Almost every crafter I know has a hoard of some kind. More than just the stash of components/fabric/yarn/paper, the hoard consists of special pieces that you don’t want to let go of, for one reason or another. Maybe it’s because you don’t have quite the right matching beads (or yarn or …). Or maybe, deep down inside, you don’t feel you can do an object of such beauty justice. Or it might simply be because inspiration hasn’t yet struck.
Anyway, Lori Anderson, of Bead Soup Blog Party fame, has challenged us all to dip into that hoard (myyyy preciousssssss) and make something. Sigh, really?? Oh OK! There are things I have been meaning to make anyway! When I have the right beads, and I’m good enough, and pigs can fly!
Way back when I first started beading (well, 3 or so years ago), I discovered that there were beautiful online bead shops. One of the shops I found was Nina Designs, which has lovely sterling silver components. This was just before silver prices started going through the roof, and I bought myself a few special pieces to make. As fate would have it though, those lovely components have been sitting in my bead hoard ever since … so I decided the time was right to use some of them, in particular a leafy link for a necklace, and some matching earring components. Also in my stash hoard are a number of teeny tiny gemstone rondelles, including some tiny amethyst beads ranging from the palest to the darkest hues of purple. Using some ideas found on the Nina Designs website as a jumping off point, and some larger prehnite faceted beads I bought a few months ago, I have created a sweet necklace and earrings set.
Now, maybe that will inspire me to make a few things with that small stash of Thai Hill Tribe Silver I have tucked away.
One thing I find very hard to resist are art beads—lampwork, ceramic, polymer clay and metal, I love them all. As I went through my collection of lampwork beads the other day, a pretty pair called my name. These beads are from Indian Creek Art Glass, and I combined them with small circular links with an antiqued patina from Missficklemedia and some lovely purple sari silk in earrings inspired by Kristi Bowman’s Aladdin’s Lamp earrings. I’m rather pleased with them!
Well, it hasn’t made much dent in my bead hoard, but it’s been fun to finally make something beautiful with some of my treasures. Thank you Lori for pushing me to use up some of my pretties!
There are nearly 170 bloggers doing this blog hop! Please visit a few!
1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4. Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5. Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6. Leah Tees, My Beady Little Eyes
7. Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8. Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
9. Sharon Palac, Sharon’s Jewelry Garden
10. Erin Guest, Renlish
11. Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13. Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
14. Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15. Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16. Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17. Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18. Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19. Linda Landig, Linda’s Bead Blog and Meanderings
20. Lori Schneider, Bead Addict
21. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23. Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24. Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26. Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27. Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28. Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30. Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
31. Robyn, Museiddity
32. Catherine King, Catherine’s Musings
33. Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36. Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37. Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38. Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39. Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40. Skylar Bre’z, Brising Beads
41. Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42. Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43. Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44. Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45. Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46. Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
48. Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49. Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50. Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts
51. Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52. D’Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53. Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54. Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55. Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56. Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57. Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58. Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59. Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60. Nat, Grubbi Ceramics
61. Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62. Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63. Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64. Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65. Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66. JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67. Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68. Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69. Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog
70. Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
71. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72. Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73. Jayne Capps, Mama’s Got to Doodle
74. Ile Ruzza, Ilenia’s Unique Beaded Jewelry
75. Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
76. Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
77. Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78. Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80. Miri Agassi, Beadwork
81. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82. Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83. Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84. Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85. Menka Gupta, Menka’s Jewelry
86. Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87. Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88. Gerda Jurimae, Gerda’s Crafts Blog
89. Susan, Mistheword
90. MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou’s time2cre8
91. Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92. Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94. Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95. Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96. Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 – For the Love of Beads
97. Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98. Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99. Dolores Rami, CraftyD’s Creations
100. Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives
101. Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102. Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103. Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104. Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105. Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106. Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107. Lennis Carter, windbent
108. Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109. Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
110. Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa
111. Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112. Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113. Kathy Engstrom, Catherine’s Dreams
114. Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115. Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116. Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117. Kim, Cianci Blue
118. Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119. Karen, Spokalulu
120. Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry
121. Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122. Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123. Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124. Amy Bright, LABweorc
125. Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126. Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127. Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128. Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129. Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl’s Jewelry & Reflections
130. Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy
131. LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132. Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133. Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134. Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135. Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136. Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138. Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139. Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140. Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations
141. B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142. Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143. Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145. Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146. Christina Miles, Wings ‘n’ Scales
147. Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148. Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149. Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150. Sarah Small, By Salla
151. Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152. Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153. Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154. Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155. Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi’s Work Shoppe
156. Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157. Andra Weber, Andra’s Joyful Journey
158. Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159. Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160. Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted
161. Kris Lanae Binsfield, Cherish Designs
162. Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163. Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164. Inge von Roos, Inge’s Blog
165. Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca’s Place
166. Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167. Elena Adams, Lena’s Beady Blog
beadrecipes 
Love what you made! the silver components are beautifully used (I hoarded one too, until I decided to use it last Christmas) and I love the simplicity of the earrings: elegant and beautiful!
Love the art bead and copper earrings. love the colours
All beautiful designs, but I’m crazy about those earrings – they’re fabulous!
Truly beautiful jewelry, Melissa! I’ve been having a craving for sterling silver lately too! I also loved what you wrote! (“myyyy preciousssssss!”) ha!
Very beautiful and nice to see some silver in designs. Both lovely in the set You made
I will have to pull out my drawer with silver components to give that a try 🙂
Love those copper earrings with silk simple but dashing design….crunchy beads are jummy !
The lampwork earring on copper are so very vibrant, but I love the sterling silver set. Fantastic job on your preciousssssssssssssssssness!
Love the Gollum reference! I think beading brings out the ‘my preciousssss’ in all of us! Such beautiful designs. I love the leafy link earrings.
Beautiful! Love those purple earrings & won’t it be easier to enjoy them out of storage? 🙂
Beautiful! Love the sari ribbon with those beads.
Gorgeous! Purple and copper are my fav combo, well, purple and anything ’cause I like the silver too. 🙂
I agree the jewelry set is very sweet indeed and I love the colors. The earrings…subline! I totally relate to not being able to resist art beads.
I love the sari ribbon with those beads and I really love what you did with the Nina findings, they are beautiful.
Beautiful!!!!!
Beautiful pieces. My fav are the earrings. And my precioussssss…that is the perfect description for our hoards. LOL
Oh… all lovely pieces. I have a sterling leafy piece I’ve been hoarding a while, and you’ve inspired me. Thanks!
Really love what you created! My fav is the set!
Lovely! Love the mix of fabric and lampwork! and Nina Designs…some of my favorite silver work.
I am such a lover of fibre inclusions, Melissa! Those earrings are so striking!
Love the earrings! The purple fibre is just the right color.
I love the necklace–very elegant and a surprise as I think of you as boho girl with the awesome porcelain pendants. That will teach me.
I love those fun earrings – the ribbon is such a clever way to show off those art beads and add in a great punch of color. What a smart way to use beads that have really large holes too.
Three gorgeous designs! I love the set with the ss components from Nina Designs. Have a nice week-end. Ana
Beautiful! Love the copper/sari silk pair.
Great job, you created ♥beautiful jewellery in 2 completely different styles! Hats off 🙂
Beautiful – really love the copper earrings!
I like the prehnite an amethyst together. The last earrings are great.
Great job, Melissa! I love all your designs. My favorite is the necklace.
Wow, fabulous. Love the necklace, very special color combo. And I just absolutely love the earrrings.!
You may not have made a dent, but you made some stunning pieces. Those silver and purple branch earrings are gorgeous!!
Sweet and simple! Love the last pair of earrings best!
i love what you came up with!
Well it seems your beautiful purple earrings are a hit. I love any thing purple so I love both pieces…but I guess you could say the earring do edge out the other set just by a hair…Great job and post.
Love all your pieces but those earrings with that little bit of sari ribbon are just awesome.
I simply adore the last pair of earrings. So gorgeous.
wow…gorgeous..! my fave the jewelry set… ❤ ❤ ❤
All your designs are lovely, I too, have a love for sterling silver, it just makes jewelry so pretty. Your earrings are really neat, great colors!
Those components are so pretty! Love the earrings.
The simplicity and beauty are lovely. I love purple with yellow. So cooling just to look at.
I especially love the first piece ! That pale green and dark purple work so well !
Gorgeous and feminine! I discovered Nina Designs way back when, too, and they remain a favorite for so many reasons. Your colors are awesome, and I really appreciate your participating!
I love your dainty and delicate work! I also love that your hoarded prizes are sterling silver! I am crazy about silver, and your work is lovely!
Your necklace and earrings are so elegant! I especially love your earrings with the purple ribbon. I would wear then all anyday Melissa!
Very pretty! I have a soft spot for lampwork beads as well and find it difficult to part with them.
Oh, how lovely! I think you showcased your treasures just perfectly… I am very impressed! 😀
I like both pieces very much, especially the necklace. I use prehnite and Nina designs too.
Those beautiful leafy earrings and necklace are so very delicate and gorgeous. And I had a bit of a surprise when I scrolled down for a nosy around your blog – you and I were both at Quirky Birds a couple of weeks ago! What a small world!
Gorgeous pieces, love the silver set, just lovely.
I love both pieces! Pretty!
I am just loving your pieces – the first set is so elegant with a gorgeous color combo, and the earrings are super fun and energetic – great job!
I love that you kept with purple and green for all your pieces. The colors are very pretty together and I love what you did with them!
Those earrings are so much fun! Love the use of the silk with the copper. So pretty!
I love everything you made beuatiful and delicate
Love everything you made
All three are very beautiful pieces, love your use of purple!
Beautiful designs! Really love the second pair of earrings…and purple is a favorite for me!
These are wonderful. Very light and airy, and fairy like. Love them! have a Blessed day!!
The earrings are really nice! I can understand why you are so pleased with them.
Ambra
(Sorry this is so late! I just getting to the hop now) I love what you did with the Nina Designs components. I have been wanting to splurge on some of their goodies myself. Have you thought about becoming a blog partner with them?