Saturday, September 17, 2011

Around the World with 362 Jewelry Artists - Bead Soup September 2011

This is the third time I have participated in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party.  The first time BSP was held, I saw the list of participants who had already signed up and was too intimidated.  The next time I just held my breath when I clicked the send button and hoped for the best.  Here I am a couple of years later and I couldn't be happier that I decided to take up Lori's challenge and work outside my comfort zone.  The BSP has morphed into a worldwide event - 362 jewelry artists from 21 countries on 5 continents!  Check out the map.  You can click HERE to go see what Melissa made with the soup I sent her which included a flower pendant from Tracee Dock of Classic Bead.
a little teaser from my partner Melissa Muir
soup arrives and is full of bright silver and copper beads

The gorgeous pendant with a sparkling cz set in silver
I loved my soup when I got it because playing with metal offers so many opportunities.  Even though I thought it might make Melissa gasp and maybe even sputter - I couldn't wait to patina the copper and silver beads.  Then I set off to design a piece of bead embroidery to hang behind the pendant and set it off.
lots of ideas I didn't end up using
I was inspired by some votive cups with Moorish designs against bright orange, green, and fushia glass.  I found some sari silk and attached it to a backing and began embroidering berry hued beads.  But something wasn't clicking with me.  I tried a couple bead woven designs, but these were also not a fit.  Then I went to wrapping beads.  Some silver, some bright stones, and a couple lampwork beauties by Julianna Cannon of Juls Beads. These lovelies are going to become a bracelet with the addition of some suede and a couple of juicy copper love knots.

Finally I decided I needed to go with wirework.  This was more in keeping with the swirls on the votives which were my original inspiration.  The pendent started reading as the negative space in a keyhole.  I drew up a few patterns.  The first one above is a little too holly leaf.  It actually only took two tries with a spool of steel wire and I was satisfied.
I formed my keyhole and added some tiny beads to the sides for a little weight.  I didn't want to distract from Melissa's pendant - just frame it with something.  I made some dangles - from a stick of dyed howlite, a tiny sterling silver key, a Swarovski 4mm, and one of the star shaped pearls from the bead soup.  Then I got to wrapping and making loops.  I dug out an large vintage clear crystal with a beautiful color filled sparkle, an aquamarine piece of cut glass, and a strand of something dyed to look like impression jasper.  
To see what the other 362 participants (¡WOW!) made, click on the link below to go to the Official Bead Soup Party page at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog.

69 comments:

  1. what a beautiful necklace! I love how you treated the focal! and definitely love the rich colors!

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  2. WOWZERS Lois! You necklace is outstanding! Love the metals with the colors! GORGEOUS!

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  3. Amazing how you pulled this all together in such a splendid way.Great job!!

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  4. Wow! This is over the moon creative genius.

    Terri

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  5. Great frame you created for the pendant! Really pretty. I love the oxidation and the color!

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  6. Gorgeous! I love, love, love the frame you made for the pendant! Beautiful necklace, Lois!!

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  7. That turned out great! I love how you did the focal. And no gasping from me on the oxidation. I love oxidized silver and copper! Beautiful job Lois!

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  8. What a cool focal you made with that pendant! I really like the colours and the dark metals in this. They create a fab mood for the necklace. Great work!

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  9. 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.

    WOW but did you rock this. I am so incredibly impressed. Your seed bead skills already impress me, but you did so many different things with this. What a showpiece!

    I hope you’ll participate again!

    Love, Lori

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  10. fabulous piece! I love your wire and metal work!

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  11. That necklace is so delicious - from the color palette to the bits and pieces throughout to the fabulous wire wrapping. It's all just wonderful. LOVE!!

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  12. WOW. I always love seeing pieces that use techniques that I don't use, like metal and wire. Your piece is amazing! Beautiful, and your photographs and beautiful too!

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  13. Wow, I love how you have transformed the beautiful pendant into something so glorious! Just fabulous!

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  14. Gorgeous! 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

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  15. This is beautiful! You did a fab job with your components! I'm glad I hopped over here. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with in the future.

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  16. Adding the turquoise color is a great choice! Your wire work is amazing!

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  17. LOVE the Focal and all the turquoise mixed with the metals:>)

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  18. Thank you for taking us thru the process, to end up with such a beautiful necklace. Your final choice was not only extremely complementary to the focal, but also shows off your incredible skill with wire! I'm very impressed with the wirework, especially after trying a tiny bit of it on this Party!

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  19. The necklace is absolutely incredible!!

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  20. What a wonderful soup! And beautiful necklace!

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  21. I love, love the framing of the pendant. and the addition of the beads on the side....great idea and works so well. The pop of turquoise ties in beautifully,
    jenni

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  22. Adding the key was the perfect touch to a very thoughful, fun design. Thanks for sharing the process.

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  23. Wow, that necklace is stunning! I so did not see that coming when I saw the pendant. Amazing work I love the frame you made, you gave me some great food for thought!
    Shannon C

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  24. Outstanding work! Love the frame. Showcased the gorgeous pendant perfectly.

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  25. Wow, I just love your necklace! I love the wire work around the focal and the colors and the patina on the wire look wonderful, great job!

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  26. OMGoodness...your soup is DELICIOUS my Friend!!! I adore your design, it's truly stunning! Well done, another AMAZING cup of BEAD SOUP from a very talented designer!!! ;)

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  27. that's crazy good stuff - love the wire wrapping!

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  28. Awesome wire working! Love your creations! Your necklace is beautiful!

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  29. Wonderful! You have created a unique piece of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture, and the frame is fabulous. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
    Lori

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  30. What you did with that focal is wonderful. I love copper and really like the way you wire wrapped it and then added dangles at the bottom. Really shows the focal off well. And the colors in the necklace part really play to the focal. Wonderful job.

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  31. Wowwww! The frame for the focal and all the wirework - came out so beautiful and luxurious - great work!

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  32. My oh my... your work is beautiful

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  33. Oh yes, that rocks! These spots of turquoise, copper and silver are treats for someones eye! I love the way you wrap it all togheter - great work!
    Greetings, Michi

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  34. This is my first soup and hopping for three days and going has been exhausting but such a great learning experience. Loved reading about your design process :-)

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  35. Absolutely stunning, Lois. I love how you framed that focal~ perfect!

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  36. Love! Your wirework frame for the copper focal is delightful - so creative, and beautiful! And the necklace is just ... wonderful!

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  37. Wow...I didn't think that pendant could get any more amazing, but you totally made it your own with the things you added. And the blue ribbon makes a wonderful contrast.

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  38. Lois - this is so pretty! I love the bead soup you had to work with and you really rocked it!!

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  39. You sure received some beautiful goodies and WOW! what you did with them is amazing. It has such a sense of mystery to it. I would want to know more about the person wearing it.

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  40. Wow, what an awesome and very striking necklace!

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  41. What a fantastic and absolutely breathtaking piece! Love it! SO beautiful!

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  42. I love the idea of the keyhole frame... negative space never looked so good! You've come up with a brilliant piece of jewellery and I absolutely love it.

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  43. Wow. That is a statement piece! The wire wrapping is so cool!

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  44. Lois, this piece is unbelievably rich and superb! I think I'm moonstruck.

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  45. Outstanding! This is some serious workmanship here. I love it all!!! Thanks for sharing a bit of your design sketch with us. Soup-er Job!!

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  46. I am so sorry I am so late hopping your way. My computer dug it's heels in and said Not gon'a go thaat fast.:^)
    Your designs are nothing short of amazing.
    Be blessed to be a blessing

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  47. Wow! What wonderful metal and wire work! Your punch of color is awesome too!

    Julie and Andrea

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  48. Awesome! This wireworked frame for a focal pendant is great!

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  49. Gorgeous wirework design, love it.

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  50. wowzers that's insanely gorgeous! I LOVE your wirework!

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  51. Very rich colours and a bold design, I really like this!

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  52. Hoo, boy, howdy, this is COOL! I really like what you came up with, and enjoyed following the path you took to get there. I'd be happy to have this show up in my mailbox...not that I'm hinting or anything ;-)

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  53. speaking of 'wow' this is fabulous!

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  54. Gorgeous necklace....your wirework is totally amazing!!

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  55. WOW! i don't even know what to say...this piece is such a work of art. gorgoeus!

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  56. This is quite different from most of your other work. It is bold and dazzling. Yum.

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  57. What an amazing and fun focal you created! Love the depth and detail of your design. You have me wanting to venture into metalworking!

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  58. Your necklace is amazing!! Quite a beautiful piece of art!!

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  59. You received a great pendant but you used it in a stunning way! I am impressed, really. Such a beautiful and great work. The metal dances between the beads. Love it!

    Ambra

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  60. Beautiful, a real statement piece.

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  61. what a talented wireworker you are! thanks for sharing.!

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