Saturday, May 10, 2014

BSBP8 It's Party Time!

Hello and welcome to one of 500+ posts 
on the massive Bead Soup Blog Party.

The amazing brainchild of Lori Anderson
This global project pairs those who love to make jewelry. 
Then those gals (have we had a male participant yet?)
send bead packets to one another and challenge themselves to create
something with the clasp and focal they receive.

Every year my partners challenge me in ways I've never been challenged before.
This years was the toughest. GOLD finish. 
I don't wear and therefore don't have much in my stash to add to this year's mix.
But I gave it a go and made some things I'm rather proud of.
This is a little girl's bracelet. Recently while volunteering at a shop I watched a toddler put on a bracelet and pull it all the way up to her shoulder. I've kinda been on a 5inch bracelet kick ever since. The lemon jade and tiger's eye beads are on powerline with a polymer clay heart focal. I wish for the life of me I could remember where the heart came from, but all I remember is it was a free gift with purchase and the bag read "Thanks! M.E."
UPDATE: Thanks to Becky Pancake I can now tell you that M.E. is Mary Ellen of BeeTree by m.e.
Here's where I used my clasp. Isn't it lovely? Yes, I think so too. I've used the yellow wonder beads and oval turquoise beads I was also sent. Look! I used crimp covers. I next to never do that, and there are gold crimp beads under them. Not that anyone will ever see them, but I felt awfully professional doing that so I had to share. Oh and this is a mom size bracelet. 

Oh and a very Happy Mother's Day to all the other mom's out there. 
No matter how hard it's been you created a person. You are AWESOME!
Okay, these were a challenge.
I wanted these bead caps to make the Korean crystals look like crystal pears. I had to cut the petals of the bead caps because the top of the crystals were so small. That's why some of the petals touch which is more strawberry-esk than pear, but I love the little buggers anyway.
And bless that sweet Carmen.
She sent me some blue and silver, my favorites, so I wouldn't be totally at a loss. 
Though surprisingly the gold pieces were done first. 
Since I couldn't decide which focal to use I put them together with 2 of the largest jump rings I had for antenna and silk cord of the necklace. Then in my OCD way I bent the dragonfly 2-3mm to flatten it and the body separated from the wings. Luckily four types of glue later it seems to be fine, and you can't tell unless you are really, really close. So unless I'm suffocating someone in my decolletage no one will ever see it. 

Alrighty, you've got blogs to visit & I'm late for my monthly quilt meeting so let's wrap this up.
This will be a bracelet when I find the right chain to connect the two. I'd love suggestions.
Lilmummy's BSBP8 class photo
Add these to the first pic of the post and that's what I've left to play with.

If you would take time to visit Carmen's blog Little Maketto we'd both appreciate it.

Want to know more?
and of course...

THANKS Lori and Carmen!


46 comments:

  1. I'm glad your dragonfly went back together -- your description was so cute! But I think you are right; no one will know. And the blue tiger eye beads with the gold beads and red heart? Adorable!

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  2. You made beautiful pieces, even if you were not comfortable with the gold! And you've still got some great beads to play with!

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  3. beuatiful pieces, glad you managed to make something beuatiful out of your comfort zone!

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  4. I'm really loving the top bracelet - the polymer clay heart is so cute! I'd never have been able to tell that you didn't have an affinity for gold.

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  5. Wonderful pieces,the gold works really well with the beads you used and your dragonfly necklace is gorgeous.

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  6. I love how you met the challenge of working with the gold finish! Beautiful!

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  7. WOw!!! This soup would have been challenging for me too!! But I absolutely love what you've done and all your pieces are simply gorgeous!!!! Great work Ginger!!!

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  8. My two favorites are the blue and silver earrings (though I was tempted by the drops and chains) and the one with the dragonfly focal. Nice work.

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  9. You did a very good job working outside your comfort zone. All are wonderful and the turquoise bracelet is beautiful!

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  10. everything turned out beautifully, love that dragonfly necklace!

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  11. You did it...gold beauties! Great work. The dragonfly is pretty.

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  12. You should be proud you made beautiful pieces, I don't usually work with gold either but I would definitely wear what you have made. The turquoise earrings and the dragonfly necklace are stunning. Love each piece.

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  13. It's fun growing with unexpected challenges, isn't it, Ginger? These designs are so awesome! My suggestion for the mystery bracelet? Lots of Czech sparklies, preferably with Picasso finish (oops, that's my suggestion for any bracelet LOL). And you did a great job bandaging your wounded dragonfly ;)

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  14. Oh, that's so sweet, Ginger! I love the idea of a bracelet for a little child - I am always challenged by making bracelets. Always. Love all your pieces (although I miss your lush garden pictures :) )
    As for the mystery bracelet (like Monique called it) - how about you wire wrap the remaining 9and absolutely gorgeous) blue lampwork and use that as your 'chain'?! Maybe multiple strands too.

    Wonderful work with gold, I would have been stumped too, I rarely use golden tones too :)

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  15. Ginger!!!! It's amazing what you made with the bead soup! My favourite's the little girl's bracelet. What a gorgeous combination. And I think it was a great idea to pair both focal pendants together. I would have never thought of that on my own. Honestly I don't think you can tell that the dragonfly's wings broke off. The blue and silver play off each other wonderfully. The gold crimp covers look beautiful and match the focal clasp perfectly. Truth be told I hardly ever use crimp covers either.

    I hope you had a fun time with the bead soup. And you can be sure I'm totally inspired and in awe with your creations.

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  16. What lovely colors in your soup! I especially love the turquoise bracelet and the dragonfly pendant. Oh, did I mention that blue is my favorite color? :)

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  17. Oh so yummy! Love the bracelets to bits but the earrings really scream "take me, take me"!

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  18. Oooh, I don't do gold either, so I feel your pain. But you really pulled it off well. That heart is a sweet touch that ties it all together. And you still have lovely beads to work with for the next project, too. Win!

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  19. I think the little girl's bracelet is my favorite (I wouldn't mind having a larger size for myself either!). Making something for a little one doesn't occur to us often, making it even more special. Love your other pieces too!

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  20. For someone that doesn't use gold, you sure rocked it! I really like the gold & turquoise bracelet.

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  21. dragonfly pendant is so clever and cute, I love it!

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  22. Such lovely work well done!

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  23. Great Job! Looks like Fun colors to work with.
    www.liraysadesigns.blogspot.com

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  24. Hi Ginger, kudos to you for working with something out of your comfort zone. The heart is from http://beetreebyme.blogspot.com/ her name is Mary Ellen. I like the crystal earrings with the altered bead caps best, they look elegant to me. Good kob working with your soup.

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  25. Hi Ginger, it's really a pleasure to see your beautiful creations! I love them all!! I'd never say gold is going so well with turquise!
    For the bracelet I think a multistrand connection between the focal and the clasp would be the best solution - and it would let you a wide array of choice between diferent beads to use.
    Have a nice day,
    Alenka

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  26. Beautiful job! I love the little girl's heart bracelet ... so sweet and you are hilarious! Love the dragonfly story :)

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  27. You rocked your bead soup, very cute designs!

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  28. Great pieces...Love the dragonfly necklace...Looks like you have some really nice pieces left to work with. Happy beading

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  29. Ahhhh, Ginger, you always make me smile! I would have been terrified with the gold too...probably would have done something mixed metal and stuck my silver in there too. Good for you for sticking with it! Love it all, but especially those pear crystal earrings (add a little leaf and they'll look more pear-like), and your dragonfly necklace...awesome!

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  30. The Little Girls bracelet is so loveley. It's my favourite.

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  31. I'm with you, gold would have certainly been a challenge for me. You did so very well with it, I love those pear earrings! I just adore the little girl's bracelet, so very precious! Well done with you pieces!

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  32. The dragonfly necklace is great, I have a love for dragonflies, but I really like your red heart little girls bracelet. The colors are great and some that I would have never paired like that... brilliant! I have to admit, I love smaller bracelets, I have a tiny wrist and never find something to fit, as a kid, there were never, ever bracelets for kids that were nice. Great job!

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  33. Love the little girls bracelet you made. Just darling. And yes there is at least one man participating. A husband and wife that each did their own swap. Pretty cool, right. I don't remember the name of the blog.... pixie something.

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  34. My favorite is the tiger eye bracelet. So cute and sweet. I especially like how you used the heart on it - really smart.

    Linda A.
    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
    http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  35. Ginger, Beautiful jewelry collection & reveal! I love gold & don't see it enough in handcrafted jewelry, so I'm loving your creations big time! And I adore the children's bracelet! you made. I too am creating children's jewelry -- working on tiaras for my granddaughters after a friend surprised me with safe plastic yet beautiful AB beads for the "diamonds" -- sadly, I had to not make them for Holiday after realizing I couldn't use crystal :( Your child's gemstone bracelet is wonderful! Very thoughtful and fun! The heart clasp is splendid, just stunning, and brings a great elegance to the glowing gold beads & turquoise nugget bracelet. Nice. And I love the dragonfly & pretty silver & blue earrings! My favorite of all are the gorgeous gold drop earrings! Wow, just adore those -- they're sublime, Ginger! Happy Hopping! ♥ Rita

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  36. Very nice pieces! Love the earrings!

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  37. Lovely designs. The little girl sized bracelet is very sweet. And I can absolutely see pears in those earrings. Great work.

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  38. You did really great with this challenge. I totally get the need to make some smaller bracelets, I have friends who have asked for them for the little girls in their lives. I'm sure some little girl is going to love that bracelet. As for the rest of the pieces you made, they all turned out so nice! Well done.

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  39. Great designs! I love the dragonfly and the pear-strawberry earrings!

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  40. Love the dragonfly necklace! Great soup!

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  41. You managed to handle the gold in your pieces quite nicely! One would never know it made you uncomfortable. Really like the bracelet with the heart focal.

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  42. Excellent job! Isn't glue great. I have had some mishaps also... You did an awesome soup with your pieces and isn't it true that there are never any really cute little girl jewelry....love yours!

    veradesigns.blogspot.com

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  43. Sweet little bracelet for a ♥sweet little girl, and you made it. Lovely! I love the blue/gold bracelet, it's almost sparkling on my computer screen, great job! The other pieces too. Love the little focal that's left on your table...!

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  44. Your pieces as well as your blog put a huge smile on my face. You have many talents.

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  45. I like the chunky look to your heart bracelet and you did a great job with using the gold in your jewelry. The blue and silver pieces are simply wonderful. And the stawberry-esk earrings are just delicious. Really Soup-er!

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  46. I like the color combo of both bracelets, the way the chunky red heart gives a whole new look to the first one and the chunky beads of the second! Merging the two focals is very creative and inspirational and an inventive way to connect them! Beautiful earrings!

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Hey Thanks! I love hearing what you think.