The Beading Party.

The beading party I told you I would tell you all about was a success.  
At Shake 4 jake 2008 (note.  NOT 2009!!), I offered a beading party for a group of 10 where the person who bought it and all of the friends they chose to bring, would each get to design 3 pair of earrings made of pearls, corals, turquoise, etc.  This was the night the Stratton girls decided to redeem their purchase.

The package also included Veronicia's culinary art!  I will prove that in a minute!  

For now, here are the beads I brought.  I have about a gazillion!  So, it is hard for me to choose which ones to bring for a wide variety of girlies. Some were teens, some adults!  So, WHAT, pray tell, is the stone of choice?!  
I went home during my lunch break and broke out all my cute little wooden and copper bowls for display.  
But, when I got to Staci's, I realized I needed MANY more containers!  So, I got her to whip out her wine glasses.  I liked the way they looked, because I could see the beads through the glass making it easier for the girls to choose what they were really attracted to.  
We had serpentine, turquoise, 
coral, pearls, and funky polka dot beads. 

I just love the way a bunch of turquoise looks in a wooden bowl!  And of course, I especially love that little bald headed kid in the background.  
And now let's talk food!  Would you look at this spread?!  
My girls were fired up that Veronicia made so much food last night, as we had fruit and dip again this morning for breakfast!  
Barbecue Shrimp.  (that reminds me of Bubba on Forrest Gump!!)  "Bar-be-cue shrimp, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, shrimp etoufee, ..."
And a fresh tomato and mozzarella cheese salad.  With Italian dressing all over it... Ummmm.
Here is the caterer!  She did an awesome job!  I didn't show the porkloin, the numerous dips, and the pita chips for dipping.  I am talking a LOT of food!  
After the chicks ate, they came to the dining room for a little tutorial. 
Staci and I brought out a bunch of our personal earrings so the girls could have some to use as examples.  They started out a little apprehensive and slow...
but in no time at all... they were designing up a storm, and had some very specific ideas of what they liked and didn't like! 
Michelle, in the white shirt, said the whole time.  "I hate this.  I can't do this.  I am not creative.  I 'll just do this one pair!"  
This is her mom, who actually purchased the party at the Shake last year!  Check out her earrings.  They are awesome.  The silver on the top are actually crosses.  They are just turned a weird direction for this picture.  
And back to Michelle. Once I kinda urged her along, she became a late nighter!  She not only finished all of her own earrings, but also designed one of her friend's, who showed up earlier, but couldn't finish all of hers.  Wow.  Michelle, you big ol' jewelry designer you! 
Callie was fast and furious.  SHe was one of those who knew EXACTLY what she liked, and it took her NO time to whip hers out!  
and Emily was kinda the same way!  "I want a pearl drop and I want it neutral, so I want to use silver bead on top."  and boom... it was done!  Or better yet, as Ellie Sue says, "boom boom pow!"  
And I must show how it all culminated!  This morning when I decided to go unload my car from last night's festivities... I opened the door, and SHAZaaaaM. .. out they fell.  I just couldn't even look at it! 
I think I had something like 200 of each type of headpin/eyepin, and earwire!  And that does not even touch the humdreds of beads strewn all over my driveway.  So what did I do?! 
I paid Sarah, (you know, the 7 year old Sarah from next door), 20 bucks to pick them all up.  I just felt it was best for my mental health!  

I think the party was a success.  We had several who said they wanted to host a bead party of their own in the near future for their birthdays and such.  Sounds like fun to me!  

Mo