Bead Soup Exchanged!!

The long awaited suspense is over and both Donna Millard and I received each other's Bead Soups.  I can't tell you how happy I am to be partnered with someone so talented and sweet like Donna!  I actually yelped in joy seeing her package in the mailbox!  I ran inside and opened the package carefully and OMG look what I got!  

I am over the moon!  The beads were packed in a beautiful pink striped pillow box.  I unwrapped the carefully packed bubble wrap one by one.  Wow!  Donna created the flower beads because I live on the Garden Island, Kauai!  The photos do not do justice to how beautiful the glass beads are!  My head is swimming with all the design ideas with such gorgeous beads!  I absolutely love the lavender and green color combo.  The brass clasp and findings are perfect to use and goes perfect with the glass beads.  I can't wait to get started!!  Mahalo Nui Loa Donna!!!

                           ♥              ♥              ♥              ♥              ♥              ♥              ♥              ♥

Now it's my turn to show you what I sent to Donna.  With a talented lampwork artist as my partner, I decided to go all metal and wirework components made by me.

The focal was made with copper sheet which I textured and sawed out the keyhole, then patinaed the top layer.  I stacked the two layers and riveted the four corners to add depth to the piece.  This is a technique I learned from Julie Sanford at Bead & Button Show last year.  I also created two smaller matching single layer pieces.

I made a fold formed leaf clasp and made a toggle out of copper wire.  Included two more leaves just for fun!  I decided to make wire coiled beads in two different sizes and also made some S links which were all made out of copper wire.

Added some leather cord to complete the soup and here is my Hawaiian Bead Soup to my fabulous Bead Soup 7 partner ~ Donna Millard!  

Stay tuned to what we create on March 30!!  Mahalo for stopping by!

Kumi ♥