Saturday, July 28, 2012

6th Bead Soup Block Party!

Four hundred people from all over the world are taking part in the 6th Bead Soup Block Party, hosted by the lovely and talented Lori Anderson! The event has gained so much interest in participation, that she decided to split the reveal dates into three different days; July 28th, August 11th and 25th.

Lori partnered me up with Ann Sherwood from Wisconsin. She sent me an amazing selection of beads!


Ann's reveal date is August 25th, so please stop by her blog then to see what she created with the ingredients I sent her!

This is what I created...


The beautiful artisan beads, Czech glass beads and flower shaped Czech glass beads were part of the soup Ann sent me. I added in freshwater pearls, enameled copper headpins from Sue Beads (love her beads), a copper toggle from The Twisted Bead  and copper links that I forged from 12 gauge copper wire from Dry Gulch.



I had envisioned a design that was similar to the result and was pleased that my idea worked out! It is a very fun, artsy piece-definitely keeping this one for my personal collection!

Next up is a necklace that is designed entirely around the amazing focal Ann sent, a Pennsylvania Trade Bead created by Harold Williams Cooney


I wanted to keep the focus on the trade bead, so I kept the design simple by adding in the four peacock blue lampworked glass discs that Ann sent. From my own bead stash; two Bali sterling silver beads from Riverstone Bead Company, argentium sterling silver knitted wire from Silver Silk and a sterling silver toggle clasp.


My third design idea was to create a bracelet with the artisan glass beads, the four square peacock lampworked glass discs and the really cool pocket watch toggle. I envisioned several strands of antiqued brass chain for the bracelet aspect. I then realized that the toggle needed to be center stage as it is too unique to be used solely as a closure!


Time to play! I dreamed up some ideas, this time focusing on the concept of creating a cuff. I sketched a few designs on post-it notes (they have so many uses!) and grabbed some textured brass sheets that I purchased from Metalliferous. First, I cut out a rectangle and shaped the cuff. Then I applied Adirondack Alcohol Ink in mushroom over the texture. Once that dried, I rubbed Gilders Paste from Kabela Design in antique gold on top of the inked surface. This gave the texture a nice dimension and subtle hint of bronze glow.


I knew from the start that I wanted to place the artisan beads on top of the cuff. I just need to figure out how! I ended up stringing the beads onto five inch brass headpins from Susan Lenart Kazmer's Industrial Chic line. I then punched holes into the cuff to connect the strung beads to it.

I'll have to admit, I wasn't sure my dreamy idea was going to work! But after playing a bit, it turned out better than I anticipated (thank you Staci Smith for your post  "Play is Important")! I am also really determined once I get an idea in my head and I like to see it through!

I still needed to make good use of the fantastic pocket watch toggle. I knew I wanted to create a necklace with antiqued brass chain to complement the toggle and it's style and decided that my circles chain from Lima Beads would work perfectly!


After sifting through my vast and ever growing bead collection, I found the perfect addition; labradorite cut into geometric shapes. This added in the contemporary element that I crave!



Once again, I have thoroughly enjoyed creating new designs with beads selected by another artist. Each time that I have participated, I have pushed my creative boundaries! Thank you Ann Sherwood for the awesome bead soup and Lori Anderson for her absolute devotion to this phenomenal event!






78 comments:

  1. Outstanding! I adore the trade bead necklace, and that cuff is truly inspired! What a beautiful soup!!

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  2. Kathleen, WOW! You always get so many wonderful pieces from your bead soup ingredients. Love the cuff.

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  3. Delightfully done.Great use of the subtle colours and you paired them well with the metals.Lovely Thank you.Love and hugs Tanya

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  4. I really like your soup, but the last necklace is the best of the best of the best ^_^

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  5. Great selection of designs! All are unique, created with an artistic eye. Nicely done indeed!

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  6. what a fab soup, I'd have a hard time picking out a favourite piece, all of them are gorgeous.

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  7. Oh my goodness Kathleen! What a lovely soup you received! I'm so amazed at all of the pieces you were able to create from it. They're all lovely, but I think my favorite is your cuff. I'm glad you worked your way through its construction to create the piece you envisioned!

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  8. That necklace is so funky ! And the ring is very lovely~

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  9. Love the cuff bracelet and the watch toggle necklace.

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  10. Hi Kathleen,
    Wow you have done a fantastic job on all of your pieces, they are all so very beautiful I love the trade bead necklace. I agree that focal bead needed to shine. Your cuff is amazing I really like the design. I love the designs of your other two necklaces and I would totally wear the watch toggle necklace.
    Therese

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  11. I adore the color palette you got to start out with. Such yummy hues!
    That first necklace had me grinning like a kid when I spied its reveal!! I love, love, love the fun and playfulness of it. As well, the rest of the items you created are divine, but that necklace has stolen my heart! Thank you for reminding me to think out of the box, go with my gut, and most importantly. . have FUN with my designs.

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  12. I have been on your blog for the past 30 minutes just looking at your BSBP designs and really admiring the choices you made. I really love all of the peices you designed.

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  13. what a great group of jewelry, I like everything. Really like the copper connectors in the first necklace, what a cool idea!

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  14. An absolutely beautiful collection of jewelry. I love the whimsy of the first piece, but my favorite is the trade bead piece. What a beautiful bead. And, that bracelet is fabulous. You made some beautiful pieces. Great job!

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  15. Beautiful, beautiful work. Really lovely.

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  16. Those squigglies are super cool What a fun thing to do with the Czech glass flowers. And the bangle bracelet is brilliant! Great pieces!

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  17. Delightful! Love the last piece and the bracelet :) And those copper links from the 1st piece ... oh, my!

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  18. How could I possibly pick a favorite??!!! Thse are all fantastic! But that cuff!!! oh My! It is simply stunning! Oh..and and I love how you uswd Sue's headpins!!! Such a great job!

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  19. You make wonderful jewellery! I remember your last soup was as great as yet.
    Greetings, Michi

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  20. Kathleen, wow!! I love the things you made, especially that first necklace. It's stunning. :)

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  21. Every pieces is delightful, but the curly one takes the cake! That piece is awesome, love, love, love it!

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  22. Amazing designs! I love the simplicity of the necklace with the focal bead - it really shows it off perfectly =)

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  23. Oh, wow, Kathleen! Holy smokes, lady, you've really outdone yourself this time. That cuff! The chain necklace! The whimsical artisan dangles! Superb, as always.

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  24. My favorite is the chain, clock, and labradorite necklace!

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  25. Great job and it's awesome how the pieces all look on the neck together.

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  26. Wow - those are some very cool designs!

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  27. Just gorgeous! I am in love with both the second and the last necklace. Both so different and stunning.

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  28. Yes! Yes! Yes! I love them all. The cuff really inspires me to try that style. :)

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  29. Love the organic nature of your work Kathleen! And just wanted tell you that we have a very similar project to your cuff in our upcoming sea glass book. The connection solution is different but the look is similar. Great minds think alike, eh? :-)

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    1. Ok I have no idea what just happened to my comment. May have posted, may have disappeared. So this may be my second. I love what you did with the beads I sent you. The first necklace is great, so whimsical. I may have to borrow that flower look in some way. You've really shown off the beautiful focal as well. Fantastic group of pieces.

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  30. I love the first piece. The copper links are beautiful. And the last piece! The labrodolite with that fantastic chain!! Yummy!!

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  31. Those are beauties! Each one! The labradorite one is just stunning. I LOVE Metalliferous ... a must stop for me to pick up silver gauge wire and findings. I work in NYC, so I usually stop by their store which is an eclectic group of people shouting at each other - quite the experience! But I always walk out with a stash I just can't wait to get started on.

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  32. Three fabulous pieces! I love the textures and the unique organic designs. I think my favorite is the cuff.

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  33. What a fantastic collection! The colours are glorious and I love the work you've added, I think they really sing

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  34. Everything is GORGEOUS! You have no idea how lucky you are to have a Cooney bead! You need to look him up, read his story -- his work will be in the Smithsonian at some point.

    I would wear everything you made!

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  35. Gorgeous creations. Definitely my style. Check me out during second reveal at http://www.heavenlanecreations.com

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  36. I dig that cuff! Glad you tried it, because the lampwork beads look so nice on it!!

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  37. Love your style! All great designs. I particularly like the first necklace.

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  38. Really well done and thoughtful pieces. I love your ideas with the cuff! And the trade bead necklace is gorgeous.

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  39. Stunning works!
    I really love all of them ^_^

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  40. What a range of designs! That first one is so fun and funky. And you got a Harold bead?!?! Lucky girl! Smart move to make it stand out from the rest. The cuff is amazing and I adore labradorite. The chain you used is really cool.

    Thanks for stopping by my BSBP reveal and taking time to leave a comment. Hope your weekend has been fab.

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  41. You did a wonderful job. Beautiful pieces...the cuff is very cool!

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  42. Very nice, I can't believe how many pieces you made.

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  43. Gorgeous job. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the bracelet or the last necklace. All are lovely, so good thing I don't have to pick!!

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  44. your soup is just fabulous. just stunning. I absolutely love all of it!!!

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  45. Not one but 4 fabulous creations! I don't think I can choose a favourite, they are all wonderful!

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  46. I love each piece you created, but I love the bracelet. I love all the beads in your bead soup...so nice and perfect colors.

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  47. I'm so glad you didn't give up on making the bracelet work, because it is terrific

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  48. Very interesting first necklace. I especially love the simplicity of the second necklace.

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  49. Kathleen, these are all beautiful designs. I love the colors of the beads you received and you did a fab job creating with them! The copper links are very cool and I love that you added the beads to the cuff!

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  50. All the pieces are amazing ,I love them

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  51. You were busy and they are all equally beautiful. I especially love the bracelet.

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  52. All beautiful, but that last necklace is astounding!

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  53. I like how your creative process is so thorough and thought out. Love everything you made but the cuff is so cool. The trade bead necklace is another favorite.

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  54. I love how fun and whimsical your first necklace is! All of the pieces you created make such a nice collection.

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  55. All such unique pieces and so well done. I think if forced to choose a fav it would be the labradorite but all are wonderfully done.

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  56. Such great designs. I really like your bracelet. And all the chain in the other necklace. Nice.

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  57. Super cool wire work. Love all your designs and loved the final photo that showed them together. It really shows how the entire collection flows so well together! Great job.

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  58. Beautiful designs. I love the whimsical colors of the first necklace; the clean aesthetic of the second; every wonderful detail of your cuff; and the inspired choice of the geometric-cut labradorite beads in your final piece. It's always so inspiring to see your work!

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  59. Such a delightful soup highlighted by your skillful designing - absolutely stunning -all of it!

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  60. Absolutely beautiful! And I love your photos too. That cuff is inspired especially :-)

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  61. Love your collection! My favs are the last necklace and the cuff bracelet. Great work!

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  62. Wow...what a yummy bead soup!! You did an awesome job with all the designs...beautiful indeed!

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  63. I really love your cuff & labradorite neckalace..! Very lovely..! :)

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  64. Outstanding job, All of your pieces are so different from each other. WOW !! on the cuff. You proved that it doesn't take lots of stuff to do a wonderful piece of jewelry.

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  65. Gourgeous!! Love al the pieces, specially the first necklace.

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  66. what a beautiful soup and what you created is outstanding!

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  67. beautiful soup and great work!
    I love the bracelet!!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  68. I love those last two pieces together! Great work!

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  69. I love the cuff bracelet the most! All wonderful as is the color pallete.

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  70. Kathleen, I'm still making the rounds from the 1st and 2nd reveal....and wow, what a great post!! I just love each and every piece you made, as well as the photography...and finally, that last photo really pulls them all together. I can see your own style really shine through when I see the entire collection together!

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  71. I love your collection of pieces - all amazing and beautiful!!

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  72. WOW! love everything, especially the cuff, oh and that last necklace with all the rings, that one too!

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  73. i love all your pieces! very sophisticated and specially!
    greets
    Jacqueline

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  74. Oh, wow - stunning. I love every piece: each with its own story and special design, each gorgeous and very artsy, but still wearable. Gorgeous!

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