Bead Soup Blog Party - REVEAL DAY!!!!

Remember, the bead soup blog party's purpose is to get a person out of their normal comfort zone using items they normally wouldn't. 

The participants have to have a blog.  They are carefully paired up by Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs - who has spent countless hours and a ton of energy on this blog party.  THANK YOU LORI!  Once paired up, each partner sends a focal bead, a clasp (not just a lobster clasp) and some coordinating beads to create their new masterpiece(s).

This was my first BSBP and I was so lucky to be paired up with my new friend Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf.  Here's a recap of the bead soup I received from Barbara:

Here is the bead soup I sent to Barbara - go see http://www.secondsurf.com/ to see her masterpiece!

Bead Soup Blog Party Participants 

There are 362 participants in this fun blog party - go check out all the

wonderful creations using the link above.

AND NOW THE BIG REVEAL!

I actually made three pieces with the soup that Barbara sent to me.  I'm sure you saw the beautiful lace Barbara sent in the picture above.  Unfortunately I mangled it trying to incorporate it into one of my pieces.  :o(  I've never worked with lace before and it just wasn't my "cup of tea soup" this time. 

The rules of the BSBP are that we must use the focal and the clasp, using the extra beads is optional.  My goal was to use all of the little pretties that Barbara sent to me.  I came pretty close to my goal with the exception of the lace.

I am very proud of the pieces below - I hope you enjoy!

I used the majority of the extra beads along with the clasp in this necklace.  I made the chain using copper wire that I formed into jump rings and then antiqued.  The necklace is a choker length.

The extra beads went into this sweet little pair of earrings with my handmade ear wires - great match for the above necklace!

Last, but definitely not least, is the focal piece that Barbara sent me.  It's such a beautiful pendant that I didn't want it to get lost in the jumble of beads in the first necklace.  So, I paired the feather pendant with the ceramic piece and hung them on a simple silk cord necklace. 

Isn't it beautiful?

Here's the picture of all the pieces in one place

Now, off I go to look at 361 other blogs and all the creations!

Bead Soup Blog Party Participants

Click above to hop the blogs with me!

Thank you Barbara for making my first bead soup a great experience! 

I look forward to a long friendship!

Come visit me at:

Etsy Shop

My Facebook

Or email me at bryna.lumb@gmail.com



Bead Soup Ingredients

Ohhhhhhhhh excitement once again!

I received my bead soup ingredients from Barbara Bechtel in the mail last week.

What a lovely assortment!

The assortment is in a Fall color scheme, how perfect for the upcoming season.



The purpose of the Bead Soup Blog Party is to get yourself out of your "normal" comfort zone of jewelry making.  This is definitely going to be a challenge for me since I'm pretty much used to making mostly wine toppers and earrings.

Here are my ingredients (pictures below):

• Lovely lace trim
• Peacock pearls and czech faceted glass
• Ceramic Raku Focal from Suburban Girl Studios
• Czech glass leaves and flowers
• Antique Indian Coin Toggle from Miss Fickle Media
• Boro glass spacers from Seashore Glass
• Feather pendant from Barbara!

(Thanks for the list Barbara, I wouldn't have been able to figure all this out without it!)

Barbara's feather pendant up close and personal - isn't it GORGEOUS?

AND, here's a very special gift from Barbara that's not part of the BSBP - I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with this wing!

What a great reminder that you have the potential to do your best every day!

Thank you Barbara for such a wonderful assortment and for the special gift!

You can visit Barbara here:

Blog

Webstore

Etsy shop

~STAY TUNED~

~To see what I make~

~The big reveal day for the BSBP is September 17th!~

My first Bead Soup partner!

Whew, what a weekend! 

I saw "The Help" with my mom and my friends Donna & Betsy on Saturday - Hello, GREAT MOVIE.  I loved the book and have been on pins and needles for the movie to come out.  I was very impressed at how well the actors portrayed the characters in the book and how well the movie followed the actual book.  Five star recommendation to read the book and go see the movie!

After celebrating my parent's birthdays (happy birthday Mom & Dad!) and with the kiddo out for the night, I finally have time to introduce you to my first Bead Soup partner, Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf. 

I'm SO excited to be working with Barbara, she's very nice and since this is her third time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by the tireless Lori of Lori Anderson Designs, she's been very helpful in walking this newbie through her first "Soup" experience. 

Barbara is from Merritt Island Florida and is a jewelry designer who makes her own beads, mostly out of polymer clay.  Barbara's beads and jewelry are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! 

Here are just a few of my favorites, let me tell you, it was hard to choose just a few.



Isn't her work gorgeous?  Seeing her work inspires me to continue my journey of learning polymer clay media.  I can not wait to see what she sends to me for my bead soup!

On a related note, I was severely disappointed when Barbara told me that she and her shop are about five and a half hours away from where Bill, myself and several girlfriends will be vacationing soon.  I was so hoping to be able to visit in person! 

I sent Barbara's bead soup off this weekend, I'm a nervous wreck hoping I chose the right collection to send to her after changing my mind countless times. 

Here is a teaser of what Barbara will be receiving next week, photo is skewed to keep it a secret until Barbara is ready to reveal her bead soup package after she receives it.  I was even mean enough to change the photo to a sepia tone so as not to give away the color scheme either.  Hee hee hee. 

What I can say is that Barbara will be receiving a lampwork focal, some lampwork accent beads and a sterling silver clasp all handmade by me along with some other accent beads that I didn't have the talent to make, someone or some machine, made. 

I will be sure to post my bead soup after it's received and of course what I make out of it on September 17th, the big reveal day. 

Be sure to visit Barbara at the following locations:

Etsy

Webstore

Blog

~STAY TUNED~

Bead Soup Blog Party!

BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY!

I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A FIRST TIME PARTICIPANT IN THIS EXCITING PARTY!

Stay tuned for the bead soup I send and the bead soup that I receive.

Can't wait to see all the pretty's that are created!!!!

Bead Soup Sign-up

Whew! Finally took Etsy shop off vacation

Well, that was a LONG vacation!  I decided to take some time off of the Etsy shop with the birth of our baby girl in December.  It's been so hot here in St. Louis that my torching time consists of precious stolen moments when the hubby is here to watch our sweet girl. 

Here are just a few of the new items I have listed in my Etsy shop - thanks for browsing and spreading the word if you're able.  The link is below each picture. 

Grapevine wine topper

Another topper

Beach themed bottle opener