To learn more about the Cup of Bead Soup Project, click here. You can view past Cup of Bead Soup participants and the designs I created by clicking the button right below my blog banner. Also, I'll be creating a new Cup of Bead Soup program next year, where three of YOU will join me in creating a piece using a designers set of beads! So stay tuned for the full explanation in December.
I really, really couldn't wait to work with Sue's set of etched black and clear lampwork beads.
When I went to the Bead and Button show, I bought a lot of lucite flowers in all shapes, sizes, and colors. When I saw frosted white and black ones, I immediately got an idea, and put them together in a bag and stored them for when the right set of lampwork came my way.
Well, these were the right set of lampwork.
I added lucite flowers with Swarovski crystals nestled inside, and white frosted lucite beads. All are vintage, which I thought was apt as, to me, this looks like a Victorian piece.
Even though as of today silver has dropped from $50/oz to about $35/oz, that's still a far cry from the $15/oz I'm used to working with, and the $4/oz I started with! So to help make things a bit more palatable for the customer, every other bead has gorgeous (but more expensive) bead caps, and the others have equally pretty but less expensive (relatively) large spacers. The small bead charms are Tierracast pewter (I sometimes mix sterling with pewter) and the toggle is a spectacular sterling silver (whose price has gone up hugely, and I cry). These bracelets take a long time to make, too.
There's a fun story about this bracelet. I took it with me to my craft show this weekend. I am fortunate to have some amazing repeat customers, ladies who even take a day of vacation to come be the first in the door on Friday. One lovely lady got to my booth within five minutes of show opening and snagged this bracelet immediately. Then my second group of ladies came to the booth and wanted to know if I'd made something with "those pretty beads we saw on your blog".
I pointed to my other customer and said, "She beat you by fifteen minutes!". There was some friendly banter and customer #2 decided it wasn't her style but made me promise that for the last set of beads....
... she'd get first dibs. So Sue, your bead were a hit!
I hope you'll visit Sue's store and blog, which you can visit by clicking below:
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene and is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.
20 comments:
yep, I'd snag it too! Though just five years ago it was inconceivable to me that I'd ever wear anything purple.
Sue's beads are lovely! I adore the black and white combination, and probably always will. I think it never goes out of style.
Your bracelet is beautiful and I'm not surprised it was the first to sell. How fun that you have a fan club!!!!!
Me three! I'm so jealous of that customer.
The etching is gorgeous and what you've created is tres elegant.
Cathie
Lovely beads, and I just love what you did with them! :)
Isn't the Bead and Button Show wonderful? I've been four times so far, and I'm so impatient for June so I can go again.
I also miss the chocolate ice cream at The Chocolate Factory in the mall. To die for... and possibly from!
Those frosted lucite beads are yummy! I love purple! This is such a stunning creation and the silver enhances this piece wonderfully...I am drooling!
Oh, Lori!!!! It turned out spectacular! That may be one of my favorite bracelets I have ever seen! I love the way those lucite flowers look next to the lampwork and the silver and oh! Just wonderful!
Thank you so much Lori! It's gorgeous and I can't wait to see what you make next!!!! I just listed some of these beads in my etsy store and there's a SALE right now too!
Her beads are great. I just ordered some for myself. I love that Black and White with your Lucite flowers and Swarovski crystals. And the toggle really sets it off. No wonder it went immediately.
Can't wait to find out the details for the Cup of Bead Soup for next year. Will be watching.
It is absolutely beautiful. You did justice to those lovely beads and the pairing with the frosted lucite is perfect.
Omg, $4/oz! I remember when silver was $12/oz when I started, and how I used to turn my nose up at $18/oz of wire. Silly, silly me. I haven't ordered any silver for months because of the price!
As always, I love what you do with the Cup of Soup beads! Sue's wildly talented!
that bracelet is just perfect! the lucite flowers were the perfect thing to go with the beautiful beads! I just love it
Oh wauw ! I LOVE IT!
I really like all of Sue's beads but those black and white ones are exquisite. The lucite pairs really well and that's such a good idea to mix small and large pieces of silver. I'm waiting for the price of silver to go down enough and long enough to have silver clay come down in price.
Gorgeous bracelet!! Wish I could have snagged it!
Lori, that is spectacular! I cannot fully express how beautiful your design is. Those beads all compliment one another so well.
This black and white beaded bracelet is beautiful and really my favorite. Your style eye is so accurate and therefore your repeat customers cannot wait to be present and acquiring. Stunning work Lori...
That is beautiful! I bought some of those exact beads as well, just waiting for some time to create. I love Sue's beads!
I loves Sue's Beads and love what you made with them! Gorgeous!
Beautiful creation! Love it!
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