My online friend, Lori Anderson, recently published a book titled: Bead Soup. It was published by Kalmbach Publishing in August. Kalmbach is now hosting their own Bead Soup Challenge to publicize Lori’s book.
A group of beaders were selected and paired with various bead shops around the country. The bead shops contributed beads, a focal and a clasp, which Kalmbach then sent out to the participants. I was partnered with the Bead Lounge in Colorado. Here are the goodies they sent me!
Bead Soup from the Bead Lounge
Before I actually started my design process, I went through my bead drawers and pulled out some good contenders to include in the design. Here’s the soup bowl with additions from my bead stash.
I started with the pendant first. I knew I wanted this lampwork glass “wing-ding” by Genea Beads to be a dangle in front of the pendant. I knotted it in place with Irish waxed linen and accented it with 3 small green serpentine beads.
Ceramic, lampwork glass and serpentine bead pendant
I decided not use the gold plastic beads that you see in the picture above. They have a very cool shape, but their size, seemed to overwhelm the pendant. I saved them for a second project later.
Kalmbach Bead Soup necklace
The beads are all knotted on linen-colored cotton cording. I had some fun playing with the design. I used green rubber O-rings as spacers. They go perfectly with the serpentine stones on the pendant.
Kalmbach Bead Soup necklace
The jewelry challenge stated that we only need to use the pendant and the clasp in our design. But I still wanted to use the gold three-sided beads, so I created a bracelet on memory wire. I haven’t used memory wire in years and frankly I was kind of surprised that I liked the results so much!
Kalmbach Bead Soup bracelet
Kalmbach is going to be letting people vote on their favorite designs. Three winners will receive Kalmbach gift cards. I’m not clear if the voting will take place on Kalmbach’s Jewelry Facebook page or if it will be on the company website. Follow me on my Facebook page and I’ll let you know where to vote, as soon as I find out.
Kalmbach bead soup bracelet
To all my readers who are in the path of hurricane Sandy, I wish you safe keeping. You are in my thoughts tonight, (I’m writing this on Sunday night).
-Linda
Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings 
You did a great job, Linda! I love your pendant! And I just started using memory wire and kindof like it too! I’m stumped on a bracelet right now, for me, using some Nan Emmett beads.
I hope I can see your bracelet when you are done! Love Nan’s beads…and yours!
Linda, what beautiful designs you made with your Kalmbach bead soup mix! I like how colorful they are – and they both look so fun to wear!
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