Reveal Day! 8th Bead Soup Blog Hop is finally here!

Here is my original post about my partner and the goodies I received...it also contains a brief explanation in case you aren't familiar with the Bead Soup Blog Hop and our lovely, inspiring hostess Lori Anderson. Now on to the reveal...

Beautiful, pale blue sea glass from my soup...I still have several of these beads left for another project since my partner graciously sent a whole strand! I thought they might be a bit heavy for earrings originally and was mulling other ideas when I ran across this wonderful chain at Michaels Craft Store in the Bead Gallery section...during a week when all Bead Gallery strands were 50% off...how could I resist? They are tiny wood beads so very lightweight...I added a Swarovski crystal on the top (seen better in the next picture) since the holes in the sea glass are a bit larger and finished off with brass ear wires from Vintaj. I really love the way the chain creates just the right amount of movement.

My soup had a pair of rustic, pink wood beads...perfect for earrings, right? I tried several techniques before settling on this finished design. I wanted the beads to sit sideways so you could really see how pretty they are with a bit of gold, slightly worn. In that same trip to Michaels...they had pink and purple chain too...did I mention 50% off? That's completely my justification for adding more beads I didn't really need to my ever growing collection. A purple, pink hued luster finish glass bead and brass ear wires complete the look. These are ultra lightweight, for their size and lots of movement in all that beaded chain and dangle!

                            

Aren't they just gorgeous, girly earrings...perfect for a summer dress or jeans and a tee shirt!

                            

My partner was very generous with what she sent so I had a choice of focals and clasps to use...hop rules say you must at least use the focal and clasp you are sent...I've been on somewhat of a wax linen, cord knotting, type kick lately...not sure why. So I had some great dark orange colored cord I wanted to use with the bee focal and copper clasp. Faceted glass compliments of the 50% sale...lol! They are called 'painted' and as you can really see in the next two pictures, they really do have a kind of water color painted look. I also like them for their bright colors, like crayons. :)

So I hand knotted all the beads on my lovely orange cord, and hung the bee focal from the clasp at the front of the necklace...just 'cuz I'm like that...I drive my hubby crazy with my asymetrical, off balance, 'weird-ass' designs...he always says things look good but wonders why I can create just one 'normal' thing? I guess it's just not me.

I have worn this necklace a couple of times and it seems to be a hit...looks very good with my standard casual favorite jeans, white tee and grey soft drape cardigan and mint green chucks ;)

I do have another necklace started with the butterfly focal, lava and rudraksha beads...but it won't be finished in time for the post. I hope you've enjoy visiting me today and I hope you will stop by Lori's blog here for a complete list of participants. We have nearly 500 participants...I hope you will take some time to hop around and enjoy all the wonderful designs!

A bit about my swap partner and soup has arrived!

and by soup I mean BEAD soup...the very best kind! I am pleased to be participating in the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party, hosted by the lovely Lori Anderson...visit her blog here for more information on this annual event. This is my second time participating and I just can't say enough about what a wonderful party it is! Lori is quite ill at this time, but with the help of a wonderful, supportive husband and son, as well as several wonderful ladies in the bead community, she has managed to bring 400+ jewelry designers together and partner us, so we can swap beady goodness and create beautiful designs. THANK YOU Lori and as always...love, light and healing to you. THANK YOU Rick and Lisa...I know your help to Lori and the community was invaluable when bringing together the final lists and answering questions in Lori down time. Now onto the beady goodness and my lovely partner...

Kashmira Patel, of Sadafulee...Always in Bloom is my partner for this blog party. I hope you will click on her name and a take a visit to her blog. It talks about how she got into jewelry making and her connections with Project Why in New Dehli...an organization helping area slum kids. Kashmira and I were already facebook and bead group friends so this is a nice opportunity to get to know more about her. As we were preparing and exchanging soups, she was also preparing for the annual Bead Cruise...of course I'm jealous! So it will be very exciting to see all the lovely photos and hear about the fun...she also took the soup I sent her so at least it got to travel along! But enough on that...back to what I received...the packaging was simple and lovely, and included to separate soups.

First a gorgeous spring assortment which includes a focal from Barbara Bechtel, painted wood beads from Hope Smitherman, seaglass, african tube beads, silver findings and natural stones...Kashmira notes she isn't sure what they are...I believe they are unakite but I haven't had a chance to pull out my gemstone reference sampler yet to check for sure. I definitely see several inspiring designs here...so much gorgeous color!

Second a beautiful earthy assortment which includes a special butterfly pendant, Kashmira notes it was difficult to part with...hopefully I do it justice...it is gorgeous! Coordinating green beads...which I have something similar, might be a type of stone or marble, have to check...black lava bead, brown/gold stone beads and rudrasksha beads...which are seeds used in prayer strands in India. I have seen them before but never worked with them in anything so really looking forward to seeing how the designs come together...which of course many swirling with this soup as well!

I am so inspired by all the delightful goodies I received...I've fondled them, searched through my stash to see what else I might want to add, and even just looked over them for hours pondering the possibilities! Below is a picture of what I sent to Kashimira...

I hope she is enjoying her goodies as much as I am mine...please come back May 3 to see what I make and hop around to see all the fantastic designs! Until then...

Bead Hoarders Reveal Time!

 

Several weeks ago I signed up to participate in Lori Anderson's Bead Hoarders Blog Hop. At the time I signed up I didn't realize I would be at an all day show on reveal day...needless to say I'll be hopping late this evening or Sunday while I sit around in my pjs recouping from the show! For those who don't know this hop is about using beads from our own stash to create...whether you hoard, stash, or save for "just the right design" the idea is use those fabulous goodies! Previously I have shared pictures of my ever growing bead addiction...some artisan goodies I just can't resist and I won't even bother to try! Participating this hop has been wonderful. I created lots of new designs...perfect timing for my show...and after I return from the show I will be having shop update which is long over due!

 

I have tons of fabulous images from Calico Collage, and a bit of serendipity revealed how perfect the matchstick (half domino) size works for bookmarks. From past designs I knew the images would be beautiful with Gaea's beads, Firelily boro beads, and Spirited Earth beads. Similar wood tiles are available in my supply shop, Asbury Avenue Designs.

 

 

 

 The matchstick tiles are also a great size for long, lightweight earrings! Again, I've combined the images with Gaea and Firelily beads. The tiles are also beautiful wrapped in filigree as seen in the last pair. The earrings on the right are my first attempts at using Ranger patinas from Vintaj to color the brass chandelier drops. They are fun and easy to use...I have many ideas for future designs with colored metals. The gorgeous glass headpins are from Havana Beads.

 

  

 I love the way these earrings turned out! Everything just really came together in creating these beauties. The first pair has charms from Tesori Trovati and boro beads from Firelily. Erin offers 3-6-9-12 month samplers and I was most fortunate to "subscribe" for almost a year in 3 and 6 month increments. These charms were from one the samplers making them an extra special treat because she only creates so many of each month. The top right earrings are Firelily beads...are you seeing a pattern here...lol! They are paired with long rectangles from Menagerie Studio, finished off with a few sparkly crystal dangles. The last pair has copper charms from Kristi Bowman Design. These I have held onto waiting for "just the right beads" and I think these boros from Firelily turned out to be perfect! The purple in the beads really picks up the purple in the copper.

 

 

 Thanks to a custom request I even got creative with some filigree, Czech firepolish, Lucite flowers and colored glass pearls. I have a huge variety of colors and sizes in the flowers and filigree so keep an eye out during the shop update for some new collections made from these!

 

 

Last but not least, I did manage to create several necklaces too! Some of these were projects started that didn't work out in the first go around so I set them aside...some were in the planning stages but never progressed past planning. I am very pleased how they all came together, sometimes creating is all about timing! These designs range from extra long to choker style and share some of my favorite artists. Menagerie Studio, Firelily, Tesori Trovati, Spirited Earth, Bo Hulley Beads, Gaea and images from Calico Collage.

 

I would like to thank Lori for hosting this hop...it has been wonderful for my creative flow! I'd also like to ask you all to send a little extra love, good thoughts, prayers, whatever Lori's way...she's had a lot of health struggles over the last few months and I know our support and caring helps her so much. Also, a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful artists who do what they do that helps inspire me to do what I do...I appreciate each of your friendships, creativity and inspiration so much!

7th Bead Soup Blog Hop...Soup's Arrived!

 

So the fun begins! I borrowed Lori's header to start off my post since it included the reveal dates for the hop...also here's a link to Lori's blog showing all the participants...500 I believe was the final number! Thanks so much Lori for all your hard work on this so far!

 

My partner, Inge, was schedule to leave on a trip just as partners were being revealed but she sent my soup on her way out of country. I hope she is having a wonderful trip! I held her soup and will priority mail it a few days before she is due back...I knew it wouldn't arrive before she left and didn't want it 'misplaced' by the post office while she was away. Now on to her amazing generosity!

 

 

The focal...so many to choose from...I love all the flowers and dots, so hippie! The red and white one on the right reminds me of peppermint candies so I'm stashing that one for a christmas project! lol

 

 



Here is the clasp and an assorment of glass beads...everything coordinates great with all the focals!

 

 

and...yes there's more!

 

 

 

 

So much delicious beady goodness! Other then the strands of glass, crystal and a few rose quartz nuggets, all the beads I received are beautiful lampwork made by my partner, Inge. You can visit her blog here to find out more about her and her wonderful beads.

 

This is what I'll be sending to Inge...you'll have to wait until she shares to see all the details! I hope she enjoys her soup as much as I am enjoying mine! :) Stay tuned there's lots more fun coming soon!