Do Be Do Bead Do: My Muse Was In a Stylish Box of Beads

I really look forward to Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Parties and this 6th incarnation was no different. I marked the date for sign-ups in big pink letters on my calendar so I wouldn't forget. I really enjoy the process of these swaps. For me, there is no better way to get my juices flowing -- to wake up my muse. Speaking of my muse, she had been asleep or visiting somebody else for quite a while. I was hoping that the process of going through my entire bead stash (the first step in the BSBP) would tickle her fancy. So, back to the process, I go through my stash and find, first, the perfect strand of my handmade beads to send to my partner. (This year my partner is the lovely and talented Rossana De Gaspari.) Then match up that strand or pendant with other beads and findings from my stash to send to Rossana. The rules say to send a focal bead and clasp along with a few coordinating beads and when you receive your beads, you must use those components in your designs.

Here is a reminder of the focal pieces and one of the clasps that Rossana sent to me -- mind you she sent me an entire stash of lovely beads, strand after strand of wonderful inspiration. I usually design a neckace with the BSBP beads that I've been sent in the past. Maybe a bracelet or a pair of earrings to match, but always a necklace. Not this time. This time I was all about the bracelets. In fact, I made more than one.

The first bracelet that I made, I used only the pretty orange stones that were in the stash box that Rossana sent. I have had that hollow glass bead, that my good friend Amy gifted to me, for years. I've been keeping it for something special. These orange stones (I'm not sure what they are, maybe some type of marble?), fit that bill. I just did simple macrame with the leather cord from the stash box around the beads, which I wired up the center for a bit of strength. It came out great, don't you think?

Next, still on the macrame kick, I used the ceramic focal, lampwork and ceramic rondelles from the stash box, along with some chocolate brown waxed linen (along in the stash box) to create this bracelet. I used a simple lobster clasp for a closure here.

I wanted to make as many pieces as I could without adding much from my own stash for the reveal, today. With the huge selection that Rossana sent me, I was able to make another bracelet.

I used the wonderful Glass Addictions bead from the stash as the center point. I wired it to two large jump rings from the box and then linked two wired strands of Czech glass (one from the stash box and one from my stash) that I coiled around each other then linked those to one of the clasps that were in the stash box.

Last but not least, are these two pair of earrings that I made. For the earrings, I'll admit to having used some beads from my own stash, the turquoise donuts in the dangling pair and the ceramic disks in the hoops. (I made three, but had a terrible time photographing the earrings. Thus, only photos of two pair. After all of these pieces, I still have enough stash left over to make many, many more pieces. In fact, come back in the next couple of days -- I plan to post a few more of the pieces that I made, one featuring the other copper clasp from Rossana's generous stash of beads.

Now, continue on and visit the other lovely designers who have contributed to this wonderful party. Start with rdegas blog, my partner, Rossana's blog and then you can visit them all:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen