Saturday, May 10, 2014

8th Bead Soup Blog Party

It is several years since I took place in a Bead Soup Blog Party,  commitments in my other creative work have kept me very busy but as I love working with beads,  I made an effort to take part again this year.

My bead soup mix really had me in a bit of a quandary as it was so very different to what I usually work with.  Looking through my bead stash I am inclined to work with pastel colours which tend to reflect my love of flowers in soft gentle shades.
 
It took me quite some time to come up with a workable idea on how to use the pendant but once I started working with the components it all sort of fell into place. Lots of ideas went through my mind, bead embroidery with braid etc,  several sketches of designs but then I took the pendant away from the beads and looked closely at it and ....................
 

I reversed the pendant as the back reminded me so much of the kaleidoscopes I had as a child,  all those bright swirling colours in an abstract design.   Using the seed beads from the swap and adding similar and toning colours from my stash,   I worked around the leaf shape of the pendant adding two Russian beaded leaves which I attached to a copper toned Vintaj circle.  The purple pearls and remaining large seed beads made a stranded necklace which I extended with copper toned chain and clasp.


I think I broke the rules a little as I have not used the clasp sent with my soup for the necklace,  it was just too fine and dainty for my heavy pendant.  I originally had planned to make a bracelet using this silver clasp but as I had used up all the beads and had two spare leaves left from the necklace,  I had fun with the pretty green lucite flowers and made ear rings. 


Still have the blue glass beads which would work well with the silver clasp but unfortunately I ran out of time.  Something to complete soon hopefully.

My swap partner Cate van Alphen most probably found my soup offering somewhat different to what she usually works with and I am looking forward to viewing her creation.  I think that this is one of the fun benefits of taking part in Bead Soup as it takes me away from my comfort zone and offers the opportunity to really create something quite different and unique.

Thank you once again to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog for organising yet another Bead Soup Blog Swap. 

Looking forward to visiting all the blogs to see what other participants have created.
There are lots of bead soups and I know there will be some wonderful things to see, click here for the links and start visiting. Do have fun and remember to leave a comment,  I know I love to get feedback.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful necklace Wendy. Those beaded leaves are wonderful, and I love the earrings. Sorry about the clasp, I bought it on the internet and it was smaller than I pictured when it arrived, but too late to make another plan!

Kays Kids said...

Your beading looks lovely.

Othel said...

Your earrings are my favourite, they look happy and fresh and I guess, they are not heavy but nice to wear.

Unknown said...

Beautiful seed bead work!

Unknown said...

Your beading really complimented the focal! Just gorgeous!

Mags said...

Such a charming pair of earrings!!

Divya N said...

Beautiful seed bead work in the pendant and earrings, love it

Kepi said...

OMG that is stunning, I love love love the necklace, you created something very special!

Cecerely Yours said...

lovely lovely lovely

vovsblog said...

Such lovely work well done!

bailaora said...

great balance between beadwork and beading!super colours! I'm impressed!!!

Unknown said...

Stunning beadwork,I think i could never do that :-) You made ver pretty little leaves! I love both your designs!

Ruth Szapa said...

I love your earrings! They look so delicate, yet fun!

Jeanne @ Gems By Jeanne Marie said...

Isn't it wonderful that the BSBP throws us outside our comfort zone! I personally love the rich jewel tones in your soup. Your bead embroidery is stunning. I really like the composition of the entire necklace.

Unknown said...

OMG!
The earrings ... I'm in love with your earrings ^_^

Just Beads said...

Your beading is so beautiful. Love it! But the earrings are my favourites, very very nice.

Alicia said...

You're right, it *does* look like a kaleidoscope! I must found one for my son, I used to spend endless time dreaming through that little colourful tube! I love your beadweaving, the designs are somewhat subdued, but very graciously flowing. Love it!

Unknown said...

Lovely work, love the colors! Hugs, Doris

Unknown said...

I love how your necklace and earrings turned out. I'm glad you were stretched and challenged. That's what bead soup is about! Hugs, kathy

Linda A. said...

I love that you reversed the focal - that's such a smart way to look at it and a great reminder to look at pieces different ways, if at first you're not seeing inspiration.

Linda A.
http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

Adaptable Kay said...

All I can say is wow! You really took a different angle with your bead soup and I think you nailed it! Not only is it super creative and unique, but those colors are gorgeous :)

Bravo!

la mar de bonita said...

Lovely earrings, my dear :0)

Bev said...

What wonderful bead work! I love the earrings the best! Great job!

Unknown said...

OMG gorgeous!

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

Absolutely regal pieces, Wendy! Your bead work is truly amazing and a wonderful adjunct to Cate's lovely focal :)

Anonymous said...

You really did a great job even though this is not your color zone. The earrings have a fairy forest look and the necklace shows off that beautiful focal perfectly.

Tammy Adams said...

Beautiful bead work. The earrings are sweet and cherry. I like that you used the back of the focal. That's "thinking outside the box" as they say. Wonderful necklace.

PiPa said...

You had such an interesting, unusual focal and you made it awesome! I love your beadwork and the whole necklace arrangment!

Barb Fernald said...

I really love what you did with your soup. The beaded leaves are gorgeous! Nice work!

Ann Schroeder said...

Beautiful necklace and earrings! I love what you did with the focal and the addition of those beautiful beaded leaves.

Janine Lucas (Esfera Jewelry) said...

What a gorgeous necklace and cute earrings. They are just perfect

Unknown said...

Lovely designs. I love how you accented the focal by beading. And those earrings are so cute!

CraftyHope said...

That necklace is beautiful. You did a great job with your beadwork. Those leaves are elegant and delicate and so wonderful!

Terri said...

Gorgeous soup and you did amazing things with it! Really Soup-er! Yep I'm still hopping...don't want to miss a thing!

Anonymous said...

Amazing earrings ;) never tried this technique b4 (peyote?) I'm actually organising a mass bead soup where all the crafters get the same set of beads :) i think it ll be really cool too see what 10s or even 100s of people make with the same beads! planning to send out the beads 2 aug with designs revealed end aug. Would be cool if u d like to take part (details on https://hapinesswherever.wordpress.com/bead-soup/) :)

bairozan said...

Awesome beading, the pendant and the leaves are gorgeous! I love the overall design of the necklace and the earrings are just stunning!

WindDancerStudios said...

Love the pieces you made, the little Russian leaves are perfect! I especially like them with the flowers. I've used both but have never thought to pair them. Great soup!

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