Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Today Plus One

I have what one might possibly consider an embarrassingly large collection of Swarovski crystal. I have a tendency to always think factory pack when perhaps a gross would do, but a gross of crystal looks small to me these days..... I like my crystal containers to be full....

I put together this selection of medium green vitrail 16 mm rivolis, some bermuda blue squares and a huge volcano Swarovski button, with a few purply irisy czech beads because I liked them and thought you might too.

The picture is not excellent, I went with the iPhone this morning to try out it's capabilities for jewelry, and the neat new feature of photo stream where a picture automatically ends up on all my devices. I find this quite handy, but the iPhone just doesn't do white balance well under the bright lights, and since it's raining, there was no natural light.

But I think the sparkle comes through nicely.



One more day of blog hopping tomorrow, and one more addition to the package, so leave a comment, and don't forget to check back on Thursday to see the name of the winner(s). Yep, I'd like to give each and every one of you something, but that is not going to be practical, however what I am going to do, considering the popularity, is to choose 5 additional names after the grand prize winner and each of them will receive a copy of the dream keeper vessel ring instructions. I'll be sending them email so you will need to provide your own shrink plastic (or go dreamless.....which works but is not half as much fun).

Today is the fourth birthday in a string of five. These are the girls I met when I had a brief stint as a knitting/felting teacher in 2006. We bonded over wool and have been friends ever since. (pssstttt, Val (bloghop) began her love of needle felting in that class) Our birthdays fall the very end of August, then October, November, December and January, nicely spaced out. We always go to C level lounge on Harbor Island and we always have a wonderful visit. Susan is from Boston as am I, and although the rest of the girls are native California girls, we can all talk at once, having multiple cross conversations and keeping up with all of them. I guess I think of that as an East Coast trait, but maybe not, at least not in this crowd.

76 comments:

Jet said...

ooh. what a delicious buffet of swarovski. yummmmmmmmmmm

Nancy said...

Simply wonderful stuff! It's a good thing I don't live too close or I would need to come and drool over your stash every 6 months or so. But I can dream!

Skye said...

The sparkle comes through amazingly :)

I know people who can keep up with multiple conversations at once, unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I can tune out multiple conversations at once though ;) I take after my dad in the selective hearing trait lol

Terri said...

The sparkle definitely came through! Wonderful picture!!

Denise - Jewelry By Denise said...

beautiful! Love me some swarovskis!

Debbie said...

Love that button! Thanks for adding some more beautiful stuff, Marcia.

Nancy said...

Yummie sparkles for a gray day (here)!

ChrisD said...

A rainy day of beading (as promised yesterday) and making muffins and then you add to it with fabulous sparkles. I'm in awe of your stash!

Anonymous said...

You are so generous! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Casy said...

I just love rivoli's - stunning. Really cool about the additional five folks getting instructions for dream keeper ring.

Petra said...

I looooovvvvve the sparkle of Swarovski ;-)

Marla said...

Oh wow! They are so beautiful! I would love to win! <3

Karen Firnberg said...

Ah, crystals. What's not to love about them?

Karen said...

Love LOVE LOVE the sparkle. And you can never have enough of that!

moonlitfantaseas said...

wow love the beautiful swarovski crystals, and you can never have enough of those!

teachergustavson said...

Oh, my. That's a whole handful of delicious sparkle! I'm having visions of an utterly resplendent holiday ensemble. Thanks again for doing this blog hop--it's introduced me to some other artists I never followed before.

Tom and Jane said...

Boy your goodies box is to die for!!! I sure am hoping that I am the lucky winner!

NEDbeads said...

Gasp!!!!! Oh my oh my!!!! Glorious riches for your grand prize winner, Marcia!! WOW!!!

flyingbeader said...

And I thought Beki Haley was the official crystal ho! I see you definitely have her out beat. Lovely lovely colors and such beautiful things to look at on this gray rainy Ohio day

Katie said...

I tried SO hard to resist, but I couldn't help it...I love the stuff you're putting into your stash of swap goodies! I need more beads like I need another hole in my head, but you always have the best pretties!

lynnd said...

The picture may not be how you would like it to look but it sure shows me that there is a lot of bling.

Marca said...

OMG I'm a total bling girl, so this addition to the stash is amazing!!!!

Tia Dalma said...

Marcia I would be happy to help you with your embarrasingly large collection of Swarovski! My little boxes of Crystals are not nearly as full as they should be! And I definitely don't have any of that beautiful Bermuda Blue!

You have made a beautiful choice of Crystals for today's addition to the gift box! I just love the idea that several people will also win the Dream Keeper Ring tutorial!

I am originally a California girl but have lived on the East Coast for almost 30 years now, so I think I am more of an East Coast girl by now! And I thought that mulitiple conversations at once was just a characteristic of my crazy family! Good to know it's not just us!

And we have 4 family Birthdays in December, plus Christmas! So there are a lot of family celebrations for us...almost too many in one month!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your entire family being together this year! How special for all of you!

Thanks for sharing the love!

Tanya said...

Love the sparkles!

Marcia DeCoster said...

At Dot.....I think Beki still has me beat, but I probably run a close second!

Maneki said...

Lovely stash! That photo reminds me that I once "challenged" myself to make a big necklace with multiple rivolis. Which I haven't done yet. While cost is always an issue too, I just seem to like my simple designs. Well, maybe I should renew that challenge and make it a new year's resolution or something?

Ingrid said...

Waouhhh Marcia It's so beautiful, love the colours !
Tmorrow i'm having lunch with my girls too, celebrating 2 b-day, 2 more to go. Always such great moments of laugh, complicity & friendship,
Thanks for your generosity !
Ingrid

Lisa said...

Medium vitrail and volcano are two of my favorite Swarovski colors. You've mentioned the Level C lounge a number of times, next time I'm in San Diego, I'll have to check it out.

Angi said...

You can never have too much crystals. These are wonderful. :)

Peapod Beads said...

wow so much sparkle! I feel naughty buying bicones by the hundred...would love 'full jars'!

twistedsistah said...

It's going to be quite a haul for some lucky winner! (fingers crossed!)

vwise said...

Bing Bing....just beautiful.

Helen said...

Well Marcia I'm almost speechless!
I say "almost" because I'm NEVER speechless. These crystals are to die for. Thanks again for your generosity.

Jean Hutter said...

Can't wait to see who is your lucky winner - I hope it is me! I think the photo is really good and sparkly.

KvH said...

Woh...they are fantastic.

LisaMarie said...

You can never have too much Swarovski crystal!

LisaMarie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa J said...

Gorgeous crystals! I would be more than happy to provide my own shrink plastic for the dream keeper ring... your blog hop goodies are top notch! Thanks for the fun.

Unknown said...

So beautiful!

TanyaMcGuire said...

For a phone photo the colors in those crystals are breath taking.

Unknown said...

Oh My! It's a rainbow of beads! My raven's heart, the one that LOVES the sparkly, is skipping beats. Sigh.

Manola Maria said...

They suuuure sparkle! And that volcano button is absolutely breathtaking!!! Who can blaim you for having such a large Swarovski collection? Noone believe me.

Peikkonen said...

O_O 0_o -_- o_0 *fainting*

Unknown said...

Oh I would be in heaven! I haven't collected nearly a 1/8th of your stash but I thank you for the sparkly (shich I really need right now). I hope to someday enjoy meeting my beady friends in person at a retreat.

Sandy said...

I'm drooling. They are so beautiful.

Beverly Herman said...

Crystals make me swoon! I've been using an app called Pro HDR for taking photos with my iPod/for iPhone. I took a few good jewelry photos with it. Happy Birthday to all those birthday girls!

cw whitedogjewelry said...

Those deep rich jewel tones are outstanding. Oh how I would love to own those.
'just beautiful!
'hope I win!
Chris

Luxorhouse said...

All I can say is ooooohhhhhh and aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! Such lovelies!!!!

Kelly Dale said...

I Love Swarovski! They are sooo pretty!

pamelaric said...

Who could possibly resist Swarovski crystal? Certainly not me. What an incredible present this is going to be for someone!!!!!
Pamela (Tucson)

One Woman said...

Lovely!

Mary K. McGraw said...

Perfect for the holidays.

CrippleHorse said...

GORGEOUSNESS!!
They make me happy just looking at them!!

DESPINA
deb_oro@yahoo.gr

Jamie Lubin said...

I remember you whipping out your rather large container of crystal metallic blue 2X 3mm at Blanches'. All I could think is that I am right there....I want those....Ha! I think that the more that you bead, the more crystals you need. I am so happy that you feel the same way and keep designing the most beautiful jewelry that we can make for ourselves...Thank you so much Marcia!

Susan K said...

This blog hop has really been fun! I am sure hoping I am one of the lucky recipients of your giveaway!

Christy said...

Ooooh the sparkle! I don't get much chance to play with Swarovski (I'm poor, what with 2.95 kids and a cat and all that...) so that would be a hugely fantastic Christmas present right there, never mind the rest of the goodies!

The hop ladies keep talking about all the fun classes and get togethers they get to go to, I'm starting to get a bit jealous! I live in a creative black hole, sadly, there doesn't seem to be anything fun around here.

Aunt Mary said...

bermuda blue!!! ah swarovski crystals...when only the best will do!

donna said...

it's amazing what those phones can do! They are almost as good as anything you can buy in Best Buy these days. I need to get used to using mine. It is nice to see what they are capable of doing. The picture looks lovely.

debb said...

One can never have too many diamonds, I mean Swarovskis! Enjoy your celebration with your friends!

Lolita said...

I envy your swarovski collection! inspiration...for more wonderful designs.

Tycialk said...

What a lovely stash. I would welcome it into my home any time. Thanks for the chance to win.

Francesca Watson said...

Holy cow, those are gorgeous. Really stunning. I have never used any of the larger crystal components - just the 4mm and 5mm rounds and bicones. These may just be enough to get me started!

Jane said...

Such beautiful crystals. The winner is going to be one lucky beader!

Lois2037 said...

Oooooh! SPARKLIES!

Barb said...

Marcia,
you are so generous with your gifts!! Absolutely gorgeous Swarkies - I can imagine playing with them in the sun - wowww!!
Barb

Mari said...

Definitivamente que me encantaria ganar! pero si no lo logro me conformaria con ganar las instrucciones de la dream keeper ring!! Los rivolis y swarovski estan preciosos. Eres muy generosa!! Feliz Navidad from Puerto Rico!!

Terry from Alaska said...

Now that's a pile of crystals! Pick me!Pick me! Pick me! The Queen of Bling in Alaska needs her crystals.
I read about the giveaway now for the dreamkeeper ring. Awesome!
This is just over the top. Love Ya!

Abracadebra Designs said...

My God, Look at all that Bling. Gorgeous. You do love that bling, don't ya? Thanks for all your generosity.

T=MC2 said...

I thought my (inherited) crystal stash was over-sized. Clearly there's plenty of room for growth, after all :)

flwrchyk said...

Fantastic collection, I am definitely drooling :-)

Anonymous said...

I agree Marcia, one can NEVER have too many swarovski's!

Knititall said...

Oh wow, I love sparkle!

Pamela said...

All those Swarovski crystals are blinding here in Utah where it is dreary, dark and kind of snowy. not the pretty big flakes, now that is OK, but this drizzle kind of snow is just miserable. It's nice to brighten the day looking into the blogs and dreaming of possibly winning even a small something! Thanks again for your generosity!

Beady Zoo said...

Ooooh! pretty, shiny crystals. Perfect for a cold wintery day / evening.

Kim said...

Swarovski crystals are like shoes. You can never have too many. Great picture, really showed the sparkle.

sis said...

Luv the sparklies!