Bead Soup #7 Reveal!

The time for some bead soup has arrived once again!

As a refresher, I received my soup from Bev Breisinger of Country Frog Creations. This is the 7th serving of Bead Soup organized by Lori Andersen, hostess with the mostess!

Here is a picture to remind you what Bev sent to me:

The rules of the soup are that we must use the focal and the clasp...the rest of the beads are an extra bonus. This time around, I used the focal and the clasp in the same piece...here is what I was able to make with her soup!

As you can see, I didn't use the heart focal in the traditional way. I also moved the clasp around to the front, since it seemed to lend itself well to continuing the square motif of the blue ceramic beads.

Here's a close up of the heart pendant:

And another shot of the whole necklace:

Due to craziness at work, I didn't have time to make anything else out of the soup. :(  I have plans for some earrings using the cool shell drops Bev sent, as well as some ideas for using the old key.

Want to see the rest of the soups? Of course you do! Follow the links below to see what other concoctions were created with soups from all over the world!

First and Last Name	Blog URL
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Amber Dawn Goldish	www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	http://countryfrogcreations.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou	www.lejonklou.blogspot.se
Breana Fry	www.vault31.blogspot.com
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	http://caroldeezigns.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Chenault	www.carolynchenault.wordpress.com
Cassi Paslick	http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier	Http://www.thebeadingyogini.com
Cheryl McCloud	www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Crystal Thain	http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Riggs	http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey	http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Dana James	http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Darlene Fortier	www.darliciousrejuvenations.blogspot.com
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com/
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com/
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Diana Frey	www.dianafrey.blogspot.com
Diana Welte	http://lilyweeds.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma	http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant	http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com
Eva Kovacs	http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman	http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue	www.wrappedinsilver.com
Jacqueline Marchant	http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	www.Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	http://glassaddictions.com
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	www.thepeacefulbead.com
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan	www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett	http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro	http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren	http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy	http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub	http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler	http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel	http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson	http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke	www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa	www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shari Replogle	www.playswithpaper.blogspot.com
Sheila Daniels	http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis	http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie	www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore	www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre'z	http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith	www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacie Florer	http://www.soultosubstance.com
Stacy Pomerleau	www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss	www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com
Sumi Rani	www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzette Bentley	http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman	www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton	www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday	http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/

Even more behind...

The Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge Reveal, part 5 was supposed to be today. Well, it *is* today, it's just that *someone* wasn't able to fit everything in these past two weeks. I'm a special education teacher, and IEP season concluded this past Thursday--so anyone who works in education can probably understand completely when I say the last few weeks was a little busy. For the rest of you folks, just imagine drowning in paperwork...and sprinkle some lemon juice on those resulting paper cuts.

But I did want to acknowledge the rest of the worls that was able to get their beautiful earrings made for weeks 9 & 10. Please click below for the links to some beautiful creations, and in two weeks, I will have four pairs of pretties to share!

Art Jewelry Elements Earrings Challenge, Reveal #4

I had some catching up to do, since I only was able to get one pair of earrings done for the last reveal. I thought about using a pair I had already made, just to stay on track, but that felt like cheating given the nature of the challenge is to *create* new earrings!

I am also running low on art beads, my own included! I just haven't had time to torch, and when I do, it's freezing! So I was so happy to run across Elaine Robitaille's Etsy shop, Too Aquarius! My first pair of earrings feature her blue polymer clay flower beads. They are stunning, and I can't believe they are clay!

Simple design, but the flower beads deserve the spotlight!

For my next pair, I also used Elaine's beads, this time a pink floral bead. They are gorgeous,so they deserved to be surrounded by more gorgeousness (is that a word? It is now!). So I used Swarovski (r) crystals and garnets to complement the clay beads.

Crystal and garnets for the pink flowers

 For my final pair, I used two of my own handmade lampwork beads, which feature to popular silver glass nicknamed "raku" for the cool myriad of colors that can be coaxed out the glass. Again, the earring design is simple, but I like that the focus of these earrings are the art beads themselves.

Lampwork & crystals...what can be better?

Now that we are all caught up with the challenge, please make sure to check out the other participants in the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge!

Bead Soup #7 is in the House!!

I received my bead soup from my partner, Bev of Country Frog Creations, the week before I was heading out of town...so unfortunately, I had to delay sharing her wonderful soup until now!

First off, I absolutely MUST share with you the beautiful job Bev did of packaging her soup.

Wow, I wish I was that crafty! I am creative, but crafty is something different--I'm sure some of you out there can identify. I love the little envelopes that Bev used!

Once I got past my awe of how pretty the soup looked packaged up, I dove right in and explored all the goodies in my soup! Here's a group shot:

Then, because one of the few stipulations of the Bead Soup Blog Hop is to use the focal and the clasp, here is a close up of each:

Finally, I love, love, love the old key she sent, and already have some ideas for it! Just such a cool piece!

As to what I sent Bev, since she did already receive hers, I can post the picture here. I sent one of my lampwork focals, pretty crystals, sea glass, a pale green gemstone (I think it's Amazonite) and some lead-free pewter. I sent two toggles, because I couldn't decide!

Our reveal is March 30th, so be sure to check back then, when I unveil the creation I compose using  Bev's Bead Soup!

Art Jewelry Elements 3rd Reveal...and I'm behind already!

The past two weeks have been extra crazy for me, and I am already behind on my earring creation for the Art Jewelry Elements earring challenge...plus I am away from my studio for the next few days, so I will have a lot of catching up to do once I am back at work!

But, and this is a good but, the earrings I do have to share are awesome, mainly because of the art jewelry element I am including.

Week 5 Earrings

Aren't those scarabs amazing? I have been hoarding them since August, when I bought them at BeadFest Philadelphia from Diana of Suburban Girl Studios LLC. And these earring are mine, all MINE! I love everything Egyptian, and will be adding these beauties to my own personal collection.

Since I only have one pair to share, have fun checking out the rest of the creations by clicking the links below!

Bead Soup Blog Hop #7 Is Coming!!

Last summer I participated in the 6th cycle of the Bead Soup Blog Hop, hosted by Lori Anderson. Well, the time for the next Bead Soup is upon us, and this time there are over 500 beading bloggers participating! As last time, Lori has broken partners up into three different reveal dates, to make surfing the blogs a little bit easier to manage.

I have been selected for the first reveal, which will be March 30--don't worry, I will remind you! I am paired up with a fellow crafty soul, Bev Breisinger, who lives just a hop, skip and a jump from my aunt down in Pittsburgh! Small world, right? Bev is a lover of all creative things, has a soft spot for cool buttons, and also dabbles in digital media. You can visit Bev's blog, Country Frog Creations to learn more about her crafty world.

Once Bev and I have both received our soup from each other, I will post my goodies and get to work! For now, here is a preview of what I sent to Bev...kind of looks like a fat hummingbird with the Photoshop filter applied, but I guarantee it's beads!

Art Jewelry Elements Earrings: Reveal #2

Welcome to the second reveal of the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge! I have two more pairs of earrings to share, this time made with my own lampwork beads as the handmade component. To see my earrings from the first reveal click here.

The first pair has my lampwork beads which feature simple blue flowers on a black base--but I used silver glass for the flowers, so they actually display a myriad of hues, like silver glass likes to do. I decided I didn't want to just stack them with other beads, so I used some silver-tone chain to create a triangle-shaped dangle. These are a lot of fun to wear, but it was hard to get a good picture of them, since they like to swing!

The second pair was a pleasant surprise. I had an idea in my head that just didn't work out the first time. Then, after I took a little break, I got another idea. I tried to use some waxed linen cord, but I couldn't get my lampwork beads to hang correctly. So I got *really* frustrated. The next day, I just decided to go for it and try some copper wire, but used it in the same way I had planned for the linen cord. It was a little tough maneuvering the wire, but I love the results!

While I made the lampwork beads, the ultra-cool disc beads are ceramic cogs made by Marsha Neal. they have such a cool combination of coppery-green and rust colors, the camera can never do them justice.