Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal August 2012

Yippee, I’m able to reveal!

Originally I was scheduled for July 28th Bead Soup Blog Party reveal, but on Friday the 13th (no black cats or ladders in sight), I had an unpleasant accident. I fell in our garage and broke my ankle. I could not safely get to my third floor studio (on crutches), it was miserable. Prior to the fall, I had started two designs using the vintage soup ingredients that I received from my partner Kayla. My worst fear in life is disappointing people, so not being able to complete the task on time was very hard for me. Thankfully Lori A. let me move my reveal date…Hope you like my designs

Best wishes to all who are revealing today!

What is a bead soup you ask? It's an assortment of beads, one focal bead, and a pretty clasp traded between partners. On the reveal day we blog about what we've made using the beads received from our partner.

As a reminder, here is what I received from my wonderful partner Kayla:

While pondering how to use my soup ingredients, I decided to use a specific color pallet that complimented the focal bead. Here is an example of that pallet (the fist color square is oyster white, it doesn't show up in the picture very well)...

My first piece incorporates the large focal and clasp Kayla sent in my soup. I also used some of the glass nugget, bone, seed, and gemstones beads to create a necklace. I loved the beautiful clasp so much that I did not want to hide it behind the neck; it’s placed front and center in my design. Wire wrapped links  of various sizes and textures were attached making a long necklace with a fun beaded tassel at the end. I incorporated many different beads, bits, and bobs from my own stash to get a very bohemian look.

This necklace will be fun to wear with a soft tunic sweater and my favorite straight leg jeans. We have a lot of festivals coming up here in Georgia, I plan to show off my design then; fall is my favorite time of year in the south!

I also created a second piece using my soup ingredients. I’ve wanted to create a cuff bracelet for some time so I used some of the smaller green beads from my soup in this design. I had several coils of copper wire in different sizes and a handmade copper cuff that was just waiting to become something special. I experimented with wrapping and coiling the copper wire around the cuff until I got use to the feel and flexibility of the wire.

After several trial runs, I began weaving and wrapping the coral beads, copper beads, soup gemstones, and gemstones from my stash around the cuff. I really like how it turned out, I plan to keep this piece for myself!

Thanks for stopping by my blog to take a peek at my designs. If you have a few minutes, visit my partner Kayla's blog to see what she made with the beads I sent her and stop by some of the other blogs revealing designs today. Participants are listed below. Have fun hoping around!

My Wonderful Partner: Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element

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

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

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, En La 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

Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
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
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
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

Summer 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party Goodies...

Take a peek at the goodies I received from Kayla Potega, my partner for the July 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party. Kayla from The Eclectic Element creates lovely jewelry featuring up-cycled vintage beads and findings. I love the fact that her designs are 90% recycled materials, even elements of her packaging is up-cycled. Based on her eclectic style and vast collection of vintage materials, I was excited to see what she would send.

I was delighted when I opened the package from Kayla, so many wonderful vintage items to play with! The goodies are spread out on my bead bench so I can think about how I will use them in my Bead Soup design. I want to really challenge myself this time, so in preparation for the event, I outlined 10 ways

(see them here) to improve my experience and grow as a designer.

Just look at all the treasure Kayla sent!

I removed the individual bags to reveal the materials I will use for this challenge. The idea is to work outside our comfort zone to design a jewelry piece using the beads selected by a partner. Kayla's selection for me included fabulous textures and shapes... there are so many great items, I don’t know where to start. The clasp is really wonderful and I have several focal beads to choose from.

Check back on July 28 when my finished design(s) will be revealed. I will also post a list of the other participants so you can hop around to the other blogs and see what they have created using the beads they received. Cheers!

 See Kayla's Etsy Shops Here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEclecticElement

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEclecticElement2

Bead Soup Blog Party...Ten stress-free steps...

  The next Bead Soup Blog Party is just around the corner.  I’ve been thinking about how I want to approach the upcoming event.  In the past I’ve completed designs that I was comfortable with, but that isn't the point of this ‘Party’.  It is meant to challenge creative limitations and help you try something new.  So in preparation for the next Bead Soup event, I have outlined 10 ways (listed below) to improve my experience and grow as a designer. If you are interesting in reading about the Bead Soup Blog Party, check out Lori Anderson’s blog “Pretty Things”.



My Past Bead Soup Blog Party Designs



My New Design Process for the Bead Soup Blog Party…

1. You need to keep in mind what’s interesting to you as a designer, not what’s easy to do as a jewelry maker. They can be very different.


2. Simplify. Focus. Define your color pallet. Which beads will you use from your soup ingredients? You may feel like you’re losing valuable stuff, but it sets you free.


3. Visualize jewelry designs you love. What you love about them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.


4. Think about what you are good at, comfortable with. Now what is the polar opposite of that? Challenge yourself.


5. Discount the 1st design that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.


6. Visualize or draw a finished piece before you figure out how to create it. Seriously. New design direction is hard; get your design well-defined up front.


7. No effort is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on - it’ll come back around to be useful later.


8. Recognize your skill: the difference between doing your best & fretting. Design is about trying, not worrying.


9. If you were wearing this piece, how would you feel? Use that feeling to describe your work.


10. Finish and post your design, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both (finished on time and perfection), but even if you don’t have both, know that you embraced the challenge and created something from your heart.

Cheers!

Amazing...

I finally finished the Bead Soup Blog Hop, I am amazed by the talent of the other participants and had so much fun looking at what everyone had created with their bead soup ingredients. This challenge has once again been a great experience and a chance to grow as a bead artist.  Below I have featured some of my favorite creations from the blog hop. I aspire to one day be as skilled as these ladies.........the full list and links to the other participants is in my previous blog post if you are interested in taking a peek.

 Revisiting My Favorites from the Bead Soup Blog Party:  

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created

 Deigned by: Cece Cormier

From: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Blog: The Beading Yogini

  http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created

 Deigned by: Vonna Maslanka

From: Illinois, USA

Blog: justvonna

http://www.justvonna.blogspot.com/

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created

Deigned by: Heidi Kingman

From: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Blog: My Bead Therapy

http://www.mybeadtherapy.blogspot.com/

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created

Deigned by: Jeanette Ryan

From: Reston, Virginia, USA

Blog: Jeanette Blix Metal and Wire Jewelry

http://jeanetteblix.com/

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created 

Deigned by: Lorelei Eurto

From: Upstate New York, USA

Blog: Lorelie's Blog

http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/

Materials Designer Received / Jewelry Designer Created  

Deigned by: Tania Hagen

From: Gisborne. New Zealand

Blog: Pelima Jewelry Design

http://pelimadesign.blogspot.com/

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal – Spring 2012

Yippee! Today is the Bead Soup Blog Party reveal. Each Bead Soup participant was paired with another jewelry designer and asked to send their partner the following:

~ A focal
~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)
~ Some coordinating spacers or beads

Using the focal and the clasp was mandatory, and we could use anything from our own stash to round out the project. The choice to use the coordinating beads or not was left up to us.

This is the Bead Soup package I received from my partner

Maria Rosa Sharrow

Here is the first necklace I made…

Rosa designed and created the beautiful pressed flower pendant and sent a generous amount of coordinating beads that inspired me to create a multi-strand necklace. I love wire-wrapping so I wrapped individual freshwater pearls to make the chain link strand. The second strand is a mix of the colorful vintage beads that Rosa sent and more of the sage green freshwater pearls. The final strand is a simple oxidized chain holding the flower pendant. I love the vibrant colors!

Take a closer look at the lovely pendant and this perfect little clasp Rosa sent. I think the size of the clasp works perfectly with the overall piece and will be comfortable to wear all day.   

The second necklace I made…

Rosa sent plenty of ingredients for a second necklace and although I don’t generally work with seed beads, I enjoyed working out of my comfort zone and I am pleased with the result.  I used three different colors of seed beads twisted together and separated with the smoky glass and lampwork beads Rosa included in my soup ingredients. The focal is another wonderful pressed glass pendant that Rosa made.  It holds a tiny butterfly wing which is well-matched to my design style (note my shop banner at the top of this page).

And I even had enough ingredients for a bracelet…

How could a southern gal go wrong with a lovely handmade pink flower focal in her soup? Spring in the south is all about pink! Flowering cherry trees, azaleas, camellias, and mounds of impatiens burst into the world with amazing pink blooms. I like the contrast of the antique brass findings with the glass and crystal beads; to me, this design has a vintage feel.

Send me a note, tell me what you think of my Bead Soup Designs.

Click on the names below to see what the other bead artists participating in Lori Anderson's Blog Party have created with their Bead Soup ingredients.  

Thanks Lori A. for your long hours and hard work organizing this fun event!!!

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian

51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan

61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry

81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson

90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Take a peek at my Bead Soup package!

Look at what I received from Maria Rosa, my partner for the March 2012 Bead Soup Blog Party. Maria Rosa from  Willow Street Shops creates vintage designs featuring distinct and colorful gemstones, her handmade pendants, art beads and vintage beads. Based on her eclectic style and vast collection of materials, I was excited to see what she would send. I was thrilled when I opened the package; so many wonderful beads to play with! I’ve had them spread out on my bead bench so I can think about how I will use them in my Bead Soup design. 

 

Just look at all my treasure!

I removed the individual packing bags to reveal the materials I will use for the challenge. The idea is to work outside our comfort zone to design a jewelry piece using the beads selected by a partner. Maria's selection for me included fabulous textures and colors...

The first bag I opened contained a pressed flower pendant handmade by Maria and complimenting colorful vintage Lucite and glass beads.

The second bag contained another of Maria's handmade pendants, this one is a little smaller with a pressed butterfly wing.  It also contained coordinating glass, ceramic, and Bali silver beads.

The third bag contained a handmade vintage button pendant, vintage brass beads, a vintage key, and pretty glass beads. I also received the two clasps shown below.

Check back on March 3rd when my finished design(s) will be revealed.  Then, hop around to the other participating blogs and see what they have created using their Blog Soup Beads.  Cheers!

My new love...Pinterest!

I know many of my favorite bloggers are Etsians who use Pinterest, the online pinboard for organizing and sharing images of things you admire. I’m a big fan of pinterest and my Husband might even say that I’m totally addicted to “pinning”— check out what I’ve been pinning.

When I first heard about pinterest, I was not eager to jump on this newest bandwagon, but I have begun using it more and more lately as I’ve discovered how much fun it can be! (And, admittedly, when I recognized that it is sending traffic to my blog.)

I just found out it’s easier than ever to pin my favorite Etsy listings! Etsy has added a red “Pin It” button to the item listing pages. When you pin Etsy listings with the Pin It button, the required pin description field is prefilled with the item title and price. You can also add a note about why you like the item!

Like Etsy’s Treasury, Pinterest is a place for curating and sharing things you love, and is not intended for self-promotion. I’ve been using it to collect recipes, favorite travel destinations, clever DIY tips, etc…

Happy pinning!
 

I won the lottery!

Yippee, I was selected (by lottery) to participate in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party!

Here’s the scoop; each jewelry designer is paired with another jewelry designer and tasked with sending their partner the following:

• - A focal
• - A special clasp (not just a lobster claw)
• - Some coordinating spacers or beads

 Using the focal and the clasp is mandatory, but I can use anything from my own stash to come up with a design for the event. My partner for this event is: Maria Rosa Sharrow from Willow Street Shops.

 

I’m curious to find out what she will be sending me….her materials and designs are very different from my jewelry designs.

My finished design from the 4th Bead Soup Blog Party.

But that’s the point of this event, the idea is to help you think outside the box and work outside your normal comfort zone, pushing you into creative directions you may never have gone. I’m sending Maria Rose a package of goodies I would love to use in a jewelry design challenge. I hope she likes them!

 

I’ll keep you posted on our progress….

Trying something new....Beadweaving.

While visiting the blogs of the Bead Soup Blog Party participants (see pervious blog post for my Reveal), I found that I was captivated by the designers who used bead weaving techniques to complete their projects. I was so taken with their designs that I did a little research today to learn more about bead weaving….

Great Book by Ann Benson

The art of weaving in general is a process that I’ve been exposed to for many years. My Grandmother spent hours weaving cloth (to use as farmhouse rugs) by means of a huge loom, so I have a basic knowledge of how to weave. However, my research illustrated that many different weaving techniques and stitches incorporating beads have been used throughout history. I have a lot of catching-up to do…

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

From my research I’ve found the term “beadwork” seems to be misunderstood (I wasn’t using it correctly). Many people do not realize there is a difference between "beadwork," and "work done with beads."

“Work done with beads” is typically a group of beads strung together, as with a necklace. The stringing is simple and straightforward, we focus on the beads. The beads by themselves are interesting, and the placement on the string ideally enhances the beads. My lampwork bracelet below is considered “Work done with beads”.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67705564/lampwork-bead-bracelet-handmade-monets

“Beadwork”, it's just the opposite. The beads in beadwork (basically -- don't hold me to this rule in all instances) are plain and do not hold great interest by themselves. However, their placement pulls together the overall pattern; it’s viewed as one design, not individual beads. This technique demands precision, patience, consistency, and vision. Beadweaving is considered “beadwork”. Check out an example below....

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49667731/bead-weaving-cuff-bracelet-bubbles

I found that there are literally hundreds of stitches and variations of the different stitches allowing bead weavers to make jewelry, decorations, and even 3-D art with beads. Many free tutorials are available on the internet. The process seems time consuming, but in the end well worth the effort. Below are some examples of amazing beadwork I found on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73492056/reserved-nightingale-necklace
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76512144/bead-embroidered-necklace-summer-skies
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72614230/edoras-lord-of-the-rings-pectoral
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77689479/wrap-beaded-bracelet

So...I’m ready to give it a go! I’ve found lots of information about the tools needed to get started. I’m off to the local craft store to purchase needles and string. I already have some larger seed beads that I will use to practice. I read that starting with large beads makes learning the technique a lot easier. Wish me luck!