Friday, March 29, 2013

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:

 
Dee

87 comments:

  1. Gorgeous work! I love all the mix of textures especially that necklace! Great job!!

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  2. Love what you did with your soup, very beautiful and creative pieces! Great job!

    Gina H

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  3. I LOVE this necklace. It's very Zen and bold. I'd wear it any day. I like the subdued shades in the bracelet too. Nice work!
    Emily

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  4. Nice. The coin pendant necklace is stunning - and lucky!

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  5. I love all your pieces. Simple designs are sometimes better and wearable. Nice work!

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  6. Beautiful textures, and I love how you combined the ribbon with the chain! And - your neck is lovely, you shouldn't excuse it at all! Fabulous to see it on a person instead of a mannequin and I really love your style!

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  7. Wonderful, wonderful pieces! Great job!

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  8. Lovely pieces! I really like the feel of the necklace and use of the Chinese coin! beautiful!

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  9. Nice work! I love the necklace!

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  10. Great jewelry! I’m in the third reveal. Can’t wait.

    http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  11. The necklace looks so lovely and peaceful. Wonderful job - I like the asymmetry.

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  12. Beautiful work! You had a wonderful soup to work from and did it up royal!

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  13. I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time on BSBP, I'm visiting all blogs... I love the necklace, just perfect!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  14. Great job Dee!! Love what you made with your soup!

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  15. WOW! Dee, I love the way you used the beads. Your necklace is beautiful-love the way you incorporated the sari silk into the chain and the whole design. I can't believe you made three pieces- all very creative. I have enjoyed having you as my bead soup partner. I will definitely join in next year.
    Linda
    idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much for being my partner. I love my pieces and will not be selling them - I will be wearing them! I'm sure I will be there again next year as well.

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  16. i love what you came up with. its gorgeous

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  17. Wonderful first soup!! Looks like you had fun and I love the bracelet!

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  18. Beautiful expressions of the bead soup you were sent, Dee... nice blend of "antique" and "edgy" IMHO. BTW you should be proud of the 59-year-old neck!

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  19. Wonderful designs! My favorite is the bracelet.

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  20. I like all three pieces. Very nice

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  21. great projects with its own style! super!

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  22. Beautiful work! I especially love the bracelet and earrings.

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  23. Great work, it's never easy when you have a rich soup but you balanced everything perfectly!

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  24. I really like the colors - even though they're all of kinda of a neutral pallet. You've inspired me to want to create something with brass and just little hints of color. Great work!

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  25. Beautiful work. Your necklace is just wonderful.

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  26. Everything is so stunning ! I just can't pick a favorite !

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  27. Beautiful work...love the eclectic style

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  28. I love what you did with your soup! The ribbon woven in the chain is so cool. I love the earrings. The bead caps are so great and go so well with those awesome beads. Great job on mixing it up!

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  29. Very creative I love the bracelet

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  30. Love how you put together the necklace and the bracelet is lovelt too

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  31. I'm not normally drawn to large and bold necklaces, but I am in love with this one! You did a great job with your soup!

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  32. All your pieces turned out beautifully. But my fav is for sure the bracelet!

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  33. Your pieces are gorgeous, my fav is the bracelet.

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  34. Great job with your first soup:) The necklace and bracelet are both lovely.

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  35. Very lovely designs...:)

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  36. Great job. I really like the bracelet and earrings...I'd like to wear them tomorrow, please!

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  37. Love them all, but that bracelet is a showstopper!

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  38. Such great pieces...all of them!
    Hugs
    Diana

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  39. Lovely pieces! Love the bracelet!

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  40. My favourite is the bracelet but ♥ love it all!!!

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  41. I like them all, but the multi strand bracelet is the best!!! Just love it!! ~KM http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-reveal-33113.html

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  42. All beautiful pieces, great job!

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  43. Raally LOVE both pieces, but the bracelet is calling to me.

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  44. Beautiful - I love what you did with the ribbon in the necklace !!

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  45. Gorgeous designs - I love them all!

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  46. That neck didn't look a day over 30 to me. You did a great job with the Soup! Both the necklace and the bracelet are fun and beautiful.

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  47. the bracelet is my favourite, such great mix of beads and jump rings it makes for a funky and cool piece

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  48. Great designs Dee. Those earrings are wonderful.

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  49. Great job Dee!!! Beautiful designs!

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  50. lovely pieces - I especially love the bracelet =)

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  51. They are all beautiful, and I love hearing about your design process. But I really, really love that bracelet!!!

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  52. Fabtabulous I love them ...You are amazing....Ty for sharing with us all , bye for now and Happy beading

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  53. I really enjoyed reading about your process... and now I have to try wrapping ribbon through chain. Cool idea! I especialy like the bracelet; it looks so wearable.

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  54. Dee, your pieces are GORGEOUS, you did a fantastic job with your soup!

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  55. Wow! That's an awesome bead soup! Wonderful creations you made!!

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  56. Very lovely - all three pieces. And I like the 59 old neck .... :0) The necklace is beautiful on it!

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  57. Great use of your soup. All 3 pieces are wonderful!

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  58. All your pieces are really stunning...great designs!

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  59. Your bed soup rocks! And the pieces that you made are really beautiful! You are a very talented jewelry artist and I thank you for sharing your talents with us.

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  60. All of your designs are beautiful,wow great job.

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  61. Such lovely designs! You really did make full use of the soup ingredients. ;-)

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  62. wonderful pieces, very well done!

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  63. Great job on your first hop! All three pieces are lovely -- the necklace is yummy!

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  64. What lovely pieces especially the necklace! And your neck looks like it is only 39 :)

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  65. Love your coin necklace! Your other pieces are lovely too!

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  66. Love your coin necklace! Your other pieces are lovely too!

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  67. Lovely! I think you did a fantastic job! Thank you so, so much for sharing. :)

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  68. I love the necklace. Very gypsy looking! Great Job.

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  69. Gorgeous pieces! Love the play in textures and shapes on each. ;)

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  70. Elegant! I love what you made -- so beautiful. THANK YOU for participating!

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  71. Your work is exquisite and these are certainly exceptional. Thanks for sharing these special pieces.

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  72. I love how each piece complements the others. Great use of different textures.

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  73. Wonderful pieces, great texture and balance and I love all the pieces!!! Have a Blessed day!

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  74. Your pieces turned out GREAT! I love the vintage-y, romantic flair they all seem to have. Isn't it great how the BSBP can make us step outside our comfort zones a little and play with material we might not use otherwise. You did an excellent job with this challenge.

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