Bead Soup - Reveal!

It feels good to be a part of another Bead Soup Blog Party! This is the 9th one--and the first one with a theme. That's right, it's the BSBP: Bead Hoarders Edition! We were encouraged by the hostess, Lori Anderson, to package up a special bead that we've been hoarding and send it to our partner.

As a reminder, here are the lovely hoarded beads that my partner, Lennis Carrier of Windbent, sent to me:

...And she definitely, definitely spoiled me! (Lampwork fishie and coordinating beads? Check! Shell pendants by Michelle McCarthy? Check! Cabochon by Blu Mudd? Check! ...And the list goes on!)

Now, I know that this is a large blog hop, so I'll get right to the jewelry that I made. Overall, I made three different sets--and I still didn't use everything. Ha!


Set #1

This first set was made using one of the pendants by Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio. (Who, coincidentally, was my partner for another Blog Hop I have done--and I love her work!)

I paired the pendant with Czech glass, crystal, and matte-finish grain stone--the last of which I thought matched the texture and color of the pendant perfectly. 

I then knotted it all on brown waxed linen in a slightly--slightly--asymmetrical pattern.

  

  

I also made matching earrings! 

Although fairly simple and straightforward, they are also slightly asymmetrical--like the necklace itself.

I really enjoy how this set is gently beachy... It's not bright and boisterous, but rather calm and quiet and still quite lovely. 

Set #2

Next up: the fishie set! 

Heh. Unlike the previous set, this one is bright and boisterous--and delightfully so.

To make this set, I also used a few other pieces from my Bead Soup--namely, one of the lampwork saucer beads and some of the coordinating green beads.

I paired those components with green pearls and peridot, and even made some paper beads to match. (I was so excited--I found the lime-and-white paper while visiting my parents last week, and it was perfect for this project!)

Now, I actually tried another version of this necklace first--with a different orientation of the fish--but it just wasn't what I was going for. 

So! At the last minute (i.e. yesterday), I took it apart and remade it... and, while I was at it, even made two pairs of earrings to match!

Both earring pairs use a combination of beads from the Bead Soup and beads from my stash. One pair is also considerably longer than the other--and surprisingly lightweight, due to the use of paper beads.

  
I love this set. It's unapologetically cheerful, lightweight, and has a wonderful amount of sway. After making it, I wore it for the rest of the evening--and I couldn't help smiling.

Set #3

This last set highlights the second ceramic focal by Michelle McCarthy. As you can tell, it involves a tassel like Set #2--but, style-wise, it's quite a bit different.

I paired the ceramic component with peridot, prehnite, pearls, green kyanite spears (found on vacation!), and paper beads (also from vacation). Fun fact: the paper beads were made from a paper with a sand print on it.

I even tried my hand at some more asymmetry! Asymmetry is not really one of my strengths, but it was fun stretching my creative muscles. Case in point: I tried to balance out the width of the ceramic component by adding kyanite spears to the other side of the necklace. The pictures don't quite capture it, but balance is definitely achieved when the necklace is worn.

...And I really couldn't help but add a tassel. I really do like tassels.

...Now, I call this a set because I really did make earrings to go with this necklace. Unfortunately, between making the earrings and settling down to photograph them, I completely lost one of them. Oops! I'll try to update this once I find them.

Until then--here! Have some more pictures of the necklace instead. :)

  

...And, for fun, have some pictures in different lighting:

  

Of all the things I made, I think I'm most pleased with this one--because it stretched my creativity, because I saw something in my mind and made it happen, and because it felt like an accomplishment when I finished. 

Set #1 is gentle. Set #2 is whimsical. And this one... this one is elegant, and reminds me that I am indeed a capable jewelry designer. (It sounds silly, but I'm not always the most confident artist out there!)

So, there you go! That's what I made for this Bead Soup Blog Hop!

Thank you, Lennis, for the wonderful beads! I'm so excited to play with the leftovers from my soup.

Thank you, Lori, for organizing this blog hop!

And thank you for stopping by to see what I made! Be sure to stop by my partner's blog to see what she created with the bead that I sent her... and for a full list of participants, go here!

Happy hopping, and I hope everyone has a great Saturday!