Bead Soup Blog Party - The Big Reveal
Well, it is Saturday, at least it is in my time zone. So I will reveal my project. Of course I just finished it up about an hour ago. LOL.
Welcome to all the Bead Soup Visitors. I am Melissa Muir. I am mainly a metalsmith but thought that this project would be a good exercise in creativity for me. I know we have a lot of blogs to visit, but stick around and check things out. I do a couple of fun features on my blog including Tool Time Tuesday (Tutorials and tool reviews, including videos) and Featured Artist Friday (Would you like to be featured?) There is a lot to be learned here on this blog and I would love to have you as a reader. You can subscribe in the upper right hand corner. Just enter your address and hit "Subscribe." My blog will email you every time I make a post. Don't worry, I won't fill your inbox daily. I am lucky to get 2 posts a week at the very most.
This project didn't turn out quite the way I was thinking it would. I actually went through a lot of wire that I ended up removing because it didn't look quite right. I am still not entirely sure I like how it turned out, but it is cool because it was such a challenge for me.
The one thing I must say is that my partner Lois Moon, has a great eye for color and putting elements together. I would have never picked out the beads she did. It made this project easier because I didn't have to do that part. This was very challenging for me and I am reminded why I don't often work with beads. I still say that I am beading challenged and this project confirmed that once again. HAHA I am very excited to see what she did with the items I sent her. Please be sure to click on her name and visit her blog as well.
Well, without further ado, here is what I came up with. We were required to use the focal and clasp. I added copper wire and a copper back plate, along with a few amber and brown seed beads. The rest of the materials were supplied by Lois.
I forgot to take a picture of everything before I got started. So Here the pendant is mostly done.
the necklace is asymmetrical, and anyone who knows me know that this is very different and difficult for me. But it was kind of liberating at the same time. I did the asymmetry because I wanted to showcase the really neat hook.
The focal is a ceramic/porcelain floral design. I carefully riveted it onto a back plate of 24 gauge copper. I added a couple of hooks of 24 gauge wire and then riveted that back plate onto another back plate using sterling silver wire rivets.
This is actually the third rendition of the earrings. I had some real troubles trying to get them to match. I tend to go complicated and making a matching pair of complicated earrings is rather difficult. but I kind of like this pair.
Here is a close up of that really cool Sterling hook.
A closer look at the "Bead work" on the pendant. I attached the beads to the "hooks" I created in the first step of the pendant. Look, I used seed beads (GASP!!!)
Here is the back. Yes, I know I didn't do a very good job at getting the spacing right, but it is too late now.
Thank you Lori Anderson for doing all of this, especially when life has been throwing such difficult curve balls your way! This was a great exercise and helped to push me a little when I was feeling sluggish.
Thank you Lois for the great blog feature and wonderful selection of beads. You have a wonderful talent and I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Be sure to stop by the Bead Soup Blog Party and visit the other 300+ blogs to see what others have come up with as well. Eye candy is always good for creativity.
Welcome to all the Bead Soup Visitors. I am Melissa Muir. I am mainly a metalsmith but thought that this project would be a good exercise in creativity for me. I know we have a lot of blogs to visit, but stick around and check things out. I do a couple of fun features on my blog including Tool Time Tuesday (Tutorials and tool reviews, including videos) and Featured Artist Friday (Would you like to be featured?) There is a lot to be learned here on this blog and I would love to have you as a reader. You can subscribe in the upper right hand corner. Just enter your address and hit "Subscribe." My blog will email you every time I make a post. Don't worry, I won't fill your inbox daily. I am lucky to get 2 posts a week at the very most.
This project didn't turn out quite the way I was thinking it would. I actually went through a lot of wire that I ended up removing because it didn't look quite right. I am still not entirely sure I like how it turned out, but it is cool because it was such a challenge for me.
The one thing I must say is that my partner Lois Moon, has a great eye for color and putting elements together. I would have never picked out the beads she did. It made this project easier because I didn't have to do that part. This was very challenging for me and I am reminded why I don't often work with beads. I still say that I am beading challenged and this project confirmed that once again. HAHA I am very excited to see what she did with the items I sent her. Please be sure to click on her name and visit her blog as well.
Well, without further ado, here is what I came up with. We were required to use the focal and clasp. I added copper wire and a copper back plate, along with a few amber and brown seed beads. The rest of the materials were supplied by Lois.
I forgot to take a picture of everything before I got started. So Here the pendant is mostly done.
the necklace is asymmetrical, and anyone who knows me know that this is very different and difficult for me. But it was kind of liberating at the same time. I did the asymmetry because I wanted to showcase the really neat hook.
The focal is a ceramic/porcelain floral design. I carefully riveted it onto a back plate of 24 gauge copper. I added a couple of hooks of 24 gauge wire and then riveted that back plate onto another back plate using sterling silver wire rivets.
This is actually the third rendition of the earrings. I had some real troubles trying to get them to match. I tend to go complicated and making a matching pair of complicated earrings is rather difficult. but I kind of like this pair.
Here is a close up of that really cool Sterling hook.
A closer look at the "Bead work" on the pendant. I attached the beads to the "hooks" I created in the first step of the pendant. Look, I used seed beads (GASP!!!)
Here is the back. Yes, I know I didn't do a very good job at getting the spacing right, but it is too late now.
Thank you Lori Anderson for doing all of this, especially when life has been throwing such difficult curve balls your way! This was a great exercise and helped to push me a little when I was feeling sluggish.
Thank you Lois for the great blog feature and wonderful selection of beads. You have a wonderful talent and I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Be sure to stop by the Bead Soup Blog Party and visit the other 300+ blogs to see what others have come up with as well. Eye candy is always good for creativity.
Beautiful! I love the soft colors with the copper!
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Good morning Melissa! I'm so excited to see your piece. I just sat down to check out the BSP and realized I set my post for Sunday morning. Ooops! It is up now.
You really created a swirling vine. I'm amused that we both went to work on the pendants by making something that fit into how we generally work. Bravo!
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WOW! I love how you paired silver and copper. I think that needs to be done more! Simply because I love copper! LOL.
Wonderful job!!
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Very great work. Wow!
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I just love your design. Love how you meshed the soft with the hard - riveting the ceramic onto the metal and adding all the details.
Terri
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I really like the soft femininity to this necklace. However, I do see the time and effort you must have put into it. The mixed metals are subtle, but really do work well. Overall, you've made an exceptional piece!
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Very beautiful. I love the pendant you created with the various pieces.
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very pretty piece! Reminds me of spring.
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Lovely, copper is getting quite a lot of play these days -- great job. We’re all being pushed outside ourcomfort zones — with amazing results!
Enjoy the hop,
Emanda
http://artemisiastudio.blogspotcom/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html
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What lovely soup! And you made a wonderful necklace! I like the assymmetrical style.
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Interesting wire work, and I like how you put the clasp in the front. Enjoyed reading about your process.
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It's very pretty and organic and feminine. Lovely!
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OMGoodness...your soup is DELICIOUS my Friend!!! I adore your design, it's truly stunning! Well done, another AMAZING cup of BEAD SOUP from a very talented designer!!!
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Wonderful! You have created a terrific piece of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture, and your copper wire work is fabulous. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
Lori
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I love what you did with that focal. I've really been wanting to learn to rivet and you just pushed me more in that direction. The dangles around the focal really make it stand out. I love copper anyway, so this piece really draws me in. And the necklace just adds to the dainty, feminine feel. I'll be subscribing to your blog to hopefully learn more from you.
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You ROCKED that pendant! I adore the necklace -- would wear it a lot!
I hope you'll join me next time -- the blog badge and dates are up on my blog now.
Love, Lori
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Very romantical! Greetings, Michi
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I love the chain, the copper and silver look gorgeous together. It's something I'm still learning and it's quite intimidating.
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Your metalwork is lovely, and this is a gorgeous necklace!
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I don't think mycomment earlier in the weekend made it through...
I love that layered and riveted pendant. That organic romantic style and soft colours are just to my taste! It's simply gorgeous. Fab work!
http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspotcom/
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Beautiful necklace!!
/Jenny
http://shymessmycken.blogspotcom/
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I love this beautiful bead soup creation. The flowers are worked in so perfectly with all the metal. Just gorgeous!
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This piece is so feminine and yet rugged at the same time. Love it!
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Wow, that is just so pretty!
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Wonderful!
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What a romantic necklace. Love all the differentcomponents that mke up the chain.
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I had to laugh when you were upset about the rivets not being even on the back, since the front is so awesome! Love that you stepped out of yourcomfort zone so well. The colors of your soup are great, and I like how you mixed the metals!
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so lovely and creative!
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Love all the little copper swirlies! Great colors & fun pieces
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I love what you have created with the soup mix. Sophisticated charm....adorable and sweet. Soup-er Job!
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