Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Day!

For all of us beady bloggers, this is a big day!  The 8th annual Bead Soup Blog Party is in full swing!  This is the third year that I have participated, and each year has been fun and challenging.  I really hit it off with my partner, Leithleach which made things extra fun.  A look back at our soups can be viewed here.  

I will start the pictures with one of the necklaces I made.  I received two focals, and used both of them in necklaces.  The first one is a pretty red flower with subtle white stripes.  I combined it with black lucite and glass flowers, antique brass metal, and large red Czech glass beads.  I am thrilled with how this necklace turned out.

Isn't it sweet?

The second necklace I made kind of has an Earthy, southwestern feel to me.  I used many elements from my soup, then added some gemstones, chain, leather cord, and ribbon.  I also hammered out some copper washers and an S clasp and aged them with liver of sulfer.

I made some earrings with the Mother of Pearl coins that I thought turned out cute.  I have lots more of these to work with, and I think I'll make a cha-cha bracelet to match.

Last but not least, of course I had to make something beachy.  I had some little silver rope rings that went perfectly with the clasp from my soup.  I used them to dangle seashells, starfish, and crystals all around this little bracelet.

This was such a fun experience.  I have to say that each of my pieces ended up being different than I thought they would be when I first started them.  They evolved into their own, and I guess that's what I'm doing too.  It is very rewarding to create, and being challenged to create with something we might not normally choose shows us that there are infinite possibilities.  I would like to thank Lori Anderson for her amazing dedication, hard work, perseverance and the love she has put into this huge party.  A big thank you also goes out to my wonderful partner Leithleach.  One of the very best things about this experience for me has been making a new friend.

Here is a link that will take you to the list of all participant's blogs.
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/
Happy hopping!

Stone and Sparkle Earrings

This is one of those designs that turned into a happy accident. I didn't have a plan at all, I just wanted to make earrings out of my new handmade "Granite" polymer clay headpins and beads. I love the combination of the organic polymer clay components combined with the sparkle and elegance of the Swarovski crystals and silver.

 Stone and Sparkle Earrings

Bead Soup Blog Party Update

There has been much going on with my participation in the Bead Soup Blog Party since I last posted.  First of all, I got my partner Leithleach, and we've been getting to know each other.  She is lots of fun to work with, and makes beautiful jewelry.  Here's a link to her blog:  http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com  

A favorite piece of jewelry made by Leithleach...

 

 Isn't it just gorgeous?

 We were on the same schedule as far as creating and sending our soups, in fact we got them only one day apart.  I was extremely excited when mine arrived!  I was looking at it as a present, and I love presents!  I had to take my time opening my present, though, photos were a must!

My goodies along with a lovely handwritten note...  The first little box I opened actually was a present!  Beautiful shamrock earrings just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

 Now, Leithleach had prepared a few soups before we found out who our partners were.  She changed things up a bit after viewing the jewelry that I make.  She sent a double serving of soup with a nice variety of ingredients!

 Ooh, lots of goodies to play with!

My favorite pieces are the two focals.  They are sparking design ideas like crazy.  Leithleach and I both sent each other soups that are in color pallets we don't work with a lot.  It will be fun and interesting to see what we come up with!

Here's the soup that I sent my partner.

I hope she has fun with it, and I can't wait to see what she creates!

Bead Soup Blog Party

It's time for the 8th annual Bead Soup Blog party!  The list of participants has been published, and our partners will be announced February 28th.  I can't wait to find out who my partner is!  I want to say thank you to our gracious host, Lori Anderson for once again putting on this big party!  To read about the party, and for some great bead reading, visit Lori's blog at http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

GO HAWKS!

In our house, football is a really big deal, and we love our 

Seattle Seahawks.  Win or lose, we are diehard fans.  Well, we sure came out winners this year!  Superbowl champs for the first time ever!  I am very proud to be part of a fan group that is so loyal, and to have a team that is so deserving of that loyalty.  The 12th man is loud and proud in our house...Go Hawks!

 

 

Here are a few pieces of jewelry I made in honor of our team.

Bead Soup Blog Party

Today is the first reveal for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party!  I want to start by saying thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting these fun blog hops.  She puts her heart into making them happen, and it's a lot of work.  We all appreciate everything you do, Lori!  I'd also like to give a shout out to my partner, Pamela Gangler, who sent me a most generous soup that I had lots of fun with!

A reminder of the soup Pamela sent to me...

My first design is a pair of earrings using the pretty pink Czech glass rondelles.

 Next, a bangle bracelet featuring the focal.

Finally, a cha-cha bracelet with the pretty toggle and the green glass.  I love the way this one turned out, airy and light, reminiscent of Springtime.

I made three items with my soup, and I still have "left overs".  I have plans for those ingredients as well, and I can't wait to put my designs together.  I've enjoyed participating in this fun party, and now I'm off to see what everyone else created!

Bead Soup!

Wow, I can't believe the big (first) reveal is tomorrow for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by Lori Anderson!  It's always fun to see what everyone makes out of their soup.  I am soup partners with Pamela Gangler.  She is a talented designer with a flair for nature's beauty, and her designs are made with meaning and spirit.  She sent me a beautiful soup in Spring colors.  Perfect for how I'm feeling right now, as I have a bad case of Spring Fever!  My favorite season is Autumn, but we've had a long, cold, gray winter here in Washington, and I'm ready for some sunshine and flowers!

Here is a peek at my pretty soup mix from Pamela...

 

 

 A close-up of the toggle, which I think is adorable!

Here's what I sent Pamela:

Pamela has been super sweet with kind words about her soup, 

and I can hardly wait to see what she created! 

I'll be back with pictures tomorrow...

Until then, happy Spring!