Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

Finally...Bead Soup Reveal!!!
 
Big Huge Thanks to the Wonderful, Talented Lori Anderson for organizing, planning, and pairing us all together!! 
 
 
 
 
Before I dig in and show you what I made, I want to remind you again what I received and who I exchanged with!
 
 
Laren Barton of Laren Dee Designs was my partner!  Here is her blog  (be sure to visit her blog to see what I sent her and what she made!!)
 
I could not have been paired with a more sweet partner!  I feel very lucky and privileged to have been paired with her!  Through all of this, I have a gained a wonderful new friend!  One of the biggest advantages to participating in bead soup!!
 
Here is what Laren mailed to me mid-February.  Instructions again were to use the focal and the clasp and anything else in between!
 
 
 
I decided to make 4 pieces and I was still left with a bag of beads!  She was very generous with what she mailed to me!
 
The first thing I created was a necklace and I used a technique and design I have never done before.  I took the pre-formed choker necklace and wired to it some of the beads she mailed me.  This was fun and a technique I am going to try on some future designs with different colors!  This would be perfect with that summer or fall strapless dress!
 
 
 
Next, I decided to make a pair of earrings to go with the necklace.
 
I pulled in the large red glass bead and the red czech glass along with the brass findings that Laren sent.  I thought the rhinestone earring wires added a bit of glam to them!
 
 
 
Next I took the focal and decided to make a 3 strand bracelet with it.  The focal was the main link in the bracelet and I wire wrapped several of the larger beads to create the first strand.
 
For the second strand, I took the smaller beads which I strung on wire and then attached to the clasp.
 
For the third strand, I took out some bronze leaf chain I had been hoarding and made that the final strand that tied it all in together!  The czech glass and focal are just beautiful together!
 
 
 
Last, I did another pair of earrings.  I took the chain Laren sent and some larger bead caps and czech glass and formed them into a tassle earring set!
 
 
 
So there you have it!!  I hope you have enjoyed seeing what I created and that you will take the time to see what everyone else has done as well!  Be sure to click on Laren's blog  to see what she made with what I sent to her!!
 
Here is a link to all the other blogs that participated as well!  Please visit!  I'd love to have you join and follow my blog too.  :)