Thank you for stopping by the sweet bead studio corner of the great big Bead Soup Blog Party. The blog party is hosted by my friend Lori Anderson, and this is my 3rd time participating in this international event. Lori has created a blog hop (and it’s much more than a blog hop) that so many of us look forward to; it is quite the event of the jewelry community. Thank you Lori, and a great big {hug} going out to you!!
Oh boy was I lucky. My bead soup partner was Riki Schumacher of Riki Jewelry. It happens that I’ve been an online friend of Riki’s for some time, not to mention I absolutely love her style. Riki is such an inspirational instructor – she recently launched a new site for the jewelry community, and plans to share information, techniques, and tutorials! You can also take classes with her in-person (if you’re lucky to live close enough), or take one of her mini online courses – she is very generous with information.
Riki sent me a fabulous array of vintage treasures. The color scheme is incredibly rich – with a mix of bronze and pearly tones. Just look at the focal she created for me! Riki soldered rhinestones to a pendant that she forged and antiqued. Another focal was created from a vintage watch – she shared this technique in a previous issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry. Pearls, an assortment of vintage charms, and luscious silk ribbon were also included in her bead soup mix.
I was immediately drawn to the tiny, old photographs. Who were these people and what kind of lives did they lead? My mind began to wander to different scenarios – from a hundred years ago. Riki sent these pictures to the right person. I take in old photographs and give them their due respect – one day I’ll share my antique photo album collection. Now back to my soup mix – another favorite piece is the gold link (and it’s a mystery as to how it was used, it does not open like a locket). What’s so special about this piece is the script monogram – “LEW”. I created a story in my mind, of how the man in the photograph gave this to the woman with the rosy cheeks as a special token of his endearment. Maybe it was an engagement gift. I know this monogrammed piece must have been special to someone, somewhere, many years ago. It is now in my possession and I do cherish it already.
It’s plain to see that I received a bead soup mix that is completely the type of beads and components I would have selected for myself. If you’re asking, “where’s the challenge then?”, there were still challenges. I did encounter challenges as I connected the components of this cuff-like bracelet. I annealed three of the metal connectors and filigree and shaped them on my bracelet mandrel so they’d have a nice curve. I got creative with cold connections. An antique rhinestone pin is wire wrapped to a Bethlehem Steel tag. The monogrammed focal is attached to the old, ornate stamping with sari ribbon. Fray Check is my friend when it comes to sari ribbon. I added vintage rhinestone and mother of pearl buttons to the beautiful mix of beads that I received from Riki.
I debated with whether or not to embellish the soldered rhinestone focal that Riki hand-forged. It was so beautiful on its own. Should I punch a hole and hang a dangle from the bottom? While looking through my vintage buttons, I came across an old “W” button I had been saving. Oh how perfect. Not only was this one of the initials in the monogrammed focal, but it is the initial of my last name (and if it looks like an M to you, that covers my maiden name too!). The “W” button was a perfect match!
I had a clever little idea for the necklace. I added seed bead and brass chain to a old rhinestone necklace, and did not attach it to the main necklace. I created the look of a double-strand necklace, but with the option of wearing one without the other.
I have a surprise for you….a little thank you for making it this far in my lengthy bead soup post (because there are over 300 other blogs you’ll want to visit!). I’ll be giving away this sweet pair of earrings to one visitor. I’ll draw a name next Tuesday, Sept. 2oth.
Enjoy the rest of the Bead Soup Blog Party & thank you for stopping by! 🙂 You’ll find the complete list of participants when you click on the link below.
-Cindy
I like so much of the photos and what gorgeous pieces you made! So lovely!
That’s so lucky!! It is great that you are so much into vintage so could make justice to such great items.
The pictures are great and I love how you take us through the whole process of making this piece. I think I am learning one thing or two from this post.
Thank you for sharing.
I’m melting away. That is soooooooooo pretty! LOVE it!
Swoon…! I knew your work would be romantic..and it sure is that. LOVE the cuff. Thanks for the explanations how you adapted some of your elements in it…makes me realise I need to be more adventurous and look beyond the obvious structure of an item that can be used in jewelery. Beautiful photos.
jenni
wow amazingly beautiful! you were so creative with what you made!
Gorgeous all Cindy. I love your imagination when it comes to creating a piece. You are my second participant that i have checked out this morning, and i’m having so much fun browsing through
OH WOW, OH WOW!! Cindy!!! These turned out incredible. The bracelet is so detailed, I could dissect it for ages. I think I see that you worked the watch component in along the cuff strands next to the initialed piece, yes? That is so unique, a lady of that time being able to check the time while still looking so fashionable. The necklace is so so beautiful. I wish I had a W in my name!! That button was truly meant for this day. So beautiful… so YOU!! Well done.
Gorgeous creating Cindy, can’t wait to see you at ArtBliss!!
Wonderful! You have created two terrific pieces of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
Lori
I knew yours would be uh-mazing and thank you ma’am for not dissapointing! These have Christmas/Holiday parties written all over them. (The photography looks especially nice by the way). Thank you Cindy for some inspiration to carry with me today!
I would say you were paired up with the perfect person! I had no doubt that you would create gorgeousness with those beads, and of course, YOU DID! wow!
Love love love it! Love that you filled that bezel with the W. awesome work Cindy! and your photos are always so impeccable. I’m in awe.
Simply gorgeous and amazing Cindy! This was the perfect scenario for you, and it couldn’t be better………STUNNING!
Beautiful pieces every single one!!!!!!!!!
Wow! This is just beautiful! My second stop and it can’t really get much better than this piece!
It is all so beautiful Cindy – just gorgeous! I love how the monogram fits perfectly inside the rhinestones, and the cuff bracelet has such a luxurious look to it. Gorgeous!
WOW! WOW! WOW! Cindy you created such wonderful pieces! I love the story you created with the bracelet, old tintypes are so great! I always wonder why the photo was taken, too! Gorgeous work and your photos are amazing!
Absolutely stunning Cindy, both the finished pieces and your gorgeous photography! I hope to see this in person next week at Artbliss! Love Love the vintage inspired creations!
Gorgeous work- I love how you took the pieces that Riki sent and made something so uniquely you. Its been fun to look through the blogs and see how some designers really had to step outside of their style to create something with the componants they received.
Wow-what a stunning necklace and bracelet! I love the layering of both pieces. Beautiful vintage.
Oh My Cindy..I’m speechless..These pieces are so amazing..I can look and look and look for hours. Sigh…I just wish I could express the beauty I see.Bravo!!
Gorgeous Cindy! I love the vintage feel of all your pieces! That bracelet is so beautifully complex! I’d love to get my hands on it!
Wonderful soup! And you made beatiful things – I love your style Cindy!
Very pretty Cindy, fantastic use of your soup. It all looks very much “you”.
Cindy, I knew you would have beautiful pieces, and you didn’t disappoint! Love the sari ribbon in there, and my favorite is the “w” added to the focal, I think it finishes it nicely. Visiting your blog is always such an uplifting experience, thank you for sharing the “story” of the photos.
Wow! What beautiful soup you had to work with! Love the color palette. You are so very creative with your connections and the design turned out wonderfully. I like the two coordinating – yet not connected necklaces. So pretty! See you next week!
I’m gasping and salivating at the same time!! Wowee! The bracelet is spectacular and with the necklace– I’m speechless! You really pulled out all the stops on these. Please bring these to ArtBliss– I want to try them on and pretend that they are mine! Thanks Cindy for sharing your process.
I second that WOW!! Cindy, your creations are exquisite! I love the colors and flow of your designs. Thanks for including a link to Riki’s new site! Perhaps you can teach me something on antique photos. I have tons and don’t know what to do with them. They sit in a vintage photo album. They are the heavy cardstock photos. They belong to my father-in-law’s family…even he doesn’t know who they are. I am figuring they are around the middle to late 1800’s? Well, awesome job on your bead soup!
So beautiful my friend….you made the most incredible set of jewelry with the most divine components! Your talent is far reaching…..love how you added the watch into the bracelet~so very clever! Every detail so carefully thought out…to the tiny seed beads holding a piece of vintage rhinestone inside your necklace! All the way to the super design work and lots of it is seen in all three of your pieces…Loved them all!
Wow Cindy! You knocked it out of the park!! Your arrangements showcase the items so beautifully, I am just blown away! Love the bracelet, and the sweet story behind the inspiration, that is what it is all about. Once inspiration takes hold, there is no stopping the creative flow!! And you proved that. Love what you did with the pendant! Just fabulous. I purposely didn’t put anything inside that circle of soldered rhinestones, and knew you would embellish it in a creative way, and you sure did!! Lovely all the way around, pieces I would be proud to wear today!!! Have fun with them. I loved making a piece from your treasures, almost forgot what it looked like since I’ve been on the road, and had to pack up so long ago!! Big hug Cindy for all the work you put into to selecting my fabulous loot, and a special shout out to Lori again for all her hard work. Riki xox
I can see you had a blast putting all the beauties together.
Great job!
Cindy, Very beautiful vintage creations, I love that you took your cue for the old pictures (which I wonder the same things). How cool is it that the button you already had fit perfectly into the pendant that Riki made!
Therese
These are some of my favorites! You have made me LOVE vintage – these are so elegant, rich and inspiring – too beautiful for words! Amazing talent!
Really beautiful… stunning really. Love that you and your partner were so well matched, too. Both of you created inspirational pieces.
The photographs are so intriging! Love the mix you received and you’re finished pieces!
Really amazing – I love it!
Cindy, my friend, you are amazing. I love this and the story of how you came to do what you did. It’s really lovely. Imagine having that W in stash — how perfect is that? You do really beautiful work. I’m in awe!
Oh My! What stunning pieces! I am in awe….
hey gorgeous….beautiful soup to play with and you have created two beautiful vintage looking pieces…..hurrah for Soup! ;o)
hugs
hello gorgeous xxx
Perfection! I LOVE all the vintage, metal tones, sari etc it’s like a perfect eclectic mix and totally my style all the way! Great job as always! 🙂
So romantically beautiful. Great work! Great photography, too.
Cindy what a lovely treasure trove you have created. Love the bracelet
Be blessed to be a blessing
So pretty, both pieces are wonderful, but I am in lust w/ that bracelet
Cindy – You knocked it out of the park! Such a beautiful bracelet!
pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com
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.
When you described your soup to me as simple, I totally knew better. Your jewelry always blows me away and humbles me. I just wish I had your talent for putting things together! I can buy them, and do, but they sit in collections on my shelves!
That cuff is amazing, and the necklace — wow. I just don’t have words for how amazing this all is. But I knew it would be!
Love, Lori
Cindy, your talent amazes me!! These pieces are absolutely gorgeous and that monogram button… it looks perfect in that rhinestone focal. Beautiful work!
I am totally blown away!!!!!!!
Oh wow! Your pieces are breathtaking! I love how you incorporated all the different elements into the bracelet and necklace. Gorgeous work!!!!
Wow, I feel like beeing in the middle of the thirties. I love it, love your unique style! Thanks a lot for sharing with us!
Greetings, Michi
Oh Cindy this is just magnificent!! How very very Beautiful!! What a treasure!
A Queens Ransom!! ox
What an amazing bracelet, Cindy! Layers and layers of creativity.