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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Soup's On!

Today is the big reveal of the piece(s) we made for the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Here is what my partner Rochelle of A Creative Chelle Blog  sent me:




A challenge for sure this grouping of beads was but that is exactly 
why I love participating in these blog hops. 
I love the challenge and getting beads I wouldn't normally buy myself 
because that is how we learn that is how we move outside of our comfort zone.
I made 3 pieces with my soup 2 necklaces and a pair of earrings.


Necklace One:


I started with this Gaea pendant because I knew I had to make something with it 
and it was the one piece in the bead soup I was most uncomfortable with. 


I found these recycled glass beads in my stash and this cool copper chain from Michael's. 
I wire wrapped the glass beads with copper colored 20 gauge wire. 
This necklace is on the long side so it was hard to take a picture of it in all it's glory.


The Earrings:


These were easy peasy because I love Unicorne glass 
and I had 2 of the beads leftover from making the necklace.


I altered the Vintaj beads and the washers with a hammer and pliers :-) good times!



These are made with the Unicorne Glass beads that Rochelle sent me,
recycled glass, and Vintaj natural brass ear wires, beads and washers.

Necklace Two:


And here is the clasp! I wanted to use it in the front of a necklace 
sort of like those necklaces you can hang your glasses or work id from. 

This little guy gave me such a hard time! I knew I wanted him (yes him) blue to go with 
this blue theme so I grabbed alcohol inks first. They slid right off, poo. 
Then I grabbed paint, that didn't work at all, double poo. Then I grabbed my gilder's paste. 
Hmm, I was onto something here. 
That was till I tried to cover the gilder's paste with permalac and renaissance wax, 
the blue smeared and slid right off. So back to the drawing board -with the help of my handy hubby 
I got the gilder's paste to stay with a special lacquer he had at work.


Then I made my own bead soup with different sizes of seed beads, Swarovski crystals, 
pearls Rochelle sent me and Czech glass beads. 
This necklace is super, super long and so lightweight. I love it.


Thanks Rochelle for stretching me outta my box! I will def. be making more pieces like the last necklace, I found a new technique I love using with my Vintaj beads and I am no longer afraid of Gilder's paste and *gasp* bead soup. Oh and my daughter grabbed all the rest of the beads and is hoarding them for herself :-)

Be sure to visit the other blogs but especially my partner to see what she made with what I sent her:







69 comments:

Giorgia Rossini said...

great work, I like it
I'm a partecipant from Italy, I'm trying to visit all of you.
this was really a great experience!
ciao ciao

Lorelei Eurto said...

Very pretty! Love the blues! Great chain in that first necklace too. have fun hopping today!

steufel said...

I love, love, love the colors!. My fav is the one with the copper chain - awesome!

kristibasket said...

They turned out great! Loved your idea with the clasp!

Mary Harding said...

Great pieces Shannon. Love all the detail about the coloring of the focal on the long necklace. I think we all learned from what you found out. The focal was certainly worth all the effort. Turned out so lovely and long!!

Cece Cormier said...

Great necklaces, and love those earrings.

Linda Younkman said...

Beautiful pieces. Love the blue recycled glass. I think the earrings are my favorite!

Michelle W said...

What wonderful pieces you made! You said you were uncomfortable with the focal piece, but I think that nacklace turned out beautifully! great job!

Joanne said...

Fabulous! I loe the way you have put the chain at the sides instead of round the back... Inspired :) x

Moobie Grace said...

I love copper chain, and this is awesome! Not to mention the focal is cool, funky and eclectic! Great job!!

Chelles said...

You pulled off the tricky pendant wonderfully! The recycled glass is exactly what it needed.
Looove that you colored the clasp and used it in unique way! I'd wear this for my work id card everyday!
I had so much fun Shannon! Thanks for being a great soup partner :)

Unknown said...

Well of course our little princess needs to hoard some for herself. And your denim clasp! Swoon. You know I love seeing anything you create. Oh and that copper chain from Michael's and the focal! Licking the screen!

Therese's Treasures said...

Shannon, I love the two necklaces and the earrings. The first necklace is my favorite. The second really would make a great lanyard for a cardkey and badge.
Therese

Unknown said...

Love your work, the face pendant is really great! Have a nice day, greetings, Doris

Unknown said...

Shannon, the face would be a huge challenge for your and you made it look absolutely stunning. Wonderful job with your soup!!

Libby Leuchtman said...

I love those earrings. The colors are so beautiful. I used my clasp as a focal too! Great mind think alike!

Karen Vincent said...

Beautiful designs Shannon! Love how you used the flower clasp as a the focal on the long necklace. Very pretty. Glad you got the colour to stay put :) Beautiful earrings - pretty beads.

Cindy Cima said...

Love the Gaea pendant on the necklace! The recycled beads go well with it. The earrings and other necklace are great too!

Alice said...

If I hadn't read your post I would have never know you were uncomfortable with these beads. Your pieces are just beautiful, and my favorite is the necklace with the ceramic face pendant.

Dawn Doucette said...

How beautiful Shannon! Growth is the most amazing result from being pushed outside of our box. Job well done!
{Hugs!}

Lori Bowring Michaud said...

You did a great job with your challenge! I really like the first necklace and can appreciate on so many levels the frustration then success with your focal for the second necklace!

Unknown said...

Shannon, that necklace is beautiful, I love the thick chain you used to add weight to the piece.

(girl, you should have emailed me, I have mad coloring skills that require little money, with the plated metals, which is what that clasp is.)

WindDancerStudios said...

Love those blues! I'm so glad you made the Gilder's paste work because work it does!! It came out beautiful! I've been sitting on the fence about buying some and it might just have been moved into the need to buy some category :)

Karyn B said...

That first necklace, I love how you split the yummy blue beads up with the copper chain. And GO YOU for altering that clasp into a focal with gilder's! Such a cool idea! Everything looks just blue and beautiful. :)

Marie Cramp said...

Looks great Shannon! I know this was a tough mix for you. I wonder how the two necklaces would look worn together... <3 Great job!

Anonymous said...

I love the chain in that first necklace! Great job with all your designs! Suzette

Unknown said...

Beautiful blue....love your work!

Jenn said...

Shannon, I've loved your style for a long time. I loved what you sent to your partner and I love what you created out of your soup. I love both peaces, but that first blue necklace that mixes a chunky chain with light blue...yummy! Isn't it fun to break out of creative boxes! Thanks to Lori for organizing this. I was like a little kid before Disney, couldn't sleep and kept waking up with excitement to see what everyone made. I didn't think I was going to do the next BSBP, but I'm in...this was way too much fun!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

That first necklace is absolutly gorgeous! And I love how you altered that clasp! Beautiful job!

Ann said...

You did a great job with the pendant comfortable or not:) You cooked up some lovely pieces.

Wendy said...

I am always drawn to anything blue in jewelry and I think these are really pretty! :)

adlinah said...

I love the colours of that first necklace and the earrings are darling. I'd wear both in a jiffy. Great work!

Metal Me This said...

Very pretty, Shannon! Love the blues.

Gaea said...

Hey Shannon! Nothing looked uncomfortable to me! I have to say that blue on the flower goddess pendant is hard for me to work with and you matched it perfectly! I love the length and balance on your second necklace! Elegant! Happy Bead Soup to you!

Unknown said...

Love the clasp as the focal...very clever. Sorry you had trouble making it blue. I love it when hubby can fix a problem. Glad it worked out.

Pelima Jewellery Design said...

I loooove the blues. And the mask focal is gorgeous. Well done.

moonsafari said...

Lovely necklaces, very original use of the clasp! :)) The earrings are very cute too!

Anonymous said...

Shannon - I love your style. Those earrings are so cute - I'd wear them all of the time. You did a nice job with that pendant. I like how you put the clasp in front for the second necklace!

Mariposa said...

love the etched blue beads, the color is like the ocean.

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

All three pieces are beautiful! I love the recycled glass and copper chain in the first necklace. The earrings (they are my favorite of the three) are so much fun-love the modern design. I really like how you colored the toggle blue and made it the focal-very clever!

Spirited Earth said...

i loved your soup mix, and what you created from it is beautiful.

Lori Anderson said...

Your jewelry is so creative! I love the eyeglass/badge holder -- much prettier than the ones employers hand out. You did a marvelous job with things that challenged you, and I think I'm going to have to get some recycled glass now!

I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

Brittany Kuhlman, COC, CPC, CCC said...

You have created such amazing designs! I love the blue hues, and that copper chain in your first necklace is totally awesome. Using that floral clasp as a focal is so great! I have a similar floral focal, and can honestly say I have never thought of using it quite like that. Great job!

Marcie Abney Carroll said...

I love the idea of using a clasp as a focal! Very subtle hint of glamour. Beautiful!

Amy F said...

Really pretty! I love both of them. That copper chain is fantastic too :)

Alicia said...

Wonderful - I like both, love blue and they are both very eye-catching! Awesome job!

Alicia said...

Wonderful - I like both necklaces, the colour is gorgeous (I love blue) and very eye-catching. Awesome work!

Anonymous said...

How cool to use your flower toggle as a pendant! I like that idea!

Jean A. Wells said...

Your pieces are beautiful. The blues are really nice. An eyeglass hanger is a great idea and that clasp is very pretty - it should be in front. Great job!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Way to go, Shannon!! You totally rocked this soup! It may have taken you out of your comfort zone, but it totally doesn't seem it :) I love that second necklace especially, the gilder's paste... the blue! Gorgeous :)

baymoondesign said...

All of your pieces are beautiful. I love necklace that you can hang glasses or an id from. I am in desperate need!

Kristen said...

The earrings are my favorite! Beautiful designs!!

Rebecca said...

Very lovely! I would have been challenged by Gaea's pendant too but I think you've risen to the challenge wonderfully - that necklace is very cool. I love the chain from Michael's! I am always so jealous of the things you can pick up in that shop. I love the blues here too.

Stacey said...

Love the frosty blue bead on the first piece and that focal is way cool!! The clasp as a focal with the blue is great - very clever!

Kat BM said...

loved how you worked in the chain with the other components.. and I love the focal you got, yummy!

Jean said...

Love all you have done, But for some reason those earring just sing to me! And this is coming from someone who ONLY wears my silver hoops, and never makes earrings!!

la mar de bonita said...

I like the first necklace and the earrings very much. Blue and copper are great together - I never thought it matches that well.

Mags said...

Blue is not my colour, but I would wear all of these!! I love what you made with them, "simple" and elegant, all of them!

-I'm so sorry for your dog <3

Maneki said...

Beutiful jewellery! I especially fell for the first necklace, really liked the colour palette and the design with the mix of chain and beads. Fab job!

Mandi Ainsworth said...

I love the focal of the first necklace, and you did such a great job designing with it! Love the earrings, too, they have great shape. :)

Shai Williams said...

Love both necklaces especially the first one. Oh and the second because I would wear it with sweaters.

Jennifer Cameron said...

I adore both pieces! The chain in the 1st one is really cool. I love the shiny-ness of the 2nd one. Yummy!

Keri Lee Sereika said...

Ooooohh your projects are all gorgeous! I really like how you did the beads then chain, then beads then chain on the top necklace...classy!

dreaminofbeads / SAS Jewelry Designs said...

Sorry to hear about your little Hunter. I had a dog, Max, that was a terror and chewed and was so destructive when he was a puppy but grew up to be the best dog ever and he passed two years ago. We still miss him!
Back to your soup, great designs. I love working with alcohol inks and gilders paste but they can be a little difficult at times, you really did a beautiful job.
Sonya

Debbie said...

I love how you mixed the copper with the blue!! So pretty!

Lisa Michele Creations said...

These pieces are wonderful!
I would wear the Gaea necklace and matching earrings..great set!

Charlie said...

I really like what you created. I think the necklace is great! Awesome job!

LoriF said...

What a sweet package you sent Rochelle!..and what a lovely job you made of her lovely pieces. Love both your necklaces especially!

lunedreams said...

I especially love the first necklace. I love the simple palette, and the translucent glass beads are a great contrast to the copper and ceramic focal. I like how it's gently asymmetrical. Good call on using the clasp as the focal in the second necklace--I have some of those very clasps and it never occurred to me to use them that way. It would make a great bail too. Thanks for the inspiration!