Saturday, May 10, 2014

8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party~~~~~ The Reveal!


First of all, I really would like to thank Lori Anderson, who masterminded this blog hop. She has been an inspiration to a lot of us and she deserves a lot of credit to have gotten this big side show off  the ground!  I say side show, it is more like a whole circus. We have clowns, like me, that play around with beads, and we have lion tamers that tame molten glass into submission and make beads, we have acrobats, like my partner, Skylar Bre'z,  that perform the daring feats with the beads. So sit back and enjoy the show!

the great soup that Skylar sent to me!
It's here!!!
The reveal for the 8th annual Bead Soup Blog Party!!!!!!!!
Yes, I am excited. I have been since sign ups and I am so happy to have been partnered with Skylar Bre'z. She has great taste and knew just what I would love and I have had the most fun playing with the beads she sent to me.


The soup that Skylar sent to me was really a wonderful array of gems. There are pearls, howlite, copper, glass, and a vast mix of crazy pretty beads. Then there is the hank of yarn, that beautiful bound bunch of beauty!  I had so much fun with it, and will for a while, because I used it sparingly. A snippet here and a snippet there... wanting to use it in every piece, but not wanting to overdo it!
I took pieces with me to work on when I went to Beadfest Texas, but honestly, I didn't have time to work much, but I did find some beads and stuff to go along with the soup. Of course I couldn't pass up the pretty hank of hand spun yarn to make the necklace with the copper shell bead and then I found the nautilus shell at Sonoran Beads and little odds and ends that, well, just screamed for me to add to the array. So what I ended up with is a mix of things I had, things I thought were perfect, and things that I just really needed to buy, like the crazy acrylic coral that just set off the set...
Here are my pieces, in no certain order... I made several, I guess I thought I needed to do justice to everything Skylar sent, but really, I didn't. I didn't do the beautiful pieces justice. I just had fun with them, and I didn't get around to finishing everything... I still have a mostly finished "memory" necklace that I just haven't had time to finish up... and a bracelet that I really wanted to get done, but I had other obligations, but will finish soon... and then the glass cabochon with the white daisy in blue and black.I have all the beads set aside and will work on that as soon as school is out   
Earrings to match the Nautilus necklace
The nautilus shell in copper is probably one of my favorite beads, it is really pretty and goes well with my love for shells and all things waterborne. I found the glass Whelk shell and little octopi, along with the glass nautilus shell at Beadfest Texas at the Sonoran Beads booth. I think they went perfect with this. The yarn as well came from that show, from Bernadette Fuentes, who sells this beautiful yarn and also has gorgeous glass beads. She was so sweet and showed me some of her samples and let me ooh and ahhh over her work!
So this necklace was born. It started out with some knitted wire as well, but I decided that it was just a little too much, and took it off, though I used it in the crocheted necklace with the silver focal.      The earrings were just fun!
The lady smelling roses cabochon from Skylar just needed to have a pretty bunch of beadwork around it, I liked the look of the copper oval beads and the reds and oranges to pull out the color of the picture. I used more of the yarn, kind of loosely knotted around the beads. I made two sets of earrings to go with it, and then did a watch as well… what can I say, I’ll probably wear this necklace some!
Purple People Eater
Then there is this one! The purple people eater as I like to call him! It is so cute, it is one that I wasn’t sure how to use, I don’t normally use pendants like this, it's so cute and funky! It reminds me of something that my daughter would do, and that is fun! The painting is great; I am ashamed to say that I have lost the card that came with it identifying the maker. I am so sorry. Maybe Skylar will fill in that blank. I used chain out of the soup and the bar part of one of the clasps and beaded the rest of the clasp. I had these great hex beads that I really wanted to use, but I didn’t like the peyote chain that I made, nor did I like the right angle weave chain, the piece just needed a few beads to make it stand out.
The blue spiral is my favorite I think, though it didn’t come out very well, I used the beads I had on hand to do the bead embroidery, and they were for the most part, pretty crap. I didn’t take the time to sort them, just used what was there, and they show it. But even at that, I like the pattern and will probably take it apart and do another one just like it, using more even beads, and maybe more of the yarn. There is just a bit of yarn on this one, in the ‘chain’.
The crocheted yarn necklace is the one that came first, I just couldn't wait to do something with that beautiful yarn and thought about that focal, the only thing I could think of was to use part of the yarn that was turquois-ish and wire wrap it as the chain. The clasp is one that I had
                                  Then there is the large glass bead, I wanted to use it so bad that I couldn't hardly stand it! Several tries and I didn't like anything that I made. Silk just didn't look good, bead weaving didn't look good, beads alone didn't look good... I thought about just clear line and the bead as the only visible component! It ended up that I did like the silk but it was really bare, I thought about crochet, using the ribbon of silk like thread, but it was still too bare. and the thought of having some wooly thread came to mind, well, I do have tons of wool... and... well, I liked the silk so I just added some roving to the ribbon and crocheted it into the chain. Adding jump rings and some beads, well... it was just right. The earrings are as daring as I will go at asymmetric, I used matching beads and added wool 'beads' and love them!

By the way... did I mention that Skylar sent some yarn?

 Ok, I guess you get it that I love this stuff!!!

Go by Lori Anderson's page (Pretty Things) and see the rest of the list for the other blog party members... SO MANY beautiful designs I am sure... I'll be spending the next week ogling and awwwwing over the  work of so many great designers!

87 comments:

  1. What a creative soup to work with. the purple people eater is a joy and I love those earrings. Stunning shell necklace too.

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    1. Thank you! You know, I don't usually make earrings. I think I haven't made but a couple of pair since the last BSBP.... and I love earrings!

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  2. I really like how you've incorporated fabric into your pieces. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you so much! I am a sewer and quilter so I see fabric everywhere! I just don't normally use the silk ribbon... had so much fun!

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  3. Great designs! I love your ease with incorporating textiles into your work. And the Purple People Eater is so cute.

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    1. Thank you, I had so much fun! I love the purple people eater, he was a blast to work with!

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  4. Beautiful designs: you sure made justice to all your soup ingredients; and it shows you had fun! I love the yarn as much as you do, and I love how well you mixed the yarns and silks into your pieces. Love everything!

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    1. Thank you very much, I really enjoyed working with such wonderful ingredients. I did have so much fun! Isn't that yarn wonderful? I hand dye silk all the time, but rarely use it in my jewelry, I had fun using it in these

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  5. Wow! I thought I liked that first necklace till I saw the blue spiral. Amazing work!

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    1. aw, thank you very much, I love that one and will probably take it apart and make it with nicer beads... when I get a bit of money ahead! I blew a bunch of $$ on stuff at Beadfest !

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  6. What a treasure soup you got! I love your seaside necklace. So much to look at. And that face pendant is such fun.

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    1. Thank you, I really enjoyed each piece. When I found the glass pieces, I knew I had to make a huge piece!

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  7. Marie! These are ALL amazing! Every one is so unique. I love the blue spiral but I think the Waterhouse art glass one with the woman smelling the roses is my favorite. Perfection!
    Thank you for being such a wonderful and generous bead soup partner! I'm still having fun with the soup you sent me (even though I'm time-challenged at the moment). I have big plans for the venetian glass flowers!
    Lovely lovely work, by a very lovely person!

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    1. Aw, thank you so much! I have enjoyed working with each piece. I know you are working hard and maybe this summer you'll have some time to do play a bit, I thought the piece you made was so bright and pretty! Please post when you use the glass, I am so excited to see what you make with them!

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  8. Oh, the Purple People Eater is from Yvonne @ My Elements!

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    1. Thank you so much, I am so sorry I misplaced the card that you sweetly tucked into the box with it. I know it should be on my desk... but my desk is piled to overflowing! Thank you again for the wonderful soup!

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  9. Wow! You are amazing! I can't decide which piece I love the most! Your use of the yarn in each piece is so creative! Great job!

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    1. Thank you so much, I loved the yarn so much I had to use it in nearly everything! I appreciate your comment!

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  10. Holy wow! You had quite the amazing soup to work with. And you designed some spectacular pieces. Excellent work.

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    1. Thank you very much, Skylar sent me such wonderful pieces that I felt like I had to use as much as humanly possible!!!

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  11. LOVE that yarn! I'm a yarn hoarder, too! I am wondering -- is that a Keysha Koy bead, the big one towards the bottom? I love her work. And MAN do I love what you did with everything! Those nautilus pieces made a fantastic statement necklace -- plain t-shirt or sundress and GO IMPRESS! I'm really really quite impressed with all the different things you did.

    THANK YOU for playing, and I love your comparing this to a circus, with all the different performers!

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    1. Thank you Lori, I had a blast with all the beads and the yarn, it was so much fun. I don't know about the large bead, I'll defer that answer until Skylar can answer it!
      You are the perfect ring master!

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  12. The bead embroidery work is amazing! Great way to add yarn into your designs!

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  13. I love how full, involved, fun, complex, and creative these pieces are. They are very much you. How do you ever find time to do all that you do?

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    1. Aww, thank you! Honestly, I have ADHD, I am slowing down a bit, but I bounce around a lot! and I don't sleep much, which is good and bad. I can joke around about it now, but it has always been a struggle. I still find myself wanting to know how to do something, and once I try it I am happy, does that make sense? I want to know that I can do something, so I will try anything and everything, within reason! You can't imagine the different things that I make.

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  14. Love your use of the fiber in your work. That embroidered necklace is gorgeous. It looks like it came out fine to me. Love the purple people eater - what a fun piece. Great job.

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    1. Thank you so much, I am usually a perfectionist! I think it has to be totally even and each seed in place and the exact size! Thanks, I love the purple as well!

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  15. Amazing pieces with so much thought gone into everyone. The fibre necklace is a true work of art.

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    1. Thank you very much, I really enjoyed working with each piece that Skylar sent, I really appreciate your comment

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  16. The use of fiber in your work is FANTASTIC! It gives each piece a bohemian style that is lush, intricate and interesting. I'd love to sit under you and just learn! You're a magnificent artist.

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    1. oh, thank you very much, I admire your work so much, I feel like I could learn so much from you!! My one wish is that I could get everyone together for a huge beading party so I could see how everyone works! So many wonderful designers in this BSBP, I just can't wait to get around to seeing all the work

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  17. Wow - I love all the yarn additions to these cool pieces! :)

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  18. What a great soup, you made some amazing pieces!!

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  19. Love the way you combine elements. Beautiful work!

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  20. The soup you received was a fantastic mix of color and texture and you managed to make a great group of pieces from it. The crocheted yarn with the extra roving in it is a unique and creative idea. It gives everything so much texture. Great work.

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    1. Thank you very much, I really loved using the silk and wool. The silk by itself was just too bare, I love wool and will collect it anywhere I can, I even gleened wool from fences when I was in Scotland and England!

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  21. I love sari silk yarn. I have several skeins of it myself that I'm hoarding for a special occasion. Great use of it. I especially like your lady smelling the rose necklace. She turned out very elegant.

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    1. Thank you, I really had fun with everything. I like the little lady, I wanted something that would let her shine!

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  22. I also love fabric and fibres, Marie... and WOW was that soup made in heaven! You did an amazing job in such a variety of styles: elegant, playful, boho. etc. Once again Lori picked the perfect partner for you :)

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    1. Thank you, I think Lori had a crazy intuitive talent at pairing! I am glad you liked what I did, I sew and quilt so I have a huge stash of fabric as well as beads!!

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  23. I'm overwhelmed. The necklace with nautilus, those earrings to match, that copper necklace, you are coming on strong. Then the blue spiraland you've got leftovers to play with too. Wow

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    1. Thank you, I really like the nautilus as well, I kind of overdid it maybe, but I love it! Skylar was very generous with her soup to me, I will keep having fun with it for a while!








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  24. what funky designs you created for some really fun beads!!! really great ideas that brought the beads to life.

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    1. Thank you very much, I enjoyed this soup very much!

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  25. Eclectic soup and a great collection of pieces made with it. I like the variation of stringing & weaving & embroidery. The Purple People Eater necklace made me giggle. I had that record when I was a kid so I always like to hear the song or see references to it. Love that yarn too!

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    1. Thank you so much, I loved the record when I was a kid as well. and yes, the yarn is amazing!!!

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  26. I'm so,so impressed! many techniques, mixed medie, inventive compositions!-first necklace absolutely fav!!!!

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  27. Great use of your bead soup! What fun pieces. Love them! Great job!

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  28. You got a mighty soup and I have to admit I'm a biiiiit jealous of that yarn. Never saw a skein like that one, drool :) Love your pieces, they are fun!!

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    1. Thank you, isn't that yarn to die for?! It is made up of like scrap threads, absolutely beautiful!!! I had so much fun making everything!

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  29. The soup you received was wonderful, but the way you put everything together is just outstanding. I love the first very busy and great necklace!!! So nice, each piece!

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    1. Thank you, I wore that necklace a few days ago and got a lot of compliments on it, I was afraid it was a bit over the top, but it works great with a plain t-shirt and jeans!

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  30. That nautilus necklace is crazy cool. I love seeing all the pieces you made from your soup. That is a beautiful skein of yarn. I wonder if it came from "Darn Good Yarns" in Maine? She has beautiful yarns like that and lots of Sari silk too. You pieces are all lovely.

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    1. Thank you, I enjoyed this Blog Party so much. I love that yarn as well, I will ask Skylar where she got it. It is so unique!

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  31. You received such a rich & colorful & fun soup -- and made a wonderful jewelry collection with it! Fantastic jewelry. I adore your Nautilus earrings & beautiful cameo necklace. Splendid technique & design -- glowing with chic touches, comforting fibers & a lovely focal. And your Purple People Eater is fantastic! LOL! So much fun. I smiled remembering a song my daughters danced to when they were little ones: "one eyed purple people eater" -- love it! Everything is awesome! Happy Hopping! ♥ Rita

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    1. Thank you, I really enjoyed playing around with the soup, Skylar was very generous with the beautiful items. When I was a kid, I had that record, that dates me doesn't it!

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  32. Wow, the wire wrapped crocheted yarn necklace is gorgeous! It's my favourite. Beside this all of your pieces are really nice.

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    1. Thank you very much, I like that necklace as well. I had fun sorting out the yarn to find the turquoise and blues and crocheting the pieces into the chain.

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  33. All your pieces are realy Crazy... in a good way. All so very different but wonderful!!

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    1. Thank you! I am all over the place with my designs! I can't decide what I want as my "style" and I don't know if I ever will. I just want to try everything!

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  34. What a creative you are! Especially love the nautilous earrings, but they are all terrific.

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    1. Thank you! This was so much fun, trying out the different items that I would never purchase for myself. Lots of fun!

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  35. Wow! Looks like you had great fun creating and all your pieces and so happy! They are definitely statement pieces. My fave is the blue spiral too. Love the mixed media feel of it. Looks like a fun and happy piece to wear.

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    1. Thank you! I love that necklace but I am taking it apart and remaking it with some more even sized beads, I wanted to make it into a very even and more of a professional looking piece. I do love it though! I'm not changing anything but the quality of the beads... the ones I used were just some cheap ones that I had on hand that actually matched the pretty focal that Skylar sent. When I get it finished I will post a pic... if I ever get it fixed, this was a challenge for me to get all this done before deadline!!

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  36. Wow your mega soup produced some awesome creative works of art. Love the earrings a lot!!!

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    1. Thank you, I love the earrings! I wore them with the nautilus necklace and got loads of compliments!

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  37. Wow your pieces are all such an explosion of originality, colors, materials, and you are a talented beadweaver also!!! All so different and interesting!

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    1. Thank you so much! I love to try out every technique that I can, I never have stopped learning! Thanks for the comment

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  38. What a lovely soup you've got to play with. And why did you mean, you did'nt do the beautiful pieces justice? Your designs are full of joie de vivre! So many beautiful outstanding creations, my dear! The embroidery necklace is a treasure!

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    1. Thank you so very much, I really enjoyed making each piece, they were all filled with the desire to make something that Skylar would be proud to see and say I was her partner!

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  39. Hello Marie!
    Wow, Nice soup! I am just amazed at all the pieces you came up with! Great color and design and all the great fiber..all your pieces are gorgeous! I love the story with each of your pieces. Especially the pretty lady and the beads...she came out perfect! I also loved the spiral bead work and very glad to read you were re-working it...it's such a fantastic design!
    Thanks so much for the really wonderful comments and for visiting my blog twice....you made my month!
    P.S. The coral was easy to saw...just took a little time. I wanted earrings bad enough I was willing to risk it...worst...I'd have no earrings. It's really what I love most about the Bead Soup hop. So many different artists, styles, and mediums....they just open you up for a whole new way of thinking!
    Fantastic job with your soup!
    Cheers!
    Patty

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  40. Thank you for coming to visit! I just kept thinking about the color and the wire on your pieces and had to go back and take another look! I really like your work! I haven't tried cutting coral, but have a piece that I want to and have been too afraid to attempt. I might now!
    And thank you for the kind words, I really have enjoyed this hop. I feel comfortable and free to experiment and not get bad comments!

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  41. Oh my so many gorgeous pieces of art. The red necklace is so stunning but them the purple necklace...is it wrong to covet something so beautiful!

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    1. Thank you! I covet a lot of pieces that I've seen in this hop!! I really appreciate you coming by and the kind words! I like the red necklace, I get compliments on it when I wear it, The purple people eater is going t my daughter. I think she needs it, somehow it fits her personality and style more than me and she will appreciate it more than me even though I love it a lot!!

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  42. You pieces all have so much texture to them, it's so fabulous! I'm particularly smitten with that last necklace. Those are some of my favorite colors. Nice job!!

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    1. Thank you for coming by the blog, I hope you enjoyed the visit! I love texture, I guess that is evident! I love that bead as well, and the wool and silk. Had so much fun working on each piece!

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  43. What a unique collection of funky jewelry creations with different techniques & mixed media! Everything from abundance of dangles to very subtle creations, from funky to romantic! You have been really inspired by your soup. If I have to choose a favorite, that would be the lady with the roses necklace :)

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  44. Thank you very much! Yes, I had a blast with the wonderful soup that Skylar sent to me, it was so varies and eclectic that I couldn't go wrong! I love the lady smelling the roses, it is something I just don't buy for myself or make, the cabochon I mean, I like those but just don't ever make them. I had so much fun on this hop, I hope Lori will do it again next year... I know it was a headache, but... Soooo many great designers!!!

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  45. Marie Your nautilus earrings are great. The bead embroidery looks wonderful with the copper beads. Good color choices. My favorite is the crochete4d necklace with the big blue and tan bead is my favorite.

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    1. Thank you for coming by, I love those copper beads! I like the crochet necklace as well, I have worn that one probably more than any other, that bead is just to die for! I have a set of large ceramic beads that it remind me of, from back in the 70s, that belonged to my mother-in-law. I think they used to use them for macrame? Anyway, it always reminds me of those, and that makes me think of her :)

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