Hi, bead fans. It’s time for round two of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party! Last time I posted, I announced that round two would happen on April 6, but the event was pushed back a week.

I was actually grateful for the week delay. Things have been hectic for me this spring, and the extra week gave me plenty of time to meet the round two deadline.

First, a quick thanks to our hostess, Lori, and my bead soup partner for round 7, J.J. Jacobs. For a quick refresher on all the goodies that she sent, please visit my last post, Bead Soup 7, Check Out These Beads!

Bead Soup 1: The Lariat

When I first saw the two amazing, etched glass focal beads that J.J. sent, I knew I wanted to use them as a set, and immediately I thought about a lariat. I’d never made a lariat before, so I was even more excited to try it. I used waxed linen to string the beads on, picking a turquoise color that would go with the swirling details on the beads, and also act as a unifying pop of color along the strand where I knotted the cord and let it show through. Here is the result:

This lariat might be my new, go-to necklace. It’s nice and long, and the lampworked glass focals have such a nice weight. It’s a joy to wear!

Bead Soup 2: The Experiment

Now I had to tackle the toggle that J.J. sent. And I needed a focal. Recently I purchased a pack of Vintaj Patinas (the weathered copper set), and had been dying to try them out. so I had the sudden brainstorm to color the copper beads and toggle with the Vintaj patinas. I turned the bumpy copper bead into the focal, and set it off with some brown ceramic rounds and a couple brown bone beads for added boho-vibe. Here is the result:

The Vintaj patinas were super easy to use, and my camera did not quite capture how neat these beads turned out. It doesn’t quite show the green on top of the turquoise, or how rustic the patina looks on the aged, dark copper focal. The camera makes it look brighter than it really is. Painting the beads was fun, and was a tiny homage to the artistic prowess of my bead partner.

I didn’t seal the beads or toggle, wanting to see how well the patina held up by itself with regular wear and tear.

I do have a few yummy beads left over from my soup, and will have to use them another day. Now it’s time to go off and see what the rest of my round two cohorts made. You can visit the rest of this week’s participants here:

Bead Soup 7 – Round Two

I hope you enjoyed my creations, and please make sure you stop by J.J. Jacobs’ blog to see what she made, and to see the beads I sent her. Thanks again, J.J.!

Some of you already know this, but my first artistic love is drawing and painting. It’s what I got my college degree in, and what I do for my “day job”. So I’m thrilled that my newest bead soup blog party partner is the extremely talented J.J. Jacobs.

She is a dual artist, working as abstract expressionist painter, and as a glass artist.

Just looking through her portfolio of abstracts made me want to ditch my computerized illustrations (see my illustration website, karynlewis.com), dust off my easel and break out my old brushes. Here’s a couple examples of her amazing paintings:

And check out her glass work.

I’ve been so blessed to work with amazing creative women in the bead soup parties. Each one has inspired me in so many ways. I’m really looking forward to the seventh bead soup! Tomorrow is the first reveal date. Please visit the Bead Soup Blog to see the first round of participants and check out their wonderful collaborations.

My partner and I will be in round 2, which will happen April 6. And while you’re hopping the other bead soup parties going on tomorrow, check back here to see the wonderful beady-goodness that I received.

soup one

I loved how much care Marti took when she picked out that lovely blue, stoneware bird focal for me. It was so stunning, I wasn’t sure at first how to show it off. I eventually decided to pair it up with a couple of her wonderful accent beads and the waxed linen. Here is the result:

When I was trying to figure out what to do, I did a couple of sketches. Here is a fun detail of the necklace, with one my quick and dirty sketches in the background:

While I kept the spirit of the original sketch, I simplified the accent beads and eliminated the beaded loop on the bottom of the bird, opting for simpler knots and linen.

soup two

The bead soup rules state that we’re supposed to use the focal and the clasp we’re sent, and any other beads we receive can be used at our discretion. Originally Marti sent me a pretty blue button as my closure, but I just couldn’t make it fit with the bird focal. The scale, or size, of the button wasn’t right for the first necklace, so I had to make a second soup. I chose to make a bracelet:

Instead of using the button as a closure, I stacked a Greek ceramic washer bead on top, and lashed the two together with waxed linen to make a layered focal. I think the blue really pops against the coppery Greek cornflake beads and the brown of the wood beads. Vintaj findings finish out the bracelet. I hope that my using the button as a focal and not as a clasp doesn’t violate the rules of the Bead Soup hop too much. I just loved the way the faded denim washer looked stacked and my muse had to be obeyed!

Thanks again, Marti for the awesome soup you sent me! And thanks, bead friends, for stopping by my neck of the woods today. Here’s a list of the rest of today’s bead soup reveal peeps:

REVEAL ONE Participants, July 28, 2012

Don’t you just love the bird focal and accent beads that she made? The button is adorable, and is perfect for me, since I’ve been trying to hone my waxed linen and button closure skills. I can’t wait to start playing with this soup. We’re scheduled to be in the reveal one on July 28th. Here’s everyone else who will be unveiling their soups on that date: Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal #1, July 28, 2012.

Designers

Alice Dreaming

Aimee’s Jewelry Treasures

Creative Thoughts From Cindy

CSW Designs

YaY! Jewelry

Beads donated by:

Marla’s James
Melinda Orr
J-Lynn Jewels
Karen Totten
Kathleen Robinson-Young
Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio

Marti makes buttons and beads out of stoneware clay. Here’s some of the current beauties available in her etsy (and if you fall in love with one, click on the image to see purchasing info):

Crater Speckled Handmade Beads:

Fern Leaf Pendant

A Bead Times Three

I can’t wait to see what she sends me. In the meantime, please go browse the other goodies she has, and stop on by her blog as well.

The Bead Soup hop has grown so large, our hostess has organized the reveal this time around in three groups. Marti and I will reveal our creations on July 28th.

Happy Bead Table Wednesday! Here’s what I’ve been working on over the last few days: polka dot beads made from simple bulls-eye canes and crotchet bowls. What’s on your bead table today?