Bead Soup Blog Hop # 8 - Whoot, whoot.....it's here!

I am sooooo glad this day has arrived! And while I so sorry for Lori being sick....those few extra days helped....

For those who are just checking us out and really don't know what Bead Soup Blog Hop is all about...here is a quick overview...

              What is the Bead Soup Blog Party® ?

Want to know more about this exciting, once a year event?

Detailed information is below, but the basic facts:  

::  I pair you with another jewelry designer.  ::

::  You send each other a quality package of beads.  ::

 ::  You make one or more pieces of jewelry with those beads, 

incorporating beads from your own stash as needed.  

The focal and clasp you were sent MUST be used.  ::

::  You post your creation on your reveal day, 

and you try to visit as many of the other designers' blogs. ::

Last year was my first time, and it was GREAT! Our fearless, and tireless leader is Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog.  She is just a fantabbulous person! Even with the illness she battles she was able with some help from her awesome husband and wonderful close friends to pull this off!   

This year as with last year there are over 500 entries.  It will take time to see them all and I can't wait!

This year my partner was Valerie Cook. Ironically, we are both in the tax business so were pretty busy up until April 15th.  I can't wait to hop over and see what she has done. 

Below is the soup I sent to her.

This is the soup I received from her!

Funny how we both went towards orange and greens!

The first picture are of two sets of earrings I made with beads I had left from the necklaces. Now I have to be honest, there is one necklace I was doing bead weaving on and ran out of the thread...I have it ordered....but I think the snail got lost!

Anyway, here are the earrings:

The yellow pair were made after seeing a yellow and black hat posted on the bead soup web site by Bobbie Rafferty at BeadSong Jewelry, who usually host a Kentucky Derby hat challenge, but since it was at the same time as BSBP, she postponed it. Anyway, there was a yellow and black hat and I just had to use it! Thanks Bobbie!

The other pair of earrings I call my space ship earrings because the two circle disk with "bumps" on them remind me of space ships!

The next picture is two of the necklaces I made with the beads from Valerie. First I used the white heart beads with a necklace I had started but put away because I didn't like it. And wouldn't you know the heart beads were just what they needed. And one of the two clasp she sent worked just perfect!

The second necklace I used the green and amber beads that were wired together along with some darker amber beads wired together that I had. I then used the green pendant and two drop beads and hung them off of a one side of a toggle clasp that I seem to have tons of.  I really like this piece! It is hard to see but there is a hint of amber in the green pendant.

The next picture is of a set I made using some more of the beads. Believe it or not, the golden yellow center piece is a scrapbooking embellishment that I stuck on the black backing and started bead weaving around it!  The outside stitches are from "Bored By Backstitch" by Cindi Lavin at Beading Arts. They are a convoluted brick stitch motif that I created using her directions for the brick stitch. 

I tried to get creative with my stitches and in the center of the pendant, it may be hard to see, I created a "v" and filled with the beads from the design then created a bail from the seed beads I had used.  

The spotted, yellow and green beads are from Valerie's stash also. 

The earrings started out nothing like they ended up....but I strung size 8 seed beads in matching colors on the wire then curled the wire on both ends with the green saucer beads in the center. I ran a small delicate chain through the middle of each spiral on one end of each earring and attached it to the ear wires.  

I still have just a couple of beads left I plan on using and if my thread get here, I will finish the other necklace and post.

This was great fun, and although I KNOW Lori is exhausted!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Lori and if you are up to it next year, just post the day and I will be there. 

And a big thank you to Valeria for her great beads.

For the rest of the 500+ sites, check out Lori's site!

Till next year!

Keep on Beading!

Veralynne

ABS - April 2014

I was afraid I would miss this months as I absolutely loved the picture!   I knew what colors to do but really had no idea what to do.

So I have been perusing etsy for weeks..though I have been out for a few days for eye surgery. I finally found the colors and shapes I wanted at Hyperdoggie on Etsy.  So I ordered  triangular aqua and orange beads, and round "saucer" aqua and orange beads, and aqua and orange drops. The drops reminded me of the ballet slippers, and the others of their skirts and leotards. Aren't they just the greatest looking! I am in awe of people who do glass work...I know I couldn't do it!

Of course when I got them in...I really hadn't decided upon a design....but while I was laying with the ice packs on my eyes, the design using aqua and light orange lace with the beads on memory wire came to me.  Of course it was hard to wait out the time under ice...but I did.

Once I had the bracelet done, the earrings just kinda came together.

So this is my offering for the ABS April challenge.

Enjoy!

JDK's 8th Do Over

Whoo Whoo...can't wait!!! Already set up reminders!!!

Bead Soup Update....

Been cutting, stirring, simmering my bead soup....is coming right along nicely.....can't wait to show!

HEHEHEHEHEHEHE.......

JDK's 7th Do Over Challenge 04/19/2014

Hi Everyone, today is Jeannie's 7th Do Over Challenge reveal day.  Jeannie is the host of this challenge and in it each of the participants are sent one or two items of jewelry that she made WAYYYYY back when ( most of us have them too) she first started making jewelry. Our job is to take it apart and recreate using the beads and a few of our own if need be. 

Now I had two and the first one, you see below, I thought was just perfect the way it was...but that isn't the challenge, so I sadly cut it apart and put the beads together to see what they had to say. The bottom right picture is the before picture. I can tell you we went through many, many, "discussions"  before we settled on this design.  Though now that it is finished, I think it still needs to be tweaked...but for now, the beads are satisfied.

It had pearls, swarovski crystals, cloisonne beads and seed beads. The middle of the pendant is a gold button that I cut the shank off of. Luckily, one of the bead shops I go to had the cloisonne dangles that matched the main beads Jeannie sent.  I really like the piece and am not sure if I will give it up....

For my second one, the beads talked to me right away and we got busy and everyone played nicely and we got the job done! The before picture is in the middle.

It was a simple piece and just seemed to scream "add more". So I did and then I could see it as a hair piece and WA LA...it came together! I used acrylic beads so it is light weight.  I haven't had my hair up like this in forever....lol...might just have to do it so I can show off my piece.

I didn't use any art beads for either pieces, but the first one I did do all the stitching. I used a pattern I found in a Sherry Serefini's book. Though mine doesn't look like hers....I am still practicing.

For more pieces to drool over check out the links below.  I love do this challenge, it is my second and I can't wait for the next one.....

Thanks for visiting...

Jeannie K Dukic

Dagi

Judy Campbell

Veralynne Malone

Christine Murrow

Shai Williams

Lola Surwillo

Christina Hickman

Katrina Taylor

Becky Pancake

Roxanne Mendoza

Charlene Jacka

Inge von Roos

Mary Govaars

Penny Houghton

Beti Horvath

Ginger Davis-Allman

Molly Alexander

Linda Britt

Color of Dreams Blog Hop

The Beads:

As a Florida artist, Patricia has a way of reflecting the amazing beauty and color and optimism -- the tranquility and tropical paradise -- of our pretty state. It's like a little vacation in a bead! I find her work renewing and inspiring. I hope you find your pillow bead to be as nurturing as I do. 

The Design Challenge:

Feel free to create in any way you wish, using your bead as inspiration for your colorway, theme, technique. You are welcome to use additional Color of Dreams beads in your design, as well as artisan beads and gems and anything you like. You are not limited to jewelry.

You may share a dream that has come true, one you are working on now, or one you hope for in the future. The one goal of the hop: we'll focus on our dreams as entirely possible, with the idea, "If we can dream it, we can achieve it." So, try creating "from the end" -- as if your dream has already come true -- using your jewelry design to do so.

When my bead arrived....we sat and looked at each other for a while...then some more....then again....I turned it all kinds of way...but the one thing that stood out to me what that the colors looked like flower petals....Soooooo I tried again and again to get a flower out of that bead...no go....finally.....we started to get in tune with each other....petals...flowers...garden...gardener.......GARDEN FAIRY!!!! 

Finally, I didn't think we would make it....but ta da...below is my garden fairy. She is strung on green cotton cord to look like a vine with some purple flowers and green leaves.  The chain that hangs as her skirt, represents the flower petals and the yellow beads in the middle the stamens.  She is wearing a purple flower shawl, and a yellow flower hat with a crown....I have already tried her out and she was the hit of the party.  

I couldn't be happier with the bead I got!!!! Can you find her in the picture above?????

To see what the rest of the group received and created hop over to Jewel School Friends and check them out....Thanks for looking.

Bead Soup 8 update....

Received my wonderful soup from my great partner, Valerie Cook.  I am already stirring and mixing and cant wait for reveal. Not going to need to add much to this "soup"   Can't wait to dive in!  So much is "speaking" to me already!!!!! GADS they are noisy!

Stay tuned!!!!