That's All Folks....!

Well I 'think' I have visited all of the other 199 participants in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Hop to admire their handy work.... and Oh my, what amazing talent there is out there. It has been quite a humbling experience as well as quite tiring but Shed Loads of fun! Although the tiring bit could just be the man flu or the insomnia. No matter. I can relax a bit now! 

If you have not checked out my Bead Soup Partner's Fabulous Design,

Please Do! It's gorgous. Dee is very talened.

This is an example of her lampwork. Beautiful!
Try her facebook fanpage too... she's only a few off 1,000 fans (hint hint!)

 I have been inspired by many things whilst 'hopping' and would like to thank All the participants for taking part and making it fun. Special thanks to Lori Anderson for all her hard work, especially with her being ill and in pain for most of it! Also, huge thanks to Dee Elgie for sending such a fabulous challenge pack for me to work with. I shall be returning to my comfort zone for a little while though, until I have recovered from it all and then I shall begin with the things I want to experiemnt with or take further: 

1. Beaded Beads
2. Wire Wrapping (especially having a go at making my own bead caps. Have no idea how yet...!)
3. Mixed Media
4. Allow my inner 'girlie' out a bit more
5. Have a go at Vintage Glam
6. Upcycle more

An upcycled piece I made in 2010

If I have not commented on your blog, please let me know and I'll pop over asap!

Ta Daaaaa!

Today is the day of the great Bead Soup Reveal! I can't wait to go hopping. Hubby is on tea duty and my lappy is fully charged! For those of you who don't now what I'm on about... I entered Lorri Anderson's Bead Soup Challenge and was partnered with Dee @ Cherry Obsidia and today is final reveal and blog hop day :)

I can finally reveal my efforts for the challenge... I am quite pleased with the results. I'm not the sort of person that has a story to go with her projects, I don't get inspired by sea creatures, ocean tides or anything like that. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, a lot of my 'beady' friends are inspired in this way, I'm just pointing out that we are all different. My inspiration comes from the beads themselves and colour. It's that simple for me. So here goes....

One

For the first piece I chose to make a necklace because I tend to make bracelets all the time. I wanted to show off the crystal without encasing it too much, hence the nets of seeds. I also like to mix mediums and so finished it with an antique gold chain rather than making a seed bead chain which I often see with this style of beading. Although I have played around with netting before, this is so far from my usual 'style' it's unreal...

 Two

 I chose 'old gold' beads to bring out the flecks of gold in these lovely deep green goldstone beads and highlight the toggle clasp. My first instict was some simple stringing with tonal crystal and spacers or to bring suede into the mix, but again I felt I had to challenge myself and have a go at some form of 'beaded bead'. I'm not sure if I like this piece or not. I do want to experiement more with beaded beads now though.

 Three (x2!)

Earrings.... I don't make many pairs of earrings and so I thought I would have a go with the lovely Aventurine beads Dee had sent. Simple yet pretty I think.

Four
And finally, Dee's beautiful focal.

 I wanted to keep it simple so as to not detract from the focal. I had so many fancy ideas but went with wire, ribbon and rubber tubing and some of the bicones Dee sent to bring out those lovely petrol colours. I'm not sure I like this finished piece either lol If it's not won in my fanpage draw I think I will re-work it.

So that's it, all finished. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and I hope everyone else taking part did too. Feel free to hop on over to my facebook fanpage (click on the jojo's beads banner) and vote for your favourite. The piece with the most 'likes' will become the prize. Everyone that 'likes' any of the 4 pieces (both pairs of earrings count as one piece) will be entered and a name chosen at random by a very clever widget. This lucky person will win the most voted for piece. Good luck!

Click on the banner below to visit Lorrie Anderson's Pretty Things Blog for the complete list of participants:

 OR use the splendid Linky Tool below to see what everyone else has created:

Bead Soup Challenge

My mystery parcel arrived today from my challenge buddy, Dee Elgie.

I was so excited I ripped it open whilst still at work. The girls joined in with the 'oos n ahhhs'. It's brilliant.

1. An amazing glass focal made by Dee herself called 'Oilslick Twist'
2.  Amazonite Beads
3. Vitrail Light Rivoli's
4. Size 11 Seed Beads
5. A selection of 4mm Swarovski Bicones
6. An antique gold tone Toggle Clasp 
7. Green Goldstone Rounds

 

I am bowled over by the colours, one of my favourite combinations is blue and green. Whoever came up with the saying 'Blue and Green should Never be seen' was, in my humble opinion, quite barking. Have they never been witness to the beauty of a Peacock?!

I have not used Rivoli's before so that will be interesting! I'm having lots of fun sketching ideas already.

And OMG that gorgeous focal! I wonder how long it took Dee to make it? The colours are just amazing, sadly my camera skills are pretty rubbish and don't do it justice at all. I promise to do better for the reveal.

To see what the other 199 bead buddies are doing, click on the image below and check out Lori's blog. A list of all the other crafters joining the soup can be found on this page. Just click on their name to check out their blog...