Bead Soup Swap 2021

THE REVEAL 

BEADED EMBROIDERED OWL FOCAL

What to do when you were gifted this fabulous  

Beaded embroidered Owl?

Jodie Marshall is an outstanding bead artist.

From her lampwork beads to her beaded embroidery.

Amazing !

I wanted it to balance and compliment the size of the owl.

In my mind it needed what I did to have  

a certain amount of heft.

I wanted it to lay high on the neckline so it 

would not bounce around like a longer necklace would.

Multiple chains came to mind. 

But once you add the focal it would pull it down.

Not the look I was going for. 

I wanted it to keep a slight curve. 

Then I thought I could make a simple wire bail.

Then the aha moment came ....

Wire wrapped the beads on the bail.

Simple and clean.

So what to do with the beaded chains

 I had created.

Make a coordinating bracelet & earrings with beads 

from the bead soup that was sent 

and my stash.

STERLING SILVER LEAF TOGGLE CLASP 

Lampwork beads are from 

The Beaded Gift 

and other lampwork miscellaneous beads 

from my stash.

Contemporary 

S.S. Leaf Toggle

I used two of Jodie’s small misty green

 lampwork spacer beads.

I think my beads were just waiting 

for her beads and beautiful toggle clasp 

to make this bracelet complete.

COORDINATING  EARRINGS .

SPRING NECKLACE 

Inspired by some earring pins I found on Pinterest.

Did not see a necklace version. 

So that’s what I chose to do.

Using Jodie’s copper focal ring and miscellaneous 

Chezh glass beads.

 I did some wire wrapping and beaded chain.

MATCHING EARRINGS

EMERALD HEART NECKLACE 

Using Jodie’s heart lampwork bead 

I paired it with emerald and clear rondel crystals

Swarovski Triangle Crystal and setting

And a soldered drop crystal.

I made the simple loop beaded long chain.

MATCHING EARRINGS 

 BONUS EARRINGS 

Miscellaneous orange Chezh glass beads and Jodie’s 

orange spacer lampwork beads.

Grace lampwork beads paired Jodie Marshall’s 

black spacer lampwork beads.

Thank You to my awesome swap partner.

Jodie Marshall!

I just loved what you sent me. 

And I have some items left. 

I have a few ideas rolling around in my head for them.

Link to Jodie’s FB Page.

https://www.facebook.com/marshalljodie/

 

Thank you Lori Anderson for hosting this swap. 

Knowing what I know about you...You put so much 

heart and soul in to this.

Please rest up when you can.

Link for list of participants: 

https://thesumofsmallthings.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR16L6jHWP8R-Z9JSmAXgjXNF8xCUq9sOjpFK0jPct8PQ1dmpsNrMDe-5e4

And

THANK All OF YOU!

For visiting and for leaving a kind comment.

I will be visiting you soon.

 My bead soup arrived from Jodie Marshall yesterday.

Looks like it went through a lot to get here.

But inside

Was a Beautifully wrapped package.

With all the yummy soup contents.

Just look at that bed embroidered pendant! 

Wowza!

All the lampwork beads were made by Jodi. 

The copper ring and ball headpins handmade. 

This is one talented lady!

Copper chain,

Czech and Chinese glass beads along with Sterling beads 

and toggle clasp help round out this soup mix.

Delicious 😋 

Thank you so so much!

 My bead soup swap partner, Jodi Marshall received her

Bead soup that I sent today. 

So it is safe to now share the pictures I took of it.

Polymer clay faces I made some time ago,

Accented the ribbon on her package.

The ceramic focals came from an artist I found on Etsy.

 Majoyoal.Etsy.com. She lives in Spain.

 I was sweating it out that they would arrived on time. 

They did with one day to spare for the shipping out deadline.

I was going with a Bird theme since the reveal will be in April.

Spring time when the birds return.

The clasp is a Green Girl bronze toggle.

I added miscellaneous Czech beads, Toho seed beads, 

Angelite rondells, copper beads and findings, 

Looking forward to seeing what she creates!

 It has been a few years since my last post. 

Life got overwhelming and somethings had to be set aside. 

I am excited to be participating in Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Swap & Create.

 

https://pin.it/7I6dIfL

Testing this link out to see if it will take you to my jewelry board on Pinterest 

So check back in periodically to see sneak peaks and 

then the reveal of the final creations. 

Not only mine but my swap partners and 

the others who participated in this fantastic swap. 

It is sure to be a treat for the eyes!

Card Swap

Had the pleasure of meeting a fellow card maker through a FB group My Favorite Things Buy/ Sell / Trade. Kerys Sharrock a designer for Whimsey Stamps. Her blog is Scrappin’n’Happy!  We kept the swap simple...just one generic card. Here is her adorable card using an older MFT stamp featuring Jolinne.  Got a little crunched from the mail sorter...so heads up card makers when we make our cards dimensional with foam tape or foam backing. Normally she adds a piece of card board to help with that but sometimes life is so hectic we forget. No worries this card is so sweet, the sentiment is perfect...I’m glad we’re friends.  I love Kerys coloring, she uses prisma pencils and the musical note embossing background. I am glad I reached out and made a new card making friend!

ABS November Challenge

 the Bourchardon Mill

by Armand Guillaumin

1906 oil on Canvas.

For more details click here.

For the soft sky..I used a Gaea bead as my art 

bead for this piece.

I also used some Unicorn beads to represent the 

reflections on the water.

Went with a coin shaped focal gem stone bead

 that had the soft violet shades from the painting.

Various Czech glass beads, a geode bead

and antique copper findings 

were also used to pull it all together.

ABS October Challenge

Madame De Pompador

by Francios Boucher

1756

served as this months inspiration.

For more information please click here.

I had been hoarding a bracelet bar from 

Earthenwood Studios.

I added plenty of delicate charms to contrast the 

 bold shape of the bracelet bar.

So happy to use up so many of my beads on this.

I went with various styles and colors of

Czech glass beads.

Green aventurine and goldtone bugle beads.

and a little silk bow.

ABS July Challenge

Tiger in tropical storm 

By Henri Rousseau

 1891 oil painting

Served as this month Art Bead Scene Challenge.

For more information click 

HERE.

My art beads is this terrific link by SuzieQ beads 

and these yummy green lampwork beads 

that I won from Kerry of Celtic Craft Designs.

Additional beads are Unicorn lampwork beads 

Green jade beads, Misc. bead with Copper findings 

and Vintaj charms.

ABS June Challenge

 Profile on Red Meanders

formerly Jeanne d'Arc

Odelin  Redon

1900 Pastel

For more information about this months 

challenge and the artist.

please click Here.

working with what I had ...I

went with the patina and rustiness 

that I saw in this piece of art work.

along with the softer shade of the purples.

Artist beads - Gaea Beads, along with 

Czech beads, Lampwork beads, 

and some Nikos Greek findings. 

ABS May Challenge

Bowl of fruit, Violin and Bottle

Pablo Picasso

1914 oil on canvas

For more information on this months 

ABS challenge click here. 

Art Beads used: 

PC Pendant and PC Blue bird by Katherine Thompson,

Barn Burd Designs.

Gemstone beads, Gunmetal chain and spacer.

Recycled Script Charm.

ABS Winnings from T-Beads

I got some Happy Mail this week.

My winnings from April's ABS Challenge.

 I was randomly selected and

 this is what Tammy sent.

 I really love lampwork beads and

 I so admire Tammy's talent!

Having taken a lampwork bead class I have an

appreciation for the skills it takes to make these 

beautiful little works of Art!

Thank You ABS

and A big Thank You to 

Tammy of T-beads 

for the generous gift!

ABS ~ April Challenge

Landscape with Peacocks

by Paul Gauguin 

Oil on canvas 1892

For mare details click here

This is what I created with ...

Golem Design Studio Beads,

Nunn design toggle, 

Multi color square lampwork bead,

Tibetan coin bead with coral and turquoise, 

Turquoise (dyed) Riverstone 6mm beads.

I pulled out the Coral, Yellow and Mossy green

 from the painting.

The beads dictated the additional Teal color.

I like the mix metal of the antique brass 

and the bright silver.

If it wasn't for this Challenge I may have

never thought to use the Tibetan beads 

with the Golem beads.

I will call this a Happy accident.

Bead Soup Blog Hop ~ Hoarders Edition!

Welcome to Lori Anderson's

Bead Soup Blog party ~ Hoarders Edition.

My partner Carrie Stalcup sent me 

this lovely carved mermaid

 out of peach Aventurine.

She had been hoarding it for 15 years.

Wow!

Her true age is unknown.

I say, "Keep'em guessing."

Designing how I wanted to feature the focal 

was great fun.

In the end I went with a wire wrapped bail 

and carried 

the copper wire wrapping

 throughout the necklace.

Carrie also sent a lovely 

array of pearls to kept her company

on her journey to me.

Alas they parted and went their separate ways.  

But don't be sad, 

she made new friends with my

Czech glass beads, Greek copper patina 

beads and Greek fish hook link.

My peach jade beads seemed 

to play well with others and 

nicely complimented the focal.

As did the Amazonite beads

which reminded me of water.

I'm hoping her new friends make 

her happy.

Then this bracelet and earrings
 appeared with some of the pearls

Carrie sent.

Ocean Jasper, Czech Crystal,
silver plated findings.

Why not check out the other designers creations

Click HERE 

for the full list and links.

Thank You Carrie
for being a fantastic swap partner

and for all of the wonderful hoarded 

beads that you shared with me!

Thank You Lori for another amazing BSBH event!

And a Thank You
to your helpers,
Arlene Dean and Ann Sherwood!

You Did It!

One more piece got assembled today, March 21st.
Hand knotted with
Irish waxed linen thread.
White Shell items were also a gift from
 my Mom's friend in Florida, Kay.

Carrie, can  you see this as a fun 

Summer piece

with a classic white shirt or tank top?