Holiday Bling #2 Blog Hop

Welcome Friends~

Today I am happy to share with you my participation in the Holiday Bling #2 Blog Hop.

Back in the fall I was neck deep in craft/trunk show mode. I had watched with interest the previous Holiday Bling #1 hosted by Shelley Turner and Marlene Cupo and thought "Wow, sorry I missed that one". 

Much to my delight they decided to extend the fun and so I hopped aboard the second blog train.  

I was so tickled to be paired with Ginger Bishop!

[Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com]. 

Ginger happens to be a fellow Navy wife, currently supporting her lovely family & the 'Global Force for Good' in Okinawa Japan. I had the pleasure of visiting Tokyo when we were stationed in Guam. I wanted to go to say I'd been to Japan, I never expected to fall in love with the culture there.  Coincidentally, my favorite polymer clay approach is Mokume Gane which is based on Japanese metal working technique. 

Ginger & I 'chatted' at bit through emails and FB and shared our likes and what we wanted to swap.  I had a few ideas right away.

Of  course some Mokume Gane was to be expected and based on colors we discussed I developed this unique 'cookie cutter' style ornament.

Mokume Gane in process......

 Being married to the NAVY very often means a tour of duty in Norfolk, Virginia. The city symbol is the mermaid and that emblem abounds.  I am very fond of mermaids and use them often in my designs.
I made this set from polymer clay using translucent cool ocean blues and silver leaf.

Never one to waste, I also made these cool 'Century' beads from my leftover clays from this project. I hope Ginger can make them into something cool.

A few days after I sent my swap I received this fun little box from Okinawa :-)
Wonder what's inside????

A cool shinto shrine ornament

A spectacular beaded collar necklace that Ginger made just for me.  I admire her patience, I'm pretty sure I could never make something this beautiful!

I am in LOVE with this! A Christmas tree made from sea urchin shells. 

A bit of 'bling' ~ sparkling thumb tacks

Thanks for hopping by today. I hope you enjoyed the post. I feel blessed to have made a new friend and to have received a beautiful early Christmas gift. 

Please stop by the other participants below*** and see all the other "BLING"

If you are new to TTE Designs I would love to have you as a follower.  If you are already a friend, please know how much I appreciate you!

If you are interested in learning more about Mokume Gane I posted a more in depth 'how to' at Artisan Whimsy on Friday 12/14/12. 

Warmest Regards~ Tammie
Shirley Moore http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com  
Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com  
Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com  
Dyanne Cantrell  http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com  
Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com  
Elaine Ray http://elaineray.blogspot.com  
Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com  
Jo-Ann Woolverton http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca  
Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com  
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com  
Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com <<<< MY FABULOUS PARTNER :-)  
Miranda Ackerley http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts  
Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca  
Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com <<<<< YOU ARE HERE  
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca  
Melinda Abrahamson http://www.firstreetcrafts.com  
Rita/ Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com  
Chandra Merod http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com  
Mary Govaars http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com  
Kelley Fogel http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com  
Tiffany Goff Smith http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com  
Heather Rats Otto http://www.thecrafthopper.com  
Anitra Gordy Boyers www.leelucreations.blogspot.com   
Marlene Cupo http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com  
Shelley Graham Turner www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com