Bead Soup Blog Party #8 - testing a design idea

Last night I decided to start working on ideas for my Bead Soup project. I wanted to see how kumihimo would look with the cube beads that Deborah sent me.

I used some blue conso thread, bronze lined aqua beads (8's) and the cubes. I attached the thread to my small scissors using a half hitch. A small segment of braiding with just the thread helps to secure the braid.

Braiding with the cubes is difficult to start but once I had it going it was easier.

This sample use 15 cubes on each of four threads and 15 seed beads on each of the remaining four threads.

I ended by braiding again with just the thread and an overhand knot.

Going forward with my design I think that I will try using larger seed beads and do a section of braiding with just the seed beads before braiding with the cubes.

More design testing to come.

Happy Beading!

Bead Soup Blog Party #8 - Soup Arrival

After a wonderful afternoon at the Royal Ontario Museum, seeing the members' preview of the new exhibit "The Forbidden City : Inside to Court of China's Emperors" I found a small white box in my mail box.

As I was coming up to my apartment in the elevator I noticed that it rattled. I was very excited to see what was inside! It was my bead soup from Deborah Read.

Once opened, I removed the packing material I saw two containers, two zip bags and a spool of wire.

Inside the box

Blue cubes, bicones and spool of wire

Two zip bags of treasures

Teal lampwork beads, etched copper toggle and cresent and two spools of thread

Assorted lampwork and metal beads, crimps, copper jump rings, etched toggle and bracelet bar

It is going to be an interesting spring as I work with this wonderful soup to create something for reveal day May 3, 2014.

Here is what I send to Deborah. She recieved it in the mail yesterday. Here is her blog post about its arrival.

Happy Beading!

Bead Soup Blog Party #8 Partner

Late last night our wonderful hostess, Lori Anderson posted the international partners. It was great to see all of the amazing list of international participates.

I scrolled down the list to see who I was  partnered with. It was great to see that my partner was a name that I knew - Deborah Read.

I have followed Deborah's blog for a while. Her recent work with copper and brass is interesting.

I had three different soups in progress, one of which included some of Deborah's glass discs (so she was not going to get that one).

I have tweaked one of the soups and it is now ready to send to Deborah.

Will be stopping by the post office on my way to work tomorrow.