Bead Soup Swap & Create Reveal

It's been many years since there's been a Bead Soup Reveal. Several years ago, it was THE challenge of the year for bead and jewelry artists/bloggers. When Lori Anderson, the originator (and bead soup hostess with the mostest) became sick, the swap fell to the wayside. Now that she's more healthy, she's brought it back to life, and I couldn't be more excited. Partners were assigned and beads were swapped several months ago. I shared what I sent to and received from my partner, Robin Reed, in a post and video a couple of months back. Now, it's time to reveal what I made with all that soup!


Let me remind you quickly of the gloriousness that Robin bestowed upon me. 
So much awesome!

The rules of the swap are pretty clear: send at least one focal, one clasp, and some coordinating beads. Make something with at least the focal and clasp that was sent to you. You don't even have to include the focal and clasp in the same piece, just use them. You can make one piece or twenty. I made six.

Soon after going through the soup that Robin sent me, I sketched out an idea for the amethyst focal she included. It was unlike anything I've ever made before, and I wasn't sure I could make it work, but I had to try. It's always a learning experience. That's kinda the fun of the challenge - using pieces that you didn't select and making them work. And, y'all, this WORKED!
When I saw the trapezoidal shape of the stone pendant, I didn't think I could get it to fit in with my more romantic-boho style. I knew it needed some softening somehow, some ruffles. With a little copper wire and patience, I created a focal that fit me much better. Robin included amethyst beads and the copper toggle clasp in my soup so I included those with more copper wire and completed the necklace. With that, I could have been done with my makes for this challenge. But, I knew I wasn't. 

When I started working on my Chain Link Earring Tutorial series, I spied a chain link that I knew would be fun to test out a resin technique on. And, I had saved the tissue papers that Robin used to wrap my soup (because, of course I did). I combined those two bits along with one of the freshwater pearls Robin provided to make a sweet pair of earrings.

And, because it's been my jam recently, I recorded the process of how these Tissue Paper and Resin Earrings were created. 

After that, I kept looking through my bead soup for more inspiration but struggled. I really wanted to make something that combined these two elements.
That brass piece that Robin altered is so gorgeous. And, those pistachio-colored freshwater pearls were the first thing I opened, and they just sing to me. I know these two elements can be combined, but I absolutely cannot seem to figure it out. . . yet. I did try to combine these with some of the Indian glass beads, but the long necklace I tried to make immediately became too heavy.

I kept coming back to the soup for several days looking for more ways to use some of the elements Robin blessed me with. Eventually, the brass hammered "pages" spoke to me. 
I altered one of them (she sent me three) by attaching an internal snap ring (from the hardware store) with rivets so that I could hang some of the smaller Indian glass beads from it. A medium-sized glass bead hangs from the brass page itself. And, larger glass beads were combined with small brass spacer beads and darkened steel wire (to match the snap ring) to create a chain. Something about the colors of the glass and the mixed metals give this necklace a very Moroccan feel to me. 

While I was sorting through the Indian glass beads to find the smaller beads for the dangles, I happened upon a few of them that actually matched (previous searches through them yielded no matches - isn't that weird?) So, I decided to create a few pairs of earrings with them. First, I hammered and aged several of the copper washers Robin sent. Then I combined them with the glass beads and copper wire.
The results are stunning.

You can almost see it in this picture, but I made spiral headpins with copper wire for this pair.

Since I had one more pair of matching beads that I wanted to use, I dipped into my stash of pre-cut and prepared tin pairs to create this last contribution.

And, that's everything I've made (so far) with the soup Robin sent me. Make sure to head over to her Facebook Page - Artistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs to see what she created with the Bead Soup I sent her. As well, if you're interested in these types of challenges, make sure to join Bead Soup Cafe on Facebook so you can be aware of future events. And now, here's the list of participants. Many of these link to the pages where they'll be revealing their makes. You can also visit Lori's blog where she has the complete, updated list of participants (I'll be updating it as I hop.)

22 comments:

  1. The amethyst necklace is very cool and the resin earring are really creative. I tried resin once without success so now that I saw your video I will try it again. Thanks.

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    1. Becky, Thank you! Resin can be tricky for sure. I've really been loving the UV resin because it cures so quickly. I don't have the patience to wait a day or two like you have to with other resins. Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to help if I can!

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  2. So pretty! I love the wire wrapping on that purple pendant. Gorgeous Hope!

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    1. Aw, thanks Lorelei! I'm still a little baffled that it worked out just as I had imagined. I know it probably wouldn't if I tried to recreate it. Isn't that always the way? I appreciate you taking the time to hop by!

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  3. I was expecting that you would do something with the gears and the coin pearls. However what you have made turned out to be pretty sweet too. Every piece has a Hope stamp on it. I really love the mixed glass bead necklace and how well each component and bead works with the other.

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    1. Divya, I'm still hoping to figure something out with the coin pearls. And, I did play around with the gears for a little while, but they had me stumped. So, I'll have to come back to them later too. I'm so glad you like that mixed bead necklace. It almost didn't come together. Once I got the amethyst necklace and the resin earrings done, I wasn't sure I was going to make anything else. But, Robin sent me SO MUCH, I kept going back to the soup for inspiration. I'm glad I did!

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  4. Hi Hope (we have been partners before). Wow, I LOVE your style and love everything you made. You did a really great job of making goodies, and describing your process. It brought me joy to see your work. Joyce

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    1. Joyce, You are too sweet, thank you! I'm glad you like I how I presented this. I tried not to go overboard with too many pictures and lengthy descriptions. I am always struggling with that balance. I appreciate your kind words.

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  5. Those pieces are incredible! I especially love that first necklace. It is beautiful and so my style.

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    1. Aw, Shai, thank you! Yeah, that first necklace is definitely the star of this show. I really could have stopped after I got her made, but Robin was so generous, I couldn't neglect the rest of that delicious soup! Thanks for hopping by!

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  6. These are awesome!! I love everything you made. I have a particular soft spot for amethyst, and that first necklace is just perfect. And isn't it wonderful when a design just comes together? :)

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  7. I just love all your photos! You're talented even in photography, not just art and jewelry making. Go, girl!! Lovely designs, as always. Sparkle on!

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    1. Aw, Monica, you are too, too sweet. I LOVE to take and edit pictures. Seriously, I could just walk around all day and take pictures. lol! It's always a learning process though to figure out angles and props and lighting and all that. I'd like to get as prolific at sharing videos as you are, but always seem to get sidetracked. Anyway...thank you so much for your kind words and for popping in. It means so much!

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  8. Love the care and thought you put into your pieces! So much soup to play with what you created is Fabulous! Loved your video...thank you ... now I need to get resin....lol!

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    1. Terri, Thank you! It's been a lot of fun playing with that resin. I love that with the little UV lamp, it cures so quickly and I don't have to wait around for a day or two. I'm hoping to have some more resin videos out (at least one) in the next few weeks. Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. I'll answer what I can.

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  9. I love the earrings that you made. They have a really romantic look to them. I just had to watch the video to see how you make them and I am glad I did. It was informative and a hoot. I came away thinking. I am going to try this. It is brilliant. Also, the part of the video where you "fudge" the tissue paper measurements is something that I can relate to and do.

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    1. Kathy, thank you! I like to keep the little mistakes in videos to show that I'm a real person and that make oopies too. AND, that it's all fixable and not the end of the world. I was just so exited about the idea that I didn't really think through the steps I needed to take. Making a template on a little piece of cardstock would have been the easiest and best thing to do. While it's a shame that I didn't think of that until I was editing the video, I'm glad I was able to spread that information anyway. I'm glad you like the earrings :)

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  10. You really worked hard on this! One year I did the resin with the wrapping paper for my beads, too! I love, love, love the ruffles around the amethyst!

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    1. Thank you, Lori! Maybe that's where my inspiration came from is a throwback to seeing yours years ago. I'm SURE I saw yours. Thank you for resurrecting this challenge. I do love it so. It always inspires me.

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  11. Beautiful pieces! The copper and green earrings really speak to me :-)

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    1. Thanks Elisabeth! The Indian glass almost makes them feel magical somehow doesn't it?

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  12. I love what you did with the wavy frame in the first necklace, it takes a lot of patience (ask me how I know, never managed to make one that neat). All your color combos are beautiful! Thank you for the resin video - I've been thinking of making something with washers and this was very helpful :)

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Thanks for stopping by! It means so very much to me. I love to hear what you have to say.

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