Swap n Hop 2017 - The Goodies Arrive and Partner Reveal!

I recently signed up for round 3 of the Bead Peeps Swap n Hop. In a bead swap participants are paired up and send each other a little stash of beads to work with. Then, on a specific day, everyone posts on their blogs what they made with the stash they were sent and we all "hop" around to each others' blogs oohing and aahing over the results. It's loads of fun and a great way for a beadworker to force themselves out of what they typically work with, be it color or type of beads. This year I was paired up with Renetha Stanziano of Lamplight Crafts. She is extremely talented and it was fun to see that she has also done a Beadwork Magazine reader's challenge and participated in Jean Power's secret beadalong last summer. One of the cool twists this year with the Swap n Hop is that we can make something with the same supplies we sent out to see what each of us does with the same materials. I'm happy to have enough matching supplies to what I sent Renetha that I will be able to make something too that "matches" what she makes. In the past with bead swaps I have always felt jealous of my partner because by the time I'm ready to send out my package, I'm in love with what I'm sending and want it for myself. So, keeping some for myself to use is the best of both worlds!

I was excited to see what Renetha sent me in the mail and excited to see that there was just so much variety in her stash. It's almost all different focal beads, so the first thing I need to do is decide which to use first. My hubby really likes the big glass donut at the top of the picture, while I love the giant swirly focal in the bottom left. Of course, lately I've been tending to want to attach everything to some beading foundation and a piece of silk, so we shall see. The reveal date is April 8th, so check back then to see what I made; it's a secret until then!

Check out Renetha's work HERE.

See all the fun goodies Renetha sent me!!

This is the stash I sent to her. I have an near identical, slightly smaller clasp and duplicates of everything else. Orange and red are not my normal colors to work with, so it will be fun!