Mystery Monday - April 19th Week 3

I've got a few more entries for this month, I sure hope to get more, Remember, the prize is a special gift made just for you!

This weeks photo



Entry directions here.
Last weeks Mystery photo here.

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Wonderful Vegan Brushes Softer than the Natural kind!

I was sent some new make-up brushes to try. And being an artist I deal with a lot of brushes so I do take notice that these come from animals. Now anyone that is a vegetarian or vegan or who keeps Kosher will be aware of these things and be looking for alternatives other than the animal brushes that are out there. I've seen many synthetic brushes but they don't seem to work as well, feel as soft or hold the pigments on as you'd like. But these new brushes are different. You will notice as soon as you rub them against your skin. These brushes are gentle enough to use even on acne prone or sensitive skin.

Want to know more? Check them all out at DermaQuest Skin Therapy - Derma Minerals

If you love animals and have ever had the pleasure to pet a Chinchilla (I used to have one I named Sheldon) then you will have an idea how soft these are. But they are sturdy, come in protective cases and are Animal Friendly!

I'm talking about the NEW DermaBrush Collection that was created by a panel of top makeup artists and they are Eco-friendly Too!

Worried about your brushes getting contaminated over time? Not to worry here, they are antimicrobial too!

These wonderful vegan brushes come in nine styles.

· Kabuki Brush – big and fluffy, perfect for applying pressed or loose powder
· Foundation Brush – use for flawless and even liquid application
· Concealer Brush – perfect for applying concealer to problem areas
· Pro Multi-Task Face Brush – provides the perfect amount of bronzer, powder, or blush
· Pro Multi-Task Eye Brush – best for all-over eye shadow application and blending
· Tapered Contour Eye – use for easy application and eye shadow blending
· Dual Define Eye – double-sided brush for applying eye shadow and lining the eyes
· Precision Angle Eye Brush – suitable to define eye brows and line eyes
· Precision Lip Brush – use for precise lipstick application

I had the chance to try the big, beautiful, fluffy and thick Kabuki brush and have never used one with a better feel and ability to hold onto loose powder.The entire DermaBrush line is made of high-quality, synthetic fibers and are specially designed to compliment the DermaMinerals Line. Very, very soft and non-shedding too! I love that part!
And not just Vegan but also the Wooden handle brushes are part of a reforestation project! Love it!


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OWOH Update

I've sent out some of the special gifts to my winners and have the others in the works. I thought you might like to see what's made that carpet ride around the world from my studio.

Something For Sharon from Scotland. Sharon likes pink and girlie things, nothing flashy and bold, a bit vintage too. So I wracked my brain and spotted a necklace I'd made for one of the possible prizes for OWOH. This caught my eye because it had a vintage rhinestone pendant, spelling out LOVE (what better for one world one Heart?) and I had also attached a silver Hershey's Kiss charm. I live near that Chocolate wonderland so thought being from Scotland she might like something that was 'native 'to my area. To the silver chain I added tiny pink silk ribbons, they were in four different shades. I knew it needed something to make it all hers, and made a heart shaped pin to which I embossed with Queen Annes Lace and her initial, 'S'. I attached this to the side of the pendant a bit off center for more interest. Since it is a little pin or brooch she can detach it and wear it without the necklace if she chooses.

I then decided it needed a special box so I took a Laughing Cow box that I had been saving to used and covered it in Pink roses fabric using Mod Podge. I finished it off with a Lime Green Polkadotted green ribbon. I sent it off to Scotland over a week ago so I hope it's reached her!





Jennifer from Canada was one of my winners. Jennifer loves birds and collects birds nests. I know this wasn't made especially for her but when I got to know Jennifer I realized it was! It was my Bead Swap creation from Lori Anderson's Bead Swap from January (Psss! She's having another one very soon!) My 'Swinging on a Breeze' Necklace. I felt that this necklace would be perfect for Jennifer and got it shipped off to her. She was so pleased that she sent me some goodies (I'll get pictures and share with you soon, Thanks Jennifer! I love sharing the love from this event and the connections it makes. :)


More updates soon on the other One World One Heart special gifts.

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Who's been beadin with my Beads? Anticipation Part 2

Ever since I opened my StudioARTBEAD Shop, when I wrap each one up and send it out into the world I wonder what wonderful thing it will become part of? Will it be added to someones growing art bead collection ;), we all have those, right? or will it become part of a bracelet, necklace, earrings maybe (when there are more than one) or maybe something even more extraordinary such as used as an embellishment on an article of clothing or a wonderful memento? In Anticipation I wait to see a photo in my feedback maybe to see what's become of it.

Yes, I've wondered about this from time to time and recently I've found out what a couple of my beads became part of after they left my studio and would like to share with you.

Just recently Judy of Judith B Designs and Flap Your Wings bought a few beads from me and she convo'd me last week to share what she'd made with one of them. I have to say I was overwhelmed a bit to see my little bead looking so wonderful in this creation! I did really like how this bead turned out and thought about keeping it for myself but gave it it's wings and it flew into Judy's more than capable, talented hands! Isn't this stunning? (and I'm not saying that because of my bead, but it does marry so well with all the other Organic elements doesn't it?). You can read about it and see more views on her blog or visit it in her Flap Your Wings Etsy Shop.

She Calls it 'Organic Obsession' and you can read why at her blog. I love how she's mixed in turquoise and bone, wood and other organic beads in a variety of textures and finishes! And the copper accents are just what it needed as I highlighted this bead with a copper/bronzing patina.
Now I feel inspired to do something similar with another bead but that may be impossible. You see when I make beads like that where I use many mediums of color besides the clay I don't do so from any instructions or tutorials, I just do! Sometimes I use chalks, watercolors, acrylics, alcohol inks, pigment powders, mica powders and embossing powders. Adding, sanding away, adding more, buffing, until I like it. It's like doing a painting but a miniature one and I never know how it will turn out, that is what makes it exciting for me and I love the Anticipation! So while I may come close my work is mostly one of a kind, especially with the organic texture sources I use, so your creation is sure to stand out!

Another of my recent customers is Lynn, of Beading Heart Art who is a fantastic Bead artist! She excitedly wrote me at etsy telling me how happy she was to come across my dandelion trio bead. It was perfect for a project she was working on. When I found this out it was kinda like kismet and I couldn't wait to see the finished result. I'll let her tell you about it......On her blog where she has used my bead to represent her three daughters on her Life Box, I am so honored to have a little piece of my art on this most lovely creation!


Here is the first post about it, called Emerging You just have to go see it, but come back, there's more!

It is gorgeous isn't it? But that's not the end, she has added much more bead work to this box which will sure to be an heirloom. Here is the Follow up post with it pretty much completed.

I can't wait to see what other talented Jewelry artists do with my beads! this is truly a wonderful fruit of Anticipation!

If you missed Anticipation Part 1, you can read it here.

Today is also Carnival Blog Day At ART BEAD SCENE and the subject is Anticipation. Be sure to click on my ABS Carnival Blogger button to go and see all the wonderful posts about the Anticipation seen from a beaders perspective!
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April - Team T International Tuesday

Nature Language by Sooooound

If some of you were reading last month I changed my schedule of posting a bit and have now devoted a new Google blogger page to introducing you to my wonderful and talented Team T international Team members.

This months Theme is Spring! So hop on over to my Team T International page and have a look, click on the links below the pictures as well as the member links and discover some great new shops of my artistic team mates!

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