Kalmbach Books Bead Soup Blog Party

With the release of Lori Anderson's new book Bead Soup-32 Projects (for my review of her book, click here)  Kalmbach books asked Bead shops across the country to send in 'Soup' mixes of a focal bead, a clasp and some coordinating beads to go with it.  Then they asked for jewelry designers to sign up and drew names to send these soups to.  I was fortunate enough to get a soup mix and it came from Wired Up Beads in Texas!  Yay!  We were to take that soup and create a piece of jewelry or more from it, using at least the focal and the clasp. We could use just their beads or we could raid our stash and add to it.  This is the soup I got from Wired Up Beads.  Isn't it great?  The focal is one from Patti Bullard at Wired Up Beads.

I chose to use only the beads they sent me and added chain and fiber from my stash.  This was my first time making a Kumihimo braid. I found 8 different strands of fiber/yarn that I thought would compliment these beads and went to work.  It wasn't long enough, however, so I capped it off, after winding some smaller chain around it and attached it to the heavier chain to lengthen the necklace.  I then attached the Teal beads to the small chain wound around the Kumihimo braid.  I then added another shorter length of chain to the main part of the necklace and made dangles with the orange/red beads and the green beads to attach to that.  I also used the smaller chain to make 3 dangles with one each of the beads, attached it to a headpin and ran it through the focal bead to make my focal pendant.  Then I had to figure out how to hang the focal pendant.  So I used the heavier chain, draped it around the Kumihimo braid and attached the Focal to it.  I used the end caps for the Kumihimo braid to make a pair of earrings, hanging one each of the 3 beads on the small chain again and running through the bead caps to the earwire.  Although it didn't really come out as I envisioned it, I think I like it.  My mother said she thinks it's gorgeous, except that my focal reminds her of a 'fishing lure'!  LOL  Didn't really expect that.  What do you think of my Bead Soup Necklace and earrings?  I think I have enough beads to make a dangle/charm bracelet to go with it.  Thanks for stopping by. This set will be showing up in my Etsy shop KayzKreationz before long, unless it sells before I get it listed.  I've had some interest in it.  And for Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, stop by my shop, KayzKreationz.  Plus you can go to Kalmbach's Facebook page and vote for your favorite piece. The winner gets prizes.

Thanks for stopping by and all your lovely comments.