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
Nice pieces!! What wonderful use of your ingredients!!
Oh my gosh, your work is always amazing, but you’ve outdone yourself here. Seriously STUNNING. (and please disqualify me for the earrings, since I can’t wear them. even though I want to!)
Hi Miss Cindy…
As ALWAYS, your design is amazing…I LOVE everything about it!! Plus the elements Riki sent you were to die for. I’m always inspired by your incredible wire work, each wire perfectly bent to your will…a deliciouse BEAD SOUP my friend, simply YUMMMMMYYYY!!! :)))
Wow! Really love what you did with all the beads! the bracelet is really a stunner.
it’s not about the earrings, it’s about breathtaking beauty and talent. i truly appreciate what you have done with vintage beauties, as this is what got me started in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your gift, your pictures and your story.
Joyce Becker,
thejoyfulgem
I have seen lots of wonderful designs on this blog hop so far but my first impression here is “WOW”!!!!! You have inspired me!!!
You have created magnificent show stoppers, Cindy! All are so beautiful, but my fave is that yummy bracelet brimming with treasures. You should stop by and see what happened to my soup! ACK!
Beautiful work! I love the mix of metals and all that vintage jewelry. Great job.
I love this post Cindy – I love the way you tell the story of your jewellery and share it with us. You have made some stunning jewellery with beautiful components – and I’d love to be in with a chance for those sweet earrings!
oh, you make me want to take apart some of the jewelry I have from my grandma 🙂 Very lovely. And your earrings are sweet – someone is going to feel very lucky when they win those!
Oh how beautiful and the respect you pay to the man and woman. Such wonderful componets to work with……I couldn’t wait to see what you had been up to! Amazing! I am in love with the rhinestones.
What beautiful pieces you created! They have this wonderful secret story to them. I loved the old photographs as well! Very charming and wonderful!
xo Genea
All I can say is oh, WOW! I seriously loved the way you incorporated everything into the bracelet-It’s all a miss-match of pieces, but they all flow together beautifully 🙂
I hope soon to be able to get into soldering pieces myself so I can create as beautiful pieces of jewelry as you! Hopefully that goes well. LOL
Congratulations on your 3rd bead soup party!
What beautiful vintage inspired designs…I’ve fallen in love with both of them. The old photos are such a sweet and charming touch.
Wow, Wow, Wow, Cindy! Your pieces are gorgeous.
Delicious Soup! Very stunning!
Gorgeous! Just gorgeous!
All your pieces are beautiful! 🙂
Cindy,
Both pieces are absolutely beautiful, One of a kind pieces. The word “breathtaking” is an apt description as I literally gasped when I scrolled down and saw that gorgeous bracelet!
So inspiring!
Julie
Cindy, what a beautiful job! Looks like you will enjoy wearing your new jewelry!
Your work is so stunning! I especially love the bracelet with the Sari ribbon. (And you are so right about Fray Check!) I love how you styled the photographs, too. It’s just like a little jewelry storybook! 🙂
Those are all so lovely Cindy! You knew just what to do with that treasure trove of vintage goodness. Love the photos and presentation. I feel like I’ve been transported through time ~~
WOW. Your work is, on any given day, jaw-droppingly beautiful, but this really takes the cake! Just outstanding. You can use vintage pieces and bits of ephemera like nobody else I know. Love it.
On my gosh. I really enjoyed reading and looking at each and every photo of your creations. They are truly stunning and there is zero room for improvement as they are perfect. I would love to see and hold them in person! Yum.
OMG Cindy!! pieces are to die for!! all is so clever! (as you my C) love love love!! the bracelet is an amazing piece!! well all is amazing!!
This is a very exquiste piece! It has that old romantic feeling!
your soup turned out just right! love both pieces and the way you kept the vintage flavor going. great work!
Wow, I would have been totally lost had I received that soup. You, however, handled it so elegantly. Very beautiful work!
If I didn’t read that the soup was put together by Rikki, I would have thought it was the soup you sent. She certainly got your style! The pieces are absolutely breath taking. One of the thing I loved the most was how you broke up the chunky chain into section and mixed it with capped beads. Then the tiny seed beads contrast so well in size.
Cindy, These are amazing. I love the way you created a separate necklace that could be worn alone, but was also designed to be worn with the other. The bracelet is darling. I could look at that all day and see something different! Very clever indeed about the button. I mean, it fit perfectly into the space. These should win a prize! You need to find a contest to enter them in! Beautiful work, Cindy! Congratulations!
You received such wonderful items and though I love vintage and antique items, I never would have created something as special as you have. That bracelet is an heirloom piece and the necklace is a fun updating of vintage crystals.
Beautiful, just beautiful!
What LOVELY jewelry. I just love these pieces. So romantic and they evoke such a beautiful vintage sensibility.
Very inspiring. I need to look through my vintage components and make something!
I salivated from the moment I saw the bead soup all the way through your finished work. So very lovely.
Terri
Oh my gosh, I just love what you have done with the vintage pieces. You are so inspiring with your designs. I’m definitely going to have to check out more of your blog. I have a ton of old vintage jewelry that is just sitting and not doing anything that I would like to so something with and you might have just given me the inspiration and push I needed.
Hey Cindy, I was lucky enough to see these pieces in person. Absolutely stunning!
Jeanette
Very beautiful pieces as always, Cindy! I’m always amazed at the effect you are able to achieve with your vintage-inspired pieces. Even though you are able to create many jewelry styles, this is my favorite from you. It’s really your signature style that embodies where your heart lies in jewelry design. Would love to see a vintage-inspired jewelry book from you someday. Your jewelry is really way too beautiful not to be published in a book of your own.
oooh laaaaa laaaaaaa
Kathy
I am in love! The two of you were perfect partners! Your work is stunning, I love the old feel to it. The bracelet is covet-worthy. 🙂
Such gorgeous pieces!!
Cindy, I knew you’d made something special with this lovely Bead Soup from Riki!
You did the vintage treasures justice in both pieces. I’d say they are both swoon-worthy.
Cindy, These are just so YOU! They are so beautiful. What a great repurposing of lovely pieces.
wow, I am loving everything you made.
Your soup couldn’t have been more you!
Amazing work.
Lovely romantic eclectic pieces. 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
how stunning, just breath taking…your creations are truly beautiful
Oh. Seriously. All I can say.
*These* are incredible and amazing pieces. I’m on the floor in awe.
Oh Cindy this is swoooon worthy !!! Just plain gorgeous!
Cindy, all are so amazingly beautiful! You are a very talented artist!
I don’t think I really even have all the words to say how beautiful your work is- just stunning!!
Those are really fantastic pieces you’ve created!