Bead Gumbo: Today is the Day!

Here are all of the partner's for the September 2011 Bead Soup Blog Party: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ Lori, we can't thank you enough. Where you find the energy, I'll never know. I think the drawing for next time is a fabulous idea, by the way!!!

As usual, I'm running a bit behind. I fell asleep at 8 pm last night and didn't wake up until 7 am this morning. Obviously I needed the sleep! I did, however, finish all my pieces. I'll be posting them here and there today; I can't do it all at one time because I have to work today. So, with that caveat...

The first necklace I want to post is the one I have a hard time believing that I actually made, and yet, it's one of my favorites.

I didn't do a single thing I said I wanted to do in my last blog: I didn't use any pearls, I didn't use every bead, I went big and bold...I didn't use any silk thread! I decided instead to use wrapped loops as much as I can. I'm horrible at wrapped loops. They make my hands ache. I don't know how you ladies do it! My friend Heidi's loops are always perfect. Check out her BSBP at (http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com/

But, all-in-all, I am very happy with this piece. Kate (http://tropicalblonde.blogspot.com/) sent me these gorgeous 16 mm carnelian beads. I wrapped those up on copper wire and put them with 20 to 35 mm long african opal briolettes and a HUGE 80 mm long carved Asianesque bead that I had picked up last year at a bead show here in NOLA. [See? I buy big beads; I just rarely use them, lol] I also used oxidized silver rollo chain (I can't give up everything!). Oh, and another big ethnic bead; a hollow brass bead with a black jet cab. [Three different types of metal!]

Upside down, boy, you turn me, inside out...

 

 I made my own hammered copper

clasp. You would think that with

all those big beads this necklace

would be super heavy, but it's not.




Kate sent me these lovely coral nuggets, tiger's eye rounds, and her unique, hand-crafted polymer clay rondelle's. I loved the way the colors blend and complement each other. And I love big, hanging, chandelier-type earrings. Yes, my weakness, but they have to be lightweight. These fit that bill perfectly.

Big and bold with copper chain!



Corny, maybe, but that's
what inspired me. Ole!

 I think they look like Flamenco dancers. You know, the way the sleeves on the male dancer's shirt are layered with ruffles? Or the senorita's ruffled skirt? That's how I see the coral. The center bead is the "head" of the dancer---his "arms" raised above his head, clapping in time to the music...

So, here in Louisiana, we love a hearty kind of soup or stew called "gumbo." First you have to make a roux, which becomes the base (and the flavor!) of the stock. Kate really sent me beads that made a great "base" for me to work with!