Showing posts with label lori anderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lori anderson. Show all posts

Saturday, May 10, 2014

8th Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal

Welcome to the reveal!!! If you've not heard of the Bead Soup Blog Party, brainchild of Lori Anderson, you can check out all the details here.
This is a huge blog hop, over 500 reveals, so I will keep it short and sweet. Well, for me anyway...
My partner, Rebekah Payne, of TreeWingStudios, is an incredibly talented polymer clay artist. She also creates some fantastic leather goodies, which I am so lucky to get to play with one of her newest styles!
Just a quick remind of my fab soup...
 A softly romantic bead palette. Not my usual style! 

 And my oh-so-fab focal and clasp.
The rules state that you are only required to use these babies...but, of course, I was in happy land with all my other goodies!

My daughter was very involved in this Bead Soup. She requested a specific style for the necklace. I had created a necklace for a Seam Binding Challenge for Artisan Whimsy in an asymmetrical style. Half kumihimo braid, half filled netting. Let's see what you think....
 Soft and delicate. Yes, I'm so going to wear this Sunday for Mother's Day!

 I wove a short strip of chenille stitch to connect the two ropes. The netted section has part of the soft burgundy print fabric inside, while the kumihimo is braided with one strand of 4mm lavender AB firepolish beads, chocolate bamboo yarn, and burgundy sparkle yarn.

I am so stoked over these coiled wire ends! If you want to make some of your own, head over to the Cerebral Dilettante for the tutorial.

Next up is actually the piece I created first. I've recently become obsessed  enamored of loomwork. I knew when I saw that strand of fabric covered beads that Rebekah's mom had stitched, that I wanted it to be in a loomed cuff. I had an absolute blast creating this cuff.
Soft and romantic again, with those fire polish beads showing up in the dangling fringe, and some of the new brick beads in the mix as well. I used hex beads in a metallic iris to create loops to hold the fabric rope in the cuff, and a simple RAW edging for the top. The clasp is from The Beading Room, and the wide ribbon crimps are from Twilight Fancy.

Isn't that a beautiful clasp?Sorry, I couldn't help modeling it. Just ignore the freckles, k?

This last piece I just finished last night. Not because I was running late, but because I didn't think I was going to be able to do justice to Rebekah's heirloom buttons, so I had decided I would create something later. But they just kept talking to me....so this is what happened.
I had enough of the fabric left to create a soft cuff.

Flat netting this time, in a soft matte amber, accented with metallic Czech seed beads and edged with a buttermilk cream to pick up the color of the buttons. And I got to use one of Rebekah's rose petal beads as the closure!

 I used the Czech rondelles Rebekah sent as the toppers for the buttons. This cuff is super soft, and oh-so-special to me. It will be a sweet memory of her precious gift, and this fabulous blog hop!

There were several things I didn't get to incorporate, like the petal beads, and the MOP chips. Rest assured, they will be used! As will this little guy that I beaded for the fabric cuff, then decided it didn't work.
 I've got a couple of ideas brewing, but for now, have fun hopping!
And a huge thank you to my partner Rebekah, and to Lori Anderson for such a wonderful experience!!!

Here's the link for the participants:







Friday, February 28, 2014

Are You Ready to Bead Soup???


 My first Bead Soup Blog Party My first Bead Soup Blog Party



It's getting exciting around here! Some of the participants have been matched up. I love the anticipation of waiting to hear who my partner will be, and that first email!
If you've not heard of the Bead Soup Blog Party, please check out some of my past entries, and for more info, please check out Lori Anderson's blog. Lori started this blog party several years ago, and really had no idea it would take off like it has. To my knowledge, there is not another blog hop that is quite this big in the beading world. I attribute the success of it to Lori herself. Not only is she a fantastic designer, but her caring heart shines through in absolutely everything she does. Throughout her struggles over the past year with health issues, she has continued to be present and accounted for in her blog, her facebook, and her inspiration. I know I would not do half as well handling all that she has, and still want to host this great Blog Party.

 One of my favorite pieces.

I've grown as a designer each time I've participated, and glue myself to the chair on reveal day, hopping from one blog to another. I cut and paste the list to a word document, and highlight each blog, or comment to go back later.
You will always have folks that sign up, and then don't participate. It's really a bummer, but it does happen. Then there are computer glitches, life events that overtake us, etc.
I love reading about the process of designing the pieces, sometimes more than the piece itself. Ugly? I don't really feel that way, since I don't expect everyone to like beadweaving either. What I do appreciate is their effort and commitment to the challenge.

Ok, I still have a bit of cleaning to do before my reveal tomorrow for Sharyl's Clean Up, Fix Up Blog Hop. See ya tomorrow! Blessings, Shirley

Saturday, March 30, 2013

It's Bead Soup Time!!!!

Yay! Today is THE DAY!!! What day you ask? Why, Bead Soup Blog Party, of course! The brainchild of the incredible Lori Anderson. I have been so very privileged to be in this awesome challenge several times. Each time, I've learned and grown as a designer. You just can't thank someone enough for that, you know?
My partners have been very diversified, and I have loved working with each one. This time, I was paired with the very talented Rose Rushbrooke. Please go check out her gallery of design when you get a chance.
She is a bead weaver as well, which would make you tend to think....oh, that's not a challenge, they are both bead weavers. We are, and the focal she sent to me is one that I've actually made before, which would make you think that it would be even easier for me, right?
Wrong!!!


The colors immediately made me think of some pearls and fiber I had recently purchased, so I set up my kumihimo disk, and got to work. This is the rope I was planning on using for the focal, and attaching the clasp to it as well.
That stunning fuschia yarn really set off the emerald green pearls. I also accented it with a deep green size 11 seed bead, and a flashy little hot pink alongside the fiber. Alas, this was not meant to be. The more I worked on it, the more I just felt that it was overwhelming the focal. But I still wanted to use those colors and that fiber. So I started another rope, without the pearls.  As I was working on it, my daughter remarked that it reminded her of Christmas. I agreed, and continued braiding.......
That idea just wouldn't go away. But wait!!! I always make jewelry for Bead Soup! I can't make an ornament!!! Well, yes, I could, because that's what it wanted to be. You see, I have a very special Christmas tree. It is made of iron, and I bought it for myself a couple of years ago to hang only my special ornaments on it. I have participated in a couple of ornament swaps now, and I have some stunning, precious pieces for my tree, and this wonderful star wanted to be a part of that party!





I created the collar for the kumi rope from the extra delicas that Rose sent with the focal. I love the burnt orange in the star, and wanted it to step up a bit in the design, since that fuschia fiber had such a strong presence.

 Now I'm wishing it was closer to Christmas, so I could see this beauty on my tree!
And what did I do with the clasp? Well, check it out!
 I was determined to get a piece of jewelry!!! I created this lovely RAW embellished bracelet, taking my color cues from the clasp, and again, picking up that gorgeous burnt orange for the backdrop.


I used the teal pearls that I didn't get to use in the necklace, and some very sparkly amber fire polished beads. The pearls go in a zigzag across the bracelet, and the fire polish trail after them. I embellished the 'empty' windows with  a strand of seed beads in the amber and green in a matte finish.





Here's a pic showing the back of the bracelet, cause I always want to see all of the construction when I'm reading a post!
I know you have a lot of blogs to visit, and I thank you for visiting mine. Have a wonderful hop! Blessings, Shirley

First and Last Name
Blog URL
Alicia Marinache
Amber Dawn Goldish
Barb Solem
Bev Breisinger
Birgitta Lejonklou
Breana Fry


Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Bridget Torres
Carol Dee Myers
Carolyn Chenault
Cassi Paslick
Cece Cormier
Cheryl McCloud
Cindy Wilson
Crystal Thain


Cynthia Riggs
Dana Hickey
Dana James
Darlene Fortier
Deana Hager
Deanna Cox
Deb Brooks
Debra Behrends
Denielle Hagerman
Denise McCabe


Diana Frey
Diana Welte
Dini Bruinsma
DiYana Alcalde
Dolores Raml
Donna Millard
Dot Lewallwn
Duane Clark
Dyanne Cantrell


Eleanor Burian-Mohr
Elisabeth Auld
Elizabeth Owens Dwy
Emily Greer
Enikö Fabian
Erin Grant
Eva Kovacs
Eva Sherman


Gina Hockett
Grace Rotenberg
Gretchen Nation
Hannah Rosner
Heather Davis
Heather Marston
Heather Powers
Ingrid McCue


Jacqueline Marchant
Jan Petek
Janeen Sorensen
Jane-Michael Stallings
Jasvanti Patel
Jayashree Paramesh
Jayne Capps
Jean Yates
Jennifer Cameron
Jennifer LaVite


Joan Williams
Jodie Marshall
Judy Riggs
Julie Anne Leggett
Kat Barron Miller
Kathy Lindemer
Kim Hora


Kim Houston
Kim Sparks
Krafty Max
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Krista French
Kristen Stevens
Kristi Harrison
Kumi Fisher


Laren Dee Barton
Laura Bracken
Laura Demoya
Laurie Hanna
Laurie Keefe-Cecere
Lea Avroch
Leanne Loftus


Lee Anne Messerschmidt
Leslie Schenkel
Linda Anderson
Linda Djokic
Linda Murphy
Linda Sadler
Lisa Liddy
Lisa Suver


Liz DeLuca
Liz Engriser
Lola Surwillo
Loretta Carstensen
Lori Anderson
Lori Bergmann
Lori Bowring Michaud
Lori Poppe
Lori Schneider


Lyn Foley
Maddison Langford
Magdalena Sikora
Mallory Hoffman
Marcella Austenfeld
Marcy Lamberson
Maria Clark
Maria Rosa Sharrow
Marianna Boylan


Marie Covert
Marti Conrad
Mary Ellen Merrigan
Mary Harding
Molly Alexander
  Nan Emmett
Niky Sayers
Pam Chesbro


Pam Farren
Pam Sandy
Pam Traub
Pamela Gangler
Patricia Buchanan
Patricia Johnson
Patty Miller
Paula Hisel
Peggy Gabrielson


Perri Jackson
Rachel Baron
Rachel Stanley
Rain Hannah
Rana Wilson
Renetha Stanziano
Robin Reed
Rochelle Brisson
Rose Rushbrooke


Ruth Szapa
Sally Russick
Sandi Volpe
Sandra Pendragon
Sandy Richardson
Sarah Small
Shannon Hicks


Shari Replogle
Sheila Daniels
Sheila Davis
Shiraz Biggie
Shirley Moore
Skylar Bre'z
Staci Smith
Stacie Florer


Stacy Pomerleau
Stephanie Weiss
Sumi Rani
Susan Sheehan
Suzette Bentley
Tamera Norris
Tracy Choy
Tracy Stillman
Valerie Norton
Vicki Holliday