Welcome to the 3rd Bead Soup Blog Party – we’re rockin’ the house!
I am so excited THE day is here! Thank you for partying with me, whether this is your 8th or 125th stop along the Bead Soup tour.
I want to give a great big shout out to my dear friend and Bead Soup Blog Party creator , Lori Anderson. Lori has been our fabulous hostess and has put in a tremendous amount of time behind the scenes organizing this party of 210 participants. Lori has shared so much of herself through inspirational stories and blog tips along the way. {She’s like the big sister you always wish you had}. Lori, here’s to you (insert the sound of clinking glasses here)!
Just in case the Bead Soup party is new to you, here’s the quick low-down. The participants were randomly paired with a partner and exchanged bead components consisting of a focal piece, clasp, and coordinating beads. Our only “rule” was that the clasp and focal needed to be used in our finished piece. I participated in the inaugural party; you can see my post about it here.
Imagine my delight when I found out I was paired with Amanda Davie, an artist whose work I had long admired on Etsy. That was only the beginning, just wait til you see the Bead Soup that Amanda sent to me! Oh my, Amanda spoiled me. I received a treasure trove of gorgeous lampwork, stones, pearls – all sorts of gorgeous beads. The best part? The real jewels in my “soup” were all of the handmade components. Amanda sent me a polymer clay bezel clasp, copper and bronze metal clay pieces, an enameled link, and several resin-filled bezels. Now let’s move on to the pictures! Without further ado, here’s my stunning Bead Soup –
It was a tough decision with so many great beads to chose from! From the start though, I knew I would make something long. That was my ticket to incorporating as many beads as I could. I had various lay-outs going: single strand, double strand, a combination of strands! My husband stepped in to the studio, took one look, and had advice for me as well. That’s when I knew I better rethink where I was heading. I’m awfully proud of my finished necklace, entitled “Light and Day”, taken from the snippet encased in the resin bezel I chose. I finished off the piece with Amanda’s own copper/brass/polymer clay clasp – sure makes the necklace pretty from all angles.
Let’s see…for the chain portion of the necklace, I relied on my old faithful friend, wire. In “Light and Day”, I chose a beautiful and warm bronze wire (which I oxidized to a nice, aged patina). I created bead caps and metal disc links topped with buttons from bronze sheet metal. The stand-out element has got to be the beautiful polymer clay discs by Christine Damm of Stories They Tell.
I just love the eagle resin-filled bezel that Amanda created, right down to the great color. The perfect color. To add some size to the focal, I added a rectangle cut from bronze sheet. This also gave me the opportunity to add extra holes for dangles. I added Amanda’s copper and bronze metal clay leaf and branch. I adorned the Lake Michigan beach stone with wire and seed beads. A touch of leather was added here and there to further the rustic feel of the necklace. My focal reminded me of a dream catcher. In the end, I really enjoyed the challenge of working with a color scheme and a motif that I do not ordinarily work with.
51. Lori Dorrington, Lori’s Glassworks
The next party’s sign ups begin August 1-3, 2011. Don’t miss it!
BOY oh BOY!!!! You really did luck up with the bead soup. It’s such a lovely selection I would have been creatively paralyzed had I received it. You, however, made a masterpiece. I love all the bits and details you put in the necklace. So stunning!
wow..so much to choose from, and you did a fabulous job with all your pieces. love the touch with the leather knot in the pendant…different. Job well done..fabulous designs!
you rocked it, lovely piece!
ok I am seriously drooling over that necklace. Those beads are right up my alley and the way you used wire and placement just makes them stand out even more. I am really liking hoping around to look at all of the blogs participating in today’s Soup and I have been amazed at the designs I am seeing. I would in a heart beat wear this amazing necklace. Oh and I am entering your giveaway next Thursday,hope I win!
What a magnificent piece! You are so very talented, love it!
I love the southwest feel of the necklace. As always you have made a awesome piece Cindy, love you work.
Fantastic, Cindy!! You did a beautiful job w/ your soup… what a lovely necklace. Wow.
A match made in heaven, you and your partner 😉 Didn’t Lori do a great job of pairing us with such fantastic partners? I love Amanda’s pieces and the way you put everything together. I love your style! Wonderful detail, texture, color and assembly!
Absolutely delightful! Your design is definitely a statement piece! It just seems to dance from one element to the next. I know you will receive many, many compliments each time you wear it! Love the extra piece you made, too, for your giveaway! Have a great weekend! 🙂
wow! first, let me say what a great stash from Amanda. and secondly I love the beautiful simplicity of your design.
Very pretty design! Thanks for sharing.
Stunning! I love what you have done with the beads you received. You have a wonderful sense of balance and design. Your designs are my favorite so far! Cheers!
I love it! Especially that cute little bird that is part of the pendant. Great job!
Cindy, you never fail to amaze me with your designs and this piece is no exception! There are so many great components on this necklace and amazing detail. I love the colors and everything about this piece!
You did receive a bunch of cool stuff. Were to start. I enjoyed your story and the necklace is awesome. Great use of many of the components.
Well slap my mamma, that is one beautiful necklace. Really great soup mix. You are one lucky girl.
You did an amazing job with this piece, the composition, color, balance………everything! With so many lovely components to work with, I would have found the challenge a bit intimidating. You nailed it!
Cindy what super Wonderful things you were sent!! Wow!
Really a very beautiful exciting pc you made.
So Bravo!
What a fabulous selection of beads you received. I would have a hard time deciding what to use and how, but you did a fabulous job. Awesome design!
Swoon! I have long been an admirer of Amanda Davie…. you lucked out with some rich and varied pieces. Love how this came together. And you are right…the real jewels are the handmade components from bead artists!
Thanks for that inspiring taste of soup. I plan to wear mine to DC… will you wear yours too?
Enjoy the day!
Erin
hey cindy! this is really beautiful – i love the beads and the way you put them together. it’s really original. i hope you are having a nice weekend! am proud of you, sis! <3
WOWZERS you got a lot of stunning beads to work with! I love what you did 🙂 It is gorgeous!
Wow!!! Look at all the work you did. This is absolutely gorgeous, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less!
LOVE the necklace, and your Bead soup one…thanks for the opportunity, and the inspiration.
Lori in Toronto, Canada
wow, what loot! such beautiful designs, unique, and creative.
cheers!
Simply wonderful as words can not really describe how amazing that necklace is.
Beautiful! Very unique and I like how you mixed all of components in together! 🙂
Going thru all of these blogs and checking out the final pieces has me just itching to go play in my studio. This was a wonderful idea and I thank all of the artists for sharing the results. I love your piece! It is just wonderful!
I love that eagle and what you did with it! I am off immediately to check out her work too! This is greta fun isn’t it?
Fantastic!!
What a seriously awesome necklace, Cindy! Every time I look, I see something else to admire.
That turned out so pretty. I love the way you enhanced the beach stone with the wire and seed beads. And then how you used that to enhance the eagle focal. Very nice. Off to check out more blogs.
(Sorry if this posts twice. I’m having problems with my internet today.)
your necklace is gorgeous. you are such a gifted artist.
i wish i could sit next to you and watch you work!
I really love your design! Love the wire work and how everything came together! Just beautiful!
wowie zowie! beautiful!!! I just LOVE Amanda’s components so I knew this was ganna be a stunner, you never disappoint! I thought, Ok I’m ganna tootle on over to see what Cindy came up with knowing full well I’d be wow’d as usual 🙂 You’re wire work is always stunning and this piece is a great mix I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!
Cindy, All those beautiful beads in your soup! Your necklace is gorgeous, love the wire links.
Your ingredients were amazing as is the soup you created! Deliciousness!!!! Your wire work is beautiful.
WOW!! You got a lot of fantastic beads!! And you did a fantastic job! I really love your project!!
Sig
Love your wire work. The focal is amazing. Great piece!
Absolutely wonderful pieces all of them!
What a very nice give away! Your work is absolutely AMAZING!
Love your rustic design. Great job!
Great soup recipe!! This has been so much fun…can’t wait for the next party to begin:)
Love it all so much beautiful stuff.
Just divine Cindy – you’ve created something beautiful from really stunning ingredients! I think I would have been overwhelmed with such an amazing selection. It looks very South Western (is that what I mean?!) to me. And your photos are, of course, too lovely for words. You and Kerry Bogart both create such beautiful calm atmosphere in your photography. Thanks for sharing your little world here!
Oh I love your necklace. That focal if just wonderful. And the giveaway necklace is adorable.
You do incredible work!
wow! what a beautiful piece that came from a bunch of beautiful ingredients! I LOVE the necklace.
Beautiful! I would have been stumped by the 3 holes in the focal but you pulled it out! Great job!!!
Shannon C
WOW!!! Your work is awesome Cindy.
I didn’t realize there were so many that participated in this.
May have to try this!!!!!