Saturday, September 17, 2011

Bead Soup Blog Party Project Reveal Day!!!

 Welcome to the Fall Edition of the Bead Soup Blog Party!  A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Lori Anderson for hosting the event and for being the brilliant woman who began the Bead Soup Party!  

This is my third round of Party participation.  My first was the Spring 2011 when I created this:
My partner for that round was Shea Zukowski.
Then came the Fairytale Mini Swap this summer.   My partner for that round was Sandra Richardson.

For this Fall round, my partner is Valerie Norton.  These are the goodies she sent me to work with!

And this is what Chris and I sent to Valerie.
Don't you just love the Beaky Bird Chris made especially for Valerie?!  We can't wait to see what she makes with it!  So with out further ado, here is my first piece (I created two very different designs to compliment Valerie's two very different dichroic focals).


This focal SCREAMED at me 80's Retro!  So I went very FUNKY with it, using fun items to compliment the bright, beautiful colors in the dichroic glass.  I visited one of my favorite Etsy shops, MyElements, and picked out some of her fun gizmos and flexible tubing to add to the piece.  When I thought of funky, retro, and color-the only place I thought of was MyElements.  I love her stuff!  So anyway (got distracted, bead, oooh shiny!), on one side I made my own chain links using colored wire run through the hollow tubing to be able to shape it as I wanted to.  On the other side I used round gunmetal chain and wire wrapped all the goodies to it.  On the side with the rubber links, I took apart some of the chain links to use as jump rings for connecting the pieces of tubing.  As much as I LOVE mixed metals and all the varied finishes on the chain, it can be a challenge to find the right findings to go with the finishes.  Also by using the pieces of chain it tied the two sides of the necklace together without have them be identical.  When I got to the finishing part, I used a mix of hand dyed silk strings and ribbon, and black satin rattail cord.  I did loose braids with them so that you could see all the colors in play without the cords running around willy nilly on the ends of the necklace.  I used bead cones to attach the lovely sterling silver clasp Valerie sent in my soup mix. I don't know that I am crazy about this aspect of the piece, and I may yet rip it apart and redo that issue.  What do you think?  I would love your input!
For the second piece, I went more Antique Autumn.


I used a bunch of the beads and the focal Valerie sent me in this piece.  There were two strands of tiny Druk beads with a clear/antique bronze color that I used in my wire crocheted strands, there are freshwater pearl, Chinese and Czech crystals, mother of pearl rings, and Czech glass pressed leaves with some gorgeous metallic finishes.  ***Please let me apologize for the quality of the photos above.  I had to finish the pieces quickly enough to get in on the natural light before it ended for the day.  At the point of the photos, the necklace was actually TAPED to my neck with a strip of blue painter's tape.  Consequently, it doesn't hang as gracefully in the photos as I would have liked.  I did complete the piece around 10:30 and promptly whipped up a pair of earrings for a giveaway using more of the leaves and beads and some lovely twisted copper spacers Valerie sent in my soup mix.***  In the necklace I made wired dangles for the beads using 26g Vintage Bronze colored Parawire and hand twisting each bead on the wire.  When I connected the beads to the wire I used the twists like a head pin and twisted them on to attach them.  I counted and there are 58 dangles on the necklace.  I happened to add 29 to each side!  Gosh, I am good!  The crocheted ropes gave me a bit of a dilemma in how to attach them and have the piece flow together.  Chris suggested I use some coordinating jump rings to connect throughout the rope, and then I wrapped the wire tails to the chain links near the back of the piece.  I finished it with a floral textured antique silver toggle clasp.

Now for the Antique Autumn Earring giveaway!

If you leave me a comment on the Bead Soup Blog Party post, you will be entered to win these lovely earrings!  I will put all the names through a random generator on September 30th and choose the winner.  Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you or stop back on October 1st to see who the winner is! 

Please visit the other Bead Soup Partiers, there are 362 of us!  Here is the list with links to all their blogs!
These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke


19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel
















68 comments:

la mar de bonita said...

Wonderful necklaces - the dichroic one is so rich in colours. I love it!
Greetings, Michi

marcy said...

I enjoyed seeing you wearing your art! and I shop at myelements too!

Anonymous said...

WOW!I am so impressed with your versatility, Stephanie. In my memory, when I think of 80s fashion, it all seems so slick and dramatic, but you've made it look so very, very pretty. And I LOVE the second necklace (never would have guessed you were using painter's tape to hold it on in those photos).

It's so nice to visit my old soup partners and get inspired by their talents all over again.

Jo said...

Definitely 80s retro! They're both great pieces, and the second necklace looks lovely on you.

Unknown said...

Thanks Gals! This is so much fun! Can't wait to sit down and go through all the blogs!

Christals Creations said...

Great makes. :o)

Kym Hunter Designs said...

Gorgeous designs! I love the 80's retro piece!

Enjoy your weekend!

Silver Parrot said...

Great job. I think the second necklace and the earrings are my favorites. I also love the bird focal you sent to your partner. She made an amazing necklace with it!

Tracey Leeder said...

What what a beautiful mix of creations you made! You sent nice soup too. Wonderful post and I love the giveaway earrings!

Lorelei Eurto said...

Beautiful work! Looks like it was fun to put these pieces together- such a good soup! Can't wait to see what Valerie made!

Michelle Mach said...

I like the 80s retro piece. Those colors would have been soooo far out of my comfort zone, but you made it work! Good job!

Shirley said...

Wow! I remember when you showed off your bead soup, thinking, "I'm so glad I didn't get that dichroic focal, cause it's not my style at all". And of the two, I am just in love with that necklace!! Just goes to show off your talent in designing the perfect complement for such an unusual focal! Awesome talent!
And thank you so much for the giveaway!

I LOVE color! said...

What a lovely creation. I am still blessed to be working with the soup you sent me.
Be Blessed to be blessed

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Gorgeous! Wow! I love what you did with these! That second necklace just looks so pretty! I love the colors :)
~Jennifer
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com

horimarika said...

I love both necklaces!!! So cool!!!! Great job!

Niky Sayers said...

I love that first piece the colors are fantastic

Shai Williams said...

The first necklace is just a bit to bright for me but I love your autumn one.

Terri said...

Both pieces are great! If I were to choose I would pick your fall one..I just love how you put that all together! You got some really fun bead soup from Valerie.

My Life Under the Bus said...

Two very different pieces but both very cool! Lovely job! Have fun hopping!

EmandaJ said...

Terrific! We’re all being pushed outside our comfort zones — with amazing results!

Enjoy the hop,
Emanda

http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html

Tammy Jones, JewelryMakingDaily.com said...

Great job on both pieces! They look wonderful. I love the soup you sent your partner, too. Lovely stuff!

RedGreenQueen said...

Love what you did with these. I love that colourful pendant. Good job on the assymetry too!

Pretty Things said...

I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.


I SO love that bright piece with MyElements -- I wonder if you would let me try working with tubing like that a bit? I love how fun and funky that is!

I hope you’ll participate again!

Love, Lori

rockcreekcreations said...

Nice job!! They look really nice!!

Sweet Freedom said...

Wow - what beautiful dichroic pieces you received! I am loving that first pieces, especially - the colors and the asymmetry! But the second one is cool, too! Great creativity!!

http://sweetfreedom-designs.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

very beautiful pieces!

Unknown said...

Boy this blog hopping is GREAT for one's ego!

Lori, the idea for the wired tubing wasn't a big deal, go for it. If you have questions, just email me! You are not late by the way, someone very wise told us it would take awhile to get through all of the bloggers! Thanks for all you do to make this possible!

Thanks everyone else for the wonderful ego boost!

Wendy said...

So pretty and very creative! :)

LissC said...

That piece was very 80's retro, which we are seeing a lot in fashion now. I just loved that little elephant from your earlier swap. I want him!!! Your pieces are all really fun and pretty!!!

Anonymous said...

Both pieces are great! Well done-I really love the autumn necklace!

Christine Altmiller said...

very very pretty and fun!!!

Maria said...

Beautiful, wonderful job!
Loved seeing you modeling your piece!

Sandra said...

Can't go wrong with 80ies retro! Ah, flashback to my teens ... XD

I'm all over the second necklace though, the mother of pearl, the dichroic pendant and the antique brass all come together so nicely.

Ann said...

Both necklaces are beautiful. I am especially drawn to the first one, but maybe that's because I'm 80's retro too:)

Charis Designs said...

Both of these pieces are so unique- and so very different. Having so much fun seeing all the different soup. I started from the end of the list this time!

Polly Barker said...

The 80's never looked so good! At least in my memory!

VS said...

OMGoodness...your soup is DELICIOUS my Friend!!! I adore your design, it's truly stunning! Well done, another AMAZING cup of BEAD SOUP from a very talented designer!!! ;)

Bobbie said...

What a great contrast of styles, and a very funky nod to the 80's (yeah, I'd say I don't remember them, but then I'd get struck by lightning for a whopping lie...) Those were some bold pieces you had to work with, and you made some very nice pieces!

Valerie said...

Stephanie, I think you created two amazing necklaces with my dichroic pendants! I really love the "funkiness" of the first one....very clever designs at work there. The crocheting is beautiful in your second piece. I really like the textures and how you combined the colors in that piece. Great job, my swap partner buddy!! It was a great pleasure to swap with you!
blessings,

Valerie

Myléne Hillam said...

What a clever way to make your own rubber tubing chain... I love that idea. It is a great necklace, fun and funky.

Loris Glassworks said...

Wonderful! You have created two terrific pieces of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture for both. My favorite is the '80s retro, I love the design. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
Lori

T... said...

what stunning creations.....love the designs, the colours....wow...

Jennifer Jangles said...

Really great pieces. They are both so different. I like the 80's piece, because I am always a fan of my elements.

Shyme said...

Great designs! You have definitely created some jewelry that compliments the focals! :)

Beadaholique said...

Love that you made up two totally different necklaces along the different color palette lines. Both are beautiful!

Andrea & Julie

Rebecca said...

Lovely! Both necklaces are gorgeous but I particularly like the Autumnal one - and it really suits you too! I can't tell about the tape :-) Pretty earrings too.

Regina said...

Love how your designs totally embrace and enhance the two very differnt pendants and are so different from each other. Great job!

KayzKreationz said...

Oh my gosh. While I love that second necklace, very vintage looking to me, I ADORE that first necklace with the Dichroic Glass Focal. Very Bohemian Chic to me. I love all the elements, the rubber links, the dangles and all. It's gorgeous. And the earrings are so cute. I'd love to win them.

KayzKreationz said...

Oh, and that little Glass Bird your hubby made is sooo cute. I love him.

Tracy said...

Beautiful pieces, ALL of them.

DaviniaDesign said...

Love how you integrated the rubber!
Great work.

coffeeaddict said...

what a great idea to post all your previous soups. You really have so many versatile pieces :-)

Maggie said...

I love that you included past bead soup projects. Both of your necklaces are so fun and beautiful. You had some wonderful things to work with and did a great job!

Julie said...

Wonderful job w/ each piece, Stephanie!

I LOVE color! said...

I am so sorry I am so late , but my computer dug in it's heels and said I'm nota-gonna go that fast:^)
Your designs are nothing short of amazing.Thanks for showing the necklace with the elephant:
Be blessed to be a blessing

Serena Trent said...

Such eccentric pieces, simply beautiful!

Michelle said...

Love the funky vibe to the 1st. And the 2nd is just perfect for fall.
Michelle

Maneki said...

Lovely necklaces! That first one is just so cool and funky! Colourful, indeed: I used to love that kind of colours as a kid in the late 80's, early 90's. Great job!

CraftyHope said...

Both of your designs are super, but I really like the first one. I know it's the blue that calls out to me! As well, I like all the unique touches you have on that one. Very cool!

moonlitfantaseas said...

love both necklaces!

Anonymous said...

I like both necklace but I am smitten with the second one. It's just my style!
Ambra

Christine said...

Your necklaces are both so fun and colorful! Very creative designs!

OhAllisonBeading said...

Ooooh beautiful pieces! Except for being a Vols fan, orange isn't really one of my favorite colors, but the orange-ish necklace really appeals to me! Love the elephant necklace from your Fairytale swap is really awesome too!

Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio said...

I love what you've done with your Bead Soup! Beautiful!!!

Melissa said...

LOL, when you said that it screamed 80's retro and I saw all the little charms, it reminded of me of those plastic charm necklaces and bracelets we used to have. You did a wonderful job. I am so bad at asymmetrical and you made it all look so nice. I love the color and composition of your second piece too. Beautifully done.
Melissa
http://design.kcjewelbox.com

Maria said...

Hi Stephanie and Chris!

Sorry so late...I'm right in the middle of show season and I'm keeping my nose to the torch!

LOVE your pieces! The blue & green ribbon made it pop!
Also love that you modeled your other piece! How fun!
Great job!
xo

Karyn B said...

Oh, I love the 80s vibe in the first one. Both pieces are so fun, and you have a great sense of texture and color in your work. Awesome soup! (ps, please disqualify me for the giveaway, because I can't wear earrings. :( )

Marie Cramp said...

You did a great job! looks terrific on too! Giving your blog a follow, hope you return the favour!!

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