Friday, August 24, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal!!

The day is finally here for my reveal in the Bead Soup Blog Hop, hosted by the lovely Lori Anderson! The rules were we had to use the clasp and focal sent to us, though not necessarily in the same piece. We had the option of using the coordinating beads.

 I was matched up with fellow designer, Menka Gupta, from sunny California! As a reminder, here is what Menka sent to me:

Faceted agate & some faceted gemstones

Dyed agate focal and silver & copper clasp

Silver links and bicones

I love green, but I find that I don't work with it very as a main color, so I was thrilled to see Menka sent me a "green" soup! I wanted to use the blog hop as a way to help stretch my skills, and part of that is being forced to break out of the colors you are most comfortable using!

Ironically, the first piece I made, was not "green" but pink! I fell in love with the silver links, and was holding them in my hands when I imagined they would make a good frame for a dangle. I had just picked up some pink acrylic beads that were the juiciest color of pink.
 


Next, I found myself looking at the larger faceted agate beads, and envisioned them on simple copper wire-wrapped links.

However, I wanted a little more color, so I added some green seed beads to the silver jump rings that connect the links. It's subtle, but enough to make the bracelet a bit more interesting. In this piece, I used the silver and copper clasp. The drape of this bracelet on your wrist is so elegant!

 


 
I struggled a bit with the focal...because of my own limitations in skill. I had tons of ideas, and wished that I could magically do beadweaving, or some funky stitches...I then had a design pop into my head as I was falling asleep last week! I tried wrapping the focal to some gunmetal chain, with more seed beads and some of the small faceted gemstones as well. It looked beautiful in my head...but not so pretty in person. So I pulled it all apart, using a few choice words.

I then went back to what I know and strung some seed beads on two different lengths of wire...I wanted an unique drape to showcase the focal. I was going to add a third strand, but when I held it up to my neck to test it, just two strands looked a lot more striking and allowed the focal to be the, well, focal.

I apologize that the photo isn't as good as the other two pieces--I pulled out my necklace display, and I must have dragged it along something, because it looks like someone took an axe to it! (Note to self: buy new display). So I had to hold the necklace up, so it would drape properly, with one hand, while I took the photo with the other. And while it drapes perfectly while on, I didn't want to make you all have to stare at an up close shot of my neck ;) I finished the necklace with the gunmetal chain I had cursed at earlier, and it just goes over your head--no clasp.


To thank everyone who visits, I am hosting a giveaway of the earrings and the bracelet (two separate giveaways). I am going to hold onto the necklace, because, in my heart, I have a feeling I am going to still work a bit more with it! To enter, just leave a comment waaaay down at the bottom of this post, and make sure you say if you prefer one over the other. I will assign everyone a number, and then use a random number generator to pick the winner on September 1st!

 Now, please visit the rest of the 3rd reveal participants to see some lovely creations!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss,
Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson,
Alice Dreaming
Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'
Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage
Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads
Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog
Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory
Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen
Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty,
Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, 
Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier,
The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka,
Clay Space
Cherrie Fick,
EnLa Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles,
Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow,
Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles,
Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel,
Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield,
Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards,
Live to Design
CJ Bauschka,
4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith,
Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs,
Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler,
Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro,
Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie,
Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington,
Simply Gorgeous


Dot Lewallwn,
Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn,
Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs,
Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry,
Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden,
Torch Fairy
Fen Li,
Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang,
Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins,
Torque Story
Grace Dorsey,
Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, 
Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear,
Squintessential
Hajer Waheed,
My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith,
As I Bead It
Heather Otto,
The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman,
My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman,
Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez,
Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller,
CreARTelier
Jane Haag,
Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen,
Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter,
Jean P. Designs


Jennifer Judd,
Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman,
Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk,
Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown,
Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood,
Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker,
Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley,
Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell,
Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams,
Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren,
Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan,
Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel,
Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg,
We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke,
AllesPerle
Kathy Combs,
Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer,
Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson,
Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle,
My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson,
Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon,
Only Road
Lara Lutrick,
Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther,
Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde,
Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani,
Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman,
Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman,
Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge,
Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen,
Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann,
Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington,
Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter,
Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis,
LLYYNN

Malin de Koning,
Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron,
Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson,
Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter,
The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow,
Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter,
Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina,
Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas,
Room for Change
Marelene Cupo,
Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal,
Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska,
uhuhu
Mary Govaars,
MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger,
Bead Recipes
This is my partner!
---> Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett,
Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero,
The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati,
Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, 
LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner,
Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley,
MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna,
grubbi

Noemi Baena,
fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari,
Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears,
Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville,
Copper Penny
Rachel Baron,
R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers,
Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson,
Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson,
Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag,
Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher,
Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya,
Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari,
Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson,
Wild Sally Road
Sandi James,
Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe,
Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg,
City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode,
Pookledo

Sarah Small,
blog by salla
Shai Williams,
Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills,
Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis,
Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens,
Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie,
Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin, 
Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille,
Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon,
The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy,
Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan,
Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson,
Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom,
Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger,
Modernly Created
Tania Hagen,
Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden,
Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier,
Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter,
Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman,
Tracy Stillman Designs




48 comments:

  1. You did a spectacular job! I would love to be entered in your giveaway and my favorite piece is your bracelet! Are some of those beads lampwork? A few of them look to have a more organized pattern than the agates. I'll also post this blog to my FB.

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    1. Aw, thank you! Actually, they are all the agates in the bracelet...they have some really cool designs, which I think are more noticeable because the beads are faceted! :)

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  2. I love all your pieces, but especially the earrings. You did a great job!

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  3. Hi Rachel, you did an amazing job with the soup. All the pieces are very beautiful and I like the bracelet the best. I love the way you have added the green seed beads to enhance the colors. Wonderful job!!

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    1. Thank you, for sending me a wonderful soup, Menka!

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  4. Great job. Especially love the earrings.

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  5. Great job with the soup! I just love the green bracelet with both the copper and silver contrast!

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  6. Very nice use of your soup! I love the pop of pink on silver in the earrings, but am really drawn to the faceted gemstones in the bracelet!

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  7. Great job! The pink beads go perfectly in those silver links. The bracelet is wonderful as well. That focal was challenging but you made it stand out.

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  8. You are most welcome. I wish I could communicate more with you. I got my reveal post up. Take a look at what I made with your soup :)

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  9. Nice job on your bead soup!! Lovely creations!

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  10. Beautiful! I love the pink earrins, and the faceted gemstone bracelet is my favorite. Nice job!

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  11. What an unusual focal you had to work with! Your necklace design really lets is shine. :)

    And I had to smile at your earrings. I know exactly how it goes when you start in on a project and the first thing you know, it takes a left turn and heads out the door.

    Both the earrings and your bracelet are lovely.

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  12. thank you for the giveaway, the bracelet is my fave, I'd love to win it!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  13. I really like the little seed bead accents on your bracelet..being a bracelet kind of girl that's the piece that got my attention. Your finial solution for the focal really works.... you did a beautiful job on the necklace and earrings too! But put me down for a chance to win the bracelet. So sweet of you to do a giveaway!Have fun hopping!

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  14. Lovely pieces! Very interesting the necklace, it's gorgeous!

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  15. Rachel, coincidently I was in a conversation with another designer just before coming to your post. We were reflecting how these unique components (like that necklace focal) are best served with simple and restrained design. You have accomplished exactly that by considering, and rejecting, that third strand of seed beads. Your design was exactly the right accompaniment for this particular focal. Congrats on all your BSBP pieces, Rachel. I am definitely going to enter your give-away (and I think it's a wonderful idea!)

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    1. Thank you! I was really torturing myself over the focal! I wanted to really push myself skill-wise, but like you said, sometimes simple is better, especially when dealing with unusual components!

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  16. very elegant creations! congratulations!

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  17. Even though green is not a natural colour you work with you succeeded in making lovely things. That bracelet is fantastic!!!

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  18. You did a nice job. The earrings are really cute, but my favorite is the bracelet. Congrats on working with colors you don't normally.

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  19. Great job with your soup. I have just started wearing green again. I would be honored to wear your green bracelet. The green seeds do add the perfect finishing touch to it. It is so nice of you to give your pieces away. Thanx.

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  20. The little seed beads added to the jump rings was a great idea! Beautiful work!

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  21. Very beautiful blend of colours and metals.Love and hugs Tanya

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  22. All three of your pieces are really great. I love the color of the pink in those earrings. . .and this is coming from someone who owns ONE piece of clothing with pink in it. So yeah. I like your pink. . .what of it? ;)
    As well, your bracelet is really great, but it's those pops of green from the seed beads that really catch my eye. Very cool.
    Lastly, I like the simplicity you kept with the necklace. It lets the focal shine through. Of course, I can understand your wanting to play around with it a bit more. It is a neat piece. Have fun!!

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  23. Rach, you are so crafty! I am glad you had a great weekend away and time to create! Love both pieces, but would probably get more use out of the earrings! (Great profile pic on here too... going to miss you guys starting tomorrow!)

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  24. Love all you designs, and the focal looks grat on that necklace.

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  25. Beautiful work. I like them all, but especiallly the earrings. Well done :)

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  26. Beautiful pieces. Love the earrings.

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  27. Love your pieces! The little green beads in between the agates are perfect!

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  28. Lovely pieces, the earrings are so stylish! But as I love green, my heart pulls me towards the bracelet, it is gorgeous!

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  29. Love that bracelet. It is my favorite. Great job!

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  30. Just wanted to commend you on your choice to "let the focal be ... 'focal'" Simple doesn't always mean plain or lacking creativity--you let its beauty take center stage. Well done! by the way, i LOVE LOVE LOVE the bracelet too. The tiny green seedies are a sweet touch!

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  31. I am a lover of green so the bracelet is my favorite - and I love the look of those faceted cracked agate and the clasp gives it a nice finish. Very nice job!

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  32. Ooh, I admire how many great pieces you were able to create and that agate bracelet is especially lovely! Thanks for visiting my blog earlier too! *Ü*

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  33. I appreciate your embracing the green! You did a great job! Thank you so much for enjoying the party and please come again!

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  34. I love what you did with the earrings. You did a great job with the agate. Keep working on exploring your vision. That's one of the really fun things about these exchanges. I love the stretch and exploration into new ideas.

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  35. I think you did a fab job on all 3 pieces! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the bracelet! I also loved the interesting way you made your necklace. I bet it looks BEAUTIFUL on! Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win!

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  36. lovely creations you did with your soup. well done!
    greets
    jacqueline

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  37. I love what you did with all these pieces! The bracelet is a real stunner! (and have fun continuing to play with the necklace! I know how that goes! lol!)

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  38. Beautiful, I especially love the bracelet.

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  39. Beautiful work with a lot of contrasting elements, thanks for sharing!

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  40. I love the mix of copper and silver in the bracelet, and it works so well with the greens. All beautiful pieces!

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  41. Your pieces are beautiful! Love the two seed beads on each jump ring of your bracelet - it's just enough!!

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