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!

64 comments:

  1. Gorgeous!! I love it. You designed a really fun piece! I really like the copper spirals and the good luck knot that you added-very cool. Did you make the spirals? I too worked outside of my comfort zone and found it to be a very rewarding experience. The beads you sent me were stunning. I had so much fun creating with them. My only problem was settling on a design as I had so many options!

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  2. Kathleen, wasn't this fun? I had the spirals in my stash and thought they worked with the root beer bead. I was definitely out of my comfort zone in a very good way.

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  3. The way you put that together is very nice. I like the leather and knot work you incorporated.

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  4. I really like how you used the knot to go through the bead.

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  5. 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.

    I really like the wire work you did next to that brown crystal, and I admire the Chinese knotting! Any time I try that I end up with an irritated beader and lots of cat toys.

    Well done! I hope you’ll participate again!

    Love, Lori

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  6. I love the asymmetrical design, and wonderful use of color!

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  7. Love the chinese knot you choose to showcast your focal! I have learned to make it long time ago (along with a lot of other chinese knots), but hardly ever use it. Maybe I should more often...!
    Amazing necklace!

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  8. Thanks for visiting me Kathleen, you have made wonderful use of the soup you got I love it!

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  9. I really like how you incorporated so many unique techniques in your design. Lovely job!

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  10. this is the first time I've seen Chinese knotting on someone's blog. My bf is so into this and I'm seriously in love with the dragonfly knot.

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  11. You certainly created a unique piece using the Chinese Knot. Very well done. I also see you are a polymer artist. I will definely be checked out your blog more when the BSBP dies down.

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  12. Glad to see the knotwork. I'm interested in incorporating the technique into some of my pieces in the future.

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  13. Good job incorporating new techniques into a nice piece!

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  14. Oh, I really like the wire sprials that you added with the beads. A very lovely piece--beautiful soothing colors too ....I really like the colors of the focal stone.

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  15. I LOVE the inclusion of the leather and the swirls near the root beer bead. I think you nailed this design..it looks very well balanced and lots of interest. Love it. Wish I could Knot...I am all thumbs!
    jenni

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  16. Such a nice necklace love the knotting it looks great!

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  17. This is so fun with the leather and wire. Great!

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  18. Cool and creative necklace! I really like the
    way you incorporated the chinese knot in the design. And using leather, it looks very different from the traditional red knots -- I like that. Great job!

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  19. Love the mix of so many different materials. Beautiful.

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  20. Wow! I love those knots. They actually look almost metallic and add so much to your piece. Great work!

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  21. Absolutely wonderful. I am a huge fan of asymmetry and texture, and this is a feast for my eyes!

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  22. I love the knots, great use of space and color.

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  23. Love how you incorporated the knot into the design. It adds so much interest to your beautiful necklace.

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  24. Spectacular! I love the wire work and bead combo and the asymmetrical design of the whole piece.

    Also, thank you so much visiting my blog! I hope you enjoyed it and will visit again soon...

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  25. Very creative and beautiful necklace! :)

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  26. Cool soup! I have never tried chinese knotting before. It looks really difficult!

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  27. You did a fantastic job with your asymmetrical design! Love the knotting applications! I have trouble with asymmetry, I love it, but when I try it, I feel like something's wrong. Going to keep working with those thoughts and try some again! I love those jade beads and how you placed them with the focal bead.

    Thanks for the sweet comment on my soup mix! It really means a lot! Have a great week!

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  28. Beautiful design, I love the incorporation of the knotting in your design.

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  29. I like that you tried some new techniques in your design. The knots are very interesting! I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it - and I mean that as a compliment because I like unique creations.

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  30. Oh wow! What a neat and unique design. That's what's so great about these bead soup challenges, they really make us take a small step outside that zone of comfort in out designs. You really made something that stands out. Well done!

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  31. You really did a great job. So many techniques! The wirework is very interesting. The beads you sent and what she did with them...amazing!!

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  32. Oh, this is so cool! Love the chinese knot, and I really want to know more about that wire spiral below the root beer bead, that looks awesome! Great job!

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  33. I like how you added knotting with the leather to accent your focal and then using the wire spiral to add weight to the other side. Great job.

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  34. this all came together so beautifully! what a lovely piece!

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  35. The chinese knotting is awesome. Great job!

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  36. Asymmetrical designs are always very interesting and yours nonetheless. Those little swirls are so much fun! I will definetely give them a try!
    Ambra

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  37. What an awesome necklace! I love that you used two new styles for you and brought them together to make something amazing!

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  38. it's a stunner! i love everything about this pieces, the color, the wire, the knotting...i really do thing this is a gorgeous piece!

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  39. What a great piece, I especially like the swirls.

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  40. Beautiful job. I love the leather work. You made good soup!

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  41. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  42. Love the Asymmetrical design and the cool wire wrapping accents...so much thought and work went into this beautifully designed piece. Soup-er Fantastic!

    Sorry about deleting the other comment..too many misspellings.

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  43. Your necklace is absolutely stunning... I love those copper swirls and the knot with the leather is the perfect touch

    WONDERFUL JOB!

    P.S. The beads you made for your partner are FANTASTIC!!! Love the colors.

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  44. This really is an amazing piece. Very unique and definitely out of the box! Love the knotted leather and you've got some interesting stuff going on the the spiraled wire on the one side of the necklace. Very nice indeed!

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  45. I love the asymmetrical design and you made it work so well for you. Great soup!

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  46. Cool design! The knot is a great idea!!

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  47. I love asymmetry and this is beautifully done.

    I'm totally stealing the knotting idea, I don't know when I'll use it, but I will and of course will give you credit!

    Really beautiful jewelry!

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  48. The knot work looks really cool! Love your design!

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  49. what effect! I love the combination of leather and wire :o)

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  50. I love what you did with your bead soup!the knot work was a very nice touch!

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  51. What a unique and lovely necklace! I love all of the earthy colors in this piece.

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  52. What a great design, very unique and love that it's asymmetrical.

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  53. I love that necklace...the knot is amazing. I have not seen anything like that before...making mental note to try that!

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  54. Beautiful necklace,the description of the "root beer" colored bead is yummy.

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  55. Beautiful necklace,the description of the "root beer" colored bead is yummy.

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  56. The inventive way you used the leather played up the jade beads in a nice stylistic way so there's an asian feel to it without being predictable. Excellent work!

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  57. That's a lovely soup you received and you made a wonderful necklace!

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  58. gorgeous necklace, love the unbalanced design
    Grüßle
    Doris

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  59. Very different and interesting design. You did a great job showing off your ingredients.

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