Audubon's Kingfisher

Audubon's Kingfisher

Friday, May 9, 2014

Hello and Welcome! Bead Soup Blog Party #8 reveal

Hi everyone!

Here is the link to all of the wonderful people that participated:
BSBP #8 Blog address list

Here is a reminder what I received from my wonderful BSBP Partner, Cheryl Gangle of Rock Candy Jewelry, visit her here at Rock Candy Jewelry Design











And this is what I sent her:










I have to admit, I was very excited with my bead soup but a little overwhelmed too. I had no idea where to start, I had like 20 ideas at once.

I started with the mixed strand set of seed beads and the pretty copper clasp. They had to go together for some reason, and I wanted to keep the seed beads as they were as much as possible. I ended up with my first ever super multi-strand necklace. Finishing the ends was fiddly but I kept going. I also included some of the sunstone rondelles and nuggets and copper chain from the soup, along with a strand of inky dark freshwater pearls, garnet swarovski rounds and a copper feather charm.



















Next is a fun multi chain and strand necklace (I have never been a big fan of making multi strand anythings as they seem fussy but these beads demanded it. I used Copper chain, sunstone rondelles and nuggets from the soup. I also added faceted citrine teardrops, garnet rounds, faceted ruby rondelles, and copper lotus charms. I rarely if ever use stones anymore (they have achieved "Hoarding" status) and I had fun digging through them to find the right ones to go with the sunstone.

Earrings:










Necklace:




















And from the bag of orphan handmade lampwork beads, of course I had to go for the fuchsia ones. Lol.
I wanted to keep the design simple and elegant so the lampwork beads would stand out. This includes 3 of Cheryl's lampwork beads, copper bead caps and filigree beads,fuchsia and indian red AB Swarovski's and vintage burgundy glass pearls.



















And the focal that stumped me...for about a week the poor thing sat all by itself on my desk. I re-read the note from Cheryl that came with the beads and read that this focal was a Kazuri bead. Curious, I looked up Kazuri beads and discovered they are made in Africa by local Kenyan women as a means of sustainable income (How cool is that?!). You can read more Here . I decided I wanted the focal to stand out, at the same time I wanted to add visual interest. This is where I got stuck. At work a few days later, my friend Mary was wearing one of her (many) cheetah print blouses. She loves cheetah print. And presto! Lightbulb moment! I found a wonderful cheetah/leopard print ribbon at Lima beads and here is the result, of which I gave to Mary (she loved it.)



















These next 2 pieces I posted earlier as they were also part of the 7th Annual Do-Over Challenge. Some of Cheryl's beads were perfect for the projects I was working on and ended up in a necklace (teal lampwork  bead above the ceramic owl pendant and some of her copper chain)



















And a bracelet (dark brown matte oval glass beads)















Whoo hoo got done with this one last necklace at 11:15pm on the 9th. Yay me! Sunstones and coin pearls from the soup. Added erinite swarovski's and labradorite.




















Happy Blog Hopping all!

30 comments:

  1. Interesting pieces, the multistrand necklace is so luscious, absolutely love them.

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  2. Beautiful jewelry! My favourite is the owl necklace, and the multistrand came out very well, too.

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  3. I totally adore that first necklace! It is such a labor of love to do a multi strand necklace! Fab
    Patty

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  4. Very pretty pieces. I really love the muti-strand necklace.

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  5. Awesome! I really like how the first multistrand necklace came out! I was a little overwhelmed too, but I was was fun to work wit so many choices too!

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  6. So many different styles and pieces completed! We'd never know you felt overwhelmed. Beautiful!

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  7. I love how you showed the soups all laid out at the beginning of your post - my mind was going in 20 different directions too! Love all your pieces you made! All very different and all very cool :)

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  8. all necklaces are great, but this multistrand rocks!

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  9. Amazing pieces! Love the last one! Thanks for joining and posting!

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  10. Really like your first multi-strand necklace. You had a lot of beads in your soup! good job.

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  11. The first necklace is a stunner. But all the other are really great too. Wonderful soup you have done.

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  12. Great soup, all around. I think my favs are the fusca and the orange/coppery coin pearls, love those.

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  13. Great pieces! Really love the multi strand chain necklace

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  14. So much goodness you made with that yummy soup! Love the multi-strand necklace!

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  15. Beautiful pieces - I love when I see artists using so much of their soup (this year I couldn't use much, so I admire everybody else's creations :) ).

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  16. Your multistrand seed bead piece is breathtaking! I also love your pink necklace. SUCH beautiful colors! Well done!

    Linda A.
    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
    http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  17. Wow! I really adore the Kazuri bead piece!

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  18. Hi Christina, Kudos on doing two multi-strand pieces since they are out of your comfort zone. The fuchsia necklace is beautiful. The cheetah print ribbon accented the focal perfectly. The teal copper color combination is great in both the necklace and the bracelet. They go together well. Those coin pearls are real attention getters. Great job using your soup.

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  19. Wow, great designs, Christina! Looks like feeling "overwhelmed" did not keep you from making the most of your beautiful soup :)

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  20. I love that multistrand seed bead necklace, the colors, the drape. Beautiful.

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  21. Great designs. Your multi-strand necklaces are wonderful. Great use of your soup.

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  22. That first necklace is stunning, love your design. The multi strand necklaces are so beautiful. Each piece you created is a work of art, great job.

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  23. Both of those soups make me drool a little. They sure are yummy-looking beads. Your designs are really great, but that little owl one is probably my favorite!

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  24. I love everything you've designed with your bead soup. Your jewellery is beautiful and elegant. I'll be following your blog.
    Ana

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  25. Look at all you made with your soup! Gorgeous! The first necklace is my favorite.

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  26. I love 'multistrands' gorgeous, that first necklace! Beautiful colours...

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  27. Your first necklace is my favorite.

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  28. Your first necklace shows you embraced the challenge since you were not tempted to bead weave and it's gorgeous! The donut focal with the ribbon cord is my other favorite - the hanging of the dangles is very ingenious!

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  29. I love the simple elegance of your jewelry! And the third necklace you made is gorgeous! Those colors!

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  30. Wonderful soup! I love how versatile you got with it. When I saw the multi strand I thought for a moment all your beads would have gone in it, but nope lots of beady goodness left :) Great soup!!

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