Bead Soup Blog Party # 7

Today is the day!  I’ve been waiting since early March to share my “first” Bead Soup Masterpiece.  It began in February when my new friend Linda Sadler from Ida Louise Jewelry sent me this beautiful stash:

  

 

 

Here is a closer look:

 

Lori Anderson is the wonderful person who took on this huge endeavor.  She paired us with artists who have different styles so I was a little nervous until I received Linda’s beautiful beads.  Visit Linda at her Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/IdaLouiseJewelry  - or - her blog:  idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com

 
And so it begins - trial and error:

My first error; I was trying to design a piece using everything Linda gave me.  It was just too busy.  Many designers think “more is more” but my designs are usually pretty simple.  Nothing I tried appealed to me and I really wanted to make a wearable piece.  Well they don’t call it “Bead Chat” for nothing; I took it to the experts.  After posing the question to my friends on Facebook I found out I could make multiple pieces.  With that problem solved I jumped in.

I created my necklace in sections.  First, I took the focal piece and designed around it.  From the very start, I was happy with that part of the necklace.  Next, I tried to incorporate the silk ribbon.  OMGoodness, I had never used ribbon in my jewelry before and it did not come easy.  When I used it by itself, it just didn’t have enough substance.  The more I played with the ribbon, the more it frayed so I had to consider the design without using my usual trial and error.  Then it came to me; I had been making upscale friendship bracelets using chain and leather by weaving the leather cord in an out of the chain link. (I would love to give credit to the designer but can’t remember where I learned it). I tried it and was very happy with the outcome.  Two sections down with one to go. 

Now I need to create balance between the left and right side of the necklace.  I had several different chains in my stash but they were too heavy or too light so I made a chain using tiger eye beads.  These beads complemented the antique tiger eye beads that were part of the stash. 

Here is a closeup of the left and right side:

 

 

Here is my necklace:  (Please excuse the 59 year old neck!)

 

 

 

The bracelet came together quickly because Linda was so generous with her beads.

 

Here is piece number 2:

 

 

Last, but not least, I made a pair of earrings using these beautiful antique brass and glass beads.  I wanted them to stand out so I saved them specifically for this pair of earrings.

Here is piece number 3:

 

That’s it, my first Bead Soup!  Many thanks to our host Lori Anderson!  It was fun and I learned so much, I can’t wait for number "8"  :-)  If you are interested please go to Pinterest and check out the first of three reveals and don't forget to check back on April 4th and April 16th for the other two groups.  Or, you can read everyone's blog entries to see how each artist approached their design. Enjoy!

To read the Blogs:

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html
  
Check out pics on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/dclark58

 

 

 

Dee