May 10, 2014

Welcome to the 8th Annual Blog Soup Party

So since this is mainly a paper crafting blog, I’d better explain that right? The Blog Soup Party blog hop shows off the work of over 400 jewelry designers. We’ve all been brave enough to take up the challenge of sending our partner a mixture of beads and findings, known as a bead soup, and once received, we promised to make something using that soup and post it today! We had to send a focal piece and a clasp along with some supporting beads that are in a different style than our partner normally uses. At a minimum we need to use the focal and clasp in one or more pieces. They can be jewelry or something else like a key chain, zipper pull or mixed media piece.

bead soup 8

I was partnered with Michelle Wigginton of Adorned on Adelaide. I sent her quite a few black and white items several of which could be used as a focal and lots of beads in black, white or both! I am looking forward to seeing what she’s made. I’m sure she will have a photo of what I sent her on her blog.

bead soup

Michelle sent me almost all earth tone items which are way out of my comfort zone. In the necklace above, I used the lovely flower pendant she made (awesome), the jasper beads, purplish brown Czech beads and a snippet of the silk ribbon. I added some tiny copper beads and copper spacers. One side is wire work and the other side is stringing. The pattern on the right side repeats towards the back and I used a purchased toggle clasp.

clasp pendant

The clasp Michelle sent was quite daunting for me. It was an inch wide which is way larger than the clasps I usually use. I thought it might tangle in my long hair if I used it on a necklace, it was too big for a bracelet I’d be comfortable wearing and I don’t have any beads that would coordinate with a clasp that large. It is quite antiqued too and I don’t usually work with metal that dark. But I was determined to  use it somehow. So I wire wrapped a rustic smoky quartz briolette bead into the center using 28 g silver wire, antiqued it with liver of sulphur, polished the highlights and now I can use it as a pendant!

So, what's left? I am going to use the recycled glass beads on an ocean necklace I’ve recently started. I think so anyway. The funky scarab, which I love (I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid) will probably be worked into a mixed media canvas of some sort. The piacasso beads are headed into a necklace for my 13 yo son. Honestly, I have no idea where the rest of the ribbon is headed but it will go to good use.

Thanks for joining me. To see more of the blog hop, visit Lori Anderson’s blog Pretty Things. She is the brilliant and tireless organizer of the entire thing and has done so while being quite sick and even hospitalized so I’d like to thank her for all her work. You rock girlfriend!

Enjoy, Rebecca

58 comments:

  1. I LOVE how you used 2 different techniques in your piece. I haven't figure out how to do that yet...so I may be back to study up =)

    Linda - http://FromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com; http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  2. Nice necklace. I love earth tones.

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  3. Such pretty pieces! You showed great creativity with the elements you received...especially the clasp/pendant!

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  4. Beautiful piece!
    Rachel

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  5. What a lovely necklace. I really like earth tones. Fantastic soup :)

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  6. Such lovely work well done!

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  7. very elegant and delicate project!congrats!

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  8. Very pretty. I love how the smaller beads add detail but don't take the focus away from the flower.

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  9. LOve how you turned the clasp into a pendant ! It will look lovely with the right chain :) Your main piece is also gorgeous !

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  10. that necklace is glorious!! love it!! Great work!!

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  11. I rarely use earth tones either but you nailed it! I like how you used the clasp in an entirely different way.

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  12. I love earth tones and your necklace is beautiful. And that clasp, what a clever idea.

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  13. Lovely pieces, great idea with the clasp!

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  14. Nice work, beautiful necklace.

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  15. Nice pieces. I like the way you used the clasp as a pendant.

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  16. Your necklace turned out beautiful! How inventive was that to change the clasp into a pendant! Soup-er!

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  17. Very nice necklace!

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  18. great use of toggle as a pendant. Love it!

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  19. Lovely necklace, I can see you really had some fun with your soup!
    Jackie

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  20. i love earth tones. Your necklace is beautiful!

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  21. Beautiful necklace and very clever to turn the clasp into a pendant. So creative. Way to think outside the box.

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  22. Lovely necklace. Especially like how you used the silk ribbon as a bail - it really sets off the focal.

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  23. Love the earthtones in your soup. The necklace design with the flower is lovely. And you were very creative with your clasp.

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  24. the focal stands out perfectly...really pretty piece!

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  25. Hello there...we'll I think that focal flower pendant you chose to use is beautiful and you complimented it brilliantly with the beads you chose and the design you created....I love how u did each side different , it gives it an elegant sophistication...Ty for sharing with us all...Happy hopping

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  26. So fun to see what everyone is creating. Hope youll show the scarab when you use it.

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  27. Lovely necklace ... and really interesting redesign of that clasp =)

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  28. Anonymous9:29 am

    Nice pieces. I think my favorite thing is your innovative use of that clasp. Very interesting.

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  29. Wonderful job, I especially love how you combined wire work and stringing.

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  30. So pretty and very nicely done! Way to think outside the soup on the clasp. Great Job!

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  31. Clasp as pendant. Genius! I really like the necklace too. Nice job!

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  32. yes I love your use of the clasp, that was a smart use of a piece you were not comfortable with! very inventive, I also like your necklace, you did good!

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  33. great way to repurpose that clasp, lovely work

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  34. Lovely necklace, but my favorite is your repurposed use of the clasp - it looks awesome this way!
    Alenka

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  35. Clever way of using the clasp. Nice soup!

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  36. Very cool pieces! Love how you used the clasp!

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  37. Very pretty! Nice job with your soup!

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  38. Awesome use of the clasp!

    Great soup!

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  39. All of your pieces are wonderful. I love the colors and designs.

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  40. Great necklace! I really like you combined wire with stringing.

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  41. That's an absolutely beautiful necklace, great job! Your wirework is lovely...great thinking on that toggle as well.

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  42. I love that asymmetrical touch, great use of soup!

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  43. I think the necklace turned out Wonderful!!! i love asymmetric work and you did a great job! I really like the pendant too and can't wait to see what you put with it! Have a Blessed Day!!!

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  44. Hi Rebecca,You did a wonderful job using your soup. The asymmetrical necklace is well designed and I like it. Using the clasp as a pendant is very creative. Kudos to you for stepping out of your comfort zone and using the dark metal and earthy colors.

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  45. I love how you organized and put together the elements from your soup, it is a really earthy, lovely necklace

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  46. Lovely necklace and brilliant use of the clasp. Great job!

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  47. I think my favorite part of this whole experience is that we get pushed out of our zone and end up with amazing results! Thank you for sharing your talents with the Bed Soup. Enjoy the day! Erin

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  48. I liked what you did with the clasp. It will make a wonderful pendant.

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  49. Lovely necklace, you did a great job out of your comfort zone, and what you did with the clasp is great, it makes a fabulous pendant.

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  50. What a pretty piece :-) The great thing about the BSBP is getting to try things out of our comfort zones, you did it and did it well :-) Thanks for following my blog, I am following you too now. I have added your name to the giveaway hat - Goodluck!

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  51. Beautiful soup, Rebecca, and you stepped up to the challenge with winning design skills :)

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  52. Anonymous10:53 am

    Love the asymmetry in the necklace. Great job

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  53. What a beautiful soup & what beautiful creations you made with it! I really like the different techniques you used :)

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  54. Your necklace is really beautiful. I can definitely see myself wearing it. I like the asymmetrical chain of it. As well, I love your unconventional use of the clasp. Great job thinking out of the box!

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  55. I like the asymmetry and the bail of the necklace. In spite of the earthy tones of the beads, the necklace is not dull at all, you have managed to string in some sparkle. Neat clasp to pendant idea and looks good!

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  56. I like your necklace, love the earth tone colors and also the pendant made from the toggle clasp. I'll be back to check out your paper crafting posts!

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