8th Bead Soup Blog Party Partner and Soup Teaser

I've signed up for Lori Anderson's latest Bead Soup Blog Party. I love these. This is the 8th one. She pairs you with a partner, you e-mail back and forth so you can get to know each other a little bit and the you create a 'soup' of beads and other materials to send to each other to play with and create something with. I've always been in awe of all the talent I see while blog hopping all the other participants in the Blog Hop. (By the way, that's a requirement. You have to have a blog so that on a specified day, you blog about your 'soup', what inspired you and what you created).
This time around I was paired with Katrina Taylor. This is her first time to participate, so I'm doubly honored to not only get to participate, but be able to help/have fun with someone new to the Party!  She just started creating jewelry again about a year ago and most of what she makes right now is for friends and family. But after checking out her blog, I wanna go out, you wouldn't guess she'd only been doing it for a year.  She loves Metal beads, Polymer and Metal clay and glass, but says she doesn't really have a style. She mainly just lets the beads and materials 'speak' to her about what to make. She makes some of her own beads and focals and loves BLUE! LOL  As many of you know, blue is one of my least favorite colors, although I seem to be using a lot of blue lately.
She is a veterinarian, so we have something in common, since she likes working with animals and we do Wildlife management here on our small Texas ranch. She also likes to eat out a lot. LOL  So here is a teaser of the 'Soup' I put together for her.

And here is the wrapping it was sent in. Can you guess the theme for her soup?  

Come back in a few days and you'll get to see the soup I sent, the soup I received and find out the Theme behind the soup I sent. And don't forget to check back May 3rd for the Reveal. Be sure to check out my shop, KayzKreationz for my other jewelry, Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass 'kreationz' for your Home and Garden.

Bead Soup from my partner, Ann Sheridan

A couple of weeks ago, I received my bead soup from my partner Ann Sherwood, for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.  It took me a while to get pictures of it so I could post it here.  Here's what Ann sent me. This wonderful ceramic Dragonfly focal. She couldn't remember the artist.  I love dragonfly's.  Plus the great Swarovski beads, 5 each of 3 different colors, this gorgeous blingy pewter toggle clasp, these great pewter flower beads and 2 hole connectors, this strand of tourmaline (I also LOVE tourmaline),these pearls, plus this great ribbon and wire knitz. I've never worked with wire knitz and really like the look of it, but not sure how to use it.  Isn't it a great soup?  The only problem is, I'm having the dickens of a time, figuring out what I want to do with it.  I love them all, I'm just not liking any of my designs.  I've google online several times, trying to figure out what/how to work with the wire knitz.  I've come up with several designs for the focal, but nothing is really coming together. And I'm running out of time. I have to use the focal and the clasp and my reveal is the 13th of April.  So stay tuned and see if I get past my design block with this wonderful soup and what comes of it.

And here's what I sent Ann. She said she loved it.  Be sure to watch her blog to see what she creates with the soup I sent her, Ann's Blog.

And if you're looking for some of my Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass designs for your Home or Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.  You'll also find some of mine and my mom's beaded, wire-wrapped jewelry there, like this great Boot Jewelry with these Jasper stones.

Bead Soup-32 Projects

I recently received Lori Anderson's new book Bead Soup-32 Projects Show What Happens when 26 Beaders Swap Their Stash, from Kalmbach books. It's a great book. Lori started with the Bead Soup Blog Party basically by accident back in about December 2010.  She decided to see if people would want to swap bead stashes and create, preferably with things they hadn't or wouldn't have chosen to use to challenge themselves and then blog about it.  Since then it's grown to over 400 participants this last summer.  I have gotten to participate in 2 of those Bead Soup Bog Parties. They are fantastic and cause you to really challenge yourself to create something you might not have otherwise.  This book is written like a Bead Soup Party.  There were 26 designers involved, asked to swap beads and design.  I love the way the soup is written on 'recipe' cards in keeping with the soup theme.  Then the directions are described as 'recipes'.  What's fantastic about this book, is that although you can follow the directions exactly if you wish, it also teaches or encourages you to work with your own stash and see how you can create these projects or something very similar with what you already have.  This is great, since it gets us to go through our stash and see things in a different light.  The first chapter focuses on the Leftover method, where you use beads left over from other projects. It moves on to the Focal method which focuses on the focal of our piece.  It finishes up with the Color Palette method and the Random Purchase method.  Each project is named, gives us the 'utensils' (tools) to use and then encourages us to stretch our imagination.  She gives us little tips and substitutions to try.  She's very thorough in the way she approaches each project and then describes it. The photos are great.  In the back she introduces us to all the designers and contributors of the projects and gives us a shopping list, if we just have to have the same 'ingredients' used in a particular project.  In accord with the release of this book, Kalmbach books asked Bead stores from across the country to send in Soup mixes and then asked people if they'd like to sign up to participate in another Bead Soup party to celebrate the release of this great book.  I am thrilled to say, I was chosen and sent a fantastic soup from a Bead Store from my own great state of Texas, Wired Up Beads!  They're in Southlake, Tx.  Stay tuned in the next day or two for the reveal of my pieces.  In the meantime, run right out (or get online) and order this book. You won't regret it.  It will help you stretch your wings in your beading creativity.
And if you're looking for some of my Wire-wrapped, Beaded jewelry or Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.  I'll be glad to help you any way I can.

Don't forget, check back for my Kalmbach Bead Soup reveal from Wired UP Beads.

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

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!

Bead Soup Blog Party-My Kreationz

There's this wonderful thing I found last spring called the Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP for short).  It's created by Lori of Pretty Things.  People sign up, are assigned partners, exchange beads and then create something out of the beads they receive.  The partners are supposed to try to find out something about their partner and then something from their Bead stash that would push their partner to create outside their "comfort zone", think "outside the box" so to speak.  The only Bead requirement is you send a Focal and a Clasp, (something other than just a lobster clasp). The creativity of the people that participate is just beyond words.  Anyway, I decided to "play" this time and was assigned Loretta Carstensen, of Designs by Loretta, from California.  Here is the wonderful soup she sent me:

It consisted of Smoky Quartz nuggets, a Dalmation Jasper strand, some pretty little gold seed beads, some 14K gold filled spacers, a 14K Gold filled clasp, and a shell/MOP focal, that I haven't figured out what I want to use for, yet.  Anyway, here's what I created.  A Fan Pull with one of the Smoky Quartz nuggets, a Necklace with the Smoky Quartz Focal and other nuggets and a pair of earrings to go with the necklace.  I wire wrapped the nuggets, made my own link with a bead I had for the Focal, added some other of the same beads as links with the Dalmation Jasper and Gold seed beads and  used Brass wire to bring out the gold as links to attach the Gold filled clasp.  The only thing I'm not sure of is whether I want to leave the Fiber I added in the necklace or not.  Although I like the extra color and texture it adds, I'm not sure I'm really fond of it in this case, since it seems to take away from all the wire work.  Anyway here's my Kreationz.  Hope you like them.  And when you're done looking at them and hopefully leaving me a comment, you can visit the rest of the BSBP participants by clicking on the list below.  (If it's not clickable, please visit Pretty Things Blog for the full list)

This is the one with the fiber. 

Without further ado, go to Pretty Things for the list for you to visit:

Click on each name to go to their blogs. These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

I'm so sorry, I had the list here, but it wasn't clickable, so I didn't do something right.  But if you click on Lori Anderson or Pretty Things it will take you to the full list of participants and is clickable. Please visit all the blogs as you have time.  Enjoy.

Soup's On

Stay tuned. Tomorrow the Biggest Bead Soup Blog Party ever starts.  There's over 360 participants this time.  Hopefully (if I did it right)  my list will be clickable so you can just go to the next participant after viewing my 'soup' from my partner, Loretta.  You'll love all the creativity.  We got paired up, traded beads and then had to create something from those beads.  So check back in first thing tomorrow a.m. and see all the wonderful "soups".  Here's a peek at what I was working with.