Bead Soup Exchanged!!

One of the best thing about Bead Soup Blog Party is you have a chance to get to know someone new. It's been so fun chatting with Laurie Ament and getting to know her.  The much anticipated delivery of our Bead Soup is done and now we can reveal what we received!  

First, this is what I sent Laurie.  She mentioned she lived on Kauai for a couple of months during one of our conversations so I decided to make her a Tree of Life Pendant to remind her of the luscious green trees.  Laurie also mentioned she loves cool colors so I decided to use the turquoise chips for the leaves.  Once I decided to use turquoise then the color scheme was set.  I decided to hit the torch and enameled complimentary color wave discs and enameled beads and flowers.  For the clasp I sawed out a ginko leaf and enameled the piece and made a copper bar toggle.  Added to the soup are turquoise chips, earth tone picasso glass beads, and some Vintaj components.  Can't wait to see what Laurie creates with my soup!

I got Laurie's package today and boy oh boy I love what she sent me!  The picture does no justice to the beautiful lamp work beads she sent me!  I love hearts and not only did I get a gorgeous focal heart, she made 4 more smaller ones!  Also included in her soup were 10 beautiful lamp work spacer beads, 4 head pin lamp work beads, handspun yarn and cords, multi color jump rings, and bronze and sterling silver clasps.  I just love the colors and can't stop admiring them!

I need to let these beautiful ingredients simmer in my head for a bit and come up with a design that will make Laurie proud!  

Mahalo for visiting!!

Kumi ♥

8th Bead Soup ~ Let the fun begin!

It's been awhile since the last post as life just got too busy but I'm super excited to get active again and what better way than to dive back in by joining Lori Anderson's 8th Bead Soup Blog Party!  This year there will only be one reveal on May 3rd with 490 participants!  That is going to be one busy weekend hopping on 490 blogs!

Find out more about how Bead Soup Blog Party works, check out Lori's fabulous Blog!

This is my third time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party and the Bead Soup Goddess aka Lori Anderson once again blessed me with an incredible partner!  This year my partner is a talented lamp work artist Laurie Ament of Isinglass Design!!!    

When I saw the partners' list, I immediately knew who Laurie was as I've gotten some of her work last year.  These are the goodies I got from Laurie so far and I can't wait to get some more!

Laurie who lives in Finger Lakes area of New York have been making glass beads since 1999.  I love her organic forms and color combinations.  Laurie's bead was selected by Beads of Courage to go to space on NASA's STS-134 Mission which was the last flight of the shuttle "Endeavor" in 2011!  It was such a special event for Laurie as her father was a NASA aeronautic engineer.  I don't think anyone else in this Bead Soup can claim their work has gone up into space!

Here is Laurie at her torch bench!

Here are some of Laurie's amazing work that are available on her Etsy Store!

One of the best part about participating in Bead Soup is getting to know another artists and finding out more about your partner.  We've already been chatting on Facebook and both looking forward to getting each other's soup!  

Stay tuned for our reveal when we receive each other's Bead Soup!!

Here is a photo of what I'm sending Laurie but with a little distortion so I won't ruin the surprise!

Big huge Mahalo for Lori Anderson and her husband Rick for all the hard work for putting this annual event together!!!

Mahalo for visiting!
Kumi ♥