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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Bead Soup from Sarah

My favourite part of the bead soup blog hop: receiving the beads :-) It's always such a treat to open the mailbox and find a package from my bead partner. Since I order the majority of my jewellery components on-line I get lots of packages in the mail, but receiving the bead soup is always different, more personal and therefore more significant.


My bead soup partner Sarah from Stringing a Song of Sixpence sent me a gorgeous selection of beads in deep shades of purple, lavender, soft pinks and charcoal grey. She sent me this incredible selection of lampwork beads, amethyst, Czech glass leaves and hematite as well as a pair of mother of pearl beads shaped like a shark's tooth.

the toggle clasp
The toggle clasp design is Sarah's favourite so she went and got one just for me. I was so touched! And the lizard charm is just adorable. I decided to pair it with a kangaroo charm from my own stash.

Kangaroo with the baby in it's sack and the lizard
The colour palette for the bead soup is particularly challenging for me. I've always been drawn to the subdued shades of purple but I was never  able to get the balance between the soft colour tones and  feminine feel this palette conveys. My jewellery pieces were either too bland because the contrast between the components wasn't strong enough or I used some bright coloured beads to give it more contrast and the jewellery ended up looking odd as if a colour blind person selected the beads.
As a result I have amassed quite a few beads in this lovely lavender / pastelcolour that have been patiently waiting:

soft pinks and lavender from my stash

10 comments:

  1. Are the lamp work beads the ones with the little white bumps? Those are my favorite.

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    1. yes, the ones with the bumps and swirls are lamp work beads and they are just so much fun to work with. They also look so much better in person, I'm having such a hard time taking photos with the lack of natural light.

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  2. Very interesting components you received. Love the kangaroo and lizard. Can't wait to see what you craft from these pieces. And thanks for the explanation yesterday on how the bead soup party works.

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    1. Sanda, I totally forgot to include a brief explanation in the post. I figured that since this is the third time I'm participating all my readers know it by now but then I forgot about my new blog followers to whom this is a first time mention of the bead soup.

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  3. Such interesting looking beads. Where do you ladies find them from?
    I just enjoy seeing them as such.
    Have you ever thought of arranging " paintings " of them, or something else than jewelry?

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    1. Mette, we find beads everywhere ;-) much to the annoyance of our husbands! The on-line stores have such an amazing selection I try not to look at them too often since that would mean buying too many beads.
      Apart form making jewellery I use the beads to wrap presents or add them in a crystal bowl or on a plate around candles and enjoy the sparkle

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  4. Wow! The soup is delicious.
    Can't wait to see the finished product.

    I'm a new beader and a first time bead souper.
    I'm a new follower of your blog. Please consider visiting my new blog-I need followers.
    Thanks.

    kathy

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    1. Kathy thanks for visiting my blog! I'll be sure to hop over to yours :-)

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  5. I'm doing my first Bead Soup Blog Party and want to visit everyone's blog over the duration of the party. Since it's my first one, I want to see all I can see. :-)

    What a beautiful soup. I especially like the nubby lamp work beads. Did I mention I also love purple?

    My blog is www.billi.rs.rothove.blogspot.com. I hope you make it by sometime soon!

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  6. Ooo a lovely selection there. I'm looking forward to seeing what you make with them all :-)

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