Friday, March 29, 2013

Bead Soup 7 Reveal!!

Aloha and E Komo Mai!  I signed up for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party 7 and here is my reveal!  For those of you not familiar with Bead Soup Blog Party, the way it works is you sign up to participate and you are partnered with someone from around the world.  Then you put together your Bead Soup which must contain a focal, clasp, and other components.  We all exchange our soups and must wait to reveal what we've made until our designated reveal date.  We must use the focal and the clasp but doesn't have to be used together.  I love the surprise aspect and the challenge of working with materials that you typically don't work with.


I was assigned to Reveal #1 and am so excited to share what I created with the gorgeous soup I received from my uber talented partner Donna Millard.  Donna is an internationally known lampwork artist currently living in Wisconsin.  She has over 25 years in working with various forms of glass and you can purchase her gorgeous work on her website or Etsy store.  

This is the soup I received from Donna!  Each item was carefully wrapped and every time I opened a packet I was in awe.  I must have said "Wow!" 100 times.  So many beautiful glass beads and brass findings!  I am one lucky gal!!

I typically work with metal and wires so working with delicate glass beads was a bit intimidating.  I also wanted to come up with designs that showcased Donna's beautiful beads.  This is what I sent to Donna.


The first design idea that came to mind was using the beautiful flower button.  I made a triple wrapped leather bracelet with 4mm round olivine and purple velvet Swarovski crystals.  I love how the sunlight created a stained glass effect on the wood!   The flower button makes the perfect focal point of this bracelet.  I've always used metal buttons and now that I see how beautiful the glass buttons are, I will definitely incorporate glass button beads to make other wrapped bracelets in the future!





The second piece I made were earrings using the flower, leaf, and rondelle glass beads from Donna.  I used 1mm leather cord to tie them altogether.  The leather gives a branch like look.   I used the brass ear wires she sent me which tied in with the design.  The beautiful glass beads look gorgeous in sunlight. 


The next piece I made was another bracelet.  I love viking knit and decided to use the Vintaj bronze wire to compliment the clasp and charms Donna sent me.  I also added one of the glass leaf bead as an accent.  I threaded three 20g Vintaj wire through the flower focal and braided olivine Swarovski crystals to create the focal piece for the bracelet.  



The last piece I made was a necklace using the focal Donna made with her flower bead with crystals and brass findings.  I lightly braided 1mm leather cords and knotted the leather to secure the lavender and light green glass beads in place.  I added some copper beads as an accent.  Finished the 30 inch long necklace by tying the leather around a Vintaj finding.  



I really loved incorporating glass beads with leather.   I am definitely going to be in the hunt for lampwork beads! 




Mahalo Nui Loa to Lori Anderson for once again taking on this daunting task of bringing 500+ people together to share our love of jewelry making!  

Another big Mahalo to my sweet Bead Soup 7 partner, Donna Millard who gave me incredible gifts of her gorgeous creations!  Donna's lampwork beads will definitely be added to my future collections!  I'm so happy we got to know each other and I hope to meet you in person one day Donna!!  xoxo ♥

Hop on over to all the other Reveal #1 blogs with your favorite beverage and savor the beautiful creations.  Enjoy!!
First and Last Name
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Alicia Marinache
Amber Dawn Goldish
Barb Solem
Bev Breisinger
Birgitta Lejonklou
Breana Fry


Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Bridget Torres
Carol Dee Myers
Carolyn Chenault
Cassi Paslick
Cece Cormier
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Stacy Pomerleau
Stephanie Weiss
Sumi Rani
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Suzette Bentley
Tamera Norris
Tracy Choy
Tracy Stillman
Valerie Norton
Vicki Holliday

A Hui Ho! ('till we meet again)
Kumi ♥