Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

Today's the big day! It's Bead Soup Blog Party time!

For those of you who need a refresher, the Bead Soup Blog Party is a blog-hopping event, started by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, where jewelry artists are partnered up together - they exchange some beads and then go to town creating something wonderful with some of the beads sent to them, and some from their own stash.

My partner this time around was Linda Inhelder, of Must-Haves Jewelry. She sent me a beautiful mix of silver and stones, some odds and ends that may be wood, a vintage looking flower component... all in my favorite color combination of blues and greens and amber. So many design options in that box.



And so many challenges: the focal choices were smaller than I usually work with... and most of the accent beads were really chunky.... what to do? The clasp even seemed larger than any of the focal choices... could I use the clasp as part of a focal design? All I could think of was treasure. A treasure necklace with layers of charms, maybe. But how? And... could I mix one of my own lampwork focals with it? Maybe I could!

I looked at these two combinations for quite some time:



But in the end, I chose another bead from my stash and never looked back. Here is what I came up with:



The sweet little handmade shell charm was my favorite, and it wasn't until I started putting things together that I realized there is (maybe?) a little cubic zircon stone set in the shell. Sparkly!



I was going to use the silver links on the side next to the viking knit, a kind of asymmetrical design... but then I bunched them all up and added them to the treasure collection, kind of like rings on a chain. And if I could do that, then I could do the same with the big chunky handmade ring Linda sent too. And so I did.

Now... I started adding the stones on to the viking knit.... and I had every intention of using the clasp she sent me... but in the end I just kept going, and going and going and just added my own clasps. There's two, actually. One to put the necklace on with, and one to add more treasure to the viking knit part. Or to rearrange it. Or just play with it. But maybe to add to it. It's kind of hard to see in my photos, but there's a larger ring between the two clasps that keeps the treasure from falling off the chain when putting the necklace on or taking it off. Pretty clever, I think! But I feel bad about not using Linda's clasp.



I also feel bad about not getting to a second piece with the wonderful amber chunks. I had every intention of it, but got stuck trying to figure out how to use the silver clasp with the amber and sunny copper ideas that were floating around in my head. So I put it down and never got back to it in time. Oh well! Maybe I'll have something to show for it in the coming days. Something to look forward to?

But never mind that, you have lots and lots of jewelry to go check out - more than your eyes can take in - just follow the links and see what you can see! Thanks for looking!

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York

2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson

3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino

4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner

5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier

6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins

7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor

8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen

9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps
13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy
6. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John

19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel

19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb

23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign

24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall

25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier

35. Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander

36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller

79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher

115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca
116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington
119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton

119. Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks

124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper

140. Mary McGraw and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy

144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag

154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs

162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

For a total of 362 people making jewelry!

Amazing!

I'm Running LATE

I'm late, I'm late! I'm late for a very important date! Oh my, how time flies. I have two days to get this done... and honestly, I have not even started, other than to wonder what my own lampwork beads might look like with the bead soup mix I got from Linda.

Should I make two necklaces? Should I make just a big chunky charm bracelet? I just don't know... so many choices, so little time!

Bead Soup Blog Party Is Here!

It's that time again! Lori Anderson has been hard at work matching up 363 people for this one - wow! Check out the list here: Bead Soup Blog Party.

Remember how it works? She matches us up with a partner that she thinks may give us some challenges? And we exchange a focal and a pretty clasp, and then go to work adding our own beads and creating something new and hopefully different from what we normally make.

Well, this time, my partner is Linda Inhelder, of Must-Haves. She makes beautiful silver and beaded jewelry - really pretty things. Like this:



I'm sure whatever I send her will not be a challenge. Except that I just found out that she had an accident and will have one hand in a cast for some time. She probably won't be making anything for quite a bit. I'll be sending her something in the next couple of days, regardless. Wishing her a speedy recovery!

She managed to get my package out to me before all that, and it arrived last night - very pretty blues and greens and browns. Just my kind of colors, right? YES. Lovely. Baltic amber, dyed apatite, carved quartz flowers,and some fine silver pretties, some charms she made, a few circle links. And a few other goodies. I have NO IDEA what I'm going to do with it all. None!

My favorites are probably the amber and the little sea shell charm and silver links. But in my mind... I just can't see how to fit them together. But, I'm sure I'll figure it out. Definitely a challenge!

Here's the goods:







Thanks Linda! Get well soon! And thanks to Lori too - I know this is a huge undertaking for her - but so worth it - I hope!

That Bead Soup Blog Party Project

The Bead Soup Blog Party rules say... we are not supposed to show our finished work before the party date... 20 days from now... but we can show hints.

So here is a hint. It already no longer looks like this... Though I'm not very far into it yet.

Random Thursday Thoughts

Did you know... that if you have been hitting that "follow" button on all your friend's blogs... that you also have to update the widget in the sidebar to get them to show up? I did not. But now I do... so I'm happy again and will be better about "following" blog. I was so lost!

Also, do you know? Of a shopping cart solution for websites (like mine, BlueBetween.com) that will allow me to list items and also will mark them as sold when they are? That is my problem, I need them to be marked sold so they don't sell twice. Ideas?

Guess what! I'm so excited about the viking knit stuff. But... I'm waiting and waiting and waiting... for my end caps and findings so I can actually do something with them.

And guess what else! I'm so excited to start working on my Bead Soup Blog Party project... Ernie the fish is getting bored sitting around... but still, I'm waiting and waiting for my special supplies to show up. Since I never work with gold, I had to order some gold-filled things to go with my "soup". And it's still not here yet. Do you think the snowstorms all across the country are possibly holding up my mail? Probably, huh?



Oh, and don't you think?! That this One World One Heart thing is amazing? I have found several new blogs to follow and am loving all the comments I'm receiving. Fun! But there are far fewer people participating this year... it's not too late to join in, you know.

Oh, and guess what we did yesterday? Well, not we. Luke. Luke gets to do all the fun stuff these days. Anyway, HE started a metals class and is making a ring. He's learning to manipulate metal and use a torch to solder! How cool is that? We (and I do mean WE) need to learn how to make some fused glass cabs so he can learn to make bezels around them and make his own glass and metal works. Way too cool for a 10-year-old to be working on, don't you think?

And hey, speaking of 10-year-olds... we discovered this set of books that we L.O.V.E - and yes, it's about history and we both L.O.V.E them. Seriously. Your kid would too - so much better than those boring history books the schools are buying with your tax dollars. It's an 11 book set called "History Of Us" and it's interesting and engaging and we can't wait to read the next chapter. Really!



Well, that's it, my mind is blank again... isn't that a relief?!

Sig's Bead Soup

Sig Wynne-Evans got my beads! Go read her blog post about it - she's nervous, isn't that cute! Seriously, I know she will do something wonderful with them, one way or another. I'm thinking I should have sent her one of my bails after all though, as I don't think she had any idea how big my bead was when she told me she was going to do some bead-weaving around it. Hmn....





Well, now we wait. Until February 26th, when we have the big reveal party. Speaking of deadlines, I'd better get going on MY bead soup! Ernie the fish is waiting for a brilliant idea to come along...

Bead Soup Blog Party: The Arrival of Ernie

My package of beads from Sig Wynne-Evans arrived yesterday, and I couldn't be more pleased. An assortment of beads of the kind that I would never pick out for myself, but inspiring, nonetheless. Honestly, see for yourself!



First of all, there was Ernie, a seed bead fish with lots of personality, that Sig made herself. And then there was all this gold-filled and gold-plated stuff, beads and a clasp - nice! Gold, huh? I never work with gold... but it goes great with Ernie. And then there were Swarovski crystals - even ones shaped like fish - very sparkley. Some "Tensha" beads from Japan, some Czech fire polished beads, some green seed beads. Amazonite. Inspiring, for sure.

I wonder what I'll make with this? I have an idea... but we will see if I can make it happen the way it looks in my head.

Be sure to check out what the other Bead Soup Party Peeps are up to, either by clicking the links on Lori Anderson's blog, or looking at the Bead Soup Party flickr group.

Oh, and check in with Sig's blog next week - my package to her should arrive soon and I can't wait to see what she does with it. I think I went a little overboard with my goodies... but why not, right? She doesn't have to use them *all*!

The Bead Soup Blog Party

Well. Lori said she was going to pair us up with opposites to shake us up and make us think and challenge ourselves! Holy Moley, she was not kidding!

Meet Sig Wynne-Evans, my Bead Soup Blog Party partner. She's a seed-bead master, a pattern designer, a book writer, and I don't know, more and more than that, I'm sure! Just look at this:



And check out her Website and Etsy store too.

So, here we are, a highly detailed, pattern oriented seed-beader, and a completely organic, go-with-the-flow, over-sized, chunky bead maker, who sometimes makes over sized asymmetrical, organic chunky jewelry.

Opposites attract? So says Lori!

But the good news? I know she's going to make something completely amazing, original and wonderful with my beads... whatever treatment she gives them, it's going to be perfect. (No pressure, Sig!) I can't wait to see how this turns out!

I wonder what the heck I'll send her? Hmn....

Bead Soup Blog Party

This looks exciting ~ check it out: Bead Soup Blog Party and join in!