Round Robin Giveaway Winner!

And we have a winner. I used the Random Org Generator and this is what it came up with:

No. 20 was Cat Kerr of In the Light of the Moon. Congratulations, Cat! Please send me an email with your address. Thank you to everyone that commented on our Round Robin adventure. I was so touched and inspired. It is this unbelievably supportive blogging community that made the Round Robin adventure possible. I thank you all for being there and being a part of this community. It is all about the connections.

Stop by later today - I will be joining Erin of TesoriTrovati for the Challenge of Color blog hop. I am sure there will be lots of eye candy and inspiration.

Around the World: a Necklace Round Robin - the Flight continues

I am sure most of you have already read the beginning of the story of our necklace Round Robin. If not, please visit Cindy at Sweetbeadstudio for the first post and Sharon at Livewire Jewelry for the second post about this project that spanned two continents and an ocean, resulting in 5 necklaces, 5 journals and 5 hearts connected in the most incredible way.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Round Robin sisters - Cindy, Sharon, Esther and Véronique - for giving me the gift of their friendship, their talent and their time. You girls just rock!

It is not so easy to follow Cindy and Sharon - both had such wonderful words to describe this adventure. And believe me, it was an adventure. Being able to hold something one or more of these talented ladies had made was humbling. It was challenging. It was exhilarating (it was also addictive, but don't tell anyone I told you...). It pushed me out of my comfort zone every time. So - it was an adventure in the very best way.

I had decided early on that I wanted to make a journal to accompany my necklace. Not that I had ever done anything like that before. I almost didn't get finished on time. I didn't have a theme for my necklace - I put together a few things that I liked - a resin connector, an etched copper piece and linked them with copper and pearls and beads in green. I have a serious attraction to green. Just sayin'. I made a pouch to hold my necklace and sent it off to Esther, who was to work her magic on it.

As you can see - aside from the incredible beauty my sisters created for this necklace - they also fed my addiction. So much luscious green! The single components of this necklace still blow me away!

Pages in my journal - created by Esther

created by Cindy

created by Sharon

created by Véronique

Since Véronique is, unfortunately, unable to join us in blogging about this project at present - I thought I would share a bit of this second part of the adventure on her behalf, as I was the first to add to her necklace.

Her necklace piece blew me away - and challenged me greatly. She has a completely different style. I decided to focus on the colour and take it from there. Since Véro didn't make a journal to travel with her necklace - she created something like a cabinet card with the information on the back - I decided to start one for her and incorporated her card into it.

My addition to Véronique's necklace

Esther will be showing more of Véronique's necklace tomorrow - so stay tuned!

Sharon's necklace was next. Totally different again. Blown away again. Her theme was Earth and Sky.

Which brought a favorite quote from Khalil Gibran to mind.

A piece of raw Baltic amber, made into a dangle.

My addition to Sharon's necklace.

Her journal and the pouch I sewed for her necklace.

Then, Cindy's necklace arrived.  And - yes, you guessed it - I was, again, blown away. Of course, you all know I am a flea market junkie, so this piece really resonated with me. I immediately knew I would create a resin connector from a vintage rhinestone buckle I found at the flea market. It was just perfect, because I knew Cindy loved rhinestones.

My addition.

An additional page I created in her journal, to connect to her Sentimental Journey theme. 

Next up was Esther's necklace. A masterpiece. But you are going to have to wait until tomorrow to see it - when she will be posting on her blog Mes illusions baroques. Don't miss it.

As Cindy has already mentioned, we are all incredibly honoured to be in the Belle Armoire Jewelry issue this winter. I haven't seen the article yet. But I am truly honoured to be published in this magazine. And Cindy, thank you for all the work and effort you put into getting us there. You know we love you!

In order to celebrate, I will also be having a little giveaway. A couple of my resin pieces, some silver plated vintage beads and dangles and a vintage rhinestone buckle, as seen in the above photo. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. A winner will be announced on Thursday.

Thank you all for sticking with me through this long post and for your interest in a project that was truly out of this world.

Monday S word blues and more Round Robin news

This morning I had to deal with this. It is that s word again. 

And anyone that wants to tell me how lovely it is - please leave your address, so I can have it forwarded to you.

It continued to snow all day. We have had between 5-6 inches and the temps will dip down to about -8°C during the night, so there will be an ice crust underneath tomorrow. As you can imagine, driving was such a great experience today.

But - I have other news. Much more lovely than snow. Please hop over to my friend Sharon's blog to read more about the Around the World Necklace Round Robin! You can also click on the links on the right column.

Sunday flea market

It is so cold, I bet even the fleas are freezing. But although the temps will not rise above freezing today, the streets are clear and dry, so off to the flea market we went. Apparently, many of the sellers must have followed the birds south, because there wasn't a big turn out. But it was very enjoyable - with lots of interesting things to see  - and some pretty neat things to bring home.

 First, I found a couple more of these little amber pieces. And a tiny carved bone rose.

Then I found this leaf shaped brooch with this gorgeous patina. 

More rhinestone buckles.

 Some huge crystal chandelier prisms - these are about 4 inches long!

 Some bundles of fine silver coloured chain, which was probably intended for sale by meter; and some strings of beads. I thought they were mother of pearl, the seller said they were glass. I am not quite sure, will have to give them a good looking over.

This neat little machine is a rivet/eyelet press from the workshop of a shoemaker. Still in working condition, just needs some clean up. Tools are amongst my favorite finds at the flea market.

After two hours, I was frozen through and ready to head for home. I hope everyone is having a cozy Sunday.
Oh and if you have time, please head over to Cindy's blog today - for some news about our Around the World Necklace Round Robin.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!


No flea markets in the snow. But I have news of our Round Robin! Actually, I have just received my necklace, after its trip halfway around the world! Mine is the first to return... and it is so incredible!!! What an adventure.
I can't share pictures yet, as Cindy, Sharon, Véronique and Esther have not yet received their necklaces. But it won't be long now!!!
Stay tuned for some eye candy.

Round Robin landed

On the weekend, another of our Round Robins landed at my house, bringing the most incredible things along! I thought I would share a bit with you.

Look at this! Véronique (of Narrative Jewelry) was so sweet - she sent me several different kinds of tea and a present! Besides sending me a postcard with a vintage photo of a bicycle - just like the one I saw at the flea market last month!

She was so kind and made me a pair of earrings - please take a look at these lovelies!

Thank you, dear sweet Véronique!!! They are wonderful!

She also sent me Sharon's necklace - do you want to see this piece of beauty and wonder? Okay...

but unfortunately, this photo has been censored (hèhèhèhèhèhèhèhèhè), so you will have to wait until our Round Robins have completed their flight around the world!

Halloween Round Robin Teaparty

Just wanted to let you know: our Round Robin has been sighted again - flying in America, across the Atlantic and in Europe!
I thought I would invite the lovely ladies I am sharing this adventure with, to come over for a cup of Halloween tea. We had a wonderful time, as you can see below!


Please - I know this little piece of digital fun has been done very primitively - it is definitely not a piece of art. Just a bit of fun for my girls. I hope you enjoy it!

Around-the-World Round Robin Project

Round Robin

I am so excited to share the news with you! I was asked to participate in an international Round Robin necklace project!! And it is underway!

Our "initiatrice" is Cindy of Sweet Bead Studio - Thank you, Cindy! My collaborateurs: Véronique of Narrative Jewelry, Sharon of Livewire Jewelry and Esther of Mes Illusions Baroque; a group of really talented and inspiring ladies - I am very honoured to be participating in this project with all of you!!

Each of us has started a necklace and each piece is now on its way to the next person, who will add to the necklace and again pass it on. I can't even imagine how beautiful these will be when they are finished - but they will be very special keepsakes, I know! Imagine these necklace travelling back and forth between Europe and America!!

Apparently, we have gotten a bit carried away - because now it not just a necklace round robin. No - we have also added a bit of mixed media to document the stages of the necklace! Double thrill!

We have decided not to post pictures before the necklaces are completed, so as not to spoil the surprise for each of us during this journey. We will, however mention the round robin, when the necklaces travel.

Cindy, Esther, Sharon and Véronique - thank you for your friendship and thank you for working on this fantastic project with me! I am so thrilled and honored and excited and can't wait for us to complete this. Did I mention that I am excited?