Showing posts with label bead soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bead soup. Show all posts

June 26, 2015

Bohemian Bead Soup

Earlier this week I put out a challenge to create a bead soup mix piece of jewelry. How is it going? Almost done? You need to share your link with me by today to enter to win the $50 gift certificate. You can find the details here.

So this is the piece of jewelry I had in mind all weekend and couldn't wait to make! I wanted something that was bohemian inspired that featured my new Monarch beads.

The beaded portion of the necklace - my soup - combines Czech glass, crystal, a few stones and copper beads knotted on green waxed linen. I wanted the necklace to feel like a butterfly garden, speckled with blooms and wings. The clasp is a pewter button from Green Girl Studios.

The pendant features a ceramic bead from White Clover Kiln, a lampwork beads from More Skye Jewels. At the bottom of the pendant the leaf headpin is from Nikki Thornburg and the drop is Genea Beads.


 Love making these Chrysalis beads! 

I could so see this necklace being worn by artist Vanessa Bell, she owned the famous Charleston home. A hot gathering place for artists, writers and other bohemian types known as the Bloomsbury Group. Vanessa Bell was a painter herself and created the most amazing home with fellow artist Duncan Grant. She is also the sister of Virginia Wolf. 

She'd wear the necklace with something like this: 
Photo credit: Tom Allen via We Are So Droee

While she painted this:
 Painting by Vanessa Bell

Hanging out in gorgeous rooms, lounging around with her artist friends in rooms like this - heated and intellectual conversations were a must, of course. 
Photo from the Charleston website

And while she read and illustrated books by her sister like this:
Photo via Little Augury

Yep, that's where I see this necklace! 

Don't forget to click on this link - right here - to share your bead soup creations. 

October 7, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Hop Tour

I hope you've been following along with the Bead Soup Blog hop this week, if not you can catch up here.  Tomorrow Lori is giving away her grand prize - so don't wait!

I was so honored when Lori asked me to participate in the Bead Soup book.  I always feel a bit like a loving Grandma when I see Lori's success of the blog hop and her book.  You see, it was this little post that Lori mentions in her book that sparked her idea.  Do you know my greatest thrill in life is to inspire others to be creative?  I feel like my little seed planted all those years ago grew into something pretty amazing that has inspired a whole community of beads.   Thank you Lori!

Above was the soup that I sent in, which ended up in the very talented hands of Cindy Wimmer.  You can read about her creation and see a sneak peek here.

This is the yummy helping of soup that Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth sent to me.  I'm a big fan of Nan's, so I was excited to get something so earthy and delightful.  I named my project Vegetable Garden Soup because the colors reminded me of juicy tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini.  The bee adds a nice narrative to the garden story of the design. 

I was a little worried that maybe my design was too simple, it uses a basic wire-working technique.  But just like with the recipes that are your favorite, some recipes are easy and great for everyday and some recipes are tricky like souffles and baked Alaska.  I hope this project inspires that fun and easy everyday feel that readers can borrow again and again for their inspiration.  I loved it when Sandra Young sent me a link to her blog post showing off her design inspired by my project.  Mission accomplished!

That metaphor of a recipe collection that spans from simple and everyday to elegant and decadent - that pretty much sums up the projects in the book.  The creativity of the 26 beaders that participated in the book stuns me.  I love that Lori broke down the creative process of designing that you could use when working with your bead mixes.  This book is a heaping serving of inspiration and highly recommend it!


My prize that I'm giving away this week - a $30 gift certificate to Humblebeads.com. (this is for my website only)  To enter to win leave a comment below. I'll pick a winner on Friday, October 12th.

Click here to read the details and join along!

October 1, 2012

Bead Soup Book Blog Hop

Happy Monday Sweeties!  You know what would be a great start to October?  How about 7 days of giveaways and a whopping grand prize to celebrate the release of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup book!

I'm thrilled to be part of this fun project and the blog hop.  Check out the blogs each day this week and enter to win!

Monday, October 1st
Lori Andersonhttp://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Rebecca Andersonhttp://www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Barbara Bechtelhttp://secondsurf.com/wordpress/  

Tuesday, October 2nd
Lori Andersonwww.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Kerry Bogert –   http://kabsconcepts.com/wp/
Melanie Brookshttp://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cameronhttp://glassaddictions.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 3rd
Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Diane Cookwww.rosa-josies.blogspot.com
Malin de Koningwww.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com


Thursday, October 4th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Cassie Donlenhttp://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukichttp://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Nan Emmett  — http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Lyn Foley –  http://lynfoleyblog.com


Friday, October 5th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Brandi Husseyhttp://www.brandigirlblog.com
Cindy Wimmerwww.SweetBeadStudio

Saturday, October 6th

Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Melissa Memanhttp://www.melissameman.blogspot.com/
Stefanie Teufelhttp://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 7th

Sharon Palachttp://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com
Heather Powershttp://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintzhttp://treasures-found.blogspot.com
 

March 21, 2012

Bead Soup (uh, well Bead Stew)

I'm so late to the Bead Soup Blog Hop party it's embarrassing.  But due to the fuzz of pain medication and the avalanche of stress preparing for the Bead Cruise, I was laboring under the delusion that the reveal date was March 23rd.  Don't ask me why I thought it was then! 

My bead partner Genea was sweet enough to email me a sneak peek and then I discovered my big mistake.  I promised her I would do my reveal as soon as I got back, but let's just say my brain finally arrived on shore today. (Yep, it was on the slow boat home!)

I LOVE Genea's wing dings!  They are such a fun shape and she always does them in the yummiest colors.  Genea really challenged me with the bright color palette.  It's was great to stretch myself to use this tropical inspired set of beads!


When designing this piece I had the two sides laid out and went through several options for my focal beads.  I finally settled on a key as a connector and added a ceramic house. (I'm sorry, it was a gift and I don't know the artist's name.) Along with Genea's lampwork beads I paired them up with some of my polymer clay beads in matching shades.  The little house reminds me of the colorfully painted houses on the islands we've visited on past Bead Cruises.

The clasp was a fun button created by Genea.  The heart chats nicely with the house and key.  There is a story there.

The focal bead and headpins seemed like they went nicely together with the confetti of Czech glass that arrived with my soup.  Ideally, we are suppose to create a piece of jewelry with the focal, clasp and some of the extra soups - but Genea sent me such a heaping help of delicious bead soup, there were enough beads for an appetizer, main course and little dessert!

I really love this piece and with the silk sari ribbon and adjustable length it will be one of my go-to pieces for the summer.  The focal bead is a bead-within-a-bead = AMAZING!!!  And something I treasure!

For the bead dangles I created the wire loops with enameled headpins from SueBeads.  They add a little dot of color to each dangle. At the bottom I used one of Genea's headpins with one of my polymer clay disk beads. 

And for dessert - I wanted to use some of "My Elements" pieces that Genea sent in the soup mix.  I found the rubber O's in the bright colors and the plastic sputnik beads the most appealing and paired them up with some of my lime disk beads and more of the headpins from SueBeads.


You can see all the amazing jewelry that Genea created with the soup that I sent her: Genea's Bead Soup Reveal.  And if you'd like to get a hold of some of Genea's beads for yourself stop on over to her Etsy shop!

And the whole party can be found on Lori Anderson's Blog

Hopefully the soup simmering and stewing was worth the wait!  Thanks Genea and Lori!

February 22, 2012

Bead Soup Goodies

I was so happy when I saw that my Bead Soup partner was Genea from Genea Beads.  What an amazing talent!  Genea has gifted me with beads before so I knew I was in for a treat when her box arrived.  When I opened it up I was hearing Calypso music in my head and dreaming about wearing these beads on my upcoming Bead Cruise!

Along with her wonderful beads in those tropical colors Genea mixed in some fun pieces from My Elements and a collection of colorful Czech glass.

 The clasp that Genea sent is a glass button - so cute!

And the focal - a bead within a bead. Okay let me say that again - a bead WITHIN a bead.  How is that even done?  So my beadmaking parnter is also a magican.  I'm impressed.

Bead inside a bead. 

How....in...the...

I pulled out a few things from my stash that will add some spice to my soup - I have a starfish and a feather pendant that I made along with some of my disk beads.  Mixed in some glass and those little enemal headpins are from SueBeads for flavor.  I'm sure I'll make several pieces from the very generous helping that was sent my way.

You can see the soup I sent to Genea here.

Visit Genea's Etsy shop and blog to see more of her colorful work!

I'm also happy to announce that I'm one of the contributors to Lori Anderson's upcoming book, Bead Soup.  You can read more here.

Now I need to go find an outfit to match those beads to wear on the cruise.

June 23, 2010

Bead Soup Party

I know this is my first post since Bead & Button. I promise photos and more beady goodness this week.  It's summer vacation, I have a billion orders and deadlines - so this will be short and sweet.

I totally lucked out with the Bead Soup partner of awesomeness, Kristie from Artisan Clay.  Seriously check out the stash she sent me:
I will be creating with these lovely pieces for quite some time.  Here are 4 necklaces that I managed to whip up for the Party. 
For this piece I created a bail using chain to let the ceramic wheel shine.  The large loop silver wire bail on my owl pendant adds a little drama to this cache of beady goodness.  The necklace is a mix of stones and lucite in yummy summer greens and blues.

Next is a simple pendant created with another big wire loop bail and one of my disk beads.  I added a few 'peanut' seed beads with tiny jump rings for some visual interest and to unify the shine of the silver with the black gunmetal chain.  The clasp works as part of the pendant, front and center. 

This was a fun one.  Again, a chain bail for the pendant.  I strung the raku ceramic disks (from Jubilee)directly onto the chain.  A few stones and my disk beads are added in for texture and color.

My last necklace mixes silver and brass with rings and leaves as recurring motifs.  It reminds me of a little pool in the middle of the field of wildflowers.  Lucite, amethyst and my disk beads are the supporting cast.  I looped the beads in the center of the brass rings - always trying to mix things up here in the studio.

And here is another photo of the magical looking pendant.  I'm quite smitten with this one. 

Okay, so I'm sure you know all about the Bead Soup Party, but in case you don't please check out the entire list of participants on Lori's blog.  I want to thank Lori for putting together this fun event and Kristie for sending me so many wonderful pieces!

The rest of today's participants:

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles

49. Amy, Copper Diem

50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning

51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork

52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles

53. Barbara, Second Surf

54. Amanda, Articulations

55. Heather, Humble Beads - you're here!

56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love

57. Kate, Organic Odysseys

58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs

59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium