Why free stuff is killing creativity

Excellent article on why being an independent, successful artist is essentially a thing of the past.

Although I craft for pleasure and the occasional pin money it's a shame that this is occurring.

http://morningswithmadge.com/free-stuff-is-killing-creativity/

A new piece & an update

  I'll start with the update. Due to health issues including surgery last fall I just haven't had the energy to keep this blog updated. I am feeling better so may post here more often. I dropped out of a couple blog hops and didn't even pick up the kits from my LBS.

  I did however complete this piece.  I have friends on the Big Island who used to have Great Pyrenees.  They currently have a dog who is similar to their Pyrs but she has a more pointed muzzle. Somewhere in my travels I picked up the dog charm and realized it closely resembles their current dog. So white beads because of the Pyrs, turquoise and silver because they both like SW art and jewelry and the dog charm. Peyote stitch and a strong magnet clasp.

  First pick is the completed bracelet, the second in the happy owner modeling it.

Ma-halo, y'all.

Silverniknats

Found a lovely blog from a lady in the UK who beads. She is having a give away based on Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US).  It ends November 28th. Very nice items, some one of us will be lucky.

http://silverniknats.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-giveaway.html#gpluscomments

Good luck.
~cryssT

Octoberfest 2014 - my apologies

My apologies - I had surgery on October 17th and forgot about this hop.

It's been a long year so I am glad that fall is here and I can enjoy the beautiful colors.

I'm too tired to blog - so here is the piece, which has decided to load itself at about 90 degrees offset.  Hmm.

Welcome to C4 blog hop.  I want to thank Sue Kennedy and Rita from Toltec Jewels for allowing me to participate. I know there will be lots of lovely pieces on the various blogs listed below.

I received my Chicklet and took some time to think about colors that would enhance the olive chicklet and hopefully look like candy (Willy Wonka Oompas comes to mind).  I liked the red beads because they are drilled from corner to corner.  I added a mood bead because it changes color and yellow beads for brightness.  I used the purple bead and brass beads for space and asymmetry. What I really like is that on this bracelet the chicklet stays up (on the top of my hand), so many time I will make a bracelet and the focal bead ends up on the inside of my wrist.  So here it is - I find myself wearing bracelet because it has an easy, comfortable feel. Thanks for stopping by.
   I have changed the picture at it shows the bracelet off a bit better:

Permalink for Artists: 

http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2014/06/Choosy-Chicks-Choose-Chicklets-participating-artists.html

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs:                               SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

                                                               Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website                            SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads                                SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels        http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson                  http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                  http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                  http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                        http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                            http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                       http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                              www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams               http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson          http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                    http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                     http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

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

Sheila Prosterman                           http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                  http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                     http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers            https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps         https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi  https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter          http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding  http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                    http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain  (you are here)    http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed             http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont      http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

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

Tammy Adams         http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr          http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                    http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                            http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges      http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                          http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka                                  http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby                 http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson      http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Chicklets Challenge

Coming up all to soon is 

   Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Challenge 

so I am in the process of completing my piece. 

Sue Beads was kind enough to donate 45 chicklets 

so there will be lots of pieces to view. 

The blog hop is August 3rd.  

Here's the banner. 

   

Gemstone & Metal Blog Hop 2014 Reveal

Good Morning and sorry for the delay in posting - but it's the morning of the 19th so I'm in time.
I received a wonderful assortment of Aventurine from Lisa Lodge for this blog hop but am not sure what I did with the picture I took of the beads.  Update - I finally found it:

 

That said, I competed two pieces and would have liked to have had more done but have been dealing with health issues. 

Here are the pieces I completed and I am looking forward to seeing the many wonderful items that others have done.  The necklace is for our granddaughter who is eight and the bracelet is for a friend whose jewelry was stolen earlier this year. 

I have retaken the pictures and at the bottom of the blog you can see the original blah picture. 
The  great thing about blog hops is that I see and read others presentations and use the information to improve what I do.

And the links to the other artists:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Margaret Pelech, Big Margaret

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (May be delayed a few days)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Cassi Renee Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Crystal Thain - Here Bead Dragons (that is this blog) http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things (May be delayed a few days)

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Judy Campbell, Macmillanmarie Jewellery Design

Nan Smith, Handmade Jewelry Nanmade

Marde Lowe, FanciMarDesigns

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

Leithleach Alainn Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Lisa E. Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs