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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Bead Soup

Hooray, it is my reveal day for Bead Soup.  Jò sent me a lovely selection of goodies to work with.  There are some more detailed photos in my earlier blog entry but here is quick recap.....



I started by taking a few of the smaller elements from my soup ingredients and making them into a focal.

There were two bead caps that reminded me of the centre of flowers so I took some of the resin fragments that I blogged about a few weeks ago and made a daisy with the bead cap at the centre.  I paired this with the mother of pearl beads from my Bead Soup ingredients and some seed beads from my stash….


Next I took the leaf and branch charm and filled this with resin and tissue paper. I’ve paired this with some seed beads from my stash and some of the frosted glass beads and another leaf charm that Jò sent.....



Jò told me that she didn’t like working with the colour orange – and fortunately, the bead soup that I sent her didn’t have any orange in it.  To be honest, when I looked in my stash I couldn't find many orange beads either  so I guess I have the same issue with orange as Jò.  Therefore I thought, as one of the aims of Bead Soup is to expand your horizons, I should take it as a challenge to make something with orange beads.  I’ve made this bracelet with the few orange beads I found in my stash (and some creamy brown leaf beads to calm it down a bit!).  From my Bead Soup ingredients, I used some of the bead caps, a leaf charm and the small frosted orange beads that Jò sent….



I’ve had it in my mind for a while to make some resin pieces with some 3D elements.  
Jò included some teeny-tiny bead caps and these gave me the perfect opportunity to try this idea out.  I embedded the bead caps in some of the resin and skeleton leaf components that I blogged about a couple of weeks ago.  I added some coloured resin in the centre to make a centre for the flower.....




and here is the completed piece……



Next I worked with the copper fold-formed focal that Jò sent me as a gift (as if her Bead Soup wasn't generous enough!!).  I made a macrame bracelet for this with some of the glass and silver beads from my soup ingredients....  




And last but not least – how did I use the focal and clasp from my soup ingredients?  I recently did a waxed linen cord knotting class with the very talented Rebecca Anderson over at the Manchester Bead Shop and I wanted to use what I’d learnt in that class.  I went all-in with this one and made a full-on girly confection!!  I paired glass beads from my stash, with the focal, clasp and silver beads from my soup ingredients....    




It has been really fun working with everything that Jò sent.  I was very lucky to be partnered with her!  I really enjoyed the challenge of using ingredients that I hadn’t worked with before.  Please head over to ’s blog to see what she made with the ingredients that I sent her.  And please also go and see what the other bead soup participants made – there is some lovely work out there. 

A final word to Lori Anderson – the hostess of the Bead Soup Blog Party.  I am amazed at the work that she puts into this.  Thanks very much Lori – I’ve really enjoyed your party!!  

62 comments:

  1. Wow... How many fabulous creations you made! I love the orange bracelet! But then I am Dutch! And the second necklace with the leaf charm is fantastic too. Well done!!

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    1. Thanks for such lovely comments. I'll call this my Dutch bracelet from now on!

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  2. That resin leaf focal on the first necklace is the coolest! Also love the macrame bracelet. All your pieces are great.

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  3. I like your resin-working very much! I love all the pieces!

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  4. All your pieces are lovely. I esp. like the frosted orange bracelet.

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  5. oh Sue, I love your resin components, they are just perfect!
    I'd love to learn this technique, please email me some info :)
    I love all your pieces, especially the first necklace and the leaf bracelet.
    I hope you enjoyed this BSBP as much as I loved it! you were a great partner, thank you for the beautiful soup you sent me and I hope we keep in touch!
    please tell me more about resin!!

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    1. Glad you like it Jo - thanks for sending such a lovely soup. Will email you later.

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  6. p.s. great idea to make 3d resin components with the bead caps, and... did you see? I love the ORANGE bracelet you made ;)

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    1. Wow - I'm pleased you liked the orange bracelet....I know you are not a fan of that colour!!

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  7. The way you changed the elements by adding resin was really special. Very innovative.

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    1. Thanks, I really enjoyed mixing my soup up with the rein.

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  8. Fabulous SOUP, I ADORE the green leaves & purple beads necklace...that's scrumptious!

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  9. You did a great job using everything in your soup. Your resin components are so cool! The focal you made to go with the mother of pearl chips works really well.
    Then standout piece for me is the green and purple leaf necklace. Great design!

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  10. I really like what you have done with the resin fragments. Very neat idea! I have not used resin yet but I am very interested. My favorite necklace was the girlie one of course! Great work!

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    1. I'm really enjoying working with resin - I definitely recommend giving it a go. Thanks for your lovely comments.

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  11. I really love your resin necklace and the macrame bracelet.

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  12. Very pretty designs - I love your resin fragments as well!
    I love working with resin too but haven't created anything like those yet - they are on my list of things to try.

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    1. Thanks Cindy. I've seen your resin work, you make some beautiful pieces.

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  13. I love your pieces, first 2 are my favorite: that little leafy necklace is so simple but so awesome!

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    1. Thanks PiPa - I've been wearing that necklace quite a bit!

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  14. Gorgeous jewelry. A job well done.
    kathy

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  15. Beautiful pieces, I love the resin work.

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  16. My hat off to you. These are some of my favourite pieces so far. They have such a delicate feel. I think I want - no, need - them all. The first necklace most of all.

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  17. I'm so clumsy with resin, I get it stuck everywhere. I'm jealous of how amazing your necklaces look with the resin focal, very original and all lovely designs

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    1. Thanks! It can definitely be messy stuff - I keep lots of baby wipes nearby!

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  18. Wow - great job! My fav is the first piece. Love what you did with the resin components!

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  19. Beautiful jewelry! I am especially excited about your resinwork and mackramee, as I am studying these myself.

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    1. Thanks very much - nice to meet a fellow resin/macrame lover!

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  20. Beautiful creations! I love your resin work....delicate and unique. Well done!

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  21. Such a beautiful soup! My favourite is the fist necklace. Love how you used the mother of pearl beads. Really nice.

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    1. Thanks - I was pleased with how the mother of pearl beads came out. Wasn't sure what to do with them at first!

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  22. Gorgeous jewellery! Love that flower in the first necklace. My faves, though, are the second necklace (great colours and design) and the colourful orange bracelet. Fab job!

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  23. very inventive and elegant projects!congrats!

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  24. Now that's thinking out the box...Soup-er cool designs!

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  25. Wow - you've been a busy bee, Sue! Very lovely creations! Love the whimsical style of the first necklace :0)

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  26. I love all designs.You are very creative - I especially love the different ways you've used the bead caps. I really can't choose a favourite or two favourites. Excellent work!

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  27. This is one of the most creative Bead Soup reveals I have seen . I am amazed at what you did with your elements, and the orange bracelet is fabulous.

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    1. Thanks - I'm blushing because of your lovely comment!

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  28. Your designs are lovely and so creative. I just love your resin peces. Fantastic job with your soup!

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  29. Sue all of your designs are beautiful, unique and very creative. Your resin work is great. My favorite is the last necklace.

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    1. Thanks very much Becky, I really appreciate your lovely comment.

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  30. Oh, that first necklace is divine! I love your daisy, the asymmetrical design, and those green seed beads. The rest of the designs are all beautiful as well, but that necklace just spoke to me.

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    1. Thank you so much!! I think that is my favourite as well.

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