Bead Soup Blog Party-3rd Reveal

It's finally here. I'm in the last reveal (the 3rd one) for the monstrous Bead Soup Blog Party.  Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog hosts this every year and this time around, there was about 540 participants from all over the world.  The basis is this: you sign up for the party, she matches you up with a partner, you communicate, exchange beads and then get to work designing something with your 'soup' from your partner. You have to send and use a focal and clasp, along with a few co-ordinating beads. You are only required to use the focal and clasp, but it's so much fun trying to use everything you receive.  This is my 3rd or 4th soup, can't remember for sure.  And my partner this time is Ann Sherwood  from Ann's Blog.  Be sure to check out what she made with the soup I sent her.  If you want to see the soup I received from Ann, click here. 

 And here's my pieces.  I absolutely loved the ceramice dragonfly focal she sent me. But I had the hardest time coming up with something that I thought would do it justice and let it shine.  I finally hit inspiration in a book my friend Karla Morgan from Texas Pepper Jams lent me about multi-strand necklaces.  (You have to check out their pepper jams. They're to die for!  And she's also participating in this 3rd reveal for the BSBP, so see what she made with her soup.)  So here is my Floating Free necklace with the dragonfly focal.  This was my first time trying to texture, patina and create my own bale from copper strip wire and then rivet it to the focal. I was terrified I'd break the focal while trying to rivet.  But I think it turned out great.  I used the ribbon Ann sent me, the focal, and a few of the green discs she sent. And here's a pair of earrings made with some more of the green discs and the big hole beads used in the necklace.

 
Next up, is my Sweetheart necklace made with the pink and white freshwater pearls Ann sent me and the wonderful blingy clasp she sent. I thought it went very well and matched wonderfully with the shell focal I had and the Pink Rhodondite puff beads as well as some pewter beads I had in my stash.

So there you have it.  My 3 pieces for the BSBP reveal. I'm still working on some earrings to match the second necklace and an idea for the wire knitz Ann sent me, plus the cute little pewter flower beads. I've never worked with wire knitz before, so I'm having a little bit of a hard time getting my idea to work.  Be sure to check out all the participants for the third reveal here on Lori's blog, Pretty Things.  She also has links to the first 2 reveals if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet.  These pieces will probably be available in my shop, KayzKreationz shortly.

Spotlight on Wire Book Review

My newest book review is Spotlight on Wire by Melissa Cable.  It is published by Kalmbach books.  They have an amazing variety of books on all types of Jewelry designs, techniques and more.  This book is a great example.  Melissa has done an amazing job highlighting so many different techniques, design ideas for wire.  She owned beadclub bead store in Woodinville, Washington for 7 years and quickly realized her passion for creating and teaching students projects that would allow them to not only learn fun skills, but walk away with a finished piece.  And she has accomplished that with this book.  She starts out with How to Use the Book and all the abbreviations you'll see throughout all the projects.  She also has Spotlights on Tips and Techniques, Basics and Tools throughout the book. Then she delves right in.  Chapter 1 deals with woven Wire.  I especially love the very first project in the book and this chapter, clustered Jewels and how to make a flat rectangular focal really stand out. I can't wait to try this.  Chapter 2 talks about Textured strip wire and has the neatest idea for a 'Poor-man's Rolling Mill'.  I'm anxious to try this out, too.  And a sneak peak/tip, I got my idea for one of my Bead Soup Blog Party pieces/focal bale from this chapter.  So watch for it on the 20th of this month.  Chapter 3 helps us out with Corrugated Wire.  Roundabout Road and Rippled Bangle are great examples of this and next on my list to try from this chapter.  Chapter 4 deals with Heavy Wire.  Chapter 5 moves on to Chain and Wire and Chapter 6 finishes off with Basics.  If you're looking to widen out in your skill with wire in your jewelry work, this is a fantastic book. You won't regret adding it to your Jewelry Library.  It's for sale here at Kalmbach Books.  Here's just a sample or two to whet your appetite for this wonderful book.

Be sure to keep watching my shop, KayzKreationz for unique jewelry pieces made from inspiration from this book.  I also carry Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass pieces for your Home and Garden.

 

(The book above was provided by Kalmbach Books for review. The author of this blog has not received any other payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.)