I always get so inspired when I do Lori's Bead Soup Blog Party and this year was no exception. But for the autumn I decided to do something completely different, for me that is! If you follow my blog you will know exactly what I mean when you see the pictures.
Some years ago I was tempted to buy some strands of very large gemstone beads, I don't make chunky jewellery and the beads were very heavy so they got put away and more or less forgotten.
Sorting out my boxes recently I came across them, as the inspiration for now is something organic looking I got out this wonderful strand of large Labradorite gemstone beads. I decided to use just six of the beads. I have been buying wood and tree seed beads to expand the organic theme so I picked out wood beads using some of my favourite extra large Ugandan Fair Trade paper beads ( these are made by women who have suffered hardship and brutality ) to add a bit of colour, not much weight added there! The vintage brass beads I think worked well. It is beaded on a double strand of fine leather. I added the vintage copper chain and a copper bead, it fastens with a copper S hook. I do have more photos, it is going down to The Portland Gallery as the owner fell in love with it but if you love it and want it just email me as I wanted to offer it here first.
Thank you for reading my blog
~Jackie~
Well here it is at last the day to reveal what we have made with the soup our partner or partners sent us. First I would like to thank Lori Anderson who although she has been so ill made the decision to hold the party again this year, bravo Lori.
Ok here goes my first partner was Hannah Annear her blog is at Wordpress www.quirkyhannah.wordpress.com
You can see in a post below the items both of my partners sent me. I used the piece of Labradorite to make a focal with some lovely bronze wire which I hammered and textured it could actually be used as a focal on a chain or with the addition of a pin a brooch.
My second partner was Sarah Strover of www.beaupepys.blogspot.com
I had a lovely assortment of items to challenge me from Sarah. First up is a necklace, the focal was most unusual, I used two of the smaller green goldstone beads above it and I really liked how the Moonstone nuggets looked with the white wash that had been used on the carving. I felt the five Ugandan paper beads gave a feeling of spring freshness to enlarge on that I made two leaves of Polymer Clay and used a couple of my round red and green clay beads for a pop of colour I finished off with some of Sarah's silvery feathers and the clasp she sent me. Oh yes I added a bit of chain and some tiny silver beads.
I made a pair of earrings with the rest of the feathers Sarah sent and a second pair with some really cute glass pepper lamp work beads.
Next I made a ribbon necklace with the Kokou seed beads ( not sure if I got the name right) I had some gold ones in my stash so added two of those and threaded them onto hand dyed silk, I could have knotted between the beads but then they couldn't be moved up or down to change the pattern so I left them free for now.
The last piece I made was a composite of Hannah Annears pretty flower Clasp and Sara's beads with the addition of some faceted Aquamarine, silver beads and bead caps and tiny freshwater pearls from my stash. I used Sarah's Kashmiri Lac bead for the focal, more of the lovely green goldstone rounds she sent me and a pair of green tree Agate beads. I put two pictures below so you can see the whole necklace with Hannah's clasp.
Well that's it for this year folks, I will be doing some giveaways, not decided what yet though if you are interested please mention you would like to be included in the draw when you leave a comment.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog, every comment is much appreciated.
Here is a link to the rest of the party, I hope will enjoy visiting some of the other blogs!
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html
~Jackie~
