What I learned from 500+ Blogs

*****Looking for my Bead Soup Piece? =) Click here!****


A few weeks ago, I posted about being part of Bead Soup Blog Party (This party has taken a hiatus)  where I exchanged beads with my partner, Lisa Johnson of http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com and made some pieces with what she sent me.  As part of the "party", I made a commitment to myself that I wanted to go to each blog to see what was made and I DID IT!  I commented on most (probably 400+) and tried to make personal comments vs something generic like 'nice piece'.  After visiting all those blogs (including folks from 30+ countries), I started to notice some things and wanted to share with the class...

- Sometimes it's hard to comment on things that you just don't get or like (that's ok and part of the fun) 

- MANY tried something new - either a technique, a color palate or style 

- LOTS of pieces featured asymmetry 

- LOTS of pieces featured cording of some nature (i.e., linen cotton, leather, rat tail, etc...) 

- I was exposed to all SORTS of new ideas and techniques

- I found myself downloading ALOT of pieces in my "inspiration" folder - I wish more had put a watermark on their photos so I know whose pieces I'm looking at again

- The average comments per post was about 35 

 - Of those who participated, many are collecting pieces for next years soup already 

- There weren't as many seed bead pieces as I expected 

- I LOVE seeing the international pieces 

- I feel like i have to use ! for everything! 

- It's interesting to see how folks overcame their challenge

- It's interesting to see what folks considered a challenge and/or thought their partner would be challenged with

- Photo backgrounds can make or break how a piece looks =)

- If the person is an active blogger, it was REALLY helpful to have a link near the top directly to their pieces so I didn't have to scroll through everything to find it

- I was surprised at how many hadn't posted something (especially since we had an extra week). It made me sad that they didn't post and that there were many who would have given their eye teeth to be able to participate. More than that, that Lori worked so hard to pair people up and it was like her work didn't matter. =(  That hurt my heart.  And I know things come up, life happens...but post *something* - I stubbed my toe, my order was lost, my dog ate my piece...just something.

- Of those who posted nearly every.single.one. mentioned how much they appreciated how much work Lori Anderson, and her AWESOME support team, did!  

- CAPTCHA blows when you're commenting on 400+ blogs

- The creativity of the people in this group is ASTOUNDING

I've been honored to be a part of this group of EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED jewelry designers.  They have encouraged me, challenged me and made me a better designer.  If you're a designer - JOIN.THIS.GROUP.  You'll be amazed at what you'll learn!

BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!

Here it is!!

As a reminder....here's what I sent Lisa (plus some round quartz, silver stardust rounds and a few strands of czech glass not pictured.  I felt like my soup was a little....thin...needed some more ....'veggies', if ya get my drift)  The oranges are some of my favorite beads and the focal was hand made glass discs. 

 Here is what Lisa from http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com sent!  So beautiful, I cried.  Yep - it's true.  Tears.

Click to enlarge

Let me start by saying this was a CHALLENGE.  Not because I didn't have gorgeous soup - because HOLY CANNOLI!  LOOK AT IT!  I felt inadequate.  I wasn't familiar with Czech glass and I was really becoming discouraged.  But let me say this...... I am SO.PROUD. of the pieces I made.  Seriously, I haven't been this proud in a LONG time.   Lisa - I hope I did YOU proud!

One challenge I encountered was scale.  Scale is the size of things and how they relate to each other.  Typically, big things go with big things...little with little.  Well, you'll notice that the coordinating beads are itty bitty while my gorgeous Owlivia (the ADORABLE owl) is a little... on the plus size.  =)  So, I was REALLY struggling to make it all work together until one day it hit me.... make 2 pieces.  (And Lisa thought my biggest struggle would be working with copper...heh heh)  I'll dig into these pieces a lot more, later.  Without further delay...

The first piece features the beautiful itty bittys and the GORGEOUS clasp!  I made the connector out of copper.

 The second piece features my adorable Owlivia!  I wired wrapped her (my first real wrapping experience) and made the clasp, carrying the theme of the flower through the clasp.  =)

Then.... I needed earrings of course.....
For these little gems, I made the pins with the swirls on the bottom, to mimic the swirls on Owlivia.












 





AND I made these little guys - including the pin, ear wire and the flower on the bottom!  Aren't they AWESOME!?!? (If I do say so, myself)

I had a little fun doing a selfie session with my new pieces.... enjoy! =)

Whoooooo!

Too much?  (both pieces on)

 

Fishface!

Not bad, kid!

Proud and SO GLAD I did this, again!  Thanks, Lori!

Check out what the rest of my 499+ friends did here:

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

MMmmm...Soup!

 Whaddya get when you take 500 people, 1 organizer, and a whole LOTTA organization?!  BeadSoup!

I'm lucky enough to participate for the 2nd time in the wonder called BeadSoup.  1 woman offers to let 500 people sign up (in 24 hours mind you) to exchange beads with another artist, make something special with them (and some of your own) and then reveal them ALL on one day!  QUITE a task and so, VERY exciting!

What I loved about doing this challenge, is that it REALLY pushed me as an artist to make someone else's art bend into my own style.  I was pretty excited about last years piece, but this year.... HOLY CANNOLI!  Take a look at THIS soup!  (I cried it was so beautiful!)

Big thanks to Lisa from http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/

I'll leave you with an ok preview of the beads.... the great photos will come in May....until then....eat up!  Just be sure to chew your BeadSoup carefully. =)

 

My partner....

for the BeadSoupBlogParty is...... Lisa!!  Check out her blog right here: http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com  I LOVE the name =)  Can't wait to get to know her.  Hooray!

Bead Soup - Year 2!

Some of you may remember, around this time last year, I started talking about "BeadSoup" -well...it's upon us again!  BeadSoup started as a facebook group of women who were jewelry makers/designers and decided to swap beads and see what they could all do.  What an INCREDIBLE idea!

Last year, I participated in my first Soup and was matched with a woman from Kentucky.  She stretched me to look at different metals, where I was once an exclusive Silver girl - and opened my eyes to new types of beads, including ones she made of clay.  I'm REALLY excited to participate again and can't wait to see who my partner is and what we can learn from each other.

Here's what I made last year - I STILL love it!

BEAD SOUP! Nom Nom!

BEAD SOUP REVEAL!!!

Ok some of you are like...uh...what?!

Several months ago, I joined a little group known as Bead Soup Cafe and what we do there is several times a year, a very SWEET and ORGANIZED woman opens up the opportunity to exchange "Bead Soup" with a partner, who has a style quite different from your own.  You are given a few weeks to put together a BANGING piece of jewelry from what is sent to you.  It is requested that you send REALLY nice beads and must have a clasp as well as a 'focal' piece.  Over 500!! People signed up and you can see them all right here: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

My partner was a very kind and adorable lady named Jackie and her blog is: http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/ - please take a moment to visit!  She's from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky! (I don't think KY is a state? - anyway)  She sent me a beautiful mixture of beads that she made and thought would go together swimingly. =)  

If I'm being honest, it was a challenge for me (and it should have been).  I'm much more of a bright, chunky, silvery kinda gal and was presented with a mixture totally out of my comfort zone.  If I'm being more honest - i LOVED it!  I LOVED being stretched to look at things I wouldn't typically gravitate towards and making it kinda fit my style.  SO - without further adieu I give you what was sent to me.  

 

And THIS is what I made!!!   I LOVE IT!! =)  OH and she MADE the STUNNER of a pendant and the matching beads - she MADE THEM!!