Bead Soup Party

The day is finally here!

Remember where we have started from? For a long description - read the original Soup Ingredients post here. For a very short introduction: we were paired with another designer, and we sent each other a 'bead soup' out of which we had to create something, using at least the focal and the clasp. My soup came all the way from California, from Dita Basu and it is pictured below:

I knew from the start what to do with the Jade focal... I also knew I had no jade in the house - so I made a trip to the store... just to come back home and find a vintage strand of jade, from my mom. It is somewhere in the vicinity of 40 years old and it matches the doughnut to perfection! I also found some amazing Czech glass 6/0 seed beads that imitate stone.

Out of my mom's strand there were some stones left, so I made a slightly asymmetric bracelet.
This is what came out of this adventure:

The only thing I'm not happy with is the half toggle I used (it's sterling silver... I will replace it with a gold plated / filled as soon as I find one :)).

The polymer clay focal was a pretty easy one - matching the pastel colours was fun albeit a lengthy process... many a bags I have picked until I was happy with the result. I also knew what I wanted to do with it... at least half-way... Sterling silver wire crocheted with the beads, a few cute beads on the drop and here we are.

As luck or fate would have it - when I found the vintage jade strand I also discovered a couple of vintage bracelets made of raisin... amazingly enough in the exact same shades as the focal flowers and the Czech beads. When this happens all you have to do is to return the favour and make something out of them. And that's what I did: 2 bracelets using the double-whole pieces from my bracelets (which I wore many, many years ago until their string broke) and some co-ordinating Czech beads to bring the set together.

I am not 100% happy with the necklace (I keep thinking triple strand braided together for more 'volume'); even asked my son about it - he was adamant it doesn't need the multiple braided strands, to quote him exactly "The simplicity of the design makes it nice" - there you have it, the wisdom of an almost 9 yo!

You really have to see them together to appreciate how beautifully they match - 3 different ingredients (the focal, the Czech beads, and the bracelet 'squares'), from completely different materials and from different times. I just love the whole set!

So far I used both focals - but none of the clasps yet... hmm... both were too beautiful to be hidden at the back of the necklace; none would match the jade necklace (and I wasn't sure if using just half is acceptable)... What to do, what to do?

While making my Valentine's Day set (you can read about it right here) it just hit me - the Krobo beads! After searching a bit - I found everything I needed: the beautiful sterling silver toggle clasp, a silk cord, some silver wire, a couple of fiery Swarovski crystals, chain, and some head pins.

Just don't ask how many times I wrapped that silk cord before I was happy with the result :) I just love this necklace - it is so simple and yet so powerful!

In the meantime I have used the wood beads too (a simple and quick project):

The cutest pair of earrings I've ever owned! A new trip to the store is needed soon - I intend to find matching beads to make a bracelet or a necklace (or both if I know myself).

I thought I was done - I still had those beautiful turquoise beads I couldn't for the life in me figure out what to do with them (they have very large holes and are very light). At the same time I was still trying to figure out what to make for the 7000 bracelet hop - and somehow my muse woke up and guided my brain to a Shambhala bracelet. I have always loved them - now I did a bit of research to see what is their meaning / history. Finding out they are a symbol of peace, tranquility and happiness I knew I hit the double jack-pot: an idea for the turquoise beads and (hopefully) a piece to brighten someones else's day too. I am truly sorry to let it go - I am very pleased with how it ended up:

Believe it or not, I still have a few elements of my original soup!
Thank you, Dita, for being so generous.
Thank you, Lori, for allowing me to be part of this party - it has been the best jewelry-related adventure so far. I had tons of fun with my ingredients, and I am quite pleased with the results.

Thank you, my loyal reader, for getting to this point - I know, it has been a very long post... thank you for being patient :)

Please visit the other wonderful participants (I know it'll be a very, very long weekend for me!)