Bead Soup Newbie

Well folks, it finally happened. My wife Stephanie finally convinced me join the Bead Soup Blog Party. Being her devoted husband, I have assisted her with her soups over the last five years by making lampwork beads to work into the mixes she sent to her partners (check out page 89 of Lori Anderson's book for one example).  I have watched her create wonderful things from her very diverse bead soups, offering suggestions when they were asked for. I have watched her stretch her creativity in new directions while working with new color palettes and trying new techniques.  I have witnessed her growth as an artist and how the whole Bead Soup Blog has elevated her techniques and her abilities to new heights.

She has prodded me for a while to join up, telling me it would be good for me to get out of my box.  I just was not sure that I could or should try it.  I mean, did I have it in me?  On the day of the sign up, Steph was in Tucson.  She told me to sign up.  I said no.  She said it was my choice.  I thought some more.  I clicked the button to sign up, filled in my information, closed my eyes and hit submit.  Once I got my email from Lori, I knew I was in.  Gulp!

What does this mean?  It means I looked around for inspiration.  It means I spent hours putting together a bead soup that I could be proud of.  It means I spent time at the torch, trying to come up with something that I was happy with and that survived its' creation without cracking.  It means I dug through the stash of beads I have accumulated over the last ten years, finding just the right items to add.  This is what I came up with for my partner...

And speaking of my partner...

My partner is Charlie Jacka, of Clay-Space.  She is a veteran of the Bead Soup and other beading challenges. She works with ceramics as well as metal clay.  The soup that Charlie sent me will definitely stretch me in new ways.  As I was writing this, I was sitting in the front window of my local bead store listening to my soup.  I picked up a few bits here and there to add to the mix, but I have not started anything yet.  Most soups get better with age and I don't think this one will be any different. Her soup came in two parts; the portion made by her and the portion assembled from other sources.  Here are the general overall pictures of these two categories.  I will show more specifics on reveal day!