There wasn’t enough going on this month, so I jumped in and decided to join Lori Anderson’s 2nd Annual Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.

Here’s what Lori wrote about it…

If you would like to finally pull out those beads you’ve been hoarding as too precious, or too pricey. or just too special to work with, NOW IS THE TIME!
What do you have to do?
Have beads you want to work with but haven’t for some reason.
Make something!
Post it on your blog on December 6th.

Seriously, this is an awesome idea.  No need to buy beads.  And blog hops are just too much fun.  The idea behind them is that a bunch of people all post on the same day and you “hop” between blogs and leave notes for them.  And they do the same for you.  And its fun!

So… here’s what I picked.  Center – a sand dollar I’d been hoarding.  It had been a gift from someone and I had been saving it for something really special.  Offset drilled freshwater pearls.  15/0 aqua AB seed beads.  White gold matte 11/0 seed beads.  silver 4mm firepolish.  light green AB two-hole Starman Beads triangles.  6/0 clear aqua lined seed beads.  8/0 pearl finish seed beads.

So, I got going on some basic bead embroidery.  The idea was that I wanted to combine the sand dollar with a sea star shape, but still go easy on the bead embroidery.  I got all the way through the embroidery and added a piece of ultrasuede onto the back and… DISASTER!  I put my finger right through the sand dollar.

Figures, right?

What followed was a whole fit of swearing.  I thought about just gluing a big rivoli in there and trying to patch it up with epoxy.  What I refused to consider was scrapping it and starting over, especially with a whole new palette.  Most of you who are reading this know that I generally cover mistakes with a lot of fringe, but this was falling apart as I looked at it.  I had no idea that sand dollars were so  fragile!  I should really have fixed the whole thing with resin before I started.

I thought maybe a coin would work instead, but I didn’t have one big enough.  I had an antique brooch from my grandmother that had a broken baking, but it was completely the wrong color and I wasn’t really ready to give that up into a for-sale piece yet.  So, I went rummaging through a few boxes of “stuff” that i hadn’t really looked at since I’d moved.  And you’ll never believe what I found – a metal brass cabochon Art Nouveau face that I purchase years ago from Diane Hyde and had never gotten around to using.  i’d been hoarding it so well, I’d forgotten about ti.

And guess what – it was the perfect shape and size.  I only had to remove one row to fit it in!  Ready to see it?  This is after the row was removed, the cabochon glued in place, and then the row reworked.  I added a few rows of embellishment around it…

Talk about a happy accident!  Its better than the original plan.

Here are a few photos of the finished pendant.  It is available for purchase upon request.  Just email me at goodrivergallery@aol.com.  The piece is $85 plus shipping.  It includes the 18″ light blue ribbon necklace with extension chain.

Below is the list of participants – stop by and see what they’ve made using their stash.  Leave a message for them!  They’ll appreciate it!
Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com  (Hostess)
Audrey Belanger esperianterra.blogspot.com
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Dee Elgie http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Rebecca Ednie Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com
Lili Krist http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Hannah Rosner https://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/
Nicole Prince http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/
Deana Hager http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Jackie Ryan http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/
Terri Gauthier http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/
Patti Pruhs http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com
Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
K Hutchinson https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Marci Brooks https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/
Jo-Ann Woolverton itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Jasvanti Patel Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaar Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Lisa Knappenberger LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Lindell marylindell.com
Niky Sayers silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Sandra McGriff skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Patricia Handschuh thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz treasures-found.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kathleen Breeding www.99bobotw.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Jackie Locantore www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar
Sheryl Stephens www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Mona Arnott www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Michelle Escano www.cabbycraft.com
Denise McCabe www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Sheila Prose www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak www.cianciblue.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog
Deborah Apodaca www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Bunn www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com
Janine Lucas www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Kari Asbury www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Inge von Roos www.ingetraud.wordpress.com
Divya N www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Debbie Rasmussen www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
KJ www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com
Ghislaine Kruse-van Erp www.kruseartllc.com
Ginger Bishop www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Kelly Schermerhorn www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com
Mischelle Andrade www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com 
Sue Kelly www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz
Susan McClelland www.mistheword12.com
Mary K McGraw www.mkaymac.blogspot.com
Tania Spivey www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie Perry www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Mitzie Crider www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com
Nicole Rennell Www.nicolerennell.com/blog
Nicole Valentine www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell www.overthemoon-design.com
Tammy Adams www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Patty Miller www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Blanca Medina www.peru-medesigns.com
Stephanie Haussler www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Roxanne Mendoza www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com
Claire Fabian www.saraccino.blogspot.com
Bridget Torres www.shears58.net
Donetta Farrington www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Deb Fortin www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Susan Walls Www.susansartcircus.com/blog
Cece Cormier www.thebeadingyogini.com
Heather Otto www.thecrafthopper.com
Lizzie Clarke www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk
Elizabeth Hodges www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden www.torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com
Nan Smith www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Jayne Capps wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com
Robin Kae Reed                                       http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                   https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/