Soup is Served, Bon Appetito...

The Bead Soup Blog Party is something I have participated in from the very first hop. I look forward to it. I get giddy when I gather up beads and bits to send off to my partner. I get even more giddy when I reach into my mailbox and see that my "ingredients" that my partner sent to me have arrived. I LOVE the whole process. I love laying everything out and playing with the beads and letting my mind wander off about all the possibilities. I love challenging myself to try something new or a new technique or style I don't usually use and so without further ado here is all of the pieces that my wonderful partner Sandi Lee James's ingredients inspired. Her polymer clay beads are gorgeous and so much fun to work with! I couldn't decide on just one or two pieces to create, instead I just kept going with it and created several. Enjoy! 

Let's start with some earrings...Sandi sent me some of her gorgeous handmade polymer clay beads in these great earthy tones. I kept them simple by adding some sterling daisy spacers that I LOS'd (liver of sulfer antiquing chemical to age them up a bit) 2 of Sandi's beads, some of my favorite green faceted Prehnite and wire wrapped it up...

I've been on a metal, hammering, texturing, wire bending kick the past couple of weeks so I used 18g sterling silver plated wire and forged up these horseshoe like links, hammered them, textured them, softened up the edges, LOS'd them just a tad to take some of the brightness of the silver away...

Then I took 2 of my lampwork glass head pins in this yummy light orange and forged those into ear wires, connected all my pieces and tightened them onto the ear wires. 

Now onto a necklace...

Sandi sent me this stunning ceramic goddess pendant by Gaea and a sterling silver large hook clasp. I LOS'd the clasp to darken it up quite a bit. I wire wrapped several of her poly clay beads (the same ones used in the earrings above) added some smokey grey swarovski crystals, then I found some cream and dark wood ribbed barrel beads in my stash and wire wrapped those up with the garnets and smokey quartz rounds she sent me. I used a dark aged looking wire for those in a smaller gauge . Played around with how I wanted them to connect to the pendant and the pattern I wanted to line them up in. I went with an asymetrical layout (big surprise, right? lol!) and doubled up some long loop antique brass chain to the clasp to hook towards the front and the rest to wrap around to the other side. 

I had to do some adjusting on the links to get the pendant to sit just right and wore it around for a bit to make sure nothing pinched or flipped. I really enjoy the muted, earthy elements in how it turned out.

I thought for sure this next piece was going to be a bracelet. I got the links (same as in the earrings) made up and LOS'd and was planning to make a funky chain filled, multi strand bracelet but the colors in Sandi's beads sparked a color combo of purples and yellow and I started to pull out all my yellow beads to find just the right ones. Then I stumbled upon this awesome vintage chain and knew I had to use it.

 I used one of my lampwork glass head pins and a smokey grey swarovski crystal that I thought complimented Sandi's gorgeous focal. 

Found some beautiful dark wood discs from a vintage necklace I took apart. The vintage lucite yellow twist beads came from another necklace I took apart that I stumbled upon on a thrifting road trip a couple years ago (I've been hoarding!)

The micro faceted yellow round is from that same vintage necklace I mentioned, I swear  that necklace was full of the coolest beads! Love finds like that! Anyhow, I wired up 2 of Sandi's beads and added one of my lampwork bumble bees because it just seemed to fit the garden theme of this necklace so well...

then I took the vintage chain, doubled it up and connected it on both side of the main piece. I used the original larger spring clasp that was still left on the chain and connected it so the entire piece hooks to the side towards the front from that last set of wire wrapping...

And there you have it! 

I wasn't sure whether to take the bee off and use another micro faceted yellow round in its place to even up and match the other side but it bugged me too much to have it all match exactly. I stuck with a more symetrical, balanced design with a bit of a twist...

I cannot thank Lori enough for all the hard work, time, blood, sweat and tears (oh the tears! HUGS Lori! You seriously are completely amazing!) she put into creating yet another completely fabulous experience for me to participate in.

I know looking at this long list of participants is a bit overwhelming but I PROMISE you each and every one of their soup reveals is worth the click. Bookmark it, take your time, grab a cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy the eye candy. Hit up a few blogs here and there each day. I know it will take me a few weeks to get through them all but I can't wait to visit each and every one of them. 
 Oh! and don't forget to tip your servers with a nice comment ;)

Click on each name to go to their blogs.

These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York

2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson

3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino

4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner

5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier

6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins

7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor

8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen

9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps

13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy

16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John

19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel

19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb

23. Barbara Blaszczyk  and DaviniaDesign

24. Barbara Judy  and Holly Westfall

25. Barbara Lewis  and Cathie Carroll

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier

 35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander

 36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller

79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher

115. Lesley Weirand Liz DeLuca

116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington

119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton

119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks

124. Lupe Meter and Mags Saari

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James  

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper

140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy

144. Missy Rappaport and Norma Agron

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag

154. Pat Haight and Mary McGraw

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs

162. Rochelle Brisson and Sheryl Stephen

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad