Saturday, September 17, 2011

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!

43 comments:

  1. You go girl on the wire looping - I usually make mom loop all the beads! Lovely necklace girl! Love the big and bold bead!

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  2. I totally love the way that necklace came out. You know I love that huge carved piece! And the flamenco earrings are so cute. Can't wait to see the rest :) As for my wire loops - they may be good, but that's because I'm a one trick pony! I need to branch out more...

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  3. What a beautiful soup you made my friend, your work is truly stunning!! Thanks for sharing & all I can say is yummmmmy!!!

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  4. Love it! Especially the earrings, although big and bold definitely hits my sweet spot too! I will be checking back to see what else you did. Thanks for being such a great partner!

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  5. YUM! All of them are absolutely unique and spectacular!

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  6. I have yet to attempt wire loops or silk, so you are ahead of me there... the focal is amazing and looks wonderful in your design! I also love your Halloween earrings in the last post (my favorite holiday!).

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  7. A fabulous range of unique creations - it's too hard to pick a favourite...love them all.

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  8. Both pieces are great. Love the offset focal.

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  9. Awesome creations! Nice soup! Love that focal bead!

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  10. gorgeous, I love the flamenco dancers comparison. So true!
    Any yes Heidi's loops are perfection.

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  11. beautiful I love those last earrings....

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  12. Very creative designs! Love the 'flamenco dancer' earrings! :)

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  13. Great necklace, and I love, love, love the earrings!

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  14. Lovely necklace - your clasp is perfect!

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  15. all the things you've posted are great( I came after you posted the necklace) but I love the earrings, beautifully done

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  16. Very unique and beautiful soup! Your pieces are great!

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  17. I'm still making the rounds (as I probably will for weeks. . .this list is so dang long!) Fortunately I was able to see the necklaces in both posts. I'm totally digging the originality of each of them. Beautiful. And, those earrings really do look like that dancer! Cool! :)

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  18. Great pieces. The focal bead is really nice on the side like that. And the little earrings are nice. Simple, but fun.

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  19. Your soup mix is beautiful, and the jewelry you made with it is gorgeous! I especially love the necklace with the large carved bead - great job!

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  20. Great Gumbo, that was delicious! I especially love those earrings!

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  21. Wonderful piece - I love it! Your copper clasp is beautiful. And I like the piece in your second post, too!

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  22. Very nice! I rarely use big beads either... as a matter of fact, I never used them until this blog hop lol, but wow did you make them work! Wonderful job! And I love the flamenco dancer earrings;)

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  23. Love the big bead and all the chain, nice designs!

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  24. What pretty pieces! I love the flamenco earrings! Gorgeous!

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  25. very nice earrings. I like the copper clasp you made too. It all came together nicely.

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  26. Very nicely done. I love the necklace-and your wraps are perfect! The handmade toggle is a nice touch...I wish I could do these!!

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  27. Great mix! Love the colors and how you arranged them. I really like the earrings too!

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  28. Beautiful! The focal is stunning, and perfect for a long necklace.

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  29. Very pretty designs, but I totally love those earrings. ;-)

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  31. Yummy soup. What a lovely rustic necklace & fun earrings...I can see why they remind you of a flamenco dancer. Soup-er job!

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  32. Very nice pieces. Couldn't pick a favorite!

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  33. Lovely jewellery, both in this and the other post! Really like the feel of the necklace and the eclectic bead mix. Great job!

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  34. what a showstopper of a necklace- I love the focal and the swinging earrings are great. They look like fun!! I also really like the technique you used to make them swing!!
    Alice's Beads and Baubles

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  35. Both pieces are beautiful. I really like the necklace and the clasp that you made! Well done.

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  36. I love both of your necklaces! You did very creative things with each of them that I wouldn't have thought of doing. Wonderful inspirations!

    I don't know if you had time to watch my new video while you were at my blog? I'm not sure if you are familiar with glass lampwork but my video explains what glass lampwork beads are. Would love for you to check it out and help me share it with others if you enjoyed it. Working on getting the word out about glass lampworking.

    http://www.PatsyEvinsStudio.com/blog

    Patsy

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  37. Both of your necklace are so nice! And the earrings are great!
    Ambra

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