Bead Soup Has Arrived And Other Awesome Things

I am SOOOO excited!  My bead Soup Mix has arrived and it is AMAZING!  I have been blessed with the most amazing artist for a bead soup partner - Melinda Orr.

For those of you who aren't familiar with her work, Melinda is a phenomenal metal smith and jewelry artist.  She makes handmade copper components with the most amazing patinas, and I've gotta say, her style is right up my alley!  I received her package yesterday, and boy, am I spoiled!

Here is where I started unwrapping:

Such cute dragonfly paper...

Oooooo!  Look at these fun little baggies chock full of goodies!

From the peach baggie:  gorgeous beads to compliment all the other components.

From the top blue baggie, handmade copper components that turn over to reveal...

This stunning patina!  (Sorry - my photo editor just plain didn't want to get the colors right in this  picture - the colors are so incredible rich!)

The top baggie also had these wonderful  components:  handmade bead caps, fasteners, copper rivets, and large oval connectors along with the domed glass circles to go with the cool artwork for mixed-media pieces.

The bottom baggie contained a beautiful handmade clasp with the gorgeous patina of the other components, 2 fun textured copper circles, copper beads and spacers, lovely Sue Beads lampwork beads form Sue Kennedy and a sweet bird charm from Lisa Petraka.

My Bead Soup cup runneth over!

Now that you've seen what I received, I can show you what I sent to Melinda:

I made the focal and clasp using seed beads and copper; the large lampwork beads are from EB Bead and Metal Works; the small turquoise lampwork beads are from Blue Seraphim; and I sent some cute hot pink Czech pressed glass bellflowers and some funky blue and yellow glass beads I found on an out-of-town trip.

The focal I sent Melinda is from a new series I am making using mixed media collage with seed beading techniques.  Here's some of the others I'll be putting up in my Etsy shop soon:

I love how these turned out, and have some more in the works right now.  In fact, I made one that completely reminded me of my friend, Patty Gasparino, and I sent it to her, asking if she would be willing to make something with it and post it on her blog.  Here is her gorgeous design:

Love's Letter Lost

Isn't is fabulous?  You can read more about this piece on her blog, My Life Under The Bus.

So, BIG thank yous to Melinda and Patty - you ladies are completely amazing!

For more information on the Bead Soup Blog Hop, check out Lori Anderson's blog, Pretty Things.

Grandma's Quilt: September Art Bead Scene and Love My Art Jewelry Monthly Challenges

"Grandma's Quilt"

Art Bead Scene Inspiration Artwork
"Housetop" by Lillie Mae Pettway

My grandmother is one of my most favorite people I was blessed to have in my life. She taught me so many things, and was an incredible influence on my character - on the woman I am today. I wrote about her in a blog post called "Teapots" (which you can read here) where I spoke about my childhood and the wonderful times I spent with her.

When I saw this month's challenges for Art Bead Scene and for Love My Art Jewelry, I knew that I would be combining them into one piece called "Grandma's Quilt". She was the person who taught me to sew and to embroider. I'm not very good at all at either, but she was patient and persistent, and I loved the stories she would tell me as we sat together at the sewing machine or with our projects on our laps.

Her mother used to knit, and made the quilt squares these pictures were taken on that my grandmother crocheted together into a quilt. I've had it for my whole life, and someday I will pass it on to my grandchildren and tell them about the remarkable woman who gave it to me.

Glass Mosaic Micro-Mosaic Focal:  Molly Alexander

Lampwork Beads: Blue Seraphim

Vintage buttons, beads, etc.

To see more of the Art Bead Scene entries, you can go to their Flickr group here and read more about the inspiration artwork here.

To see more of the Love My Art Jewelry Art Spark entries, you can go to their Flickr group here and read more about this month's challenge here.

Bead Table Wednesday

Heather Powers of Humblebeads is hosting a fun weekly bit of inspiration called "Bead Table Wednesday". To participate, you just have to post a picture of what is on your bead table at the moment, blog about it and post the picture in the flicker group as well.

So here's what is on my bead table today:



I've got beautiful glass beads and discs from Cindy Gimbrone and Blue Seraphim and an enameled heart and key by me along with some turquoise recycled sari silk.  I've been trying to work out a design that hasn't quite come together - YET - but it will!

Take some time to check out the other bead tables in the flicker group.  If you want to participate, Heather's blog has more information about it.

Happy creating everyone!

Totally Twisted Project: Loopy Loo

Well, I've finally had a chance to finish another project from Kerry Bogert's book, "Totally Twisted" that I call "Loopy Loo":

The techniques used in this project are:  simple loop, head pin and hook clasp. 

I ordered beads especially for this project from Jenn at blueseraphim on etsy, and am in love with the color combinations.  They are fantastic and the design is really fun - almost like working with buttons, once you get the discs attached.

If you like this bracelet, you can pick it up in my etsy shop.

Now...on to the next project!

A Little Something New In My Etsy Shop...

Just a quick post to share a new listing in my etsy shop:


I included some beautiful handmade lampwork beads from http://www.blueseraphim.etsy.com/ and combined them with a vintage wood bead and a sweet bird bead.  I also added a cute heart charm dangle to the clasp for added whimsy.

Thanks for looking!

Under Lock & Key: New Etsy Set

Hi there!

Just wanted to share a new set that I just listed in my etsy shop:


The set has beautiful artisan lampwork beads in shades of brown, amber and turquoise by http://www.blueseraphim.etsy.com/ and closes with a handmade copper clasp that hooks onto a fabulous Gothic Key Treasure Keeper cast pewter charm from http://www.lynndavis.etsy.com/.

To complement the necklace, this set also includes a pair of earrings which feature coordinating lampwork beads, also created by http://www.blueseraphim.etsy.com/.

Thanks for looking!

Butterfly Gardens

Just a quick post to share "Butterfly Gardens" with you:

"Butterfly Gardens"

The inspiration for this necklace comes from these GORGEOUS artisan lampwork beads made by the fabulously talented Jennifer Jennings of http://www.blueseraphim.etsy.com/.  The blues, periwinkles and earth tones work perfectly with the etched copper butterfly and handmade bead caps.

I also made a sweet pair of earrings with the same beautiful beads, and I love the way they look with the necklace.

Hand-coiled copper wire links and wire-wrapped copper beads I picked up at Rings and Things' unbelievable bead show in Mesa complete the chain that closes with a handmade clasp.

You can find this summery set in my etsy store.

Have a fantastic rest of your long weekend!