Bead Soup 7: Second Reveal!

Bead soup pieces, for your entertainment. 

Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog party is a structured bead swap, that gives hundreds of jewelry artists around the world the opportunity to happily create pieces that challenge and engage them.  Lori matches the participants with people who have a bit of a different style, and then we exchange beads. 

I participated last year for the first time, and I was hooked. My partner this year is Jennifer Reno, who blogs at Musings of a Crafty Jenny. She also has an Etsy Shop at JenRenJewelry. I looked over her work, grasped a few themes, and then, well, dipped into my stash. Found a beautiful Red Creek Jasper pendant as a focal, then picked up a few things. Adding in a patinated vintage key, a clasp, some jasper beads -  I popped it all into bags, into an envelope, and off it went to Jenny. Ooops, forgot to pretty up my package, sorry Jenny!

The package Jennifer sent to me was much prettier - and what treasures it held!

And opening it up we find:

 A beautiful "Gin Blossom" focal by Jeannie Dukic, glass and Lucite leaves, some yellow glass teardrop shaped beads, a silver flower shaped clasp, square pillow beads in cool floral designs, red glass flower beads, and some green and white round beads. I loved them all, and the colors were very welcome because we were still in the thick of the winter weather. I got the box on Valentine's day, and there was chocolate (sorry no pics!) 

But as I went to design with these beads, I saw where my challenge lay - size. And, to some extent, the colors, which were so bright and varied. I guess I usually play with a more limited palette. And oh yeah, the leaves had holes at the stem end. I don't do well with that. 

But, after studying the beads and the focal, I added some larger ivory glass pearls, some greenish freshwater pearls, and some leaves that combined very well with the green of the focal. Using the clasp in this one as well, I could have been finished. 

You can see the clasp on this one, as well as the beautiful focal. I supplied the green and brown leaves, and the ivory pearls. Love he way the colors set off the focal.

I got more relaxed and playful made some earrings, and then made another necklace with most of the other beads. Never did find a place for the Lucite leaves. 

I made a toggle out of the yellow beads. I love it!

Here is the full second necklace. It is strung on black waxed cord. 

Please join the rest of the second reveal participants by clicking  here.