Today is the big day. The day I get to show you all the wonderful pieces I created with the Bead Soup I received from Melissa Meman. I am thrilled with all the pieces I received from Melissa. I have already decided I am going to keep the necklace and earrings for myself. I apologize to Melissa because I don't think my before photos do her work justice. Here is a quick reminder of the Soup Melissa sent my way.
So off we go...Taaa Daaaa......
Let's start with the necklace
Focal pendant created by Melissa Meman
I decided very quickly in the design process that I had to include the Czech glass beads with the focal Melissa sent me. The shape of the Czech glass beads had the same shape of the focal piece. Carrying this shape into the design of the necklace was a definite. The only slight dilemma was that these cute little glass beads had double holes. I worked out that dilemma fairly quickly and I am very happy with the end result.
My new love is patina'd copper. The patina color is just scrumptious! So I patina'd the rondelles Melissa included. I patina'd my own jump rings and the copper wire I used. I thought Melissa's handmade toggle clasp was too pretty to use on the necklace. I have a lot of hair and the clasp is simply not going to be seen so I used one of my own handmade, less ornate toggle clasps.
Patina'd rondelles and jump rings. Enameled metal beads created by Melissa Meman.
Patina'd copper wire and jump rings. A jump ring bead surrounded by amethyst stones.
Enameled metal bead created by Melissa with an amethyst stone.
My own handmade toggle clasp. Textured and patina'd.
My new necklace! I LOVE it!
Melissa sent along some other Czech glass beads that I couldn't figure out how to work into the necklace. The colors just weren't working with the rest of the pieces in my eyes. What to do? I think my solution was rather amusing because I ended up creating a bracelet by adding a couple of lampwork beads very similar to the beads I sent to Melissa in her bead soup. After I had sent Melissa's soup to her I realized that I loved those beads, so I made a couple of more beads for myself. I had intended to make a pair of earrings with them. Now they live in this bracelet. The beads work so well with the red Czech glass beads. I added some of my own work, more jump rings, viking knit and this is where I decided to use Melissa's lovely toggle clasp, which I did add patina too.
The beautiful toggle clasp created by Melissa Meman
Lampwork beads by Ema Kilroy. Patina'd rondelles and jump rings.
Viking knit by Ema Kilroy. Czech glass beads received in my Bead Soup.
The completed bracelet
I still had some pieces from Melissa's soup left over. I decided a pair of earrings to match my new necklace would be perfect. I went with a very simple design using the enameled beads and a couple of amethyst stones Melissa sent. The enameled beads are mismatched, different colors and slightly different sizes but I was feeling a little risque. I think they work. And I'm willing to bet no one will ever realize the difference. After all there is a good 5 or 6 inches separating that pair of earrings (otherwise known as my head). ;)
Lastly, with a few bits left over (a few amethyst stones and one large enameled bead), it didn't take long for me to figure out what to do with them. I added some of my new metal work as a focal for a bracelet, more lampwork beads and jump rings to create another bracelet. I am amazed at how perfectly the colors from all the different pieces just fell together.
It has a been a very creative day and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a pleasure pulling these designs together by combining my own work with Melissa's soup. Working with Melissa's pieces was so easy! Melissa was so generous, she also sent a package of enameled metal beads as a gift to me. I will be creating another blog post to show what I am going to do with these. I already have design ideas.
Now I'm off to see what Melissa created with all the components I sent to her. You can find out too, just stop by Melissa's blog. Before I begin hopping please allow me to say thank you to Melissa for sending along such a wonderful Bead Soup.
Many, many thanks to Lori Anderson for hosting this wonderful event. This the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party Lori has hosted and it is no small task to take on.
Here is a list of all the other artisans participating in this round of Bead Soup and the August 11th reveal. Stop by their blogs and give them kudos for all their beautiful work.
