Take a look our EBEG's blog. We have several people in the Beadsmith Competition and our upcoming Bead Fest #3 has a new deadline of July 10th. (Mine's done - Queen of Hearts necklace, see below post). So please read about it.
http://www.ebeguild.blogspot.com

Plus we have an upcoming silent partner swap that will be announced later. The coordinator for the swap sent out questionnaire's to all EBEG member's asking questions like what's your favorite(s) color(s) and what style of jewelry do you like.?. Then she mails them to a silent partner. Then each member is to make a piece of jewelry for their silent partner, take pics of the progress with some feedback as how or why you made this piece. Then mail the photo's to the coordinator that are to be posted and mail your finished piece to your silent partner. I've already received mine, but I haven't finished my piece for my silent partner. I believe the deadline is in August. 

Couldn't see where Lulu went. Found her sleeping on my bed! Little stinker.

Painting the anchor chain every 10 feet. Painted 340 ft of chain. Then I started singing and couldn't stop............."chain, chain, chain......chain of fouls". 

Thought you might enjoy seeing a recent photograph of Lulu, 9 months old now, who is my constant bead companion. She's my baby and around 90+ lbs.  

10.  And like magic, you're DONE! Yay! - I give you my beadwork "The Queen of Hearts".
I know this looks easy but believe me, all the beading takes weeks to complete. I'm not a patient person! And I know God made me fall in love with beads just to teach me patience. LOL - Here's some close-ups to view. I hope you've enjoyed a bead embroidery lesson. Ha!

Take care and God bless you! - Catherine

9.  Above the bib necklace on each side, I hand-stitched large white shell pearls, large resin black beads with white hearts, and the flamework playing card beads with 6/0 seed beads and round red crystals. And finished with a gold-filled hook & eye clasp.

8.  On the bottom of the bib necklace, I hand-stitched round red crystals, a playing card bead, and three brass charms; a teacup, a teapot, and Rabbit.