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.