Bead Soup Blog Party 6 : Reveal #3 - REVEAL !

Well, that was a wild ride. A fun ride, but a wild one.

Last that I have given you a sneak peak of this program, my faithful readers had learned that I was up against  my nemesis, the seed bead. And oh, oh so many seed beads.

Then, as I was working on the first set, something strange happened. Something strange and wonderful, dear readers - I stumbled, I restarted, over and over and then...

And then I figured it out. I learned tricks to make handling the tiny tiny beads a whole lot easier. And then suddenly...

Suddenly, I found myself ordering way too many seed beads.

Gah.

Milla - 1; Audrey - 0. :P

So I would like to thank Milla for showing me that no, seed beads arn't completely and utterly evil. And there are uses for them beyond bead-weaving, which... I might one day attempt, but not quite yet.

Which was not to say there weren't accidents. I have learned, for example, that seed beads explode when you accidentally try to crimp them (doh !). and that not all that glitter is gold. Or raw brass. Sadly, the two metal bits had quite a bit of an accident themselves, which sucked because I had such an awesome idea for them. :<

Without further ado !

For the focal, I wanted to work mostly with what Milla sent me, but still remain minimalist in order for the focal to pop. It just so happened that Bee had sent me a box full of goodies for my birthday. Among those goodies were (gah ! I initially thought) red seed beads.

I made this choker-length piece in order to bring the focal to attention. Used here are all beads Milla sent me beside the red seed beads and the garnet rounds. And now you must understand how I got over my fear of seed beads. By facing it. Over, and over, and over, and over again. By banging my head against the wall, the contusion gave me greater understanding <<. Four strands here, all mostly made of those tiny tiny little beads !

I achieved the tangled look by crimping all the strands to one jump ring, then making a makeshift hook around my monitor (Im a genius). Hooked the jump ring to the hook to give me an anchor point, mixed the strands, then crimped the strand to jump ring #2.

But every good necklace needs a companion, after all. And Milla's clasp was too lovely to hide away.

I just want to pause here and say I love the cloud dome. So, so, very much. No, I didn't get a camera. This is my cellphone doing the trick. :)

So, two pieces and two required components used later, I still had a boatload of seed beads.

Clearly there was only one solution to this.

MAKE MOAR STUFF.

And so, I did.

Please pardon the strange picture. This bracelet utterly and completely refuses to lay down flat, through it wears just fine. I had the loose idea of this for awhile - got the green girl clasp on beadaholique's sale a few weeks back. Seed beads actually worked very, very well, given how small the strands had to be. Purple seed beads, transparent Czech glass, astral pink Swarovski crystals, and copper round beads and spacers. I painted on the sunset with vintaj patinas.

But then I still had so many seed beads !

There was only one solution to this dillemia.

This piece was a massive, lovely experiment. This is a mix of make your own chain and rextile ribbon, working with beads both bigger and smaller than what I usually play with, and a good dose of Swellegant to boot.

The focal, the claps, and the oval links were swellegant'd. The links just loosely sponged with the brass metal coating - the result is as you see above. It's a very interesting look ! The focal and the clasp had a few coats of brass metal paint, then the tiffany green patina solution. Given the heat and humidity here, the patina bloomed very quickly. Then I painted on a mix of caribblan blue and aqua green, with just an hint of blood red for the waterlillies. It gave the flowers a very interesting look once I buffed everything back a bit.

The smaller round had some seed bead wire-wrapped onto. The links were pretty fun to make.

I could have stopped there. I certainly could, and after four pieces in two days, a sane person might have.

Good thing im not renowed for my sanity. ;D

This thing is amazing. This thing is wonderful. This thing is mine until the end of time. True story. I really, really, REALLY love how this piece came out. The focal is an HUGE mother of pearl that was hidden in Bee's box of goodies. By huge I do mean huge, and it needed to be part of a piece that could bear the size of it. I also liked the oriental feel of it, so I brought a fan stamping from the lovely B'Sue that I heat patinaed with my trusty dragon. From there on, I hung chain, strands of seed beads, and more sari from it.

(I have an obsession with sari ribbon. Im not even going to bother denying it.)

....And then once I was done, I remembered that I had meant to use the bigger purple beads Milla had sent me. WHOOPS.(Surely im not the only one who does this.... Right ? Derp.)

And thus, my maddess came to an end. I have many more plans with the delicious soup leftover, of course, but you will have to be patient to see them.

Thank you for getting all the way down here !

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things 

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution 

Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry 

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo 
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs