Saturday, March 03, 2012

Bead Soup!

It's finally here! My soup is finally finished...and neither a vacation, nor a last minute back injury, nor a rush trip to take the kidlet to the ER kept me from finishing. I didn't even let the rainy day prevent me from getting my photos done (although it was really freakin' cold out there and it was awfully hard to keep things from blowing over while taking pictures!)

But I was determined to be on time.

So, just as a memory refresh, here are the wonderful materials that my blog partner, Kat Barron Miller sent to me:





This stunning and unusual fused glass focal wire-wrapped to an etched brass background piece.





She also sent a matching brass toggle clasp, a mix of brass tubes and beads and some Swarovski crystals so I could get my sparkle on!

Although all the components and especially the pendant were absolutely gorgeous, I knew I was facing a few challenges right away. First off, the sheer size of the pendant made it obvious that my typical "go to" design (about a 20" necklace with a center pendant) was not going to work. Also, I felt that the size of the pendant would overwhelm the much smaller accent beads that were sent.

Thank goodness that Kat included that larger matching brass toggle so at least that would help balance out the pendant and continue the metal theme.

So, off I went to Michael's to see what I could find in the way of "large", "brass", "chain", and "purple" (to match the focal). I lucked out and found some great items including some large link brass mesh chain, large purple ceramic rounds and large dyed purple agate oval slices.

I was also able to pull some brass stardust cut-out beads, brass jump rings and mirror-finish aqua stone rounds from my stash. Oh, and I found some great squiggley brass metal rings in my stash as well and had a really cool idea about how to add some sparkle to them with the crystals from the Soup Mix!

Then it was time to head off to the design board. After futzing around with various arrangements for a while, I decided the oval agate slices weren't going to work. The shade of purple wasn't quite right and they were taking over the design.

I messed around with the layout a bit more, decided the necklace really needed to be a longer piece and that the fused glass focal needed to be strung in-line with one side rather than hanging as a pendant. This meant removing the lovely silver wire bail that Kat had created for it (which I hope she is not going to kill me for doing).

I also took some 26 gauge wire and wire-wrapped some of the smaller crystals onto the squiggly brass ring - it was a great way to add the sparkle I wanted and use the smaller beads without them getting overwhelmed by the size of the other components.

Then it was simply a matter of stringing and wire-wrapping all the sections together.





And ta da! I usually name my creations, but this one has me stumped so if anyone wants to volunteer name suggestions in the comments (be nice! LOL), I'll flip you a resin pendant if I pick your suggestion.





Here's another close-up of Kat's focal. She really put a lot of work into the elements of making this: fusing the glass, stamping and cutting the metal frame and wire-wrapping it all together. If you look closely, you can see that the glass has not only some sparkle in it, but also some hints of aqua along with the purples. I replicated those two elements throughout the design.





Here's a closeup of the center section including the large ceramic rounds I got at Michael's, the brass stardust cutout beads and some of the larger crystals from the Soup Mix.





Here's a closeup of the clasp that Kat provided in the mix. I love the touch of silver on it and it was great to have this extra metal element to play with. You can also see the component that I added the crystals to.





Here's a closeup of the mesh brass chain. I just thought it was so cool and unusual, I had to use it. I strung and crimped loops of some of the remaining smaller crystals to attach the main necklace section to the brass chain. Another way to include the sparkle and the smaller beads without them being dwarfed by the larger pieces.





Here's another view of what is technically the back although this necklace does not have to be worn symmetrically.





In fact, it works in different arrangements. Here's a view of how it can be worn asymmetrically - to let more of the large mesh chain links show.





Here's a final view of the overall piece.

After completing the main necklace, I had lots of the leftover smaller beads and components from the bead mix so I made up some additional pieces:





I just knew those curved tube beads were crying out to be earrings. I actually was going to add more tube/chain sections, but when I got to this point I was so pleased with the design that I decided to go the "less is more" route and stop.





My favorite kind of earrings: long, dramatic, sparkly, and swingy.





I still had some bits and pieces left so I came up with a bracelet, too.





I was dying to see the contrast between the lacy brass bead caps that came in the Soup Mix with these aqua jade beads.





The clasp is a Vintaj textured ring that I was actually saving to use in some earrings, but with the brass hook, I thought it would make a perfect clasp.

That's it for my soup. To help you continue on in your travels, here's the list of Bead Soup participants:


Hostess, Lori Anderson

1. Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3. Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4. Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5. Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6. Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7. Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8. Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9. Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10. Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery

11. Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12. Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13. Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14. Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15. Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16. Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17. Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18. Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19. Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20. Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21. Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22. Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23. Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24. Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25. Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26. Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27. Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28. Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29. Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30. Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31. Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32. Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33. Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34. Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35. Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36. Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37. Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38. Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39. Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40. Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41. Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42. Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43. Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44. Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45. Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46. Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47. Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48. Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49. Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50. Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51. Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52. Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53. Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54. Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55. Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56. Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57. Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58. Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59. Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60. Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61. Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62. Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63. Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64. Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65. Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66. Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67. Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68. Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69. Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70. Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71. Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

72. Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73. Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74. Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75. Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76. Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77. Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78. Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79. Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80. Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81. Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82. Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83. Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84. Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85. Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86. Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87. Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88. Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89. Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90. Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91. Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92. Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93. Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94. Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95. Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96. Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97. Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98. Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99. Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100. Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

62 comments:

Lorelei Eurto said...

You totally rocked your soup!! I LOOOOVE that first necklace the most, with that awesome big chunky chain. That's amazing. I gotta see if I can find summa THAT! :)

Bonnie said...

I like the fact that you can wear your creation in many different ways. Great idea! That fused glass focal you received is incredible.

roomforchange said...

Love what you did with your soup!!!

mairedodd said...

fabulous! and what a beautiful focal she sent to you -

Kat BM said...

I'm not a bit mad you took the spiral off... I love how you can wear the necklace in different ways... and you are right, the earrings are wonderful!!!! (I might have to make a pair myself for myself... hehehe) Thanks so much for being my partner and I hope you like what I made with your stunning soap you sent

Mary Harding said...

Love all the pieces but especially the necklace with all its different textures and those long swingy earrings are to die for. Love your writing too!!

moonlitfantaseas said...

I think you should name your creation Bold and Beautiful........exactly what it is!

Createology said...

Your set of finished bead soup is stunning. What a wonderful way to showcase some incredible focals and use them in unique style. Fabulous is an understatement...

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

All three pieces are gorgeous! I love the pastel colors, makes me think of Spring. I also really like the asymmetric design of the necklace, very fun and unique. The focal she made you is awesome!! Fantastic work!

Joanne said...

All beautiful pieces. I love your colour choices, they show off the focal on the necklace perfectly :) x

Linda Younkman said...

Love your creations. The focal is gorgeous and I love the chunky chain that you added to the mix.

Unknown said...

Great work! Love it! Yours Doris

Donna said...

Way cool, I love everything about all the pieces you made.

tappingflamingo said...

OOO LA LA! is all I can say! (is that how you spell it?)love the colors you chose for the ingredients you received, it all works wonderfully together.

Alicia said...

Very nice - such a versatile piece! Love the assymetrical design and the fact that you can wear it in many ways.

Therese's Treasures said...

Wow Kelly, what you created with your bead soup and purchaces from Michaels are absoulutly gorgeous.
Therese

Moobie Grace said...

Love the brass and baby blue! I have to say I'm loving every piece that you made...but how could you go wrong with your spectacular soup?

Jennifer Cameron said...

That focal and toggle are amazing! I love how you brought it together and the mesh chain is super cool! I want some of that stuff. Beautiful

adlinah said...

Fantastic bead soup collection! Love the colours of the necklace and bracelet. The round beads look like candy or gumballs to me - simply scrumptious!

Tracy said...

Beautiful colour scheme and love how you wrapped your focal bead and pulled it together.

Giorgia Rossini said...

I love the color palette you used :)
ciao dall'Italia :)

Unknown said...

Oh how wonderful. It looks like a Summer's Dawn to me, with the pinks and copper and purples in the sky, blending with the light blue.

Just stunning. and I love that it can be worn so many ways!

Jean said...

that is a wonderful piece.. Love how no mater how you wear it its right!

Unknown said...

OMG you're amazing - your art looks like it should be in a gallery! Love it. That necklace could be placed in many ways to capture the beauty of it.

Marie Cramp said...

Really great pieces! The pendant reminds me of a Kaleidoscope perhaps a good name? lol I love long earrings too. These are fun and girly! Great job!

CraftyHope said...

All of your pieces are really great. Though, that necklace really is the start of the show. You definitely put some thought and consideration into making it and it shows!

As far as a name suggestion, there's something so sweet about it that I can up with "Spun Sugar" The shades in it are similar to cotton candy and the wrapping on the pendant remind me of the strings of sugar as well. So that's it. . .

Back to hopping!

Cheryl said...

I loved your designs. Your ingredients were really top notch. The variety and use of the chains was wonderful. Each piece had so much interest. I would call the necklace Lavendar fields.

Lori Anderson said...

WOW but you rocked it! I never would have thought to put the pendant on the side but it really goes there! I also loved hearing about your thought process throughout.


I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

Cornerstoregoddess said...

It's hard working on a different scale than you're used to. i think you pulled it off brilliantly!

Shai Williams said...

What incredible soup! That necklace is to die for. I love how you can really change the feel by how you wear it.

Name: How about "Wing of Change"

The clasp reminds me of wings and the many looks of this necklace celebrates change.

Sabine Dittrich said...

This is a stunning jewelry set. I love your artwork! It is a wonderful idea of wearing the necklace in different ways. I'm a big fan of asymmetrical designs. The color mixture is lovely - purples and turquoises are just fun!
Sabine

Heidi Post said...

What a fun springy necklace! I think I'd really like wearing those earrings :)

la mar de bonita said...

Great design! The turquoise and the brass chain gave the lilac that wonderful colour kick - I love the pieces!

Stories They Tell said...

Very sophisticated work with your soup and a beautiful result. Love those earrings!

Snazzy Doodle Designs said...

Love all your pieces. I really like the necklace and that ring with all the squiggles is really neat especially with the beads you added in for sparkle

Cindy Cima said...

Love the squiggly brass ring you made! The necklace came together wonderfully - and so versatile! The earrings and bracelet are fantastic!

Cory said...

OMG your pieces are beautiful. Everything, the color combination, the design, the components, all yummy.

Loris Glassworks said...

I love what you did with your soup ingredients. The asymmetrical necklace is fantasitc. I like thst you can wear it many ways.
Cheers!
Lori D.

Jean A. Wells said...

That is one gorgeous focal. And, your necklace using it is beautiful too. I like that it looks good no matter where the components hang. I love the bracelet too. I am partial to bracelets as I wear them most of the time - rarely wear necklaces. BTW, I also love the horse pendant you sent to your partner. Did you make it?

Jean A. Wells said...

Oh, as for a name. I think of a Pappoose when I see the focal bead the way it is safely wrapped in the wire. But, figuring out how to spell it will be up to you! lol

Jean A. Wells said...

Another name - taking into account your approach to meeting the Reveal Day Deadline -- Determined.

I have some of those smashed wire donut beads and I love your idea of weaving the crystals into them.

Alice said...

I love everything you made. The necklace is full of interesting colors and textures, not to mention that stunning focal. And I just adore those fun earrings with the brass tubes!

Susan Marling said...

Awesome job! That pendant is spectacular and I think you used it so well and I love the mesh chain with it - it can really be worn several ways. Love it.

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

That chunky chain is awesome! And, the fused glass focal is stunning! Love your creations!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous combination of colors and I really love that bracelet!!

swopemelmel said...

I think "Stardust" would be a wonderful name. The brass cut outs look like moons and the squiggle link resembles a Galaxy and the pendant reminds me of a moon rock or asteroid.
The earrings look like shooting stars or comets. OR You could name it after a way cool band from Denmark called "The Asteroids Galaxy Tour" or just "Galaxy tour" for short. The bracelet could also be called "Many Moons" Love it! swopemelmel@aol.com

WindDancerStudios said...

How creative is that?! Those mesh chain links are too cool and I love how they perfectly mimicked the shape of your focal! Love the earrings and the chunky bracelet is sweet too!

Stacey said...

Awesome focal and clasp that you received! Really awesome - those that mesh chain you added - way cool!

Michelle said...

It is gorgeous! I love the focal piece and how you combined different colors and textures. It really is a super versatile piece. And the additional earrings and bracelet are so pretty.
I am so inspired by the all the folks in the soup hop!

Andrea said...

You made a stunner!!!!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Captured by Spring is what I would call it... the purple focal looks... caught, suspended... the aqua pieces remind me of sort of melting ice, snow... revealing the purple of crocuses... and spring :) I think you did an incredible job turning your soup into wearable art! Bravo!

Kathy Lindemer said...

I love the color combinations that you used! Very pretty colors!

KayzKreationz said...

They all turned out very pretty. How about "All wrapped up" ? Very nice.

Kari Carrigan said...

So cool! The necklace is awesome!

Ann said...

You really rose to the occasion with your necklace. You did a fantastic jog balancing the asymmetry (if that's possible). I love the look of an asymmetrical piece but I have a really hard time doing it myself. I think it might be because I'm a math person:) The more I see like yours, the more I want to do it myself. Sigh...maybe some day.

Jo said...

Wow! Your necklace is fantastic! I would have used the focal (which is amazing, by the way) as a pendant, but it's so much more impressive as part of the necklace itself.

Third Eye Gypsy said...

Oh wow! What awesome pieces you created with your soup! I love that you took all of the detail shots so we could really appreciate all of the wonderful pieces and design!

Sally Anderson said...

They're all awesome! I love the necklace most of all. It's pure gorgeousness!

Pelima Jewellery Design said...

Beautiful pieces. You did a great job :)

Raven said...

I only just got round to seeing this post, and I LOVE your piece. The name that jumped out at me is 'Summer Breeze' - the colours make me think of the feeling I get on a hot hot day when there is a lovely cool breeze blowing! I'm glad you liked my necklace so much, and if you want to contact me and send me your address, I will send it to you as a random act of kindness - I love sending people things of mine they have appreciated! I love your earrings too, very different but I can imagine that they are very tickly to wear, I can almost feel them swishing around my neck...lol :)

TesoriTrovati said...

Hey Kelly! That is such a great taste of soup! I love that pendant. That is such a strong focal. And I love LOVE that you went asymmetrical with it! My favorite pieces are ones that I can twist around and have them look different. That chain is really great. I have seen that but never bought it. Now I will rethink it! The earrings are the best. I am totally into long and swingy now with my new hairdo. I love the curved tubes! You are such a great designer Miss Kelly! Enjoy the day!
Erin

dreaminofbeads / SAS Jewelry Designs said...

Great designs....really love what you did with your soup!