7th Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal

I'm so excited and honored to have been a part to the 7th Bead Soup Blop Party.  Huge hugs and thanks to our very organized, patient and kind hostess Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.  You can read more about the BSBP on Lori's blog, see the link above.  This is a gigantic event to organize with over 500 participants from I don't even know how many countries.  That's is why there were three seperate reveal dates, so you would have time to visit all the fab participants.

Also a great big thank you to my swap partner April Grinaway of the Brooklyn Bead Goddess.  April sent a huge helping of yummy soup for me to work with.  She a is fanastic lampworker and sent me many of her awesome handcrafted beads.  I hope I have done at least some of them justice.  Be sure to visit Brooklyn Bead Goddess to see what she made with what I sent her.

A reminder of the spectacualr soup I got from April.

 

I know everyone has a ton of blogs they want to visit this weekend so I will try to keep the rest of my post light on text and heavy on pics.

 

The first piece incorporates the copper focal that April sent and many of her beads, along with some copper tubes I enameled in purple and added some dots of glass to.

Here is the first piece modeled by my daughter.  Aren't those hematite cones cool?

 

The second piece looks a little square when laid out but because parts of it are strung on SoftFlex it lies nicely around the wrist.  Great lampwork beads by Brooklyn Bead Goddess and also the clasp she sent.

Modeled again by my daughter.  LOVE that yellow bead, note the trapped air bubbles in the purple.

See, it's really not square like it looks on the table, lol.

 

A simple pair of earrings to go with the necklace and bracelet, or just about anything else really. 

 

 

This last piece is a bit of a "fail".  It didn't turn out as I intended or envisioned but after reworking it twice I set it aside as is.  After lots of rethinking on the concept of it's construction, I think I may have actually figured it out.  When I get it right I will post new pics of it here.  Here it is as it sits now.

 

The "circles" on the sides are not hanging in a nice circular shape as I had planned.  I think I may have a solution figured out though.  I really like this concept, so I'm not giving up on it yet :).  I love these beads by April and I vow to do them justice.  Everytime I look at or play with these beads I keep asking myself  "why don't I own any yellow beads except these?", they are really stunning.

 

Hope you rested up last night.  There is a long list of fun below, so grab a cuppa someting and get hopping :).

 

Agata Grygiel	http://inny-pamietnik.blogspot.com/
Ali McCarthy	www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com  You are here!
Alice Craddick	http://www.alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/
Amy Severino	www.amybeads.blogspot.com
Ana Krepel	http://catspajamas-dogstuxedos.blogspot.com/
Andra Weber	www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank	www.heavenlanecreations.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.LeeLuCreations.blogspot.com
Annette Rivers	http://mamaowlsmess.blogspot.com/
Anu Tuppurainen	http://koti-ilta.blogspot.fi/
April Grinaway	http://brooklynbeadgoddess.blogspot.com/
Audrey Bélanger	http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
B.R.Kuhlman	http://www.mixedmayhemstudios.com
Barbara Bechtel	http://secondsurf.com
Barbara Mason	www.Adorninglyyours.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath	www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Billi RS Rothove	http://www.billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty	www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Brandi Burdick	http://www.tofallorstumbleupon.com/
Candida Castleberry	http://spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com/
Carol Dillman	http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Gebert	http://kookykardinal.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Caron Reid	http://www.caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Catherine King	www.Catherines-Musings.blogspot.com
Cathy Jakicic	http://bds.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/
Chandra Merod	www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Charlene Jacka	http://clay-space.com/blog
Cheri Reed	www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Cherrie Fick	www.designsinthelight.co
Cherrie Warzocha	http://colorsofshae.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Brown	www.dragonflybeads.ca/category/blog
Cheryl Dunham	www.Renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com
Cheryl Foiles	www.getyourbeadon.com
Cheryl Gangle	www.RockCandyJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg	www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Chris White	http://dzeyenrstudio.blogspot.com/
Christina Miles	http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/
Christine Murrow	www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Cindy Ritchie	http://mooseriverglass.blogspot.com
Clare Etheridge	www.catseatdogs.com
Cory Tompkins	www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Cris Peacock	http://crispart.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Abner	http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca/
Debi Levine	http://oneheartsblog.blogspot.co.il/
Deborah Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Deborah Read	www.deborahreadcom.blogspot.com
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Dorota Żerańska	www.gdymamczas.blogspot.com
Elaine Robitaille	http://www.tooaquarius.com
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://www.ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Emma Todd	www.apolymerpenchant.com
Erin Guest	http://www.renlish.com
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Evie and Beth McCord	http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Francy Inman	http://www.8secondstudio.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Gloria Allen	http://gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com
Hajer Waheed	http://mybeadedworld.wordpress.com/
Hope Smitherman	http://CraftyHope.blogspot.com
Ilenia Ruzza	http://ile1974.blogspot.it/
Ilona Hegedűs	http://ilkabeads.blogspot.com
Ine Vande Cappelle	http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Janine Lucas	http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Jean Peter	http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/
Jean Wells	http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/
Jeanne Steck	http://gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/
Jelveh Jaferian Johnson	www.jelvehdesigns.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cabic	www.jennifercabic.blogspot.com
Jennifer Reno	http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com
Jennifer VanBenschoten	http://www.vanbeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor	www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Jenny Robledo	http://peppasdream.blogspot.com/
Jessica Brower	http://ifcreations.blogspot.com
Jill MacKay	www.jillmackay.com
JJ Jacobs	www.comingabstractions.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	www.itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Joanne Tinley	http://www.daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com/
Johanna Rhodes Nash	http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.co.uk/
Judy Robinson	http://woodbeads.wordpress.com
Juli Cannon	www.beadnik.net
Julia Gerlach	www.beadandbutton.com/beadbuzz
Julie Bowen	http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com
Julie Panusis	http://catsmeowco.blogspot.com
K Hutchinson	http://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Karen Martinez	http://fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/
Karen Vincent	www.swallowtailjewellery.blogspot.com
Karen Williams	http://www.baublicious.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton	www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Karyn Bonfiglio	http://plussizebangles.com/blog
Kat Douglas	www.Washoekat.blogspot.com
Kate Dufour	http://mixfolios.wordpress.com/
Kate Mulligan	http://mulliganstewjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kate Richbourg	www.katerichbourg.com
Kathleen Gallant	http://partnersincharms.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lange Klik	http://ModernNatureStudio.blogspot.com
Katie Nielsen-Nunez	www.Vikingcraft.blogspot.com
Kay Bolton	http://www.toodlesandbinks.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega	http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Kelli Jacobson	http://www.CreativeMoonJewelryAndThings.com
Kelly Patterson	http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kelly Ramstack	http://adventureswithkelly.blogspot.com
Kiersten Kern	http://myglassbeadlife.blogspot.com/
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	http://klaudetekoon.blogspot.com/
Klaudia Tóth	http://www.klaudiabizsu.hu/
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristin Oppold	http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com
Kym Hunter	http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lana Kinney	http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca
Laura Guenther	www.blueantiquities.blogspot.com
Lauren Fenty	http://laurenbeads.blogspot.com/
Leah Curtis	http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Lennis Carrier	www.windbent.wordpress.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://whimsyswonders.blogspot.com/
Lori Anderson	www.prettythingsblog.com
Lupe Meter	http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com/
Lynn Jobber	http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Mandi Effron	http://craft-o-licious.blogspot.com/
Marcia Dunne	www.thealternativefoundry.blogspot.com
Margareta Saari	http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.fi/
Marianne Baxter	www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Mary Ellen Parker	www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens	http://www.glassbeadart.blogspot.com
Megan Milliken	www.maemaemills.blogspot.com
Melissa Meman	http://melissameman.blogspot.com
Melissa Mesara	http://one-earedpig.blogspot.com/
Michaela Pabeschitz	http://der-lamardebonita.blogspot.co.at/
Michelle Tucker	http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Mimi Gardner	www.OtherCuriosities.blogspot.com
Mischelle Fanucchi	http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Monica Phillips	http://www.monicaglassandjewelry.com/blog
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Nancy Boylan	www.snazzydoodle.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale	www.nedbeads.blogspot.com
Pat Haight	http://wigglebuttblog.blogspot.com/
Patina Queen	www.patinaqueenstudio.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Pia Kaven	http://piakaven.blogspot.com
Rebecca Anderson	http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Rose Johnson	http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com
Roxanne Blanc	http://strikesmyfancy-2013.blogspot.com/
Sarah Goode	www.pookledo.blogspot.com
Sarah Singer	http://singingsongsofsixpence.blogspot.co.uk
Sarah Strover	http://beaupepys.blogspot.com
Shalini Austin	http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/
Sherri Stokey	www.KnotJustMacrame.com
Sherry Baun	http://www.unicornsjewels.blogspot.com
Sheryl Stephens	http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Silvia Sernicola	http://pipa-the-latest.blogspot.it/
Solange Collin	http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Alderson	http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie LaRosa	www.stringaholic.blogspot.com
Sue Burleigh	http://sagebreezes.blogspot.com/
Susan Bowie	http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/
Susan Kelly	http://midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Susan of Libellula Jewelry	www.libellulajewelry.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Fragiacomo	www.glassymom.blogspot.com
Tammi Sloan	www.mybrownwren.blogspot.com
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Tania Hagen	http://pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz/
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Tanya Goodwin	www.pixiloo.blogspot.com
Tanya Wiles	http://studioblog.tenebroushollow.com
Tari Kahrs	http://pearlandpebble.blogspot.com/
Theresa Buchle	http://www.bead-mused.blogspot.com
Tiffany Smith	http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Tina Holden	http://beadcomber.blogspot.com
Tracey Nanstad	http://abeadifulmess.blogspot.com/
Tracie Dean	http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
Tracy Bell	www.CopperGlassAndRecycledTrash.blogspot.com
Tracy Kruse	http://goldkissesart.blogspot.com/
Veralynne Malone	www.veradesigns.blogspot.com
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom	http://www.clubcreativestudio.wordpress.com

Facebook Participants


D’Arsie Manzella
Claire Brannigan Hasemeier
Robin Showstack
Melanie Lemen Swope
Beccy Peterson
Kelli Nelson
Chris Schlicht
Shelley Cole-Kuduk

 

 

2nd reveal for the BSBP is tomorrow, and other news

Tomorrow is the second reveal date for the Bead Soup Blop Party by Lori Anderson.  Tomorrow is the day my BSBP partner April Grinaway of Brooklyn Bead Goddess and I get to reveal what we made.

Here's a reminder of what I received from April weeks ago:

Stop by tomorrow to see what I made with all that beady goodness from the Goddess!  Some where quite successful and another...well, you will just have to stop back and see. 

 

Listed some new items in the Esty shop today and got a bunch of pics taken to list some more over the weekend.

Here is what went up today.

Etched and patinated heart.

 

Leafy etched rifle shell necklace.

 

Ohhhhh and look what I found in my garden the other day.  I'm not sure how it arrived there because we have never had crocus in the 19 years I have lived here.  Gooooo Spring!  Daffs have grown leaps and bounds the last 5 days and should start blooming tomorrow.

 

Rest up for the night, we have a lot of hopping to do tomorrow!

Artisan Whimsy's Bead Chat Magazine 5x5 Challenge

Remember me mentioning in a previous post I was working on lots of things I couldn't show you yet?  Here are a few of those pieces!  We all had to wait for the publication date to reveal the fun on our blogs :)

Some of you know I don't check or update Facebook nearly as often as a business person should. So it was sheer luck that I stumbled upon a post on one of my fave jewelry groups, Creative Bead Chat.  Melinda Orr was looking for testers for some products for the April 2013 issue of Artisan Whimsy's Bead Chat Magazine.  I commented and was accepted.  Cool, right?

The concept of the 5x5 is this, five testers get five products to create with, all the testers get the same things.  Each tester gets 30 days to create and turn in their results for the magazine.  This month was sponsored by Melinda Orr of Orrtec, who also happens to put together the amazing Bead Chat mag.  Be sure to check it out, lots of really great eye candy right there on your computer screen!

For this round the five testers got different types of wire to work with in one yard increments.  I was really intrigued when Melinda mentioned she would be including flat aluminum wire.  I like to use aluminum a an inexpensive and tarnish free alternative to sterling silver.  We also received copper in two gauges and brass.

The possibilities here are almost endless, the only thing I wasn't able to accomplish was eight strand plaiting with wire just because it takes a ton of wire to do. (Look for a tutorial on eight strand wire plait here in the future.)

Because the aluminum is the softest it is the easiest to work with in my opinion.  I started out by embossing some of it in my Bigkick, but my designs were a little too large for them to look like much on the flat wire, others had much better results in this area.  So instead I made use of the ribbon like nature of the aluminum to make some dimensional pieces.

This first piece is a piece of domed copper sheet with the wider gauge aluminum in the form of a dimensional heart.  I incorporated the larger gauge copper to make rivets.  Also used the aluminum and smaller gauge copper to make the bail.

 

A side view of the dimensionality of this piece.

 

Continuing with the aluminum and copper theme I made a pair of mental health awareness earring to honor my 17 yr old.  The aluminum takes alcohol inks really well!  Just remember to seal or the inks will wear off.  As before, the larger gauge copper was used for the rivets.

 

 

My final piece with the aluminum was a pair of simple spiral earrings.  I had embossed these first, but as mentioned previously my embossing didn't look like much.

 

I can't wait to get my hands on more of this flat aluminum to play with, absolutely love the possibilities!

 

Next up was some of the brass.  I have worked with brass a bit before, very stiff stuff  that doesn't really appreciate being annealed.  I made this ring for my daughter, her design.

 

The last piece I have to show is a clasp end on kumihimo braid made with the bronze wire.  Bronze works as easily as the copper.

 

There were several other pieces I played with as well but I didn't feel any of them were successful enough for submission.  I had so much fun with this challenge, thanks to Melinda Orr for putting it all together.  Be sure to visit her store Orrtec.  Also take a look through the magazine and be sure to visit the other testers as well :).

 

 

Click to view April 2013 ~ BEAD Chat Magazine on GLOSSI.COM

Experiments in etching

I have been wanting to play with etching for quite sometime, but was a little intimidated by using and acid etchant.  Then I read about PCB etchant which is quite a bit safer to work with and decided to give it a whirl.  Please read and take all precautions if you try etching on your own.

Here are the results so far.  The first piece was pretty good but not etched deep enough.  Soooo on the second batch I wanted to leave them in longer. Unfortunately, I got called away to pick up a kid and they got left in a bit TOO long and actually etched all the way through the metal in some spots.  Lesson learned!

This is the first one.  Pretty good for a start.  It has since been pickled, tumbled and domed a bit.  Going to hit it with some LOS and reshoot it tomorrow I hope.

 

 

This one taught me that StazOn ink is just as good a resist as my Sharpie marker, that was the good part.  The bad part is having left in in too long and trying to etch both sides at once lets the etch eat holes right through!  Although, this too could be an interesting effect if it was intentional.  I was thinking that if done intentionally you could leave them like that or you might be able to fill the holes with enamels, hmmmm.  I was hoping that with a deeper etch I could enamel in the recesses.

 

This was he back of that floral piece.  I thought it would be a cool way to sign my work.  It will be too, just have to either etch for a shorter period or be mindful not to have the etched areas overlap each other.

 

 

This one is the spent brass of a bullet.  I couldn't say what kind, a large caliber rifle I believe.  This one would have been fine IF I had better sealed the ends.  Since the ends weren't sealed well etchant made it's way inside the casing and so it too was etching from both sides.  It is still on one piece though and I think I will make it into something to keep for myself :).

 

So the adventure in etching will continue.  Stay tuned...

 

 

Oh and I listed a whole bunch of new pieces on Etsy today.  Stop on over and have a look!

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of stuff to show, but I can't show it...

I have a ton of stuff finished on my table, pictures taken and everything.  But I can't show you any of them because they are all for hops or challenges.  So you're just going to have to trust that I have been busy.  The good news is, those are all complete so now anything else I finish can be posted here in the coming days.

Here are some pics of my new display from a show I did a couple of weeks ago.  After looking at it many times that day I have decided that I am ditching my black board soon for more picture frames.  Might have to get together with the father in law and all his cool tools to get frames the size I need.  The picture frames allow me to "frame my collections", this helps to give a more cohesive look to my eclectic style I think.

Wire collars and pendants

 

 

Lampwork and a random enamel piece, I was short one lampwork piece so we filled the space.

 

Cuff "mountain" with a cool collar piece at the top.

 

The black display board with enamel pieces.

 

Finished set up (we did tuck up the extra fabric seen hanging here).  Also need to get skirting for the tables, off to search how to make those. Good news was these aisles were very close so shoppers didnt really notice it too much.

 

PS Finally saw a Robin here last week, though everytime she landed she flew off again probably didn't like having to sit in the snow.  Happy Spring, hope the weather is reflecting the season where you are!