Saturday, March 30 — Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal

Here’s the day!  When all the really cool pieces of art work are revealed to the world.  I was really lucky to be paired with Dana James — who, by the way, was recently published in Step by Step Wire Jewelry (her gallery photo link).  And I was the recipient of one of those really cool pendants.  Here are the pictures of what I sent Dana (taken by Dana ’cause I was so excited I put them in the mail before taking the picture.)

Twisted Chicken Color Set

earth tone set

I sent two sets cause I could!  The bright color one is one of my favorite set of beads/colors to work with — lampwork, whimsey, and happiness!  After looking at Dana’s website I decided to send a second set of earth tone beads that were left over (truly a soup rather than selected just for her).  Visit her website here!  Be sure to visit her blog to see what she made with these beads!

So — I received the following from her:

Stones, Crystal, and Chain

handmade clasp

and the Pendant!

There were also some great silks — three colors!  The finished design only included one of the silks but I have some new beads that are just begging to be put with those silks.  Last night Todd helped me with the new camera and I may actually start posting pictures.

Now for the confession:  I have help with my design work and color choices from Merrell Hickey.  She manages to include colors that I would have never put together but the finished product is ALWAYS fabulous and I love it.  This one in particular is just grand.  From earlier posts you know that We had major room changes over winter break.  My “craft” room has been moved to the basement.  While the kids have their bed rooms put all back together my craft stuff is still kind of all over the house because I want to go through it before I put it in the “craft room.”  So, as I have been going through things I have found unloved beads . . . and I had a stash to give to Merrell.  In that were some lampwork beads that I made a really, really, really long time ago — petrolium green and red . . . well, in Merrell’s words, they “play well with these beads over here” and wow — did they ever.  There are also some more current beads (like the half bicone on either side of the pendant and where the chain attaches to the strung piece).

Pendant up close

The up close photo shows Dana’s great pendant and we added some parts that were in the soup and some of my lampwork beads dangling off the bottom.

Indoor photo

my favorite photo

My favorite photo was taken on a really old, outdoor picnic table (see the snow in the left hand corner?) just as the sun was going down.  And I did manage to get some help from Houdini the one-eyed cat . . .

Houdini Helping with the Photos

And so ends my adventure with the Bead Soup Blog hop.  I hope everyone enjoys the pictures and be sure to check out the others who are participating.  You can find a list of all the blogs here!  Though I’m pretty sure that no one has such a handsome helper as Houdini!

and here is the link to Dana’s post.  She did a great job on turning a lampwork bead into one of her cool pendants.  And the bright colors pop on the bracelet!