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!!

Day 6 - Use a different metal

Today's challenge is to try a different metal - here I come copper....

Typically, I'm a silver girl.  I don't know why - I just like it.  Today's challenge was to use a different metal, so I went with copper.  I found these GORGEOUS earring pieces and purchased these stunning vintage, czech glass beads and found out how beautiful they look together!  Proud of this one. =)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125688978/vintage-copper-and-green-earrings

Day 5 - Use some leftovers

YAY!  Use some leftovers!! 

These beads are awe-some!  When I first started beading, I purchased these little tubes of glass beads.  They were a nice variety for a good price and at that point, I was still a beginner and didn't need anything fancy (do I NEED fancy now?  NO!).  I've come to LOVE these beads because I can make ADORABLE pieces for a decent price and still good quality.  These beads are some of my oldest and some of my favoritest!  OH - and I made a new product too - medical id bracelets. =)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125580554/multicolor-medical-id-bracelet

Day 4 - Try a New Beading Weave....um...

So - today is "Try a New Beading Weave" day - I don't bead weave.  Instead, I decided to do 'Finish a project' day...so that's what I did. 

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I will be having a piece of my jewelry in BeadStyle Magazine (the largest in the World), in July!  I made this piece in the same style as the piece that will be in the magazine.  I made it a little more formal/bridal - just because I could. =)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125571526/pearl-crystal-silver-bib-style-necklace

Day 3 - A piece for a friend

A few weeks ago, a girlfriend asked me to create a badge holder for her, for her newly minted badge!  I have been working on a few different options for her and am awaiting her decision on which she likes best =)

YAY!  I also made another badge that could be purchased by anyone, but is simply beautiful, if I do say so myself. =)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125572285/badgelanyard-holder-silver-and-clear

Day 2: A simple strung necklace

A simple strung necklace - I chose to re-do a necklace I had that hadn't sold.  Here's the new...


Here is day 2:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/100672149/pink-cream-and-silver-necklace

And the old:

Giving it a Whirl!

In my last post, I talked about not being in my bead room, enough.  SO!  I have decided to do a 30 day beading challenge.  An online supplier has issued a challenge and offered a calendar of 30 days of beading fun and I'm going to give it a whirl!

Day 1:
A pair of earrings
https://www.etsy.com/listing/125259832/light-blue-springy-wire-earrings