I was battling carpel tunnel and numbness in both hands when I started working on my projects. I was forced to keep the design simple. Melissa's beads have an inner sparkle that cried out to be paired with copper. I found some chain at the Puget Sound Bead Festival that was a perfect match, and a silk cord that co-ordinated well with the Uranium yellow glass she had used to create the beads. I wired three of the large flat beads, disassembled the chain for the links, attached copper "S" hooks and used the silk cord for the rest of the necklace.
Melissa's beads glow with an inner fire. |
An Art Pose |
The second piece was a bit of a challenge for me. When I look at the beads, I automatically think they need copper. Melissa chose to make me work for it... LOL... she had sent me silver findings and clasp. I really had a hard time coming up with a design but that is what the Bead Soup is about - removing us from our comfort colors and making us think outside the box. She had also included a few reddish crystals just to make a color "pop".
The first picture is a close up of the round focal. Look at the inner glowing sparkles.
I also made a pair of earrings to match one of the design elements in the necklace. Unfortunately you can not see that element in the picture below as it is hiding behind the shoulders of my lovely model.
How do the magazines get such fabulous pictures? I tried and tried to get a good pix of the whole necklace and finally had to give up because my batteries died. In this you can see the delicate clasp that Melissa had sent.
Here are all the wonderful people who are participating in this reveal of the BSBP. (If the links don't work, try clinking on the BSBP logo and it will take you to more info) There is still yet another reveal to come later this month. Almost 400 people this time. A big THANK YOU and hugs to Lori Anderson for being the hostess with the mostest.
Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure
Amy Severino, Amy Beads
Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios
Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry
Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations
Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place
Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art
Your necklace has a fresh, sommer look.God job! Regards from Poland, Dorota
ReplyDelete...hope your problems with your hands are getting better and you will be able to do more work again!!
ReplyDeleteI really love the fresh look of your soup pieces...;-)) Great how they turned out!
Bead-utiful designs!
ReplyDeleteDelicious soup !
m.e. :)
I'd never thought to use silver with these colors, but I really like the result.
ReplyDeletePretty pretties,Lucky girl Love and hugs Tanya
ReplyDeleteDarn that carpal tunnel - I hear you about your hands going numb or shooting pain at night while you are trying to sleep. There is one year (when i was in school I got three cortizon shots to get me through metalsmithing class). You are real trooper to stick it out and create some amazingly fantastic pieces. I really really love that second piece you create - looks so light and airy and fun to wear. Fabulous work!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope your hands gonna get better.I have trigger finger and yupp that can keep you awake all night
ReplyDeleteI love your design on each piece.Very nice colours
the colour combination is perfection and your designs really showcase the beads
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your hands are better!
very pretty pieces, great work!
ReplyDeletehope your hands improve soon.
Those glass beads are really something ... I love the sparkle and glow from within! Your designs really bring out the best in them ... and those copper links are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful! Thanks for making my beads looks great! I almost send all copper findings, originally. LOL
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely LOVE that necklace!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful beads and you have made two beautiful necklaces. I hope your wrists are getting better.
ReplyDeletelovely necklace....very classy :)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful beads! I love how you used them -- your designs are summery and stylish.
ReplyDeleteCarpal tunnel is such a pain. If you don't mind me saying, I've found that doing stretches for carpal tunnel helps a lot, and so does massage therapy. I use massage to help with a lot of my physical problems and absolutely swear by it.
I feel your pain from carpal tunnel...I can't give you any advice, I just work through it until I can't move...not smart, I know!
ReplyDeleteI agree!! Copper was the way to go...such a pretty combination that I'd never thought of!
Both pieces are great but the copper and the glowing beads is simply glorious.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces!!!
ReplyDeleteNice!! I can just imagine how all your pieces glow in the light. Great job on your bead soup!
ReplyDeleteLovely pieces!
ReplyDeleteBeautuful set,lovbely colors! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteLovely combination of copper with the beads in your first necklace. It definitely brought the copperly specks in the beads! Lovely designs too!
ReplyDeleteI love the copper you added. You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteThose beads really do have an inner glow. You did a great job capturing that in your pictures. I can see how you felt that copper was a good choice for the beads as well. You really did a terrific job working with your soup with both the copper and silver. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteAll your pieces are gorgeous. Especially like the use of copper in your bracelet. The necklace and earrings are beautiful. I always struggle with photography too! You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with your beautiful work... and embracing the challenge and stepping out of your comfort zone. I hope your CT gets better quickly. Gorgeous work for being in pain! Kris
ReplyDeleteoh no hand numbness, that is so cruel! I'm glad you pushed through and made these, they are really pretty and I think your pictures turned out great!
ReplyDeleteI really like the silver necklace! It's gorgeous:)
ReplyDeleteSo light and fresh, love what you did with both the copper and the silver.
ReplyDeleteYou totally succeeded coming out of your comfort zone! Beautiful pieces, and I do love the light softness of the total look.
ReplyDeletesuch a sunny necklace. beautiful work! ~diana
ReplyDeleteGreat designs - you really showed off the sparkle well :-)
ReplyDeleteJuLee, these monochromatic designs are absolute understated elegance. The copper accompanying those intriguing lampwork beads is genius; the gleams and sparkles play off one another. Necessity being the mother of invention, I would have to say the child is a simply beautiful work of art. Hurry and get well so you can rock some more challenges!
ReplyDeleteLovely job showcasing those beautiful lampwork beads!
ReplyDeleteI love that you rose to the challenge and made that silver sing in your second necklace. And that pop of red - fantastic. Love both pieces!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with your soup, wonderful job!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job!! Lovely creations...my favorite is the second one!!
ReplyDeleteLove that first necklace. Those beads are gorgeous. The piece looks pretty with the silver, but you are right - these beads were born to be with copper. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove the copper with these beads!! I would have found the silver hard to work with in this color combination but you really made it work out. I feel so "fresh" when I look at your pieces. Hard to describe. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour pieces are so summery and fun! Yummy soup!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous color in the uranium glass, beautiful paired with copper. Although you may have been handicapped a bit, your pieces are simple and elegant.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of yellow, but you Rocked it!! I love the copper with the yellow.
ReplyDeleteLive those colours!
ReplyDeleteOpps. Meant love. Haha
DeleteCopper rocks !
ReplyDeleteLove your style..
I actually just started working with copper this BSBP because my partner sent me some components and I must say, I LOVE it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you definitely did those gorgeous beads justice. And believe me, I understand about the task of beading when you have health issues o.O
Good for you for persevering through!
Happy Hopping :)
Oooh, I really like those! The color combination is very interesting and unique, and the pop of red really brings it out...very cool!
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you use chain as elements of your necklace and not just a means for hanging your beads on. You have done a lovely job.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Muir
http://design.kcjewelbox.com
Hi JuLee,
ReplyDeleteI love your pieces they are beautiful!
Therese
the pieces are soooo beautiful... i really really like the first piece! pairing copper with that unique yellow tone was a good choice.
ReplyDeleteI love the colours in your pieces, I rarely see much yellow and it is such a sunny and welcoming colour, I love your necklaces and earrings!
ReplyDeleteJackie
Very nice!! I like the colors and the designs!!
ReplyDeleteI really like your two necklaces! You made the most of the beads' beauty by keeping it simple. Hope your hands feel better soon (I suffered from carpal tunnel while pregnant so I know how annoying and debilitating it is).
ReplyDeleteI love the yellow beads with the copper. Beautiful work! I hope your hands get better.
ReplyDeleteOk hope your hands get feeling better first off. Sending Reiki. Second luv your designs! Way gorgeous colours and designs! Luv the earrings so much!!! Being I live in Florida I luv the yelloW!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely pieces, I particularly like the specks of red in the second necklace and the jaunty silver disks. You may have had grander plans, but to me they look perfect. Sorry to hear about your struggles with carpal tunnel.
ReplyDeleteLove the copper with the yellow stones!
ReplyDelete