Bead Soup Blog Party 2012

Welcome to the 2012 edition of the Bead Soup Blog Party, hosted by the talented Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog.  Lori partners up all the participants and we exchange beads, including a special focal bead and clasp.  Today is the day we reveal what we have made with the beads we received.   

I was very fortunate to have been paired with Nancy Boylan of Snazzy Doodles.   Nancy creates beautiful  lampwork glass, enamelled metal beads and metal components.  Here’s what Nancy sent me!  Everything here is handmade except the leather and the items in the little dish. 

Bead goodies from Nancy Boylan

I was giddy with joy about receiving such a gorgeous “soup” to design with.

Thrilled with my bead soup!

I started with the pendant and designed this necklace.  The necklace includes Nancy’s pendant, 2 of her lampwork glass beads, 1 of the lampwork headpins, 2 of the teardrops beads and the leather she sent.

“Dot to Dot” necklace

I also used one of  her handmade clasps, which includes another of her lampwork beads. The clasp was so pretty, that I decided to place it at the side where it could be appreciated.  I dangled 2 teardrop shaped beads from the jump ring above the hook.

“Dot to Dot” necklace

I already had a clear picture in my mind of what I wanted to do for the second necklace.  I wanted a really simple necklace so all the attention would be focused on the lampwork beads.

“Playa” necklace

I named this the “Playa” necklace.  Playa is Spanish for beach.  This necklace reminds me of beautiful tropical beaches we have visited, with their turquoise water and lush green jungle growth.

“Playa” necklace

The “Playa” necklace used up the larger beads, so I used a pair of the smaller lampwork beads to create earrings. I wired the lampwork beads to a pair of handmade copper components by Melinda Orr.  Then I dangled the last 2 turquoise tear drop beads in front of the copper components.  I named these earrings after Forget-Me-Not flowers, which are kind of turquoise–my brain was kind of zapped by the time I got around to naming these.  If you’ve got a good name for these earrings, let me know in the comment section, please!

“Forget Me Not” earrings

Nancy was so generous with her beads that I still have more left over.  A number of unexpected things happened this past week, which ended up sapping all my time, (and sanity).  So I ran out of time to make jewelry with all the beads Nancy sent.  Here’s what is still left.  The beads on the right are a combination of Nancy’s beads with carved polymer clay beads by Barbara Bechtel.  I’m planning to make a bracelet with some combination of these beads and use Nancy’s gorgeous copper toggle clasp as the closure.  I haven’t decided what to do with the items on the left yet.  Isn’t that pinwheel cool? Can’t wait to use it!

Below is a list of all the blog hop participants.  I hope you will go visit these blogs next.  Lots of lovely eye candy going on in these jewelry blogs!  Have fun!

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

Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio

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  You are here & I’m glad you are!

 

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  My Bead Soup partner

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

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

Bead Soup Goodies

It’s almost time for another Bead Soup Blog Party.  I think this about the 5th one I have participated in.  Hosted by the talented Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, this has become a big event with participants from all over the world.  (To see a map of all the countries participating click here.)

Lori partners up all the participants and we exchange beads, including a special focal bead and clasp.  Tomorrow we will reveal what we have made with the goodies we received.    I was very lucky to have been paired with the super talented Nancy Boylan of Snazzy Doodles. 

Bead Soup box from Nancy Boylan

Nancy is an amazing jack-of-all trades. She creates gorgeous lampwork glass, enamelled metal beads and metal components. Not only that, but she is generous beyond belief. I was stunned when I open her package and saw all that she sent me!  I was so excited when I peered inside this box!

Bead Soup goodies from Nancy Boylan.

 Nancy packed a lot of goodies into such a small box.  Here is my new stash!!!  Be still my heart!  Lampwork glass beads, including a large focal and a strand of graduated beads, lampwork head pins, enamel beads and pin-wheel, leather, two handmade clasps and a dish of coordinating commercially made beads.

Bead goodies from Nancy Boylan

And how did I feel about this phenomenal bead soup?  Well this says it all:

Thrilled with my bead soup!

And here’s what I sent to Nancy.  The ceramic dragonfly focal bead is from Shaterra Clay Studio.  The beads in the lower left hand corner are leopard skin jasper and the pretty leaf clasp is brass.

Bead Soup sent to Nancy Boylan

Please come back tomorrow, July 28th, to see what I made with Nancy’s beautiful beads.  There will be links to all the other jewelry designers as well.

Artisan Pewter Giveaway

Andrew Thorton is having a Giveaway on his blog: The Writings and Art of Andrew Thorton.  There are artisan pewter toggle clasps and charms here, representing the newest work from his family’s business, Green Girl Studios.  Check it out!

 

I’m busy working on my Bead Soup Challenge necklace.  I can’t wait to share it with everyone.  The reveal date is Saturday, Feb. 25th, but I’ll allow a little sneaky-peeky on Wed. the 23rd!

My husband and I just returned from a train trip to San Diego.  He is a big train buff, but I found that I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, too.  I’ll post more on Monday, but here’s a teaser…

 

View of San Diego from Cabrillo National Monument

 

 

Monday Meanderings: A Walk On The Waterfront

{Monday Meanderings: Musings & Observations From Beyond the Bead Studio}

Bits and Pieces

•  You can now go to Beads For Busy Gals to see  the pendant, clasp and some of the beads I sent to Elisabeth Auld, my Bead Soup Blog Party partner.

• ArtFire, the company that hosts my online jewelry studio, was ranked #1 in a Sellers Choice survey of  2,800 artisans  regarding online marketplaces!  The complete article is available at AuctionBytes.  If you sell online or are thinking about doing so, this article is very informative.

• I’ve changed the look of my blog.  The biggest difference is that the center column is now white, making it easier on the eyes when reading.  The blog also has a clean, modern look now.  Simple and streamlined.  I’m still tweaking it a bit–I need to get my blogroll back on the right side, etc.  What do you think of the new appearance?  Please leave a comment.  I’m interested in your feedback.

• I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who visited my blog and left comments for the Fusion Bead Challenge Reveal.  Your thoughtful comments and sense of community means a lot to me.  ♥Hugs♥

Waterfront Stroll

On Saturday, I took my dog, Chochi, to the groomers downtown, to get a bath, brush and nail clip. Afterwards we took a stroll along the waterfront.  I thought I’d share a couple of pictures.  I feel so fortunate to live close to the water.  Anytime I need a dose of serenity; Puget Sound is only 10 minutes away.  The Sound has been my friend all my life, giving me solace, strength, insight, joy and calm.

Behind Chochi is boat mooring and behind that you can see the WA state capitol dome.

Washington state capitol building in background

 

Port of Olympia crane with Olympic Mountains in the distance.

This little boat named Godzilla made me laugh!

I love this little red boat--so stout and boldly colored.

Bead Soup Package

Bead Soup Ingredients Arrive

Lori Anderson has arranged another wonderful Bead Soup Party.  I’ve been partnered with the talented jewelry designer, Elisabeth Auld.  I wrote about Elisabeth and the Bead Soup Party earlier this week.   Just today, I realized that Elisabeth was the Designer of the Week in September at the Art Bead Scene Blog.  Yay, Elisabeth!

This week all the Bead Soup Partners sent off packages of “ingredients” for Bead Soup.  Our packages were to include a pendant or focal piece, a nice clasp and some coordinating beads.  Just look at the lovely ingredients that Elisabeth sent me!

I was so delighted when I opened the tin which was wrapped with the felt ribbon you see in the background.  This generous serving of beads includes stick pearls, glass, ceramic beads and felt beads.  Also, note the sweet little bird on the right!

I think I literally gasped aloud when I saw this gorgeous pendant.  Elisabeth made it herself!  I LOVE it!!!! Oh my gosh, I couldn’t have been luckier.  I’m so glad that I have such a talented partner!  And she made the clasp, as well.  Wow!  Thank you Elisabeth!

The big Reveal date will be Saturday, February 26th.  Be sure to come back then to see what everyone has made with their Bead Soup ingredients!

Give Away News

Lori Anderson, who arranged this Bead Soup Party joy, is having a fabulous metal stamp giveaway on her blog, Pretty Things.  She has a very cool set of metal  stamps (worth $70)  to give away to some lucky winner (Me? You?).  Click here to find out how you can enter your name for the give away.