Bead Soup Has Arrived

Bead Soup Has Arrived!! Yes, I'm shouting because I'm so excited! I didn't get a photo of the package, but really who can blame me. I was too busy tearing into it.

Here's what I reaceived from my partner Bobbie. She sent me these gorgeous metal components: liquid silver, silver tangle beads, silver plated pewter square beads, and a gorgeous silver plated pewter clasp.



Also included were these lovely beads; an agate donut focal, forest agate lentils, shell buttons, two-hole squares, and discs, some Czech glass, and lovely blue topaz.



But my favorite has to be this stunning lampwork bead by Kate Towle with the tiny seashells inside. Bobbie couldn't decide on which focal to send, so she sent two. Actually that silver is too pretty to be in the back, so I'll probably use as a focal too. I'm feeling pretty lucky!



For the soup I sent Bobbie, I chose the colors of summer, cool greens and blues to represent the clear blue sky, vacations at the lake, and digging your toes in the cool green grass (that is if you have green grass). There's ceramic, polymer, lampwork, and stone beads here.



Bobbie also received an assortment of beads the colors of the hot sun, beach balls, and sunburns.
More lampwork, and a handmade clasp from Melinda Orr.



I'm so excited and I can't wait for our August 25th reveal date!

Giveaway Alert!

Quick! Check out Lori Anderson's blog for a fabulous giveaway! Contest ends July 13th.

Bracelets You Say?

Yes I have a few. Thirty Four to be exact. All tagged and ready to go, along with Thirty Two necklaces, and Thirty Nine pairs of earrings.

This Friday (July 6th) I'll be selling my jewelry at the First Fridays Event at the Crossroads District in Kansas City at Studio B. Because we have been so busy, I have only been to one this year. I'm crossing my fingers that people are in a buying mood! If you're near Kansas City I'd love for you to come by Studio B!

Sun and Sea Challenge

Today is the reveal day for the Creative Bead Chat's Sun and Sea Challenge. Six wonderful artists donated beads for this event, and I was one of the lucky winners! Here's what we received.



This necklace is made with Marla James fabulous ceramic focal. I wanted this to be a simple design so the focal stood out. I added hammered chain from Andrew Thornton's Spring Challenge which reminded me of little bubbles, Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski coral glass pearl beads, a sterling clasp and donut bail.


'Andros Barrier Reef'



Earrings made with MOP ovals and handmade hammered copper rings from Melinda Orr, Swarovski crystals, and copper freshwater pearls.


'Sea Maiden'

This necklace is made with Karyn Lewis-Bonfiglio's pretty blue swirled polymer beads, a leftover MOP oval from Melinda Orr, two little orange ceramic beads from Karen Totten, an ebony flower bead from Keirsten Giles bead swap, Melinda Orr's handmade copper clasp, and Vintaj components.


'The Big Island'

These earrings are made with Kathleen's colorful lampwork beads, etched copper charms from Melinda Orr, and brass earwires.


'Long Hot Summer'

And just to cool things off a bit, here is a simple little bracelet made using two of Karen Totten's blue ceramic tube beads, a handful of lampwork spacers from Twinstar, faceted aqua beads, tiny faceted dyed jade beads, lapis rondelles, and sterling silver.


'Cool Waters'



These earrings are made with two of Karen Totten's blue ceramic beads, and the left-over hammered chain from Andrew Thornton's Spring Challenge.


'Splash'

Though we had plenty of time to make jewelry, I didn't get to the lovely wood tile bead from Jlynn, and I still have a couple hammered rings and copper beadcaps from Melinda that didn't find their way into a piece.

I want to thank all the ladies who generously gave their own beads just so we could play. I had a wonderful time with this challenge. I hope you will visit the artist who gave us beads to play with, and also visit the designers listed below to what they created with the same beads.

Aimees Jewelry Treasures
Yay Jewelry
CSW Designs
Alice Dreaming you're here!
Creative Thoughts From Cindy

Finally Friday

It's Finally Friday, and the inspiration this week is Sweet Tones from Design Seeds. The colors are definately sweet and they remind me of eating cotton candy at the fair. These earrings are made with cute dotted lampwork beads, which I've had for a long time now and have lost track of the artist. Also included are Czech ruby deep cut beads, two sweet little aqua lampwork spacers from Twinstar, and sterling silver.


'Cotton Candy Summer'




Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to visit Shannons blog for her Finally Friday project. And I know she would be thrilled if you played along. The more, the merrier!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Catching Up

Click on the photo above to see all the details.

Are you ready for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party? This year there are a record 400 participants, and three reveal dates. I'm so lucky to have been paired up with Bobbie Rafferty of Beadsong Jewelry Bobbie and I have spent the last few days getting aquainted. Though our jewelry designs might be a bit different, (she does a lot of seed bead work and a bit of stringing, where I do mostly stringing and a bit of wirework) we both love beads--any and all beads. I've always been in awe of artists that can work with these seed beads, but Bobbie uses any beads she can get her hands on. Take a look at some of her gorgeous pieces.







Last week we went to the Lake of the Ozarks for a family reunion. It was hot and we packed in the activities. Our favorite was the trip to Ha Ha Tonka State Park where we hiked a trail that included a natural bridge and the skeleton of a once gorgeous castle up on a cliff.

View of the castle from the trail.


Remains of the castle.


Our daughter in blue, her friend, and our nephew.


My brother in law enjoying a wonderful view from the castle courtyard


A gorgeous sunrise on the lake.


A speedy trip around the lake, and a lovely sunset.


The girls getting ready to parasail.


And when we got home this sweet package was waiting for me. I was the lucky winner of
Mary Harding's sweet Asparagas pendant. Just look at the cheery packaging!



I keep all the business cards I get because they are little works of art in themselves.


Asparagus Pendant--isn't it gorgeous?

The Winner of the Art Bead Love Tour Chain Is...

I didn't even have to use a random generator thingy to pick the winner since there were so few entries--which is good since I wouldn't have a clue as to how that works. I did it the old fashioned way with names in a hat and my husband pulled out the name.

The winner of the fabulous Art Bead Love Tour Chain is.... Drumroll please....





The Lovely and Talented Lori Anderson of the fabulous Pretty Things Blog!

Thanks so much to the Love My Art Jewelry Blog for starting this amazing chain! Be sure to check Lori's blog in the coming weeks to try your luck with this traveling chain of beady goodness!