BSBP: The Reveal

**check out the other reveals HERE**

The day has finally come. It's party time! So sit back, drink some tea and enjoy some delicious bead soup.

My partner, Sandra Young, sent me this yummy purple-y, pink soup of beads. It consisted of a Jasper focal, flower clasp and many other lovely goodies. 

 I wanted to use the focal and clasp on one piece. The Jasper pendent looked best by itself. At least I thought so. At first, I put the focal on a silver chain and attached it to the flower clasp but what kind of challenge was that. It was too simple of a design that I scraped it.  Then this piece went through several more changes before I ended up using Amethyst seed beads that I got a long time ago at a bead show. I was going to add some of the faceted crazy lace agate but I didn't like how it went. I thought it best to keep the design simple because that's how I like it. Why complicate it with more beads when it looks great already.

The next necklace I made uses the really cute button shaped freshwater pearls. I love pearls! So for this piece I decided to hand knot the pearls using silk thread. At the ends I used matte Japanese square beads and attached it to a heart clasp that I've been trying to use for a while (the heart shaped was so small most of the beads I used wouldn't fit, therefore the toggle wouldn't go through).

I just love the button pearls. I think they're really cute. It's also very light to wear.

 My next two pieces are earrings. The first pair I used some copper wire and wire wrapped two of the Muscavite brios. Then I added the rhodonite rounds to make it dangle some more.

 These are my favourite pair of earrings. When I first saw these Jasper drops I knew I was going to make them into earrings with the earring wires from Sandra. I love these! It has a little shine to them with the purple crystals.

My last piece is a dangle bracelet with the agate beads mixed with the purple crystals and some silver beads from my own stash.

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed that! This is my second time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party and it has been a blast! I just want to thank Lori Anderson for hosting this year after year. It takes a lot of work pairing everyone up and organizing the hop. Also, thank you to Sandra, my partner for the lovely mix, I got to work with. Come see what she created with the soup I gave her.  

Click me!

Another really nice lady, Tanya of FusionMuse Thomas Pautler, created this site which lists all the participants from all three reveals. Be sure to check out some really talented artists.

https://sites.google.com/site/beadsoupparty2012/home

Now it's time to hop on to Sandra's blog before I go to everyone else's. Have fun!

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

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! <-----My Partner

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 <-----You are here!

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Click HERE to see participants from the other reveal dates!

BSBP: My Soup is here!

It's here! My bead soup from Sandra arrived this morning in its pretty pink packaging. Opening it was like opening a birthday present.

My partner is Sandra Young from Gypsy Road Beads. Our next step is to use the focal, clasp and the extra beads to create something.  Then on August 11th we post our designs.

This is my second time participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. Joining these swaps and blog hops allows me to create using materials outside of what I usually use.


And here is what Sandra sent me......

I opened up the packages and my oh my! What do I see? Lots of pretty beads with a focal and silver findings. The colours are so coordinated and perfect together.

So lets unpack the package:

Crazy Lace Agate

crystals, rhondite and
brown freshwater button pearls

Impression Jasper focal
Rough-cut impression Jasper and
Muscavite Brios

Sterling earwires, bail and clasp

And here they are all together! Purple is my favourite colour and this mix has a bit of that plus a mix of other colours. I don't usually use gemstones in my designs but these are absolutely beautiful and ideas are already swirling in my head. 

One of the best parts of being a teacher is the summer holidays: more time to create and design! Can't wait to get started.

*********************************

Here is the soup I sent to Sandra. During our discussions of what materials/skills we wanted to try, she mentioned that she wanted to try knotted jewellery. PERFECT! I knew just what to send her.  A couple of pearls, silk thread and other "extras" later, Sandra's bead soup was ready!

Sandra's bead soup

Check out her blog to find out her reaction. I wonder what she's going to make????

http://www.gypsyroadbeadsblogspot.ca/2012/07/bead-soup-is-simmering.html

See you all on August 11 for the BIG REVEAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Bead Soup Blog Party #6: Soup Sneak Peak

It's party time! This is my second time participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. We are paired up with a partner and then we send each other soup full of delicious beads. Our soup includes a focal, clasp and other beads. Then we make something beautiful out of the soup we get. 

This time, my partner is Sandra Young.  Check out her work:
Shop: http://shop.gypsyroadbeads.ca
Blog: http://gypsyroadbeads.blogspot.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gypsy_road_bead
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GypsyRoadBeadsStudio

We can't reveal what we sent until we receive our bead soup but here is a sneak peak of the soup I sent to Sandra. Can't wait to see what she does with them! I'll reveal the bead soup when she receives the package.

Bead Soup Blog Party: My beads have arrived!!!!

My partner Shanti Johnson and I shipped our beads at the same time, so, of course we got them at the same time. Except I "got" mine a few days later cause it was cold and snowy this week and no one wanted to walk/drive the "long" distance to the mailbox that was down the street. But, yesterday, I went to check the mailbox and was so excited to see the package that I literally danced/jumped all the way back home. 

Shanti sent me a beautiful bead soup mix. I love the colours and the toggles. Here's the soup of beads and some closer shots. 

The mixture had two orange butterfly focal beads which I can't wait to use.  I love butterflies and I'm always looking for more butterflies to make into jewellery. There's also a leaf toggle and a cute little elephant clasp. Another favourite are the orange rondelle beads. Love them! 

Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet but it is definitely going to take me out of my comfort zone of pearls and bridal jewellery making. Can't wait to get started!

Did you notice the editing done on the pictures? I just discovered an updated version of Picassa that integrated Picnik's editing tools.  Love it!

Remember the Bead Soup Blog Hop is on March 3rd! 
Also, visit Shanti's blog to see what I sent her!
And of course, go check out Lori Anderson's blog, the host of this party.