Saturday, September 17, 2011

Let the Festivities Begin!

To learn about the Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP) click here.


To see what my partner Ambra Gostoli made with the Bead Soup I sent her, click here.


To visit the other 362 BSBP participants (I know, right?!!), click here.


First, tusen tak (a thousand thanks) to Lori Anderson, the hostess of the Bead Soup Blog Party, for her inspiration, creativity, organization, and encouragement. Thank you so much for inviting me to your wonderful party! I had a terrific time Lori, and am already looking forward to the next one.
My second tusen tak goes to my delightful swap partner, Ambra Gostoli. Ambra, I am so glad you were my partner! I may have banged my head on my bead table a time or two, or seventeen, trying to figure out what to do with that incredible focal, but I love, love LOVE all of these beads, and the way in which the beads pushed me to design and think in a different way. I really appreciate this gift, which is so much more than just the beads themselves. Thank you.

And now, for the unveil…

I completed two necklaces, and have stuff pulled for 1-2 pairs of earrings, as well as for that bracelet I mentioned. Pictured are the finished necklaces, as well as the Bead Soups for the other projects. I will be working on these pieces in the coming weeks, and will be posting pics here, so do check back!
The first necklace is swingy and slinky, and VERY different from my other work…and I like it VERY much!
Ambra’s oval jasper beads play very nicely with my lemongrass green beads, don’t you think?
I used Swarovskis in chrysolite satin to pick up the greens in the jasper beads and add some sparkle, especially at the back of the necklace, where the sparkles draw attention to Ambra’s lovely handmade clasp.

I also used the chain and the two copper filigree pieces Ambra sent, as well as some square copper spacer beads.
If you look closely, you’ll also notice that I used sterling silver wire crimps (because that was all I had). Is it just me, or do they “fool the eye” a little, and make it seem as if the beaded sections are kind of floating between the filigree?
The second necklace is MUCH more substantial in visual AND physical weight. As you can see, I re-did the focal, using the dark purpley-blue beads. I included a faceted freshwater pearl, a nugget of blue goldstone, an iolite rondell, purple velvet Swarovskis, and the afore-mentioned purpley-blue metallic beads.
I decided for a focal this big and gorgeous, the rest of the piece needed to big and gorgeous too, so I made sections of 2x2 chain (good thing I had a stash of copper jump rings, no?).
I took Ambra’s bowenite beads, and wrapped them with both copper and annealed steel wire, and accented with purpley-blue metallic beads and more purple velvet Swarovskis.
I needed another element to tie it all together, and pulled a few of my favorite books off the shelf for some ideas, and found these coolio wire orbs in A Charming Exchange, by Kelly Snelling & Ruth Rae. I used annealed steel wire and copper wire to make the orbs, and decorated them with some wood grain stone beads (that seriously could be twins of the bamboo agate), more faceted freshwater pearls, and more Swarovskis.
OK, that works, but what about the clasp? It needed to be as substantial as the rest of the necklace. Sharilyn Miller’s book, Bead on a Wire, came to the rescue – I made two of her big spiral hooks, and shaped them so they would hook together and lay nicely against the back of the neck.
Next up is the Bead Soup for the earrings. I think I have enough stuff to make two pairs.
And finally, here’s where I’m at with the bracelet.

Yikes! I forgot to take a pic of the headpins I made to go with this bracelet. I made about eighty copper wire headpins the other day, and now I’m thinking maybe I should go make more. But not right now. First, I have a show to get through, and then I have a whole lotta eye candy to go look at and comment on!



98 comments:

steufel said...

Awesome soup, awesome interpretation:-) Love what you did with your soup"

moonlitfantaseas said...

what a beautiful piece! I love the colors! And you have so much going on within the piece, you really put a lot of thought into it!

Jo said...

Beautiful! I love the vintage look you have created, and the colours are beautiful.

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Fabulous soup ingriedents! Love what you did with it all and you still have more to do!

Tracy said...

Fantastic pieces, I especially like your vintage inspired necklace and its colours.

earthlyjewels said...

Love the soup...and love what you've created with it! Great job!

Alice said...

Both pices are lovey and different; the first has an exotic feel and the second a very earthy feel. I would love to see that bracelet when you are done.

Unknown said...

Great, I love those wrapped bails.

BluMoon said...

What lovely colour you made some great pieces.

Anonymous said...

Simply stunning!

DaviniaDesign said...

nice inspiration!
Lots of work I'm thinking...

cw whitedogjewelry said...

great soup ingredients, wonderful designs!

I LOVE color! said...

Just stunning you have been a busy little beaver, and it pleases me so that you are using copper I love copper. It is so warm and un-assuming
Be blessed to be blessed

Karyn B said...

Great job on both pieces! I love how you explored two different styles.

EmandaJ said...

Amazing work -- we're all being pushed outside our comfort-zone with fabulous results.

Enjoy the hop,
Emanda

http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html

Unknown said...

Love your work and reading about your creative process with the party pack. I think that is an added bonus, to see how others create, especially with a kit that was gifted to them!

Ann said...

Great work and great idea to post what you're still going to use. I look forward to seeing all of it.

Tammy Jones, JewelryMakingDaily.com said...

Lovely work! And yay for making your own headpins! :o)

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

What you've made is gorgeous, cant wait to see what else develops. And I need to visit your shops for sure.

CraftyHope said...

That first piece is really great! I really, really like what you did at the back of the necklace. It's so pretty! Both of your pieces definitely look like they took some serious time. Great work. I love the 'pile' you've made for that bracelet to be completed. It bet it's going to be a beauty!

Christine Altmiller said...

so very pretty :-)

Shay Stone said...

Great pieces you've made and such a variety in styles!

Alice said...

I really like how you added the anneled wire to give it some more "pop". You used so many techniques to bring it all together. Nice job!
Alice's Beads and Baubles

Shyme said...

Lovely pieces!

T... said...

stunning, I love the copper with these beads, and the first necklace is my favourite, I love how you designed it.....

Marianna said...

beautiful!!! Love your work!

Chrissy said...

Very pretty piece! Excellent color combination and you put them together so well...

Anonymous said...

Amazing pieces, really like the second one - the combination of velvet-y blue goldstone and copper works well

Charlie said...

What a fun necklace. I love what you did with the multistrands.

Charlie said...

Amazing work. The pieces look amazing.

Christine said...

Both necklaces are lovely! Looking forward to your other designs!

Serena Trent said...

Love it love it!!!

Lupe Meter said...

Love your creations! Awesome job!

Maggie said...

Gorgeous work! Love all of them.

Karin Slaton said...

The jasper and lemongrass was an inspired choice, and I am totally admiring the way you enhanced the focal on your second necklace. I definitely will keep up with your blog to see the creations from the rest of your soup.

KayzKreationz said...

I love the way you wire wrapped the focal. And your chain and clasp really set it off. I have that book too and it's great.

Therese's Treasures said...

Beautiful pieces Christine, I love the first necklace it looks very Victorian.
Therese

Wendy said...

Beautiful designs!

Dana said...

What a great job. If I saw this necklace I would immediately think of you. I love all the chain maille you did with the jump rings.

Unknown said...

the filigree & chain combo is awesome,everything so far is beautiful, I can't wait to see how the bracelet comes out!

Sharon said...

Such gorgeous pieces! I love the way you added your own special ingredients to bring life and harmony to those awesome stones!

Sandra said...

Love how the first necklace has an almost byzantine look to it, and the joining and parting and joining again of the two strands, beautiful.

Whereas the other necklace is just so MASSIVE. I appreciate all the work that went into it, creating the chain and the clasp ("Beads on a Wire" is one of my most favorite books on jewelry making, I learned so much from it!). Wow, you went all out there.

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher said...

What a striking combination of colors and shapes with that mix. Great creative ideas. Very nice!

The Last Day One said...

Just lovely. I know how it can be to make a lot of head pins! The bracelet will be just as gorgeous as the necklace!

Marie Cramp said...

What a fantastic array of beads you received! LOVE what you made with them and I look forward to seeing the rest turned into amazing treasures!

Lori Bergmann said...

Wow, you did such an amazing job with you bead soup, Christine!! Love all your beautiful pieces! :-D

playsculptlive said...

Wow, great soup. The first necklace is my favorite. I love the double chain from the copper link

Bobbie said...

You cooked up some yummy stuff! I like how you incorporated the chain maille into it.

Unknown said...

Such prettiness! Youve done a wonderful job on your Soup!!

Lori Anderson said...

I LOVE what you did! Very creative! Be proud when you wear them!

I hope you'll join me next time! The badge and dates will be posted tomorrow, the 19th!

Love, Lori

Kate said...

Both pieces are fantastic! I can't wait to see the final bracelet too!

Rhea said...

Great projects! I love your copper findings and the multistrand necklace.

Laura Twiford said...

I LOVE that first necklace with the swags, beautiful! You did an amazing job using that focal too!

Andrea said...

I am in awe of people who do Chain Maille. I haven't tried that technique yet. You made some beautiful pieces.

Beetique said...

Love what you did. Very creative!

JuLee said...

What can I say but Gorgeous, just Gorgeous!

Michael and Cherrie Fick said...

Love the wire wrap. Great touch on the focal. Thanks for sharing. Cherrie

Cory said...

Beautiful is all that I can say...

Skye said...

Love that top necklace! The second one is lovely too, but the first one grabs me :) Can't wait to see the earrings and bracelet you make!

Claire Maunsell said...

Wow, lots of work and lots of thought! Your lovely results look like you were having fun with this. Good luck with the next ones you finish...

Bryna said...

Great soup for the soul!

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful pieces!! I love how you worked in the chain maille !!!

OhAllisonBeading said...

Lovely pieces! Can't wait to see what else you do.

Palimpa Lim said...

Beautiful warm, earthy and rich pieces! Great job!!!

Snazzy Doodle Designs said...

Great pieces!!

Amy S. said...

I love how you used your soup! That necklace is gorgeous!

Here Bead Dragons said...

Nice workmanship. You created beautiful items.
~cryssT

Beadaholique said...

Beautiful! That first necklace is so unique and elegant. All of your pieces are just lovely, and I can't wait to see how the bracelet comes out!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Wow! Wow! You made a great job here!
The first necklace is fantastic, those three strings on the front are eye-catching and the work on the back keeps up.
The second necklace is really stunning. I already told you that I love the wrapping on the head of the focal bead but now I must add that the blue goldstone you chose gives more depth to the wrapping.
As side note, I wrote you that I made several clasps before choosing the one that was going to be in your soup, well... one of them was very similar to the one you made. This is interesting, isn't it?
Now I look forward to see the other pieces you are going to make and I am very very happy that you enjoyed working with something new. I for sure enjoyed your creations!

Sandi Volpe said...

Love the figuree and chain beautiful designs.

Myléne Hillam said...

Oh, I love the tiered effect in the first necklace. The colours work together so well too!

Aquariart said...

Love the colors and symmetry in your first piece with the filigree on each side. So Elegant. you did an amazing job with that huge focal- that would have stumped me too.

Unknown said...

Stunning the focal on the second necklace is gorgeous and I love how you added the blue it showed it off even more.

Loretta said...

Beautiful job with a lovely mix of soup.

Shirley said...

Yes, I have to agree with you, it seems as if the beads are floating between the filigree. I love that on the sides. Thanks for sharing the design process. You have some stunning pieces there. Great job!

Jenny said...

WHat lovely creations - make me think of autumn as you have paired the warm copper with the green stone beads. The triple strand will be nice to wear! Cant wait to see the finished bracelet!

My Life Under the Bus said...

Very cool I love the purple beads and freshwater pearls against the brown really makes them pop! Beautiful job : )

SueBeads said...

Very nice! Great chain maille!

Stacey said...

Very pretty - the copper looks so rich with the beads...

Sweet Willow Designs said...

Really pretty and wirework

diane hawkey said...

beautiful, love the copper & the wire work

Elysian Studios said...

Very elegant! I love that first piece- the way you have tiered the strands from three, to two, to one is just stunning! Beautiful work!

Rebecca said...

Pretty! Love the wire wrapping :-)

Sweet Freedom said...

Wonderful use of your ingredients - I love your first necklace, and all your pieces! You do beautiful wirework!

Maneki said...

Lovely jewellery! That first necklace is fab: love the colours, the vintage feel and the different "sections" within the design. Great job!

Pearl and Pebble said...

Awesome work! I love your copper necklace-very cool!!

Clarity Of PurpleSage said...

Interesting designs well done

Kathy ~ Artful Accents said...

Can't wait to see that bracelet come to life! I admire all of your wire work on the 2nd necklace.

~Ingrid said...

Love the creative flair that you have! The designs are super fun and vintagy!

Ingrid
Wrapped In Silver

Heidi Post said...

Ooh, I love it all! Especially the first one.

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Ooooh! I am not sure which necklace I like better but both are just gorgeous! I agree that with the silver crimps on the first it gives a floating illusion! And I love the swirly copper clasp you made with the second! Fabulous!

Unknown said...

That second necklace is stunning! So original with a fabulous clasp!!!!

TesoriTrovati said...

I love the earthy palette you were given to work with. I think that bracelet will turn into something extra special! That is some tasty soup! Enjoy the day!
Erin

Terri said...

Gorgeous ..loving the fall color palette. Soup-er job!

coffeeaddict said...

I love the jasper beads in combination with the lemongrass green. I think the finished result is a completely unique colour scheme. The beads you receive just look very autumnal and you mixed them with some very spring associated colours.
And I thought the silver crimps were fishing line used deliberately to give the whole piece a floaty effect.

BeadsByEarthTones said...

holy cow woman! so very creative on the first necklace! i love what you did with the filigree....such imagination. The wire wrap on the second is fabulous as is the pendant. Lovely, lovely!

Linda Landig said...

I love all the details you put into the second necklace. I think the bracelet is going to be awesome too!

Anonymous said...

Wow... your work is really amazing! lovely chain