The Bead Soup Blog Party is back….for the 6th round! This great big bead-swap-design-challenge-blog hop has become so popular that there are 3 separate reveal dates this time around. And to celebrate, I have a SURPRISE for you at the end of this post. Thank you, Lori, for hosting this online party that now spans 45 U.S. states and 25 countries – can you believe it? I’m especially excited for Lori as her book, Bead Soup is due out before too long!
My bead swap partner hails all the way from Texas – the wonderfully talented Nan Emmett. I know many of you are familiar with her work – her beautiful ceramic beads and components. I absolutely love her rustic style and the colors the colors she works with….and many of you love her work too, seeing how quickly it always sells from her shop!
I have a quick story I have to share….and this illustrates out connected we all are in this jewelry community. It seems that once we become familiar with another like-minded beading soul, our paths will eventually cross again…..it may take a few years, or a few blog parties, as in my case. Way back in the very first blog party, Nan Emmett hosted a giveaway in her BSBP post. Do you remember it? She gathered up an incredibly generous assortment of ceramic beads. Guess who won them?? 🙂 I couldn’t believe my luck. And that luck continued on as I had a few jewelry pieces published later using some of those giveaway beads…. there are just so many Bead Soup Blog Party stories, and this is one of mine. SO happy to come full circle and be partnered with Nan. So enough talking, let’s see the goods!
My Bead Soup that traveled from TX to VA!
A shot of the clasp in my Bead Soup mix. Nan made the clasp from polymer clay in the same pattern that she used in the focal.
Using the copper in the clasp as a cue, I set to work in my favorite medium. I twisted and coiled copper wire, and later oxidized and hand-polished it link by link.
I wanted to use the heart focal in a way that wasn’t expected. I created a focal cluster, hanging the ceramic heart with tiny copper beads to a twisted wire ring. I mixed in additional handmade components, such as the resin pendant by Jade Scott and the sweet ceramic bird by LeAnn Weih.
I was excited when I finished my BSBP piece, because although I like the challenge, my favorite part is the photo op that comes afterwards! I love gathering up my props and figuring out how to style my pictures. For this special occasion, I couldn’t wait to break out my brand new but old chippy white board. Just picked this up at the DC Big Flea last weekend, as a matter of fact.
Did you catch that part in the first paragraph about a surprise? I wanted to pass along a spirit of giving that Nan shared with me many Bead Soup parties ago and host a little give away too! I made a bracelet just for you – to say thank you for stopping by. You’ll be entered to win with your comment on this post. I know it takes a long time to visit the many blogs in this party, so I’ll wait to announce the winner on the Bead Soup Blog party second reveal date – August 11th!
Now don’t forget to visit Nan’s blog to see what she created with the bead soup that I sent – a mix created around an ornate, vintage pin!t *Update: I LOVE what Nan created! She even saved some of the bead soup that she sent to me to mix in with what I sent to her….go see!
On to the rest of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party Participants!
Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com
Alice Craddick, Alice’s Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations
Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy’s Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris’ Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Dana James, Dana’s Jewelry Designs
Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery
Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things
Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry
Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia’s Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry
Inge von Roos, Inge’s Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama’s Got to Doodle
Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry
Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There’s Beading to Do!
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life
Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains
Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade
Kim Ballor, Vitamin C… A Daily Dose of Creativity
Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie’s Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry
Linda Landig, Linda’s Bead Blog & Meanderings
Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Lori Dorrington, Lori’s Adventures in Etsy Land
Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry
Marti Conrad, Marti C’s Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles – Spirited Earth
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs
Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions … Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky
Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre’z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal’s Attic
Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Sue Hamel, The Bottle Cork and Crystal
Suzette Bentley, Ellie’s Bijoux
Szarka, Magpie Gemstones
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau
Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift
Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash
Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna
Today I saw many BSBP reveal works, but your is definately the best.
You make great jewelery and the photos are…wow…incredible!
WOW!
Such beautiful work ^_^
Oh EM gee, Cindy! You really out did yourself this time!! What a fantastic necklace. Your craftswomanship is second to none. And I can see why you were excited to use that new prop, it’s perfect. (I want one!) and I can’t believe you found the time to make a giveaway piece too. I love how you did those 3 twisted wire links together. Just love it. Well done!
Lovely necklace design, Cindy! I love the focal cluster and the copper wire wrapping!
What a gorgeous necklace, wow! Nothing boring about it, would love to feel every bead and every link between my fingers, so much texture. Great work!
Cindy, in the years I’ve known you, I’ve tried to figure out just what it is that draws me so strongly to your work and now I believe it’s the balance you bring to the work — your stringing style is so strong and bold, even when you use ornate components. The multiple strong and pastel colors in this piece go together wonderfully and are so appealing! And the wirework– well, you know I have dubbed you the Queen of Wire and in this necklace you have definitely lived up to the title!
A true inspiration, I love the mix of colour and shapes as well as the photo composition. You do take a lot of time and effort in setting up your photos.
Oh Cindy! You know, I would recognize your wire- work ANYWHERE! It is absolutley flawless, as usual! Each bead has been appropriately adorned! And Nan’s beads are an artform on their own! This is simply fabulous! I especially love your focal cluster! It makes the necklace that much more special! Truly a beautiful piece!
I love the colors and especially love the copper twisted wire rings! <3
That is a beautiful necklace! The ceramic beads that Nan Emmett created are great and you really picked the right components to accent them.
Love your work! I agree that the balance is fantastic, as is the care that you exhibit in your photography!
Really lovely Cindy, your creations are super!!
Wow, Cindy! You really did a fantastic piece here and my favorite color to boot. ORANGE. I love the soup that Nan sent you and she was paired with a person that could take it all and make a beautiful necklace. I love your precise technique of wire wrapping, not a flaw to be seen. I looked at the soup that you sent her and Wow that is wonderful, I am going to have to go to her page and see what she came up with. Great Job. Cindy
Cindy, I loved your beading story:) Nan is one of my favorite artists. I always feel like I have won the beading lottery when I get her pieces.
I loved your necklace. It is unique and showcases Nan’s bead nicely.
Oh, I love these ! Your wire-work is amazing, as does the overall flow of both pieces. Amazing work !
Cindy,
The necklace is beautiful! All your hard work with the wire wrapping shows and actually I’ve been inspired by it and I’m going to have to try out my idea today before I forget about it! The bracelet is so pretty! When scrolling down your blog I couldn’t believe how many “soupers” there are!
-Michelle
P.S. I LOVE the white board! It’s perfect for displaying your necklaces! The colors really popped.
You lucky duck to get Nan!! What a beautiful necklace and bracelet you did!! WOW, I love it!! I can’t wait to see what she did too!! 🙂
I loved reading about your bead relationship with Nan. What a wonderful story!
Your necklace is just lovely. I enjoyed checking out each and every bead and component you so carefully placed on this gorgeous piece. And your new photo prop is just perfect! I love the bit of lace on the left too!
Thanks for the chance to win that sweet bracelet!!!
Thanks for the chance to share.I love what you have done and the spirit behind it all and YES it does take a long time to visit and say Hi to all.
Love and hugs Tanya
Love, Love, Cindy! Nan really picked out some wonderful colors and then WOW! You did such a spectacular job putting them all together! Love all the wire wrapped links and beads.
Love the chippy board prop! It really adds a lot to your photos!
really lovely designs and fantastic wire work!
Beautiful piece Cindy. You do such an awesome job with your wire wrapping and your photographs are spectacular. I love your work!
Hi Cindy,
that really was some soup You got there from Nan with polymer clasp and all! As usual You made a wonderful work with it and the necklace is gorgeous!!
also the bracelet ***I would love to wear it:)
Stunning work beautifully presented -very impressed!
Gorgeous wire work and design, love the cluster for the focal, great idea.
Have a great day!!!
Hi Cindy! Love your work as always! Very inspiring and awesome photography!
absolutely stunning! x
Beautiful pieces, all of them.
Wow! Awesome! *pick up my jaw from the floor*. I love the colors, I love the details, I love everything. *drool* I am going back to stare at your piece again.
Really nice soup – great presentation and pictures. Lovely work.
Gorgeous – just perfectly gorgeous!
your work is just beautiful. This necklace made my jaw drop. I have been perusing all the entries and this one will enjoy several doubletakes from me. WOW!!!
Wow! You and your partner were definitely inspired! Her to know exactly what to send you and you knowing exactly what to do with it all to create such a lovely master piece! Your work is impeccable and delightful. I love the focal cluster and absolutely love the flow of your pieces and I think you are a generous soul to be doing a giveaway with the second reveal. I loved looking at your soup creation so much I have been on your site continually going back and oogling, I subscribed and bookmarked so I can move on and come back, I am in love! I will share on my sites too – it needs to be seen. Keep creating not only art, but smiles on those who see it 🙂 Love!
I am moved to tears by the beauty and love put into this necklace! It is beyond words!! <3 The bracelet is amazing too 🙂
Great job Cindy. The orange jade lentils make a nice color pop outside of your traditional choices.
Absolutely fantastic. Even the background is so lovely and set off your beautiful necklace so gracefully. The bracelet, pretty, great job on everything!
Jaw dropping, gorgeous work, Cindy. Loved reading about your thought process in designing this piece as well. Thanks for the op to win the sweet bracelet, too.
I love your copper wire work. The piece is just breathtaking.
I like the eclectic look and appreciate your wire work.
What a gorgeous necklace!
Beautiful piece, nice work!
Your piece is STUNNING. And as with all the things you make, I want to steal it away like Gollum and his “Precious”! I have to see if she is making any beads in that pattern — that’s a new one for her (or at least to me!)
You really worked the orange in there beautifully, and I love the prop!
Thanks so much for participating!
Sooooo Lovely. I love the colors with the copper wire. Great inspiration for those of us still working on our soups.
WOW!!! Your design is absolutely beautiful. Love Love Love. And the photography is amazing. My fingers are crossed for the bracelet. 🙂
Cindy – your pix are gorgeous! I was intrigued with the teaser pix you posted – and the necklace is well worth the wait! I love the amulet quality of the 3 focals on the ring. ( Wait til you see my Soup…) Nan’s polymer clasp is a perfect compliment to her focal, and I hope to see you wearing this at ArtBliss!
Oh, Cindy… this necklace is eyecandy! No matter where the eye rests on this necklace, there is detail, craftsmanship and yumminess galore. LOVE!
beautiful work as always! your patina is so warm & rich
What a stunner! I love the beads and components and your big beautiful style!
Gorgeous, Cindy! All your pieces are gorgeous.
Just BEAUTIFUL!
Cindy – your copper wire wrapping is to die for! What a beautiful use of the focal – lovely! I’d love to win your pretty bracelet – thanks for the chance.