BSBP - "Show off!"

These earrings are probably my favorites. The colours and textures are so beautiful and the dangle perfectly. The "dangling" quality of earrings is an important feature earrings must have for me! The should not only be long... the should move and play!

My favorites from all the pieces I made for the  8th "Bead Soup Blog Party" (BSBP) I participated! Thank you so much Lori for hosting and organizing and especially for getting (at least me) us challenged and inspired! :) To have a look at all the participants (and of course go over to their blogs!) have a look at Loris Blog here. Make sure you visit at least.... a lot!

My partner was Nathalie (I wrote more about her and her blog here) and we both send each other soups that... had surprisingly a very fitting colour story! You could have joined both soups in one with no problems! Please go over to her and have a look what she made with the beads I send her! (oh yes, I am soooo curious, can't wait! :))

My first bracelet was something quite colourful. I looked through my wire and linen cord and loved the combination of the green beads with the bright orange. Simple macrame knots as well as my first handmade wire hook... the tiny glass beads are old, well over 25 years, from czech. I also send Nathalie some of them (even if you can't see it, there is something special for me if I work beads that have a story and were given to me) hence I liked the idea of incorporating some in my own design.

The closure hook I made for Heather Powers "Jewelery Mojo Challenge" realizing too late that if I used this for the BSBP I would not be able to show it in time. Still, I really love all my hooks I made. Used them also in the two necklaces I made.

If you already know my blog, a little bit of me and my work... you will probably not be surprised that I had to alter some of the bits of my soup. This was the fate the clasp had to endure for the bracelet...

Verdigris.... embossing poweder. Yes. Embossing powder... under a layer of resin. Looks like water to me and fitting for all the blue and green, for the shells and the mood of my soup!

Regardless how beautiful the focal is, I have to admit I struggled a lot... The pendant is already so bright and colourful and big, it is too easy to go over the top with it. I tried a lot until I just went to a very simple solution that speaks perfectly to me. I used purple silk, copper wire (that I also treat with liver of sulphur for a nice patina) and two bronze rings. 

I am surprised how perfect it is for me. But maybe because of the texture of the fibre, the added wire, the strong colours, it is still really complex with all the details ;)

I also made this clasp and I believe this won't be the last time I secured and wrapped silk this way. It has a tribal feeling to me and could work in so many different ways!

It is really a simple wrapping but it gives the pendant a beautiful move while still being really, really sturdy! Also it allows to switch the sides of the pendant. Both sides are beautiful and totally different from the pattern.

 Oh, and I also played with the other cute little charms too! The shell has also embossing powder and a resin coat while the dolphin and sand dollar were treated with vintaj patina (Yes, finally... I got myself some ^^). Also I sanded them, used a little bit liver of sulphur and sanded them again. I love all the different looks, the watery like resin, the shades of blue and green... but I especially love the dolphin. He just really looks like some old vintage charm, worn from time and use because someone always had him close :)

This necklace also is surprisingly bold in colour for me... But somehow it still feels "me". Cotton embroidery thread in purple over hard and thick wire, bright blue glass beads, dangling faccette beads (with bead cap over bead cap) and colourful bronze wire...

I should have tried for picture how it looks "dangling" (yes, my word of the day!)... maybe later. Already in the middle of the night here while I write this blog entry. 

I have even more... earrings (always my favorite to create) but the sun didn't stay long enough to make more pictures. So... I will show you more over the next days :)

Now I will be gone looking at all the other blogs and creations. Thank you Lori for letting me being part :)

BSBP - What I send (including some new beads I made)

These are the three art beads made by me included in the bead soup. The shell you may have already seen on my blog. It was sitting on my table when I put my bead soup together and somehow it resonated perfectly with the colour and just... you know... had to be part of the soup! The other two beads are the ones I planned and made just for the bead soup as soon as I signed in (so way before knowing my partner. Lori suggested starting the soup together before). One toggle clasp and a pendant. The pendant had a new shape for me but the pattern suggested this one so strongly!

And here all the parts of the bead soup I send together in one picture...

...and the details!

I always want to see the backside of beads too so I try not to forget to also always show the back of my beads :)

The pendant has three beading holes, two at the side on top and one in the middle. 

This would leave the option to dangle something at the pendant... but you don't have to because at the front the hole blends into the pattern. No, that was not on purpose even if I would love to say that it was. Just luck!

Some of my old czech glas beads I got from Rumpels mum.

Handwoven silk from thailand, waxed cotton and some chain...

More from my old beads (the tiny blue ones!) and just a collection of different shades of blue and size beads...

Metall elements to play and a lightbulb clasp from Rebecca from The Curious Bead Shop....

All the blue, all the green, all the violet... Yes, Natalie and I seem really to have the same favorite colours! We could have perfectly have combined both our soups into one. So much for starting my soup before I knew who my partner would be. Lori has a good sense for pairing people, thanks so much :)

And more czech glass beads, all of these beauties I got also from Rebecca!

BSBP - What came overseas!

I am participating in the 8th "Bead Soup Blog Party" (BSBP) created and hosted by Lori! Have a look at the blog and/or join the facebook group "Bead Soup Cafe". I already watched the past BSBPs and last year missed it due to my stay in Korea. But this year, finally, I managed to sign up in time (just one day sign up but with weeks of warning ;))!

In short: sign up day february 9th / partners announced february 28th (or a little bit later ^^) / sending beads by march 14th / Blog party may 3rd!

You will send your partner a focal bead, a clasp and corresponding beads. High quality and artisan beads that you would love to receive by yourself! 

My partner is Natalie from NewZealand (how great, that is really the opposite from where I live on the world :)) and what you see at the first picture is the bead soup she send to me! Inspired by the ocean and NewZealand. One of the ideas of the BSBP is that the soup is already put together before you know your partner so that you are not choosing the favorite material/beads/colours of your partner. Instead maybe giving your partner a great challenge by having to work with these suprise beads. In this case that won't be a challenge at all for me... because... Natalie send me beads in colours (and a theme!) I just love and already integrated in my work over and over. How beautiful are all the shades of blue and green and purple?! Thank you Natalie! :)

Natalies blog is "NorthShore Days". She lives together with her two kids and her husband at the coast. Uhm... of course I stalked her after getting her address using google maps! ^^ To live so close at the ocean is really a dream! More than understandable how much this influences her work and her bead soup. 

I asked her if it would be okay if I show some of her work and images in my blog so I could show it to you (as you may already guessed by seeing her images here, she said yes). I linked all the images so you will go directly to the blog post!

Birds, you never ever go wrong with whimsical birds!

Upcycled cork, I love the colours and the look!

And the cute layered necklaces she makes. She also shows a lot of tutorials on her blog including one for these necklaces :)

Back to my bead soup... :)

The beads came together with more (non-bead) goodies for me! Like the beads a touch of New Zealand. A fabric bag with a beautiful print, chocolate and a sweet necklace made by Natalie. Have a closer look at the flower in the cabochon! Recognize the flower? :)

You know me. Sometimes I can't get enough picture... or rather am nearly completely missing any editing skills ^^

Different shapes of glass beads all in green and blue!

Purple shining in the mother of pearls...

...and facetted with veins of red and blue (can you see it?).

I already know how I will combine these little ones! ^^