Snippets from a bead artist.

4.13.2013

Super Soup!! BSBP Reveal #2!

I am sooooooo excited!!  I can't wait to hop around and see what everyone has made for their Bead Soup Blog Party reveals!  Lori Anderson has done it again, and set a gorgeous table for everyone to feast at.  If you aren't familiar with the BSBP, please check out Lori's blog Pretty Things and read allllll about it.  I want to extend a huge thank you to Lori, who has done such an incredible job with this, and who has given us all such a fantastic opportunity, both to work outside of our own personal 'boxes' and to meet friends all around the world.  And now... get ready, set... go!!

My wonderful beady twin Bobbie Rafferty, of Beadsong Jewelry sent me this lovely soup to work with, and I am really hoping she likes what I came up with from it.  :)  (I also stole her lovely picture of the soup here, because her picture was only like 40000 times better than my poor attempt - Sherwood wasn't around to take one when I ripped into my soup ingredients, lol.)

Luscious soup from Bobbi

I couldn't find a way to include everything I wanted to in one piece, so I have created two necklaces to use as many beads as I could.  I apologize to Bobbie that I wasn't able to use all of them... but the ones that got left out are just simmering in my stash, waiting for the perfect time.  

The first necklace was created around the beautiful Elizabeth Girod lampwork focal flower.  I wanted the necklace to be reminiscent of multi media pieces, and so I made the neck straps in various stitches and even STRUNG one of them!  (For those of you who know me well, you know I haven't strung anything in ages - and I needed to re-learn those skills, but I love how it came out.)  I really wanted to include the beautiful sari silk ribbon that Bobbi used to wrap my soup package with, but no matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn't fit.  I used my focal, some of Bobbi's lovely dagger beads, several of the lentils, and some of the Chinese crystals.  :) 



The focal was embroidered onto a small piece of stiff stuff, then backed with ultra suede and brick stitched on the edging.  I added two more rows of brick stitch, and then some picots and fringing.  The lentil bead and crystal are a second layer of fringe right below the flower, to match the 3D effect of the lampworked flower.  


On the right side of the necklace, I made a simple spiral rope with crystal inclusions, and a strung rope with the lentil beads, seed beads, and more crystals.  I think it balances with the other side fairly well, and I like the mix of textures, with a small spiral, larger beads and spaces on this side, and a continuous large rope on the other side.


On the left side, I used a Dutch spiral stitched rope (something I hadn't done in years, again!) and then embellished along the completely gold rope with tiny red seed beads to highlight the spirals.  


I finished this one with a clasp I had in my stash, because I felt like it really needed something flowery to balance the front.  I wanted to be able to put this piece up for sale in my shop, but unfortunately discovered three quarters of the way through beading that the size 11 beads I was using were apparently galvanized, as the gold finish was flaking off.  Oooooooooo, grrrrrrr!!!  I thought I had rid myself of all of the galvanized finish beads in my stash, but apparently I missed some.  :(  So, it will have to be a 'for show' piece, but that's ok too, as it's pretty to look at and gave me some new ideas for other designs, as well.  Between the colors themselves and the stitches I chose, this one really stretched my creativity in many ways!! 

For my second piece, I just HAD to use those incredible freshwater pearls, and the gorgeous clasp Bobbie made for me (by hand!! She made it by hand!!  I am totally envious, I can't do wirework to save my own life).  So, of course, the amethyst and the pewter had to jump in too... and I decided to use a little of my bali silver, some cubic zirconia rondelles, two large silver grey freshwater pearls, and two large faceted amethyst beads at the center.   I enjoyed my stringing so much (rusty as I was!) that I decided to string this piece, too.  This one was a creation for just me, made with some of my very favorite things.


Below is a closer up photo of the pendants I added.  The longest hangs from a gunmetal chain rather than a silver one because I felt like it highlighted the tarnished silver of the pendant, and is a black onyx point that I've had for ages.  It's a special pendant to me, as it was a gift from my mom.  The smaller point is amethyst, and it is accompanied by two more 'fringes', one of which is a piece of the pewter Bobbie sent me, and the other of which is a handmade charm by Andrew Thornton.   I adore Andrew's charms, little medieval 'cities' that just make me happy.  I hung it from an eyepin (yes, I did that horrible wrapping job myself) with sterling and amethyst.


And, of course, I had to include a beautiful close up shot of Bobbi's wire work sterling clasp.  Isn't it perfect??  I hope I did it justice.  I really love this necklace, I've worn it several times already, and it swings and sways and makes a lovely little chinking noise when I move.  Thank you sooooooo much, Bobbie!!!!



Now, you MUST visit Bobbie's blog and see what she has been cooking up with the bead soup I sent her.  Her work is fabulous and she is MUCH better at blogging than I am - she actually posts often, rather than my regrettable once every month or two, lol.  Here are the two soups I sent off - photographed by Bobbie again because she made them look much yummier than I did... I can't WAIT to see how she chose to use them!!




Please take the time, and a cup of your favorite beverage, to go to Lori's blog and hop around to all of the other reveals - I know I will!!  Click HERE for the list!

116 comments:

  1. Awesome Nancy, as always. I don't often like gold, but the first necklace is breathtaking, shame about the galvanised beads though... The second necklace is more the type of thing I would usually go for, love the way you've clustered the pendants! x

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    1. You're so sweet! Thank you very much!!! I wasn't sure about that to begin with, but the point looked really lonely by itself... :) xxx

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  2. Those are both amazing - I love the asymmetry of the red and gold piece.

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  3. I absolutely adore your two necklaces, with a preference for the first one. Each time you make something, it is a lesson in design. I love the way you used the focal and glass beads. wow!

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    1. Thank you so much, Cath - and I could say the same of your work, I always learn something new and different when viewing your new work!! :) I love your aesthetic!

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  4. There's a lot of detail in the first and I love the pop of gold. The 2nd is stunning, such a great colour palette

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  5. The first necklace is really stunning...I admire anyone working with seed beads! The second one is my favourite, though. the colours are lovely

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    1. Thank you!! I always wear silver, so the second is my favorite, too. :) :)

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  6. Oh my goodness Nancy! Both of these are gorgeous - but I am absolutely droooooooooling over your necklace with the flower focal.

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  7. Awesomely beautiful designs Nancy! I love the detailing on the flower focal in the first necklace and the asymmetrical chain design. I too love Andrew's charms. Such a petty and elegant necklace!!

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  8. Gorgeous designs!
    Wow that first necklace is so warm and regal looking with all the gold and red - lovely.
    I'm a beginner bead weaver and all that spiralling makes me nervous ;-)
    Love the second necklace as well, the colours kind of remind me of a coat of armour -must be the medieval cities charm - and how much fun that it makes a chinking noise when you wear it :-)

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    1. Thank you!! I'm so pleased that you like it - and I hope you will become an old hand at beading, it's the best thing in the world. :)

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  9. Great beadwork, love both pieces and how you mixed elements

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  10. I'm slowly making my way round the blogs - absolutely love both necklaces - they are stunning and unique! Looks like it was a fabulous partnership between the two of you!

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    1. Thank you, Caron!! I'm sooooo glad I got to meet Bobbie and all of the lovely people (you!) who are stopping by through this party, it's been awesome!!

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  11. Both beautiful designs, but the silver is my favourite! I love those crystal points x

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  12. Love the Onyx point, it goes so well with the pearls! Adding the Amethyst point balanced it beautifully too!

    The Flower focal is gorgeous love what you did with it too! The colors are rich and just gorgeous :)

    Both beautifully done!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comments!! Elizabeth Girod's work is fabulous!!

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  13. Sis I am so NOT a gold fan, but that first necklace has my heart racing. Absolutely beautiful. Stunning actually.

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    1. Thank you, lovely!! :) :) Mucho hugs and love to you... xxxxx

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  14. I love both necklaces
    Maybe one for a hot summer day and one for a cool summer night ?
    Souper designs !

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  15. ~a tremendous amount of time put forth in the detailing of these pieces you have created...simply wonderful are they...much love light and blessings~

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    1. Thank you and love and light to you as well!! :)

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  16. Very elegant and intricate work!!!!! Impressed. Kristin Oppold

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  17. Beautiful pieces and stunning beadwork!

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  18. Wonderfully, beautiful pieces! Love the bead work and awesome strining even if you are a bit rusty! Stunning!

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    1. Thanks so much!! I had a hard time getting back to my 'roots' so I'm glad everyone thinks it looks ok!! :) :)

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  19. Oh wow! I am totally in awe of your beadwork, your pieces make me drool!

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    1. Thank you so much, Laney!! You're so sweet and kind to me.... your work rocks as well!!

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  20. Both necklaces are gorgeous. The first necklace is stunning. The way you used the focal is just fabulous. Sad about the galvanized beads, bad beads!

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  21. seed beadwork and red floral focal-i couldnt find more!congrats!

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  22. Both pieces are beautiful. Your work is such an inspiration and I have often stared in awe of it at the Sharon Arts Center in Peterborough!

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    1. Thank you so much, Katy!! Are we that close??? I'd love to meet up with you sometime, maybe we'll run into each other at SAC!! :)

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  23. Nancy! WOW do I love what you did with the soup! And I'm so glad that you were able to use the two different colorway options in two different pieces. The straps on the woven piece are gorgeous - a perfect balance to highlight the lampwork flower without overpowering it (the clasp is drool-worthy). And my beady twin, the amethyst and pewter necklace is both elegant and perfect for casual wear - how did you do that??

    You've been a fabulous partner -- I'm so glad Lori pulled our names out of the hat together! Hugs to you, my beady twin!

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    1. Oooooo thank you, Bobbie!!!! I am SO relieved that you like what I made!!! As I'm sure you could tell from my remarks on your blog, I was overwhelmed by the gorgeousness you created with your soups!! Huge hugs to you, too, it's been marvellous and you are FABULOUS!!! :D :D

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  24. Oh, the second necklace.... Be still my little beating heart. Doki doki. I love it so much !

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  25. Both gorgeous designs, it's a shame about the bead finish wearing off. Love the first piece and how you've combined it all, and I love the colours in the second it will go well with so many things very elegant but simple, it likes as though it is a joy to wear

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    1. Thank you very much, Lorelle!! What a lovely compliment - I'm going to try to wear it as often as possible and see if it works everywhere!! ;)

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  26. Oh Nancy I am just totally blown away!!!

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    1. Thank you!! Hugs and lots of love to you... I hope you're fairing better today. :)

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  27. I was so excited for your reveal because I have followed you on Etsy since I started beading and have always been so impressed by your artistry. Your soup pieces did not disappoint . . . brilliant as usual!!! Thanks for the inspiration and also for the kind comments you left on my reveal blog.

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    1. What a lovely thing to say, Chris!! Thank you very much for following along with me, and I appreciate your kind words so much!!

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  28. Love the asymeticalness of the poppy necklace. The gold tones with the red look amazing. Beautiful work!!

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  29. Both beautiful creations! What a bummer on those galvy beads, the necklace is still a showstopper :)

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    1. I was very disappointed with the beads, but it was a real learning experience, so I'm saying Yay anyway, lol!!! Thank you very much!!

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  30. These are both gorgeous. That purple one is just my style. Such great colors too.

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  31. Absolutely beautiful. You have great patience to do the tiny beading like in the first necklace,I doubt I could do it.

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl! I actually have no patience whatsoever, lol... but beading goes by quickly when you really get into it. :) :)

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  32. Unbelieveable! The first necklace is STUNNING!!!
    kathy

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  33. I love the way you used that poppy focal! As always your beadwork is truly inspiring! - Julie

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    1. Thank you so much, Julie!! I LOVED your pieces on your reveal, fabulous work!!!

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  34. Awesome, I love your seed beading. I admire your patience to do it as well. Red is my favourite colour such a beautiful necklace!

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    1. Thank you!! It was a challenge, for sure. I'm so glad everyone likes it so much!!!

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  35. Gorgeous gorgeous pieces, love the red flower focal. Great job.

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  36. As always Nancy your work is stunning. I especially like the radiance of the red and gold necklace.

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  37. Gorgeous pieces, I especially love the red with that gorgeous focal flower. Your stringing doesn't look rusty at all.

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    1. Thank you!! ....but you didn't see how many tries it took to string it!! ;) ;)

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  38. Beautiful cooking, Nancy! The necklaces are so different in style, both have it's own charm! Already saw the lovely soup, you sent to Bobbie - such wonderful colours, you've choosen in your beads!

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    1. Thank you!! You did a lovely job with your soup as well, and I really appreciate your sweet comment. :) :)

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  39. I have no words for the first piece, just that I adore it!! Very skillful work!

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  40. Hi Nancy,
    I love the first necklace, no wait I love both necklaces they are both gorgeous in their own right. You did the lampworked flower justice, so beautiful. The Amethyst and gray necklace is elegant enough to wear dressed up and then it can also be worn with jeans.
    Therese
    PS. Glad to hear that your Father is doing better.

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    1. Thank you very much, Therese. It's wonderful to know he's starting to improve. And I am so happy you like it!

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  41. Gorgeous designs! I especially like the tassels on the first necklace focal and the clever symmetry/asymmetry design. Great soup!

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    1. Thank you, I thought Bobbie did an excellent job picking a soup for me!!

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  42. Beautiful bead soup you received. I love the detail and design of first necklace.

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  43. WOW what beautiful creations!!! You are an amazing artist!!

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    1. Thank you for your lovely compliment! It's always a shock and a pleasure to hear someone say I am an artist... I'm still convincing myself. :)

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  44. WOW !! beautiful work and impossible to pick a favorite from these two - and that's saying something since I am a huge amethyst lover !!

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    1. Thank you, I'm a huge amethyst fan myself, and those pearls Bobbie sent me were incredible - HAD to use them!!

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  45. Love them both! The second necklace is something I would totally wear, but the first one is stunning! The color just pops and I love that the two sides are different but so balanced. Gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I had a tough time trying to balance the sides, but I thought the bigger rope could handle two smaller ones... I'm so glad you think it worked!

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  46. Beautiful are both, but red and gold for me. I am exhilarated with color.lovely pieces.

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  47. That red flower focal made that piece HOT! Beautiful craftsmanship.

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  48. I can't make a decision: love them both. Really really nice work!

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  49. Great color choices in the first necklace, you really made the beautiful glass flower pop. The second necklace is my favorite though, I love cool colors and you chose your components really well.

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  50. Excellent work! I love the first piece. The colors just seem to want to be together!

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  51. I simply adore you beadwork. I am just learning how to do the spiral stitch and it is hard for me. lol Gorgeous designs.

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  52. Your necklace made my favs list for the second reveal. Check it out: http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  53. Bobbie's strong focal would have presented a real challenge for me, but I love how you took that bold color and graced it with clean lines and exquisite details. The amethyst and pewter are a marriage made in heaven in your second piece. Makes me want to try my hand at stringing, too!

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  54. Nancy that first necklace is seriously awesome.

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  55. I love the first necklace, you are very talented!
    I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time on BSBP, I love this funny party!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  56. Am I allowed to leave another comment? (If not, I'm gonna do it anyway!) I've been unable to start working my way through the reveal until tonight, and I came across your blog again. I was truly, deeply, blown away by the beauty of the first necklace.

    I owe Lori a big hug and slice of pie for pairing us together for this swap!

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  57. Wow, your seed bead work is drop dead gorgeous! That first necklace is a stunner!

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  58. I love that first necklace. All that beadweaving talk, however, was wasted on me since I have no idea what you are talking about. My eyes know when they see beautiful though and they saw it on your blog. I really loved the amethyst necklace - it was probably my favorite - the silver and purple look for regal together. Great job!

    Oh my, I'm having problems getting past captcha. Please go to Bead Soup Cafe and read the recent discussion about it. I'll go try again.

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  59. Both necklaces are such well-thought out designs. Beautiful work!

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  60. Beautiful bead work and designs! They both turned out gorgeous!

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  61. My first thought, before I forget, can the galvanized beads be rescued by a fixative spray - like krylon? Anyway I think the work is just beautiful. Great job with your soup

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  62. Both of your pieces are really lovely. I adore the colors in the second one especially, but the way you affixed the red flower in the first one really catches my eye as well. Wonderful work!

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  63. Wow really eye catching pieces! Your beadwork is fantastic!

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  64. Oh man. That poppy focal necklace is so divine. I love the bold red color! Beautiful designs. ♥

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  65. Beautiful work Nancy! I'm thinking of you and your dad every day!

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  66. Great Bead Soup & great results! The purple necklace is my ♥favorite

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