Getting Ready

Today, I fly out to Tampa, FL to hang out with my fellow Creative Circle Ambassadors and all the cool peeps at Cousin Corporation.  We have a whirlwind few days lined up for us.  I can't wait.  The only draw back is my dear friend and fellow ambassador, Patty Squillante, will not be with us.  She opened her very own bead shop and is unable to join us due to all the responsibilities of running a business.  She had one of her dreams come true with this shop so all the best to Patty!  I will make sure I take tons of pictures for you, Patty.

I woke up this morning at 3:50, wide awake at that, before my alarm which was set for 4:05.  I was planning to hit snooze for a while before I actually had to get up.  Since, I am up, I decided to go ahead and put makeup on.  Don't want to scare anyone on the plane.  LOL

Anyway, this will be my very first flight.  I am almost 40 years old and am just now going to fly.  I have always traveled by car everywhere I go.  Even when I went to Canada, it was by car.  I like my feet on the ground.  So....be praying for me that I don't freak out and become one of those raving lunatics you read about in the news on Yahoo!

Much love
Shelly

More On The Collaboration Project

As in a previous post, the Creative Circle Ambassadors began working on a jewelry project together.  We have been passing each piece to another member of the circle when we were done.  Well....after illnesses and funerals, I have finally shipped off my pieces to Patty Squillante for her to finish out with her contribution to the project.   Before I mailed it off, I took many pictures of the different combinations that could be made the mix and match jewelry pieces we created so far.  I can't wait to see what Patty adds to the project.

December Collaboration Project Continues

The Cousin Creative Circle Ambassadors began in December a collaboration of a jewelry project based on the Make The Connection Line that debut on HSN back in September of 2012.  We decided to use on of the Class in A Box kits from Cousin.

Here are the photos from my part of the collection.

I began with the 4mm creamy colored pearls in the kit.  I thought I had some Crystazzi pearls the same color, but as it turned out they were actually a pale rose color, so I just decided to use them.  There are a few of the cream colored pearls mixed in.

 I used the 8mm shiny Burgundy and matte Pink glass pearls from the kit.  Using Beadalon's WildFire Thermally Bonded Bead Weaving Thread .15mm 10 lb in Frost and a Cousin #12 Beading Needle, I created a right angle weave with the 4mm pearls.  As I went I would add the 8mm pearl to each grouping of pearls.  Most people who do this style of bead weaving will wait until the end to add the big pearls, but I'm not most people.  :)

To attach the clasp, I used Cousin's Antique Bronze crimp beads and two of the jump rings from the kit.  I threaded the jump ring into three of the crimp beads and then on to a very small jump ring that I had attached to the clasp.

I also made a clip on pendant using a lobster claw clasp.   I used a large textured oval and attached a jump ring to it and the clasp.  I made bead dangle out of a 12 mm burgundy glass pearl.

 At the bottom of the oval, I made four bead dangles consisting of one 4mm burgundy pearl, a 6mm pink pearl, and 4mm deep rose pearl, and a 4 mm pale pink pearl.

I took two antiqued brass chains and cut two different lengths.  At the end of the longest link, I attached a antiqued brass rose and a burgundy pearl beaded link.  At the end of the other, I put a cute antiqued brass bow and a pink pearl beaded link.

So, We've Been Thinking.......

One of my fellow ambassadors, Patty Squillante came up with a brilliant idea today.  It seems that she and I both were on the same wavelength.  Her idea was to have an open dialog with the public about the designs and projects we work on for Cousin.  It would be a place where other jewelry designers and novice jewelry makers could ask us questions about our design process and inspiration, how we incorporated the Cousin line of products into our creations, etc.

We have presented our idea to Cousin and can't wait to see this come to pass so you guys can participate with us on our journey.