Anchors Aweigh Blog Hop Reveal!!!

Just a little blurp...I am sorry my page was not put up earlier, I had it set up to post last night at midnight and it did not post the page...ARGH. But here it is...and thanks for stopping by!

Here it is!  I was so excited about winning these beautiful Anchor beads created by Diana Ptaszynski. My hubby is a retired sailor, so when Rita from Tolec Jewels put this blog hop together I was all over it, probably the first person to request them!  I received my little package of joy within a short time and had to make a pit stop at the bead store almost immediately!   LOL  These beads got to travel to DC in July when hubby and I went on our vacation and to visit our son in Baltimore (and we made a little pit stop in Germantown and got to meet Lee and Bill from Znetshow...very nice people).  Although I didn't have much time to play with the beads, I think they enjoyed the trip! hehehe

So, before I even started putting this all together, my first idea was to make a multiple wrap around bracelet I have been coveting.  But as you see, my plans had changed some.  I don't remember what I did first, but I put a few fun elements in this piece I think that really make it work!

I enameled this really pretty filigree finding I got at our local bead store.  I had the perfect colors of enamel, so it went rather smoothly with that piece.  Then I knew I wanted to add the beads at the end..so I put a piece of chain on it and threw on the beads...it was way too plain and simple for me, so I made the AHOY charm from resin clay. I made two pieces which I tried to resembled wood with a little texture on them.  Added some metallic rub on silver and gold and those looked great!  Then I thought it needed a little more color..so I added the seahorse charm which I patina'd yellow.  Now it was starting to look good... 

I strung on some beads on both sides and thought I needed something that was going to give this some wow power..then I made the LOVE MY SAILOR resin bar...so I was quite happy at this point...the necklace was looking really good... But I thought it still needed something to break up the colors just a little...and then I remembered I had these beautiful ceramic beads I received from my very first bead soup partner.  It is the light pink bead you see on the right side of the picture... That was the perfect bead...I just love this necklace!

Then, last, I made these great bracelets using memory wire.  I am now a fan of memory wire.  With having 2 of the anchor charms, I didn't want to just make some cute earrings...I wanted MORE...and I think I got more accomplished! I tossed in that cute turtle which was a perfect match with the colors.  I have decided that this set is going to be ALL MINE! I wear it frequently and get lots of great compliments.  

Without this challenge, I would not have created these, so I really appreciate the awesome anchor charms and generosity from Diana, and opportunity to create with these charms from Toltec Jewels..

THANK YOU BOTH!!

Take a peek at all the other Jewelry DIVA'S...  :-)

Anchors Aweigh!! Design Challenge & Blog Hop 

Participating Artists

Featured & Honored Artist:        Diana Ptaszynski

Diana's Shop:                           Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's Blogs:                          Suburban Girl Studio

                                                 Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: TJ                               Jewel School Friends

Bobbie Rafferty                         Beadsong Jewelry

Chris Eisenberg                         Wanderware

Heather Richter                         Desert Jewelry Designs

Michelle McCarthy                    Firefly Design Studio

Kathy Lindemer                         Bay Moon Design

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Cynthia Machata                       Antiquity Travelers

Kathleen Breeding                     99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Linda Younkman                       Lindy's Designs

Robin Reed                                  Artistry HCBD

Marla Gibson                              Spice Box Designs

Gina Hockett                               Freestyle Elements

Renetha Stanziano                      Lamplight Crafts

Marianne Baxter                          Simply Seablime Jewelry        

Christina Miles                             Wings N Scales

Marybeth Rich                            A Few Words from Within the Pines

Shai Williams                              Shaiha's Ramblings

Cheri Reed                                  Creative Designs by Cheri

Monique Urquhart                      A Half-Baked Notion

Jennifer Reno                             Musings of a Crafty Jenny

Shirley Moore                             Beads and Bread

Tammy Adams                           Paisley Lizard

Melissa Trudinger                       Bead Recipes

Jill Bradley                                  JillyBeads