20 June 2010

Bead Soup Blog Party!


Thanks to the wonderful beads that Bead Soup Party partner Wanda sent me, I was able to stretch my creative wings and get back into jewelry making. I've used copper quite often, and the wonderful hammered copper pendant and butterflies in Wanda's package caught my eye right away. Then I noticed the blue and earth-tone ceramic beads and thought, wow, these are beautiful... how can I possibly do them justice? I knew these would take me in a whole new direction (I usually use gemstones, and have been getting kind of delicate lately) so decided to just look at everything for a while and see what ideas started to form in my mind.


Not surprisingly, when I finally had time to sit down with this project, my 6-year-old, who was doing Creative Day with me, announced she had an idea for the blue glass, green cat's eye, and copper rounds in the package and proceeded to appropriate those, along with several of the butterflies. No problem; I had more than enough to proceed, and as I started laying out the ceramic beads I "saw" spaces for my own Swarovski crystals and copper flower spacers and hammered rounds.

Wanda also sent me a lovely copper-and-silver toggle clasp, but since I had enough beads to also make a bracelet, and I had two sets of copper flower toggles, I used mine instead and saved Wanda's toggle for another project. Then, earrings: Maggie relinquished two butterflies, which I wirewrapped onto handmade copper headpins with Swarovski crystals and then dangled from copper heart earwires. I am so pleased with how these pieces came together and have really enjoyed this "party"! Now I'm off to see what my fellow creatives have made... when I find what Wanda made with the beads I sent her (I think she's showing off her creations on Thursday), I'll link to her -- I can't wait to see what she made! Again, many thanks to Wanda for the beautiful beads!

Here's a list of everyone else showing today:

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth
16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio
17. Marie, Skye Jewels
18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta
19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's
20. Joanna, Filcowe
21. Diane, Diane Hawkey
22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
23. (me)
24. Marcie, La Bella Joya
25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?
26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Go visit, enjoy, leave a comment, and be inspired. And I thank everyone for visiting me!

57 comments:

steufel said...

Stunning. Love the colors, love the beads, love your creation. regards Stefanie

Lorelei Eurto said...

WOW! Those blue beads are pretty amazing! Nice work with your soup!

Regina said...

Love the copper and blue combination and the butterflies. Great design bringing it all together. Very pretty and very wearable. Congratulations.

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Wow! I love the copper pendant, it made my heart go a pitter patter. And those blue and brown ceramic beads are to die for. I love how everything came together.

Nicki said...

I just love these ceramic triangles. And I think you did a really good job balancing the heavier beads with the fine svarowski crystals. And this bracelet is really nice too, are those little tube beads right next to the clasp? Love both your pieces.

Marcie Abney Carroll said...

This is really great and your picture is amazing. (of course!) The whole thing just captured me the minute I looked at it. Great job!

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful!!

moonlitfantaseas said...

Wow I totally love your bead soup creations! first of all I am a big fan of copper, and all those yummy ceramic beads, and such wonderful colors! its bold and very beautiful!I would definitely wear this!

Cathryn said...

First, I love copper! It's warm and earthy and stunning! Second, one of my favorite colors is shades of blue! So seeing your artwork that combined two of my favorite things just set my heart all pitty-patter with joy! Beautiful and contemporary piece you have created! Thank you!

RockerJewlz said...

Spectacular blend of color and shape.

Spirited Earth said...

this blue and copper combo is stunning..love it love it..great job

Juli Cannon said...

Oh Anna! This is an absolute show stopper. The colors are divine and I love how you've brought them together. Gorgeous.

diane hawkey said...

I love all the colors and textures together. Lovely!

Heather said...

I am having a love affair with copper and the blue and green colors with it are fabulous!! I WANT this Set!! (Please) Gorgeous use of everything! WOW!

Megilon said...

Beautiful piece! The pendant is stunning and your design came together great.

Marie Cramp said...

I LOVE what you made! It is stunning and earthy! I think you should post your daughter's creation too! I would LOVE to see what she made!! :)

Joanna Matuszczyk said...

Wow! Love the combination of red copper and blue ceramic beads. Perfect for summer:)

Tyne said...

I love it! I'm always looking to be inspired, and this did it! Thanks!

tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com

Kella said...

Colours that I absaloutely love and copper is my favourite metal too.

Your soup is wearable, so here is my address .... ;)

Silver Parrot said...

Beautiful - love the color combo!

Christine said...

That set is just breathtaking! I really love it!

Amy F said...

love the blue and copper together!

Rebecca said...

Amazing colours! I love it.

Pretty Things said...

SQUEE! I absolutely LOVE that! All those beads are right up my alley and that pendant is divine!

Jo said...

Gorgeous! I love the mix of colours and the ceramic beads.

Lisa said...

Great combination of materials and colors!

Jennifer Cameron said...

the blue beads are so cool! wonderful design and how fun you were having creative day with your daughter ;o)

Loretta said...

I love the bracelet and necklace. Copper is my new favorite metal and this really shows it off.

EmandaJ said...

OGM!! I LOVE your set of pieces -- great beads soup ingredients to work with. You are so lucky have an assistant designer ;^)

Emanda

cindydolezaldesigns said...

Wow. That is gorgeous.

VanBeads said...

Love the story about how your daughter appropriated some of the beads for herself, LOL! My toddler loves to play with my beads, too! The necklace with the copper and the blue is absolutely stunning - what a gorgeous design. Well done!

Marieke said...

WOW absolutely gorgious. The combination of ceramic blue and copper is simply stunning!

Laurel said...

Lovely! Great "soup" work!

Karyn said...

Ohhh that is stunning. The blue and copper are so striking together. Very, very nice!

Karyn

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous Set!

Debbie / Prairie Emporium said...

Love the color combo. You made a awesome set of jewelry with you mix. Great job!!

Unknown said...

beautiful, I really want to just fondle these beads!

Unknown said...

What a show stopping necklace wow! You can really razzle dazzle with this pc youve made! This is a really stunningly beautiful necklace! Fine wine well done job!

Denise Yezbak Moore said...

Wow - I really like the copper and the blue together. The blue beads are stunning! A really beautiful design. Great job mixing your soup!

Kate said...

Wow, just WOW!!! I love that whole set, just fantastic! love the colors and the textures, it all just works so well together!

drachenei said...

Wow. Lovely design. The colors are so beautiful.

ViviBijoux said...

What a pendant! I'm like wow! How great to have done the whole set. Will you be showing off your gorgeous pieces? You definitely should! smiles, Virginie

Barbara Bechtel said...

I really like that you made a complete set! Great job!

Dale said...

oh those big blue beads... to die for! Did you get those from wanda or are those part of your stash? lovely lovely use of them here.

Kate said...

Wow. That's what I said out loud when I brought up your page! That is GORGEOUS. The focal, beads, clasp, butterflies...I couldn't stop looking at it all and finding beautiful things everywhere I looked.

Courtney Breul said...

I love the blue and copper combo. Wonderful piece.

Pearl and Pebble said...

This is just exquisite! I love the blue and copper combo. Gorgeous gorgeous beads!!!

TesoriTrovati said...

Wow! What a great combination. I love those delicately ornate blue beads. And that focal is so yummy. Thanks for the generous helping of soup!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Jen Judd said...

That deep blue and copper is just gorgeous!! So glad you could make it into a fun day with your Maggie!

Anonymous said...

That is absolutely gorgeous!! I would wear all of those pieces in a second. But you know what makes the design devine?? It's those Swarovski crystals. They are perfect with the copper and beads and add just the right amount of punch to bring out the blues. Fantastic job!

BahamaDawn said...

stunning colors!! love the copper and the blue together!! fabulous necklace

Michelle said...

Love the pendant (i've really been into copper lately) and the blue is just a wonderful match!
Bead Happy!
Michelle

Nancy said...

I have to say that this necklace just stopped me in my tracks. It is just perfect! I love the combination of the blue tone beads with the copper. It is just stunning. Wow, I feel speechless.

one-eared pig said...

YUMMY!

Unknown said...

GASP!
Love. Love. Love this set!

Valerie said...

I love the colors. Your creation feels very earthy to me.....I love that! Great job! And BTW, your photos are amazing.....you are a great photographer.

Patti said...

Fabulous focal... great design... gorgeous colors!