with a mix of brass chain, a green garnet nugget, and a few smaller bits including a faceted green pearl and some lava rock.  I love the mixture of textures and chain.  Luckily she did, too! 

I've become obsessed with brass lately, so this pretty brass toggle had to be part of the mix.  I used to think "base metal" was just that...too base to be used.  But, as sterling silver moves out of the realm of affordable, I am totally digging the look of copper and brass.  Artbeads keeps their selection nice and fresh, so just about every time I place an order, there are a couple of clasps in the mix.

Since I really wanted to make the most of those luscious pearls, I used a few more in combination with little faceted green pearls (I've never seen these before...picked them up at a trunk show at Bead Haven), some smaller Swarovski pearls, and lava rock...all finished off with another pretty deco brass clasp.

Thanks, again, to Artbeads for letting me be a part of their beading blogging community.

As a little bonus, Artbeads has offered a special discount to us, the awesome blog readers of the world...it's an exclusive 15% off coupon that's good until the end of February.  To use the coupon, just copy and paste the code below into the ‘Coupon/Gift Certificate/Gift Card Code’ box of your shopping cart and click ‘apply’.

Exclusive Design Partners coupon code: ZZ-DESIGNER-0211

------------------------------

Disclosure...As a a part of Artbeads.com blogging program, I received the big brown pearls and the square toggle free of charge.  It's my responsibility to use them and let you know if I love em' or hate 'em.  I am not being compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

Le Fleur de Pittsburgh

Le Fleur de Pittsburgh, originally uploaded by jenjuddrocks.

My sweetie sent me some flowers for Valentine's day, but I haven't had a chance to tell him that they got delivered on Thursday just before I left for the weekend. They weren't very pretty when I got back. So, for today I'm posting a pretty from my Pittsburgh trip this weekend. I am proud to say that I didn't edit this at all...it's all my skill with the camera. haaaaaaaaaaaa

Simple Valentine

My valentine's simple.

All it takes is a little paper and a little tape to show some love.

Love to my Bon Jovi concert-going girlfriends.

Love to my girlfriends who should've been there for some Richie.

Love to my ma and pa.

Love to the rest of my family...especially all the cute nephews.

And, most importantly,

Love to my sweetie.

p.s.  Amy's special love-centric V-day pic is here!

Time for Work

I only have two minutes before I have to head to work.  I'm spending the week observing the commanders' spouses' course.  It's interesting since I am, technically, a graduated commander's spouse and my organization is the one who puts on the conference.  So, I'm taking lots of notes about all the odd things our briefers (speakers) are mentioning.  Coolest part is that I get to spend time with Dana & John...friends from many years ago.  He's going to command a squadron out in Phoenix, so she's in the course!  Whoo hooo!

Happy Tuesday!

Frankie Blue Eyes

I don't often capture pics of my little scaredy kitty cat, Frankie, because he's a bit of an anxious fella.  When he heard the treat bag tonight, though, he was all about it!  I was able to capture this shot with lots of luck since he didn't run off as soon as the flashes started flickering.  He's such a little sweetie pie!
 


In the middle of the night, he screams like a baby and then runs around galloping in the kitchen like a little tiny pony making all kinds of noise.  He only lets me pet him if I'm laying in bed under the covers.  Apparently I'm less threatening when I'm snuggled up like that.  I adopted him ages ago from the Siamese Rescue.  He's a "flame" point with his orange color, but I'd rather call him "creamsicle" point because that's more descriptive.

I'll never forget the trip to his foster mom's house.  It was about an hour and a half away from where I lived in Northern Virginia.  Two of my mostest wonderfulest girlfriends were with me and we took a road trip to pick him up.  I knew he was going to be a bit timid, but the anxiety was over the top.  Let's just say that due to his bodily functions it was not a very pleasant trip home.  The smell of poo was almost overwhelming.  But, we made it home, cleaned him up and he went into hiding immediately. 

Since his earliest days of hiding, he's become a bit more social.  I've actually gotten him to sit with me on the couch (as long as I'm fully blanketed and don't make any sudden movements) a dozen times.  He's only bitten me once hard enough to cause a trip to the emergency room.  He really didn't want to go to the vet and I was a little bit frustrated--I actually flipped the bedsprings up off the frame to get him out from under the bed.  You'd have thought my house had been through some sort of monster storm after chasing him around for an hour.  We ended up having to cancel the vet appointment because I had to go sit for a few hours surrounded by sick kids at the local Army post hospital.  It was wonderful. 

How did I end up going down crummy kitty memory lane?  haaaaaaaaa  Back to the good ones...I'm going to get the treat bag out again.  They can celebrate Superbowl halftime with their tuna-flavored faves.

Tackling the Bead Stash for February...Think Chocolate

Think blue, too.

I was wandering around blog world this morning being super-productive. 

Operation Tackle that Bead Detash has the February mood board posted. 

It's yummy and pretty at the same time.

Then, instead of actually getting off the couch and making something out of the blues, turquoises and browns I have jamming my stash drawers, I kept wandering.

Ms. Brandi from brandigirlblog is hosting a second Color Palette blog walk. 

Since I didn't know much about the first one, I started clicking and clicking and found lots of tools to use to make palettes.

Thus, the last hour or so was spent at Colourlovers.com creating palettes and patterns and colors.  It's addicting.  I haven't even gotten up for more coffee.

Here's my pick for February.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! 

I'm off to spend the day at the Bead Haven.

I'm sure I'll be thinking of chocolate now all day. 

Luckily I have several boxes of Weight Watcher ice cream bars...at only two points a piece I can eat a whole box and not feel too guilty.  haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Giving Away Some Libby

Libby Leuchtman makes beads.

Actually, she makes awesome beads.

She's using some of them in Totally Twisted designs.

She's giving those designs away.

I will full up admit that I want some of her yummy beads.

So, I'm sharing the link with you:

She's twisted, Baby!



Libby's "Sweet Baby Jeans" Beads in her Etsy shop

Bead Table's Wednesday Blues

I didn't even realize it was Wednesday.  I had a question about it this morning and the only thing that made me realize the day was the tomato soup stain on my uniform shirt.  See, on Monday we wear blues, so I must've had that shirt on at least one day prior to today, so it has to be at least Wednesday and since I know Top Chef wasn't on yet, then I figured out it actually is the middle of the week.  Luckily I figured it out before the 0830 staff meeting in my office--that I'm supposed to lead!  haaaaaaaaaaaa

So, now that's it's the second day of a new month, I figure it's time for me to choose a new color for the blog.  It was easy this month because I took a clue from Judy, my BSBP partner.  She sent me the most amazing blues in my soup treat box.  So, BLUE it is!!  I'm wearing my Bedford Bisons Thundering Herd hoodie sweatshirt, in honor of my cutie nephews, paired with an awesome set of genuine Bedford High School Phys Ed shorts.  All in blue and white!  And I'm drinking a Miller from a blue can, looking at my kitties' blue eyes, resting my feet on my a blue pillow from my old favorite couch that I don't have any more.  More important than all of those things are what's on my scope on this Bead Table Wednesday...

BLUE...glass, wire & beads!!

There are a few different artists represented in this stack:
- Sue Kennedy at SueBeads - the long enameled beads in a gorgeous shade of blue.  Mind you, I bought a few of her latest glass-tipped headpins this morning before finishing my first cup of coffee.
- Brendan Blake at bbglassart - the little boro bead on the right
- Blueseraphim - funky blue rounds that I actually won in an Art Bead Scene challenge last year.
- There's a hollow blue pretty that I got from a blogging bud, Amy, at Copper Diem when we decided to swap some goodness last month.
- And, finally, all those coiled bunches of wire are all inspired by my class last year with Kerry Bogart, the princess of twisting.

So, I'm all in the blues this month...and that's not just the horribly uncomfortable sweater I wear on Mondays!  It's the inspiration of calmness, beauty, and the excitement of seeing loved ones like a husband who's coming home or a favorite 80's rock idol...Curtis vs. Richie Sambora.  It's a rough one!  haaaaaaaaaaa