SOUP's ON! & GIVEAWAY Revealed!

SOUP'S READY~!

Finally the day to serve up my Main course has arrived! I hope I whetted your appetite through the week with some sneak peeks and my mini reveal of the first course..............................
These earrings that were made with the leftovers from the ingredients sent by my Swap Partner Melissa Meman. Part of what she sent were those great white freshwater stick pearls. I've always admired them but never tried them until now. I love how they are drilled through the center and not end to end which gives you a horizontal element instead of the usual vertical one. Those are what I focused on first when my soup ingredients arrived. -------->

The focal is a Porcelain Jasper Pear drop which contains plum and mauve, something I've never worn, nor worked with. Then three rusty red jasper rounds. I have learned that Jasper, no matter what color (and it comes in so many) is a gemstone that helps with emotional stability and helps to ease stress. Perhaps I should have been carrying it around with me while trying to come up with the perfect 'recipe' for these ingredients because these colors sure stressed me out! I have never worked with these colors and put together ( the plum mauve and rusty red) I think I would have used a steel metal or gun metal with them, but Melissa choose Copper.
She made a beautiful clasp and toggle from copper wire and included two small copper bead caps. I could have mixed the wires together but I went with just the copper. Also included were three tiny purplish beads she didn't identify but some kind of stone, and she also made a torch fired enamel filigree bead that had the same deep mauvey plum color as the Focal.

I was determined to work with this combo, but knew it had to have a 'bridge'. I took my soup with me to the Bead show last week and bought all kinds of things I thought I could use with what Melissa sent me. I gathered what I had from the bead show, added from my stash , this and that, fiddled with everything and my original idea for the focal with a bought copper filigree piece and a porcelain pendant fell through. One by one I eliminated the beads and components I got to go with it and played with the copper chains I'd purchased. I could get nothing to work. I didn't just want to do a simple wire wrap with the focal, it needed more. Then I remembered a bead 'cap' I made that was in my Bead Shop and tried it out. It was a bit too big and not the right color green but I quickly saw that's what I wanted. So I made a new one. I had wanted to use the green stone beads I'd gotten at the beads show, they looked like jade and the different shades I liked, so I made my leaf bead cap in a imitation jade from Polymer Clay.


Once this was done, it easily came together, I wanted to do a variety of chains and I used four different ones I had. I also wanted a asymmetrical design with the stick pearls on one side and the red/orange jasper on the other.

I taught myself lots of new techniques with this one and tried some new designing ways that I will use more in the future. I also threw out the window that the metal I used had to match. I used antiqued and bright and shiny copper in this one.

Here are the ingredients I added to what Melissa sent me:

6 Antiqued copper leaf bead caps to wrap the red Jasper beads
8 round and flat white fresh water pearls
1 Green stone ring wired for a connector
5 Amethyst nuggets
3 Assorted green Jade beads
4 triple ring twist copper spacers
4 copper beads, 2 melon 2 smooth
4 copper crimp covers
2 purple glass leaves
1 Faux Jade Lariat Bead Cap
4 styles of copper chain and links, smooth, twisted and flat
Beadalon Satin copper Wire

I used every single thing Melissa sent me except for one of the tiny purple stone beads. I think I did pretty good using all the components in one piece (the earrings only used the stick pearls but four of them are in the necklace). Tell me how do you think I did? It is long but I wanted it to hang mid chest so the focal swings freely, it has nice natural movement from the three copper chains I have freshwater pearls hanging from.

I'd like to thank Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for hosting another great Bead Swap! And to my partner Melissa Meman for giving me the opportunity to really stretch my design wings with this challenge!

And now for the promised GIVEAWAY! I've been holding onto this for just such a special occasion. If you are a regular follower of my blog you know that I hold a monthly giveaway called Mystery Monday where I post a piece of a photo and let you guess what it is. Winner gets a specially made for them custom gift. This is posted every Monday so if you aren't a follower be sure to stop by! But for this giveaway I've been wanting to share a great novel I bought and read recently. It is about what we all love .............BEADING! It is a mystery novel for those who like that and about a beading retreat. I found it very intriguing and got to sleep very late one night finishing it off! So if you are looking for that perfect novel to take with you on vacation, or anywhere you can't have your beads with you, this is it! It happens to be a giant print for those of you with more mature eyes, and also for younger eyes that have been strained by seed beading all day! :) And that's not all, I have made a special bead for this giveaway, that relates to the novel with my own twist.
You will also, in honor of the Bead SOUP swap be receiving a 1/2 cup of mixed beads, findings and components. And a secret surprise!

To participate you need only to leave me a comment on my Bead Swap menu.

To get another entry, become a follower (if you are already please leave a separate comment anyway)

For TWO more entries blog about this giveaway, or Tweet it or put it on Facebook. Please leave a comment for each that you do so my count will be easy!

For another entry, share the love and host your own giveaway, comment with URL by Next Tuesday.

Drawing will be held and winner announced Next Wednesday June 30th.

Now please take time to visit the others participants that are revealing their Swap creations today (my swap partner Melissa will be revealing what she did with the beads I sent her today too!).

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles -I went back to visit Nan's blog and found she is having a great giveaway of a cup of beads. Make sure to visit and comment on her reveal thread.

49. Amy, Copper Diem - Amy just started her blog so she could join in on the party. It's a lovely blog and lovely Bead Soup creation!

50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning - Malin made three stunning designs with her soup! Three courses! and more to come!

51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork - Anne has beautiful Hydrangeas and also made a fabulous two course menu with her stunning beads from Lisa of Lucid Moon

52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles

53. Barbara, Second Surf - Barbara made two main dishes, one cool and one warm, both delicious! She is also having a great GIVEAWAY so make sure to stop by.

54. Amanda, Articulations - Amanda made three stunning colorful and fun pieces that beg to be touched and examined closely! She is also hosting a GIVEAWAY at this post for some great components.

55. Heather, Humble Beads - Heather out did herself with many dishes (4!) with all the artisan clay beads she received.

56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love (My Partner) - Melissa met the challenge of a very large dicronic glass leaf pendant I sent her in the soup. She made a fabulous entree with it and it is now served! I love what she did and how we both got to really stretch ourselves in this cook-off! :)

57. Kate, Organic Odysseys - YOU ARE HERE! :) Hope you like what you see, don't forget my GIVEAWAY

58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs - Patti made a beautiful summery necklace and a hot Summer bracelet with her soup! Check it out.

59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium - Stefanie did a wonderful, fun and fresh main dish with her soup and it's just gorgeous!


Thanks for sticking it out to the end! :)

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Featured on PCD, Bead Soup still being served! Great Book Deals! and More Giveaways!

I've been so busy working on some bead projects for a special order as well as working on my Bead Soup project that I haven't been able to keep up on my emails or blog followings. So it came as a surprise to me to find out that some of my new Spring Beads from my recently renamed Bead Shop, Heart of Eden Beads, were featured on the Ultimate Polymer Clay blog, Cynthia Tinapples: Polymer Clay Daily. You can see the article Garden Inspirations from........ Here. This is the third time that I've been featured on Cynthia's blog and each time is a sweet new surprise and honor. Thanks Cynthia! I think we all need a Fresh Start, and this feature has helped me to feel even more motivated to create new beads!

Now today's Chef's for the Bead Soup Reveal are:

37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird- Check out the VEGAN piece Filomena made from her bead soup.

38. Lyn, Lyn Foley - Lyn (click on blog at top right) Made a wonderful earthy piece with copper and turquoise, and even sold it before the reveal! Congrats Lyn!

39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble - Tari had a fabulous focal to work with from Whitney Lassini and turned it into a more fabulous focal with her wonderfully textured necklace, a must see! She is also offering a Surprise GIVEAWAY too!

40. Rebecca, Song Beads - Rebecca was the partner to Nikki who made some very cool pieces with her soup . Rebecca didn't disappoint either and made a fabulous necklace and bracelet. You also must stop by to see her GIVEAWAY of a great Beading book!

41. Regina, Regina's Writings - Regina uses beautiful pearls in her design to add to the soup that Miss Fickle Media sent her and her soup is really cookin! Love it. She is also having a GIVEAWAY for a fab pair of earrings.

42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse - Did a fabulous necklace with Herringbone wire weaving (something I have on my 'to try' list) and some great beads. It has a 'galaxy' feel to it, very modern and ancient at the same time.

43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini - Whitney made a stunning necklace with a down to earth organic feel that can be worn again and again.

44. Maria, Garden Path Beads - Maria Grimes made the most luscious summer soup with her ingredient, and sweet too! Take a look, summer's here and soups on!

45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane - Michelle made a huge summer statement with her soup, check it out! Necklace and earrings with the promise of a bracelet to come.

46. Ann, My Critical Eye - Ann made a very interesting seed bead bail for a large stone donut that really sets her piece off.

47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio - Lisa made a stunning set with beads in her favorite colors. Wonderful texture and materials, a must see. She is also having a great GIVEAWAY of a cool ocean bracelet and a gift certificate to her new Supply shop Lucid Moon Supplies at etsy.


She won't be making her reveal until Saturday, but in case I forget Denise Yezbak Moore is having a monster GIVEAWAY, over 7 POUNDS of beads. You've got to check it out HERE.
Another peek at my soup through the steam........................


And for those who can never get enough of learning in your craft or maybe branching out to learn about another facet of it, Interweave books is having a 'Hurt books' Sale, going on now. There are 63 different books on Jewelry and Beading as well as other categories. Most are half price, so get while the gettings good!

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Bead Soup Party has begun!

In case you missed it, yesterday was the beginning of the Bead Soup Party Swap hosted by Lori Anderson of Pretty things who really out did herself with this undertaking! Thanks Lori for all your hard work!

Here's the line up and schedule of each days participant reveal. I'm sorry I don't have anything to show you just yet but that little bit above, but hopefully by Wednesday (my reveal date) I will have my piece completed, so please come back. And for now take a visit of the first two days of beading blogs, you will love the beauties I've discovered! And Don't forget about my Giveaway which I will post with my Bead soup on Wednesday, see the bottom of this post for details!

Saturday, June 19th -- blogs 1-13

1. Lori, Pretty Things

2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141

3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas

4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks

5. Katie, KatieBead

6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn

7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

9. Kate, Tropical Blonde

10. Janet, Singing Woods

11. Julianna, Juls Beads

12. Erin, Treasures Found


Sunday, June 20th -- blogs 14-26

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth
16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio
17. Marie, Skye Jewels
18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta
19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's
20. Joanna, Filcowe
21. Diane, Diane Hawkey
22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
23. Anna, The Laughing Raven
24. Marcie, La Bella Joya
25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?
26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Monday, June 21st -- blogs 27-36

27. Lisa, Alterity
28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy
29. Melanie, Kookie Designs
30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass
31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do
34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
35. Virginie, ViviBijoux
36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

Tuesday, June 22nd -- blogs 37-47

37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird
38. Lyn, Lyn Foley
39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
40. Rebecca, Song Beads
41. Regina, Regina's Writings
42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
44. Maria, Garden Path Beads
45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane
46. Ann, My Critical Eye
47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

Wednesday, June 23rd -- blogs 48-59

48. Nan, Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love (My Partner)
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

Thursday, June 24th -- blogs 60-71

60. Carol, Carol Bradley Designs
61. Wanda, A Frayed of Fibers
62. Diana, Vintage Blue Studio
63. Marieke, Marieke's Blog
64. KJ, Silver Parrot
65. Maire, Maire Dodd
66. Shannon, Miss Fickle Media
67. Dana, Dana's Jewelry Designs
68. Charlene, The Bead Dreamer
69. Elisabeth, Beads for Busy Gals
70. Cathryn, Chile Cats
71. Missy, Melissa Rappaport

Friday, June 25th -- blogs 72-84

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs
73. Valerie, Hot Art
74. Courtney, Beads by Breul
75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations
76. Shea, gr8findings
77. Julie, Pryce Designs
78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog
79. Patricia, Verre Design
80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman
81. Heather, My Muse
82. Susan, Night Beader at Large
83. Sonja, Drachenei
84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

Saturday, June 26th -- blogs 85-97

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads
86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork
87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof
88. Denise, Bling on the Blog
89. Doris, Glaszwerg
90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor
91. Jo, Daisychain Designs
92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design
93. Kristie, Artisan Clay
94. Jess, Vintaj
95. Suzann, Beadphoria
96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
97. Michelle, bMichelle

Next Wednesday I will be premiering my Bead Soup Swap design. This is a long week of partying many blogs to visit, so to entice more of you to come see my ' Main Dish' I am having a little giveaway.

A half a cup of Beads and a recipe for making beads and a Bead Mystery novel! How's that for an incentive? All you have to do is visit my blog and view my 'dish' from the Bead Soup Swap and make a comment, any comment will do and your name will go into a drawing for all the prizes.

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What's New Wednesday

Remember me telling you about the Richard Shilling Land Art challenge that Emanda J had on her blog last month? You can read about it here and see my entry.

Artemesia's Richard Shilling Challenge

Well this is the special gift that Emanda made and I got just a few days ago~! It is a perfect size to take with me Sketchbook. On it she made a cool sticker with Richards May Day Totem which I used to make a bracelet echoing his organic leaf and twig totem. And even on the spine she has placed a smaller version of the totem and 'Kate's Notebook'. I absolutely love it and will take it with me everywhere. As I told her I have many large sized ones (and they are heavy too) and a very small one that you really can't do much in, but this is the perfect size! Thank you again Emanda!

Richard was thrilled with seeing my entry and even blogged about it here Richard Shilling Land Art Blog How Cool! Land Art Jewelry!



Then I received another package in the mail,
I Didn't remember ordering anything but when I saw the name on the return label I remembered. A few months ago I won a giveaway on Lisa Orams blog. Lisa and I had talked back and forth and we decided she would make me a few crocheted bead pieces. Well this is what I got in the mail, four lovely and long strands that I am having fun deciding what to do with. I have lots of ideas floating around, and am sure to get to it as soon as I get my Bead Soup Swap piece done. Thanks so much Lisa for your generous gift. I will be sure to post it here when I make my final decision!


And more about another giveaway. Next Wednesday I will be premiering my Bead Soup Swap design. This is a long week of partying many blogs to visit, so to entice more of you to come see my ' Main Dish' I am having a little giveaway.

A half a cup of Beads and a recipe for making beads and a Bead Mystery novel! How's that for an incentive? All you have to do is visit my blog and view my 'dish' from the Bead Soup Swap and make a comment, any comment will do and your name will go into a drawing for all the prizes.

So make sure to come back next Wednesday to see what's new. I have been having fun playing with Melissa Memans soup ingredients she sent me (and congratulations again Melissa for winning the Designer of the week at ABS! ) and adding what I got at the bead show and some things I had on hand. I've played around with a few designs and now I think I've got a 'bead' on where it's going. Stay tuned, I may be able to post a sneak peek by the weekend!

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What's New? Bead Soup Ingredients!

I got my package in the mail..................

Been waiting.....................

Anticipating................................

Wondering what

Would it contain?.????????

Then it came......................

Almost opened it without a pic

but stopped and took one real quick..........................

then I couldn't wait.......................

no more need to anticipate.....................

So I opened it up to see what I would find................

And saw that Melissa had been so kind........................

The soup ingredients she did include..................................

I'm hoping my creativity won't elude................................

And now with this hokey poem I will conclude....................................

This story of my bead soup that's not about food..................

But food for the soul I have now ended my wait....................

So Off to the Studio, I can't wait to create!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wonderful Bead Soup Ingredients

Melissa Meman made that fabulous copper clasp and the enamel bead! See close-up at top of post. Join me and all the others at the great reveal, starting June 19th~



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Bead Soup Sneak Peak

Lori Anderson has done it again, and more spectacular than before. This is her second Bead Soup event and it's bigger than the last one we had in February! You may remember we exchanged a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads and more with our partners.

My last partner was Boot ~ C who sent me an very challenging assortment of beads which I made into a necklace and a bracelet.

From this:







To this




I posted a mini tutorial on how I created this focal pendant with my bead soup on this Bead Soup Reveal post.







And this:




This time around my partner drawn by Lori is Melissa Merman of Melissa Merman Designs.

She has two shops on Etsy, Melissa Merman Designs and Melismatic Rosaries.

I can't wait to see what she sends me, but I know she got her package of beads I sent so I won't be letting the cat out of the bag by showing the Bead Soup I sent to her here.


















I covered a little matchbox with handmade leaf and grass paper to tuck all the beads and components in. There are small and medium Peridot glass bi-cone beads, some beautiful triangular faceted gold beads. Copper Chinese lantern beads. A diachronic glass green and copper leaf focal, a copper leaf charm and a beautiful hand made piggyback leaf clasp in solid copper from Israel.

I hope Melissa can work something with these, she does beautiful wire work so I didn't send any chain or other stringing components because I'm sure she will want to work these together in her own wonderful style. I am awaiting for my package to arrive and will give you a peek as soon as I do!

Meanwhile stay tuned to the revealing starting on June 19th! With almost 100 participants this time we are having the party all week so you get a chance to visit them all! :)

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What's New Wednesday? Beginnings

Beginnings.

What's newer than a beginning? I think one of the best things in life are new beginnings, and always the chance for new beginnings. Every day we have a chance to start over again on many things, not everything mind you but enough to keep life interesting. But there are some beginnings that take awhile to develop.

New beginnings for those with a creative soul can be quite different than others. Sometimes there are those who are born with that soul and it is pushed aside for schooling for a 'job that will pay the bills, a career', a family, and other pursuits, but soon that spirit cries out for attention and outlets are sought to answer that need.

For Beaders or Jewelry makers that beginning most likely started long ago as a child looking through Grandma's button box, or better still, if you promised to be careful, her Jewelry box. Treasure upon treasure could be discovered there. Strands of pearls, sparkling crystals, earrings and pins of all shapes, colors and sizes, some elegant, some kitchy, some whimsical, something to fit every whim of a woman, but all a feast for the eyes.



The Love Affair begins.........

Sometimes if you got to look when Grandma was in a generous mood you might be allowed to have a bead from a broken necklace, or bracelet, or an orphaned earring, to play with or even better, to keep! These things you would hold in your small hand, the light catching them and flashing back in your eyes and holding all kinds of mystery. You put it in your pocket and carefully take it home with you. When you get there you rush to your little jewelry box and tuck it in a place of honor. It stands out among the little trifles you have and each time you open your jewelry box there it is, shining out like it has a light source of its own, whispering of things not yet known to you but you know, are full of wonder.

But that never truly ends, does it? We all have a treasure box that contains jewelry we wear regularly, then there's the special occasion pieces and then there are those that just don't fit into your wardrobe or style any longer but you just can't part with them no matter what.

The Love Affair continues..............

What began as a small child is a love affair most women will have all their lives. And those with that creative spirit that has been squelched for 'more important things' will gravitate to that treasure box of long ago. She can show you her first ever 'real' bead, or necklace, and that mystery and attraction is still there. Many of these woman will look to find a way to fill many treasure boxes full. First it is justified by , 'I'll make gifts', thus assuaging the guilt that buying all the makings one has to when beginning a lifetime fulfillment of treasure making entails. But soon, those strands in the store or bead show beckon more and more and after all your friends and relatives have been gifted with your makings for so long and your treasure chests are overflowing, the guilt returns and many look to sell what they make.

And another beginning begins. Sharing the love affair with others. By now you have graduated from what every craft store holds that looks basically like what you could find all put together and much cheaper at your local K-Mart or Wal*Mart and start wanting more. Wanting something special, seeing jewelry transform from an accessory to an adornment to an Art form. And when you reach that stage you seek out specific pieces we call focal, or Art Beads. This is what takes you up from the hobby jewelry maker to a investor in art. And not only art, but art that can actually be shared with the world wherever you go.

I have been making Art Beads before I knew that they were Art beads. I used many different mediums but in the last 8 years or so I have been mainly concentrating on Polymer Clay beads. Polymer Clay is known as the Chameleon Clay because you can really make it do just about anything you want. If you want a certain kind of bead and can't find it or afford it, you can probably make a great reproduction in PC. Each artist has their own style and can give the jewelry artist a great focal place to start with their creation. I can't say I have a certain style because that's what I love about PC, I can duplicate a natural stone, or make impressions of organic materials, or use the clay to make 'paintings', or come up with something totally new!

But art beads can be made of so many other materials too: Silver, Ceramic, Lamp working, Bronze, Wire, wood and even multi-media creations.

I think what makes Art beads so special is that they are small works of art that can be held in the hand, yet intriguing enough for more than a casual glance, they are a tiny treasure that takes you back to that beginning of the love affair when you first held that pretty plastic 'pearl' in your hand. Small enough to gather a large collection from many Bead Artists and still not cost a fortune or take up too much space.

I think that having an Art collection that can fit in a box and can go with you anywhere is better than one masterpiece hanging in your home. Art should be appreciated, shared and most importantly, touched and held and treasured. All those things can be done with Art beads, and who says you really have to make something with them? They are treasures to be displayed how ever you wish, it's your collection!

Remember that Love Affair that started long ago, and if you haven't taken it to the highest level of Art Bead collecting or designing with, do so now, you won't regret it!

Instead of showing you my beads which can be seen in my Etsy shops, I have chosen to show you the works of some fabulous Art Bead makers. You can click on each photo to take you to more information about each bead. These are the works ( in order) of Cindy Gimbrone of Cindy Gimbrone Beads, Jennifer Haynen of Jangles, Tari Sasser of Creative Impressions in Clay, Heather Powers of Humblebeads and Patty Lankinsmith of PattyLankinsmith

But I will leave you with one of my focal Art Beads that came as a great surprise to me, a bit of spring today on a wintry day!


Impressionist PoppY Fields Focal Art Bead -from Studio Art Bead.etsy.com

Please stop by ART BEAD SCENE to see all the other posts in the Carnival. Also please take a moment and read my post for today, Feb 17th on The Carnival blogging and to see my entry into Art Bead Scene's February Challenge, LUNA PARK.



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