Friday, August 24, 2012

Bead Soup 2012 reveal #3 August 25th

This has been a fun soup.  I've given myself lots of time and really like what I came up with.  Here are the results. Since I had such fabulous pieces to choose from I made a set, necklace, bracelet and earrings.  Marianne Baxter sent copper wire, which I used to wire wrap the bracelet.  I also used silver toned craft wire in the focal piece - a challenge.  Without making everything match exactly, I was able to use the pieces given to me and add some of my own to make a nice "matchy-matchy" set.  Enjoy...and thanks so much for my wonderful goodies, Marianne.  I used both of her clasps (one I added patina paint and the other I wire wrapped).  I used all of her pearls and wire, I used her copper spacers and her creativity to spark mine.  Thanks so much Marianne!  Now on to the 2nd group of beautiful things she gave me - lucky me, 2 to choose from!

I said I didn't do intricate seed bead work - and I don't but these were the perfect mix for the gorgeous hand made focal so Ijust had to use them.  I used her clasp in this piece - painted it with Vintaj patina, and come copper flower caps.  Too pretty.  Tried to carry the silver/coppery theme throughout.
Closeup of my wire wraping - mix of silver and copper.
Bracelet clasp detail - I wirewrapped her clasp to carry the silver/copper theme. Used her pearls, copper bali beads and some gorgeous lampwork that went so well with the bracelet.
Toggle wire wrap detail.  Love these little seed beads.
A very fun 3 strand bracelet carrying the necklace theme.

 Necklace focal top down view, claps detail, and bracelet.
Bead Soup bracelet and necklace - 2012 :-)
Last but not really last...., and certainly not least....Earrings, my favorite thing to make.

The details - the big copper bead (one) was cut into 2 pieces.  Edges were pretty rough so lots of smoothing with the right tools.  I tried to flatten it totally but one area separated and split.  Rather than give up, like I used to do, I revamped the design.  I had to break the other one too, but added a copper open ring (of course going the wrong direction for the ear wire).  No problem, I just twisted the earwire 1/2 way around and it works great.  Like the springs?  I made them from the wire I got from Marianne - one long spring was cut into segments for use here.  The Swarovski crystals fit inside perfectly.  I just happened to have a few copper headpins that worked great for all 6 drops.  These finished up as a really lightweight pair of earrings. 

You know how it is when you buy something, then either don't like it, it doesn't work for your idea, or for whatever reason you can't/don't use it?  Well, try re-creating the wheel - I was shocked when I learned this from a friend.  Couldn't believe you could actually cut/paste/bend/hammer/drill/dap/flatten/ and the list goes on all metal pieces.  No limits to creativity.  Now if I just had fire......

Enjoy your Bead Soup Journey and  I'll enjoy wearing these for sure - one of my favorite colors too!  Thank you Marianne.  I have another project to challenge.  The 2nd focal has no hole for wirewrapping, like this first pendant did.  So, I need to learn how to encase this with wire or seed beads.  This is a chunky focal so will take a class to learn the technique needed to showcase Marianne's beautiful work of art.  I have a few leftover beads that will work well with this focal - can't wait to get started.




To view the remainder of the BEAD SOUP REVEAL #3 names, read on.


Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
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
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
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
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
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
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, Simply Mod Jewelry
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

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

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
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Try something new....this year

Jewelry, how much of it can you make/wear?  This year one of my goals was to try new things, in jewelry and in art.  Lucky me, being in the company of experts (Bead Soup Chefs and otherwise).  Stampin' Up expert Kim, offers us a once-a-month opportunity to play (and order stuff).  We gather to create the card of the month, using a pre-made kit, skillfully chosen by Kim, and create these beautiful works of art.  The most fun for me is playing,  but also giving them away.  I CPR my cards, Create, Photo and Release them from my home to yours.  Too fun.... Life is short - declutter (my other goal this year).  Click on pic for a bigger view.





Thursday, August 2, 2012

My Bead Soup Partner...

Marianne Baxter - has been..." making jewelry forever. I love working in all kinds of materials but lately I have been working in glass. I have been making fused glass and have started working also in Lampworking. I also do a lot of beading and belong to a local beading group as well as the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. ".... this copied from her blog.  She is also the coordinator for http://www.studio-tours.com/
North Coast Artists Guild 20th Annual Studio Discovery Tour (see details on above link.)  Gee, makes me want to go to California and check it out!  DH says that country is beautiful.  Still coming up - there't time to plan your Summer Art Tour!!!

Check out the beautiful handmade glass dichroic beads she sent me.  I love them, used both clasps too.  One glass piece has a groove, or channel for wire wrapping.  I've always wanted to learn how to wire wrap that type of focal - so after Summer will learn to do it. 

Please check out Mariannes blog:  http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com/

.... and watch for our reveal goodies on August 25th!