BEAD SOUP PARTY...reveal happens tomorrow!

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the day that all of us Bead Soup Party participants will be revealing what we created from the bead soup that we received from our party partners!

Lori Anderson, our fabulous party hostess, will have the participants listed on a new post tomorrow... check it out & be sure to visit all of the websites & see all of the pieces that were created. I can't wait to see my party partner, Lesley's reveal!

Here's a teeny tiny little tease for you from me.....

RECEIVED MY INGREDIENTS....

What a crazy day! My bead soup partner eMailed me this morning, bummed that the package she sent me & was tracking somehow wound up in Ireland! She was hopping mad about it & very apologetic, too... but I assured her that I wasn't worried, it wasn't her fault & that I work well under pressure. :o) So, Lesley was putting together another batch of soup ingredients when I arrived home to find a package from her!! LOL. Seriously. Thank goodness one of my kids was home to sign for it! Anyway, whew. :o)

I was so excited to get this package open, especially since neither of us was expecting it!! This is what I found...

How sweet are those handmade boxes??? I just love them.

Lesley included a nice note that pointed out a few of the ingredients that were handmade, but not by her, including their website & such. I think that was an awesome touch! Check out the beautiful ribbon from www.sowzeredesigns.com and the awesome textile beads from www.etsy.com/shop/cornishpebbles! These textile beads are just yummy... they will be fun to work with. Look @ the rest of the blue ingredients... seed beads, ceramic spacers, leather cording & those fabulous gemstones!

In the 2nd box, I found these treasures. Wood, ceramic, glass, stone beads..... oh so yummy. These are just gorgeous together. FABULOUS, Lesley!!

Here's my 3rd box of ingredients.... all bronze, all incredible! Lesley made the focal & toggle clasp w/ BronzClay & the other clasp w/ bronze wire. What a beautiful focal, Lesley... it's just lovely & no, it's not too large! Just right. :o) TWO handmade clasps... both so unique on their own... nice. Some bronze jump rings & some bronze chain. Oh, this is going to be fun!!!

Here's the whole mix of ingredients together.... don't they make just a lovely soup?? Perfect, Lesley... you did an amazing job, I can't wait to see what fabulous piece(s) I create.

Needless to say, I want to use it all because it all works so well together... it's all a little daunting... doing this soup justice... me, a beadmaker.... but that's what this Bead Soup Blog Party is all about, right?? Knocking us out of our comfort zones, challenging us.

Okay... I'm up for the challenge! It's going to be fun... right?? ;o)

Till then....

BEAD SOUP PARTY IS ON.....

I decided to join in on Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party again this fall & was partnered up w/ a very talented Lesley Watt of the UK!! Lesley is a jewelry designer who loves to work w/ great lampwork bead artists.... check out a few of her pieces below...

She has a great organic style about her designs that I really enjoy & I'm really hoping that she's going to be completely tickled w/ what I sent for her to work w/!!

Check out her blog: The Gossiping Goddess 
     & her Etsy shop, too.

As for what I've sent..... here's a little tease for you, Lesley.....

..................hope you like it! :o)

And a huge THANK YOU to Lori Anderson for taking on another ever popular Bead Soup Party... over 300 participants this time around... unreal! We all appreciate what you put into the party.... you're an awesome hostess!! Thank you!! ♥

Till next time....

BEAD SOUP PARTY...Reveal happens tomorrow, Feb. 26th

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the day that all of us Bead Soup Party participants will be revealing what we created from the bead soup that we received from our party partners!

Lori Anderson, our fabulous party hostess, will have the participants listed on a new post tomorrow... check it out & be sure to visit all of the websites & see all of the pieces that were created. I can't wait to see my party partner, Jess' reveal!

Here's a teeny tiny little tease for you from me.....

Check back tomorrow for the big reveal!

Till then...

BEAD SOUP UPDATE...

I've been so busy this past week that I haven't taken the time to sit down & write about what I received from Jess Italia Lincoln!! Look how pretty the packaging is. Beautiful dyed fabric strips tying the package together... 

...sweet green organza pouches...

it was a joy just opening each pouch & exploring what goodies were inside! 

She sent a beautiful pendant that she made & a toggle made up of a few of Vintaj's new Arte Metal components that she altered...she even stamped "REFLECT" on the toggle's key/bar! Just sweet. 

She also included a bunch of Vintaj findings... bead caps & beads from both of their lines, chains, too... as well as pearls, sweet little chrysoprase rondelles, some czech glass flowers & leaves, faceted stones, a beautiful silk ribbon, the list goes on. 

The colors are absolutely beautiful...earthy, I'm really looking forward to working w/ it all. 

Thank you, Jess! I just love it all!! 

~ Julie

BEAD SOUP PARTY...she LOVES it!!

I haven't blogged yet about what's going on w/ the Bead Soup Party that I'm participating in! We were partnered up last week & I was so excited to find out that my partner is Jess Italia Lincoln from Vintaj! I LOVE Vintaj...have been using it for a few years now & shared w/ Jess that her style... Vintaj's style, is what helped me the most when I was trying to form my own personal jewelry style when I needed to start making jewelry w/ my own beads. I knew that I didn't want to do just your standard lampwork dangle earrings or strung lampwork necklace, etc... the layering & such that they do just gave me such a wonderful direction to head towards, I'm really grateful.

I'm sure Jess has mundane tasks to do @ Vintaj :o) ...but she also gets to design jewelry & blog daily. Here's a little of what wonderful pieces Jess makes...

Look @ this beautiful piece below!

Focal by Barbara Fajardo, Glass leaves by Lisa Kan

Anyway... I was going to post a teaser picture for Jess before she got the package, but I've been so busy that I forgot all about posting it on time & she received her soup today, so I can show the teaser...

...AND a picture of the actual Bead Soup I sent her. :o)

The heart focal, ivory spacer/accent beads & toggle were made by me, of course. I struggled w/ the clasp... I couldn't just send her a sterling one, even a fancy one... too easy & she works for VINTAJ, she sees clasps & findings & components all day long, so I knew it had to be something different. I started the toggle bar out of thick gauge copper wire, hammered it flat & shaped it... then hammered a copper washer so I could have a nice spot to put a hole in it, then I torch enameled them!! I just learned how to do that & it was a bit tricky, especially the bar, tough to balance on a little metal tripod!! LOL. They're not perfecd, but I love how they turned out! 

Jess eMailed me today when she got the package & said WOW, she LOVED it!! I'm so glad! I didn't think about the fact that I mailed it to her work... so I'm getting all warm & fuzzy thinking about her running around showing everyone what I sent. LOL. :o)

Anyway... can't wait to see what Jess sends me! I'm ready for a challenge! Will post a picture of what I receive when it arrives!

Till then....

Julie

BTW.... 210 Bead Soup Party participants!!! I hope I have the time to do some major blog hopping on reveal day!! 

YOU'VE BEEN INVITED TO A PARTY...

but you have to hurry...

...& there are guidelines, too....

...........(someone's got to keep us in line!)

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is hosting another virtual BEAD SOUP PARTY.... I participated for the first time last year this time & it was a BLAST...so I decided to join her again!

You need to have a blog to participate.... so if that's YOU, hurry yourself over to Lori's blog & get all of the details. You have until January 14th to sign up!

Check it out... who knows, you may end up w/ something from ME! :o)

Can't wait!!

BEAD SOUP PARTY...today is the day!

It's here!! Are you ready??? Today is the day that all of the Bead Soup Party participants reveal what they created w/ the bead soup that their party partner sent them. The requirements were that we were to send our partners a focal piece, some coordinating beads &/or spacers & a clasp. We were only required to use the focal & the clasp... the extras we could use or not.

I knew the minute Lori paired us up that Jen & I were going to have a wonderfully creative partnership... I had no idea that a wonderful new friendship was going to be part of the package! It's hard to believe this pairing only happened a few short weeks ago... Jen feels like someone I've had a relationship w/ for years already. What lucky girls we are. :o)

When we started talking about what we should send eachother, I asked Jen to challenge me. I loved her colorful polymer clay pieces, although I typically don't work w/ such bright & vibrant colors, I really wanted to work w/ her pieces....

.... & challenged I was!! :o) I had lots of fun w/ it, though!! I DID find myself toning the colors down w/ etched copper & neutral colored sea urchin pieces & I really REALLY like how it turned out! I knew I didn't have it in me to create something w/ all 3 polymer focals that Jen sent me, my jewelry style is fairly simple, but I really loved these pieces so much that asked Jen if I could cut one of them up because I had a few ideas how to work more of it into the piece... including the clasp. I ended up making a toggle out of a piece of polymer & then made a few more elements w/ a few more of the cut up pieces.

Here... I'll stop talking about it & just let you check it out....
(click the images to enlarge)

Hope you like it, Jen!!!

I hope everyone had as much fun w/ their bead soup... can't wait to see what everyone created!

There are a total of 84 of us participating in this party... here's a list of the other blogs... go check them out, I am!!

1. Lori, An Artists Year Off (our hostess!)

2. Mallory, For the Love of Beads

3. Terri, Blooming Ideas

4. Cindy, Sweet Bead Studio

5. Lorelei, Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

6. Kerry, Kab's Creative Concepts

7. Erin, Treasures Found

8. Jeannette, Jeannette Blix Wire and Metal Jewelry

9. Adrienne, Adrienne Designs

10. Nan, Spirit Rattles

11. Laurel, Rue's Daftique

12. Nancy, Beading From the Heart

13. Mary, MK's Creative Musings

14. Cassie, The Glass Beadle

15. Dot, Winchell Clayworks

16. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

17. Lisa, Lo and Behold

18. Norma, Bead Dreams and Moonlit Fantaseas

19. Judith, Judith B.

20. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

21. Maria, Garden Path Beads

22. Susan, Kaplan Creations Jewelry and Glass Design

23. Melissa, Melissa Meman: Art, Love, Life

24. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things

25. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

26. Cristi, 2 If By Sea

27. Sandra, Marbella Jewelry Design

28. Maria, Greene Earth Originals

29. Barbara, Jewelry of Distinction

30. Leslie, Bei Mondi

31. Loretta, Designs by Loretta

32. Linda, Bella Bead Jewelry

33. Kathie, The Bead Cult

34. Patty, Plays With Fire

35. Nicki, Nicki's Reef

36. Anne Marie, Heart's Desire

37. Mary, Mary Harding Jewelry

38. Jayne, Mama's Got to Doodle

39. Emanda, Artemesia's Studio

40. Whitney, Whitney Lassini

41. Marcie, La Bella Joya

42. Suzann, Beadphoria

43. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks

44. Julie, Credit River Art Glass

45. Janiece, J Birds Garden

46. Kate, Organic Odysseys

47. Laurie, The Mermaid Tale

48. Michelle, My Crazy Crafty Adventure

49. Sue, Sue Beads

50. Janeen, Wild Vanilla Designs

51. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse

52. Kristie, Artisan Clay

53. Regina, Regina's Writings

54. Tari, Pearl and Pebble

55. Lyn, Lyn Foley

56. Beth, Sunshine Daydreamz

57. Cathryn, Chile Cats

58. Emma, Fred Bean's Nook

59. Connie, Cetta Cheese Chatter

60. Juli, Jul's Beads

61. Julie, RockerJewlz

62. Libby, LibbyLeu and Glass Too

63. Melanie, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

64. Katie, My Life and My Beads

65. Zuleykha, Zuleykha's Polymer Clay

66. Rekella, Me But a Little More in Depth

67. Ricki, What's New at Ricki Voges Design

68. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

69. Jo, Daisychain Jewellery

70. Lynette, Rock Hill Designs

71. Lynne, Island Girl's Insights

72. Chas, One Woman's Haven

73. Ruthie, Rose Works Jewelry

74. Elizabeth, Turquoise Sky

75. Maire, Maire Dodd

76. Janet, Singing Woods

77. Eileen, Dorset Hill Beads

78. Julie, Miss Kitten's Jewels

79. Joann, Jo's Jewels

80. Patti, PJ Clark Designs

81. Mel, Kookie Designs

82. Erin, Every Heart Crafts

83. Dale, Flights of Fancy

84. Dee, Runako Designs

Thank you, Lori, for hosting such a wonderful event!!! It's been a blast getting to know Jen & meeting other people in the party.

Time for a few hours of sleep, LOL, then I'm roaming around to check out everybody's work!

Enjoy all!!

~ Julie

BEAD SOUP PARTY...Reveal happens tomorrow, Feb. 10th

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the day that all of us Bead Soup Party participants will be revealing what we created from the bead soup that we received from our party partners! Yes...I still have work to do. :o)

Lori Anderson, our fabulous party hostess, will have the participants listed on a new post tomorrow... check it out & be sure to visit all of the websites & see all of the pieces that were created. I can't wait to see my party partner, Jen's reveal!

Here's a teeny tiny little tease for you from me.....

....check back tomorrow to see the whole shebang. :o)

till then...

~ Julie

BUSY BUSY GIRL...

Hey you! (yeah, YOU!)
I've been a busy busy girl the past several days trying to put together a RESOURCE page on my website for lampworkers. It started out as a simple list of my go-to glass & supplies sources that my first lampworking teacher asked me to put together for her for her students. (she knows I get around) But, being the A.D.D. perfectionist that I am, I couldn't leave it w/ SIMPLE. No way. It needs to be a COMPLETE source list... starting out w/

GLASS . TOOLS . SUPPLIES

...then adding subcategories for SPECIALTY suppliers, like:

Frit & Murrini

Glassworking & Shaping Tools

Glassfinishing Tools

....then Studio Equipment...

then books & magazines & tutorials & teaching studios, jewelry making supplies & on & on & on.

LOL... it never ends.

I'm getting some wonderful suggestions... can't use them all... but it's nice for others to check it out for me & fill in some blanks.

BUT... I have to stop for a few days, at least..... the BEAD SOUP PARTY is coming to an end on Wednesday & I have got to finish up my piece!! (no, I'm NOT a procrastinator... no way. LOL. I've been a little stuck w/ this piece... fighting to keep myself from taking this fabulous pendant that I've made from Jen's polymer piece & put it on a gorgeous silk ribbon. LOL. I like simpler pieces where the focal stands out...but we've challenged eachother to do something outside of the norm & Jen's done a fantastic job w/ my piece & is learning new techniques & is working w/ new materials in the process!! So time to get busy & do the same thing!!!

While I'm here :o) ...here's a little show & tell... a new heart necklace...I love it!

(click for larger image)

What do you think??? You love it, too... don't you?? :o) Need to get it listed in my Etsy store... will be after I get this Bead Soup piece finished up & posted, though!!

Till then...

Have a great week!

~ Julie

BEAD SOUP: SHE LOOOOOVES IT...

Just heard from Jen that she got my Bead Soup package & she LOOOOOVES it! Five O's... I counted. :o) I love her enthusiasm, I just can't wait to see what she puts together!

I figured since she received it, I'd reveal what I sent....

Remember the teaser image...

(click images for details)

This is the original image that I teased up...this is how it was all packaged.
& here's the complete stash.... a FABULOUS (if I may say so myself) glass focal bead... some smaller coordinating glass beads... all capped in etched copper & lined in sterling. Textured (acid etched) copper rings that were originally plain copper washers. Aren't they awesome?? :o) Hand fused fine silver rings. I included a couple of sterling viking knit caps & the copper toggle clasp is one of the etched washers & a piece of etched copper that I cut from an etched sheet. Of course I had to include a beautiful hand dyed silk ribbon from Heidi of JamnGlass.
& here's side two. I love the mix of copper & silver... I hope Jen does, too.
Handmade copper toggle clasp.
This was such fun to put together for Jen. Much more subtle & organic than what she's used to working with..........we said that we were going to challenge eachother. I know that I'm feeling quite challenged, but really psyched! I know she's going to do a fabulous job w/ it.