Saturday, April 13, 2013

The 7th Bead Soup Block Party Reveal...

Today is the reveal day for group two of the Bead Soup Block Party, hosted by the ultra sweet and talented Lori Anderson. There are three groups in this years BSBP due to the overwhelming response of over 500 participants!

Lori does a great job of pairing people up. This is my fourth Bead Soup and each time she has paired me up with an amazing artist who inspires me. This time was no exception with Julie Panusus of Cats Meow Co. She sent me a wonderful, earthy bead soup that had shades of orange, copper, aqua and blue in it. It also included a stunning artisan porcelain frog and a gorgeous red creek jasper pendant. My eyes were wide when I saw them!


This is what I created...




Taking inspiration from the red creek jasper pendant, I cut and filed rectangle and square shapes from textured brass sheet that I purchased from Metalliferous. I painted them with Vintaj patinas from Orrtec and coated them with EF formula Clear Guard from Bity Mold Supply. The copper chain from Lima Beads and toggle, sent in my bead soup, helped tie the design together nicely.

My second and third designs were inspired by the blue and orange color palette in my bead soup. I seldom pair this combination together, so it was a lot of fun to see where my creativity would take me. As it turns out, I really enjoyed working with these colors!



All of the beads used in this design were part of my bead soup except for the Tierra Cast toggle and copper ring. I created the textured ring with copper sheet, my awesome Pepe disc cutter, a ball peen hammer and a fun loving torch that I learned to use while taking a class with the awesomely talented Eva Sherman. If you aren't familiar with Eva's work, check it out-you will be left in amazement.

The third piece that I created was inspired by the porcelain frog that Julie sent me. The detail on it is absolutely amazing!




 I added in some silver plated brass spacers and a hammered rhodium plated toggle clasp. I really like how the orange enameled bead, beige frog and blue Czech glass beads compliment one another. 

Thank you Lori for organizing this amazing, inspiring event and Julie for inspiring me with an awesome bead soup- you helped me to think outside my color comfort zone!

Stop by Julie's blog to see what she created with the bead soup that I sent her...



...and the rest of the participants in the second reveal: BSBP Group Two