Saturday, September 17, 2011

Bead Soup Reveal 2011!!!

Yah!! It's finally here! Lori Anderson has pulled off quite an accomplishment this time. We have over 350 participants in the Bead Soup Blog Party, from all around the world.  Lori spent hours and hours, carefully putting together the partners for this hop. I was just as fortunate this time as I was last time. My partner for this hop is the very skilled Mallory Hoffman, of For the Love of Beads.  Here are the reminder pics of what she sent to me to play with.
Beautiful spacers, chips, and pearls

 Rustic chain and balled headpins

Gorgeous copper clasp

Stunning heart focal

Lovely nuggets and another shot of the spacers and headpins.

I knew I wanted to make more than one piece, and that I wanted the clasp to take center place in it's piece.  So, for  the first time, I did make some notes on my ideas, put all the beads on a tray, and just moved them around til they told me who was going to what party.  I have to tell ya, those little spacers are quite the partyers. They just played with everybody!

A sweet little bracelet, with twisted herringbone tubes separated by the lovely spacer beads.

This is a pure joy to wear. 

So I got stringing experience in this bracelet, as the herringbone strand was too thick for the spacers to slide onto, so I made 3 tubes in orange, red, and silver seed beads to complement the colors in the lampwork beads.

Here's my real stringing challenge! I started off with some lovely soft grey pearls between the tigereye beads. However, upon inspecting them more closely, I realized they were plastic, not glass. Bummer. I really liked that color combo, but had no luck trying to find anything similar. So, I used some galvanized size 6 seed beads between the tigereye rounds, and some metallic between the pearls. I was proud of myself on this one, since it's strung, asymmetrical, and doesn't have any beadweaving in it! It is long enough to just slip over my head, so I can showcase that beautiful clasp in the front. Oh, and I mixed metals in it too!!

See, there's our little spacers, hanging out with the tigereye and pearls this time.

This was a perfect piece for those pretty nuggets and chips.


This was actually the first piece I started on, and designing it took forever, even though it looks the most simple. I just wanted it to show off that focal, and not draw your eye away from it. I used one of the headpins to string it, and did a messy loop at the top. I took the chain apart and used pieces of it everywhere. I bought the chain with the big circles, and it matched the color of Mallory's chain perfectly. Then I used individual links to put them all together, adding some of the spacers (see how they get around?) to the smaller circles near the focal. 


 I don't think it has a finished look to it, like some of the pieces I see so many talented artist selling, but I have to be proud of myself for jumping so far outside my realm of comfort. 
And, finally, the one that almost wasn't. I literally finished it Friday at 4:00 p.m.  I made the tubes thinking they would work with the focal bead, then decided it didn't work. I wanted to use them, I just couldn't work out the design. Then, inspiration hit late Thursday night.
 Memory wire!! It helped the tubes keep their shape nicely.

 Yep, there are those little spacers, partying again! Gosh, I love those guys.

 I had planned on putting little dangles on the ends, which is why I just looped them. However, the way it hangs on my arm, I think it would just tickle! :)

Hope you enjoyed my endeavors, and are fortified for the rest of the hop with lots of coffee and chocolate!
Here is the link to the rest of the group: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ Blessings, Shirley

123 comments:

  1. Shirley my friend, stellar job! These are all amazing, and I can't believe you were *gasp* stringing! LOL, Everything looks lovely, and I especially love the memory wire bracelet, it is just gorgeous, I never would have thought to add the beadweaving pieces with all those beads. Just Beautiful, congratulations!

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  2. I like the colours on the first bracelet, so warm and cheerful.

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  3. wow you were very prolific with your bead soup! and every piece was unique and beautiful! love it all!

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  4. Wow Shirley, amazing pieces, I love them all especially the two bracelets. The necklace with the heart focal is spectacular too.

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  5. WOW! I love these! The heart focal is gorgeous and I love the necklace you made with it. REALLY REALLY want that little braclet ya got there! And I totally agree-great spacers.

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  6. Four pieces - I'm impressed! :)

    Isn't it funny how the simplest seeming designs can take the longest to come up with? They all work beautifully! I especially like the bracelet "that almost wasn't" - the earthtone colors are yummy and the spirals are fun.

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  7. Beautiful work, Shirley -- the necklaces are so beautiful on their own, but I'm certain they would create a wonderful, layered effect, too. LOVE IT!

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  8. Beautiful pieces! Love the necklace with the heart focal piece. The bracelet with the memory wire is my favorite, wow on all those seed beads in a swirl, beautiful!

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  9. Shirley, WOW! You did an amazing job with all this. I love every single piece you made -- and can't believe you haven't been a stringer forever. Great job. Really great!

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  10. Hi Shirley, Great pieces love them all and the creativity is off the chain! My favorite of your pieces is the Celini spiral bracelet it is gorgeous, and to think it is the one that almost wasn't!
    Therese

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  11. Great work. You've got me wanting to try some beaded spirals of my own to show off some beads. What beauties you made!

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  12. Love your beading! I've been into asymmetrical lately too, in fact I also used asymmetrical in my bead soup. Great job!!!!

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  13. WOW! what wonderful pieces!! I"m very impressed!

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  14. Shirley, your bead work is beautiful - such great creations!

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  15. Oh Wow! That is a lot of seed bead work! Beautiful pieces.

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  16. Wonderful solutions, gorgeous pieces too. We're all being pushed outside our comfort zones -- with amazing results!

    Enjoy the hop,
    Emanda

    http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html

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  17. I love the way you used the chain in the long necklace - very cool, but my favorite is the memory wire bracelet - the way the colors reinforce the spiral effect.

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  18. Shirley!!!!!!!!

    I love them all but totally the last two just made me drool! You are a true artist!!!!!!

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  19. Your Bead Soup pieces are just beautiful.

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  20. Beautiful pieces - you did a great job! I like the last bracelet the most - it reminds me of a warm cup of coffee with a little piece of blueberry cake!
    Greetings, Michi

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  21. Wow! Where to start? You have made wonders with a great soup.
    The bracelets are fantastic and the necklaces fabulous!

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  22. They're all fantastic but the lampwork heart necklace "has my heart!" Great job!!

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  23. Your work is just beautiful Shirley! Lovely :)

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  24. Wow! Double Wow! You are so creative. I love it all, but especially the necklace with heart focal. The way you take materials of varying sizes, shapes and textures, and combine them to make jewelry magic is simply amazing.

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  25. You made so many things!!! I would love those necklaces layered! Love that heart - you did a great job so many pieces!

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  26. oooh! each one got better and better as I scrolled down, but I can't pick a favorite! You have a full fall wardrobe of jewelry to wear now!

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  27. I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.

    Everything is so wonderful (and you sound so excited about it all!) That last bracelet -- if I could learn ONE seed bead thing, that would be it. I love that look.

    I hope you’ll participate again!

    Love, Lori

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  28. You made some beautiful pieces! My favorites are the last bracelet--the beadweaving and spacers are just perfect--and the "simple" necklace with the large rings. Sometimes simple isn't simple to make!

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  29. I'm finally here! Wow! Not only is your photography amazing! What you did with your bead soup was great! You make beautiful use of your seed beads! It was so fun meeting you!

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  30. All of your pieces are just amazing! I simply cannot pick a favorite among them. You really did a fantastic job!

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  31. Wow, they are all beautiful. Particularly love that heart focal necklace and the memory wire bracelet, great work.

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  32. Ok, my mouth dropped when I saw the first bracelet and then the second...wow! You made 4 amazing pieces! Each is so wonderful!

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  33. I love the last necklace, so very simple but so beautiful!

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  34. Ooooo - You make those look very delicious! Love the loopy twirly herringbone beadwork. Terrific designs. You've been Really busy!!

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  35. I absolutely love the red/orange herringbone beading! All of your pieces are gorgeous...great job!

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  36. Ok, Seriously? Are you like superbeaderwoman or what? You did like 500 pieces, including seed bead things and I did one simple lariat. HA! Put me to shame. There needs to be a new rule that says "2 awesome items limit to prevent the rest of us from hanging our heads in shame" LOL! Gorgeous work. All of them. I can't pick a favorite of the bunch.

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  37. Amazing job with all your pieces. I love the bracelet and the necklaces. Super.

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  38. Wonderful soup! And you do beautiful seed bead work!

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  39. What a great collection of pieces you created. My favourite is the herringbone bracelet - the colours just sing and I LOVE those little spacers too.

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  40. Gorgeous work! I like how you incorporated stringing and beadweaving to make such beautiful jewelry. It has a warm, rustic feeling.

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  41. Beautiful jewellery! I especially like that earthy chain necklace and the memory wire bracelet. There's such a good balance between the beadwoven sections and the lampies in that bracelet. Such a smart idea to use memory wire to get that shape just right. I'm normally not that fond of memory jewellery, but this one is just fab!

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  42. Beautiful pieces, amazing how much you made!! Great idea to use the memory wire.

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  43. Oh, you did a wonderful job on all of your pieces, but my favorite is the necklace, where you showcased the pendant so beautifully with the accented chain. And I love the way you did the last bracelet too. They're all fab!

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  44. OMGoodness...your soup is DELICIOUS my Friend!!! I adore your design, it's truly stunning! Well done, another AMAZING cup of BEAD SOUP from a very talented designer!!! ;)

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  45. Shirley ~ these are amazingly beautiful! I love the last one the best - it just rocks!!
    Your designs are always so nice!

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  46. Shirley that lampworked heart necklace is gorgeous!!! Love it!!

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  47. Wow you got so much out of your soup mix, incredible work! I especially love how you used the clasp as a focal point in the necklace, great job!

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  48. Oh wow, what beautiful things you've created for this party! I lovelovelove that heart necklace...and I think it certainly looks finished! That last bracelet is way cool too. Great job!

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  49. Such beautiful color combinations! You did a beautiful job...lovely, lovely creations! Those beaded herringbone tubes are awesome...awesome work! Good idea on using the memory wire!

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  50. Thanks for visiting me Shirley. What a lot of lovely things you have created with such beautiful beading!

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  51. Wonderful! You have created several terrific pieces of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture for all, but my favorite is the necklace with the heart. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
    Lori

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  52. love the chain necklace and the seed bead bracelet with memory wire.

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  53. Shirley, you are amazing!!! I am just sitting here in awe looking at the many pieces of jewelry you created from the great beads from Mallory. And that was a cute shot, btw, of the beads in the measuring spoons. Your talent with beadwork really shines through...and all of the pieces have a different feel to them. I think my favorite (had to pick two because I love them all) is the long necklace and the final piece that you worked on at the very end...everything is stunning!! And yes, I am fortifying myself with coffee and chocolate (cake)! :-)

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  54. wow the way you used seed bead work w/ the beads is so fabulous!I really like the big links you used in your last necklace too. as for your question about my piece, I used a length of chain(cheap chain from oriental traders)strung on cording, string 3 links then the wrapped dangle bead then 3 more links strung, etc. :)

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  55. Oh, Shirley you did a wonderful job with your soup. The beadwork on the first bracelet is amazing. And I love the simplicity with that focal so that it really shines. That last bracelet really draws me in. But I love them all. Really great job.

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  56. beautiful work! I love the way the colors come together in the last bracelet, and you did a wonderful job on the chain necklace to make the necklace interesting and stylish without taking attention away from that lovely focal :).

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  57. I love your beadwoven tubes, great idea to use memory wire for shaping! Nice work!

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  58. Oh! You put me to shame with all those gorgeous pieces. I love them all...they are all so well bought out and crafted, Love the long necklace and that bracelet at the end is gorgeous..I just love the seed bead work on that one..the way it spirals around, gorgeous. Fantastic effort.
    jenni

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  59. That is so well THOUGHT out.....need more coffee...! Jenni

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  60. I love all your pieces, but, the spiral tube bracelet is my very favorite. The memory wire was genius.

    Thank you for the sweetest comment ever, you made my day.

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  61. You were a busy bee - and your creations are all stunning and outstanding. What a great job!

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  62. Wow. Great soup and great results after cooking too. :o)

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  63. I love your designs, especially the last bracelet. Well done!

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  64. Beautiful job on each piece! I think you did wonderful on the pieces that were so outside your comfort zone! I know I would wear each and every one of them! The memory wire bracelet just sparkles, love how you used your best talent (your comfort zone) with that one! Have a great week and thanks for the sweet comments on my soup mix!

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  65. I'm always so happy when I see beadweaving on the hop! My favorite creation of yours was that stunning heart necklace with the rustic chain, until I saw your earthy Cellini spiral with the beads. Gorgeous!! Fantastic designs with that beautiful soup you received!

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  66. I love all of your designs! That memorywire bracelet is my fave! Great job!

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  67. Yay, another seed beader! You did a wonderful job of combining your talents with the style of your partner. Well done!

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  68. I was really thinking that the chain necklace was my favorite and then along comes the memory wire bracelet and you might have just made me want to try seed beading again!! Lovely work!! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my soup I appreciate it!!

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  69. these are beautiful! great colors! i am always partial to beadweaving :-)

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  70. Really beautiful collection. I like the first necklace-it looks like it could be worn as a multi-strand bracelet. I also really like the circles in the second necklace. The bead weaved bracelet is really amazing too. Well done!

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  71. Everything is so nice, I love what you sent your partner too! Amazing. My favorite it the first bracelet so happy!

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  72. Love the seed bead work on the two bracelets - amazing! Everything else looks great, too.

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  73. Wow Shirley! Your pieces are all amazing! I love what you did with the sead beads on the last bracelet... but they are all great. I think the chain mix is awesome too. Good job!

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  74. Wow, you had a great time with your soup didn't you?! The last bracelet has to be my favorite piece. I don't know how you seed beaders do it!
    Lovely work on all of them.
    Shannon C

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  75. Shirley Dear, I think you win the gold star for the biggest batch of soup!!! :) I love all your pieces... just when I'm saying oohhh, that's my favorite, you post another picture of another piece you made and viola... a new favorite. LOL

    Truly though, your beadweaving marrying stringing and working with chain - that's the perfect medley of awesome! Congrats on your growth through this experience!

    {Hugs!}

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  76. What beautiful pieces! WOW! So much ingenuity! Creativity! Excellence! :)

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  77. What a fantastic soup you cooked up! I'm having a hard time picking a favorite, but I am very partial to the heart necklace and the memory wire bracelet (they look like they should be a set!). Way to get out of your comfort zone - based on these beautiful results, I highly recommend you keep it up! :)

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  78. Wow, you were busy. I love the color palette and the combination of seed beading and stringing. I also love the necklace wrapped around the driftwood. Can it be worn as a multi wrap bracelet?

    Thank you for the lovely comments on my blog. I really appreciate the kid words. Thanks for sharing. Cherrie

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  79. Wow, Shirley, what amazing pieces! I can't even pick a favorite, they are all so stunning! I loved the combo of woven and strung beads in the one bracelet you made.

    Also, thank you so much visiting my blog! I hope you enjoyed it and will visit again soon...

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  80. I love what you've done with Mallory's beads! That bracelet is amazing!

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  81. All of your designs are wonderful! I have said it on a few blogs, but I'm always amazed by those of you who can work with seed beads. Great job!

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  82. Wow, those little sapcers sure get around! I absolutely love your gorgeous heart necklace and the memory wire bracelet is so yummy!

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  83. I love love love the necklace: the big circles match perfectly the focal bead. You were out of your comfort zone but you did a great work. I would definetely wear that necklace every day!
    Ambra

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  84. Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comments. Love all your beautiful creations, as a seed bead fanatic I am awed by your creations, brings the whole thing together so beautifully.

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  85. Shirley! All I can say is: WOW! I am so impressed with all the amazing pieces you made with your bead soup. As I scrolled through the post, I kept saying, wow that's even better than the one before, and then I kept saying that through the end. BEAUTIFUL! All of them!!!!

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  86. WOW! They are all so beautiful! I love the last bracelet, the colors and stitching. I hope to be able to stitch like that one day. Absolutely stunning!

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  87. Lovely pieces all of them. I know what you mean by keeping the design simple when you have a great focal, as you did with the heart. But your last bracelet is a stunner. Great job,

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  88. Very nice! I love your twisted herringbone tubes. The one with the focal looks finished to me.

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  89. Great pieces!! Really wonderful all of them and I really like your chain necklace with the heart focal!

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  90. Thank you for your wonderful comments on my blog - I definitely do recommend crimp covers, they neaten up the whole thing!

    I'm just getting back into seed beading after many years away (earrings mostly) so I'm really awed by your spiral tubes! They're beautiful! And ingenious - I don't think I would have thought to put them on memory wire. :)

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  91. The bead work on your bracelets is stunning - I'm always so impressed when I see that someone really can work with those tiny beads! Your pendant necklace is lovely - love the details on the chain!! Your asymmetrical necklace is beautiful - you really showcased the clasp!!

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  92. I love everything about each piece you made! From the colors to the design . . . so beautiful!

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  93. What a fantastic journey you had. Loving that bead woven bracelet!!!!

    T

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  94. All of your pieces are beautiful, and I think the chain necklace with the heart focal is finished perfectly. Love them all!

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  95. Someone is uber talented. I love each one more and more as I scrolled down to see all that you had created and then that bracelet..Wow! I had never seen any thing like it.. All of the pieces are really wonderful! What a Soup-er great job you did with your soup mix!

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  96. oh love what you've done with your soup....beautiful pieces

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  97. Thank you so much for your kind words on my soup! And love your pieces too, very nice, great designing. Riki

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  98. WOW! I thought the first red and white bracelet was spectacular and then I saw the pendant with all the chain and was further impressed. But you saved the best for last. That piece is absolutely GORGEOUS. I would so wear it and I don't normally wear bracelets.

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  99. Wow...everything is beautiful. Glad you stretched and did some things out of your comfort zone. You proved to be talented in new areas! Great job!

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  100. Everything is gorgeous! And your photography is pretty impressive as well! ;)

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  101. Shirley,
    You’re so lucky your bead soup talked to you, my soup didn’t say a word to me!
    You're just used to too many seed beads. Creative thinking with the spacers floating on those chain rings! Yea! you should be proud of yourself. You did a fabulous job!

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  102. Very very pretty! I love the colors and the bead weaving always amazes me.

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  103. Your color combinations are scrumptious! That last bracelet in particular is simply gorgeous!

    Julie and Andrea

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  104. I love everything! I am SO impressed at your combination of talent with stringing/connecting AND bead weaving. That is awesome. You totally rock!

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  105. Shirley, though I am normally not into hearts, the necklace is my favorite. GREAT job, really!!! It is very well balanced (visually) - simply beautiful! I also love the bracelets you have made - and the memory wire was such a clever idea!!!

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  106. All of your pieces are gorgeous! The bracelet at the end has to be my favorite, I love the colors and the beadwork!

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  107. Beautiful designs, but my fave is the bracelet for it's design and blend of colours.

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  108. Gorgeous creations. I especially love your two necklaces.

    As to the reference of bronzed Calvin Klein man, I know exactly what you mean:-) Thank you for commenting on my bead soup...

    - Pepita

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  109. Beautiful design on all the pieces. Your beadwork just makes your soup shine! I also love your photography and story telling. Great job!

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  110. Good job on the stringing, but as a fellow weaver, it's good to see the seeds sneaking in to play with the bigger beads - I really like the bracelet on the memory wire!

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  111. =) I often don't care for bead-weaving, but I like yours. TO ME, there are times when it comes across as too fussy; however, I thought you kept it simple and lovely. I was surprised I like the memory wire bracelet- that piece just fits with itself so well!
    All that aside, I ADORE your heart piece with the chain. I like the way you slipped those spacers onto the large chain. I like the balance. I like the simplicity.
    Beautiful work!

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  112. What pretty things you made. Love the spiral work.
    ~cryssT

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  113. Cool! Love the combination of beadweaving and stringing - makes for a lovely selection of textures.

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  114. Hi Shirley!! You really but a lot of heart and soul into these pieces and it shows. I'm a huge fan of beadweaving but haven't ever really tried it...what I like best about these pieces is that you've taken so many techniques and put them together into great combinations--both your given strengths and your spreading wireworking wings! haaaaaaaaa
    Oh, and kudos to making it through the whole party. I have been selfishly busy off-line. :)
    Take care!
    Jen

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  115. Well done, Shirley! You have done a great job . I like how you displayed the beads in those ornate spoons and I love the last bracelet - the colours are fabulous , perfect for fall and it looks so intricate :)
    Geanina.

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  116. Wonderful and filling soup!! I especially love the big circle chain with that gorgeous heart focal and the last bracelet. I would swim the English channel for that one!! Beautiful!

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  117. Interesting pieces from interesting ingredients. The chain really makes the heart stand out. And your seed bead weaving really shows off the "extra" beads.

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  118. Sorry to be so late in checking out your soup! I love what you created.....all of it but my favorite is the last bracelet. It's stunning! Thank you for visiting my blog and following me :) Have a great day!
    Valerie

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I'm thrilled you stopped by! Thanks for your words of wisdom.