Bead Soup Blog Party (#1)

So I signed up for the Bead Soup Blog Party, hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. What a fun idea! I first found out about it earlier this year (last year? can't exactly remember) and knew that when it came around again I would sign up. I received my official partner information and my partner is Michelle of MiShel Designs! She designs fabulous jewelry and loves pearls. I put together a package of beads for her and will drop it off at the post office tomorrow. Here's what I sent her:

Haha, what, no! It is supposed to be a surprise! Once she receives her beads and shows them off, I can show what I sent, but not until then (and I probably won't until the big reveal). I hope she likes them, and I can't wait to see what she makes! I went to the bead store in Concord to get a clasp to match the pendant and I also picked up some of my very favorite style of beads to go with it (later I got home and found the exact same beads in my stash! I think I need to inventory, haha).

And when I receive my beads from HER, I will show mine! I am excited.

Here's how the blog party works:

Sign ups were last week, and we were assigned a partner. Each partner sends a pendant, a clasp, and some coordinating beads. The stuff needs to be good stuff, not just crap from your stash you're trying to get rid of. Packages need to go out by August 17 and the big reveal of what you make is September 17. I first found out about this fun swap right in the middle of the last one and was determined to participate the next time it rolled around.

So, I worked on that, and this weekend was EXTRA PAY DAY WEEKEND and I went slightly insane, but really, even though I wound up spending a veritable tonne of money, I got all sorts of things that I needed/wanted:

1. A big fat crockpot (I already made a super successful beef stew in it, it was delicious. And gone to live in my belly.) I love my baby crockpot my mom gave me, but it is only 2 quarts – perfect for carnitas but too small for bigger dishes like stew (I was going to try to cram a stew in it but thought better)
2. Abby's birthday presents!!!!!!!1 Abby knows PARTLY what I'm getting her, as I told her not to put it on her birthday list for our mom but she doesn't know EXACTLY what I got her, plus I got her something else that is related and fun. Maybe. I will probably also make her some jewelry. I can write that because it almost always happens, so it's not that big a surprise.
3. JEANS!!!!!1 I love jeans, and I needed like 2 more pairs since some were too short and/or made of inferior quality so they busted out at the thigh seams. I managed to hit the 40% off denim sale, so that was nice.
4. GROCERIES! I was tired of subsisting on spaghetti.
5. Shirts for the fall
6. A new FABULOUS purse that I forgot to take a picture of, it is the culmination of my heart's desire: greeny turquoise crocodile (fake-o) skin. I got it on mega clearance at Kohl's. 

Anyway, I still totally have money left if you can believe it, but I have to pay Abby back for some tickets she bought for us for an event of epic proportions at the end of the month and also pick up my prescription, yay, not.

In conclusion, here is a fabulous bracelet I made out of beads from Michael's.

They're dyed stones, but I really like them, the veining is really beautiful up close.

THE END, till next time, my peeps.