Rare Disease Day

Today is World Rare Disease Day.

Didn't know there was a day for that, huh?

Well, neither did I until I participated in a blog hop this past weekend co-hosted by the wonderful ladies of Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations for 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign.

The Global Genes Project (GGP) volunteer team collected blue jean/denim inspired bracelets for families living with rare disease through the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign and they distribute them to those who care for people (mostly children) affected with rare diseases.

Learning about the Global Genes Project and the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign really opened my eyes.  I had no idea there were so many people suffering from so many unexplicable diseases and how little we truly know - medically speaking.

Please take the time to learn more about the  Global Genes Project (GGP) and the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign (you can still send in a bracelet yourself!!),

by clicking on the link ---- here.

"Global Love"

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Finding Cures!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

I Heart Macro - It's Sunday!!

I was a busy girl yesterday and had two hops to participate in and had a blast doing them both!

If you're looking for the Echo Creative Club

February Reveal  - click here.

If you're looking for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope

Blog Hop Pics - click here.

Today, I'm shooting some things up close and playing along with I Heart Macro over at Studio Waterstone with Lori Plyler and the gang - won't you join in the fun? 

White Shell Beads - One of my fun purchases from the Tucson Gem Show 2012

Right now I'm having a love affair with these beauties!

Not sure what I'm going to do with them or how many years I'll hoard them before making something, but they're so smooth and cool to the touch - it's true love!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happiness up Close!

Cheers,

~Shel~

2 For 1 Today!

Yep, today's post is a 2-for-1!  

It's not only the Echo Creative Club's February reveal date and blog hop, but it's also the reveal date for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop!  Woo Hoo!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, first up, Echo Creative Club, which is the brainchild of Jeannie Dukic over at Jeannie's Blog, is a monthly challenge and blog hop where everyone who's participating that month creates something really cool with either Jeannie's 'Peeled Paint' beads or her beautiful 'Gin Blossom' pendants that she makes.  It's a fun way to stretch our creativity and try different colors and art beads in our designs that we might not have tried before.

 



"Passion" Earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie

I've asked Jeannie to surprise me on the month's I'm participating (April, September, October and November) with whatever she wants to send me and this month she sent me some of her 8mm Variegated Copper Peeled Paint Beads.  Pretty, aren't they?!

"Passion" earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
for Echo Creative Club - February 2012

I chose to create a pair of earrings this go-around.  Whatcha think??

Earring Design by Michelle Buettner
Handcrafted copper ear wires, brushed copper circle links,
green turquoise beads and Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie Dukic
of Jewelry by Jeannie

Here's a list of the other Echo Creative Club members who are participating this month.

"Passion" earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie

Cindy Cima Edwards

http://www.cindycima.com

 

 

Courtney Breul

http://www.beadsbybreul.blogspot.com

Dagi

http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com

Jeannie K Dukic

http://www.site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Kristen Stevens 

http://www.kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo

http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Malin de Koning

http://www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Michelle Buettner

http://www.MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com

 

 

Molly Alexander

http://www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com

 

 

Shannon Chomanczuk

http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com

It would be really nice of you to drop by each one of their blogs and check out what they created and leave them a lovely comment. And, I'm sure it would be greatly apprecaited, too!

Peeled Paint "Passion" Earrings
by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie Dukic
of Jewelry by Jeannie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

2nd up today is the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Blog Hop organized and hosted by

Erin Fickert-Rowland, owner of Elysian Studios and 

Christine Altmiller of One Kiss Creations.  

"Global Love" bracelet by Michelle Buettner

The 7000 Bracelets of Hope is a project to raise awareness for people suffering from rare diseases.  You can read more about the 7000 Bracelets of Hope project and The Global Genes Project here.

"Global Love" by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs

We were to create a bracelet that is blue in color (Kinda like blue-jeans,...get it 'genes') that could be adjustable to fit a size 6 to 8 inch wrist and then send it off, along with a note to the family who will receive it, to the address on the 7000 Bracelets of Hope / Global Genes Project website so that it can be given to someone who helps or cares for those with a rare disease. 

Pretty neat idea, huh?

7000 Bracelets for Hope - submission by Michelle Buettner
of MiShel Designs - "Global Love"

So, here's the bracelet that I created for the 7000 Bracelet of Hope Blog Hop.  I sent this off, along with a note to the family and I truly hope it brightens someone's day and shows them they're appreciated!

Little round, blue lava beads represent our "Globe/World".
The little, sterling silver swirl heart charm represents
"Love" for all those with a Rare Disease.
~Shel~

Here's the list of the other 7000 Bracelets of Hope Blog Hop Participants. 

Won't you please check out all the cool bracelets they created.  I know you'll love them!

Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations

 

The Studio Sublime

Crafty Hope

The Gossiping Goddess

SilverRose Designs

Firefly Visions

Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Michelle Mach

Pine Ridge Treasures

Backstory Beads

Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

Sue Beads

MiShel Designs

Created Treasures

Taralinda Muses

My Life Under The Bus

Elizabeth Creates

SilverNikNats

Erin Siegel Jewelry

Carolyn’s Creations

My Life…one bead at a time

Fresh Baked Designs

Songbeads

Sunshine Bliss

Lori Anderson

Rainy Days Designs

Pat Barden Jewelry

Tell Your Girlfriends

Therese's Treasures

Windrock Studio

Bead Lola Bead

Spice Box Designs

Antiquity Travelers

Vitamin C...A Daily Dose of Creativity

Beads and Bread

Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections

Ahtee's Blog

Thoughtful-Notions

Beads for Brains:365

Wild Sally Road

All The Pretty Things

Skye's Creative Chaos

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Lindy's Designs

Falling Into The Sky

Star Hitched Wagon

Mama's Got to Doodle

10KDgroup

"Global Love" bracelet by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop - 2012

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happiness!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

"Passion"

Suburban Girl Design Team!

This year I've been trying to step of my "Shell" (pun intended there!!) and try different things, design-wise, with my jewelry.

Spice It Up! By Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Gin Blossom Pendant by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie

Working with different colors, for instance,
is a big one for me this year. 

Sari Silk Wrapped Bangle by Michelle Buettner
of MiShel Designs

So, putting my 'name in the hat' on people's blogs I follow who are having challenges, or give-a-ways, or asking for design team members and/or signing up for blog-hops (when I see them in time!) and things like this are just a couple of the things I'm doing this year to try to stretch myself artistically.

Earring Designs by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
for the Flickr group, 52 Pair of Earrings a Year

These actions I've taken have been rather successful so far  this year. I've been the recipient of some fabulous give-a-ways (and I truly thought I never won anything!) and I've had some great opportunities come my way.

One such opportunity happened just a couple of days ago.

I'm excited to announce that I was chosen to be on the Suburban Girl Studio's design team!

What good fortune! 

Have you seen the handcrafted porcelain, stoneware and raku bead components that Diana of

Suburban Girl Studio makes?

Here's a few of the items she currently has available in her Etsy Shop.

Sunset Orange Porcelain Flower Pendant
by Suburban Girl Beads

Raku Desert Rose Charm by Suburban Girl Beads

Gorgeous, huh?!!  I'm really excited to participate!

Copper Patina Charm Pair
By Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's doing a Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter design challenge and the first reveal date for all of us on the team is going to be April 1st!

Hop on over to the Suburban Girl Studio and check out the other Design Team Members.

They're all pretty awesome if you ask me!

I want to thank Diana for putting the design team together and I hope I'm able to create designs that will truly highlight her components and allow them to shine!

Also, this Saturday (tomorrow!) is gonna be a big day, too!

It's a 2-for-1 here on my blog!

There will be the Echo Creative Club monthly reveal and Blog Hop and then also the 7000 Bracelets of Hope
Blog Hop is happening, too!

So, come back over here tomorrow and check out all that's going on. It'll be fun!!



Photo by Michelle Buettner/MiShel Designs



Until Next Time,

Peace, Love, and Gratitude!

Cheers,

~Shel~