Bead Soup Blog Party #6!!

*Shhhhhh!! I'm going to post a little early! Don't tell on me! I have to be up at the crack of dawn to go to work, and I just can't wait any longer. Have fun hopping!*

Thanks so much for joining me at my little piece of this HUGE party!

For those who just happen to be stopping by...Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party is now in it's sixth iteration! The premise is....Lori pairs each of us up with a partner; then the partners exchange a "bead soup" which consists of a focal, a special clasp and some coordinating pieces. The participants are required to construct a special piece, using at a minimum, the supplied focal and toggle; but the pieces can and do consist of many additional items from the beader's stash. On our designated reveal date...there are three this year, and this is Reveal #2....we display the piece we have created from our soup, and have a blast visiting the reveals of all the other participants as well. The idea is that we are challenged to create something special from colors/items/techniques that we don't normally use; and are introduced to a beady friend that we may not normally have met.

This is my second BSBP....I participated as well earlier this year, and I enjoyed it so much I knew I couldn't miss doing it again.

My partner this time is Amy Schmidt of Amy's Treasure. I am so thrilled this year to be able to do the exchange with a fellow bead-weaver! Amy just lives down the road from me in Kitchener, ON...and I am hoping that at some point we'll be able to meet! Amy does the most beautiful work...and I can't wait to see what she has done with the soup I sent her; here's a quick reminder of what I sent Amy....

....and what she sent me....

LOL...looking at them side by side like that, I realize they would have made a quite beautiful combination if we'd mixed the two! 

And now....my big reveal!

Normally, I work with the cool side of the spectrum; but as I said to Amy, I really never met a color I didn't like...and that stunner of a focal she sent me was absolutely inspirational! I wanted to do something relatively simple, that would set off the spectacular color of the focal bead. It is quite large...about 3" long...and I wanted to make sure it hung just at the right level when being worn. 

So....I played and I thought...and I realized that it made me think of the beautiful sunsets I see here across our lake country:

I visualized a really simple, full, beaded necklace with a color gradation that mimiced the color flow of the pendant...and I hope that is what I have achieved. I pulled eight different shades from my extensive collection of seed beads, and I strung and I strung and I strung.........

I wanted to capture the necklace at the bottom centre with a bail made of wire, strung with some of the smaller beads Amy sent me as well...but sadly, I was not satisfied with what my wire-wrapping skills were able to produce, so I have ended up going with an easy-to-wear peyote bail in the color of the central sunset shade. I think it works better. 

I've also beaded cones for the end of the necklace, sticking to the gradation theme, in brick stitch; I enjoyed doing these, and will probably make some of these again for another project. The necklace is finished simply with some more of Amy's lovely red beads, and the pretty little silver closure she sent. 

Amy, I hope you like what I've done! Can't wait to pop by and see how you used my Soup!

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to check out the other participants in this reveal! We all love your visits, and your comments. 

Here are the links for the rest of the players:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 

Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

YOU ARE HERE Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art