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

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York

2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson

3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino

4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner

5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier

6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins

7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor

8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen

9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps

13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy

16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John

19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel

19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb

23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign

24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall

25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier

 35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander

 36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller

79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher

115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca

116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington

119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton

119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks

124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper

140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy

144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag

154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs

162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

For a total of 362 pairs!

Amazing!

Back to the Best World

I’ve been away from blogging for a while as I finished up an Environmental Science course. Whew! It’s tough for someone who’s more artistically inclined to focus on science but it’s done and I’m back to my best world where jewelry-making and other art projects are a big part.

So, even though I’ve been focusing on loads of homework and environmental issues, I’ve also been noodling a few ideas that I’ll share with you in the next days/weeks. I’ve also entered the August 2011 Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP) hosted by Lori Anderson. This is the first time I’ve participated in BSBP and it looks like a lot of fun. My BSBP partner is Kathleen Lange Klik of Modern Nature Studio . She’s a new blogger, has an Etsy site, makes wonderful jewelry and takes outstanding photos. I can’t wait. My package goes out today or tomorrow.

Rock Purse Video

I’ve been working on putting together videos on various polymer clay techniques. This has meant that I’ve had to learn to use my camera to take a video, load it to my computer, edit it, load it to YouTube and then load it to my blog. Yikes! So, here’s my first video. I think it’s a bit long and, as this is Part 1 of 2, I have one more installment to go before I can finish this series.


It’s been fun to learn a lot of new techniques but I’ve got a long way to go. I’m thinking the ideal video should only be about 3-5 minutes in length. Let me know what you think about my first attempt.

Bead Fest Santa Fe 2011 Day 2

Day 2 of Bead Fest was all about wire working and using cold connections with resin.  Here's a picture of the bracelet from Sharilyn Miller's class which showed us how to make the knot, wire wrap beads, make jump rings and a clasp.  I'll definitely try this again.  Resin is still curing so no pictures yet.

Bead Fest Santa Fe 2011 Day 1

On day 1 of Bead Fest I took a class from Kim St. Jean on bezel making.  Very good class and learned more about the use of a torch and soldering to create the bezel.  We worked in silver and copper and a variety of found objects and stones.  The first piece I created used a turquoise cabochon and silver which was textured and had a liver of sulfur patina applied.  The second piece uses card ephemera and copper.  Much to my dismay, I used one of the letter stamps upside down so the piece isn't great.  I like the concept, not too pleased with my execution.  More to come from Bead Fest.

Experiments with Faux Turquoise

Polymer clay is a wonderful medium to try and replicate natural materials. I’ve worked on a number of faux turquoise recipes over time from very deep blue to light green/blue. The necklace below was inspired by the Royston turquoise mined in Nevada. I mixed the colors of turquoise and brown in various colors. Using the food processor, the clay was processed until it formed various size balls. Burnt umber paint was applied to the nuggets of clay, left to dry and later formed into a log. Slices of the turquoise slab were applied to a base of ecru clay along with slices of faux ivory. The ivory was impressed with various tools to add the design. After curing, the whole piece was covered with burnt umber paint, wiped, sanded and polished.  Mini coins were made to add to the necklace and turquoise glass beads and chain were added to complete the piece.   I really like the look. Hope you enjoy.