Bead Soup Has ARrived

My bead soup arrived last week, but I have been so busy....I am just getting a chance to blog about it now.

My partner Stephanie Haussler sent me an awesome mix of some pretty spring colors.

 Her and her husband are a team, he makes glass beads, and she makes and sells jewelry.  You can check out their etsy shop here.

http://www.stephaniehaussler.etsy.com/

This is the pretty box I got 

and this is what was waiting inside

I love that she sent lots of ribbon- I love fabric.

The focal is by her husband.  I like the black ends against the pastel green- very nice!  However, this shape is hard for me, so time to get my thinking cap on and branch out from my comfort zone (but that is what this is all about- right?)  She even sent me some Wooly Wire (which is funny because I sent her some too!)

I also got lots of accent beads in shades of purple, which I LOVE.  Though I am not sure I will do a purple and green color palate on this just yet.

I got a little bag of more lampwork by her husband

What a great soup!  I can't wait to start playing.

I sent Stephanie two soups.  The first one is something that I personally would love to design with.  Its a little on the colorless rustic side.  It's not everyone's style for sure.  The polymer donut and charm and bronze beads are by me.  The clasp is by Genea Beads.

So just in case she hated it, I sent a second one with a little more color, and I included some beads from friends whose work I adore.

This one has a ceramic donut by Marsha Neal Studios, a polymer donut by me, sea glass (which I love), a starfish headpin by Genea Beads, and Wooly Wire by my friend Nellie!

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My friend Heather Marston contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if my daughter Julia would like to trade soups with her daughter Sarah.  Of course, she jumped on it.  So I will also be showing off her soup and her creation.  This is what Julia received from Sarah. (sarah even made the enameled beads herself!!!)

Julia just squealed!  She is kinda new to jewelry making- just finding a love for it this past year......so she is not sure what to do with it yet.  I am sure she will rock it though !!!!

This is what Julia sent to Sarah

two of her polymer "candy hearts", some wing dings from Genea Beads, and some My Elements from Yvonne (her new favorite shop!)

Bead Soup Blog Party~ What I Sent

My Bead Soup partner (tracy stillman) from Australia, got my beads a week or so ago, but I haven't had a chance to blog as much as I'd like.  So here are some pic's of what I sent.  I just tried to send a little of what I love, and it was fun to find out she did the same for me.  Its like getting to know someone through beads!!!!

I dug into my personal stash of butterfly wings, since I can't seem to keep them stocked in the shop (but will be stocking them this month!!!  I promise!)  These were favorites of mine, that I used mica powder on to add shimmer!  I made a swirl and hook clasp for her too. 

The rest, well, I went a little nuts.  I had lots of beads in colors to match, and just wanted to bless her with them.  My partner last year sent me TONS of soup!  I mean TONS!  So this year, I figured I would bless whomever my partner was, with lots of soup.  I threw in some drilled sea glass, little heart charms I made, pearls, crackle quartz in blue, turquoise, amazonite nuggets (love them), copper coated ceramic beads from Mykonos and lots of other little things I don't design without.  I hope they are Tracy's colors! 
I can't wait for the party.  My soup from Tracy is on my table, and every day I look at it, wondering what it will end up like.  I have some sketches, and ideas, but I am not ready to dig in just yet.

A BIG thanks to Lori for organizing this bead soup blog party.  With so many people this time, its been a ton of extra work for her.

Thanks Lori!

BEAD SOUP has arrived!

If you don't know what bead soup is, please click the link to the right "Bead Soup Blog Party" to read all about it!!!!  Its a good time!

While I was on vacation, my bead soup arrived.  I don't know if I was happier to be home or open my soup!  But first, let me tell you about my partner.

Lori paired me up with Tracy Stillman, who lives in Australia!  I was so excited to have a partner from so far away.  I asked Tracy to share a little bit of what she does for a living, and her beading life.

This is what she said,  "I actually work in employee communications full-time, so jewelry for me is more of a hobby and something I love to do whenever I have any spare time. And, as much as I love creating with beads and making jewelry, I also love writing so I have the best of both worlds I think. My perfect job would probably be in a marketing communications role for a bead magazine or large beading supplies company - there just aren't many of them in Australia! I did own an online bead business from 2005-2008 and yes, I wrote a few bead related articles which still pop up in google's search engine."

I think Tracy and I are a great match, because I love to read what others write.  Writing is truly a talent, and I hope she does get to do her dream job someday.

Here are some creations by Tracy.  I love her variety, and how she really finishes her pieces from the very front, to the little details on the back.

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So that is Tracy (very nice to meet her, isn't it?).....and she sent me some cool bead soup.  She told me it was her favorite color, but would tell me what that was.  Well, its...........................

GREEN!

Look at the great textures in these beads and that clasp.  I Love me some texture!!!!

That focal is so cool to hold, I love the feel of lampwork beads, though I will be honest, I rarely know what to do with them in my jewelry.  So this is a good challenge for me.  Its also a bit bright for my color pallette, but that is the point, right?  I really do like being challenged, and my brain is spinning with ideas for this one!

I hope she gets my soup soon.  I am nervous shipping all the way to Australia, since there is NO insurance or delivery confirmation.  (if you were around for the last party, you may remember my soup got lost, WITH delivery confirmation only a few states away.....it was confirmed delivery to the wrong state, and no one could tell me where it went:(...but anyway)
..........fingers crossed.................................and I hope she likes it!
 
Soup is on people!

Artbeads 15% Off ~~~Only for Special People~~~~~

And you get to be one of the special people.  I got an email this morning that the Artbead Design Team is getting a special deal, 15% off any order, any size, until the end of February.  Which is pretty cool.

 

They also said that we can share the love with friends, family and fellow bloggers!  THAT'S YOU!  And that is super cool!

I know with the Bead Soup Blog Party coming up this saturday, I will be drooling at all the cool beads that were used, and I will begin a mental list of, "wish I had that, think I need this, ect...".

So if you are like me, take your list to ArtBeads and get 15% off.  Only until the end of February, so hurry!

Use code ZZ-DESIGNER-0211

I Can't Wait to Share Soup with you ALL!!!!

I am finally done my bead soup necklace(s).  I ended up making two, since I got sent two sets of beads.  Its been pretty challenging, from shapes and colors I am not used to, to actually using a standard clasp (I make ALL my jewelry adjustable with a hook and chain closure).  However- I loved every minute of it.

Remember these beads??????

Here was one of my ideas I threw around....................

But it didn't quite do it for me...................
So here is a sneak peek of the finished piece

Ahh, yes, just a peek.  You have to wait for the reveal for the whole thing!
And- do you remember these beads???

Here's just a peak..............

I bet your mouth is watering for some Hot Bead Soup!  I know mine is.  I hope you can stop by on saturday for the big reveal!

See you then!!!

The Bead Soup Has arrived!

My partner for the Bead Soup Blog Party, Lynda Moseley of Diva Designs finally got her loot!  Here is the beautiful picture she posted on her blog!

I love to make those pouches- I use felt that is made from recycled plastics, and then little pieces of fabric left over from sewing project.  I even picked up some sari fabrics~ because they are just so beautiful!  I plan to make more this year for special purchases.

Since Lynda got her stuff so late, I hope she can make the bead hop!  Lets all send her some positive beady energy so she can get it all done!

Here are some pics that I took of what I sent. I had so much fun putting these together.  First is a fine silver "Keshi Bloom" pendant (my signature design) with a mix of silver, pearls, labradorite, ect....

Next is a handmade gemstone pendant with a mix of beads and pearls.  The main pendant is ocean jasper....I am really into the whites and browns this year.

And then lastly................here are the pics of the package that never made it.  I am sad that someone may have kept this, even though it didn't belong to them.  I was really happy about this set too..........oh well.  Perhaps it did get sent back, and it's just in post office limbo.  Maybe Lynda will get it later this year....could be a nice surprise for her, right???  (in case you didn't know, my first package I sent Lynda was sent to the wrong person...even with delivery confirmation).

This batch had a bronz and copper focal and clasp- with a matching patina that I made for her.  I wanted it to look old.....kina like ancient ruins.  I made the clasp so she could either do a hook or toggle.  I really hope this still ends up on her doorstep someday.

I will be working on my creation(s) this weekend.  I have been sketching, and have a good idea of where I am going with my soup!