Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bead Soup Blog Party - Take One!

It's here!  Today is the first of three reveal dates for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party, created and hosted by Lori Anderson (sending you a BIG thank you and hugs through cyberspace for all the hard work you do!)  The other dates are 4/6 and 4/13 and are sure to be amazing!
  
In a nutshell, over 500 amazingly talented artists from all over the world are a part of this event.  The amount of work Lori puts into this is just incredible and I wanted to say thanks for everything she's done to pull this together. 
 
My partner is Deana Hager so please be sure to head over to her blog and check out what she's created with my bead soup!
 
Deana sent me a fun bead soup of earth-tones to work with...something I don't personally gravitate to, which made this a great challenge! 
 
  
  This is my bead soup (minus the focal piece and toggle clasp...the picture I had of the whole soup is somewhere in cyberspace).  
  
 
I took three of the tortoise shell teardrop beads and paired them up with some black onyx beads I had in my stash.  I created this pendant by wire wrapping them on one piece of wire and paired it with a gunmetal chain.  It made a dramatic yet simple necklace that I can't wait to wear!
  
  
Deana sent me this fun orange stone as my focal piece.  Neither of us are sure exactly what it is, but it's a great color!  This piece was too heavy for a necklace but it made a perfect key chain holder.  I wrapped it with some antique bronze wire I had and attached it to the key chain ring with a left-over section of a large antique bronze chain from another project. 
 
Now for my favorite piece...Deana sent me an amazing toggle clasp and I needed to create an amazing necklace to live up to it.
 
 
The curves in the clasp reminded me of the waves on the ocean (OK, you knew I had to bring a sea theme in somewhere!) so that provided the inspiration for this amazing necklace. 
 
I started with the pendant, and used a sand dollar cookie.  (It's like a traditional sand dollar but about 1/4 inch thick instead of flat.)  I created the bezel and loop using peyote stitch with the most amazing shade of green Delica 11/0 beads and fun metallic gold/green 15/0 beads.  I used some clear quartz round beads I had left-over from another project for the embellishment around the bezel. 
 
 
Considering this was my third attempt at beading a bezel, I was thrilled with how it turned out! 
 
So I had this amazing pendant and clasp, but no necklace...and it stayed this way for weeks.  I tried four or five different beaded necklace patterns, but they just didn't fit with what I had already created.
 
So I started looking through my old magazines when I found this amazing pattern in Bead and Button, Right Angle Weave special edition (2008).  Designed by Julie Glasser, this variation of the RAW stitch was perfect for my necklace. 
 
So that's my story for this Bead Soup Blog Party!   It was fun to be challenged with the earth-toned beads in my soup and I taught myself a couple of new stitches looking for the right necklace, so it's been a productive time for me.  
  
Be sure to check out the other talented artists and see how their bead soups inspired them to get creative!     
  

102 comments:

  1. Wow! I love what you did with the toggle clasp. The necklace matches the toggle. I'm always amazed pieces with seed beads. I think that's my favourite piece!

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  2. This is simply gorgeous! Set against a simple white dress, any mermaid would be proud to wear it. Well done.

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  3. YAY! Seed beads! Beautiful necklace. Love the colors...

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  4. I love your necklace!! How gorgeous!! All of your pieces are - I especially love that you were able to make a keychain - but that one is my favorite!! (Most likely because I am a seed bead fanatic, lol!!)

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  5. You did such a great job with all your pieces! Love the waves in that necklace. Thanks for explaining about the sand dollar cookie, you knew I was sitting there wondering what it was! I love the orange keychain, that is such a great reminder of the fun of BSBP. Way to go!!

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  6. Beautiful!
    Your third attempt at beading a bezel certainly looks awesome!

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  7. Great jewelry! The wave necklace that matches that spectacular toggle is my favorite.
    so hard to choose.... Congrats.
    I’m in the third reveal. Can’t wait.

    http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  8. Beautiful necklace!

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  9. Beautiful! That sand dollar necklace is absolutely stunning!

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  10. Love the bead woven piece. The sand dollar is beautiful.

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  11. Beautiful necklace! I love the sea and shells too. all of the pieces were lovely. Off to see what your partner made...

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  12. ok now that sand dollar bezel is so cool! and so unique! what a beautiful piece!!

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  13. That necklace is just stunning! Your seed beading skills are amazing. I love how the clasp matches the shape of the focal.

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  14. I love how your necklace looks like sea foam on the beach! What a perfect match to the dollar!

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  15. Great jewelry!
    This is simply gorgeous!

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  16. I love that you used the design elements in the clasp to create a necklace that showcases the scrolling and waving theme perfectly. The keychain is fun and definitely out of the box for bead soup!

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    1. Love both necklaces, but especially the sand dollar. Great job with your soup.

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  17. I do not recall ever seeing a keychain in a BSBP...which is awesome. Great way to work around the weight of the focal. Plus it looks amazing. The piece you created with the clasp...holy moly that's gorgeous! I love how you made the waves of the necklace reflect the toggle.

    And thanks for stopping by to see my bead soup reveal and leaving such a nice comment. It's been a really fun playing with a different soup than I've ever received before.

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  18. What a gorgeous necklace...and all those tiny seed beads...just beautiful! Your other pieces are nice as well!

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  19. Love the necklaces, the simplicity of the first one as well as the second one in all its awesomeness. I'll never get from where you seed beaders draw all the patience to pull this off. I'm especially a fan of how the second necklace picks up the waves of the toggle, nicely done~!

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  20. Your creation is very interesting

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  21. I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time on BSBP, I'm visiting all blogs...
    great work with the last necklace, I really love it!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  22. what a great way to use the sand dollar. gave me goosebumps as i was looking at it. gorgeous!!!

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  23. Wonderful pieces all of them but I must say your bezel around the sandollar is magnificent and so is the beaded strap you taught yourself how to make. Fab. I am so impressed.

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  24. I can't believe that's only your third attempt at a bezel -- it's awesome! And I made a key chain in BSBP6 with a focal (great minds think alike!). Everything is beautiful and well-thought out. Thank you so much!

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  25. Love the necklace you made with the clasp. All that intricate beadwork is over-the-top!

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  26. what a wonderfull sea wave necklace!!!I admire!

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  27. Stunning work on that last piece! I love how you beaded around the sand dollar focal & beaded necklace captured the essence of the swirls in the clasp. Very special!

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  28. Great creations I like the keychain idea with the leftover piece.

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  29. That is my kind of necklace! Gorgeous. Nice choice of design flow that enhances the pendant... your colors are fabulous!

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  30. Beautiful, elegant necklace! Great work!

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  31. I love the first one for its simplicity, but that second is a real stunner! Great job!

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  32. All wonderful designs -- I love how you pulled together complimentary "wavy" elements to that last piece. Spectacular!

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  33. The sand dollar necklace is a stunner!

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  34. I really really like your first simple necklace but that last piece is just absolutely stunning. WOW!

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  35. You are very creative and artistic. I loved what you did with your soup. Thank you for sharing with us all. Bye for now and Happy beading

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  36. Wow I have to say just how amazing your wave necklace is. It is just spectacular! I love the colors. It just gently whispers "sea" to me. I can feel the gentle waves now. so lovely!!

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  37. Love the bezel and the waves great piecd

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  38. Third beaded bezel ever ??????? HOLY. Looks like you've been doing this for years !

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  39. Your wave necklace is beautiful, all your pieces are great!

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  40. Love your blog background and font. Very bright, easy to read and cheerful.
    AND your jewelry is amazing!

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  41. WOW! What talent! You need to do more! :)

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  42. I love everything you created but the sand dollar necklace is amazing! Super special. You are so talented.
    Linda

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  43. I love love love your pieces.

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  44. Beautiful,Beautiful...Everything I loved .

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  45. Beautiful,Beautiful,I loved everything.

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  46. glove everything, the bezel setting especially!

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  47. You certainly did justice to the beautiful clasp. Your necklace is awesome.

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  48. Great treatment of the sand dollar in the necklace. Talented and creative!

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  49. Absolutely beautiful pieces, and the necklace is stunning!

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  50. Your bead weaving is GORGEOUS, love that sand dollar necklace!

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  51. oh my goodness, the sand dollar is amazing!!! I love the 'strap' too!!! Wonderful!! ~KM http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-reveal-33113.html

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  52. The sand dollar necklace is really amazing - especially for your third pendant! Love the story that goes with it. Like you, feel that Lori does amazing work and has created a great community.

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  53. Very beautiful designs. My favourite is the seed bead necklace- I really love it.

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  54. Your designs came out beautifully! I love your beadweaving. ♥

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  55. Your work is really lovely! Congrats!

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  56. Yeah another bead weaver. How nice to see someone else loving the seed beads as much as me. Great design...love it all

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  57. I love how you repeated the shape of the chain in the shape of the bezel scalops ( or visa versa)

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  58. beautiful pieces - your beadweaving is fantastic =)

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  59. Great job and I hope you're having a blast with the rest of the blog party too! *Ü*

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  60. Intricate, wonderful beading!

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  61. Fantastic job. The beaded piece is really gorgeous!

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  62. The beaded focal is just beautiful, really! It goes so well with what you did with the whole necklace. My favorite piece so far :~)

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  63. You did a fabulous job on the bezel. The whole piece reminds me of the beach.

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  64. Very pretty pieces! I'm envious of your bead-stitching talent!

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  65. stunning beading - I admire those who do this type of work !! great job

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  66. I think you will be making many more bezels, it turned out so well. Great use of your soup.

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  67. You sure did your soup justice! Your pieces are all lovely - and your bead weaving work is gorgeous.

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  68. I love what you did!! Glad you liked the beads!! I totally forgot and need to get busy today to post!!

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  69. Beautiful work. I love everything!

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  70. Love all of your pieces!! So Pretty!! The last necklace is just amazing!!! Have a Blessed Day!

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  71. Great work! I am not normally drawn to necklaces done with seedbeads but yours is incredible.

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  72. Your beadwork is amazing!! Such beautiful creations!! Nice job!

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  73. They're all so pretty. The briolette necklace is simple yet stylish.
    The sand dollar necklace is fantastic.

    ~cryssT

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  74. Goodness, that seed bead piece is truly scrumptious. You did a fantastic job.

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  75. Love the beaded chain! Good job on the bezel!

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  76. LOVE the sand dollar necklace -- hard to believe that's only your third bezel! Great work!

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  77. Sea theme, Beautiful bezeled sand dollar...I see a little smidge of a coral reef! An imagination is a wonderful thing! And so is your jewelry creation! Seed beads throw me for a loop and I admire anyone who creates beauty with those little jewels! Thank you for sharing your talent.

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  78. I like the last neckalce !

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  79. Wow, those are beautiful! I want to learn bead stitching soooo bad! It is so pretty to look at!

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    1. Vera--I took a couple of classes at a local bead shop and taught myself the rest! Can't wait to see what you create!

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  80. So lovely! I am extremely impressed with what you made--that necklace is simply gorgeous! (Considering I can hardly do the peyote stitch, I am in awe of what you were able to do.) Fantastic job! :D

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  81. Beautiful! Your beaded necklace is my favorite!

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  82. Lovely use of the sand dollar. Great work!

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  83. Your sand dollar necklace is amazing!

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  84. Beautiful necklace! Amazing Work!

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  85. Beautiful beading,love the use of a sand dollar.

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  86. Wowza! I like that you did something different and made a keychain with the focal. And your first necklace is really great. I just love the tortoise shell beads and that you simply complimented them with some black beads. You made a showstopper in that last necklace. How cool that you made the whole thing as inspired by the toggle. The wavy chain of the necklace is awesome, and that sand dollar cookie is super neat. Fantastic job!!

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