My partner, Danielle Kelley, sent me some true lovelies. Below is a quick reminder:
Well, without further ado, here is what I made from the items Danielle sent along with some bits from my own reserve of beads:
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| The polymer clay bead was made by my blog hop partner. The dragonflies are from Beadaholique. The lampwork beads are from Goody Beads. The faceted green glass ovals and many of the findings are from The Crystal Limit. The small dark blue Czech glass faceted rounds are from A Bead Just So. |
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| The carved elephant bead is from my bead soup partner, Danielle. Most of the ingredients for this bracelet came from bead shows in NY and MA. I've had some of the stone chips for at least 20 years, no kidding! The tulip bead caps are from Jo-Ann Fabrics as are the findings. The Golden Rod 3mm Czech glass rounds are from Fusion Beads. |
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| The goldstone barrels were sent by Danielle. I wish I could have photographed them in better light because they are rather sparkly. That gorgeous Gardanne Beads focal was found at a bead show in Albany, NY. The small agate briolettes were purchased at Farrin O'Connor Design Studio in Pasadena, CA which has since closed shop. The oatmeal colored lampwork above the focal was made by Wes Fleming. |
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| More goldstone barrels from Danielle. You can see how they glitter in this photo. The Czech glass leaves were purchased in Prague at Manufaktura. The reddish faceted agate rounds are from A Zillion Beads. The chandelier components are from The Crystal Limit. |
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| That very fetching, colorful, detailed stone focal is again from Danielle. It is a large piece of agatized coral, and I was immediately inspired when I saw it. The dangling stones are some of the detritus I have picked up at beaches over the years. The dagger beads are from Let's Bead. The lampwork bead was made by Alison Byrd. I bought several groupings of her borosilicate glass beads while in Florence, OR years ago, but I can't seem to find a website for her. The copper diamonds are from Michael's. I can't seem to recollect where I found those amber chips. |
I started out with a spring theme but then went mostly brown. Hmm...perhaps that's because I live on the edge of the West Desert in Utah.
The list of all participants is below. Enjoy hopping to blogs and Pinterest pages. I, for one, am really looking forward to perusing all of the gorgeous, creative, imaginative pieces people have put together. These hops are always inspiring.
Your pieces are lovely! You did them all so artistically, they are gorgeous! Thank you for being a wonderful swap partner! Incidently, spring green is where I went with what you sent😊
ReplyDeleteDanielle, thanks so much for the comment. We did luck out with Lori matching us, didn't we? I'm headed to your blog in a minute to see what you made. I've been trying to be patient!
DeleteSuper cool pieces .... I love them all ....you have impeccable vision
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for that. If you only knew how my vision for these beads changed several times. Physics doesn't always comply with my ideas!
DeleteYou have such a gorgeous sense of shape - the top necklace is a joy, but I think I probably love the bottom one the best :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah. That might be my favorite, too. It feels like wearing a bit of earth when it's on my neck. That might be hokey, but several components are natural elements.
DeleteNice work - most I like the last necklace with the patternd stone pedant, it is very special!
ReplyDeleteI was blessed with that amazing pendant by my partner. Wholeheartedly, I agree that it's special.
DeleteWow, such amazing work. All of your pieces are beautiful, but I really enjoy the elephant bracelet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by to peruse and comment. That little elephant is a lovely surprise in a busy bracelet. And it was fun to put together. Win-win.
DeleteI love making earrings and yours are wonderful. I also love the bracelet. The colors really work well together.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kathy, if you're anything like me then earrings are the easiest and the most fun to make. Thanks for hopping and taking the time to comment.
DeleteHi Kelly, Your first design showed the polymer focal really well. Your color choices highlighted the elephant beads perfectly. Even though orange is my least favorite color the necklace and earrings that you created in that colorway are my favorite of your designs. You have a delightful design and color sense.
ReplyDeleteBecky, thank you so much for all of your insights and kind words. I appreciate it very much. I'm with you on orange - not a huge fan, but sometimes I find myself drawn to it. Glad when it comes together with the pop of one special bead in combination with everything else.
DeleteYou did a great job of showcasing the beads from your soup in each piece. I especially love the bracelet.
ReplyDeleteSusan, lovely of you to pop in and comment. When a great partner sends you lovely things, most of the work is already done. This soup was great fun to work with.
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ReplyDeletegreat pieces, especially the first necklace, congrats!
Believe it or not, that design came to mind as I was falling asleep one evening. It's not exactly as I'd hoped, but it is fun and colorful. I had to find a way to do that polymer bead justice!
DeleteSuch beautiful and unique designs. The chunky African-inspired elephant bracelet is my fave though - I just love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tracy. I hadn't thought of it as being African-inspired, but I see it now. Lots of natural elements and colors came together after being inspired by that little elephant.
DeleteAbsolutely stunning. I have to say I'm particularly enamored by the fossil coral piece. You did a beautiful job. Thanks for sharing so much inspiration with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and leaving such positive, encouraging words, Hannah. Part of me wanted to keep the fossilized coral in my pocket to carry as a talisman (it feels nice when held), but then I found myself digging through beads to accompany it in a necklace. It needs to be seen, apparently!
DeleteStunning work!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAwesome work!! I am crazy about that bracelet!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, it may have been the piece I was least pleased with, but folks leaving comments seem to like it most. Perhaps it will have to spend some time on my wrist for me to appreciate it more. Thanks for the uplifting words!
DeleteWow, all your pieces turned out great! That first necklace is a real statement piece. The elephant bracelet is my absolute favorite! I can see that's a theme with commenters! The I love the sparkly goodness of the earrings and how you highlighted the great enamel pendant. The focal in the last necklace is great, and I love how you put such a variety of things with it. Special elements, like the stuff you found on the beach, make it so unique.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann, for leaving such a wonderful comment. Sometimes you make something and aren't really sure it works, and then someone points out what they see, leading to a new appreciation for the piece. In the end, it really comes down to the beads, and I was lucky to receive some real beauties.
DeleteWOW. I love them all - particularly how you treated the focals!
ReplyDeleteThank you. You're very kind. There was a sense of wanting to focus on the focals as they were part of my soup, but honestly how could I not? They are so special and interesting, they just begged to be the stars of the show.
DeleteI can't believe how many pieces you made! I love the multi strand bracelet such a lovely neutral pallet. Very unique designs.
ReplyDeleteMaria, if you only knew how late in the day on the 24th I was finishing those earrings! I'm a last minute gal who likes to think she works well under pressure, whether that's actually true or not. Thank you so much for popping by and leaving a comment.
DeleteWow. You made so many pieces with your soup, it's hard to pick a favorite. They all look well thought out and quite special! You mustb have had a blast making them. It shows!
ReplyDeleteThank you Barb. It was indeed a blast working with the soup I was sent. There were even more designs sketched out, but a girl has to work, eat and sleep! Ha Ha.
DeleteI enjoyed the architectural quality about your work. I always find it fun to experiment with structure. My favorite pieces are your leaves earrings and the elephant bracelet. Beautiful!
DeleteLiz, I do appreciate your kind comments. There is something about dangly earrings that go clickety-clack as I'm walking - it puts a pep in my step and makes me smile.
DeleteSo many great pieces! That elephant bracelet is outstanding!
ReplyDeleteIf I were taking a poll, that seems to be the hands down favorite based on comments. Super chunky isn't usually my style, but that's the idea that popped up so I went with it. Thanks for stopping by & taking the time to comment.
DeleteOk, I admit it: I hoard goldstone too. I don't know why. The earrings are great and that stone focal necklace is very striking.
ReplyDeleteEven before Danielle sent me those lovelies given to her by her Nana, I had a baggie full of rectangular goldstone beads from a road trip in 2008! (Does that count as hoarding?) They may find their way into a necklace with my leftover soup now that I've played with goldstone beads. Thanks for popping in.
DeleteI'm feelin' so southwesty....(moved from AZ). The Agatized Coral - oh wow, what a fabulous stone. Love how you used it in your design, and the bracelet is over the top gorgeous. Great ob on your soup.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you, Joyce. Danielle's choice to send that along to me - the coral stone bead - must have been hard precisely because it is so fabulous. I'm grateful for her generosity!
DeleteEverything is very pretty! I think my favorites are probably the chandelier earrings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel. There is just something about long earrings that sway, would you agree? For me, I feel almost sassy when I wear a pair like this. Danielle's gift of goldstone is what makes these special, no doubt about it.
DeleteLove how you have used your pieces and can defiantly see the desert influence :)
ReplyDeleteThe elephant bracelet looks wonderful and i love how you placed the daggers with the focal stone. wonderful pieces.
Sam, glad you liked the pieces and thanks for your comments. Those daggers are so colorful, and I've been wondering for quite a while how I would use them. The fossilized coral had to come along for me to figure it out!
DeleteFabulous. That last piece espeically is a real stunner.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, you're kind to stop by and comment. That necklace is the last piece I made, and it really is all about that focal. I wish I could clone it to make more pieces with it!
DeleteYou got so much created with your soup. I'm in awe of those large loops you created in the first necklace (SO FUN!). But, it the subtle earth tones in that bracelet that really grab my attention. It all blends together so well. LOVE! I really think you went above and beyond with the whole soup!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all of the very kind comments. Those loops were fun to make (dead soft sterling silver wire from Fire Mt. Gems). The bracelet had at least three different clasps before I finally chose the right one, but the strands were also fun to make.
DeleteI'm envious of everyone who made more than once piece! And yours are stunning!! Great job!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dyanne. Honestly, I had so many ideas as soon as my soup arrived that multiple pieces seemed inevitable. And I'm still planning to use my soup - more ideas keep coming!
DeleteOh my! That elephant bead is amazing and I LOVE LOVE LOVE you have done with it. Dis I say that I love that bracelet. All the other pieces are pretty and creative but the bracelet is my totally fav!
ReplyDeleteNoemi, thanks for compliments! It is a pretty special bead, and the accompanying beads & stone chips just begged to be partnered with it. Natural element just seem to go together well.
DeleteSuch Amazing pieces! They have such an artistic almost sculptor-isque flair. Uniquely composed. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLove, Love, Love the elephant bracelet!
ReplyDeleteWell finally finished with tax season, so now I can hop. Excellent job, I love the bracelet, very earthy, but I adore the last necklace...the colors just seem to so right together!
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