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Musings of an Obsessed Jeweler and Former Mermaid

Friday, May 9, 2014

It's HERE! Bead Soup Reveal Day!!

I posted this at 12:30am East Coast Time but this lovely Blogger site keeps telling me I am in Pacific time.  LOL.  Oh this Timey Wimey stuff!
This is the 2nd Bead Soup I have done.  They are just a blast to do.
You can see what I did last year by just going back and looking at my blog.  
Just a reminder of what my amazing and talented partner, 
Shawn Price http://silkyshaven.blogspot.com sent my way


I just kept making things with these fun beads and made lots of jewelry!

I tried to use only what beads she sent me.  I did wind up using some of my own copper beads and of course my own wire.  
Here is the first piece I made~
~Ta Da, Le necklace~
I tried to keep the earthy, rustic tribal thing going throughout 
I started making this with the thought this would be a bracelet.  I made large jump rings out of 14 gauge copper, soldered, hammered then textured them.  I left a little of the silver solder showing because I just adore the mixed metal look plus it adds a bit of shimmer.  I then thought of connecting them with the cool coffee color ceramic round beads.  They needed a little something, so I wrapped copper wire into a circle then put the ceramic beads in the center of each. I filled in the rest with carved and inlaid beads in different cream and brown colors Shawn sent me. I really love the way this necklace just came together so seamlessly. It was a really enjoyable necklace to make.  I took the cloth that my soup was wrapped in and cut it up in small strips then made a 5 braided extension to hold the clasp. I liked the extra texture that provided to this necklace.  AND I really tried to use EVERYTHING she sent me.  I was so excited to use the zebra she sent but I didn't like the way it looked in this necklace.  I have it almost done in my studio.  She is adorned with rhinestones and hanging things and wears a crown.  lol.  Didn't get a chance to finish her.     
So, I decided to use the long shell beads with the brass beads with a carved bone bead on the top of it as my focal.  I made a tassel out of the string my soup was tied up with, but it didn't hang correctly.  I am obsessed with making tassels now so look for some with copper wrappings coming soon!
Here is another view of the necklace on my lovely model (my daughter).

A close up~

 I was frantically looking for a pin for my scarf a couple weeks ago and right then decided I was going to start making more scarf pins!  This is one I made for bead soup.  I will post more on my Etsy site because I just adore making them.  =)





Next thing was the earrings.  I wanted something tribal, just because.  I had these two matching beads and voila!  earrings!!




   I had a dream about this next earrings.  I just wanted something super simple and clean.  The mixed metal look is what I was going after.  

I think I will go back and make another pair in patina silver instead of the patina copper I used in the original.  Or I will patina the copper more.  I want a real black look to the long piece to really show off the brass cylinder and the bright sterling silver earwire. 
and last but not least, 
the bracelet.
I just used alot of the leftover beads.  I like the way it looks and my model insists I make her lots of them!
This bracelet can be made a tad larger and a tad smaller to help put it on your wrist.
I look forward to seeing what my partner has done with all her goodies!  
If you like any of these pieces I will be putting them up on my Etsy site for sale, except maybe the earrings. 
=D
A big shout out to Lori who put this whole thing together!  Thanks so much!  you rock!! Feel better.

35 comments:

  1. I love the rustic look and copper of your bead soup creations!

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  2. I love them all. The pin is my favorite! Nice job!

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  3. All those clean, elegant lines! I particularly love the second pair of earrings. Great job!

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    1. I do love the the brass with the dark metal and silver. Thanks Sarah!

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  4. Wow! So beautiful! LOVE the mixed metal earrings - so great!

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  5. Love all the pieces you made especially the Earrings!! But the pin looks so special!!

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  6. I love how all of the pieces work together so nicely and I think that your model is right. You need to make more of those bracelets!

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    1. I am sure I will make more Shaiha! The possibilities are endless~ Thanks!

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  7. How gorgeous is everything here, the necklace is my favorite, love your wirework!

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  8. Love the mixed metal earrings... the simplicity, the clean lines, and the copper.

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  9. What a beautiful cooking, Sandra! The necklace is a stunner, you're so talented in wireworking. Love the clear lines in the whole set, it's so charming!

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  10. So cool earrings! And the bangle, it's my favourite :-)

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  11. Great designs. I am a fan of the mixed metal look too. And that scarf pin is fabulous.

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  12. Love your work, just added your blog to my bloglovin' account. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
    Cheers!
    Lori In Atlanta

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  13. Oh, the soup you had to work with was just earthy, natural, and yummy! It's a shame you didn't get to the zebra, but the rest of your pieces are so fantastic! I love each and every one of them so much. I'm glad to know others dream designs too, and those earrings turned out really cool. Most especially, I like your necklace and that 'leftover' bead bracelet. Fabulous work!!

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  14. Love your designs and the simple earrings are to die for! You have the artistic sense to keep the design simple but making a big statement! Beautiful!!

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  15. I loved all the designs, but that pin takes the cake! It's the first I've seen in the hop, and it's lovely!

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  16. Such beautiful jewelry. I love the pin and the bracelet. The necklace is wonderful too. Love the way you wired over the ceramic beads. You are clearly a pro!

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  17. I like everything you made - very unique designs. The pin is to die for - very funky.

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  18. What awesome pieces you made, Sandra! I love how you balanced rustic with elegant, and your metal skills are enviable :)

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  19. The pin is a great addition to your lovely creations. Great metal work too!

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  20. greal metalwork, I'm impressed!

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  21. Oh, such wonderful pieces! I love the scarf pin and the second earrings (so simple and beautiful!) most. I' impressed by your great wire work skills.

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  22. Love what you did with your bead soup !!!

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  23. I love all the wonderful pieces you made with your soup. I especially love the necklace with those long shell beads. I'm loving that pendant you made with them. The scarf pin is great too. And the earrings. And the bracelet...

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  24. Love what you made with your soup, love the tribal feel. Great job!

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  25. The story behind your necklace is so very interesting and I like this piece very much! So good to see it on a live model - you can actually see it's wearable! I love all the jewelry you have made, I see here some lessons I learned from this hop - use of mixed metals, recycling of the wrapping and I admire people that can make their own components to match the design!

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  26. That necklace keeps drawing my eye back to it as I start to look at your bracelet, pin, and earrings. It looks tribal, like it has some kind of hidden energy. Really cool. I love the scarf pin. I wish more people made pins. Yours is great. Nice clean lines on the earrings too. The whole collection is well done!

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