Firstly - The Soups
My partner, Hope Smitherman of Crafty Hope, sent me TWO amazing soups! Included in the soups were brass and pewter focals and clasps, bright glass beads, gemstones, spacers and more. Tons of gorgeous stuff!
Parvati’s Bracelet
I knew almost straight away what I was going to do with the brass focal, it was just the right size for a bracelet. I sketched out my intentions and went hunting through my own stash for beads and findings to use. Originally I was going to use two strings of beads from the first bead soup, the green glass and garnet chips in place of the brass chain, but I though it looked to heavy (visually). So, I ordered brass chain from my eBay supplier and waited until it arrived (just before the second reveal), making the first piece designed the last made.
My stash - Facetted tigers eye, sari silk and a heart bead from Gaea handmade.
Special purchase - brass chain and jump rings.
Bead Soup #1 - Focal and clasp, brass beads
Amphitrite’s Collar
(Amphitrite - wife of Poseidon)
Next on my list was the pewter focal. I’m totally in love with this one, I spent a couple of days running this focal through my fingers, so tactile! The swirls reminded me of waves on the beach and it didn’t take me long to dig up some czech beach glass, the rest fell into place in less than an hour. Very unusual, I normally spend time sketching and planning with colour palettes. This is also the piece I spent time with on Polyvore creating a virtual outfit for in my last post.
My stash - Double link chain, Amazonite nuggets, Rose Quartz nuggets, czech firepolished beach glass mix.
Bead Soup #2 - pewter focal
Melissa’s Bracelet
My last bracelet. When I ordered the brass chain for the first bracelet I included some other bits and pieces, one of which became the focal for this bracelet. Now I have lots of these focals, they came in a metre long chain.
My stash - brass focal, czech firepolished amethyst, brass clasp, sari silk
Bead Soup #1 - garnet chips, wood beads, brass beads
Finally, I do have another bracelet made with the brighter beads from the second bead soup but, unfortunately it is now in pieces. I’ve had to pull it apart because it won’t lay flat and insists on twisting itself inside out. I refuse to give up on it and will post it here when it’s behaving itself.
I have had such a good time with these bead soups, I must thank Hope for my soup and Lori for this wonderful opportunity! I hope you’ve enjoyed my bead soup journey, and please don’t forget to visit my partner Hope. Can’t wait to see what she has created with the soup I sent for her.
Thanks for stopping by and feel free to say Hello in the comments below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants (click on the image below to be taken to the Participant list)…. Happy Hopping!
