Bead Peeps Swap 'n' Hop 2017 Reveal

The day has finally arrived! This year for the Swap 'n' Hop I was paired with the extremely talented Renetha Stanziano of Lamplight Crafts. She sent me lots of goodies that were varied and also BIG. I like a challenge and large focals tend to challenge me because I don't know what to do with them. I mainly do embroidery on shibori silk ribbon, so, unless it has a flat back, I'm lost. I really liked what she sent though and had a hard time picking what to use first. Ultimately I went with a bead that had some of my color loves in it - teals and maroons. I thought I would try to make some small shibori embroidered side components to set with the focal in the middle. I ended up with the necklace below. I think the straps look a little off and awkward in this picture, but are maybe not that bad when it is on.

I also had some leftovers from what I sent Renetha that I wanted to work with. It was a challenge for me because the oranges and reds aren't colors I typically work with. I love the way it turned out though and how it reminds me of fall and the colors of the changing leaves in autumn - though right now I'm looking forward to spring! Though I love it, I put it in my Etsy shop here. I just have too many necklaces to wear them all!

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to play with any of the other pieces Renetha sent me. I just ran out of time. This winter has been never ending - hopefully our last batch of snow for the season was last weekend when we got 14 inches. The long, dark season has really dragged me down this year and I found that I would stay away from my beads for weeks at a time - unusual for me. Next week promises warmer weather, so I'm hoping for a lot of snow melt in the yard and some inspiration to get my beading groove back. 

Take a look at what the other swappers did by following the links below. 

Linda Anderson (Hostess) http://instagram.com/cherryontopdes...

Christina Hickman http://www.vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/...

Catherine LaVite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/...

Barbara Price https://www.instagram.com/colorcopi...

Kathy Lindmer https://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/...

Linda Raggo http://www.instagram.com/linda_ragg...

Marianne Baxter http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/...

Rachelle Walker http://www.chellerydesigns.net/blog

Gloria Allen http://wingsandbeads.blogspot.com/

Ally Asato https://instagram.com/purplemosspal

Robin Lynne Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/...

Naomi Knafla https://www.instagram.com/naomiknaf...

Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com/...

Dana Phillips http://www.neverwinterdesigns.blogspot.com/...

Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com/...

Beth Blanc https://www.instagram.com/beth.blan...

Hope Smitherman http://CraftyHope.com/

Kari Asbury https://www.instagram.com/kariasbur...

Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

Betony Maiden http://beadwenches.blogspot.com/

Inge van Roos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson https://www.instagram.com/pyxeestyx...

Kristina Peck http://tealeavesandtinyhats.blogspot.com/...

Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Heather Canepa http://www.desertjewelrydesigns.com/...

Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/

Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com/...

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/...

Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/...

Tina Pawass https://freebirdsinnovations.blogspot.com/...

Mowse Doyle http://www.midnight-leopard.com/

Tami Norris https://www.instagram.com/taminorri...

Minnette Miller https://www.instagram.com/minnettem...

Veralynne Malone http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com/...

Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.bg/

Erika Price http://erikaprice.co.uk/

Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/

Rachel Mallis http://www.sharpthingsblog.com/

Deb Fortin http://mhotistudio.blogspot.ca/

Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/

Joanne Bell https://joannetinks.wordpress.com/

Johana Nunez http://www.artincendi.com/

Sam Waghorn http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk/...

Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com/

Robin Reed http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/...

Faye Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com/

Karin King http://maverickbeads.blogspot.ca/

Divya http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/

Rebecca White http://morganafeycreations.wordpress.com

Palak Udeshi http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/

Penny Houghton http://smellynelly.blogspot.com.au

Krafty Max http://www.kraftymax.net/blogposts/