Friday, May 18, 2012

Hi!  Welcome! 
Come on in, and Enjoy Some Bead Soup.

I am glad you could make it today to the bead soup blog hop hosted by  Lori Anderson
 
The projects I am showing today are all made with beads from a lovely Pastel cup of bead soup kit from Nan at SpiritedEarth
Nan will have a limited number of kits available for sale, grab them up they are beautiful in person. I hope you have as much fun with them as I did.
You can see Nan's blog here: Spirit Rattles
Here is a reminder picture of the great kit I received.


I love the blue bird on the pendant in this kit, but I have a rough time wearing necklaces with pendants that hang from a single center hole. They often hang too low, and get caught under the edge of my shirt, or the neckband needs to be a bit tight to have them be high enough on my neck. To combat this, I made my necklace with a silk sari ribbon base and a sliding clasp out of one of the round beads and the single hole flower. Not only is the ribbon at the back of the neck super soft and comfortable, the necklace is completely adjustable.

I added two of my own Lampwork beads, a bird house and a nest with blue eggs. Since these two beads are quite different in size and weight, I staggered them quite a bit on the neckband, this kept the bird house from turning to the back too, a win win.
A few silver butterflies, freshwater pearls and czech glass beads are mixed in with the seed beads to add a little shine to the ribbon on the bottom half of the necklace.



For the earrings, I made two flying blue birds and used a bit of ribbon to bring the green into them.
I loved these little birds so much that I have another set in the kiln!
See below for a drawing to win a pair of birds of your very own!


For the bracelet,I made a one sided bird, so his back side wing wouldn't rub against my wrist. I attached the flower disks with jump rings. Leaf chain and a PMC silver flower toggle I made finish it out. The leaf chain gives the bracelet a little movement but it is super light, something I prefer in a bracelet.

For the last project, I used brass wire. I love the way brass ages naturally, so I did not patina it. With the special pendant Nan sent ( It says Cup of Soup on the back side) I decided to use a set of lovely Boro beads from my stash, and some milky blue glass beads.
The boro  beads were made by Deborah Pierce of Pierces Designs



Ok, I am ready to call this Soup finished.
I can not wait to wear my loot!


Please  be sure to stop by the blog of my favorite designer, and our hostess, Lori Anderson


AND the blogs of the two other lucky designers Lorelei Eurto and Patty Gasparino

Finally, if you would please leave a comment, I will enter your name in a drawing for the pair of blue birds I have cooling in the Kiln. I will make them into earrings for you too if you like.
No picture yet as they are still HOT HOT! I will post a picture of the shy birdies when they are finished with their hot nap. Drawing will be Monday morning 5/21.
 Please be sure you have an email attached to your user name or leave me a way to contact you!

Thanks For stopping by!

26 comments:

  1. Uber cute! Love the whimsical feel of your creations. They look totally fun!

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  2. Love all your pieces and the way you added the seed beads really brings out all the colors. But I think my favorite is the bracelet. Your little birdies are precious and I sure would like to win a pair!!!

    Theresa
    outofwackk@aol.com

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  3. Your soup is delicious, and I especially like the bracelet. It certainly is perfect for spring.

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  4. Delightful! Great idea to do an adjustable necklace- Love that sliding feature. It's a nice piece, and looks great- the hidden crimps- nice work!
    LOVE that coffee cup pendant, you worked it too!
    Happy jewelry!

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  5. WOW!!!! Each and every piece is just beautiful! Your lampwork beads are the perfect addition! And, I love your reative use of the silk and your bail in the first piece! Gorgeous work!

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  6. I would love to win those birds that are cooling. Please consider me! baymoondesign@gmail.com.

    Your pieces are all very creative. I love the bracelet! Kathy

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  7. all your pieces are so creative and lovely,i'm especially drawn to the bracelet with your cute blue bird.

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    1. I really loved working with your beads. The colors are dreamy and remind me of watercolors. Your attention to detail is superb.
      Even the packaging you sent was adorable, I wish I had taken a photo of how they arrived so cute!

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  8. Your bird beads are really cute. Please enter me in your drawing to win them. Thanx

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  9. Hi Carrie,
    Your designs using Nan's components are gorgeous. I love the necklace with the silk neck strap. The bird house and nest are so cute and sets the theme of the necklace. All the colors compliment the bird pendant and make it shine. I love the earrings the little blue flying birds you made go so well with the clay beads. Your bracelet is very pretty I like the design. Love the cup necklace those blue beads are striking with the brass wire and the colors of the boro glass beads compliment the colors in the pendant to a tee!
    Therese

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  10. So cute I love the addition of those little birds!

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  11. So very pretty! I have yet to wear a necklace comfortably, maybe your technique will help me! Thanks for sharing...beautiful!

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    1. Marti The ribbon is so light and comfortable there is only the weight of the pendant and a few seed beads at the front, the rest of the weight goes to the shoulders and back. I hardly feel it on at all. Its incredibly comfortable. I only put the ribbon strands at the back and it was enough to hold it from slipping with the two beads, I suspect that it may wear down over time, so I put the dangles at the end of the ribbons, but right now it stays wherever I put it without slipping. Give it a try.

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  12. I am also a fan of the ribbon necklace. I love that it is adjustable, which I prefer depending on the neckline of the blouse I am wearing as well. Beautiful work!

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  13. LOVE the birds! And the birdhouse was perfect. The balance of your necklace is terrific. And I really like the bows on the earrings. The colors you used for the Cup of Soup necklace are AWESOME and I like the juxtaposition of small and large beads.

    Thanks for participating!

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  14. I like the bird necklace the best. The combination of coordinated seed beads and ribbon is really pretty.

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  15. Wow, you made a gorgeous pile of jewelry! They are all beautiful, but that bracelet is just over the top. Great job!!

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  16. I think yours is my favorite, and I absolutely adore the blue birds. I would love to get my hands on them. :)

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  17. Your pieces all turned out great. It's been fun to see how each one of you talented artists tackled this challenge! I've picked up ideas from each of you, I'd never have thought to try. Thanks!

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  18. I love, love, love what you created! I love the elements you chose to pair the beads with, and your choice of colors is fun! Job well done!

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  19. Hi Carrie,
    Your jewelry designs are all beautiful and so wearable. I'm glad I took a hop over to check them out. The fact that you are offering a precious set of your little bluebirds makes the visit all the sweeter! Thanks so much!! nancy.saccoccio@gmail.com

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  20. The birds are adorable! Love them in the earrings. Thanks for being so generous :) Christie

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  21. I Love your creations from the bead challange ... yours came out as the ones i think i would where the most , exp that adorabal braclet with the leaf chain , it's just ... oh i love it , Your lucky to be making things useing a kiln , I've been wanting to work with medel and glass/lampwork however , it's not to be for me right now ... and I bet the little bluebirds you've got cooling down are just DARLING , i'd love to get a chanch to use them in a project .. so if you please , enter me in to a raffel for some HOT little birdies ...
    contact info, via.. blog or email Ivygodess0106@yahoo.com

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  22. I love your first necklace, the use of seed beads and ribbon, wonderful! On you second piece, I love how you pulled all the colors together. Great pieces!!!

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  23. Gorgeous pieces of jewelry. I love how you added green fiber to the earrings, it finished them off beautifully. I especially love the necklace with the cup of soup pendant, a very special piece to remember the 6th BSBP!

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  24. Wow... I am loving your first set... simply stunning.

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