Monthly Archives: August 2012

This was a challenge and a blast as I spent a few days way out of my comfort zone working with the lovely pieces that were sent to me by by Bead Soup partner B.R. Kuhlman.

There were so many goodies including two amazing wire wrapped focal pieces. That Miss B sure knows how to work her way around wire. Here is what she sent:

I started with the wire-wrapped polymer clay focal. I was so pleased to find I had copper chain on hand that totally complimented the copper hook that B sent me.

I strung and restrung the center of this necklace, trying to make it work with a strand of peach colored silk. It wasn’t until I got out some leather cord and did a little wire wrapping of my own (many attempts!) that the piece came together. I made the copper clay leaves  a few years ago and they seemed the right weight to balance and frame the focal. The dotted beads are dyed bone from Africa.

Next came the Zebra Jasper wrapped in gold plated wire. I wanted to keep the necklace pretty simple to highlight B’s beautiful work on the focal. The gold box clasp she sent had 2 holes to attach strands of beads which influenced the necklace design.

I totally missed putting these pieces of gold coral in my photos when I opened B’s package. After doubling the strands on the necklace above, I continued exploring the look when I made the necklace with the coral.

After the third necklace I wanted to make a bracelet. I thought the brown ribbon tied around my package from B would be a cool way to connect the ends of a 3 strand elastic bracelet.  I’ve never made anything like this before, but I will definitely keep an eye out for connectors like these in the future!

With still more beads, I set about making some earrings. The copper and brass rings are links I cut from chain I had in my stash. You can see I continued my leather cord exploration.

Since I was already in “crimp mode” with the leather, I tried out some gold plated Beadalon wire for the next two pairs of earrings.

I was so excited about the smokey quartz briolettes. I love how people use them in their work, all wrapped at the top with wire. I wanted to try it too. Uh, all of you guys who do this, you make it look like it would be really easy…I got really frustrated, but I didn’t give up.  Like with anything else, there is a learning curve. I hope it gets easier and more satisfying with time…

Last, but not least, did you notice that B sent two feathers in the “soup?” I thought I was being so clever to use them in the photographs, but I really didn’t imagine using them as part of my jewelry making  journey. The next thing I knew, I cut them down to a smaller size and tied them up with a mess of square knots in my little leather cord.

Thank you so much B for the beautiful beads, focals, and clasps. I stretched and grew as I worked with them, and it was a whole lot of fun. Thank you, too, to Lori Anderson. You sure host a great party!

I hope everyone who visits my blog will take time to look at the blogs of the other participants. Don’t get overwhelmed by the number of us. Just check out a few every day and explore the world of creative people who took the bead soup challenge!