Just a refresher...My partner is Jenni Connolly of Victoria, Australia! Jenni sent me this fantabulous bead soup! I was giddy when I saw this focal:
And I'm not a red girl, or a heart girl now that I think about it...but this resin & copper heart is gorgeous!
And the rest of the delicious ingredients:
Jenni's own lampwork, copper chain, clasp, cord ends and red coral, labradorite and gray sari silk.
Now, on to the main event!!
The day my soup arrived, I had just come back from a girly outing which consisted of picking up the dress shown to wear to my next show...as soon as I opened my soup package, I knew "other forces" were at work and that I had to create a piece to wear with this dress!
Oh, where do I start? Jenni's gifted labradorite, coral rounds, gray silk and connectors. From there things went a little crazy, and everything but the kitchen sink wound up on this piece. Branch coral, druzy, pearls, tribal charms, souvenir spoon bowl, antique lace, Zambia coin, quartz point, salwag, tree branch from a fallen tree in my back yard, and lots of waxed linen!!
Big, bold and not for wallflowers! I know it's not everyone's taste or style, and it's a little busy to say the least, but I love HUGE jewelry and I'm in LOVE with it!! Did I mention I live in a tiny-rural-farmland-southern-the place that time forgot-town? Guess where my next show is? As my husband so kindly stated: "Baby, you are going to get a lot of strange looks, prayers said for you, and too many "Bless your hearts" to count!" My reply was "How is that different from any other day?" Him..."you win!" ;)
Next up was using the focal...
Again, I wanted different...and this WIDE cuff bracelet was born! I drilled another hole in to the focal and went to work sewing and beading. There's some more of Jenni's sari silk, coral and labradorite, as well as quite a few antique buttons, lace, copper chain/charm. I love the tattered feel of it!
I couldn't neglect the awesome lampwork beads, copper chain/clasp that Jenni sent me. After two "busy" pieces, I toned it down a bit...but kept it large (I usually only ever wear one piece of jewelry at a time, and tend to gravitate towards a bold piece).
My own floral polymer clay focal in gray & terracotta & Jenni's lampwork bead hangs on a tree branch from my yard (fell during those nasty storms that affected almost the entire east coast) that has been dried, painted, sealed and drilled. I added the hand forged chain and clasp from my soup. I've already worn this and received LOTS of compliments!
And a simple pair of copper/lampwork earrings:
I had a bracelet put together that used the remaining lampwork, but I just wasn't happy with it, and took it apart last night...it just didn't do Jenni's beads any justice!!
So, that wraps up my BSBP reveal. As always, it was so much fun! Thank you Lori for all the hard work and attention to detail a swap of this size entails!!
Now, run along and check out all of the other participants in the 2nd reveal!!
Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure
Amy Severino, Amy Beads
Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios
Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry
Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations
Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place
Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art
