You Pick 8 Bead Exchange Pics

I belong to a bead making forum called Lampwork Etc. We have exchanges periodically and one of my favorites is called "You Pick." Each participant chooses a picture and the other participants make a bead based on that picture. There are 16 people in the exchange so each of us ends up making fifteen beads.
I love this exchange because it is also a challenge. I prefer making sculpture beads over organic/abstract ones and not just because my 'organic' beads look like a big blob of mess. Some of the pictures in this exchange call for an organic bead...hence the 'challenge' part of this. I forgot to take pics of my beads before I sent them (I will next time) but I would like to show the beads I received.

The first pic I sent in for You Pick 8:

And the beads I received. Aren't they adorable!

My second pic (we ran two exchanges at once this time):

And the beads I received. I love my shroomies!

The Gorgeous Jewelry in "Snow White and the Huntsman"

My oldest daughter went to Cedar Point today with her friends so I took my husband & youngest daughter to the movies. We decided to see Snow White and the Huntsman because we thought it would have something for everyone; I love fantasy movies and of course I loved Snow White as a little girl. My husband would like the action & my daughter would like Chris Hemsworth.
Anyway, the movie did not disappoint. I heard that there were mixed reviews but I don't see what there was to really complain about. I am not really a Kristen Stewart fan but I do love Charlize Theron... who in their right mind ever roots for the evil queen or wicked stepmother?  I can't say I really rooted for her but she was the best part of the movie for me. I also liked the scenery when they were walking through the Sanctuary, but whoever was in charge of costumes must live inside my brain. I loved the clothing but most of all I loved the jewelry! (Photo credit: lisby1)
Everyone wore jewelry, even men and people in the villages. The queen, of course, wore the best. She always wore a crown, necklaces, a ring and these horribly fierce looking nails. She wore one particular necklace  that I love. Have you ever noticed beaded necklaces in a medieval painting of royalty? This necklace had that same look.  I already have similar amethyst beads so I might work on it this weekend...I don't have the pendant tho....not sure what to do about that yet. Here is a link to a picture of the necklace I'm talking about. (I don't want to deal with copyright infringement so I'm just posting a link instead of the actual picture.) Have you ever been inspired to recreate something from a movie? I'd love to hear how it turned out.

My Yosemite Valley Souvenir

My family visited Yosemite over Memorial Day this year where our niece's wedding was being held...I mean my whole extended family. 31 of us were able to make it out there and it was really nice to experience a place like that with them. Our accommodations were almost at the entrance of the park so we were able to spend quite a bit of time there over our four day weekend. Not to say that we saw all there was to see...it is unbelievable how huge that place is. I used to see pictures of Yosemite and always chalked up the great pics to an artist's eye but in reality, everywhere you lay your eyes looks like a painting!
On a side note, if you are ever passing through Coarsegold be sure to stop by the souvenir/bead shop on the north side of town. The owner is a sweet little old lady who looooves her beads!:) That store carried many things I would never find near my home here in Michigan. I would love to stop by there again someday when I have more than fifteen minutes to spend.
As soon as we got back home I made myself some beads for a souvenir bracelet to commemorate our trip:

• Copper to remember the color of the majestic Giant Sequoias
• Dyed banded agate for the gorgeous waterfalls (I purchased these in a little bead store in Fresno)
• A lampworked pine cone and 'pine needles' for the Sugar Pines and their giant foot-long cones
• A couple snowflakes because our trip to Glacier Peak meant thirty degrees and two inches of snow
• A tiny granite pebble ( I swear it was the only thing I took besides pictures & we only left footprints!!)

This bracelet was inspired by Heather Power's book Jewelry Designs from Nature, especially the pine needles. I just thought they were so cute!