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.

 

 

 

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.