Thanks to Lori Anderson the organizer and founder of the Bead Soup Block Party. She tirelessly matches people around the world to trade beads and they make fabulous jewelry with what their assigned partner. Then we have a big reveal date and we get to hop all the blogs to see who made what and with what.
One of the things that I was the most excited about in getting my Bead Soup Partner
was her love of recycling!!!!
What Patricia sent me.
I absolutely adore that about her. Looking at my soup she has all these components that she pulled out of an old printer and even used some of the enamel in the printing ink to use in the lovely fused glass bowl that I now have on my jewelry desk to hold beads.
What I added to the mix. Plus a little more that I didn't get photo'd. Just not that organized.
In the spirit of recycling and following Patricia's lead I dug in to my recycling drawer. Looking for older beads, necklaces etc.....that I can add to the mix of what she sent. So here is a photo of most of what I added to the mix. Unfortunately sometimes I don't know what I am going to add until I put it together, so not all beads that I added to my Soup are shown.
I used Patricias lovely large lampwork bead as my color palate for the first set of jewelry I made. The lampwork had a celestial feel to it, note the galaxy looking swirl in the large lampwork bead. I took my lead from that. I just so happen to have a old necklace in my junk drawer with a celestial feel to it. So I dismantled that and pulled some moon and star shapes out of it. I added some holes to some of the moon pieces so I could sandwich the large bead in between. The Chain, Faux Cinnabar, Blue and Red Sponge Coral, Clay beads and Red Coconut Chips are all from old jewelry. I added some Dumertierite, Kyanite and a Quartz dagger from Dakota Stones.
This necklace hangs asymmetrically and I added multiple dangles at the bottom of the lower moon to assist in its balance.
The bracelet I used her handmade clasp I believe made with aluminum from a printer her lovely lampwork and natural Coral. I added the Red Sponge Coral, Faux Cinnabar, Metal Beads all from recycled jewelry pieces. The Kyanite I added was from Dakota Stones.
I made the following earrings with Paticia's Lampwork and some Dumortierite and Kyanite from Dakota Stones.
Now the soup got really interesting!!!!!!! What to do with the gears and those very stiff aluminum sheets. I just happen to be so lucky to coordinate the look of the following pieces with Stinky Dog Beads. She happened to email me around the time as I was contemplating my next Bead Soup Pieces and I asked her what she thought of adding to my mix. I told her what I had left to work with. So she sent me those vanilla Czech Glass Beads and some lovely Greek Mykonos Charms that I used in this piece.
I made a coordinating bracelet with Patricia's gears and at the base for the focal and her lovely lampwork at the center. The large bead caps were from Michaels and some more of the vanilla Czech Glass from Stinky Dog Beads along with the Greek Mykonos dragonfly.
I had all these really lovely Red Coral and Natural Coral pieces and originally I thought I would use the gears. I decided to go back to some of my roots as a jewelry designer and make a earthy chunky statement necklace with a messy layering of these beads on chain. I added the quartz daggers from Dakota Stones and the Red Czech Glass, chunky chain were from Stinky Dog Beads.
I made a coordinating bracelet with bead caps, Coral Chain, Greek Mykonos from Stinky Dog Beads and added one of Patricias Natural Coral beads. I added the chain and lobster claw to the mix.
I am pleased with the outcome of what I made. Not sure which are my favorites. I suppose the biggest challenge for me was working with the recycled metal pieces but
THAT WAS THE MOST FUN TO!
If you are interested in some of Patricia Johnsons Glasswork and Recycled Bits you can find her on Etsy. Just click the below link.
To find my jewelry for sale go to the following link on Etsy.
Want to Hop All The Beads Soup Blogs and see what creative genius is spread across the country. Got to the following link below.
