Saturday 10 May 2014

YAY! It's finally here! BSBP Reveal Day

( Blogger is acting up! I scheduled this post for midnight last night because I 've been busy. I just checked and found out nothing happened !Anyway I'll post it live now. Here goes! So frustrating. )
Lori Anderson of Pretty Things created this event several years ago and it has grown exponentially since. Now almost 500 jewelry artists from all over the world come together to contribute and PARTY!!! Lori matches up all participants with a partner and they each send their partners a collection of bead soup including a focal and a clasp both of which must be used in the final design. The most amazing creations will be available for all to see in the blogosphere starting today, May 10th.

Every designer has a blog and posts pictures of the bead soup they received and their final designs. We all hop around from blog to blog enjoying all the original and exciting designs and letting our fellow jewelry makers know what we think. It is soooo much fun and usually takes 2-3 weeks of serious blog reading to see everyone's work. A million thanks to the amazing Lori (and her husband and son) for persevering  with this arduous project despite dealing with some very serious health issues . She deserves all the love AND PIE she can handle!

Here's the link to all the other participants .   http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.ca/2014/05/8th-bead-soup-blog-party-participant.html
Please visit Lori's blog and that of my partner, Michaela Pabeschitz of Austria. I guarantee you'll see some glorious eye candy. Enjoy !!!

Here's the incredible bead soup I received from Michi:
She is a very talented lamp work artist and I am the incredibly lucky recipient of several examples of her work. All the lamp work beads are hers and she added green Czech glass, Carnelian, Agate and Hematite beads  and a lovely sterling silver clasp. She threw in some great shell beads and a hand-dyed silk ribbon to pull it all together. I was overwhelmed with her generosity and hope that I was able to do justice to this collection of bead beauty.
 Here is what I created. This necklace is my first attempt at making an asymmetrical piece, my first handmade bail and the first time I added fabric (sari silk ribbon) to a piece of jewelry! 
The lovely green lamp work glass beads and the flat olive green Czech beads inspired me and reminded me of this fabulous polymer clay sea urchin pendant that I recently bought from Staci L. Smith. The design evolved organically and although it was quite a challenge, I am very pleased with the result and will be keeping this necklace for myself.


This bracelet features more of Michi's wonderful lamp work to which I added some vintage antique copper beads and my own hand-made clasp. (This one already has an owner).
 Look at those lovely beads!


As I continued with the green theme I used the Czech Picasso finish beads and the Hematite discs from my soup to make this fun set and added a ceramic bicycle pendant handmade by Melanie of Earthenwood Studio. I hung this from a pre-made black velvet cord necklace. It's a fun piece for summer.

Michi makes beautiful critters in her lamp work creations including  all kinds of flora and fauna. She sent me a lovely set of floral beads and a matching owl focal which I used in this asymmetrical necklace with some dyed jade beads in pale green. I used the sterling clasp at the front , the silk ribbon around the neck and more of the Hematite beads she sent me. Those black vintage cone beads are from last year's soup from  my fabulous partner, Toltec Jewels.

Both  the focals I received are in this piece as well as the clasp....challenge met!


 A matching bracelet with vintage green plastic beads .

Well that's about all for the green  pieces!
Sorry but there's more! 
Once I got started I couldn't stop. I'm really glad that the hop wasn't postponed any longer because there would be even more. 

Before I show you any more I wanted to tell you about my BSBP 8 giveaway. I will draw a name at random from all the comments made on this post and the winner will get this fun necklace  made using parts of the packaging Michi used to mail my soup to me.
I couldn't resist doing something with these cute mini clothespins.  I found these colored wooden buttons at the dollar store and they looked great together. I'll draw a name for the winner on May 24th so check back then.

 I'll also be introducing my own International Blog hop on that day. It was great fun last year so I hope you'll join in. The reveal will be July 1st...Canada Day! Start thinking now about what you can make to represent your country. It can be jewelry or any other handmade craft. Details on the 24th.


So let's get on with rest of my reveal so you can move on to all the others. After sticking pretty much to the green and black theme in the first pieces I switched  to a gorgeous reddish orange colour  with a complementary colour of pale blue.
A lovely colour combination for the summer.
This is really two necklaces that could be worn separately or together. I really like how they look as a matched set.
"A Walk on the Beach"
Features the seashell beads , Carnelian ovals, and Agate rounds from my soup.  From my own stash I added blue crackled agate beads, blue dyed jade beads, Picasso finish Czech beads, antique copper disc spacers and chains. The ammonite pendant is a ceramic piece  found at Stinky Dog Beads and it pretty much set the mood for the design.

 I made these earrings to match the necklaces but they could easily be worn on their own.


I wanted to use a least one of every bead in my soup so  I made this bracelet using one of the large Agate beads as a focal and more of the Carnelian oval beads. It is finished off with one of my own hand made copper clasps.


Whew! That's all of it! If you've managed to stay with me up to now I hope you'll leave a comment so I can include you in the giveaway draw for the button and clothespin necklace. I'm heading off to party myself and see what beady wonderfulness my fellow participants have created. Please be sure to visit my partners's blog next and see what she did with the bead soup I sent her. To remind you of what I sent to her I've included a picture of it here.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll come back again to visit.

Once again here's the link for all of the Bead Soup Blog Party 2014.

Have a great weekend!
 Nan


46 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed seeing your designs, the first necklace is gorgeous, the whimsy of the bicycle pendant and the clothespin necklace made me smile! So much fun!

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  2. Nan, I'm totally overwhelmed! Wow, you did such a lot of breathtaking pieces. The first one..... I could understand, why you keep it to your own, it's soooo pretty! The colors ...hmhmhm!
    And haha, you even used the clamps of the parcels - you can't see my face at the moment... there is a big grin on it :0)))) You're absolutely the best! Have a wonderful mothers day, my dear!

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  3. What a smorgasbord of eye candy! They are all great pieces but I keep going back to the first necklace. It is breathtaking.

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  4. Excellent use of your soup. Lovely pieces. Especially drawn to the two pair of red and blue earrings.

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  5. Great designs and colors! Can't even pick a favorite. And to even use the packaging - you were on a roll.

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  6. WOW, so many lovely pieces you have made from the beautiful soup. I love especially the gorgeous necklaces.

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  7. Wow! you made so much! I have to tell you something funny - my partner sent me lampwork in the "sea urchin" theme, and I almost made a necklace with the sari silk she sent me on one side and chain on the other - asymmetrical, like yours! Wouldn't that have been serendipitous?

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  8. Great pieces, good colour harmony, I like them all.

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  9. Handmade bail, tick, using sari fabric, tick, making an a-symetric piece, tick. Your comfort zone just got a whole lot bigger!! Lovely necklace, lovely pieces!!

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  10. Wow - what an abundance of work! Hopping around to all of the participants has been so inspiring.

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  11. Only one word: Wonderful! You have a new Member, I want to see more!

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  12. Lovely work as always. You really made good use of all your bead soup items and boy have you been busy! Your partner Michi did a lovely job as well.

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  13. WOW you have been busy! I love all the pieces you've created. Even the packaging one with the mini clothes pins - who woulda thunk? Thanks for the giveaway too! Great job!

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  14. Oh my gosh you were busy. Beautiful pieces, each so unique and different. I would love them all.

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  15. Lovely soup and lovely designs! I really like how you used the swirl shell beads in "a walk on the beach" necklace! I have a few and never could design around them.....

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  16. Wow Nan! You've been a very busy lady! Your soup to work with is wonderful and you certainly did it justice!!! I also love the soup you sent. I totally agree ... I'm glad this wasn't postponed any longer or I'd still be at it. This blog hop is so much fun & I just love seeing all the beautiful creations everyone makes. I'll look forward to your blog hop & hope to join in. :)

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  17. So many beautiful work! I really loved what you did with the sari silk and the asymmetric necklace designs are eye catching! Great designs!

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  18. Not only did you receive a beautiful soup, but you have created beautiful pieces. I especially like the first photo of the asymmetric green necklace. Nice wirework on everything, too!

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  19. Beautifully done with a great soup!!

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  20. You make me want to go the forest and the beach because of the colours and the decoration! ♥Beautiful...

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  21. oh wow, you were one busy gal! I love it all! especially the beachy stuff...but I am a beach type girl myself. that clothespin necklace is really cool to. and....I would love to do your blog hop! I can't wait to hear more details!

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  22. so many pieces and all very inventive projects!congrats!

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  23. Beautiful and happy jewelry! The clothspin necklace is my favorite, just the right piece of jewelry in a grey day in the office. I must find those little things somewhere!

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  24. Love, love, love them, Nan... those greens, so dreamy :) Hope you are feeling a little better :)

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  25. Sorry but I have to poStpone my country blog hop! I am in hospital since last weekend.serious heart condition. Will still have the giveaway once things settle down and I get home . Thanks for the lovely comments!

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  26. Oh my dear, Nan! I was just about to email and let you know why my comment had been delayed! I am so very concerned about you, my dear friend! Hope you are feeling better and healing in the hospital. Sending love and prayers and healing light!

    As for your reveal, I've visited many times -- you outdid yourself! Everything is so beautiful, so well crafted and exquisitely designed. I adore your handcrafted bail, sari ribbon, asymmetrical necklace -- brilliant! I am so often just blank at sari ribbon -- you've used it so well -- inventive, original and very cool looking technique! I love the spoken for bracelet, too. Not surprised it is taken! You rocked it with the vintage copper and your gorgeous clasp! And the owls!! I'm so excited you used the vintage lucite (Lori Anderson gave them to me before I gave it to you:) in your necklace. I love owls! You created an adorable set: more fabulous asymmetry, and a masterful way of patterning the beads in necklace and bracelet. Gorgeous! Earthenwood is cheery and charming, with splendid artistic touches, such as the Czech shapes repeating the bicycle shape. Awesome! And the mini clothespin -- what a treasure! The colored wood buttons were a perfect addition -- clever and creative! So much fun! :) Your colorways are sublime and lustrous, as the blue and orange pieces are as outstanding as the green and black. Both of the coordinating necklaces are phenomenal! I'm studying them and the earrings to learn from you. The details, movement of color, and design -- absolutely magnificent! :) And finally, the stunning monotone carnelian and agate bracelet is rich, warm, wonderful! You knocked it all outta the park in your reveal, and made this party a home run! Bravo! Happy Hopping! Love ♥ Rita

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  27. YAY for all the firsts you did! And what gorgeous lampwork beads you had to work with. I love how you made each piece. The beads you sent your partner were gorgeous, too!

    Thanks for doing this!

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  28. Oh, I really love Michis lampwork beads! And I love what you did with it. Every piece is adoreable. You did a great job with your soup.

    I hope you get better as soon as possible. All my best wishes are with you.

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  29. Nan, all the many,many pieces you've designed are gorgeous. I love all of them. I can see why you want to keep for yourself the sari necklace - the bail, the assymetry, the use of the sari ribbon, all is perfect for your first time.
    Get well soon, dear friend.
    Ana

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  30. I love your designs, you've really made the most of your soup. The seashell necklace is my favourite!!!

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  31. You made so many really pretty pieces with your soup. I love love love that first necklace. The asymmetry, the colors, the sari silk, everything about it works so nicely.

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  32. Love everything you made. I especially like the green bracelet and bicycle pendant necklace. I am also a quilter and I call that green "poison green." It is one of my favorites. We see a lot of it in civil war quilts. I also loved the bead with the wire wrapped silk. Great job.

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  33. Love the asymmetrical design. Looks great. Your work with the sari silk is fab. I should try some soon.

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  34. You had me from the very first piece. I can see why you're keeping that one. Two of my other favorites are the "Walk on the Beach" and the following sets of earrings. So delicious! What a great collection of designs.

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  35. You came up with a lot of great pieces from your soup. The 2 matching necklaces with the earrings are really cute and probably my favorites :)

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  36. So perfect design for summer *love them*

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  37. Both of those green sets are fabulous, great colors!

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  38. Oh man! I missed the giveaway - bummer!

    What a creative group of pieces! I love your green bracelet - it's just so splendid! I'm not typically a green fan - but it really is adorable. Great balance of lampwork to crystal and great texture with the spacers.

    Linda A.
    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
    http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  39. Wow, have you been inspired! Your first "things" turned out great - you obviously enjoyed playing with asymmetry and that bail deserves admiration. The green pieces are beautiful and you did justice to the gorgeous lampwork - it was brave to put them all in one piece! The necklace using part of the packaging - sweet! Great color and shape combo in the beach pieces. The agate and carnelian braelet will certainly draw attention. If I have to choose a favorite - the first necklace :)

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  40. You sure got a nice soup. I'm still having soup envy after250 blogs worth of soup. I love your use of green and the assymetric necklace was exceptionally nice

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  41. Wow what awesome work! My very favorite is the green necklace with the sari silk and Staci's focal! xo Genea

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  42. Awesome work! I'm envious of the soup you recieved and I truly admire what you've created. I really like the bicycle necklace, color and design!

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  43. such fun fabulous pieces. I love the first necklace in greens and the fun necklace with clothespins what a genius idea :)

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  44. You got so, so many pieces made with your soup! Each and every one of them is so unique and so special. Outstanding work!

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  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  46. Wonderful soup, I do hope you're feeling better and on the mend.

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Thank you for all your lovely comments! I love to read them and they really make my day.