Hello, everyone! It is finally reveal day and I am so excited to show you all what I made.
Thanks again to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for hosting and organizing this blog hop. I can’t imagine what a chore that must be.
Previously, I posted about what I sent my partner, Pam, and you can also read about the tons of goodies she sent me. You’ll notice that she sent me SO MANY focal beads – so I had to get busy!
I didn’t quite make something for every focal bead, but I’m proud of what I accomplished.
May I present, my three complete necklaces for the 2017 Bead Soup Blog Party!
So, I ended up with three long necklaces, all with some ribbon somewhere.
So, the first one I finished was the ceramic button. I wanted to make it a pendant, so I used leather to make loops and glued a fabric flower (meant for scrapbooking) on the back.
The necklace portion features some asymmetrical stringing of “beaded beads” made from filled netting stitch and Czech druks in fall colors. I them used brass rings and sari silk ribbon to finish off the necklace.
The next one I made was for the delicate glass drop. I made a beaded bezel for the Rivoli using an adapted Gail Damm technique in colors that I saw in the drop.
I thought the long delicate nature of the glass drop would be best served in a long necklace meant to hang mid-bust, so I strung it on a loooooong length of Sari ribbon. I used copper chain to attach drop to bezel and bezel to ribbon.
My last finished necklace used this gorgeous gold-leafed bead. I fell in love with the colors under the gold leaf and the finish reminded me of some Czech drops I had in my stash. The color treatment was a perfect match, so I had to use them.
I always struggle a bit when using handmade focal beads because they tend to be very large and I have trouble making my signature stitched pieces match the scale. With this one, I threw stitching out the window and focused on building volume with the drop beads.
I finished it with yet another silk ribbon (I couldn’t help it – the color was PERFECT) and then decided to add a second strand of gold with a single drop to hover above the focal.
Overall, I am really happy with these three necklaces. I think they utilize the beads so generously gifted to me by Pam and challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. I did have some beads that I didn’t get the chance to use, but since my wonderful partner sent me FOUR hoarded beads and change, I think I can consider this a victory, haha.
I did have one necklace that I’m still brainstorming on. I think I’m going to make these coordinating beads Pam sent me into a bib necklace.
Since that one isn’t completed, though, I am happy to celebrate the three that I did finish. It’s way more than I expected to accomplish.
Be sure to check out what my partner made at her blog and then continue with the blog hop! There are so many amazing artists to explore. All the other participants are below the Read More. Happy Hopping!
Lori Anderson
Claire Fabian
Jennifer Strehler
Rochelle Brisson
Annita Wilson
Melissa Trudinger
Loralee Kolton
Valerie Tilghman
Mischelle Andrade
Elizabeth Bunn
——–
Marianna DeLuca Wehner
Johana Nunez
Jenny Kyrlach
Elizabeth Hodges
Lennis Carrier
Candida Castleberry
Mary Govaars
Sandi James
Arlene Dean
Kristina Eleniak
———
Nan Smith
Nadine Edris
Denise McCabe
Donna Marie Hanna
Audrey Belanger
Nicole Rennell
Robin Reed
Gail Zwang
Terry Jeanette Carter
Donna Hoblit
———
Klaudete Koon
Veralynne Malone
Lorelei Eurto
Ann Sherwood
Jackie Locantore
Mowse Doyle
Dorit Woldenga
Cheri Reed
Dolores Raml
——
Palak Udeshi
Laurie Vyselaar
Heather Canepa
Dorothy Supri
Sharyl King
Elaine Robitaille
Heather Marston
Terry Matuszyk
Andra Weber
D’Arsie Manzella
———
Julia Lund-Trott
Sooz Anzalone
Karin King
Leona Smith
Tania Spivey
Jasvanti Patel
Danielle Kelley
Shai Williams
Jacqueline Marchant
Erin Kenny
———
Becky Pancake
Kelly Schermerhorn
Renetha Stanziano
Rana Wilson
Janine Lucas
Kelly Hosford Patterson
Andrea Glick
Joanne Bell
Sarah Strover
Sam Waghorn
———
Helena Hatten
Jackie Ryan
Bridget Torres
Inge von Roos
Krafty Max
Kelli Nelson
Iveth Caruso
Rebecca Ednie
Amy Severino
Sandra Wollberg
——–
Blanca Medina
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell
Samantha Wescott – You are Here!
Christine Stonefield
Silke Groeber
Alenka Obid
Lori Bowring Michaud
April Grinaway
Yvette Goodridge
Kathy Lindemer
——–
Kathleen A Breeding
Joyce Becker
Pam Farren
Divya N
Sherri Stokey
Terri DelSignore
Kate Gonska
Kim Hutchinson
Jean Wells
CJ Bauschka
———
Bonnie Coursolle
Barb Fernald
Christina Hickman
Noemí Baena
Dana Phillips
Karen Firnberg
Michelle Escano Caballero
Natalie Ettinger
Valerie Norton
Rachel Mallis
——-
Denise Milward
Bobbie Rafferty
Vonna Maslanka
Elisabeth Auld
Hannah Rosner
Carla Fry
Terri Gauthier
Teresa Fischer
Tanya Goodwin
Barbara Judy
—–
Carrie Stalcup
Lori Schneider
Joelyn Bissing
Brenda Sigafoos
Kate Dufour
Gail Poveda
Katie Nielsen-Nunez
Pam DeBoer
Dee Elgie
——
Judy Jacobs
Elisabeth Matouschek
Shawn Elkins
Sally Russick
Susan McClelland
Tracy Stillman
Miranda Ackerley
Robin Lynne Showstack
Marianne Baxter
Maria Rosa Sharrow
—–
Therese Frank
Sandi Volpe
Leslie Scholz
Joan Williams
Laura Guenther
Liz Engriser
B.R.Kuhlman
Bev Breisinger
Radel Vela
Kim Dworak
——-
Wescott Jewelry 
I really love your beaded beads – do you have a tutorial for sale anywhere?
LikeLike
In the Ceramic Button / Flower necklace? Those are just short segments of filled tubular netting. There are lots of free tutorials out there. I used 11/0’s, 15/0’s, and 4mm Druks for these ones. :)
LikeLike
Well done, I am always happy when I can come up with 1 piece. Love your use of ribbon in all of your designs, you certainly did justice to what your partner sent.
LikeLike
Thank you, Ann! I did my best! Pam gave me so many lovely pieces, it was tough to come up with enough ideas. Luckily, Sari Silk to the rescue, haha!
LikeLike
Very nice work!
LikeLike
Thanks, Elisabeth! <3
LikeLike
Great job! I love all three of your necklaces. So pretty.
LikeLike
Thanks so much! Everyone knocked it out of the park this year. <3
LikeLike
Really beautiful. I love all of those long necklaces, and they are so romantic with the soft colors and the fabric.
LikeLike
Sari silk is THE BEST for adding gentle romance to things. I am kind of obsessed right now. Thanks! :D
LikeLike
very inventive projects!congrats!
LikeLike
Thank you! <3
LikeLike
Beautiful necklaces! I glanced through more of your work while here – just lovely!
LikeLike
Aww… Thank you, Dorothy! I do my best to keep this blog active, so please pop back in whenever. :D
LikeLike
Beautiful rustic designs, I also like those beadwoven beads that accompany the ceramic button – awesome idea!
LikeLike
Thanks, Tracy! Filled netting is, like, my go-to beaded bead when I’m feeling stumped. :)
LikeLike
I REALLY love the blue long necklace. The gold highlights and leather lacing sure adds to the overall beauty of it.
LikeLike
Thank you, Teresa! Adding that gold was a last minute thought and I am SO glad I did it.
LikeLike
Love all three!!!
LikeLike
Thanks, Cj! <3
LikeLike
Hi Samantha, all three of your necklaces are beautiful.
LikeLike
Hi, Becky! Thank you so much! <3
LikeLike
Wow, I love all three but especially the first one with the beaded bead sections – gorgeous!
LikeLike
Thank you! That one was the first to pop into my head. My muse must have been in a good place that day, haha!
LikeLike
These are truly special necklaces!!
LikeLike
Thanks, Terri! <3
LikeLike
Fantastic job! I really like all the different colors, techniques and materials you used to make these three beautiful pieces!
LikeLike
Thank you, Maria! <3
LikeLike
Wow!! You are amazing! All three pieces are beautifully made. You may have felt pushed out of your comfort zone, but the results are proof that you’ve got the chops : ) Your bead work is outstanding. It was my pleasure to be your partner.
LikeLike
Aww… Thanks so much, Pam! Your generosity was definitely the jump start to this whole process and I felt really inspired and challenged the whole way through. It was MY pleasure to be your partner. ;)
LikeLike
Wait..you MADE those beaded beads? So cool! They work so well with that necklace. You had so much going on with the soup you received, it looked quite challenging deciding what to use. Your three necklaces are each so different and equally stunning. Bravo!
LikeLike
Haha, I did indeed! Beadweaving is actually my bread and butter, so those beaded beads were the easy part, haha. But yes! Picking what to use out of Pam’s extremely generous soup WAS the hardest part. :D
LikeLike
Great textures and layering.
LikeLike
Thank you! Those are struggles for me, generally, so that means a lot! :D
LikeLike
Wow! They’re all so stunning! Beautiful job!
LikeLike
Thanks, Rachel! :D
LikeLike
I really dig the way you were able to alter the button to make it meet your needs. It turned out so cool!
LikeLike
Thanks, Hope! I’m also really pleased with how that button came out. I knew I wanted it as a focal and not a clasp and I think I actually pulled it off. :D
LikeLike
Pingback: Conquering the Amulet of Shame – Art Elements Challenge | Wescott Jewelry
Every single thing you did is gorgeous. The beads you made with the beads you were given, how you embellished the strands of your necklaces and the focals themselves – I love it all! You have a real eye for coordinating colors – the beads under the purple focal and the beaded bezel above the glass drop are perfectl I’ve no doubt you’ll enjoy wearing these long into the future.
LikeLike
Oh, gosh. Thank you, Kelly! Colors are one of my strong suits, I think, but there were so many options here, I felt a little overwhelmed. So glad to see that people like what I ended up doing. :D
LikeLike
THAT BUTTON with the beaded beads! I LOVE THAT! And the blues are terrific. Just excellent work.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Lori! And thank you a billion times for running this incredible party! It was an absolute blast to participate. <3
LikeLike
Pingback: 2017 Bead Hoarders Blog Hop | Cabby Craft
Oh my goodness, that’s some stunning beadwork! I think you did justice to each of those hoarded beauties!
LikeLike