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!
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
