Jeannie K. Dukic's Echo Creative Club

I'm delighted to be the June artist for Jeannie K. Dukic's Echo Creative Club for 2014!

Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite design motifs, so I couldn't resist selecting them when offered a choice of Jeannie's beads.

Jeannie's polymer clay art beads are a labor of love. Each one is an original design, and she meticulously hand-paints many of the designs, especially the florals. (Check out the Gin Blossom and Acanthus designs for more luscious eye candy!) The Cherry Blossom beads are available in two sizes - 1-1/4" focals and 3/4" earring pairs, and you can find her main page of polymer clay art beads here. Jeannie also makes a wide range of fantastic finished pieces - bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and more, which you can find here.

Following are pictures of what I created with two of Jeannie's Cherry Blossom art beads. I *totally* forgot to take pictures of Jeannie's beads before I started working with them , but I *did* take fairly decent close-ups so you can see the great detail on these beads.


First up is the bracelet, inspired by Linda Hanes' cuff bracelet in Bead-it-today.com (February 2014 issue). I took Linda's idea and made a few tweaks of my own (which I can *never* resist doing, whether it's a recipe or a jewelry design. I'm deviant, I know.).

The bracelet is based on a pre-made leather cuff, wrapped in recycled sari ribbon. The cuff came with a few holes in it, but I added *lots* more so I could affix the focal and embellishments. I was lazy and didn't want to dig out the Dremel, so I used a center punch on each hole a few times, then used an old needle file to ream out the hole. The beauty of the lazy strategy is that you can make each hole a different size to accommodate different elements, yet you don't need to switch out drill bits. Lazy *and* clever, no?

I added two of my lampwork spacer beads (the swirly pink and green one on the dangle, and the deep pink one on the right side of the focal), a short length of brass wire, assorted Czech seed beads and crystals, and one of my etched brass dragonfly charms.

I love this color combo, even though the coral in Jeannie's focal was challenging for me to match. I selected colors that were close (and added a pop of orange to brighten things up a little), and used the green to provide a rich background.

It's really comfortable and I love the way Jeannie's focal really stands out against the sage green.

For the second piece, a necklace, I wanted to keep the design simple to highlight the cherry blossom.

To me, this necklace has a vintage feel, with the drape of the smaller chain.

When designing a piece, one element I always love to include (whenever appropriate), is something that moves.

The jump rings with seed bead dangles carry the color of the focal throughout the piece and add that little hint of movement. I must confess though, putting seed beads on jump rings is a fiddly business, and one that sorely tests my patience. (Why oh why do I do this to myself?!???)

The above picture shows the terrific care and detail Jeannie puts into creating her beads.

Jeannie, thank you for including me in the 2014 Echo Creative Club! It has been a delight and an honor to work with your lovely art beads!

Soup's On! (the big reveal!)

Please visit my partner Christine's blog, Sweet Girl Design, to see what she created with the Bead Soup I sent her!

Here they are - my finished Bead Soup pieces - at least the ones I have finished so far! I've got another *this* close to done and beads pulled for yet another piece featuring Christine's lovely alternate focal. I'm still reeling from how much beady goodness she sent to me - it was such a lush, generous package filled with all kinds of gorgeous!

Note: I'm having a really difficult time loading pictures to the blog tonight - tried to load pics of the soup Christine sent, but it's just not cooperating. You can click here to see what she sent me.

When I first opened Christine's box of Bead Soup, I really wanted to turn some of the briolettes into a pair of dangly sparkly earrings - but wound up shelving that idea, because the holes on the labradorite and sodalite briolettes were just sooooo teeny tiny. It was impossible to get sterling wire of a sturdy-enough gauge through those holes, so I just went with super fine beading wire and made strung pieces instead - and I'm thrilled with the results!

Christine's handmade vintage rhinestone and filigree focal is absolutely stunning, and I really wanted to do it justice. I sketched out 4-5 different ways to work with it - I wanted to try it with everything, but in the end, I had to pick one and roll with it!

I wound up taking inspiration from the vintage Czech enamel necklaces pictured in one of my favorite eye candy jewelry idea books, Fabulous Fakes, by Carole Tanenbaum. The necklaces each feature a lovely large embellished filigree pendant, accented with dangly bits, suspended from lovely beaded strands. I thought about making it symmetrical like the necklaces in the book, really I did - I laid it out so everything matched, but it was just, well, just *too* symmetrical, and really kind of boring.

I decided to play up the blue and brass tones, so I found some great brass chain at Shipwreck Beads, and dangled Christine's lovely blue rondelles from every third link. On the other side, I used some of my etched handmade lampwork beads in a "brassy" color (transparent light brown) and strung them with a bead soup mix I already had on hand from a prior project. (A while ago, I used this same color scheme on a lanyard, and I really like it - it's elegant and stylish without being fussy.)

The grey-blue of the sparkly briolette crystals Christine included in the alternate focal package were perfect for the dangles from the filigree pendant. I used 22 gauge annealed steel wire to wire them to the dainty brass chain (also found at Shipwreck Beads). Let me just state for the record that I LOVE briolette/drop shape beads, but goodness gracious, they sure are nerve-wracking to wire-wrap, aren't they? Christine's lovely filigree toggle clasp finishes off this necklace perfectly.

This next piece is actually the first one I finished - the result of one of the many sketches I made based on Christine's soup.

This one features the afore-mentioned lovely labradorite briolettes with tiny holes, as well as some smaller blue rondelles that Christine sent, the brass rounds and dyed impression jasper, and one of my own handmade lampwork Nebula Series beads in a dark oceany blue. I used one of the "woven" round links Christine sent as part of the clasp, with a brass S-hook for the other part - had to bend the S-hook though, so it would lay properly.

The final pieces are a set of three stacking bracelets, all based on the color scheme that  Christine sent, and incorporating as many of her beads as I could manage.

The first bracelet features one of the four vintage chandelier crystals that Christine sent me, which I combined with two of my etched lampwork beads, brass chain, some milky white faceted Czech beads and some of Christine's brass rounds. The second bracelet is very simple, but I love it: Christine's bright blue freshwater pearls and more of those yummy blue faceted rondelles (have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE faceted rondelles? No? Well, I *do* love them!). The third bracelet incorporates mixed media - wire, recycled sari silk fiber, one of my Desert Dreams series lampwork beads, and more of those great milky Czech faceted beads, with some cool brass spacers. I suppose you *could* wear just one bracelet at a time, but so far, I've worn all three bracelets together - I think they are happiest that way.

Christine, thank you SO much for being my partner for this Bead Soup Blog Party - I really appreciate it, and had a wonderful time designing with all the lovely treasures you shared with me! (And I'm pretty stoked that I got a new friend out of it too!)

Lori, thank YOU for hosting this incredible project. This is such a labor of love and life-force, and you handle it with style, class, kindness, and love. You are putting good energy into the world. Thank you!

As soon as I get the other pieces finished, I'll post pics and write-ups for them. In the meantime, you've got plenty more eye candy to check out - here's the link to the rest of the (more than 200) Third Reveal posts. Please visit as many posts as you're able, and do leave comments!

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/04/welcome-to-3rd-reveal-of-7th-bead-soup.html

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!

Cooking with Ambra's Tasty Bead Soup

Playing around with the art charm bracelet and my bead soup.

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve earmarked a few of the stone beads that Ambra sent me for one of my mixed media art charm bracelets. I’ll add one of the bowenite beads (the one with the most ochre & rust colors on it!) and a few of the jasper beads to add interest and meaning to the bracelet.

Scrumptious, don't you agree?

I’m playing around with other colors too – was swept away by the combo of deep blue purpley metallic matte beads with the ochre yellow of the bamboo agate – isn’t this delicious???

Soft greens and pinks pick up the variegated colors in the jasper beads and could make for a very feminine piece.

Playing on the olive and peachy tones in the jasper and bowenite beads works too!

Ambra and the BSBP

I'm loving the juicy greens Ambra used in this necklace!

This is my first BSBP, and I’m thrilled to be part of the fun. My partner, Ambra Gostoli, is an accomplished and creative jewelry designer. I love her fresh take on wirework, her inventive style, and the delightful way in which she plays with color. (Ambra took all the photos in this post.)

Ambra's creative wirework paired with sunshiney colors make this a playful summer bracelet.

You can see more of Ambra's work at her DaWanda shop, Chic and Frog.

"Jaw dropping and drooling on my keyboard" is how I describe this pair of red-hot earrings by Ambra.

What in the world is a BSBP???

The BSBP is the Bead Soup Blog Party, the brainchild of Lori Anderson. Lori dreamed up the BSBP as a way for jewelry artists to connect with each other and make new friends, while providing each of us with a fresh opportunity to stretch our creative wings. Once signups are complete, Lori pairs up participants and the pairs swap Bead Soup (main ingredients are a focal bead, a nice clasp, and coordinating spacer beads).

Once each participant receives her or his portion of Bead Soup, the creating begins. Each participant posts to her or his blog pictures of Bead Soup, progress, and finished Bead Soup projects, and on September 17, 2011, a virtual party takes place, with everyone visiting and commenting on each others’ blogs.

Basic Wire Jewelry Techniques Class (Shipwreck Beads, Lacey, WA)

EDIT: See revised class description (we're now focusing on techniques, instead of projects). Supply list is at the bottom of this post.

I'm excited to announce that I am again teaching at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, WA!

you'll be able to make this bracelet
using the techniques learned in this class

This class will offer beginning jewelry designers a solid grounding in ten elemental jewelry-making techniques, including working with wire and jump rings, and making plain loops and wrapped loops. Students will also learn how to create a bead dangle, a wire spiral, a bead link, and a wire-wrapped bead.

in this class, students will learn how to wire-wrap a bead like this one
(we won't be doing the collage on the bead itself - just the wire work)

With home practice, the skills learned in this class will enable students to create a wide variety of jewelry, including earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and more.

you'll be able to make these earrings
using the techniques you've learned in this class

During class, we’ll be focusing mostly on techniques rather than completed projects; each student will receive a handout containing notes on the information presented, as well as “recipes” for creating jewelry at home, based on the techniques learned in class.

Instructor Christine Hansen is a glass bead artist, veteran jewelry designer, and co-author of the best-selling book, Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry.

Registration fee: $40

Class dates:

• Saturday, 9/10/11 - 1pm-5pm (7CS0911
• Saturday, 10/15/11 - 1pm-5pm (7CS1011)
• Saturday, 11/19/11 - 1pm-5pm (7CS1111)
• Sunday, 12/4/11 - 1pm-5pm (7CS1211)

How to sign up: Call Shipwreck Beads to register: (360) 754-2323, or at (800) 950-4232.

with the skills you learn in this class, you'll be able to make this bracelet and...

this beaded necklace/eyeglass holder/badge lanyard

Supplies needed for class:

It’s a great idea to make sure your supplies coordinate (ex. copper jump rings, copper wire, copper head pins, etc.). Listed below is the detailed supply list, including Shipwreck's item numbers and quantities needed.

Jump rings: 7 grams

FI208-any

Head pins: 7 grams

2FI61-any OR FI61-any

Wire: 1 spool each of two gauges (sizes) of bare round wire (don’t get anything with a coating on it).

copper:                        18 gauge – 18CW856

                                    20 gauge - 20CW856-1

OR

            stainless steel:  20 gauge - 20CW813-RD

                                    22 gauge - 22CW813-RD

Beads: You’ll need a few beads in coordinating colors, along with some spacer beads.

1 - Limited Czech Mix 125 Gram Box, CZ5130-any

AND EITHER

1 strand - Czech Rondelle 4mm, 4RL-any

OR

1 strand - Czech Seed Bead 6/0, 6SB-any

Tools Needed:

The following tools are required for this class. If you already have any of these items, please bring them to class. A limited amount of tools will be available for student use.

• 0000 steel wool 
• wire cutters – such as FI496-7 
• chain nose pliers – such as FI432
• bent chain nose pliers – such as FI433
• round nose pliers – such as FI431
• flat diamond needle file – such as FI501
• bead mat or an old kitchen towel to work on
• ruler

To complete projects at home, you’ll want the following:

For earrings:

·         ear wires - FI44-any OR FI46-any OR FI52-any OR FI54-any

For bracelets and necklaces:

·         clasp - try a lobster clasp (05x10mm or larger) OR toggle clasp (15mm or larger)

·         solid rings, similar to PW2099-any – for linking with bead links and adding dangles to