7th Bead Soup Blog Party--First Reveal

It's time!! It is finally here!! I have my party hat on, do you???? The First Reveal for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party has arrived!! Lori Anderson, of Pretty Things put together this annual party where two people are partnered and send each other some bead soup that includes a focal, a clasp, and some beads to mix with their own stash, create something beautiful from the "Bead Soup", then blog about the whole experience. The party then commences as everyone visits everyone else's blog! A person can make one or many creations, but the only hard and fast rule is that the clasp and the pendant must be used.

My partner is Marianna Boylan of Star Girl Jewelry. Marianna makes the most beautiful jewelry and she is an awesome lampwork bead artist as well! I love Marianna's creations! You can see what delicious soup that Marianna received on her blog, and discover what she made with the bead soup that I sent to her.  The bead soup that Marianna sent to me:

There were two lucite flowers, blue and green, as well as a beautiful lampwork  bead set, two lampworked glass flowers, and a sweet yellow lampwork bead,  She also sent some copper drops, brass earring drops, a strand each of shell and coral beads, some yellow and green turquoise, an embossed copper pendant, some copper chain, and three clasps..a brass clasp, a gorgeous crystal locking clasp, and a gunmetal toggle clasp. Look at those focals! The red and black scarab is from Earthenwood Studio, and the red and blue glass set in brass is by Marianna with matching headpins!

As soon as my soup arrived (the first one had a mishap!) I started thinking about what I could do with these gorgeous beads. About the same time, I received an order of Gilder's paste, and the wheels in my mind became ferris wheels, with the ideas just rolling in on top of each other! But wait....I had to have a Total Knee Replacement in the meantime, and I was hoping that wouldn't interfere with all the creating that I needed to do. So what did I do?????

The first one was simple, using the key embossed copper pendant from the soup, adding my own "pasted" key and lock, then adding the chain and copper beads from the soup, and stitching it together with leather.

I then made a necklace using the scarab pendant from Earthenwood Studio, adding my own scarab beads, red and black seaglass, and black jade chips with silver chain, using the gunmetal clasp from the soup.

I wanted to use the beautiful crystal clasp, and a bracelet came to fruition:

Next, came three pairs of earrings from the soup's coral and shell beads, and the copper and brass components that I painted with Gilder's paste:

But the one that took me the longest, inspired by the lucite flower beads, lampwork flowers, and my own Gilder's paste altered brass and copper components, was the piece below. This necklace seemed to take on a life of its own as it grew into something more than "just a necklace".

Used with the brass clasp:

Well, it seems that time has run out to stir anything together from the other lampwork beads that Marianna made and sent to me. I have some great ideas, so stay tuned for a further update on what kind of Soup I mix up and serve with those very special beads. Thank you so much, Lori, for hosting the awesome Bead Soup Blog Party, and allowing me to take part in all the fun! In the meantime, take a look at how everyone else served their Soup by going to the First Reveal List for BRBP7 or linking from the list below. Have fun!!!

First and Last Name	Blog URL
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Amber Dawn Goldish	www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	http://countryfrogcreations.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou	www.lejonklou.blogspot.se
Breana Fry	www.vault31.blogspot.com
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	http://caroldeezigns.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Chenault	www.carolynchenault.wordpress.com
Cassi Paslick	http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier	Http://www.thebeadingyogini.com
Cheryl McCloud	www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Crystal Thain	http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Riggs	http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey	http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Dana James	http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Darlene Fortier	www.darliciousrejuvenations.blogspot.com
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Diana Frey	www.dianafrey.blogspot.com
Diana Welte	http://lilyweeds.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma	http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant	http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com
Eva Kovacs	http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman	http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com -you are here!
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue	www.wrappedinsilver.com
Jacqueline Marchant	http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	www.Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	http://glassaddictions.com
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	www.thepeacefulbead.com
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan	www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com --My partner's reveal
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett	http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro	http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren	http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy	http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub	http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler	http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel	http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson	http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke	www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa	www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandyColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shari Replogle	www.playswithpaper.blogspot.com
Sheila Daniels	http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis	http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie	www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore	www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre'z	http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith	www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Pomerleau	www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss	www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com
Sumi Rani	www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzette Bentley	http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman	www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton	www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday	http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/

Bead Soup

Finally, I can post pics of the beautiful Bead Soup that Marianna Boylan of Star Girl Jewelry sent to me as her partner for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Hop Party! The only hard and fast rule is that you have to use the clasp and the pendant that your partner sent to you. Marianna makes beautiful lampwork! The first soup that Marianna sent to me, well, when I picked up the package at the PO, it was torn and empty. That was the first time that a package had been torn and empty that was delivered to my box, and I was so disappointed! The first thing I did was notify Marianna, and the beautiful person that she is, she sent me another one, even though I was willing to just use my own stash. This is what was in the second package:

There are several beautiful lampwork beads, and as a special surprise, the red and blue glass pendant is set in brass with two matching headpins! Earthenwood Studios made the black and red scarab pendant, and there are three (count 'em!), three clasps to choose from, one is a special silver and crystal locking clasp! A length of copper chain was also part of the mix

I love the varied color combinations of the gold and pink lampwork set, along with some coral and shell beads, a varied green stone combo, and some beautiful lampwork flower discs, The brass and copper earring and pendant components are so versatile, as well as the lucite flower discs. One more look:

Thank you, Marianna, for a beautiful Bead Soup! We are in the first reveal this Saturday, please stop back by and see what creations this Bead Soup inspired.

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 5 Weeks 9-10/52

Welcome to Reveal 5, Weeks 9-10/52 of the AJE Earring Challenge. I am playing catch-up this week after preparing and having a total knee replacement on my right knee, I got behind for weeks 7 and 8, and did not blog for those weeks. So this week's blog post will have 4 pair of earrings using an art bead for part of the design. I will start with week 9:

I wire wrapped silver plated hoops with blue crystals and added aqua teardrop faux sea glass, connecting with blue sari silk ribbon. Following is week 10:

The flower beads were made with flower elements wire wrapped together after being colored with Gilder's Paste in Violet, Canary Yellow, Iris Blue, and Verdigris, tied together with a Tulip Red colored component, and antiqued copper ear wires.

Going back to week 7, ceramic leaf components by Janel Goolsby were highlighted with antiqued copper spacers, wire, jump rings, and ear wires that complemented the earth tone gemstone beads that laddered the design.

For week 8, Marsha Neal art beads were color co-ordinated with brass components colored with Lisa Liddy's Metal Me This Plum Patina and copper earwires.

Check out everyone else's Art Bead earrings at the Art Jewelry Element blog reveal. There are some really cool Art Beads and earrings on display!

HBBH 3--Celebrate Carnival Day

Marlene Cupo and Shelley Graham Turner--do those two names ring a bell---a Holiday Bell perhaps?  They are the originators and hostesses of the world famous Holiday Bling Blog Hop, which started in 2012, and is now on it's third go-round--Holiday Bling Blog Hop 3. All the participants had to do, with their partner, was to pick a Holiday that occurs in February or March and send each other a gift that commemorates that Holiday.

My chosen partner for this round of HBBH 3 is Dyanne Everett-Cantrell. When we viewed the list of Holidays that were celebrated in February and March, it was slightly overwhelming. Did you know that there is a Holiday listed for every single day during those two months? The ones we considered for our celebration (seriously and not-so-seriously) are: "Do a Grouch a Favor Day" , but that was my birthday,  "Hoodie Hoo Day" on February 20,  March 2 "Old Stuff Day", March 26 is "Make up your own Holiday day", and March 28 is "Something on a Stick Day"! We also considered  "Get A Different Name" Day,  "Public Sleeping" Day, "Plum Pudding" Day, and "Carnival Day". We decided on -----Carnival Day!!!

What is a carnival? A carnival is an annual celebration of life found in many countries of the world. Carnivals are instrumental in learning about ourselves as well as accepting and understanding other cultures. Carnival Day can typically include certain foods and amusements, such as the Ferris wheel, parades, hot dogs, and fried anything! The key words here are "celebration of life". Many different colors, meanings, and other carnival associated activities can take just about any form when Carnival Day comes around. 

To see what I sent to Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, please pay a visit to her blog. I was so excited about what I was sending her, I totally forgot to take pictures, sheesh!  Dyanne has taken some stunning photos, though, so go take a look! 

This is one of the items that I received from Dyanne. The colors and design just scream "Carnival". These are gorgeous! Colorful, swingy, I have a lot of things to match these earrings. Wearing them just for fun counts, and I will wear them on every Carnival Day!!!

Oh, but that is not all!!! Dyanne makes beautiful lampwork beads, and she included a gift that was designed with her handmade beads:

Aren't those colors beautiful? And so artfully made! I have already worn them several times, and every single time someone wants to buy them from me. 

I hope we have inspired you to celebrate your own Carnival Day. Thank you so much, Shelley and Marlene for hosting this blog a third time. For more information on this and upcoming Holiday Bling Blog Hops, visit the Swaps by Marlene and Shelley blog. 

Have a look at the other Holidays that were celebrated for this blog hop!

Alicia Marinache - All the Pretty Things
Catherine King- Catherine's Musings      
Chris Schlicht- Non-blogger HBBH Partners
Cynthia Machata- Antiquity Travelers
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell -Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations--This is my partner!
Gina Hockett- Freestyle Elements--You are here!
Jennifer Reno- Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Laura Reed- Non-blogger HBBH Partners
Leanne Loftus- First Impression Design
Lennis Carrier- Windbent
Lori Bowring Michaud- Artfully Ornamental
Marti Conrad- Marti C's Clay Blog 
Mary Govaars -MLH Jewelry Designs
Renetha Stanziano- LamplightCrafts
Rita/ Toltec Jewels -Jewel School Friends
Sandra McGriff- Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode- Pookledo
Sherri Stokey -Knot Just Macrame
Sonya Stille -Dreamin Of Beads
Tammie Everly -TTE Designs
Therese Frank -Therese's Treasures
Tiffany Goff Smith -Southern Gals Designs
Marlene Cupo-Amazing Designs 
Shelley Graham Turner -Fabric of My Life

Singing the Blues

Last November, Christie Murrow of Charis Designs Jewelry had a bead giveaway on her blog, and I was the lucky winner! The only two requirements were that the winner could not have participated in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party, and the winner needed to link back to her blog when  the beads were used. As you can see, it is now March, and this year's Bead Soup Blog Party is almost upon us! It is about time, wouldn't you say, that Christie got to see what I made with her beautiful beads, before the Bead Soup reveal? Thank you for being so patient Christie, I hope you like what you see.

The gorgeous beads that Christie sent just blew me away. Blue beads and I have an off-again, on again relationship, but Christie wanted to challenge me and let me have some fun at the same time. So, I was Singing the Blues for this challenge! Various hues of blue glass beads........

Along with some Delica seed beads, and Coral Cuppolini. she sent a glass pendant by Glassware by Susan in Frosted Blue, with other color highlights.

Also received were two gorgeous blue Venetian Glass beads from Italy, wow!!!, with a fun little lampwork fish, sorry, I do not know the maker, and some silver beads and a silver toggle.

Immediately, a light bulb went off as I looked at the Fish, and a design started to take shape. Little did I know that even though I worked on this design for almost three months off and on, that it would take that long to finally finish it. Oh, what is the design?? Here it is....

I wanted my little fishie to be happy, so I wire wrapped him in a big "wave" to represent water, along with the blue coral cuppolini. The seed bead string waves represent him happily swimming from place to place. Many shades of green, blue, and other deep sea colors are represented by beads that I added from my own stash----pearls--real and glass, paua shell beads, faux sea-glass, silver curlicues, blue and green jades, crystals, and more blue coral cuppolini, as well as those stunning blue Venetian Glass beauties.

My mother fell in love with this OOAK statement necklace, and since her birthday is March 19, she is a Pisces, so I am gifting her with her own OOAK Pisces necklace!!!
Another necklace and earrings were made with the pendant and clasp, and some of the other glass beads. I really did try to use all or most of the beads, but there are quite a few seed beads left. I did enamel some metal rings in a color that blended well with the pendant, and then wire wrapped the pandant before stringing.

I also patinated the bead caps for these earrings--representing water with a few bubbles added in for fun!

Thank you so very much, Christie, for the chance to play with some gorgeous beads. Singing the Blues was definitely an exercise in enrichment and a little fun....the Blues and I may be better friends in the future.