Saturday, May 10, 2014

8th Bead Soup Blog Party

Welcome to the Party!!!
Thank you to the amazingly talented, Lori Anderson! 
My inspiration for my pieces came straight from the Bead Soup I received from my partner Laura.
Her lamp work beads are amazing.  Both sets are fabulous,
but I especially loved the "striped" set with the bold and fun color ways.
Bright orange, tangerine, lime green, shades of blue, lemon yellow and yummy colors of red.
See the bead front and center, it caught my attention! Look at those cool colors, the plum, the blue, the orange.......... such a cool color combination!

Visit Laura at Open Studio Beads to see her amazing beads and jewelry.
Click here


As soon as these arrived in the mail, I got an idea for a mixed media project, with the focal point being that front and center bead.  Not sure where the idea came from, it just showed up in my brain, WAITING TO BE REAL.  Does this happen to you?  Anyway,  here it is...I hope Laura wont be dissapointed in how I used her lovely bead! 

RUBY'S DRESS
Mixed Media Wall Art 6" x 6"

Ruby's Dress-Mixed Media Art-Laura Guenther-Blue Antiquities
Burlap canvas, copper, fiber, nickel silver, pewter, ribbon, sterling silver wire,
XL lamp work bead- (Laura Blanck), Czech glass leaf bead

Mixed Media Art- Ruby's Dress
Blue Antiquities- Laura Guenther
Large lamp work bead by Laura Blanck
I created the dress pattern out of nickel silver, added the decorative edge at the bottom, then added the holes to complete the edge design. I  textured  the dress edges with a punch, then soldered the copper trim to the sleeves.  I cold connected the brass flower/pewter spacer with an eyelet.  I soldered the wire for the stem of the flower and added the leaf bead. Next, I added patina, fiber and the focal, the beautiful lamp work bead from my partner Laura of Open Studio Beads. I made the wire hanger when I couldnt find the ones I have. It took some figuring out, to get the dress on the hanger and have it hang well with the necklace chain and bead. 
  Do you like? 


My second piece also spotlights one of the striped beads as well, being the focal at the center of
this long necklace.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I knew I wanted to make a long necklace and add a tassel at the bottom.  After reflecting and playing around with ideas and beads on the table, (struggling)  I settled with this design. I am always challenged by large beads, but, I'm happy with how this turned out. I wanted to use more of the lampwork beads, however I kept going back to using only 1 bead, the bead showcased better. I set out beads for the basic design, and then I remained flexible as I strung the beads. I used most of the colorful beads and the Czech glass leaf beads from my soup,(at right)  in this arrangement.  I added small neutral seed beads for a contrast of color.  I decided to go with a double strand at the bottom of the necklace for added interest. As I worked, I kept in mind repetition and color as I worked  around the strand.  I wanted to be sure to have balance of color and visual weight with an asymmetric piece.  My photo of the necklace doesnt show how nice the extra beads are that Laura sent me as above, that are scattered in the long length of the necklace.  


The Aspen Willow Necklace

Aspen Willow Necklace- Mixed media beaded- seed beads, yellow patina chain, green patina ring,
 Czech glass beads, leather tassel, lamp work focal, gold clasp, brown leather, red peanut beads

Aspen Willow Necklace BSBP #8
BlueAntiquities
 

Aspen Willow Necklace- BSBP #8
BlueAntiquities-Laura Guenther
Lamp work focal bead- Open Studio Beads
Gold Clasp- Bead Soup

Finally I am adding another tassel necklace
with the largest bead pictured below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I did struggle with this design,
as before, working with large beads is a challenge for me.  I tried all different kinds of things.
I ended up with this, and I do love the bead with the ribbon.
 

 
  
Click link to go back to the party!

Thank you for visiting BlueAntiquities, and enjoy the party!
 

48 comments:

  1. You are a genius. Your necklace is gorgeous, but the little dress project is amazing and so original!

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  2. Love what you did with your soup! Great colors! Love the style

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  3. Gorgeous pieces Laura. I love the mixed media wall art - how sweet. Is that leather I see in the necklace? What a fun, fun piece and a leather tassel too. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.

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  4. :-D Thank you for this lovely ambiance! We have a great party going!
    That mixed media wall art piece is stunning!!! Never seen such! And what a happy necklace!

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  5. Great designs. I really love your mixed media piece. It is so cool.

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  6. love your creations, especially that last necklace. I could totally see myself sporting that! great job!

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  7. Your designs are beautiful. I really like 'Ruby's Dress'. What a creative way to use the bead. It really highlights the bead and shows your talent. Also, the colors in the necklace look exquisite together.

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  8. Oh, my gosh, that little wall art piece is just adorable!! I love that - so unique and pretty. :)

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  9. The necklace is stunning but I am truly in love with your mixed media piece. It is so cute and unique.

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  10. Love all those colorful beads! Your jewelry is great but the highlight was the mixed media wall art. I never would have thought of something like that. So unique!

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  11. Fabulous stunning work! LOVE the mixed media art piece - nothing short of genius!

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  12. Love that mixed media piece! And beautiful necklace, also!

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  13. The wall piece is to die for! What a unique idea! Love the necklace too. You are such an talented artist!!

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  14. Another first! Wall art! And so beautiful too. That necklace is also gorgeous. Great reveal!

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  15. Great designs. Love the wall art. What an inspired idea. Well done.

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  16. I love seeing ideas that are not jewelry for beads :) beautiful wall art design and absolutley love the long beaded necklace :)

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  17. Wow, Laura, what beautiful pieces. Your wall art is SO unique, as a former dressmaker I LOVE the little dress all of metals with its lovely necklace. And your second design : so awesome, it looks as graceful as a willow. Well done!

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  18. Gosh! That dress is gorgeous! Love it love it love it!

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  19. Lovely, your soup is absolutely lovely :0) You're such a creative soul, I love the necklace and the mixed media wall decoration is such a nice idea!

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  20. A canvas wall art piece, I'd hang that up in my studio, brilliant idea! I love the colours in the necklace.

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  21. Wow Laura, your mixed media piece Ruby's Dress is fabulous. It is one of the most unique pieces I have seen in any of the BSBP's I have viewed and this is #4 for me. Great job.

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  22. What a fantastic idea I love your mixed media piece!

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  23. Ruby's dress is divine. So very beautifully made and a perfect vehicle for that lush bead. I love how you've put together Aspen Willow. The wonderful big links make it super special. I would love to be able to create something so gorgeous.

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  24. The mixed media picture is beautiful. So is the necklace. Both pieces are totally unique.

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  25. Love the necklace with the leather tassel - so on trend and colorful!

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  26. Your mixed media project made me laugh out loud. Its a welcome releif from too much lovely jewelry overload. And how your partner managed to get all those colors in one bead set....

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  27. That dress is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I wish I could think like that! It reminds me of paper dolls and I ADORE paper dolls, even now!

    I also love the long necklace -- I'm all about long, and tassels, and having interesting beads all over so there's always something new to look at.

    Well done!

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  28. Incredible! Who would've thought a single lampwork bead could be the star in a mixed media art piece? Thanks for sharing behind-the-scenes because I wouldn't have guess that's how it all came together. And the necklace? Brilliant! I think showcasing each lampwork bead on its own is the best idea.

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  29. Your originality is awesome to say the least. But I love dangles and Tassels Big Bead and Tassel Necklace my Faves.

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  30. What a great job you did with your soup! I LOVE the nickel silver Dress with her own necklace. Very clever. And the two necklaces are lovely! Nice use of the beautiful colorful beads!

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  31. Each necklace is stunning, I love the little dress and the aspen willow is gorgeous, great job on a lovely soup!

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  32. Very creative soup! Love how you used tassels in your necklaces and the little dress is super cool :) I'm sure Laura will love it!

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  33. very elegant and delicate projects!congrats! Aspen villa-great!

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  34. I LOVE the mixed media piece! Really very different and clever. I also like how you added the tassle to the second piece. Great job!!

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  35. That dress took my breath away. (If you're looking to sell...look right here =) ) So FREAKING adorable. It literally made me gasp. WOW! I also love your long necklace but that dress. *happy sigh*

    Linda A.
    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
    http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  36. Love your use in the mixed media! What an idea - LOVE IT!! That's thinking outside the box! Great job!

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  37. Hi Laura I loved everything you did . It looked like it came to you effortlessly...The mixed media first piece with the adorable little dress is just brilliant ...The necklaces are very pretty and fun and I love the designs and textures you chose to put together...ty so much for sharing, bye now gotta get back to hopping...

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  38. Yes yes yes!! The mixed media art and the necklaces. You did such a nice job with all of it. I love it!

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  39. Wow, what a great soup! I love your mixed media project, it's a wonderful idea and so loveley. And the final necklace is gorgeous.

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  40. Goodness! Both of your necklaces and your mixed media piece are stunning! I am in awe of your ability with the nickel silver. It's so precise. And those two necklaces are just beautiful and look like they can be worn with just about anything. Outstanding!

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  41. I think you really pulled it off even though it was a challenge for you , you brought it all together !! And love that metal dress !

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  42. I've some unusual creations with the bead soups but this is pretty unique and beautifully made! I love asymmetrical and the second piece is gorgeous as I am partial to green and with your choice of beads, colors and arrangement you made that lampwork the star of the necklace!

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  43. Love the mixed media piece, just stunning and that tassel necklace is absolutely gorgeous. Great designs!

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  44. I just love tassels, lately and your are cool - You made some wonderful necklaces and the mixed media piece is really awesome.

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  45. I do like the tassel necklaces, they are very cool but how awesome is that wall plaque! I love that!

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Thank you for your comments! I love to hear from you! Laura