TODAY IS THE DAY! BSBP REVEAL #3

The long awaited day is finally here!  Time to reveal my Bead Soup to the world.
  For those who do not know, the Bead Soup Blog Party is the brainchild of Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.  What started out as a small bead exchange/challenge has turned into a worldwide event. This year there are over 500 of us - so many that it necessary to divide the reveal into 3 separate days.
   The rules are simple:  Lori pairs those that sign  up with a bead partner (it is a great way to meet people).  We exchange beads (no white elephants -send what you would like to get yourself). The exchange must include a focal and a nice clasp (no lobster claw please).  These two items must be incorporated into your pieces, but other than that, the sky is the limit.
   My lovely bead partner this year was Stepha Stamper of Rainy Day Designs.  Here is a reminder of what she sent.

Got my Party hat and ready to go!

  Hop over to her site, and check out what she made from my soup.

I was feeling very green when I made these for Stepha.

  The complete listing of all the participates and their links can be found at http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

 My first design went together so fast, it really surprised me.  I normally take forever to think and try all sorts of different designs.  This just sprang full bore from my brain.  You probably can't see it, but I painted the center dots of metal beads green with Vintaj Patina  to tie them into the green of the beads.

Here is the back, using the clasp that Stepha sent.

After that design came so easily, the Beading Goddess decided that my Muse needed to take a vacation. The focal really threw me for a loop. Nothing I tried was working. I really was glad that I'd had the extra time, as it wasn't till the last minute that I finally came up with an idea that wasn't totally hideous.  Back in November, my Polymer Guild had a gift show. Someone brought a Kumihimo loom to work on a piece during down time. The next day, a bunch of us (including yours truly) brought their own looms and we had a Kumihimo party going.  Just by a happy coincidence, the colors of that braid matched the colors of the focal, almost like I had ESP or something.

The focal close up

This is the focal with the braid.

My goal was to use every bead that Stepha sent me.  After making the main necklace, I had some assorted beads left. So I did what I love to do, make Earrings.  A gal can't have too many, don't ya know.

Closeup of the simple earring I made to go with my
main Bead Soup Necklace.   Green color courtesy of
Vintaj Patina.

Don't know WHERE the idea
for this design came from. I have
never made anything like this before
Notice that the bead is birdie shaped!
Homage to the Penguin!

The blue adds just the right pop of
color to these ceramic beads

Stepha sent the little reddish stone beads.
I had these hoops for a long time,
 just waiting to be used .

Vintage Trumpet flowers just yell out
for a stamen to be added.

In the end, I could not quite use them all.
This just sets a goal for the next bead soup.

A huge HUG and THANKS to Lori Anderson, who persevered through much pain and personal troubles, make this Bead Soup happen for us all.  She is a marvel.

Bead Soup Reveal #1

Yesterday was the first reveal for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Hop, and where was I but stuck in bed. I managed to visit a few sites here and there, in between doses of cough meds.  I was so happy to have escaped the crud going around at work this winter, till my dear hubby brought it home with him and decided to share it with me.  For the first day or so, I was so hopeful that it was just an allergy. But no such luck. It has settled in and seems loathe to leave.
   This was the weekend I had put aside to indulge in blog hops and finish up my own bead soup.  My first piece went together so quickly that it really surprised, but I am stumped with how to handle the focal I received from my bead partner Stepha.  I had a few ideas but so far they have not looked as good when I worked them up as they did in my head.  Luckily I still have two weeks to go ...
   I haven't been able to visit a lot of the blogs yet, but I have seen some absolutely gorgeous work done by this year's bead soupers.  Check them out at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things.

Bead Soup - Gathering the Ingredients

Life has finally slowed down for an hour or so, to give me a chance to write about the latest Bead Soup Party.
   My beads arrived this week from Stephanie Stamper Rainy Days Designs and my mind is percolating with  ideas.  I got oodles of beads, so I am definitely seeing more than one necklace, and several earring designs.

Black Cat says it is time to PART-EEE!!!!

For those who are allergic to cats, here is a more sedate pix (before Black Cat decided to play with the beads)

The focal shows up much better in this one

And now I can reveal what I sent to Stepha.  I had just gotten Christi Friesen's newest masterpiece (well worth the wait, I might add) FLOURISH and was inspired by all the leaf designs within. I made two focals, just in case the large one was a bit too much for my newest Partner. I got so carried away making the companion beads, that I continued making more using other scrap clay from my table.  Will show them at a later date.  I continued the leaf theme by being able to find a leaf shaped clasp.

All polymer except the small brown beads.
They are wooden.

And for those who are wondering, the kittens are doing well.  They are weaned, litter box trained and busy looking for good homes.  Four of them are spoken for, all going to people who will love them, hopefully for a long time.

Bead Soup Blog Party 2013

Lori Anderson has been hosting the Bead Soup Blog Party now for some years.  I really don't know how she does it.  She had the flu and a migraine during the sign up time, yet managed to match over 500 jewelry artists AND blog about it AND FB about it, AND email everyone about their partners.  I would be in bed not caring about anyone or anything in the world .... but Lori preservers.  She is one special lady.

I am happy to introduce you to my Bead Soup Partner - Stephanie (Stepha) Stamper.  She is a mother of 3 who (like a lot of us, myself included) buys beads to hoard.  Her blog is Rainy Day Designs where you can see pix of her lovely children in her latest posting.  (Her middle little has the BLUEST eyes - adorable).

I was inspired by Christi Friesen's latest book (Flourish) to create my Polymer beads for this Soup.  The big reveal day for us isn't till April 13, a long time to wait.  Till then, here is a teaser.

Green is the color for Spring.

Latest earrings and the Clayditarod

Yahoooo!  My wrists haven't hurt in almost a week. Just in time for the Clayditarod Clay Cruise. I am almost entirely packed (even have room left for all the goodies I hope to be bringing back.) The boat sails tomorrow afternoon for a week of clay (both metal and PC) and sightseeing in Alaska.  I just checked the weather reports and it looks like I will be right at home - rain most of the days we are in port.  ***sigh***  But weather not withstanding, I am going to have FUN!!!!  I will be sure to take a lot of pictures to share with all my readers.  Hi to all those new people who just joined up during the Bead Soup.  I hope that you enjoy your visits with me.

I have been busy this weekend between all the last minute errands that need running, that it was hard to visit as many BSBP blogs as I wanted to.  Did not make them all - ran out of time.  When I get back,  I will take up where I left off.  I want to say that I am so impressed with all the talented jewelry designers and bead makers out there....I have gotten so much inspiration from looking at their pictures, and reading about their thought processes as they created their pieces.

With my wrists better, I was able to catch up with my earrings for the 52 Earrings Project. Two are similar and maybe both shouldn't count, but I am going to show them anyway. The third is a close up of the one I created for the Bead Soup.

These trumpet bead earrings
will go perfectly with a new
blouse I want to wear to
dinner on the cruise

Can't go wrong with Black and White

Bead Soup

See you all in a week.

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal #2

I am so excited to share the pieces that I made for the 6th Bead Soup Party.  The lovely Lori Anderson at Pretty Things paired me with Melissa at the The One-Eared Pig (http://one-earedpig.blogspot.com/).  I showed you all the other day the gorgeous beads that she sent me. I am ready to show off now.

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

After I finished this, I had so many beads left (Melissa is soooo generous). I was sad to see them just laying in the tray - wanting me to do more.  Luckily time and patience  (and carpel braces) worked - my numbness diminished. Happy beads.
  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

   

BSBP reveal #2 is coming

Getting all geared up for the Bead Soup Blog Party reveal this Saturday.  I am happy to report that I finished up my piece this morning.  The carpel braces and finger exercises are doing their job, and I was able to work the wires and beads almost like normal.  I was forced to keep the designs more simple this time, but I think that works well with the lovely beads my talented partner Melissa made for me.

Just wait till Saturday for a pix of what we grew up to be.

There are so many people from all over the world doing the BSBP this time.  Here is a link to the map that shows where all the participates are from.
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-do-bsbp6-participants-live.html.
I was truly amazed at how big it has become.

   And I am busy getting all my charms for the Clayiteron Cruise tagged.  That is actually more a strain on the wrists than wire work.  This time next week I will be at sea heading for Alaska.

Always running behind

I actually had feeling in the fingers on my left hand today!  Time to celebrate.  I spent the morning at Catherine's getting some new clothes for the Clayditarod.  It has been a long while since I last went shopping for anything other than T-shirts and work clothes. I was so happy to see that the popular colors this summer/fall are ones that I like.  I picked up some jeans, khaki pants, and a bunch of new tops that are soooo my colors - teals and limey greens, blacks and creams... so yummy.

Then off to the Goodwill to look for clothes for the Lumberjack theme night we will be having on the cruise. Lord Opuson is really looking forward to that.  Not only does he look a bit like Red Green, he can sound like him too!  Too bad he wants me to be Harold.  No way that I am that geeky (or skinny!).
    Did not have much luck though. Flannel shirts are not readily available this time of year and suspenders, well -  just forget about it.  I did find a lovely leather purse that was only missing a rivet on the bottom (so easy to fix!).  Will check out other thrift stores tomorrow on the way to work.

Home again to work on my BSBP while I still have a usable hand.  Got side tracked a bit by the idea that I was really behind on the 52 earring project.  No new beads,  but did find these in my stash.  They are from the days I was first experimenting with PanPastel Chalks.

Aye Bead Earrings (week 29)

I start with white clay, form into the bead shape.  I used kemper cutters to make the designs, and then painted the areas with the chalks.  After baking, I antiqued with tinted LPC.

   Now to work on my BS necklace before I go numb again!  So wonderful to be able to type again with both hands!!!

   

My Bowl of Soup is here!

I got home from a very hectic night in the lab, to find that my package from Melissa at the One-Eared Pig had arrived.  It was too dark to take a good pix so I had to wait till daylight to show them off.  Melissa is a glass bead artist, so I knew that I would be receiving something fascinating (I LOVE glass beads - use to make them till my eye went wonky).  And I was not wrong
    She used a glass called Translucent Uranium Yellow to make them.  I am just blown away with the "glow from within" effect she achieved.  This is certainly going to be a challenge for me as these are colors I would never have chosen, but I think they are going to work out well.  You really can't tell from the pix, but the beads have little coppery sparkles inside.  Gorgeous.

And, of course, a Penguin to guard them all.

As promised, here is a photo of what I sent her.

Yes, there are two focals.  After I got done making the blue textured focal (I got the tut for these beads from Lydia at SC Diva), I got to thinking that it was too big. Rather than discard these beads entirely, I dug in my stash and found the Foral Steampunk and the accompanying leafy beads. And of course, some polymer penguins.

The timing for the arrival of the BSBP mix couldn't have been better.  This weekend is the Bead Festival in Tacoma.  I am sure to find some thing to help me complete my necklace or what ever I am going to make from Melissa's goodies. Our reveal day is August 11, which seems like a long time now, but as I am also getting ready for the Clayditeron cruise, it will fly by.  (65 charms made, only 15 to go!!!)

Bead Soup Teaser

The official day to send out our beads for this summers BSBP was last Monday. But in reading my Bead Soup Partner's blog, she has had one hectic life lately. And mine has not been that much better - so much stress about whether I was going to have a  job or not. At least we know who we are going to be partnering with now and from what we have been able to glean, it will be at least a year before any real changes happen.  Every day working is more money put away for my retirement ... so another year is a big bonus.

     Again with the digressions ... I have my Bead Soup mix packaged up and ready to send.

Here is the teaser

    .

A Productive Clay Weekend

For once I did not sleep half my weekend away. I have been using my exercise bike for more than a coat rack lately and have found that I have more energy.  More energy = more clay time.  Win/win.
  I finally have my beads done for my Bead Soup Partner Melissa AND I made it down to ye ol' bead store for a cool clasp and some extra beads to go with them. That was hard ... when one mixes colors of clay to make a new color, sometimes it does not exactly match what is available in the stores.
  I also finally got started on making my charms for the Clayditarod Cruise.  I know that a lot of people already had theirs done a loooong time ago, but I could not decide what to do until this weekend.  I got 50 done in a marathon session Sunday.  Only 30 more to go!
  And I have my earrings for the 52 in a year project to share.
  I was too busy to post last weeks pair, so I have another twofer to share with  you.

These beads were made using the "scrapings" from a mokume gane stack.  I dangled some crystals from chains for a change of pace.

Since I was (and still am) so involved in finishing up my Clayditeron charms, I will not have the time this week to make any more clay beads.  I saw this ceramic beads at Michael's and just had to have them (I don't  know why pink is suddenly appealing to me ... I was never really a pink person before).  They went perfectly with the square findings and I found I only had 4 pinkish crystals in my stash.

I got my bead partner!!!

My bead partner for the Bead Soup Party is Melissa Lynch Mesara.  I am so excited.  Melissa is a lampwork and metal artist aka the One Earred Pig. I think Lori put us together because of our blog's names, LOL.
 I spent time looking around on her Pinterest boards.  We have a lot in common - we both like Dr Who, Steampunk, the Muppets and get a kick out of Zombies (Braaaaaaaaains). I am new to Pinteret and so far I was focusing on the Polymer, jewelry, and color.  She had so many interesting boards that it inspired me to expand.  I have added  Dr Who and "V for Vendetta" boards. I also saw that she had a "Pinterest" button on her blog.  I am so pleased that I was able to figure out how to add one to my blog.
  I am spending way too much time on Pinterest.  I should be working on my beads for the bead exchange.
  I had started making some on Saturday.  I got the veneer made and applied. The beads were cured and I was going to work on sanding them on Sunday. But the best laid plans and all that ...  Saturday night I went out to dinner.  Jen and I went to the Cheesecake Factory (yummmm).  There was a long wait but since we had not seen each other in several months, we didn't really mind.  We went to find a seat outside.  It had been raining (duh - it's Seattle).  I wanted to insure that my chair wasn't wet, so I ran my hand over the seat. Sharp pain ... blood every where.  There was a broken piece of glass embedded in the cane work.  And, of course, I found it.
  So, now I can't sand anything till the cut heals.  I am having to regroup and think of a bead design that won't require sanding. Don't have that much time to think, as they have to go out next week.

Bead Soup Blog Party Summer 2012

I am taking the plunge again and have signed up for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party. This time she is having 3 reveal days, as the numbers of participates is getting to be so large.  I don't know how she does it.  I certainly don't have that kind of energy anymore.
   I had so much fun being in the one I joined last year that I am very excited to see who my partner is and what she is like and makes, etc.  (Notice that I am assuming it is a She ... I should not be so assuming ... some of the newest members on some of the  polymer clay yahoo groups I belong to are men).  The last time I found so many new polymer clay artists and have added them to my blog list. It is a wonder that I get any beading done at all.
  Lori suggested we kick it off by blogging a little about why we became jewelry designers.  I want to say first off, that I am not a jewelry design primarily, I am a bead maker.  I got to the point were I had so many beads and just HAD to do something with them.  This lead to making earrings (mostly) and some necklaces.
My PC guild puts on an Artisan show once a year that I sell at, so I need finished pieces for that too.
 I joined the "52 Earrings in a Year" Yahoo Group this year as a challenge to use some of those excess beads up and see what I could do designwise.  The bead soup is one more way I have of kick starting me into experimenting more and expanding my horizons. I only hope I can get it all done and get ready for the Polymer Clay Cruise in August.
  I have grand plans of trying to sell on Esty or another on-line venue, but working full time really cuts into this dream.