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.

2nd Cup of Bead Soup with Lisa Boucher of Clayworks

Today is my second showing of work made with ceramic beads by Lisa Boucher of Clayworks.  You can read more about the Cup of Bead Soup project by clicking here.

I think this is my favorite pendant of the group Lisa sent.  This necklace came together quickly and with very little thought.  I love when that happens!

I used bronze jump rings to connect the pendant to links of, of all things, an inexpensive chain I found at Ben Franklin.  Where I live, Ben Franklin is the closest thing to a Michaels there is.  I usually never buy beads or chain from either one, as they've knocked off bead-maker friends of mine, but sometimes they have things that I groove on.  In this case, it was a large-link antiqued brass chain that I knew I could take apart and use as links.

I used the smaller accent beads Lisa sent and dangled them in the center of the textured rings.  This is where I say I LOVE Vintaj 3" head pins. Yeah, yeah, I know -- way more wire than I need.  But I always make wrapped loops, and I like having plenty of wire to "crank" around the neck of the wire.  I also used Vintaj wire to link together the bone beads (again, a Michaels find).  Teeny tiny wood beads I rescued from a vintage necklace accent the ceramic beads.

I finished the top of the necklace with faux suede cording from Barbara Lewis.  I don't like large chain at the back of my neck because it annoys me and I'm always fiddling with it, and besides, I love how the color blends with the colors of the ceramic.  The clasp is another Vintaj piece.

I'm much happier with this piece than my last one.  And I REALLY appreciate the suggestions I received via post and email.  I think I'm going to rework it and add another strand of something to the linen.  I really DID want suggestions, and I'm glad you guys took me up on it.

Stay tuned for the last piece, coming soon!  In the meantime, please visit her at the following sites:

Shop: Clayworks by Lisa Boucher

Blog: Lisa's Clay Happenings

Happy Creating!

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

Cup of Bead Soup with Miss Molly's Designs -- #2

This is my second design with the bevy of beads from Miss Molly's Designs.  This time, I chose to work with the pale blue and brown set, with beads that ranged from the chunky to the more sedate.

Enameled beads by nature are lightweight, and I wanted to make a "half-and-half" necklace, meaning, half the necklace would be predominantly enameled beads, and the other half would be something else.  What that Something Else would be remained to be seen.

The challenge was three-fold -- one, find beads that matched the size of the large enameled beads, two, find complimentary colors for the unique blue shade, and three, find beads that were of equal weight to the enamel beads.

After much poking around, I found a solution.  Large fluted bleached wood rounds, natural wood triangles, and these awesome Czech glass beads that couldn't have had a more perfect coloration if I'd designed them myself.

My other challenge was to NOT use metal spacers between any of the beads as I'm used to doing.  I just automatically go for them every. single. time.  I was determined this time to just leave it alone, choosing to finish the necklace with an antiqued vermeil clasp.  

Question is, what do you think?  Do you think I SHOULD have used small gold spacers between some of the beads?  Is the bleached wood too pale?  I know I got the size right, but tell me what you REALLY think.

You can find more of Miss Molly's work at the following:

Molly Alexander

Shop:  Click here

Blog:  Click here

 

 

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

 

 

 

What is a "Cup of Bead Soup"?

What is a "Cup of Bead Soup"?

Well, I wanted to continue the exciting challenge of the Bead Soup Blog Party, but this time for myself, challenging my skills by working with one artist a month.  I receive a package of beads from a new artist each month, sight unseen, and then I create with them.  I blog here about the creations for a month, explaining techniques, thought processes, and obstacles I meet along the way.  It's also a great way to introduce you to new and exciting beads!

Interested in participating?  Email me for details!