Down to the last bead - Bead soup 2013 2nd reveal

Tribal vibe: tooth shark shaped mother of pearls paired with pyrite

This is my third time participating in the Bead soup blog hop and it's been another prolific one! This time I used up every single bead my lovely partner Sarah sent me. I even ended using beads from the previous soup from my then partner Agata. The pyrite beads from the first set of earrings and the clasp in the asymmetrical necklace.

Last helping: the last two purple glass rounds paired with some last minute shopping ceramic beads and silver metal discs

To be quite honest, I finished my bead soup in the first three days after I got my beads. I just love that magical moment when I open the parcel from my partner filled with gorgeous beads and lovely thoughts in the accompanying notes that my imagination turns to super mode.

Lush: the majority of bead soup paired with beads from my stash in a rainbow of purple, lavender, silver, dove and charcoal greys

This year was no different, I made the charm bracelet and the chain necklace the first evening and decided upon the design for the asymmetrical necklace which had to wait a week because I needed to go to town to get the exact satin ribbons I wanted to use.

tribal vibe: another angle

Then came these earrings. I knew I wanted to accentuate the shark tooth shape but no matter how I paired the beads it just didn't work. I must have pulled them apart at least seven times. But it was worth it because I'm very happy with the final design.

Asymmetrical

The asymmetrical necklace is very difficult to photograph and even looks a bit blah on the photo but quite nice when worn. I used pale pink faceted quartz and faceted yellow Chech beads from my stash and the cute pink lampwork beads Sarah sent as focals.

Playful mix

This necklace deliberately has no clasp and can be worn as a single or a double strand. I used the remaining lampwork beads from Sarah and paired them with Pandora beads from my stash. I wanted to "immobilize" the Pandora beads so that they lay perpendicular to the chain at all times. Instead of wire wrapping  which would make them wobble all over the place I used a smaller chain, two links of it roughly equalled the length of the hole and attached them to my main chain with the Pandora bead trapped in. It required a bit of fiddling around to attach the main chain to the smaller links without loosing the Pandora bead but once I was done, the bead was snugly caught between the links of the large chain preventing the bead from moving. Ta-dah! Success.

As always this party would have been a dull one without our hostess extraordinaire Lori Anderson from Pretty Things. Thanks Lori! And another warm thanks to my lovely partner Sarah whom I've been in constant contact during the dreary snowy month of March as we exchanged thoughts, ideas and progress report. Go see what she made with her soup!

Click HERE for the entire list of participants for the 2nd reveal.

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

Bead soup 2013 - meet my partner Sarah

It's bead soup time again! My favourite annual  jewellery and beading blogging event and I'm always so excited to check out all the blogs from other participants to see what beads they've received and the great jewellery pieces they've come up with.
This year my partner is the lovely Sarah from String a song of Sixpence. Sarah is a bead stringer with a great eye for colour and texture. I was particularly surprised at all the colours she works with since most jewellery makers prefer only a select palette. Sarah is also a  first time participant of the bead soup party.
I've included a photo of a necklace which Sarah pointed me to saying it was one of her favourite and a pair of earrings I was drawn to because of the ingenious mix of shapes and colours:

First steps away from symmetry

Stealth earrings

Sarah is also a  first time participant of the bead soup party. We hit it off immediately in our e-mail correspondence. She was excited to send some of her most cherished beads across Europe to meet new bead friends :-)

As it turns out I had the exact same thing in mind when I sent her my bead soup choice because the beads as well as the ribbon and organza flower are some of  my favourite components put together from my jewellery and sewing stash. I can't wait to see what Sarah comes up with it!

 

Bead soup for Sarah

Discovering yellow

I've always been a great fan of yellow despite the fact that it does not suit my complexion. In fact wearing yellow makes me look like I'm dying of consumption which is sad really because yellow is such a bright and cheerful colour. As with all colours I don't look good in I try to steer clear of yellow, but its energy and radiance fascinates me.

yellow and emerald

I've recently taken some time off and went back to doing the things that make me happy: sewing and making jewellery. I decided this was really the time to push my boundaries and overcome the scare factor some colours evoke. So I decided to pull out my yellow beads and make something pretty with them.
Once I let go of the fear, the creative process was so spontaneous and fun and I came up with these two pairs of earrings:

colourful and happy

I've also been experimenting with other colours that used to scare me with surprizingly amazing results: next up the colour grey and a new dress!

Marilyn was on to something

Over the past year I've started to notice a steep decline in the quality of clothing from the brands I used to rely upon. At first it was just the little things, like the occasional button falling off or a loose thread. Lately it has reached unthinkable proportions: brand new knits piling after the first few washes, colours fading and items stretching out. I was annoyed to say the least but then the latest incident had me bouncing off the walls.

Vienna public park December 2012

I got the coat in the picture for Christmas from Mr. C. The label is Desigual, a Spanish brand known for their youthful and fun colourful patchwork and applique designs. This coat is all about fun. Therefore I was willing to overlook the poor fiber composition, since I already have a solid classic coat and a rainproof winter parka.
I've had it for three weeks and in this time I've worn it maybe a dozen of times when I started noticing fraying at the cuffs and the hems of the coat. I was bewildered. Seriously?! A frayed hem after a handful of wears? And I'm not talking about a subtle loose thread here, this was serious and visible fraying. We took the coat back to the store and got a refund for it. This was my second shock. The sales assistant offered a full refund on the spot and told us in a matter of fact style that refunds were a common occurrence with Desigual clothes. Consumerism mentality at its worse.

closeup, very difficult to get a good picture

After returning the coat, Mr. C took me to my favourite jewellery store to purchase plan B Christmas gift: a simple white gold and teeny diamond pendant. It's such a sweet design, not too flashy and perfect for everyday. They also have matching earrings and since this is part of a permanent collection, I can afford to wait and get the earrings whenever I'm able to afford them.

the pendant worn with a necklace I got for my 18th birthday

The best part: the pendant cost just 10 € more than the coat but I'm sure it will prove more durable. So I'm taking a cue from Ms. Marilyn Monroe here, diamonds are indeed a girl's best friend!

Making earrings for a change

Remember the Virtual Craft Show post? The bracelet I made specially for that event has since been shipped to India. What's more I was also one of the lucky winners. I received a special bead kit mix.
Last week the highly anticipated package from Michelle Mach arrived.

Lots of cool blues, clear glass and crystal and silver metal beads... basically my favourite beads to work with.

I've been playing with the beads over this weekend and as it turns out made more earrings in a row than ever before. I find it hardest to work on earrings. Very difficult to come up with interesting and wearable designs.

The ones made with recycled glass rondelles are by far my favourites.

This necklace is made from components from all over the world. I used frosted glass beads, blue focal and metal spacers from Michelle's kit and added hematites I bought in Montenegro three years ago and a clasp I ordered from the UK.

And finally, since I was doing so well with the earrings, another ancient components from my stash: a pair of spiral shells combined with emerald green glass beads.

The shells were never meant to be used as jewellery components because they had no holes for stringing. Since that has never stopped me before I bought them anyway and drilled the holes myself. Anything can be used as a jewellery component :-)

The stubborn de-stash

About a month ago I posted my thoughts on creativity in relation to abundance and how I find the abundance of material things to inhibit creativity. As with everything, this isn't universally accurate but it proved to be spot on for me.
For years I have been buying jewellery and sewing related supplies, notions, tools, etc. My stash was expanding exponentially. It got to the point where I couldn't start any project without first buying something new. I've completely stopped buying fabric in August after realizing my supply was fast approaching 3 digit number in meters of fabric. Ouch!
But fabric is easy. I have a folder on my computer with pictures and dimensions of all the fabric in my stash. Beads are tricky. It's so easy to store them. They take very little space and somehow it always seems the amount of beads has doubled without really noticing it.
And then I had one of those moments of clarity when it hit me that I will always find some new fabric or unusual beads or whatever. So I made a decision not only to stop buying new supplies for a while but also to stop looking.
Working in a vacuum without outside sensory input was a bit weird at first but as it turned out it was essential for my creative process. Being constantly surrounded by images of other people's work as well as pining over new beads had completely numbed me.

The other problem I had was hoarding my "special" beads for a project worthy of their beauty. This tiger eye faceted pendant is a typical example. I've been holding on to this one for 5 years now.

I always knew I'd turn it into a necklace but could never find coordinating beads. Two days ago I paired it with the black beads and the helix crystals but didn't have nearly enough for a whole necklace. I was about to go back on my word not to buy new beads before I dug out the bronze seed beads. Turns out they were perfect for this project.

I made earrings using polymer clay beads I made in February. Completely and utterly weird but strangely lovable, I hadn't a clue what the heck to do with them.

And finally, a typical example of my bead tray: lots of blue, lots of ordinary round beads and some silver metal findings. I also have a great love of shell and mother of pearl beads. I was resolved to turn this tray of dull beads into something extraordinary.

It took me five hours and some re-shuffling but I came up with this completely out of the box necklace:

It's definitely eclectic but I don't think it looks awkward or forced.

After three days of intense beading I've learned that my beads are neither plain nor boring. The only thing obstructing my creativity was my perception of my supplies. As always I'm looking into different ways to combine colours and my designs are becoming bolder.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow The Virtual Craft Show opens on Lori's blog Pretty Things. Hop over for a chance to win some amazing goodies from other super talented artisans, bead makers, jewellery designers,...

Here's a sneak preview of the piece I'll be giving away:

Update: from the 26th November till 3rd December I'm offering a 10% discount on all items in my Etsy store. Just enter VCS2011 at checkout.

The 1st Annual Virtual Craft Show

So here you have it, a mouthful of a title and you're probably wondering what is this beast. Virtual craft show is an on-line event hosted by the sweet and lovely Lori Anderson from Pretty Things. Among many other things she's also the master mind behind Bead soup blog party.

Quite simply The Virtual Craft Show is like any other craft show only this one takes place in blogosphere, to be precise on Lori's blog for a whole whooping 7 days between November 26th and December 3rd.

I jumped at the chance to participate because where I come from, this tiny quaint country I call home craft shows are rarer to come by than a golden fleece (There was one, but Jason snagged it like 3000 years ago).

There will be lots of artisans showcasing their work and of course there will be giveaways.

my stash

As you all know the holiday season is fast approaching, there is this tension in the air: people in a frenzy to buy gifts, artisans nervous and trying to sell their creations. Budgets are tight, the economy is in the pot. So I'm extending this invitation not to try and get you to buy something. Hop over, take a look, comment, participate in the giveaways.

Milestones, declutering and giveaway

Wow, guess what? I've reached 10.000 blog clicks!
In retrospect 2011 has certainly proved to be a successful year: I've graduated, lost weight (still coming up with a post on that), started selling my jewellery on Etsy, turned 30...but most importantly I've met some many amazing people via the great and Almighty Internet.
And I feel immensely privileged to able to call some of you my friends.
Though I am very outspoken and sociable, I am extremely shy and reserved when it comes to making new friends. Blogging has provided me with a perfect outlet for expressing my thoughts and ideas. It has been instrumental in shaping my identity in the past year as I struggled to find my centre, my purpose in life and my self-worth.
I couldn't have done it without you! Thanks!

Time for a giveaway I think :-D
As a token of my appreciation for having such an intelligent, graceful and kind audience, I'll be giving away this pair of earrings.
All you have to do qualify is leave a comment on this post with your contact info or a link to one by 22nd November.

Here is the completely optional part of the programme:
I'm in the process of figuring out what exactly I want to do with my blog.
I don't plan on any drastic changes. I'm still determined and committed to leave this blog purposefully void of all and any labels (like DIY, fashion, lifestyle...). My blog is and remains a reflection of my personality. And that's one eccentric mix!
What I'd like from you, my dear readers is a feedback on the contents, quality and frequency of my posts. Do you feel I should change anything and if so what?
To that end, I feel it important to say that I've been seriously considering dropping the Friday film post. I feel it's attracting the wrong kind of attention and deflecting from the real goal of this blog.
What do you think?

Light tent update

Mr. C and me have been looking forward to the mini holiday/long weekend we've had the past 4 days. We scheduled strict stay at home time, to finally resolve the light tent situation. A few weeks ago I did a post on assembling a light tent and was very disappointed with the quality of the photos, everything turned out so dark and granulated.

before

You guys have been wonderful and all of your comments were much appreciated. So here's the thing: such a small detail, but makes all the difference! It turns out we positioned the lights all wrong!

after

It's important to position the lights at a right angle (perpendicular) to the tent. This assures proper light dispersion.

before

And is is more than obvious from the photos, the light tent is now "working" properly. I'm over the moon. Now I can finally get some decent photos of my jewellery. I can't tell you how happy that makes me!
So today's lesson I guess: sometimes it really is as simple as that!

after

And of course we took this opportunity to take some snaps of Rufus.  Cat not happy!
This is the first time we were able to get some really decent shots of him. Let me tell you, it's absolutely impossible to get a good photo of a black cat with a regular point and shoot camera.

Years ago a friend of ours, who owns a super cool professional camera took some pics of Rufus. The only ones we had of him that really captured his gaze and fur properly. These light tent pics are a very close proximate to those and for a fraction of the price.
Though in all honesty, I would love to own a camera like that.