I Think Everybody Could Use Some Soup -- Bead Soup!

I can't believe that this is my sixth year participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party.  In a nut shell, just in case you are brand new to my blog, what this exciting project is about is getting many, many jewelry designs together to swap beads (the soup ingredients, which must contain a focal and a clasp as well as a few coordinating beads) and then design with the beads that you receive from your partner.  After a period of time, all the participants post pictures of their creations on their blogs -- the big reveal!  It's amazing that Lori can do all of this.  She is the hostess of this event, while dealing with health issues, being a mom and wife and running her own small business.  We all, both participants and viewers, owe Lori a slice of pie (at the very least) for all that she does for the jewelry design community.  Go visit her shops and show her some love, she deserves it!  On to the big reveal.

My partner this round, the 8th, is Sam Siegel of  Sam's Bead Shop.  Sam runs an amazing online bead store.  Boy did I get lucky!  First, I get paired with one of the few male participants, then it's someone who is very generous with his merchandise.  And what beautiful beads and findings.  Look for yourself.  Aren't they amazing.  I'm really not sure what anything is, except, I'm pretty sure that the focal is crazy lace agate.  Oh well, all I know is that everything is gorgeous!

The clasp and beadcaps that were in the mix are beautiful antiqued copper.  Just lovely!

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make the reveal deadline because during the same timeframe as the party, I had two different procedures done to my back and hip and, well ... let's just say that I wasn't up to designing.  Just as I had written to Sam explaining why I wouldn't make the date, I took out the beautiful stones again and the idea for the necklace popped into my head. I got out the wire and the pliers and went to work.  Look how amazing my polymer beads went with the stones that Sam sent.  AMAZING!  I can picture this piece on one of the women in Downton Abbey.

Seriously, I can't believe how wonderful my beads blend so beautifully with these stones. I had some copper links on hand and wired together these earrings. This picture doesn't really show it, but the beads that are dangling there are the same rondelles from the soup that Sam sent.

I used the same links and rondelles in the bracelet.  I added some larger round beads that I had in my stash and used them with the coins that Sam sent.  I wired 12 little dangles to the chain and finished it with a simple copper toggle that I had.  This bracelet is fun and modern compared to the necklace, but I think all three pieces look lovely together.

I also used the rondelles and coins to create this macrame bangle.  The clasp is an antique leather button that I have had forever.  I knotted around some 20 gauge wire so that this wears like a bangle and to give the bracelet some stability on the wrist.

Well, that's it, I hope that you enjoy my pieces and have fun at this year's party.  Don't forget to visit the other designer's blogs and support us when you can. For information on purchasing any of the pieces you see here on my blog, just drop me an email, I would love to hear from you.  I will leave you with a picture of my sweet pup, Bosco, who enjoys watching television from my chair.  He thinks he is a tiny, little lap dog.  I better go join him.  Who could say "no" to that face?  Certainly not I.

My Muse Was In a Stylish Box of Beads - Now Serving Bead Soup

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

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous


Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs


Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

It's Almost That Time Again -- Bead Soup Time

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is hosting another party.  Seriously, I just don't know how she does it.  Anybody with an avenue to blog about it can join in.  Check it out, here and join the fun.  You won't be sorry!