Bead Soup

It is time for Bead Soup again.  This year, I was partnered with the very talented Marcia Dunne - here is a reminder of what she sent me.......

My first instinct - as it always is - was to grab my resin and metal and get started.  But Marcia sent me some gorgeous fabric with my soup.  Fabric is not a natural choice for me - it isn't something I use much at all.  But I figure Bead Soup is the perfect time to try something new so, inspired by what Marcia sent, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and make fabric the star of the show.  I'm sure a lot of my fellow Bead Soup party-goers are expert users of fabric so my attempts may look at bit basic but they are something I haven't tried before and I've really enjoyed trying something new.  

First up, I took used the red fabric (silk? see I really know nothing about fabric!!) and used it to form the back of a necklace.  I paired this with a lovely peacock bead (from Happy Fish), the yellow lampwork beads, some pearls and a couple of pyrite beads from my stash.  Marcia made the clasp herself by patina-ing a vintage find.....

Marcia also sent some some gorgeous purple trim.  I formed a bangle in wire and carefully wound the trim around the bangle - I really liked how the trim looked when it was wound like this.  The bangle is finished off with a bead from the soup ingredients.....

Next I took the eye bead - Marcia made this herself - and attached this with a tangle of beads from my soup, some seed beads from my stash and some waxed linen cord.  I was enjoying my adventures with fabric so much that I didn't want to stop!  I found some dyed silk ribbon that had come with a kit from Smitten Beads and threaded this through some chain to form a necklace.   I finished this off with a mother of pearl clasp that Marcia also made..............

My last piece is a simple bracelet made with a lovely bead from Blueberri beads, a few more beads from my soup ingredients and some cube beads from my stash.  I used one of the buttons that Marcia sent for the clasp.......

I really enjoyed my experiments with fabric - thanks to Marcia for inspiring me to try it with such a lovely soup.  Please go and have a look at what she has made with what I sent and then go and have a look at all the other Bead Soup party-goers - there is sure to be some lovely work out there.

A final word for Lori Anderson, the mastermind behind Bead Soup.  I'm amazed at the care and organisation that Lori takes for the Bead Soup Blog Party - and all while she has been battling health problems.   Thanks so much Lori - get well soon!