Bead Soup Blog Party #8 - It is Reveal Day!

One week later than originally scheduled ... it is finally Reveal Day!

I have had my pieces finished for awhile. I have even worn them to work and a family gathering. I am pleased with my designs, but might tweak them for weariblity.

Here is what I was sent by my wonderful partner and fellow Canadian Deborah Read.

Wire, cubes and crystals

Two colour palettes

Blue, teal and copper

Ocher, cream, copper and silver

I used the cubes, teal lampwork beads, copper cresent, mixed metal beads, copper rings and toggle. I added copper seed beads, wavy discs, end cones, toggle and Conso thread.

I wanted to see if I could continue my recent fascination with Kumihimo using the cube beads. I knew that I would need to test the workablity of the cubes. I did a quick test using the cubes and size 8 seed beads.

Test of kumihimo with cubes

This worked well, but it needed a large seed bead. I was able to find some amazing copper metal seed beads in size 6.

Detail of kumihimo braiding

With two lengths of braiding done with cubes and copper beads I connected them together with the etched copper crescent (from the soup), copper seed beads, wavy discs and some of the teal lampwork beads (also from the soup).

Detail of focal arrangement

I used a basic copper toggle to finish this necklace. I have worn it a few times. I like the drape of the focal but it might look better if it was perfectly straight. Will have to look for a harden piece of copper to use.

Overall finished necklace

I decided to use the uncoloured etched toggle that was included in the soup along with most of the remaining teal lampwork and an assortment of the various metal beads included to make a co-ordinating bracelet.

Bracelet

That was everything that I had finished in time for the original reveal day of May 3. With the postponement I was able to do this one other design.

I use a few of the ocher and frosted white lampwork beads with this new earring findings I was sent from John Bead. These findings are interchangeable. You can change out the beads. For now they have the lampwork and a couple of crystals each.

Interchangeable Earrings

Thanks once again to my partner Deborah Read for the amazing soup. I know that I will make other projects with the soup leftovers.

Thanks also to our amazing host, Lori Anderson. I know that being part of this creative adventure helps me to work outside of my usual comfort zone. It is fun, creative and amazing.

I have been lucky to participate twice before. The first time Jelveh Jaferian was my partner and here is what I created and what she created.

6th Bead Soup Blog Party Creations

The second time my partner was, fellow Canadian, Cheryl Brown and here is what I created and what she created.

7th Bead Soup Blog Party Creations

Take some time to look at some of the amazing designs create by my fellow 8th Bead Soup Blog Party participants.

Thanks to all who stop by and 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.