Bead Soup Blog Party-3rd Reveal is here!

It's here at last!  The Bead Soup Blog Party 3rd Reveal. I'm participating in this reveal.  Back in June, participants could sign up on Pretty Things blog to obtain a partner, find out a little about her, pick out a bead stash that included a focal bead,a clasp and a few coordinating beads.  Then we were to ship the beads to our partner within a certain amount of time..  We didn't know what we'd get in return and then came the challenge.  We had a specified amount of time to design something with the beads and focal we received.  We were required to use the focal and the clasp.  We could add from our stash or try to use only the beads we received.  I was partnered with Mandi Effron from California.  Be sure to check out her blog first and see what I sent her and what wonderful creation she came up with from the Beads I sent.  Are you ready?  Here's what Mandi sent me:

And here's what I created.  First I made a Necklace with the Rose Quartz, Sterling Silver beads and the wonderful Sterling Kidney shaped clasp she sent me.  I added some pearlized seed beads, some wonderful Marsha Neal silks braided together and a silver wire bead I made from my stash.  I also made earrings to match with silver wire beads I made also.  I got  some inspiration from a great book by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Seigel, Bohemian Inspired Jewelry.  What do you think?  Did I pass?

I'm still working on a bracelet for this set. I just can't seem to get it the way I like.  I may post it later if I ever get it the way I like it.

 

Next, I took the Mookite Jasper (did I mention I LOVE Jasper) and the gorgeous Jasper focal Mandi sent me.  I had a piece of Brass filigree that I used as the bail, with some brass wire as a head pin to hang it from.  Then I used some more of my Marsha Neal silks braided together along with some Sari silk from Barbara Lewis, and some more seed beads. I made large copper jump rings to hold everything together and then added a copper clasp. I also wire-wrapped the jump rings the clasp was attached to for a little more texture.  The earrings are giving me a little bit of a fit, though. First I used some copper rings I had and wire wrapped one of the Mookite jasper beads to it, added a bead dangle and had one of a pair of earrings.  But I wasn't sure I liked the look, so I took the other Jasper bead, wire wrapped it with the seed bead dangle and just attached it to the copper oval ring to dangle in front of it. I can't decide which way I like it better.  Which do you prefer?  Wired in so it doesn't move, or dangling in front of the ring?  What about this set? Do you approve?  Hope you like them, Mandi. 

Don't forget to check out all the other participants in this 3rd reveal.  There were 400 original participants.  This reveal has the last 100 or so.  If the links aren't clickable, go on over to Pretty Things and check it out.  And please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my pieces.  Did I live up to the challenge?

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'
Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage
Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads
Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog
Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents
Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory
Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen
Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz (you are here)
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

CharmBarn Link Challenge

Back in July I signed up for a 'Link' challenge from Peggy of The Charm Barn.  I wasn't really sure what acrylic links were, but it sounded like fun.  We had to e-mail her if we were interested, and if we were one of the first 20 people to sign up we were in.  I made it!  She sent me 25 acrylic links with 3 weeks to create a jewelry masterpiece with them.  When I received my 25 black acrylic links I knew immediately what I wanted to do with them. It took me a little while to figure out how to link them. Actually, my daughter in law and son were here visiting, and she figured it out. I was afraid I'd break them, but she just kept working with them and got them linked. Once she figured it out (and that they wouldn't break) we went to town linking them together.  I wanted to wrap them with leather and then add some charms. I picked Teal, Purple and Green leather. I wasn't sure what I wanted to use as a clasp, but when we went to Hobby Lobby to get the leather, I thought, Hey, buttons would be great as a clasp with the leather.  It took a while to figure out the 'right' button to use, but I finally found it, a purple one to match one of the leather colors.  It was a little harder wrapping the leather around them than I figured it would be. I had to take it apart twice, since I kept wrapping it too tight and the links wouldn't lay flat or curve around my wrist.  Plus, I couldn't keep the links laying the same way as I was wrapping the leather.  Once I got one side finished (on the third go-around, LOL) it was easy peasy.  It was also a little bit of a challenge to figure out how to leave the loop in the leather for the button clasp without it getting smaller and smaller as I worked with the leather, but I finally got it.  The next challenge was what to use as charms/dangles and how to put them together and attach them. My daughter in law loves Ladybugs, so she picked out that one.  Then we saw this cute little silver envelope charm.  I found a little silver charm that looked like a letter/card to attach to it and some co-ordinating beads to use for the rest of the charms.  Then I made my own jump rings, wire-wrapped all the charms and attached them by the button clasp.  So without further ado, here's my Link Challenge Leather wrapped bracelet.  Please go to The Charm Barn to vote for my Leather wrapped bracelet, so I can get a chance to win a gift certificate to Peggy's Etsy shop for some more great components.  Not sure if I'll put this up for sale in my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz, or keep it for myself.

And here is the list of the rest of the participants, be sure to check out what they made:

Ilenia Ruzza - http://ile1974.blogspot.it/

Shelley Graham Turner  -  www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Tania Spivey -  www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com

Ambra Gostoli -  http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/

Kashmira Patel - http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

Linda Florian - http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jami Shipp - http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com/

Terri Gauthier - http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/

Miranda Ackerley - http://mirandack.com

Mischelle Fanucchi  - http://thesecretlifeofmicheladas.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars - www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com

Sarah Goode - www.pookledo.blogspot.com

paula hisel - http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Shai Williams - http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno - http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson - KayzKreationz (you are here)

Denielle Hagerman  - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com

Janeen Sorensen  -  http://wildvanilladesigns.com/

Emma Todd  -  www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com

Audrey Bélanger  -  http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/

Michelle Andrade - Micheladas Musings

Don't forget to vote for my bracelets, here.  Thanks.

Bead Soup Blog Party-2nd Reveal

Today is the day for the 2nd Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal.  Lori Anderson of Pretty Things hosts these parties.  She sends out an invite to sign up, then pairs all the signee's and sends out the info. This time there were 400 people that signed up from all over the world!  We then get in touch with our partners, find out what we like, don't like, colors we typically use, techniques we use and then send out a 'Bead Soup' either with things our partner's like or things to challenge them. I personally like to send and receive bead, fabrics, metal, etc. to challenge me. After all that's what a challenge is, right?  I'm not in this reveal, but my reveal will be the 3rd one on August 25th. I'm frantically working on my pieces to get them done.  To see what my partner, Mandi sent me, check out this post.  But to see how the participants in this reveal were challenged check out Pretty Things for the list.  And be sure to come back August 25th to see how I was challenged and what I made.  If my pieces come together, I'll think you and I both will like them.  Let's see if we can trend this on twitter. Use the #beadsoupblogparty when you tweet!

Show Your Colors Book Review.

Kalmbach Books recently sent me a copy of Show Your Colors by Jamie Hogsett and Sara Oehler.  I'd been eyeing this book and was delighted when they sent it to me to review.  It's a wonderful book.  They start out with 'Everything you Need to Know' about Beading Wire, Materials you might need, Wireworking and even the Knitting Spool that Softflex sells. I've been eyeing one of those.  I think one of those would be so much fun to play/experiment with. Especially with the gorgeous colors of Beading wire you can get now. I especially liked/appreciated their thoughts on color and colored beading wire in jewelry today. I sometimes feel like my wire isn't supposed to show, but with the wonderful colors available today, that color just needs to show!  Jamie and Sara present a collection of 30 bracelet, necklace and earring projects that do just that.  And they use so many different techniques in these projects to really help you soar in your jewelry making and the use of color.  After talking about the different diameter's of beading wire, they get into other materials you might need or use. They also describe different beading techniques you'll need and then into those wonderful projects.  There are so many it's hard to just pick one or two as favorites.  Dream Baby on page 46 is one of my favorites. I love all the color and texture in that necklace. It just pops.  And the clasp is gorgeous, showing it off especially well by moving it to the side as part of the design.  Then there's Burlesque on page 54.  This project is done with the Knitting Spool. I love that look and the findings just really help set the whole theme and look.  I know you'll love this book as much as I have.  So click on over to Kalmbach Books and get your copy and make your jewelry POP with color by Showing Your Colors!

Bead Soup Blog Hop-Part 2

Yesterday you saw what I sent my partner Mandi of Craft-o-liscious from California.  She lives in San Diego.  I love San Diego.  I'm hoping my soup will inspire her to get out of her comfort zone and think 'outside' the box a little.  Today here is the wonderful soup Mandi sent me.  It's Jasper!  I love jasper. I've done a little googling, and I think it's Mookite red and yellow Jasper.  Isn't it gorgeous?  She also sent me some Cherry Quartz, which I love, a Jasper focal, which I think is also Mookite. Then she included some sterling silver beads, some larger beads, and a wonderfuls kidney shaped Sterling Silver clasp.  I recently received my Bohemian Inspired Jewelry book by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel and this soup is really leaning towards some of the inspiration I've found in this book.  This book is fantastic! You really should get yourself a copy.  I also recently won some of Marsha Neal's wonderful silks after participating in her Silk Color Palette challenge and they will definitely be seen in my soup.  So stay tuned for the Great Final reveal on August 25th.  I'm in the last reveal.  The first reveal is going on now. And the 2nd reveal will be shortly.  Be sure to check out Lori at Pretty Things for all the Soups.  Now on to the pictures.  First is my whole soup from Mandi.  Isn't it great?  Then the Cherry Quartz and finally the Mookite Jasper.  I can't wait to get beading!

Bead Soup Blog Hop- My Soup for Mandi

Time has just flown. I've had company for almost 2 weeks. Plus we've had meeting for 3 weekends. But here's my first post about my Bead Soup.  Lori at Pretty Things arranges these fantastic Blog Hops.  This one has 400 participants!  You sign up, get your partner, find out what they like or are comfortable working with in beads, fibers, etc. Then you exchange beads, either sending them things they're comfortable with or something that may challeng them some. I like to try to send something that will challenge my partner to some degree, since that's the basic premise of the Blog Hop.  This time I'm partnered up with Mandi Effron at Craft-o-liscious. She does some wonderful beading. Right now she's set her own challenge to keep her creativity going.  She works mostly with glass and seed beads and seem to favor red and pink, although she usually ends up making jewelry in green tints. She also likes to create multi-strand, twisted necklaces, something I haven't gotten up the nerve to try yet.  Although she's fairly new to beading, you couldn't tell it by her work.  Be sure to check out her blog and stay tuned for the reveal. We both will be revealing our Kreationz on August 25th.  Here's the soup I sent to Mandi:

It includes a Lampwork heart from Beadaholic, Cherry Shell rounds, Green Chinarovski rondelles, some fiber in various colors, a Clasp I created and patina'd, a copper connector/bead adn a pewter/silver clasp.  Stay tuned tomorrow for my reveal of what Mandi sent me to work with. I absolutely love it.