Friday, September 16, 2011

Bead Soup Blog Party Now Going On!

This will be a fairly long post as the bead soup my partner Emanda sent me was a really lovely sampling of lots of beads and I made several things with them.
This wing which Emanda sells in her Etsy store in any color you choose was a trade for something I had that she wanted.  I chose my favorite colors of purple, royal blue and turquoise.  I thought I was going to use those dark blue aurora faceted beads with it........but plans change.
When you get to browsing through a bead stash you find all kinds of things that go together and I had gotten these iridescent big beads a few months ago with no idea what I would use them for until now.  They are perfect.
Those twisted bugle beads I had bought just before the bead soup started because I loved the greenish and aqua color combination in them, I think they work perfectly with the feathery wing.  And this piece looks like it was made to go with a new blouse I just bought!
So what did I do with the faceted aurora beads?  Glad you asked.
I strung them up on 3 strands with some moonstone colored lamp glass beads and some iridescent pale purple seed beads and made a bracelet.  I've only made one bracelet before and I've never done multiple strands before so this was a bit of an experiment for me.  I call this one 'Midnight & Moonstone'.

Here's the main project from the soup 'Butterfly Dreams'.  I found that some vintage beads I had worked nicely with the green/brown large beads from the soup.  They are a little dark in the photo but they are the same green background with a floral pattern.  This design took me a while and went through about 5 changes until I liked it.  I added a fancy bail to the focal to tie it in with the butterfly wing beads.
I really like how the large round beads mimic the pattern of a butterfly's wing and the pale blue/green glass beads match the focal so well.  My vintage tubes looked odd by themselves but I remembered I had a few bead caps stashed.  They were copper and didn't work but I got out some silver rub & buff and changed their color to match.  I had never used bead caps much but it really finishes off those tubes.
I had left over beads so I made some earrings to match.
The little cloisonne beads were crying out for some special treatment so here they are as earrings.  I did have some gold caps but I only had silver ear-wires, so silver caps it is.  I may wear them for Christmas as they look so festive!
This is 'Heart's Progression' and is a really soulful piece to me.  The focal is one of my glass pendants I make and sell in my Etsy store and has similar images on each side, one of the wise virgins from the story in the bible.  The beaded chains are some I picked up on sale because I liked the colors and the glass hearts Emanda sent were just the right accompaniment.  I used a simple heart toggle on this to keep with the theme.
Again I tried something new by using 2 beaded strands instead of just a simple single strand and I quite like it.
  Finally we come to the flat turquoise cross focal.  I had thought I would do a bead embroidered cuff bracelet but realized I would not have the time for it since I do work full time.  But my stash to the rescue!  I had these turquoise disks that I picked up at Walmart of all places and the color was a match.  I don't think these are actual turquoise, but rather another stone with similar colorations.  Never mind that, I love them anyway.  This one was a challenge as I decided to hand-knot the beads on silk cord.  I used 3 strands of brown silk as it was a bit thin and after 3 false starts finally got going.
First I didn't make my silk strands long enough, I saw the knots were eating up a lot of length.  Then I had trouble getting the knots close enough to the beads.  Finally I got the hang of it and the last time round it took about 3-4 hours to get it totally knotted.
I'm pretty happy with it and it will go with about half my wardrobe so it's a win win.
That leaves me with the left overs...there's another stray pale green one somewhere that the cat has been playing with, but these are what's left.  I just ran out of time to come up with anything else though I love the warm colors of the pearls and the oval beads that look like butterscotch.  Maybe I can come up with something after my vacation when I'm more rested.
So there's my bead soup all cooked up, hope you enjoyed it, I know I did!
Please visit my partner Emanda and see what she created.  And if you want even more then please see the list on Lori's Page where there are 360 more bloggers that participated!  
Thanks so much Lori, for all your hard work!

98 comments:

bwheather said...

Wow, so many beads, so many great pieces. Good stuff. ;-)

Jenni said...

Angela, you made quite a collection with your soup!
I LOVE the midnight and moonstone bracelet..I too have never tried a multi strand bracelet...might give it a go now! The moonstone focal looks wonderful with the dark beads.
Jenni

steufel said...

Wow, you were busy :-) Gorgeous pieces!

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Wow - what amazing goodies you came up with! Love those wings and what you did with them those iridescent beads are a perfect match! I also love your "Midnight and Moonstone" bracelet and way to try something new!

earthlyjewels said...

Wow, you've been busy! You created so many pieces...all of them so pretty!

moonlitfantaseas said...

wow amazing jewelery !

Tracy said...

Some beautiful pieces here!

EmandaJ said...

Wow! Angela, you did a fantastic job cookin' up all that bead soup. So imaginative and lovely. I really like how you were able to incorporate what I offered with what you make -- Heart's Progress is a stunner.

Enjoy the hop!
Emanda
www.Artemisiastudio.blogspot.com

VS said...

What a beautiful soup you made my friend, your work is truly stunning!! Thanks for sharing & all I can say is yummmmmy!!!

Noemi said...

what a feast!
I love that wing that you got from Emanda and the beads you used with it are truly a perfect match.

I LOVE color! said...

What a lovely treasure trove you have created.
Be blessed to be a blessing

Islandgirl said...

Great use of your soup! I didn't come close to suing up mine! The small lampworked hearts are actually mine... they were part of aan earlier bead exchange" Love how you used them! I have one of her wings too... I like the way you featured it! Giving me some ideas!

cw whitedogjewelry said...

So many great pieces from your soup, very nice.

Doris said...

very beautiful jewelery you have made !!!
Grüßle
Doris

Ann said...

Great array of jewelry from your ingredients. You did a great job using almost everything you got.

Karyn B said...

Holy cow, so many pieces! There is something to love about all of them, but my favorite are the butterfly and the hearts necklaces. Great job!

Christine Altmiller said...

oh, these are all so beautiful! but i really gravitate towards the color and the simple elegance of the wing necklace. just gorgeous!

Green Shoot Jewellery Designs said...

Wow, you made loads of gorgeous soup!
Stunning designs!
Deb x

Brittany Kuhlman, COC, CPC, CCC said...

So many beautiful designs! It's hard to say which is my favorite, as they are all so lovely. Great work!

Shyme said...

Beautiful pieces!

Shay Stone said...

Wow.. I love how different each piece you made is. You've really stretched out your soup and created a different "flavor" with each piece!

Loris Glassworks said...

Wonderful! You have created several terrific pieces of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture for the first necklace. Thank you for sharing your artistic process with us. Cheers!
Lori

JuLee said...

Your designs are great. I esp like the butterfly necklace. Thanks for the idea of using rub and buff to change the color of the metal beads.

Astrid said...

All your pieces are exquisite but 'Heart's Progression' really speaks to me. I love your work!

Regina said...

Wow, love all the pieces you have made, so pretty. Great colors and so well designed, You have done a great job.

T... said...

stunning pieces....oh my.....

Christine said...

So many lovely pieces - you were quite busy!!

Sally Anderson said...

I love your soup! Very, very pretty things!

Lola said...

I love the spirituality of your pieces! So beautiful!

Alice said...

Well it looks to me like you tried several new skills. That was the whole point. I like the turquoise piece and the necklace you made with your focal and the hearts. You did a great job!!
Alice's Beads and Baubles

Pretty Things said...

I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.

Those beads you had REALLY went well with the wing! And I love the soldered pendant as well. I think it's terrific how you used all those pieces!

I hope you’ll participate again!

Love, Lori

Cindy Cima said...

Great job with all of these - and love those faceted aurora beads!

LissC said...

Wow! So many pieces. You've been working hard! I love that wing that you traded for. I've never been brave enough to ask someone to trade, but i love that people do that. I think it's a great way to share art with eachother.

Your pieces are great! And how fun to have so many pieces of jewelry from one swap!

Wendy said...

Your designs are beautiful! You had some great beads to work with!

Erin Siegel said...

Wonderful jewelry!

Pam @ The Blue Between said...

wow, you really got a variety of things, and put them all to great use - I particularly like the butterfly necklace - happy bsbp!

horimarika said...

Wow, wow, wow!!!! So many great creations! I loved reading the story also. And really can not choose a favourite... Good job!! I guess I'll follow you as I like so much your style.

BluMoon said...

Wow! What a lot of lovely things you have created from your soup, I love those wings of Emanda's they are so unusual.

Natalie Monkivitch said...

Wow! What an amazing soup and what lovely stuff you made from it.... fabulous!

Lorelei Eurto said...

Fun soup! I like the knotted turquoise necklace the best!

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher said...

You truly did a beautiful job with Emanda's mix. Emanda was my bead partner last time and I know she has nice taste in beads. Those all came out lovely. Nice work!

JenniferJangles said...

Wow, I can't believe how many pieces you made from your soup.

Therese's Treasures said...

Angela, Love your creativity, all your pieces are very pretty.
Therese

Unknown said...

don't you just love those twisted, long bugle beads? all of your pieces are so wonderful, you made a whole feast out of your soup. now, as to the bracelet? you can just send it my way, I'm pretty sure my name is on it somewhere....

Dana said...

You made some really great pieces out of your soup. Good job.

Marianna said...

wow so many beautiful pieces! LOVE it!

Marianna said...

wow so many beautiful pieces! Love it!

Sandra said...

Wow, you created so much with your soup, you've really been busy. I'm very much in love with the turquoise necklace, the knots add a flexibility and sort of movement you simply can't get by any other way imho. My favorite though, I think, is the necklace with the hearts. I really love the color combination and that you went for two strands. Heheh, and nice one there about simply recoloring the bead caps when the original color didn't match. Take that, hahah!

Jo said...

You made so many lovely pieces!

Shai Williams said...

So many great pieces! I really like your Butterfly Dreams.

Palimpa Lim said...

Someone was very busy ;) Beautiful work!

Marie Cramp said...

That was a lot of soup!! Great job!!

The Last Day One said...

So many pieces, all just beautifully done!

KayzKreationz said...

They all turned out great. I especially like your 3 strand bracelet and the Butterfly Focal necklace. I think all the components really worked together in that necklace. Very nice.

Here Bead Dragons said...

You made lots of lovely things from the beads.
~cryssT

Andrea said...

Such a busy lady. Beautiful pieces!

Kate said...

Wonderful pieces, great variety! Well done!

Beetique said...

Wonderful creations.

LeeLu Creations said...

Lovin' that bracelet!

Lori Bowring Michaud said...

Great assortment of pieces from your soup! I love the first necklace especially!

Laura Twiford said...

All of the pieces are lovely but I am partial to the butterfly necklace, love the focal and the colors. I really like the pendants you do as well, will have to go check them out!

Skye said...

beautiful work all around but I absolutely adore that bracelet! :)

Serena Trent said...

WOW! Great job! You made some beautiful pieces.

Amy S. said...

Great soup! I love what you did with that wing - it is so pretty!

Chris Hansen said...

Angela - you sure got a lot of mileage out of your Bead Soup, didn't you?!??? I love how you kept the treatment of the wing simple (and those matte iridescent beads DO go perfectly!), and the Midnight & Moonstone bracelet is delicious! Butterfly Dreams is lovely - I do like how you added the fancy bail to the butterfly focal - it DOES tie it in with the wing beads.The turquoise necklace and the cloisonne' earrings are so pretty, but I think my favorite piece is Heart's Progression - your focal is stunning, and the color combo on this necklace is the bomb! Well done!

Beadaholique said...

"Heart's Progression" is my favorite, but all of the pieces are really gorgeous! Great job!

Cory said...

Your pieces are so beautiful it's hard to choose a favorite. Love the flat cross.

Snazzy Doodle Designs said...

Wow! So many pieces! All great. Love the first necklace with the wing.

Bobbie said...

Wow, you were BUSY! Nice job on all of it!

Anonymous said...

I"m in awe of how many pieces you made. The Hearts Progression necklace is gorgeous!

m.e. said...

so many Lovely designs!
I love the necklace with the wing
and Heart's Progression is gorgeous!
Great Soup!!!
m.e. :)

Aquariart said...

Love the wing necklace, yes those beads are perfect for it and that is one of my favorite color combinations too. Nice piece!

Jenny said...

Stunning! Fantastic diversity in your creations! And your glass icon pendant IS lovely!

beautifullybrokenme said...

Wow - I love what you created with your soup mix! The wing necklace with the iridized beads and "Heart's Progression" are my favorites. Beautiful!

SueBeads said...

Fantastic! So many pieces! Love Hearts Progression too!

Stacey said...

Awesome - inspiration was abundant for you!! Your pendant is beautiful - all your pieces look great!

Unknown said...

Youve made such lovlies here!! beautiful..youve done a really wonderful job on your Soup!

Lyn Foley said...

Very nice group of necklaces.While I especially like the wing one, I liked your sharing about the ones with the double sided glass virgins and hearts. Thank you.

CraftyHope said...

All of your pieces are just fantastic. There's something about each of them that's so fantasy-like. . . I especially like the monnstone-ish bracelet and the necklace with the soldered pendant. Excellent job!

Sweet Freedom said...

Wow! you were incredibly industrious with your soup! You have made many beautiful designs!

Sweet Willow Designs said...

Your made so many beautiful pieces with your soup. I especially liked the Hearts Progression piece. Lovely.

diane hawkey said...

So many beautiful pieces!

Loretta said...

I admire that you work full time and still had time to make that many pieces. Beautiful job. I also love your storytelling. Made for an interesting visit.

Anonymous said...

You made so many beautiful pieces! Love the wing.

Anonymous said...

You really know how to stretch your soup. love each and every piece

~Ingrid said...

Looks like you were a very busy person creating some really great jewelry! Awesome!

Nancy said...

What a beautiful BUNCH of soup you made. I love how each is unique and lovely!

cottagelook said...

I'm getting around late...but I'm glad I got to read the story behind the beautiful Virgin's necklace (next post)... Loved all your creations from the bead soup.

coffeeaddict said...

So many pieces and truly versatile. You have an amzing range and a great eye for coordinating components.

vonna said...

Very inspiring thank you and your pieces are wonderful.

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Angela, these pieces are all just WONDERFUL! You have such a talent, such an incredible eye for design. It is such a pleasure to be able to see such beautiful things. Thank you so much for sharing!! (I think the one with the iridescent angel wing you traded for is my favorite, so lovely).

Natasha said...

love the story behind your necklace with the hearts!

DaviniaDesign said...

Ah, I am in love with the feather necklace. It is just PERFECT!

Terri said...

What Lovey creations from your soup mix! You are such a talented lady! Really Soup-er!

Maneki said...

Lovely jewellery! My fave is the Heart's Progression necklace. I really like how the beads pick up the different colours in the pendant. Great job!

Cheryl K Roe said...

Wow lots of soup. Love the wing necklace.

Anonymous said...

You have been really busy, eh? :)
I really like hte bracelet!
Ambra

Patsy Evins said...

Wonderful creations, Angela! I do think my favorite is the Heart's Progression. And I loved you sharing your story behind it. Your work is beautiful as well!

Thanks for visiting my blog and your wonderful comments!

I don't know if you had time to watch my new video while you were at my blog? I'm not sure how much you know about glass lampworking but my video explains what glass lampwork beads are, the history, etc. Would love for you to check it out and help me share it with others if you enjoyed it. Working on getting the word out about glass lampworking.

http://www.PatsyEvinsStudio.com/blog

Patsy :)

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