My Partner and Beads for the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2018

For the second time, I'm participating in the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop. It's a fun swap between jewelry-makers through the Bead Peeps Facebook Group. Each designer is paired with another to swap pendants, clasps, and beads ensuring that at least one item is artisan made. Then, we make something with the loot. I'm paired with the amazing Kathy Lindermer.

I'm so very bad at introductions, especially compared to the one Kathy wrote about me. Let me at least try to get you acquainted with her. Kathy is an accomplished jewelry artist and blogger who blogs under the name BayMoonDesign (isn't that lovely!?). You can also find her selling her designs under Bay Moon Design on Etsy. Not only does Kathy create wonderfully romantic and nature-inspired pieces of jewelry but also fun and quirky cards.

Ocean Shell Necklace from Bay Moon Design on Etsy

Get Whale Soon card from Bay Moon Design on Etsy

Kathy gets to live the best of both worlds as she spends mild summers along the Delaware coastline and warm winters in the Florida Keys. Lucky her!! Kathy's designs have a feeling all their own. Somehow she is able to incorporate elegance, rusticness, and romance into each of her pieces. And, it works beautifully!

Yellow Floral Pendant Necklace from Bay Moon Design on Etsy

While Kathy and I have never met in person, I feel like we've known each other for ages through blogging and beading. And, I can tell just from what she sent me for the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop that she's a VERY generous person!

It started with this unassuming box! (Well, unassuming except for the fact that Kathy totally picked up on my love of kitties!)

What she wrote in the card hinted at a color palette option. What!?

When I finally got the box open, the eye candy that awaited me was magical! (yes, magical eye candy...I said it!)

Obviously, the peacock feather immediately stood out and captured my attention for at least several seconds. Then I began to dig!

Kathy was able to pack that little box tight with all these treasures!

And, now that they're all out, you can see what she meant about the color palettes. On the left are the ultraviolet (Pantone's color of the year) selections and on the right are her "earthy" selections. I could tell right away which beads were in which palette. Yet, I grouped the copper clasp with the ultraviolet pieces while Kathy took her picture with the rustic ones. We'll see what I end up doing with it.

Let me give you a little more detail about what she sent. At the center, there is a ceramic pendant from Marsha Neal Studio. In the 12 o'clock position is a strand of purple shell beads (look at those SPIRALS).  At 1 o'clock is a polymer clay bead from Humblebeads.  In the 3 o'clock position are luscious Czech glass beads. At 4-5 o'clock is Wooly Wire! (My swap partner last year also sent me some, if you remember, and I never got around to using it. Maybe this time I will!). At 7 o'clock is a lovely spiraled copper hook clasp made my Kathy herself (a woman of many talents!). At 9 o'clock are ceramic beads with stone beads above them.

And then there's a WHOLE OTHER SET!

Again, starting in the center is that fabulous peacock feather pendant from Firefly Design Studio. At the top are green-dyed fire agate beads. Jasper beads are on the right. Polymer clay twisted beads at the bottom. (These are marked as by Jera Luna, but I'm not familiar with this artist so if you have a link to them, please share!!) At the left are natural wood beads.

There is no way I couldn't be inspired by this mix of awesome. I've already got a few ideas that I will set into motion soon. But for now, a teaser of what I sent Kathy!

Kathy should be getting the package in the next day or two so that should be enough to keep you (and her) guessing.

I'll share non-blurred pictures when I'm sure she's received it. Until then, I hope she likes it, and I'd better get to work on my own. Come back March 26th for the full reveal!