Cup of Bead Soup Reveal with Barbara Bechtel of Floridity

If you've been a follower of my blog, you're familiar with my Cup of Bead Soup project.  For the past year, I've purchased beads, sight unseen, from various bead makers and tasked myself with creating things with components I didn't choose myself.  It's been a fantastic way to push my design skills and break out of making the same old/same old.  In essence, it's a one-woman-production of the Bead Soup Blog Party.  I changed it this year to include three additional designers, the same set of beads, and made it a mini-hop.  Each Cup of Bead Soup, you'll have the chance to sign up to participate and be chosen randomly.

To remind you, these are the beads that Barbara Bechtel created:

I made three pieces, and the necklace and bracelet used techniques I'm not familiar with.  I really wanted to try and push myself.

First the necklace:

The ingredients:

* Barbara's key pendant and two of her faceted beads *

* Three handmade lampwork glass beads by me *

* Czech glass beads in pink and purple givre *

* Thai spacers *

* A Mamacita bird bead *

* A Green Girl Studios link *

* A Pacific Opal Swarovski crystal *

* Purple waxed linen * 

* A handmade clasp by me *

I'm definitely not used to how to manipulate waxed linen in this way, especial with the pink beads whose holes would only allow one strand through, not both.  I used lark's head knots to connect any of the rings and made three knots between each bead.  

Now for the bracelet.

The Ingredients:

* Two of Barbara's faceted beads *

* One of Barbara's beads I'd been hoarding *

* A vintage key *

* Oxidized wire *

* Purple waxed linen *

* Teal suede *

* Large link chain *

* Pewter toggle*

* Aluminum jump rings *

I've never laced suede through chain, ever.  I'm not sure I did it quite right and I had no idea how the pros finish it, so I made two triple knots of waxed linen at each end.  I added the key to pull it together with the necklace. 

One of the reasons why I used such heavy gauge wire to link the beads is because the links of the chain aren't soldered, and due to the difficulty of opening and closing edged (not round) rings, I knew I needed wire that wouldn't fall through.  For the same reason, I was careful to use a heavier gauge jump ring to connect the toggle ring and bar.  I connected the key with waxed linen to pull in color.

And now a simple pair of earrings:

The Ingredients:

* Barbara's charms *

* Lampwork drops by Unicorne Beads *

* Sterling silver jump rings and ear wires *

I loved the texture of the charms so much that I didn't want to over do it.  I had these leftover lampwork drops from ages ago, and it goes to show you, leftover beads can TRULY be used even years later!

The other three designers you MUST visit:

Star Hitched Wagon

Pretty Shiny Things

and

Spice Box Designs

 Here's a collage, a piece from each of us:

Barbara will now be selling a limited number of the bead kits you see above -- 

only 16, and they'll be first come, first served, 

so be sure to visit her store 

by clicking here!

March Cup of Bead Soup!

This has been in the planning for MONTHS 

and I'm excited to finally start!

If you've been a follower of my blog, you're familiar with my Cup of Bead Soup project.  For the past year, I've purchased beads, sight unseen, from various bead makers and tasked myself with creating things with components I didn't choose myself.  It's been a fantastic way to push my design skills and break out of making the same old/same old.  In essence, it's a one-woman-production of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Now it's your turn to join me!

Three lucky people will be chosen at random,
and these three designers will receive the same kit I do.

The four of us will then create a piece of jewelry and have a mini-blog hop to show what four people can do with the exact same beads.  After the blog hop, the bead artist will have a limited number of kits for sale.

So let's start!!!

The photos you're looking at are for the March Cup of Bead Soup.  Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf and Floridity is well known for her amazing handmade polymer clay beads, charms, and pendants.  I really love her work (the heart pendant in my blog header is made by her as well!).

This kit will contain:

* one teal rustic key focal bead

* one double-sided pair of leaf charms

* four carved nugget beads

* one limited edition 5x7 Bead Soup print!

Cost is $20.

(Sixteen limited edition kits will be available after the hop for $35).

To throw your name in the hat, leave a comment 

and a way to contact you if you don't have your email in your profile.

Comments will close on Monday, March 5th.
 Comments must be made on my main blog (click here)

Mini-hop will be April 7th.

More Cups of Bead Soup will occur monthly!

(Cut and paste this button into your blog if you like!)

Comments must be made on my main blog (click here)

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off.  She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

BIG CHANGES in the Cup of Bead Soup project!

This has been in the planning for MONTHS 

and I'm excited to finally fill you in!

If you've been a follower of this page or my main blog, Pretty Things, you're familiar with my Cup of Bead Soup project.  For the past year, I've purchased beads, sight unseen, from various bead makers and tasked myself with creating things with components I didn't choose myself.  It's been a fantastic way to push my design skills and break out of making the same old/same old.  In essence, it's a one-woman-production of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

Starting next year, a bead maker will create 

FOUR identical Cup of Bead Soup kits.  

One for me...

three of YOU!

When it's Cup of Bead Soup time,

I'll write a post for interested participants to comment on.

Three lucky people will be chosen at random,

and these three designers will receive the same kit I do.

Each Cup of Bead Soup will have 

a different price range, with all proceeds

going directly to the bead artist.

(Support handmade!)

The four of us will then create a piece of jewelry

and have a mini-blog hop 

to show what four people can do with the exact same beads.

Sound like fun?

Then stay tuned -- a blog button will appear soon

with the date of the first "pick me!" post.

The first bead contributor will be....

Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf and Floridity!

I hope you like this new format

and I can't wait to create with you!

Lori Anderson makes jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.