SOCIAL MEDIA

10/13/12

My Bead Table Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hop!

Last month I told you about this fun blog hop hosted by Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist (formerly Pine Ridge Treasures) blog fame, and today is the day!   

For this hop, Lisa took various beads and components that didn't necessarily go together, but were all on top of her bead table, and packaged them up and sent them out.  The challenge was for us to add some of our own beads to make fun new designs.

Here are photos of the beads Lisa sent to me:

Aren't these fun mixes?

Here are the pieces I made from the beads:
Design #1: "Fringed"
The first design is a fun, fringy bangle-style bracelet featuring lots of salmon, coral and red tones with some clear and opalescent glass beads thrown in for a little sparkle.  There are approximately 70 charms dangling from the front half of this bracelet, with the back half covered by bright red coiled artistic wire.



Design #2: "Holiday Cheer"
The second design is a simple bangle bracelet using the fun red and green-toned lampwork beads.  I used the same red coiled artistic wire in this design, and toned down the brightness of the color combination a bit with dark annealed steel wire wrapped messily around the whole bracelet.  I added the little charm in back for some movement and added interest.



Design #3: "Naturally"
The third piece I made with the beads is a long wrap bracelet in greens and copper using the jade and green glass rounds.  (Apparently I was on a bracelet binge!)  I wore this one yesterday, and I just might keep it for myself!



Design #4: "Simple Formality"

This necklace is a long, simple design with a fun focal that hangs from an antiqued silver toggle clasp.  I needed a dressy necklace that would compliment a couple of my holiday outfits, and this one fits the bill!


I really had fun putting these designs together.  I'm always interested to see what other artists are amassing on their desks (thank goodness I'm not the only one with a gazillion beads on my worktable!), and these mixes really made me think about how to turn Lisa's beads into designs reflecting my own style.  (I am still trying to figure out how to use the acrylic flower petals, and will post pictures after I figure out what to create with them.)

And again, thank you so much, Lisa, for hosting this fun Hop!


 Take a few minutes to check out the other fabulous participating artists and their designs:

Our Beautiful Hostess: Lisa Lodge A Grateful Artist (formerly Pine Ridge Treasures)
  

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me (you are here!)
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Lisa Boucher, Lisa’s Clay Happenings
Michelle Buettner, Mishel Designs
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's
Mary Anne Klinglesmith Flesch, Hand Crafted Serenity
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress
Mary Hicks, Falling Into the Sky
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Shelly Joyce, Au jour le jour
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Susan Lloyd, Designs by Susan
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Kristen Stevens, My Bead Journey
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories



aneri_masi said...

The second one is my fav!

Unknown said...

I am totally a bracelet girl so I love them all, but I'm drawn to Holiday Cheer despite Naturally being totally my style. I'm wondering if it's the great vintage style fabrics it's sitting on. Love them too by the way.

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher said...

Wow Molly! They're all fabulous - I love the bracelets especially! Nice batch to work with and you gave them life. Love the names.

baymoondesign said...

Great job on all of them. I have to say I was excited to see the orange flower among your collection. I think it is very cool, but I haven't come up with a design for it either. I will be anxiously waiting to see what you do with it! Perhaps someone else will be revealing it in this blog hop.

Wendy said...

You've made some beautiful bracelets! I love the use of coiled wire

Shirley said...

I love the lush fullness of the first bracelet. I am normally a bracelet girl, but that necklace really captured my attention. I would have had a very hard time using those petals!

AntiquityTravelers said...

such pretty bracelets - all of them! nicely done!

Tanya said...

Molly, I just love all of those. I think the wrapped bracelet is my favorite, just because I love the red and the lampworked beads. The dangle bracelet, though, is so much fun!

Therese's Treasures said...

Beautiful pieces Molly, my favorites are the geen wrap bracelet and the long black and white necklace.
Therese

Cornerstoregoddess said...

Such clever bracelets! What a great way to show off these beads.

(And please turn off CAPTCHA. It's taking those of us with older eyes about 10 tries to leave a comment.)

Anonymous said...

Molly - all your designs are just lovely! I kept oohing and ah-ing all the way down the page! I love the red Christmas one the most, and "naturally" as well. Thanks so much for participating and showing me what fabulous things could be done with these beads!

Christine said...

Your pieces are amazing! Love all of the fringe on your first bracelet and the wire-wrapping on your second one!!

Unknown said...

So creative, I didn't even consider bracelets after my first attempt turned into a disaster. Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown said...

My favourites are the fringe bracelet and the knotted bracelet, both techniques that I am dying to learn. They are fabulous! You were so creative :)

Bead Soup Mix

Unknown said...

The frilly bits are beautiful.I love them all.So talented.Love and hugs Tanya

Unknown said...

Oh Molly! You know I love your creativity! You really utilized your mix and made gorgeousness!!!

Anonymous said...

I like all of your pieces, especially the fringe. I found the plastic beads to work well in fringe, but I see you got bigger ones. Great colors.

Pretty Things said...

Your work is always lovely!

Fawn Weaver said...

I hopped over to this blog because I loved the name but it looks like you may not be blogging any more. Nonetheless, I absolutely love the name (and the design of the site).