The Bead Soup Party Has Begun!

The long-awaited 2nd Bead Soup Party has begun! Today starts a week of blog hops and adventures into the designing lives of a wide variety of jewelry experts from around the world.

Today's blogs are listed below,
and the entire list can be accessed here:

1. Lori, Pretty Things

2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141

3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas

4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks

5. Katie, KatieBead

6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn

7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

9. Kate, Tropical Blonde

10. Janet, Singing Woods

11. Julianna, Juls Beads

12. Erin, Treasures Found

So without further ado, here's my unveiling, and the reason behind it all.

I was paired with Jennifer Cameron, a fantastic lampwork artist. She sent me a generous selection of handmade lampwork beads and some Swarovski crystals, along with a Green Girl Studios owl toggle:

My first reaction was "OMG, I will never, ever be able to make beads as spectacular as these." I mean, LOOK at them! That murrini! That detail!

My second reaction was mild panic. These are not the sort of beads that I gravitate towards because I am Miss Funky Pants. I work in bright, bright colors. But one of the main reasons for HAVING a Bead Soup Blog Party is to squarely kick oneself outside of the box and push yourself to the limit -- otherwise, really, what's the point? So I set the beads in a pot on the back burner and let them simmer.

The main focal was the first piece I tackled. I wanted to really draw out the beauty in that bead and not let it fall into the darkness of either onyx or labradorite or some other coordinating stone. So I pulled out orange carnelian, blue iolite, and yellow citrine, a ton of 26 gauge wire, and started wrapping tiny 3mm and 4mm gemstones around an 18 gauge base. And this is what happened....

(click for a larger view)

Here's a closer look:

(click for a larger view)

And even closer!


So there's the one pendant. The other pendant was made simply, with a cascade of yellow and iridescent heliotrope Swarovski crystals dangling beneath.

(click for a larger view)

Simple, but with a bead like that, you don't need much!

That leaves the gorgeous round beads and the amazing Green Girl Studios owl toggle, which I adore. They just shouted, "Bracelet, bracelet, bracelet, hoot hoot!"

First, let me show you the adorable toggle:


And now, the bracelet:

So there you have it -- all of my Bead Soup Party Pieces from the lovely Jennifer Cameron's generosity! Please be sure to visit all the blogs that are listed today, and come back to my blog every day until next Saturday to get a new dose of delights!

Thanks for attending!