Saturday, August 11, 2012

I think it's time for Bead Soup!



Hello and welcome to the Bead Soup Blog Party!  This is the second time I have participated in this wonderful event.  I would like to say a huge "Thank You" to Lori Anderson for all her hard work and organizational skills in putting this event together.  Lori - you are amazing!!!  My lovely bead soup partner is Christina Stofmeel.  She lives in the Netherlands and is a self taught lampwork bead artist.  She teaches classes and has written a couple of books.  Check out her beautiful beads on Etsy.  Yay!  I just received my beads on Thursday evening.  Here is the bead soup I received from Christina :) 


Beautiful lampies in blues and greens
 

Gorgeous hollow bead, frit beads and pebble spacer beads by Christina  
 
Beautiful ribbon, Russian amazonite, Mykanos beads, czech glass beads
As you can see I had a wonderful selection of beads and beautiful colour combination to work with.  The hollow focal bead was a bit of a challenge (in a very good way).  I have never made anything with a hollow bead before and I must confess that it had me flumoxed for a a few minutes.  After studying it a bit longer I decided that it looks like one of those glass buoys you see with fisherman's netting around them. I love anything to do with the sea so I set about making the necklace below. 


"Diving Bell" Necklace
I used the Russian Amazonite chips with freshwater pearls and dangled a teensie seahorse charm and an anchor charm.  The chunky/rustic chain reminds me of old treasures from the ocean.  I wound wire and hammered it flat and then added a brass bead I had coloured with patina and then the gorgeous focal bead.  The chain,wire and charms are beautiful Fallen Angel Brass.

The bracelet below also has a beach theme.  I love the frit beads and the pebble spacer beads.  They are such gorgeous blues and greens.  I paired them with silver spacer beads, freshwater pearls and peanut beads.  The starfish charm is pewter and matches the toggle clasp beautifully. 

"Tide Pool" Bracelet
For the earrings I used Christina's gorgeous frit beads and added flattened Vintaj Brass bead caps.  I repeated the look of the bracelet by using the little silver spacer beads and the tiny czech glass seed beads. 
Sea Urchin Earrings


Thanks to my wonderful bead soup partner Christina for sending me such beautiful beads to play with.  Click on a name below to visit other participating blogs.  Have fun!!! 
Thanks for visiting ~ Karen

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 

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 
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 Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead


Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
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
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 Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders


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 Finney, Using My Beads
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
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs


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
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