The Color of Dreams Blog Hop - Reveal!

It's time for another reveal!

This time, it's for the Color of Dreams blog hop--a blog hop hosted by the lovely Toltec Jewels, and featuring the beads of the talented Patricia Handschuh (owner of the Color of Dreams Etsy shop).

The idea was that each of the participants would receive one of Patricia's beads, and then use it in a creation to represent one of our dreams.

This was my bead:

And, truth be told, I was rather stymied at first. 

It is a truly lovely bead--just like all of Patricia's work. It is also a lovely magenta pink. And, well, I was having a hard time imagining which of my dreams could be portrayed through lovely magenta pink.

However, I also noticed that it looks like a rose.

...And that made me think. 

That was when the answer hit me like a ton of bricks--and as soon as I started creating, everything started to flow together.

This is what I made:

My Dream

One of my biggest dreams right now is to have a house--a house that I actually own. A beautiful house with enough room for our family to grow. A house with a place for my craftings and a place for my husband's electronics. 

A house with a beautiful garden. 

...This necklace, with the lovely magenta pink rose bead paired with spring-leaf greens, represents that garden.


Some Background

My husband and I have lived in apartments ever since we got married... And the one time that we did live in a house, it was with his parents. (Disclaimer: his parents are absolutely awesome--his mother and I were friends before I even knew him, and we're still all really close. Thankfully, in my case, saying "living with his parents" could also mean "living with good friends.") 

Still, while I have always been fortunate and had a place to live, it has never truly been mine.

And I've certainly never had room for my own garden.

About the Garden (and the House)

So, what do I dream my garden to look like?

I would love to have a bench nestled under trees, where I could sit and read during Spring. I would love for it to be surrounded by different colors--not picky as to the type of flowers, really, I just want things that are bright and cheery. I do like roses--but I also like daffodils and azaleas and bluebells and whatever might work in that particular environment.

And a birdfeeder. I would love for there to be a birdfeeder.

As for the house itself, I honestly don't have that many specifics planned out--brick cottage or Victorian mansion or something in a modern cul-de-sac. Spending times in apartments has given me the appreciation that anything can have the potential to be beautiful...

I am just excited, one day, to have the chance to transform a house into a home.

...And I am excited that, one day, I will have a garden.

When I do, I'll wear this necklace set and smile. 

Until then, I'll wear these items and happily dream, and work to make my dream a reality. 

---

Thank you so, so much for stopping by and letting me share my dream with you!

And, because this is a blog hop, here is a list of all of the other lovely participants involved! Feel free to stop by their blogs to learn more about their dreams!

Honorary Artist:        Patricia Handschuh
Patricia's blog:            The Color of Dreams        
Patricias Etsy:             The Color of Dreams
Hostess: TJ                Jewel School Friends
Kay Thomerson           KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger          Toki No Hourousha

Alicia Marinache          All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter                TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider             Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach             Wonder and Whimsy -- you are here!
Asri Wahyuingsih         Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma              Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan              Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen        A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone          Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke               Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle               Mowse Made This
Heather Richter             Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe                   Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean
Jayne Capps                Mama's Got To Doodle
Andrea Glick                Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding         99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake             Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez              Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley          Mirandack
Penny Houghton           Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson           Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg            Wanderware
Christie Murrow          Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart        A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby                  Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain                 Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel               Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith                   NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy               SueBeads
Jean Yates                   Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers             Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich             A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore              Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams             Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer           Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson           From the Bead Board
Judy Turner               Silver Rains
Gloria Allen                Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood              Ginas-Design
Robin Reed                Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars            MLH Jewelry Designs
Marlene Cupo             Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka              4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack        The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole          Sparkles and Sweets
Jael Thorp                 Jael's Art Jewels
Renetha Stanziano      Lamplight Crafts

...Thank you again for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy dreaming!