Bead Soup Party REVEAL
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! The Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal! First, I just want to send Lori Anderson, our Bead Soup organizer, a hearty thanks for all her hard work to make this such a fun experience!
If you’ll remember, my partner, Karen Firnberg, sent me a giant cup of bead soup. I was totally spoiled with three focals and tons of beady goodness. Lori left me a comment urging me to make more than one piece for the challenge, so I took up the gauntlet and made…wait for it… FOUR necklaces! So bear with me. This will be a long post.
necklace one: the safe bet
I call this necklace “the safe bet” because when I first opened my soup, I was immediately drawn to the metal drops that came to Karen from another friend who was de-stashing her own bead collection. I couldn’t wait to pair them up with the jasper beads which were so earthy and rich with texture. To keep the weight of the necklace down, I used large lightweight wood washers and bamboo tube beads. All in all, this necklace came together very quickly and painlessly. Very much in my ‘wheelhouse’ or style I’ve been working in lately. And better still, I have a gazillion of those metal drops left to play with.
necklace two: the octopus
We were supposed to use a focal and the clasp that our partner sent us, and this necklace is the only one where I used both together. Karen is a whiz with seed beads. I am not. This necklace ended up being my most challenging. I was determined to try a multi-strand piece, and quite honestly, nothing I paired this big, lovely, bold focal up with worked until I decided to combine the antique copper tube beads with the bamboo. I think this necklace is crazy, and certainly made me crazy while I was working on it. I love how it turned out though. It reminds me of an octopus with its eight trailing tentacles bead strands. But it was just what the soup was supposed to be—a creative challenge with a focal and clasp I might not have picked out for myself.
necklace three: color coordinated
This third necklace needs to be restrung. Shhh…don’t tell anyone. I messed up the bead pattern right at the clasp, but as I’m finishing this blog party at the eleventh hour, I didn’t have time to re-do it. Ahem. Anyway. Karen sent me another interesting but challenging focal to work with on this one. After many false starts, I went with a monochromatic brown scheme that drew inspiration from the colors in the lamp-work focal. This is another piece that I supplemented with beads from my own stash. Am I a bad Karyn for doing this?
necklace four: anemone
Last but not least, focal four, a lovely anemone lamp-work that I could stare into forever, but was so hard for me to design around! This necklace also had many flops along the way to this incarnation. I knew right away I wanted to use the carnelian rounds to pick out the lovely oranges inside the focal. The shell sticks were chosen to go along with the sea-theme of the focal. I hope the final result looks like something you’d wear at a tropical beach.
my feelings
I really, truly, want to thank Karen for spoiling me so nicely with this soup. I have SO many beads left to play with, and I hope I did her focals proud. The process was surprising to me. I really wanted to try and use up everything that Karen sent me, but I found myself making different choices in response to the focals I was given. For example, Karen sent along a lovely mix of orange, red, and yellow seed beads of various sizes, and no matter how I tried, I just couldn’t work them into a design I was happy with. Was this a failure on my part? Are the beads just waiting for the right focal to come along? Let me know how well you integrated your soup beads into your designs. And I’d love to know which necklace you like the best!
the rest of the hop
And now, the rest of the Bead Soup Participants. I can’t wait to dive in and see what everyone else made!
Click here to see the bead soup blog party list, or use the links below:
September 17th, 2011 at 9:01 am
Oh, Karyn! I love them all. You did such a great job. I could never do what you do. The variety, color and balance are superb. I just knew you would like those metal drops. I love the beads you used with the Jen Cameron focal. Well done. I never would have dreamed of turning the Shirley Cook focal that direction! Your choice of beads in this one are just right. The anemone is a challenge which you conquered! Again, I never would have thought to use a jump ring to attach it to the necklace. You chose just the right beads to pull out the color in the focal. It was such a pleasure being your partner and getting to know you. Stay in touch! I hope you like what I did with your ingredients.
September 17th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Wow! A big round of applause for you!
All those pieces inspired by one soup I am truly amazed. Love the rustic rugged feel to all these pieces.
September 17th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
OMG!!! You rock! So many goodies – I think that second one is my fave delicate and has a lot of movement to it. They all have a very exotic feel to them! Beautiful work Karen! XO
September 17th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
You have so inspired me. I think designing is the hardest part of jewelry making. You have done an exceptional job. They are all beautiful and yet unique.
Julie
September 17th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Wow — you are some kind of over-achiever!! I’m with you about working outside your comfort zone. But, we’re all being pushed outside our comfort zones — with amazing results!
Enjoy the hop,
Emanda
http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html
September 17th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Karyn – oh. wow. *Four* stunning pieces! What incredible soup you had to work with, and you rocked it so wonderfully! What a great job. I *love* that last necklace – the orange bits are lovely!
September 17th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
I definitely think necklace # 2 is my favorite, but all of your designs are so lovely! Such amazing pieces, and what beautiful beads. Great work!
September 17th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
You did a fantastic job with all the great stuff your partner sent…I am so with you on the seed beads! I can’t make them look decent for love or money, which is why I am so wowed by the strands on SOup 2 that work so well. Great piece.
September 17th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Your necklaces are fantastic! I love how you write on the photos. Great work!
September 17th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Wow you made a lot of pieces. What a great selection. They are all so lovely, but i think the 4th is my favorite. I love how you did your photo layouts. Great job!
September 17th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
The last one is my favorite. I think its the orange/gray combination, plus those stick beads, which look so dramatic! And I *love* the way you did the photos on your post. It’s so nice to see where everything came from and you used books as props! Who wouldn’t love that?
September 17th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.
You completely knocked it out of the park. I love how your designed your pieces, your photos, everything! I love octopus because I KNOW how hard that was to get together. Very clever how you moved from the pendant to the upper multi-strands. And of course the bottom one — oh my. I have some kyanite sticks and a round pendant that is equally mesmerizing and I may have to ask for permission to borrow your idea.
I hope you’ll participate again!
Love, Lori
September 17th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
So much yumminess!
September 17th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Love, love, love the designs of all four necklaces and thanks for the photos with information…great presentation.
September 17th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
What a beautiful soup you made my friend, your work is truly stunning!! Thanks for sharing & all I can say is yummmmmy!!!
September 17th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
You are very, very talented and I love your photos as well!
September 17th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
These are all beautiful designs – just wonderful!
September 17th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Karyn…I love all your pieces..you have put them together oh so stylishly.I love the delicacy of the multistrands..the copper tube beads and the bamboo working together so well. I also am lusting after those African metal drops! The Lynn Berry focal with the carnelian and shell is such a beautiful choice and the colours together so beautiful. I also want to say I LOVE your styling and the written description on the photos is so clever… Thankyou.. just beautiful and great inspiration
jenni
September 17th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Wow, beautiful bead soup necklaces! I love each one. You have a wonderful talent for jewelry making.
September 17th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Thanks for coming by for a visit. Wow, love what you did with your soup! I think I like the first one the best, or maybe the last, or, well, I don’t know, they are all so unique and gorgeous.
September 18th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Oh.My.Gosh! I didn’t know Karen and now you had that focal. LOL! Imagine my exuberant happy dance getting a surprise like that. You totally made awesome pieces. I am partial the the 2nd because of my focal. Of course. Also because it looks like an engineering jewelry design genius made it. The first one I would kill for those African drop things. They are so cool. The last one the stick beads are so dramatic and my favorite color. The third one is simply gorgeous. Also, your photos ROCK! I might steel that idea. Also, do you mind if I post your piece on FB and maybe my blog at some point too?
September 18th, 2011 at 12:08 am
Yes, Jennifer, you have my permission! Just sent you an email.
Love that you got such a pleasant surprise!
September 18th, 2011 at 12:53 am
Where do I start? Hmmmm….
I adore the way you laid out this blog post with the large pictures that tell so very much! INGENIOUS!
As well, each of your pieces is so very well done. I don’t think I could pick a favorite (it’s the last one. . .shhhhh yourself!) You really did a great job highlighting each of the beads you received. So great!
September 18th, 2011 at 3:15 am
Thank you for dropping by Karen. What a great bead soup I love the pieces you made from it, I especially like The Octopus it looks so delicate and unusual.
September 18th, 2011 at 4:42 am
Beautiful necklaces, Karyn! The focals are gorgeous, I like how you used the bamboo bead tubes ( it’s something I have never tried before) and I love the way you have annotated the photos . My favourite? The Octopus
)
Geanina.
September 18th, 2011 at 7:51 am
You took up the challenge artfully, my beady-pal! Wow! Each one is earthy and ethnic in feel. They look like true artifacts! Amazing! You’ve done yourself and your bead soup partner proud! Love all of them!
September 18th, 2011 at 8:22 am
Great work. My fav is the “octopus”!. Its light and airy and I really love your use of the curved copper tubes.
September 18th, 2011 at 8:35 am
Beautiful necklaces, all of them! I have two faves: First of all the second necklace. I just love those sleek, flowing strands. It’s very much my kind of style that. Then I also fell for the last necklace with those cool spikes. I like how you’ve picked up the colours in the pendant and worked with different shapes. It looks earthy, land meets sea in those colours and materials you choose.
September 18th, 2011 at 9:44 am
Wow-what beautiful necklaces! Soup two is my personal favorite. I also really like the focal of soup one. You did a wonderful job!
September 18th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Number one is my vote, just in case we’re voting.
I love everything going on in that necklace.
September 18th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Wow, look at all the necklaces that came from this! All different in feel and great to wear. Good job
September 18th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
WOW, what a super bunch of beads you got in your soup and what an amazing collection of necklaces you made! i love that last one, the spikes and lampwork go great together.
September 18th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
All four necklaces are beautiful, but the octopus is my fave! Well done!
September 18th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Wow, you really made use of your soup! Awesome creations! Wonderful job all ALL of them!
September 18th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
All I can really say is WOW!!!!!
September 18th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
The best part of the blog hop is discovering the blogs themselves, as well as viewing the crafter’s work. I love how you label your photos. You made an impressive collection of pieces from your bead soup–love your style.
September 18th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Wow! Just over the top wow!!! I totally love how you laid out the photos and identified all the elements. Would love for you to do a post on that later on! Do I have to pick a favorite? The octopus calls to me for some reason…must be the seed beads.
I really, really love how the stick beads mimic the spikes in the focal on the last one. I’m so thrilled to have found your blog, and look forward reading your posts more after all the blog hopping! Blessings!
September 18th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
If I have to pick I will say #4 for me but, it you want to give them all to me I will wear all of them!! Congrats on working with the seed beads….they really try your patience. Beautiful Beautiful work.
September 18th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Such pretty necklaces! Love the way you photographed them and labeled your materials used and where they came from.
September 18th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
Wow! What a clever use of those shell stick beads with the boro focal. They enhance each other perfectly. I also like the multi-strands of the seed beads and bamboo tubes you created. An expensive look, without much cost!
September 18th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I really, really like The Octopus… very aptly named. Those bamboo and vintage copper tube beads are awesome and I love how their impact in the design.
September 18th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
beautiful creations, and love how you’ve photographed and labelled them….:)
September 19th, 2011 at 4:51 am
my oh my! Those necklaces are all so gorgeous! Lucky you for getting such beautiful beads! I love what you’ve done with them!
September 19th, 2011 at 8:30 am
What a wealth! They are all gorgeous!
September 19th, 2011 at 10:00 am
Loooove your designs!! Absolutly beautiful!!
September 19th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Beautiful designs – simply gorgeous! Love that you were able to do so many and have so much fun!
September 19th, 2011 at 11:29 am
My favorite design is the Octopus…I like its flow and that it’s airy. I too made many pieces in an effort to use up as much as I could of the beads that were sent to me!
September 19th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
My favorite would be the 2nd one. I am a big fan of seed beads and the focal is wonderful. Your design combines both for a beautiful piece. All of your necklaces are very beautiful!
September 19th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Busy girl! I love your designs and creativity – those are 4 fabulous necklaces you created!
September 19th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Lovely work! You’ve outdone yourself!
September 19th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
You really stretched your soup to make some wonderful pieces.
September 19th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Oh wow, gorgeous designs! I love that last necklace with the shell sticks! Great job!
September 19th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Wonderful, wonderful soup! Love the last one best!
September 19th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
>>Karen sent along a lovely mix of orange, red, and yellow seed beads of various sizes, and no matter how I tried, I just couldn’t work them into a design I was happy with.<<
I have had this happen also…Looking at your focals any one of them could have used the orange, red and yellow, but unless the proportions are right, the stars align, the ying and the yang are ok, they just don't work together!! Don't feel bad, it happens a lot!
You have made some really wonderful pieces!!
September 20th, 2011 at 2:15 am
What a creative way to blog. I love the wonderful photos with little descriptions of what each piece is. This wonderful display is like looking at a sketchbook with all of the wonderful finished pieces!
The designs are all beautiful, but my very favorite is the first necklace. I love the tribal feel to it and the neat looking metal bell? charms! So cool!
xo Genea
September 20th, 2011 at 2:49 am
Oh such lovely necklaces I think my favorite one would have to be the octopus but its a very close call as I love what you have done with the last one the colors are fantastic.
September 20th, 2011 at 3:44 am
Hi Karyn, what a wonderful job you’ve done! I love all the necklaces – but my absolute favourite is the octopus! I was wondering where you found those small bamboo beads?
September 20th, 2011 at 5:09 am
Love, love, love, love them – that’s one love for every gorgeous necklace… my fave is the anemone lampwork, I think I could stare into it forever too, it’s mesmerising.
September 20th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Wow! The 2nd, 3rd and 4th necklaces have a cool underwater vibe to them. An octopus swimming over a coral reef.
September 20th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Wonderful! You have created several terrific pieces of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture. Being a plus size gal myself, I appreciate your focus on fit. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
Lori
September 20th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Necklace #4 is my fav….no, Number 2. They are ALL wonderful. I would love to own just one of them! Beautiful, thoughtful work. Amazing photography. Loved every minute of reading about your experience!
September 20th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Wow! Great partnership. The necklaces are gorgeous. It’s hard to decide which I like the best.
September 20th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
What lovely pieces. I especially like the multi-strand necklace and the last one with the shell dagger beads. But your use of the soup and the texture is wonderful.
September 20th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
What a wonderful collection of necklaces you were able to make with your soup! The first one I particularly like because of the bamboo tubes. And the pendant on the last one (the sea anemone) is truly amazing! Those shell stick beads are tough to work with, and they look FAB with that pendant.
September 20th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Your soup mix is unbelievable, and I love, love, love what you created with it! My very favorite is the Octopus necklace with its multi-strand design and beautiful rich colors. Absolutely fantastic job!
September 20th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
wow you made 4 necklaces, all are lovely, however my favorites are the second and the last one, I love how you used the shell beads to repeat the feel of the implosion beads bubble dots…very nice…great soup results…
September 20th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
I am so sorry for being so late my computer was resisting too labor intensive:^)Very nice designs. And there is still time to sign up for the give-away, Just go to SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com Sept.16th blog and leave a comment
Be blessed to be a blessing
September 20th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
All four necklaces are beautiful & unique – it’s impossible to pick a favorite!!
September 20th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Gorgeous creations. You made lots of stuff right on!!!
September 20th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
I love them all, but I think the first one is my particular favorite! I also have to complement you on your excellent photography and the graphic “ingredient list” ineqch photo. It really helps to explain what you did and why within your design process. Great job!
September 20th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Wow! What a great soup you had to work with. I think I like the third one with the orange focal. Don’t ya just hate when you have to restring because you messed up the pattern? I have done that a couple of times.
Great job with all pieces.
September 20th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Thanks, Nicola! I can’t remember if I bought the bamboo beads at Beadaholique or at Fusion Beads. One of those. Fire Mountain Gems also carries bamboo beads as well.
September 21st, 2011 at 12:32 am
All very nice. Good work! My favorite is #4. Just lovely focal and the shell stick beads are an inspired choice. Love <3
September 21st, 2011 at 1:01 am
FABULOUS! You were a busy bee, and they are all wonderful, great job. Riki And thanks for stopping by!
September 21st, 2011 at 10:12 am
I love all of the designs. Especially the Anemone Lampwork necklace. I also want to comment on the beautiful photos and how you labeled them. Great job!
September 21st, 2011 at 3:50 pm
I loved the way you mixed woods, metals, and glass. You make it look effortless!
September 21st, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Wow, everything you made is fabulous! And each one is so different from the other.
September 21st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I love all four of them, but my favorite has got to be the Octopus!☺
September 21st, 2011 at 7:00 pm
love the way you used your focals! the black swirly one is my favorite! enjoy them all!
September 21st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
My goodness! Those are all gorgeous! I have to say that the Octopus is my favorite, something about it is just so fabulous! Well done!!
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:53 am
They’re all fabulous, but if you taking a poll, #4 stole the show!
September 22nd, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Your soup is excellent! I love each of the necklaces and the octopus and anemone names are perfect! I think those are my two favorite
Julie and Andrea
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Wow four gorgeous necklaces, so hard to choose, I love the all!
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:37 am
The soup that kept on giving. $ amazing designs..something for every taste…I’m diggin’ the octopus #2 You are one talented lady! Soup-er job!
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:42 am
oops I had the shift key pressed..I meant 4 amazing designs…That’s what I get for not going to sleep and trying to visit every one..would of been here sooner… but I’ve been sick with a stupid head cold…cement head and typing really don’t mix…. at the rate I’m going… I may be done by the end of the week…(lol)
Oh and I really enjoyed my visit to your blog.
September 23rd, 2011 at 8:49 am
Your pieces are very striking. I image strong independent women wearing it.
September 24th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
You did a great job stretching yourself and using so many of the beads you received. I have to say that the last necklace is my favorite — the focal is drop dead fabulous, and the stick pearls suit it perfectly. They’re all very pretty!
September 26th, 2011 at 9:50 am
All four soups are incredible.
You did such a great job. They all look differently perfect as they are.
Good luck!
September 27th, 2011 at 9:44 am
I like what you did, and really appreciated the photographs with the labels right on them. Thank you
September 28th, 2011 at 9:40 am
all your necklaces are beautiful, but the Octopus grabbed me immediately! the design is fantastic and your beads are wonderful! those bamboo tubes are IT!!!
September 28th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
***STANDING UP TO APPLAUD**** Thank you, thank you for your amazing photography and large sizes! (for those of us that just really hate to squint!) Your work is beautiful, and then you showcased it beautifully! I love that last piece- good gravy is it spectacular!! This is why I am still hopping- to find awesome beaders like you!
September 29th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Lovely pieces!!
September 29th, 2011 at 11:32 pm
Karyn, all of your necklaces are wonderful creations! And what an amazing soup you got! I loved the octopus necklace, where you repeated the pattern on the focal bead through your necklace. The first necklace had a wonderful rich & textured African feeling to me and I loved it, too!
I don’t know if you had time to watch my new video while you were at my blog? I’m not sure if you are familiar with glass lampwork but my video explains what glass lampwork beads are. Would love for you to check it out and help me share it with others if you enjoyed it. Working on getting the word out about glass lampworking.
http://www.PatsyEvinsStudio.com/blog
Patsy
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Lovely work on all of them. Your partner sent a lot of amazing beads and you did them up right. I really love the Octopus necklace….it’s really got a fun feeling!
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:52 pm
You did your ingredients justice and came up with 4 great pieces. I think I like the second one the best, maybe partially because of your story:)
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:00 am
Those are some stunning necklaces you’ve created with your lovely soup! I suppose if I had to chose a favorite I’d go for the 4th… or first… or third… or second…
October 8th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
I love your design, your pictures, your necklace. You really did a great job with your soup! The octopus is so well done.
Ambra