Saturday, April 13, 2013

It's time for a cup of Spring Bead Soup!

It's reveal day!!  I am so happy to be participating in another Bead Soup Blog Hop.  Thank you so much to our very talented, kind and generous host Lori Anderson for organizing this wonderful event.  Please take a moment to hop on over to her blog and check it out.  She is an awesome lady!!  Thank you Lori!!

Thanks also to my wonderful bead soup partner Kiersten Kern!  Kiersten sent me beautiful beads to play with.  Be sure to visit Kiersten's blog and see what she made with the stash I sent her.  Click on Kiersten's name and it will take you to her blog. 

Here's a reminder of the bead soup I received from Kiersten. 

Blue sandstone beads, green wood beads, dark green ceramic beads, beautiful lampwork beads by
Kiersten and sterling silver clasp


Hmmm!  What do with the clasp.  I must admit to being a little stumped on this one!  I have never worked with a clasp like this before so it was a good challenge.  I originally thought I could make a bracelet but I wasn't happy with the look of it when I had strung the beads and put it together.  I put the clasp aside for a while and concentrated on the focal bead. This bead is stunning!  Love it!  

I made the "Spring Flowers" necklace below - trying to keep it simple so that all the attention is on the stunning focal bead. I used brass tube beads, Czech glass beads, Swarkies and green ribbon.  





Spring Flowers Necklace

 I made some earrings with the beautiful blue lampwork beads.  "Morning Mist" Earrings - I added some delicate brass chain and brass dragonfly charms. 




Morning Mist Earrings


The scrummy faceted blue sandstone beads went well with some coca seed beads and citrine beads that I found in one of my beadie boxes.  The little brass charm has "believe" stamped on it.  The blue Czech glass flower charm is topped with brass bead caps.  "Believe in Dreams" Bracelet. 

Believe in Dreams Bracelet

Belive in Dreams Bracelet



I used the dark green ceramic beads paired with some bone beads to make the earrings shown below. I embossed some brass blanks, coloured and sealed them.  "Stormy Day" Earrings

Stormy Day Earrings
Here is how I used the gorgeous sterling silver clasp. It took me a few attempts but I got there in the end Lol!  I used three of the beautiful lampwork beads Kiersten sent me and paired them with some pale blue glass crystal beads.  I used silver crimp beads as spacers and hammered some 18 gauge wire to form the paddle drops.   


Lotus Flower Choker Style Necklace

Again, thank you so much to Lori Anderson for all her hard work and organization of this huge event.  Thank you also to my lovely bead soup partner Kiersten for sending me such beautiful beads to work with.  I had great fun working on these designs.  I can't wait to see what Kiersten made with the soup I sent her! 
For a list of all the participants in this 2nd Reveal go to this link and start hopping! http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/04/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-2nd-reveal.html




Thanks so much for visiting my blog ♥
Happy Blog Hopping!
Have a wonderful day ~ Karen 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Bead Soup Partners

Hello!  I am very happy to be involved in another Bead Soup Blog Hop.  My lovely partner is Kiersten Kern of Red Opal Designs.  She makes the most beautiful lampwork glass beads.  Kiersten lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  You can check out her gorgeous jewellery at Red Opal Designs.  Stop by Kiersten's Facebook page and say "hello".  Our reveal date is April 6th and we have both sent and received each others beads.  Here are the beautiful beads I received from Kiersten. 

Scrummy Bead Soup Arrival!




Gorgeous bag containing beading goodies


 

 
Beautiful lampwork beads made by Kiersten :)




Gorgeous Greek Ceramic Beads and Blue Soapstone with Sterling clasp.

Stunning Focal Bead by Kiersten
The complete Soup




I can't wait to get cooking with this gorgeous soup!  The lampwork focal bead is gorgeous - love it!  I dabble in a bit of glass bead making myself and would love to be able to create beads like Kiersten's. I already have a few ideas of what I am going to make so stay tuned!  As always a huge "thank you" to Lori Anderson for organizing this wonderful Bead Soup Blog Hop.  Check out her blog and click on the  Bead Soup link to see who else is participating. 
Have a wonderful week!! 
~ Karen ~ 



Monday, February 4, 2013

What's on your bead table?

I have several unfinished necklaces on my bead table :)  I have been playing around with Ice Resin again and have made a couple of sealed pieces with image art from my friend Tina at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Glimmersmith.  Check out Tina's shop for individual images.  I love being able to buy just one image instead of a whole sheet for maybe one or two that I would want to use.  I fell in love with this image of peacocks and just knew I had to have it!  Unfortunately my Ice Resin is rather old so I think I will end up redoing this one.  The beads are Czech glass with smaller faceted green glass beads.
Green is one of my favourite colours. 

What colours do you like to work with?  I'd love you to share what's on your bead table too. If you would like to leave a comment that would be awesome!

Have a wonderful evening!
~ Karen ~