Saturday, May 10, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party # 8 - the day is here!

Welcome to yet another Bead Soup Blog Party! #8 to be exact :)

BSBP is one of the few blogosphere events I try to participate every they are hosted. Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is a lovely artist who takes on this herculean task of hosting the parties, now once a year. They are humongous parties, I forgot the number of participants this year, but it's somewhere close to 500. Trust me, that's a lot of work to organize! So a big Thank You! from the start to Lori.

My partner this time is Penny Neville of Copper Penny Designs, from Alberta - a fellow Canadian. Not only that, she sent me mostly Canadian art beads, and it was a true pleasure to work with her 'soup' ingredients.

I'll keep it short -this is my original soup, for more details on it please check a previous post, right here.

Soup ingredients from Penny Neville of Copper Penny Designs: focal by Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of Skye Jewels, polymer clay by Elaine Robataille, a little mushroom by Bubly and McGurk Beads, lampwork by Ericabeads, a lovely copper toggle and button, Czech glass leaves, faceted jade, pearls, lucite :: All Pretty Things

A lovely colour mix and a gorgeous bead mix all together. I have been stumped for a little bit, I am always stumped by lucite, and how to showcase them the right way. At first I wanted to incorporate everything in one piece. But the piece itself had a mind of its own and took a different approach :)

I started from metal: using copper washers, soldered them together, textured them, soldered them again (nothing like a good hammering to find out if your piece is holding itself together!), buffed, shined, and flame coloured the base.

Base for the Childhood memories garden: copper washers, metalsmith, colour with flame :: All Pretty Things

Hubby saw it and said "It's perfect like this"... hmm... but I still have stuff to add, now what?!

After a few days of keeping it on my desk and watching it carefully, I started to add more elements. Not too many, though, I didn't want to cover it anymore :) I am silly, I know.

I used the pearls for the flowers 'stamina' and 2 of the polymer clay beauties to connect the focal.

Childhood memories garden: ooak necklace detail ~ copper washers base, focal by Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of Skye Jewels, polymer clay by Elaine Robataille, pearls, lucite :: All Pretty Things

A new question presented itself: how to hang all this? As I am allergic to base metals, for me it's out of question to use copper or anything else other than silver or gold on the skin. That's why my neck-pieces are either thread-based, or fabric covered. As luck will have it, I found the perfect element: a piece of velvet from a costume I wore when I was very young!

Childhood memories garden: ooak necklace ~ copper washers base, focal by Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of Skye Jewels, polymer clay by Elaine Robataille, pearls, lucite, vintage velvet ribbon :: All Pretty Things

Perfect colour match, isn't it?! And a lovely childhood memory at the same time. Can you spell perfection?

I decided to name it 'Childhood memories garden' and I'm very happy with it :)

But that was only the focal! I still needed to use the clasp. Oh, my. Originally, I knotted the round and faceted beads on the Irish wax linen, thinking that will be my neck piece. But it didn't match the main piece anymore... and it was too short to use it as a necklace... so it became:

Wrap bracelet: copper toggle clasp, Irish wax linen, faceted jade, stone :: All Pretty Things

A wrap bracelet! My first one - and I do love wrap bracelets to pieces. So much so that since I decided it stays a bracelet I've wore it every single day. Love it!

The upside? If I find another toggle identical to this, I can transform it into a necklace - I'll show you when I'm done :)

This is my (short version of the) story and I'm definitely sticking to it :) More details can be seen in the slideshow below - enjoy!



First and foremost: thank you to Lori for organizing this wonderful event! I learn a lot, and I have tons of fun :)

Thank you to my lovely partner - I still have lots of ingredients to work with, and some ideas of earrings and bracelets to complete the 2 pieces done so far. Thank you, Penny, it has been a wonderful experience, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you created too :)

And last, but not least, thank you to all who visit and leave a note. I am honoured to have you stop by!

For a complete list of participants, please check Lori's post: Bead Soup Blog Party #8 - Participants list

132 comments:

  1. Love the copper washer base! The slide show is a wonderful addition to the blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OH! The washer base is amazing!! Love all the colors of your soup mix, and your finished pieces are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the washer base and the colors in your bead soup. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Orange! What a beautiful necklace! I'm in love with every detail of it.
    Well done!
    Agata
    www.inaurem.pl

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your necklace is wonderful, the velvet and the metal, make it very special.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your necklace looks so tactile, wish I could touch it lol. I love the colours they make me feel happy and the flame colouring you got on the washers is superb.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the ribbon necklace, such cool designs

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my, I am a sucker for metalsmith, (and orange) - I so love your necklace

    ReplyDelete
  9. Fabulous necklace from a lovely soup!

    ReplyDelete
  10. simply amazing! I enjoyed reading about your creative process.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your necklace Alicia - very original.

    ReplyDelete
  12. love the copper washers focal. gorgeous colours from flaming as well. I don't have metal allergies but some of my customers do and I struggle with how to make jewellery for them without using very expensive gold or sterling . great idea to recycle fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I absolutely love what you've done with your soup! The necklace is to die for. Just my style. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have noticed a number of green and orange soup palattes. I love what you have done with yours. the use of the velvet is a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love the way tour created a base for the necklace, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love it that you used the fabric and that it has sentimental value. Way to go on the soldering.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is so creative! I just love it! Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh my Alisha, your necklace is stunning, very fitting for the statement necklace that are so popular these days. I love that you added a personal touch with the velvet ribbon, it looks like they were meant to be together. I love wrap bracelets too!! I had a great time with your soup as well and you were a wonderful partner! Can't wait for your friendship to continue!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very pretty necklace and bracelet! Your slideshow is very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous pieces, really love the necklace. So glad you were able to work around the metal issue and the ribbon you used is so perfect on it too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the way that you used the washers...very creative!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Alicia, your husband was right. The necklace is perfect with just a few embellishments. The bracelet is also quite nice. Great job. Jean

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whoa Alicia you rocked this party! What a clever design idea! Just love the necklace! You go girl!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Awesome! Wonderful soldering! Embellished perfectly! Soup-er!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful as usual Alicia! That orange fabric really makes the necklace pop...and I really love the bracelet...may have to try some knotting....Thanks for joining and posting!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love these, Alicia... you are so creative :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, wow! You knocked it out of the park with this soup! Your washer framework is genius and is the perfect backdrop to feature the flowers and focal. I adore the orange velvet you hung it on. Fantastic! And the bracelet is beautiful and light. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love how you put the rings together to make necklace front to use...wonderful. It all works so well together. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow - breathtaking! And so cheerful and fun - love it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Alicia as always your metal work is fabulous. You added the perfect amount of flowers to the base. It is wonderful that you could include a childhood memory in your necklace.That will make your necklace very special. If the copper toggle on the bracelet bothers you , you might try painting the back of it with clear nail polish or spray paint where it touches your skin.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love how you get the colors just right on the copper rings. With the added elements, it's absolutely perfect! Love the bracelet too!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great pieces, love the childhood memories garden necklace, it is adorable! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I loved both of your pieces. Such a creative use of your lovely soup and the colors are just magnificent.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wonderful pieces... I love both of them...and you give some ideas on how to treat the ribbon nicely....

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love the mixed media-organic look to the piece. I also love your use of positive/negative space. Beautiful piece.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love love love it! I love the necklace and the use of the focal.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Gorgeous! Love the necklace-and such pretty ribbon!

    ReplyDelete
  38. You never fail to amaze me. The soldered piece pulls it all together.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your necklace is beautiful! I loved your unique way you created that base...I am on my way over for a lesson on that! LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Your pieces are beautiful. I love the slideshow component of your post too. Happy Mother's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Beautiful pieces - love how the copper washers came together!

    ReplyDelete
  42. You showed perfect restraint! I love the copper, all on it's own it is architectural beauty. The light touch you gave with just the few additions and the simple wide cord, you're right - perfection. The slideshow is an inspired way to show off all the details, great work

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love your copper work and how beautifully you designed your necklace! The soft touch of that fabric neckpiece must be wonderful and looks terrific! I really love the wrap bracelet too!

    ReplyDelete
  44. This is really lovely. A beautiful mix of elements.

    ReplyDelete
  45. What a beautiful works of art, absolutely beautiful. I love the copper work so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Alicia I love the orange necklace is very beautiful...you are very talent!!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. You are indeed very talented! Wonderful work!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Beautiful designs! love your copper work on the necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Absolutely awesome memory garden necklace! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  50. How very, very creative! I absolutely love the base you created for your necklace, beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. beautiful pieces Alicia, and I adore how you did that necklace with washers! and then ribbon!!! it is a masterpiece

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wow - so creative - Love everything!!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Awesome designs, a job well done!

    ReplyDelete
  54. What beautiful designs! The use of the washers was clever, functional, and hip! The wrap bracelet is colorful and lovely! Nice job! (The clasp is from Tierracast)

    ReplyDelete
  55. How creative of you to make the washers for the first one! Absolutely love it - the colors, textures, everything!

    The bracelet is gorgeous too - I love the clasp!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Love the use of the washers as the base for your soup!

    ReplyDelete
  57. The copper washer connector is really impressive!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Absolutely amazing! I love that idea.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Wow. That is just wow. I mean I actually exclaimed out loud. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  60. That necklace is completely and totally off the hook amazing! I LOVE how you did that! Metal and Lucite CAN work together! You really should submit that to a magazine.

    I'm glad you got your wrap bracelet to work! I'm challenged with those.

    Thank you for participating over the years!

    ReplyDelete
  61. That necklace is simply stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  62. love the copper rings, and your repurposing of the ribbon. awesome piece

    ReplyDelete
  63. I love love love what you've done. A very special piece.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I absolutely love all you have done but that necklace is my fav....You did some amazing work on that piece....The design is brilliant and your soldering is A+ for sure...You are totally amazing...ty so much for sharing and can't wait to see the other piece you are going to share with us all later...bye for now
    http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  65. Childhood memories garden is my favorite ,I love the use of the velvet fabric and the butterfly focal plus flowers, beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Totally love your creations! Soldering together all of those washers as a base is such a clever idea, and it works so marvelously with those polymer clay flowers. It really is a little garden!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I love that base of soldered copper washers. What an ingenious idea! It works so well with your focal. Great job on the soup!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Love your focal, bet you haven't heard that! Really great work, love the colors too!

    ReplyDelete
  69. What lovely pieces, Your solderd copper is fantastic and wow did you get some beautiful colours on there!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Your copper base for that necklace is glorious!! great idea!!

    ReplyDelete
  71. isnt it great when a piece stirs up favourite memories - very pretty necklace

    ReplyDelete
  72. Really love what you did with the washers. I would absolutely wear that as a necklace. And then you made it even better with subtle accents from your soup and childhood. The wrap bracelet is lovely as well.

    ReplyDelete
  73. First of all, what a lovely centerpiece you created! I'm in awe that those are washers! Really beautiful job on everything!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Interesting way to mix everything. I love how it turned out! Kudos on some bead soup well served!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Congratulantions !
    Nu m-am gândit nici o clipă că acel costumş va crea asemenea reacţii!
    Sigur că pozele nu sunt pe măsura obiectului, mi-l imaginez, şi sunt sigură că e extraordinar !
    Felicitări şi la mai mare !
    mama.

    ReplyDelete
  76. The washer necklace is stunning - great colour and texture, not to mention creative. The bracelet looks like it is fun to wear.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Great job showing off that ultra cute focal. The whole child garden theme seems to really have come to life in your necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Your pieces are both gorgeous! I just love the copper washer necklace! Fantastic job with your soup!

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love both pieces. The slide show was great.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Both necklaces are magnificent. I love what you did with your soup

    ReplyDelete
  81. Great job on all the pieces but my fav is the copper washer necklace..Bravo

    ReplyDelete
  82. I love what you did with the copper washers! Where did you find them? I've looked everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  83. I love that copper base for your necklace. Perfect color and great way to accentuate that great focal. And the velvet from your childhood fits perfectly. Makes it very vintage and feminine feeling. Love that wrap bracelet, too. The toggle is really great with all the knotting and beads. I haven't tried a wrap bracelet yet. Looking forward to trying.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Wow! I just love the copper base to your necklace. It really starts it all off right and really highlights the focal. I hope that it is one you are keeping for yourself especially with that ribbon from your childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  85. *sigh* I really need to learn how to do that with copper! I really LOVE the focal and the restrained way you added elements to it.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Love the copper base, it gives character to your necklace. :) What a lovely soup!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Wow, I LOOOOVE that necklace!!! Love how you used the copper washers!! I agree with your hubby, the base was beautiful itself, but the embelishments made it perfect! Love the wrap bracelet, too!
    Alenka

    ReplyDelete
  88. I am as in awe of your ability with the metals, I so wish i could take something like washers and make beautiful jewelry from it.

    ReplyDelete
  89. Wow, Alicia, your metal skills are just superb; that washer necklace is just amazing...and the bracelet such a pretty change! Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  90. Absolutely love the butterfly necklace. Thank you so much for describing the technique you used to create the circle pattern piece. Stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  91. The fire painted copper and colours go so well together in the necklace! Serious eye candy:)

    ReplyDelete
  92. Very creative! I love the focal piece you made...gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  93. I love your necklace and appreciate seeing your soldered copper base-great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  94. This was such a great approach and I love the copper gins as the base

    ReplyDelete
  95. Absolutely Gorgeous designs! I love them both, but that necklace, WOW!! I love how you created the copper base, genius!

    ReplyDelete
  96. Wow! Love your copper base. Very, very impressive. The bracelet is beautiful too. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Wow, your style is fantastic. The necklace with Copper Washers is phenomenally beautiful. The second necklace is enchanting. Great work and beautiful designs!!

    ReplyDelete
  98. Love your copper washer cluster.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Beautiful jewelry!! And I loved reading your thoughts on creating it :)

    ReplyDelete
  100. I absolutely love your necklace and admire your ingenuity. Thank you for sharing with us how you do it too.
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
  101. Gorgeous necklace - those soldered washers turned out beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  102. This are just gorgeous I love how you have coloured the rings and added just a few selected elements!
    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  103. great idea for the base, also composition on the base is awesome! congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  104. I just love he washer base and I love the story behind the velvet! Really beautiful!!! Have a Blessed Day!!!

    ReplyDelete
  105. I love both of your pieces! You got a great bead soup & What a fabulous idea - the copper washers with the velvet ribbon! Very unique!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  106. I love love love the copper washer necklace! The ribbon was the perfect touch :)

    ReplyDelete
  107. Ahhhh - A woman and her torch! A wonderful thing to behold! 😉

    Your pieces are amazing! Love them!

    ReplyDelete
  108. I knew from pic of your soup that I'd love it because of the color palette but you knocked it out of the park!!! That necklace is amazing! I love the copper washer base and you added just the perfect elements to achieve a beautiful balance.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Very cool, necklace! I love what you created with the copper washers......amazingly creative work. The colours from the flame painting are stunning and you put in together very tastefully.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Wow, I love the necklace! The way you used the copper washers is so creative and gorgeous. I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  111. Your flame painting is amazing! I love the lucite flowers, pearl centers and art focal of your necklace. Beautiful! And your wrap bracelet is so pretty! I'm in love with the colors of your soup & jewelry -- the warmth is so wonderful! The green & orange of your bracelet is a colorway I'm so wanting to work in! Simply delicious & so powerful, like a sunset scene! Gorgeous, brilliant reveal. Happy Hopping! ♥ Rita

    ReplyDelete
  112. Great job!! I just love how you used something from your childhood to help you design your creation!! I also like that you have created something that ANYONE can wear - even (like you) metal sensitive people!! PERFECT!! ~KM

    ReplyDelete
  113. You created two very special pieces! Nice work on the soldered copper and you embellished it just right. The wrap bracelet is perfect and looks gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Great pieces! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  115. Love the washer base and the colours that came out after firing, super! The solution with the velvet is great, such a good idea! That will help many people...
    Have fun when wearing your bracelet! (-:

    ReplyDelete
  116. The copper washer base is a jewel on its own and made a great necklace with just a few beads added! The velvet is the perfect color - what a lucky find! I'm the same way about metals other than precious and this is such a restriction, fabric is a great solution! The wrap bracelet carries a beautiful color combo!

    ReplyDelete
  117. I have always disliked orange for some odd reason but that necklace is spectacular. What an artful piece. I'll never not like orange again!!

    ReplyDelete
  118. Wow. That copper washer base is AWESOME! I love the flame patina and the hammered texture. It is the perfect base for those great art beads! A beautiful and unique design! Thank you for sharing your talents with the world! Enjoy the day! Erin

    ReplyDelete
  119. I love what you created with your soup! The washer base is a great idea and I just love the colors. Like what you did with your toggle too.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate and love to read your comments!