Saturday, September 17, 2011

Bead Soup Blog Party - Reveal!

So, for the reveal.  Let's start with what I received from by Bead Soup partner, Kathleen Lange Klik.  Kathleen sent a great assortment of beads including a porcelain focal.  While my photographs leave a lot to be desired, the focal is a deep brown with gold and cinnamon.  The whole collection is very fall.  Kathleen also included great jade beads, red and green glass beads, autumn jasper, a very textured copper clasp, copper jump rings and spacers, as well as bronze freshwater pearls and big, deep brown wood beads.  I loved every one of the treasures Kathleen sent. 

My head was swimming with ideas about how to put everything together.





           I wanted to highlight
the porcelain focal
and jade beads so I added
 copper chain from
my stash. I've also been
thinking about leather and
 knot work so I wanted
to add that as well.



So, I tried my hand at two new techniques - an asymmetrical design and knot work.  Using dark brown leather, I used a Chinese good luck knot and a basic slide knot to set off the focal.  Then I used the red pressed glass and jade beads to create three groups that went together on one side.  On the other side of the focal I used the root beer colored crystal bead, added some copper swirls from my stash and wired them together to fall at the base of the necklace.  On the other side I used dark copper double link chain and added dangles of autumn jasper for a subtle bit of color.  I like the way it all came together.  I have some pieces Kathleen sent left over that I'll incorporate into more pieces.  I hope Kathleen likes the design, it was a bit of a stretch for me to use some techniques I haven't used before.

The whole Bead Soup experience was great fun and getting to know a fellow jewelry designer was great.  Thanks Kathleen.


See all the fabulous creations from the Bead Soup Blog Party participants

Click on each name to go to their blogs.
These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke



19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel
























140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven












For a total of 362 pairs!

Amazing!