Bead Soup Reveal - It's Here!

This is my second year participating in the BSBP and I really love this experience.  My partner this time was Gloria Allen and she sent me this awesome mix of beads:

First up I used the silver swirls and clasp that Gloria handmade together with the pretty blue glass rondelles to make a bracelet.

Next I used the pink beads together with a cute robin's egg blue vintage style bead I had in my stash.  Gloria has inspired me to make my own clasps too, this is one of them.

There were so many great beads in my soup, here are the earrings I made 

these gorgeous handmade glass beads were made by Two Sisters Designs.  

I swirled and wrapped more wire, this time in enameled silver.








Last up is the focal bead also designed by Two Sisters.  I wanted to make something really special to showcase this beauty.  

I used copper wire to create a swirl component to hang it from.  I hammered the swirl to harden and strengthen it (this is one heavy bead!).

I wire wrapped tiny peanut glass beads to the wire swirl.  Swarovski crystals sparkle and dangle from under the focal bead.  

I used Liver of Sulfer to darken the wire.

Some of the pretty pink glass beads Gloria sent are knotted in waxed linen to create the rest of the necklace.

Yep, I made another clasp...this time copper wire was formed and antiqued.  I love how this one came out.

I still have so much soup left and lots of great ideas.  Thank you Lori for such a great party and thank you Gloria for so many wonderful beads and components!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below and then go see what Gloria made with the soup I sent her:  Gloria Allen Designs

Thanks!

Window Dressing

mannequin for necklace display

My friend Ann Marie, who also happens to be one of my best jewelry customers, recently gave me an awesome gift...a dress form (mannequin).  She somehow acquired it from Victoria's Secret and wasn't using it anymore. I am so excited!  The height can be adjusted on the metal scroll stand and it is very solid and sturdy.  

adjustable dress form, mannequin

I hope to use it a lot for necklace photos.  This is a great reason to make more jewelry!!

BSBP #7 Bead Exchange

 I am part of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party again this year.  My reveal date is next week, April 6th which is coming up really fast!  Before the reveal I wanted to show you what I received from my Bead Soup partner Gloria Allen.

Let me start with the focal...

I am a bit obsessed with this bead!  This lampwork borosilicate focal bead is really thick with lots of incredible layers and the colors are just beautiful!  It was made by Two Sisters Designs and came with two smaller matching pieces.  I wish I could capture the sparkle that is wound inside of the yellow side of this bead.  I carried it around in my pocket for a few days (I couldn't help myself) and when I held it in the sun the sparkle was so cool!

Gloria sent another focal bead that she hand wrapped with wire.  She also made me some wire swirls and a clasp...

Here is a picture of everything Gloria sent, she was very generous....

Here's the soup I sent to Gloria...

funny how we sent very similar colors.

Come back next week on Friday, April 13th to see what I make with these beautiful beads.  There are so many people participating in this blog hop that Lori had to break us up into 3 groups so we didn't shut down the internet with so much activity all at once :O)

Check out the 1st reveal here...Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Blog.