Saturday, March 3, 2012

Time for a Bowl of Bead Soup!

The 5th Bead Soup Blog Party is now underway!  The fabulous Lori Anderson is the host and does such a wonderful job coordinating all this - this year she randomly chose 200 participants (!) and partnered them up to swap a special mix of bead soup.  Required elements were a focal component and a special clasp.

I was paired with Michele Escano, who sent me a lovely polymer clay flower focal and an assortment of crystals, cloisonne and brass to go with...a great mix.  The flower focal was innovative...it was layered on top of a brass filigree piece.  I loved it, but was a bit flummoxed as to how I wanted to proceed....there was only a little of the filigree showing around the piece and I wanted to dangle something from it.

My bead soup from Michelle!

After a bit of procrastination and thought, I decided I was going to try and make it bigger by layering it onto another base.  I chose copper and went about cutting, sanding and texturizing a flower shape to rivet Michele's flower onto...it worked!

Red Flower necklace


I decided that the rest of the necklace would be rather minimal, so I chose to use 2 each of the cloisonne and the russet crystal beads, as well as a few of the pleated brass beads.  I added one of my enameled filigree beads, copper chain, and a blossom dangle created with 2 sizes of Czech glass bell flowers, copper headpin and a copper bead cap, created by me!  I love this little dangle so much I created matching earrings!





I had planned to create something extra with the leftover beads for a giveway...I didn't even touch the black crystal! However, time has been at a premium at our house lately, so it is not finished....but....I am still going to do it, so....leaving a comment will enter you into a random drawing for....something I finish creating over the next day or so!

Now, your job is to go and visit the other artists who participated this time...I am sure they have created some fabulous pieces...I can't wait to go hop myself!

Hostess, Lori Anderson

Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)
21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs
30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley
35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver
68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna
 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons
76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)
87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne
89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)
100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

69 comments:

  1. That is awesome - and the colors. DIVINE!

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  2. I love what you did with the focal and the earrings are sooo gorgeous!!

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  3. The little copper ruffles on the earrings and pendant dangle compliment the ruffles petals of the large flower so well. I love the stack of Czech flowers and copper. Bravo!

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  4. Your enamel bead is the perfect complement to this gorgeous rose focal! Great work, Melissa! The earrings are adorable!

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  5. Oh, Melissa! What a delicious serving you have! I love how you added and riveted metal to the focal. Makes me want to learn how to do that. I am so thrilled to be your partner. I totally love the experience!

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  6. What cute earrings! They would be great to wear!
    Cilla ( #24 on Lori's list)

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  7. Melissa, first I have to say I just love the bead soup that you received...that polymer clay focal is beautiful. And what a clever idea to create a sheet metal backing to highlight the focal - that turned out great (and how did you attach the two??). What a pretty statement piece - you sure did your bead soup partner proud!

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  8. what a clever way of using the focal! I love the necklace you made with it!

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  9. this is awesome!
    this is one of my favourite jewel from the BSBP!
    I'm a partecipant from Italy, I'm trying to visit all of you.
    this was really a great experience!
    ciao ciao

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  10. Such a unique necklace, and those sweet little earrings are adorable!

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  11. I love the way the earrings mirror the dangle/drop from the pendant. Gorgeous, both of them :) x

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  12. I love the necklace. The focal and copper work so well and the enameled beads are perfect. The earrings are just adorable with the little ruffles.

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  13. Nicely done, I would never have thought of adding even more to that pendant and you really made it work. The colors are great, congratulations!

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  14. Pretty pieces. Love the colors.

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  15. Love the colors and you did really a great work! Greetings Doris

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  16. Love the colors and those earrings are sweet!

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  17. Having broken more than my share of saw blades, I'm totally impressed with your curve work! I love that you layered the pendant again. It's beautiful!

    I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

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  18. Melissa, Your necklace and earrings are very beautiful.
    Therese

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  19. Melissa, that focal is beautiful and I love that you attached it to the brass component. And the earrings are darling!

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  20. What a beautiful focal! You added just the right touches :) It's a wonderful set!

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  21. I love how you highlighted that beautiful floral pendant with copper. Gorgeous!

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  22. Wow! I love what you did with the focal, it makes it pop! It's beautiful!

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  23. Just beautiful! :)

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  24. Absolutely love how you added the metal to the gorgeous focal! You created a stunning piece!

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  25. I especially love the earrings - all pieces were lovely.

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  26. Beautiful rich red floral focal and a gorgeous design to more than do it justice...love your final soup.

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  27. love how you worked the focal. Beautiful

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  28. Oh wow! That was a great bead soup and your jewelry turned out beautiful! I love the earrings too!!

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  29. That is one drool-worthy necklace. Love!

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  30. Lovely romantic necklace!

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  31. I loved the flower focal to begin with but the brass component you added to it made it even lovelier! The earrings are super cute as well.
    Penny of myearthlyjewels blog

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  32. Layering the focal bead with the copper was an inspired idea. It makes a beautiful back drop. Lovely design overall.

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  33. Beautiful necklace! I absolutely love the earrings!

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  34. This is really pretty! I love that you made the earrings to match that little tassel at the bottom of the focal - sweet detail!

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  35. Anonymous7:40 PM

    I love that you took a large focal and made it even bigger! Way to be bold and go for it. Those earrings are so sweet and unique!

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  36. Brilliant solution with the flower underneath. And it's beautiful!

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  37. love what you added to the focal! nicely done!

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  38. The focal is even more amazing with your addition of the copper. Gorgeous piece and the earrings are darling.

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  39. Melissa your necklace turned out gorgeous love love love red. The bead caps you created are perfect hope to maybe see some of those little guys on your site =>

    GREAT WORK!!!

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  40. Love the necklace you made. The flower is gorgeous and your dangle and earrings are perfect with it. Great job!

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  41. Your necklace turned out just great! I really like how you backed the flower with a copper flower. I also like the little dangle at the bottom and the bead caps you made from the copper too!

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  42. You did a great job with that focal...I am loving the color scheme! The earrings are just adorable!!

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  43. I love LOVE love that necklace. The earrings are just so darling, too. Great job!

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  44. Oh, how I love what you made with the flower focal, Melissa. Layering it over the copper flower is a brilliant idea - and the matching earrings are the cutest things ever :) Love the set - wear it proudly!

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  45. Love what you did with the focal and that the necklace part was kept simple. I do not know what you'll make with the left over beads, but I'm cerain it will be beautiful, and any of us would be lucky to win!

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  46. Really Like the piece, love your idea for mounting it onto another base, really made it pop!!

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  47. Oooh, I LOVE that focal! And the dangle you made is so sweet! I think making matching earrings was brilliant :)

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  48. You did a great job with the focal and I love those earrings!

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  49. OOOOO those earrings!! They are so cute!! Well done with your beadsoup.

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  50. A very romantic design! I like it!

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  51. Hey Melissa. Loved what you created out of your soup. That deep red is stunning and combined with the focal made a beautiful necklace. Great job!

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  52. Love, love your focal! Wow! Great piece and excelent design!

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  53. I love the necklace that you created and the earrings as well. I think staying away from using lots of beads in the necklace is a good idea. The focal required simplicity to showcase it.

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  54. I love how you made the focal your own, and balanced it so nicely with the rest of the necklace. Great job!

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  55. great way to solve the problem of the pendant.

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  56. That focal is priceless! Great soup.

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  57. Beautiful designs! I especially love the earrings. I am also enjoying the asymmetric aspect of the necklace!

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  58. Karen Vincent12:21 PM

    Love your designs. The necklace is beautiful and I love how you added another layer to the focal flower I think that really makes it stand out - gorgeous. Love those earrings - so cute!

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  59. You do really beauitful work...can't wait to snoop around your blog some more!! :) Love the rich colors of this set and the earrings are so awesome!! Love them!

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  60. I really like what you did by layering the pendant - it works so well. And the earrings are so lovely! DId you make the wee copper caps for them?

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  61. I see summer, I see sunshine, I see happy times! Your necklace and earrings really make me smile. How wonderful they are!

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  62. The necklace is stunning. The focal is simply gorgeous! Great job with your creation.

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  63. I love that focal and you used it perfectly! The earrings are wonderful!
    Sonya

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  64. I am late, late late but so worth the wait fab job!!!

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  65. There was no doubt in my mind that you would create something amazing with your soup and you did exactly that! Wonderful work as always. :)

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  66. Anonymous11:19 PM

    Hey Melissa, what a great idea to add another base behind the focal! That's exactly what it needed! And I like how you kept the chain minimal..it's perfect. And the earrings are awesome too!

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  67. I would love to have ANYthing you are randomly creating LOL...love those little bead caps with the flower beads...and your necklace is gorgeous!

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