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.

Cup of Bead Soup with Miss Molly's Designs

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 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!

This month I'll be working with some lovely enameled beads from Molly Alexander of Miss Molly's Designs.  When I opened the package of beads, I was overwhelmed by the ideas that exploded out of the box and into my head.  For now, I'll show you all the lovelies, and stay tuned on this page for the month of June to see what I make!  (Don't forget to become a Cup of Bead Soup page Follower so you don't miss a thing!)

For some reason, this set makes me think of "American Pickers" on The History Channel -- maybe because last night, Rick and I watched the Civil War episode and these beads evoke thoughts of the American flag.  Now, that doesn't mean they'll end up in a piece like that, but one never knows......

Good Golly, Miss Molly, but you know what I like!  Purple and green -- it's going to be hard to let anyone else have a chance at whatever I make with these beauties.

I LOVE this color combination so very, very much.  But I'll let you in on a secret -- when I love something this much, I worry the most about doing it justice.  (Hands twist together nervously....)

And finally, these two very lovely pendant pieces.  The one on the left has a cool gradation of purple in it, while the one on the right is more muted.  I am feeling like pairing ceramic with one, polymer clay with the other -- hmmm. Lots of possibilities.

Molly made a bunch of awesome beads and findings for you and posted them in her store today (and hurry -- FREE SHIPPING!), so please click the links below to not only visit her store, but to visit her blog.  By the way, her jewelry?  Divine.  I own several of her pieces, in fact!

Stay tuned!

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.