Dancing in the Tide - Just Makes You Want a Vacation - Doesn't it

Dancing in the Tide

I'd like to introduce you to my new neck candy! :o)  Yes, this necklace is almost good enough you can lick it.... except it doesn't taste like a lollipop... I don't think, it's not like IIIIII licked it or anything.  (Because once you lick something, it officially becomes yours forever and ever.... like the last piece of birthday cake - just sayin')

I have entered this necklace in The Hive Creative Challenge.  The theme for the challenge was "Celebrate!" because they are celebrating their 1 year anniversary.  I was super excited to join in the challenge because I've met so many great blogger friends from around the globe that all have different artistic interests.

Why does this necklace represent "Celebrate!" to me?  You'll just have to click here to find out!

The voting for this contest is open to the public.  If you like the piece and would like to cast your vote, visit my blog post on The Hive, and "like" the post.  Then if you really, really, really like the necklace, feel free to share with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.  :o) 

Thanks in advance because I KNOW you are awesome!  Heck, you took the time to visit here and share a virtual cuppa java over this post, so you made my day! 

Hope your day is superb!
{Hugs!}
~Dawn

P.S.  If you want a necklace like this one... head over to JulsBeads and pick out a focal you want to lick.  Ask Juls to send it up to her favorite girl in WI and I'll sparkle-it-up for you! Then you can lick it to your hearts content! :o)

Inspired by a Friend

"Where does your inspiration come from?"

People ask me that all the time, and my answer is "Everywhere - people, nature, songs, artwork.  There's no rhyme or reason, inspiration just hits you when you're open to receiving it."

I recently saw this blog post on The Hive from my good friend Dawn in Alaska.  She had created an incredible chainmaille bracelet that "captured" Swarovski Crystal rondelles in a "net" of jumprings.  I happen to own one of these wonderful bracelets from when Dawn and I did a jewelry swap earlier this year.  I just love it - the way it's netted makes you look twice.

So after seeing this post I thought, how cool would it be to have a "netting" of sorts filled with pearls or gemstones or crystals... but the netting was made of beads.  Heck, I know how to make a netted rope, why not fill it up with pearl goodness?  After all, I'm a glass half-full sort of gal!

I chose a mix of Delicas that had some greens, pinks and peaches and mixed it with some vintage peach little round crystals... I scooped up a whole batch of beads in an estate sale when I first started experimenting.  I love the sparkle of them, mixed with the delicas the net turned out really well... fill it up with positivity and somebody will really love wearing this comfortable bracelet.

But I still wanted to be able to see more of the "filling" - after all the best part of an eclair is that ooey gooey last bite that has the remainder of the custard filling.  Mmmmmm  So I continued experimenting.  I tried lots of things, un-ravelled and finally it struck me, build the filling into the netting!  So I did... and so it worked.  I love it when a plan comes together (even if you weren't sure what the plan was to begin with.)

Wouldn't this be beautiful with white pearls & silver seed beads as wedding jewelry?

This bracelet is more stiff than the peach one, and I threaded copper wire through it to keep the perfect shape.  It wears like a bangle, but this would also be awesome strung on Softflex beading wire for a more flexible necklace.  So I owe Dawn a big thank you for inspiring me to learn something new and expand that already exploding brain of mine!  You're a gem!

Hope you find yourself in a state of awww at something wonderful today!  Appreciate and love all around us as we're blessed to be right where we are~
{Hugs!}
Dawn