Saturday, May 10, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party

It's here! Finally the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party!  Weeks ago, we signed up and were paired with our partners by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.  My great partner is Katrina Taylor of Is the Babysitter here yet? blog.  This is the great soup she sent me:

There was a Natural stone focal bead, Czech glass beads and pearls, Swarovski butterfly, copper and brass components (clasp, beads and chain) and amethyst chips. And this is the adorable packaging it came in. Isn't it great?

I love it all, but I've been really challenged. There is so many great colors in this soup and I couldn't figure out what all to put with the focal and how to use the BIG hole copper beads.  Also, I didn't just want to string the focal. As I kept looking at it, I kept seeing FLAMES!  But I have to admit, I love flames. I used to have flame stripes on my truck until the stripes just became so worn looking and cracked/peeling that we had to take them off this last year.  So I seem to be drawn to flames/fire. LOL I knew then that I wanted to create a bail or encase the focal with metal and I wanted it to look as though it was surrounded by flames. So I set to work finding flame pictures I liked and then trying to draw them off to be cut out of copper. I went through about 5-6 different designs, drawing, cutting out, redrawing until I came up with this one that would work with the metal and focal.  But my challenge then was how to create the bail out of the same piece to hang the focal. And then what to hang it with, since now the focal is REALLY heavy! After finally figuring out how to do all that, I realized I wanted to flame paint/patina my metal, too, so it would look even more like flames. That was so much fun. I've just started doing some flame painting and was happy with my results. Here's a pic of the the front of the focal.

But now my challenge was how to create the rest of the necklace. I didn't want to add too much to it and take away from the focal, so I started creating bead links with the crystals and amethyst chips Katrina sent me. But I wanted to carry that flame look through, so as I wrapped the beads I hammered the ends of the copper wire and then folded it down around the beads, hoping to get a flame look to the links.  Then after taking a class on enameling, I got out my copper washers and practiced my enameling in some colors that I thought would complement the colors of the beads and the focal. I also wanted to enhance the great copper clasp that Katrina had flame painted  for me so I wire wrapped some of the crystals and beads to the clasp and simply wire-wrapped the ring for the clasp to attach to.  I'm happy with all my components, but not sure if I'm happy with the end result. I was going to use leather to hang the focal, but decided it wouldn't be strong enough to hold the weight of the stone and metal together. So I hammered another piece of heavy wire, textured it, punched the holes and flame patina'd it to slide through the flame bail on the top of the pendant. I like it, but the pendant keeps sliding around, so I may have to redo it or perhaps wire some copper wire around the hanging wire in between the 2 flames to hold it still. But I'm not sure it all looks right together. I'm hoping it grows on me, but if not, I'll try to redesign the necklace. I was running out of time to do anything more with it now, as I was gone for 10 days at the end of March, first of April and then I've had non-stop company since then till Sunday the 27th.  Plus I've developed a problem with my left hand/thumb joint. Not sure if I've just hurt/sprained the join or I'm developing some arthritis in it, but it makes it difficult to hold anything ( I picked up a glass a week or two ago and dropped it and broke it because of not being able to hold it) and it is difficult to wire-wrap anything. I hope you like the finished necklace.

Next, I wanted to make a multi-strand bracelet with more of the crystals, amethyst chips, large triangular gold and copper beads and some dark brown dagger beads. I was going to wire wrap some of the crystals, amethyst chips and other beads to hang from the gold chain, but again all the wire wrapping for the dangles on the chain piece that Katrina sent me has been a little difficult. So I think I'll leave them off for the time and see how I like it with the simplicity of just the chain with the beaded strands on either side of it. It uses the gold clasp Katrina sent me.

Finally, I loved these BIG hole copper beads, but they kept stumping me on how to use them. I couldn't just string them as the hole was too big, I couldn't find/didn't want to use bead caps on each end of them, so I finally came up with the idea of knotting some leather in between each of the four of the big, copper beads Katrina sent me. Then I wire-wrapped it to the copper clasp Katrina sent me. I haven't cut the leather on the one end yet as I'm not sure I like the clasp with it, but couldn't figure out how I might want to close it otherwise, so I may end up redoing the clasp/closure later, too. It also might look great as a necklace with a little adjusting and some other beads. Just not sure yet.

I hope you like all my creations with my soup.  And I completely forgot to make any earrings to match anything, but I'm thinking I may want to enamel some more washers and attach some of the crystal or amethyst chips to them for earrings if they aren't too heavy. :)
For the rest of the participants in the Bead Soup Blog Party visit Lori Anderson's blog Pretty Things. There were over 400 participants who all got amazing partners and soups to create with. They all will inspire you.
If you're looking for any of my jewelry pieces or my Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass kreationz for your Home and Garden, check out with my shop, KayzKreationz.  Thanks.  And please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know what you think of my pieces.

76 comments:

Chelle said...

I really love what you have done with your soup. Simply gorgeous.

Jo-Ann said...

Your necklace is amazing. I love that worked your flame passion into the design.

Anonymous said...

I love what you did with that focal! Gorgeous! The finished piece is great, not too much, if you know what I mean. I very unusual and beautiful piece!

Anonymous said...

Kay, all I can say is stunning! Far beyond what I could have done. Absolutely am in love with the bracelet. Thank you for the wonderful work with the components. The bail for the focal is so super cool! Thanks for being a wonderful partner!

Bluefinch said...

That necklace is FABULOUS! LOVE it!
Rachel

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Love the idea of flame with your pendant and how you pulled it off! Love, love, love the necklace!!! Awesome work with the goodies you were sent!

Unknown said...

Wow - love the necklace and the flamed focal! It can be tricky to get them to lay the way you want, but I think you are definitely headed in the right direction! I adore the washers, infinity links and that clasp, too! The finished bracelet is perfect. And I think the leather solution for the large-hole copper beads is the right one. Maybe pair some more enameled washers and an infinity link in there? You'll find the perfect solution -- once you give your hand a rest for a bit. :)

Mandi said...

Wow! I love what you came up with. The stone focal is amazing.

Mandi said...

The stone focal is amazing. You did such a lovely job with all pieces.

vovsblog said...

Such lovely work well done!

Becky Pancake said...

Kay your flamed bail is wonderful. You found a very creative way to use that focal. I like the multi strand bracelet with gold beads too. Kudos to you for trying something new. I really enjoyed the enameling class I took also.

bailaora said...

focal in metal- so inventive! congrats!

Unknown said...

Beautiful soup and I love what you did with it!

Unknown said...

VERY VERY CREATIVE! I love all your work but the first fire necklace took my breath away. The focal wrap is gorgeous and the enamel rings work so well in this industrial chic necklace.

laurie said...

Well done! Great job on your soup!

Noemi said...

What a fantastic job you have done with the focal. I love the way the metal wraps around the stone and the patina on the metal elements. I love enamel and to see the enamel pieces makes me like it even more!!

Loretta said...

Beautiful work, as always. I really like your knotted leather piece, and think it would be a fun necklace. You can knot your clasp on.

Anonymous said...

That was a lot of work for your first necklace, but well worth it to great such a unique focal and great chain

fay ................................................... said...

Nice work, Love the bracelet!

Andrea said...

So many good things!Love what you did to the focal.

WindDancerStudios said...

Great soup! Love what you did!!

coffeeaddict said...

I enjoyed reading about your creative process. The thought and effort in creating the flame necklace shows through!
Love the flame bail on the focal.

Anonymous said...

The bracelet is so pretty and the necklace is really striking!

CraftyHope said...

Gracious! The focal you created with the 'flames' is absolutely drool-worthy! I hate that it's sliding around on the bar, I know how irritating that can be. While a simple chain would definitely work with it too, I think the chain you created is really beautiful. If you decide to take it off, I think the chain simply would need a different focal as it's a beauty itself.

Al@PolkaDotsandPaisley said...

Very pretty pieces. I especially love the bracelet.

Lori Anderson said...

Woah. You rocked that focal. I am in awe. I break sawblades faster than fast so haven't picked one up in ages. You REALLY had a great vision, and the enameled pieces were exactly the right touch.

Love it all! Thanks so much for participating -- it means more than you know.

Unknown said...

Wow, I love how you used metal around the focal ! It works perfectly !

Shai Williams said...

What great designs! The necklace is a stunner but I do have to say that my favorite is the bracelet.

Peru-Medesigns said...

i LOVE THE FOCAL BEAD...NICE WORK!!!

Christine said...

Wow, beautiful pieces !!

Christine said...

Wow, beautiful pieces !!

Linda A. said...

So impressed with the flames on your focal! I think the enameled washers are amaze balls too! So freakin creative!

Linda
http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

kmorgan said...

Fabulous Darling... simply fabulous!!!:) I really like the necklace with the flames on the focal & great job on the enameling!!! Love the colors. I've really got to try my hand with some leather. Love that look too.

la mar de bonita said...

Great cooking, Kay! Love the enameled pieces in your necklace, and of this unique brass bail. Also made my first experiences with fire flame patina.... it makes such a lot of fun, watch the flame developing an unique sign on metall, doesn't it? :0))

Just Beads said...

Wow, this necklace ist amazing! The colours are so beautiful... and the design... really really nice.

Unknown said...

Great flamework, great colours, great ideas... I love all your designs, the colourful and the more ♥'basic♥ one.

White Horse Beading said...

That flame bail is so creative, love it!

Terri said...

It was a Soup-er cute way to send your bead soup. And what you came up with is Oh so Fantastic! Much like the other comments I see here. We are diggin' what you did with that focal! Awesome!

Skye said...

That bracelet is so bright and fun looking! The colours just grab me, and I'm not really one for bright colours!
I love the look of the leather with those big beads, but I agree that the clasp doesn't quite 'fit'... it's pretty, but the rest of the piece is very soft, and the darker more detailed clasp kinda stands out from it. Maybe a button clasp would work better, or a hook and eye, as long as the tone was soft ;)

Anonymous said...

Nice pieces. I love the colors. The first necklace is really enhanced by the copper.

Tammy Adams said...

Beautiful work. Love the setting and bail you created for your focal. And the rest of the necklace is just perfect with it.

Barb Fernald said...

Nice pieces! I especially like the chain you made to go with the focal piece.

Kepi said...

Brilliant focal work, very artistic piece. Great use of your soup.

Unknown said...

Awesome way to use the flame and love the enameled washers! really cool!

Janine said...

Amazing pieces! I wish I could work with copper like you do.

Unknown said...

what a lovely bracelet. totally my style!

Unknown said...

I just adore your metal work especially the way you encased that stone. Beautiful.

Chris Hansen said...

Oh, what a wonderful soup you received! And I LOVE the creativity you applied toward showcasing that gorgeous stone focal - flames, indeed! Clever necklace as well - love those enameled links - the multiple colors tie everything in beautifully. Well done!

Unknown said...

Love your designs...your necklace is amazing!

Kari Asbury said...

Love your designs...your necklace is amazing!

Anonymous said...

I love what you do with the focal, it really bring the idea of a flame. I love the bracelet for the very good combination between the beads and the chain

Regina said...

Every item is so beautiful, well done and creative and I so love the multistrand bracelet.

Rachel said...

Very unique vision for that focal! Love it!

Divya N said...

I really love how you have incorporated flame painting and enameling into the pieces. You have really made it stunning

adlinah said...

You did wonderfully with that focal. Love the bracelet - the colours are lovely.

Karin G said...

Amazing work, the first necklace is stunning !

Ann Schroeder said...

I was never much for flames...until now. I absolutely love how you wrapped that focal in metal flames. It's gorgeous. I love all the other elements of the necklace too. Your bracelet is so pretty, and I love the big holed beads on leather. But my favorite thing is those flames!

baymoondesign said...

Great designs and colors. I especially like the bracelet.

gelfling50 said...

Wonderful job !!!...My fav would be the bracelet...I love the way the little green beads just pop...I thing the design is awesome...My next fav is the first necklace....what a great way to showcase a focal...and the enameling work is perfect it just balances it all out and give it eye catching color....great design for sure. I totally understand reworking a piece over and over till it feels and looks right ...I did just that on one of my pieces...It was the necklace with the huge leaves and the elephants....I am still not totally satisfied with it at all but I went ahead and added it as is....Ty so much for sharing your brilliance with us all . We'll I better hippity hop on outta here...bye now

gelfling50 said...

Wonderful job !!!...My fav would be the bracelet...I love the way the little green beads just pop...I thing the design is awesome...My next fav is the first necklace....what a great way to showcase a focal...and the enameling work is perfect it just balances it all out and give it eye catching color....great design for sure. I totally understand reworking a piece over and over till it feels and looks right ...I did just that on one of my pieces...It was the necklace with the huge leaves and the elephants....I am still not totally satisfied with it at all but I went ahead and added it as is....Ty so much for sharing your brilliance with us all . We'll I better hippity hop on outta here...bye now

Silver Parrot said...

Very creative work with the metal flames and I love the bracelet!

PyxeeStyx said...

What an adorable gift box your soup came in. I LOVE the flame setting and bail you made. I think it looks perfect hanging off of the bar. A simple fix for the sliding would be to solder it on the back side. Hope you don't change it. The necklace is perfect as it is.

Ghislaine said...

the flamed focal is just plain YUMMMM! awesome job!

The Creative Klutz said...

Such great designs - I really like that multi-strand bracelet =)

Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends said...

WOW! KAY! Your flame focal is amazing. I love the rainbow patina effect on the bail, and bravo on your brilliant creation of folded flames to hold the gem. I love the complete necklace -- so phenomenal! Your colorful bracelet with gold clasp is joyful and summery lovely, and I adore, yes, adore how you used the pretty "stardust" copper beads! Very thoughtful; very chic & casual cool. Wonderful reveal! Happy Hopping! ♥ Rita

Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends said...

P.S. I hope your hand feels better too! ♥

WindDancerStudios said...

Love the leather piece with the big hole copper beads. I like the clasp with it. You don't have to use it as a clasp though if you don't like it that way. Use a sliding knot and make your clasp a focal.

Bev said...

Great flair to your focal piece and love how some of your pieces incorporate a metal look. Great job!

Unknown said...

Love your metal work!! Really stunning pieces!

TesoriTrovati said...

The first thing I thought when I saw this was that was a LOT of soup! Enough for several helpings! I think what you did with the flame bail and wrap is so clever and very cool with your connection to them. Thank you for sharing your creations in the 8th Bead Soup! Enjoy the day. Erin

Treasures by Louise said...

Adorable packaging, awesome creations!

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

OMG, Kay, the custom bezel/bail and enameled washers are gorgeous with those components! All your soup ingredients were special and really brought out your creativity... wonderful designs :)

Anonymous said...

Love what you did with the focal. The colors of the links you added just bring it out. Also love the pink/leather. Great pieces.

Janice said...

Great collection of designs. I just started flame painting recently myself. It's so fun and addictive. Your focal was great. I love the simplicity of the last design as well. I think I'd enjoy wearing it. :)

Laney said...

I am still working my way through the Blog Bead Soup Party!! Love your necklace that is really fabulous. Laney

bairozan said...

Thanks for leading us through your creative process, I love the flame idea. Your necklace emanates a feel of strength and beauty. Your treatment of metal is amazing! And I like the multi-strand bracelet!