Saturday, April 13, 2013

Bead Soup Blog Party 2013 - drumroll please....

This was my first time involved in the BSBP and how much fun I had. There are over 541 people participating! Thank you Lori Anderson for putting this together, I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog!

I was paired up with a fabulous artist, Jennifer Davies-Reazor. She makes beautiful ceramic pieces inspired by myth and ritual. She is also inspired by found objects which, to me was a perfect person to be paired up with! I couldn't be happier with my final pieces.

I was challenged by the soups she sent me, mainly because I have never used ceramics in my work, but some of the pieces were very tribal looking to me, which is right up my alley!

If you recall Jennifer sent me 2 beautiful "soups" in 2 separate pouches. The Brown Pouch, as I referred to it was easier for me to work with:

The very first piece I made immediately was a bracelet using the Jen's stoneware bracelet bar:

I have been on a roll etching metals and had a hunk of etched copper just waiting to be used. I cut a piece of that and used micro fastneners to attach it to the leather. I added chain and attached some of the pearls and vintage buttons as dangles. I used some crystals from my stash with the buttons to add just a tiny bit of bling.  I love the clasp she sent me from the other soup, I thought it went perfect with the colors and feel of the piece. I had to use a couple pieces of turquoise, well, because I love turquoise and wanted that little bit of color in the clasp to be picked up.


Right away, the discs by Marsha Neal Studio called out to me, they are just fabulous! I fused some copper wire (that my husband stripped for me while working on our kitchen electrical), pounded it out and textured with my hammer. I disc cut 2 circles from the same piece of copper I used for the bracelet and voila, matching earrings.

And last but not least in this group is the necklace:

The copper medallion by Andrew Thronton arrived to me shiny. I had to oxidize it right away and it really brought out the texture of stars. I thought it would be perfect to pair it with the crystal Jen sent me. I also used a couple of the brown pearls and a brown bead she sent me along with some of my own stash of turquoise and vintage beads from broken necklaces my Gram gave me long ago. I was struggling with the perfect chain for this and found in one of my bins some copper links I made into bracelets. I took 2 of the bracelets apart and used it for the chain on this piece. I am planning on putting together the perfect outfit to wear this set tonight to a function I am attending!

Now, for my challenging soup

The focal was the biggest challenge to me. I stared at it numerous times before coming up with an idea. 

I still have a lot of pieces from this soup to use and mainly strung a colorful array of beads, pearls, crystals and spacers from my stash to pick up all of the colors in the Believe pendant.
Again, I steered toward a tribal/talisman look, that's just my thing. 

I hope I made Jennifer proud! Again, I had so much fun doing this and cannot wait to find the time to visit the blogs of all the participants - the full list of links can be found here. 


40 comments:

  1. Wow - what a beautiful soup! You're an outstanding artist, Jennifer! I'm sure Jennifer is more than proud about that, what you've done with her soup. Every piece has it's own charm, every piece is something I would wear with love!

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  2. Proud! Gleeful! Thrilled! I dont know where to start... the bracelet made me exclaim out loud, I startled the dog. Metal and leather - awesome. The jingle bling to balance it out - yes! Love the earrings too. The amulet necklace with the crystal - so exactly along the lines of what I make again I am marveling at Lori for pairing us so perfectly.

    I adore the "Believe" piece, and think the gypsy/boho fiber tassel suits it very well. Your palette is great, and accentuates the piece. Thank you.

    I just had so much fun this year! Thank you for a great soup and a stunning reveal. I am def. a proud 'parent'. I am glad to have met you and look forward of keeping in touch online!

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  3. it's interesting how we're drawn to different colours. I love what you've done with the brown earthy soup, your pieces are just jaw drop gorgeous. I could never come up with that on the other hand the cool blue/green soup with peacock pearls is the colour palette which I'm comfortable with. I love how you gave it a more energetic vibe with the use of fiber. It reminds me of Mardi Grass good luck talismans.

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  4. Wow, you lucky thing - 2 soups! You've made some amazing pieces with them both. Can't believe this is your first time participating - you're extremely talented! Looking forward to reading more on your blog :)

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  5. Oh wow - your pieces are amazing! All of them are spectacular and I really, really, really love that last necklace! You did an amazing job with your soup goodies and so glad you joined the fun!

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  6. LOVE your style. That cuff is amazing, as is that last necklace. Well done!

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  7. I love the two necklaces :) Amazing work !

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  8. Great jewelry! Love the chunky bracelet.

    I’m in the third reveal. Can’t wait.
    http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  9. I love love love the believe focal. amazing job.

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  10. I agree with coffeeaddict. I would have been more comfortable with the blue/greens so I can't help but be more impressed with your designs for the browns. I love that bracelet and those earrings. They will definitely make me think more next time I use that color, to try to make it shine as you did, instead of just adding brighter colors.

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  11. I think your pairing with Jennifer was serendipitous. What a collaboration! Her soup and your artistry led to magical results. Striking designs!

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  12. You were a great pair! I love both the necklaces but the bracelet is my favourite :-D

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  13. super work with wire and fabric! congratulations!

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  14. I like your style very much. You have taken this challenge seriously - with wonderful results. The bracelet is my favourite, too.

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  15. That talisman necklace is truly gorgeous, loving the textile dangles and the bracelet is a cool design, love.

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  16. Love your designs!
    I can't pick a favorite I adore them all
    Wonderful earthy wearable art

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  17. I love all of your pieces, especially the brown pouch ones! That cuff is awesome!

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  18. Your bracelet made my favs list for the second reveal. Check it out: http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  19. Your designs are stunning! I especially love the bracelet - very earthy. The oxidation on the Andrew Thornton focal is great and it ties in the with rest of the necklace beautifully. The earrings are beautiful. Love the discs and the copper wire. Your last necklace is gorgeous - love how you used the fibers. Great bead soup!!

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  20. I love all your pieces, the second necklace is my favourite.
    I'm on the 3rd reveal, what fun BSBP!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  21. Stunning!! I love all your pieces.

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  22. Oh, my. I love that bracelet. Where do you get your micro fasteners? I need some of those. Love the brown soup, but the blue one is gorgeous too. That necklace is beautifully put together. I joined your blog. Great job!

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  23. Please, please remove the captcha. They are a nuisance, you will get more comments without them, and I was lucky this time and got it on the first try, but when I don't I just move on. I ask this with love and respect, and you may remove this comment when you have read it.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jean,

      How do I do that? I am pretty new to receiving comments on my blog...Thank you!

      Delete
  24. Great pieces! The leather cuff is da bomb! You did a fantastic job with you difficult soup. Congrtas!

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  25. Wow! The leather cuff is gorgeous and love the earrings too! Great work!!

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  26. Oh my heavens, love, love, love that cuff!! Your etched metal work is amazing! Lucky you, you had two bead soups to work with and you did an awesome job with both of them...absolutely beautiful! I just became a follower of your work!

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  27. All of the pieces are lovely, I think you did an amazing job with the 'challenge' soup. It is very earthy and I love the mix of fiber and fabric in there too. The copper circle earrings are beauties!

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  28. You succeeded perfectly! I love your `wild and free´ style very much; especially the bracelet.

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  29. Your cuff and earrings are my favorites. Fantastic work!

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  30. Beautiful, very creative work!

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  31. Oh wow, beautiful work! I love that you brought all the etched metals in they make such a nice foil for the ceramic. I can't pick a favourite, they are all lovely

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  32. I love all of your pieces. Unique style and great use of soup!

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  33. Gracious! It's all so amazing. The bracelet is TO DIE FOR! And, the other pieces are just as stunning. You really went all out and made some outstanding pieces. They're really inspiring.

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  34. Good job using your soup Jennifer. All of your pieces are lovley

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  35. The cuff is gorgeous, and the tassel on the last necklace looks like a feast of texture! Everything is lovely.

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