kitties and creation from me to you...

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bead Soup Blog Party 7!



The big reveal is here and I am showing up fashionably late! This is my first time doing a blog hop/swap of any kind. The Bead Soup Blog Party has been a great experience. It really does force you out of your comfort zone, with fantastic results.

My partner is Dot Lewallen of Speedie Beadie! The first thing I noticed when visiting her blog is that we are both published in 500 Showcase Beaded Jewelry. After digging a little deeper I discovered that Dot makes really cool beaded art dolls and was published in another Lark gallery book showcasing dolls. Since I am a little behind in posting, I have already seen her fabulous BSBP piece. I highly encourage you all to visit her blog.

The soup I received included a Duane Collins' raku focal piece, a copper toggle, various earth-tone seed beads, Czech glass, buttons, and several Swarovski pieces. Scroll back in my blog to see full shots of both her soup and my soup.

In my finished piece I used the focal, the clasp, and a few special striped seed beads that I sorted from the mix. I used chain, seed beads, and a Lepidolite cabochon from my own stash to complete my piece.

I got started by culling my stash for colors that I saw in the raku finish. Mostly coppers, purples, and oranges. When I pulled out my round cabochon, I had my "A-HA" moment. Whatever planet this owl woman lives on, this is her full moon! So I knew I wanted the raku piece to slightly overlap the "moon." With that in mind I still brainstormed for a week or two, thinking of how to pull it together into something wearable. Totally confounded, I just started beading. As I bezel-ed, using the peyote stitch, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a necklace, an armband, a belt, a headpiece... who knows.



I finished beading around the "moon" and laid down the raku piece. There was a lot of space under the raku focal, which didn't seem strong or secure. So I stuffed a bunch of polymer clay under it, making it a flat back with no space. ...And then I learned a very important lesson. YOU CAN'T BAKE FIRELINE! Polymer clay needs to be baked for 30 minutes at 275 degrees. And I did this, essentially vaporizing the thread. Um wow, talk about a bead bummer. Luckily I had some ben & jerry's in the house. It was a moment where all you can do is laugh to keep from crying. Looking back, hindsight is 20/20. OF COURSE you can't bake fireline, but I've always been an experiential learner.



So anywho, that was a doozy! But I think I rose from the ashes of my fireline and created something even more dynamic than my original plan. I was intending on beading the moon and the focal separately, but my little detour forced me to bead around them all at the same time. I think it came out really cool, and I guess I'm grateful for my epic mistake.

Once I finished with the bezel, I used the brick stitch to attach a leather backing. It was at this point when I decided this would be a lovely pendant. I added copper chain fringe and 30 inches of chain for the necklace part.

Now that I am all done, I LOVE my piece! I never, ever would have come up with this design without BSBP, or Dot's soup. Oddly enough, I met Duane Collins (the maker of the raku focal) several years ago when I was working at my mom's shop, The Bead Garden of Sedona. We bought many of his pieces to sell in the store. I always admired the beautiful finishes, but never added any to my stash. These raku pieces have a lot going on and are beautiful on their own. I think this intimidated me, causing inspiration not to strike. Well this time, there wasn't a choice I HAD to use it. I'm thrilled beyond thrilled. Thank you, Dot!

And thank you to our lovely host, Lori Anderson!

Browse the rest of the party here: BSBP7









69 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you, I hope you make it back to see it the finished post! :)

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  2. When I saw your soup and your end creation it was totally unexpected. I never could have imagined such a piece. Very original!

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  3. absolutely love it! great piece!

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  4. Love what you did with the moon. Beautifully executed. Mystical!

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    1. Aw thanks! Mystical... I like that word. It does have that feeling. :)

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  5. I love how you added the dangles!! That's really clever. Your story is lots of fun to read... now. I can imagine how frustrating that was. I really like how you made it work for your final piece. Great work!

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    1. Thank you for visiting! This was my first time using chain as fringe. I really like it, too. :)

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  6. Wow! what a stunning piece of jewelry you've created here! great soup!

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    1. TY for visiting! I'm glad you like my piece. :)

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  7. Such an impressive pendant, great beadwork!

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    1. Thank you for visiting! I'm an admirer of your beadwork!

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  8. I am impressed by the focal you made! It's perfect.

    Ambra

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for saying so! :) I'm humbled by everyone's nice comments.

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  9. WOW! Your beadwork is beautiful and made a the focal stand out. Congratulations on being published.
    Linda

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  10. WOWWWWW1 Love the concept and the skilled artisan who made it happen. Congrats!
    kathy

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm so happy my idea came across in my beadwork...

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  11. I love how you created the focal (and so glad for your honesty in how it came to be...I'm glad I'm not the only one who has those moments! LOL) It's a gorgeous piece!

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    1. LOL... yeah those moments are rough, but usually good things, like this, come from them! Thank you for visiting my blog!

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  12. ~*NICE!*~ The layout is visually narrative. You created a nice story with your beads! :)

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    1. Thank you so much! That's a great compliment to me!

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  13. super seed bead beadwork! congratulations!

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  14. The Ben & Jerry's comment cracked me up - good to know I'm not the only one who does stuff like that! I love your piece - seed beads terrify me, so people who work with them are amazing to me! Great job!

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    1. Thank you for visiting! I try to laugh as much as possible... :D

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  15. Great seed beading and love how you combined the pendants for the focal. I had some Vermonster just for the occasion. ;-)

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  16. wow!!! your pendant is fabulous. i could look at it for hours

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, that is a great compliment! I'm honored.

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  17. Wow that pendant is stunning you did an amazing job!

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  18. What an amazing way to design this pendant and great seed beading!

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  19. Absolutely gorgeous owl pendant! Love it.

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  20. Super super cool, I love the pendant. Owls are my favorite and you did this one great honor. Exceptional piece!

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  21. It's like a painting, really cool (and beautiful, of course)!

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    1. Wow... what a compliment! Thank you for looking!

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  22. Just Brilliant, Stunning, Fabtabulous all rolled up into one amazingly beautiful Necklace...I love it...ty for sharing with us all, bye for now and Happy beading

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    1. Thank you for you kind words! I'm so happy my owl is well received.

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  23. What a beautiful focal, and I love your seed bead work!

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  24. Very creative design! The owl is so cute!

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  25. I love how you created the focal...really cool idea. Nicejob.

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  26. WOW, that is so cool. Your beadweaving is wonderful!! ~KM http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-reveal-33013.html

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  27. The raku owl is so cool! And what you did with the moon and the owl is totally genius! Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

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  28. Love that owl! I enjoyed reading your post. Funny how stuff works out isn't it?

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  29. I love your piece. I first saw it on pintrest and pinned it. Then later I went back to read your blog. I loved your blogging style. I know those aha moments and they can have wonderful revelations. Loved it all!!!!'

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  30. Beautiful necklace! congratulations!

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  31. I'm glad you shared the oopsie, too -- I'm sure that will help people! And I love how you incorporated the two pieces in the focal. LOVELY!

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  32. What a wonderful necklace you've made! It's unique and beautiful.

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  33. What a wonderful piece! The beading is great and looks lovely with the copper chain!

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  34. Great piece - and I will remember your tip about baking fireline!

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  35. I laughed when reading your --not at you but with you. What a gorgeous piece you created! Well done!

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  36. I adore your owl and moon necklace. It's so unique and just fantastical! Wonderful job.

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