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!!!

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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 ♥

My Bead Soup to BSBP partner Melissa Muir!

I love working with metals but when I was partnered with wire/metal master Melissa Muir I had to think of something she would love and a bit different than what she normally works with.  After exchanging emails with her, she mentioned how she loved my enameled heart pendants, so I came up with a plan.  My wire woven enameled heart can be interpreted many different ways but for Melissa it was dedicated to her second daughter Kelsi.  You can find out more about Kelsi here.  Melissa started Kelsi's Closet to bring awareness to pre-eclampsia through her work.  She recently did a fundraiser and exceeded her goal.  If you would like to donate please go to the Promise Walk for Pre-Eclampsia site.

So in my Bead Soup for Melissa, I enameled a heart and wove it together as my way to mend her heart from losing her precious Kelsi and I stamped Kelsi's Closet and enamel tipped the toggle.  I added some matching enameled beads, Hawaiian beach glass and crystals (not pictured) along with silk cords.

I also included Macadamia Nuts Hershey's Kisses to sweeten her day and she opened her package on her birthday so it was a perfect little gift!  Can't wait to see what she makes with what I sent her!  Our reveal date is Reveal #2 on August 11, 2012!  Stay tuned!

6th Bead Soup Blog Party!

I saw so many people raving about how much fun they had during the last Bead Soup Party which was held in March 2012, so I decided to join in on the fun!  Lori Anderson is the host of this worldwide blog hop which started in February 2010 and this marks the 6th party.  There will be three reveal dates with a total of 400 participants.  I have to say I was both excited and nervous about joining the party but the Bead Soup Cafe group on Facebook is such a supportive community.

On Friday June 22 we found out who amongst the 400 participants will be our partners.  I received Lori's email during my lunch break and I found out my partner is none other than Melissa Muir.  Yes THE Melissa Muir!  I literally squealed when I read the email as I am a big fan of her blog Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox Design Journal and love her Tool Time Tuesday which is packed with great information about tools!  Happy place for a tool junkie like me :)

After my initial excitement I came to a realization that I'm going to be partnered with a metal master!  Gulp!  My girlfriend Heidi gave me a good idea for the swap.  This is going to be a fun weekend making the focal piece, clasp, and beads!  Let the fun begin!