To celebrate the reopening of the Bead Soup Café the fabulous Lori McDaniel Anderson is throwing the fun Bead Soup Swap and Create (#beadsoupswapandcreate). This is basically how Lori set it up: She held sign ups one day for the event and paired people together from all over the world. Each pair was tasked with sending each other a Bead Soup, consisting of a focal, a special clasp, and some coordinating beads. The rules are you MUST use the focal and clasp (but not necessarily in the same piece) and that you use all, any, or none of the coordinating beads sent to you. You can make one piece or many.
I was partnered with Lucy Clasen. Please visit her at: Lucy Clasen | Facebook Here is what Lucy sent me as Bead Soup - Quite a large and awesome selection of pretty beads.
1st Design: Pendant Druzy Necklace
I used the beautiful Druzy Quartz Pendant and Opalite Beads. I added Faceted Crystal Beads, Small Brass Spacer Beads, Czech Daisy Spacer Beads and a Antique Brass Plated Leaves Hook and Eye Clasp.
2nd Design: 3 Stretch Bracelets
The AB Crystal Faceted Rondell Beads are so lovely in these bracelets. I added a large Swarovski Crystal as focal in one of the bracelets, Larger Faceted Crystals, Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Beads and Silver Bead Caps. The second bracelet I added Silver Bead Caps, smaller Faceted Crystals and a Swarovski Starfish as a dangle. Third bracelet has the same Silver Bead Caps and Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Beads.
3rd Design: Patina Pendant Necklace
This Vintage Style Pendant by Dry Gulch is so sweet. Love this sweet Birdie! I patinaed the clasp from the Bead Soup to match the patina on the flowers in the pendant. I used the pretty Green and Amethyst Faceted Crystals and added Czech Glass Leaves, a Brass Bead Cap, a Ceramic Bead Cap, a Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Bead, a pretty Floral Brass Bail and Brass Open Link Chain to finish off this lovely necklace.
4th Design: Agate Gemstone Stretch Bracelet
This cute Bracelet is designed with Frosted Dragon Vein Agate and Miyuki Triangle Beads. To the bracelet design I added a Floral/Butterfly Cloisonné Focal Bead, Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Beads, a Brass Floral Bail and a dangle of an Artisan Lampwork Bead with Gold Plated Daisy Spacer Beads.
There's still more. Lucy was so generous with the Bead Soup she give me I felt I had to use as much of the pretties that I could. I was on a roll with Bracelets.
5th, 6th and 7th Designs: Bracelets
Lampwork Bracelet: I had left over AB Faceted Crystals and Amethyst Crystals so I added Artisan Lampwork Beads, Swarovski Crystals, Czech Glass Large Bellflowers, Sterling Silver Bead Caps and finished of the bracelet with a Magnetic Floral Clasp with a wonderful Butterfly dangle.
This fun bracelet is made with Etched Glass Beads - Pretty Purple - and Miyuki Triangle Beads to which I added two Artisan Lampwork Beads and a beautiful Vintage Bird Button.
This Stretch Bracelet I used the last of the AB Faceted Crystals and added two Artisan Lampwork Beads. The Owl Focal is by Greengirl Studio's and added the cutest butterfly charm dangle.
8th Design: Botswana Agate Pendant Necklace
Isn't this Pink Botswana Agate Gemstone Pendant Beautiful. I added a Sterling Silver Bail and from the Bead Soup I used the Silver Tone Southwestern Beads and the Toggle Clasp. I had these large Freshwater Gray Pearls that are so nice and I added them along with Fuchsia Colored Freshwater Pearls, Amethyst Faceted Crystals, Amethyst Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Beads and a cute Crystal Fuchsia Dangle.
Last but not least I made some earrings from the Bead Soup Goodness.
9th, 10th and 11th Designs: Earrings
Bead Soup Lampwork Beads and Pewter Charms to which I added Swarovski Crystals, Ceramic Bead Caps, Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Beads, Silver Plated Spacer Beads and Sterling Silver Earwires.
AB Czech Glass French Rose Flowers and Opalite Beads from my Bead Soup. I added Amethyst Faceted Gemstones, Brass Bead Caps, Brass Handmade Earwires and Vintaj Brass Butterflies.
12th Design: Ceramic and Lampwork Bracelet
Final Design: Matte Glass Beads and Miyuki Triangle Beads from Bead Soup Mix. I've had these Artisan Ceramic Beads for a long time and love purples and lime green together. The pretty matte glass beads inspired me to make this fun bracelet. The Artisan Lampwork Beads are actually Lime Green even though I could not get the color correct in these pictures...sigh! I, also, used Rhinestone Crystal Rondell Spacer Beads, Czech Mystic Bellflowers, Seed Beads, and the cutest Owl Button. The Dangle is made with an Artisan Lampwork bead, Czech Glass Maple Leaf and a Swarovski Bicone Crystal.
What I Sent Lucy:
Bead Soup for Lucy.
Some extra fun goodies.
It was so fun creating these designs. I may have gotten a little carried away, but just had to do it...lol. Hope you all enjoyed stopping by. Big thank you to Lori! Thank you bunches to Lucy Clasen for the great Bead Soup.
Please enjoy visiting the other wonderful Revels by others and their partners.
The Bead Soup Swap & Participants:
Lori Anderson, hostess