Saturday, September 17, 2011

BSBP - REVEAL! - ENTHÜLLUNG!


To brush up your memory, this is what Sara sent me
YOU may remember, the BSBP is all about breaking out of one's comfort zone and trying something new, and Sara's bead soup certainly helped me in doing just that. Sara Hardin's blog is Softflex Girl, and I've got to admit, for a little while there I've been terrified she'd send me nothing but WIRE - I kept having to remind myself this was to be a BEAD soup blog party. *laughs*

Actually, the "soup" she sent my way was quite lovely, containing many of my favorites - antique brass (real Vintaj findings - oh, these are so hard to get a hold of over here!), Czech beads, much of turquoise and seafoam color, mother of pearl,  and opalite effect beads. There was beading wire of course, I expected that. It was supposed to be my "challenge" as Sara told me in the lovely card she sent along, and she was mindful enough to include some crimp tubes in the mix. 

What took me by surprise was the orange. Do you see that lovely mother of pearl disk with the intricate floral design? I love that color (Gee, however did she guess that? :*eyes blog design*), but I never  actually use it. In fact I do not own a single orange bead. Nor was I able to find any browsing the craft stores in this town. Orange, it seems, is the most unpopular color EVER right next to yellow. Which is a shame, at it combines so nicely with turquoise, and antique brass.

The moment I laid eyes on the soup sent to me, my line of thoughts was ...

"Summer, sunset. BEACH. Light, airy. Organza ribbon? Hell yes, definitely organza ribbon. Maybe some shell too? And fringes. Oh yes, fringes."

As you can see below, I stuck with those ideas for the most part.


Zur Erinnerung: Das ist die Perlensuppe die mir Sara
geschickt hat
WIE ihr euch vielleicht erinnert, die BSBP soll dazu anregen über den eigenen perlerischen Tellerrand zu schauen und was neues zu wagen, sozusagen mal die eigene "Kuschelzone" hinter sich zu lassen. Saras "Perlensuppe" hat das ganz sicherlich bewirkt. Sara Hardin ist nämlich gaaanz zufällig die Marketing Managerin von Softlex, und - das muss ich hier mal ganz offen zugeben - für eine Zeit lang hatte ich  regelrechte Alpträume sie würde mir nichts als DRAHT schicken. Glücklicherweise war ich in der Lage mich mir in Erinnerung zu rufen dass dies eine PERLENsuppenparty sein sollte ... Und, in der Tat, die Perlensuppe die sie mir zuschickte war fantastisch, mit vielen meiner "Lieblingszutaten" - antikes Messing (Teile von Vintaj, die kriegt man hier kaum, und seltenst zu vernünftigen Preisen ...), Glasperlen aus der Tschechischen Republik, viel türkis, Perlmutt, und Perlen mit Opaleffekt. Und Schmuckdraht natürlich, wie erwartet. Das sollte meine "Herausforderung" sein, wie Sara mir in ihrer wirklich lieben Karte schrieb. Dankbarerweise hat sie mitgedacht und auch gleich noch ein paar Crimpröhrchen mit reingepackt.

Was mich in dem Mix überrascht hat, war das Orange. Seht ihr die Perlmuttscheibe mit dem feinen floralen Design? Wunderschön. Ich liebe diese Farbe (Woher hat sie das bloß gewußt? *Blogdesign beäug*), nutze sie aber nie, und habe in der Tat nicht eine einzige orange Perle in meinem Besitz. Dem wollte ich abhelfen, aber anscheinend sind orange und gelb die unbeliebtesten Farben überhaupt, da gabs nämlich nichts. GAR NICHTS. Habe mir die Füße wundgelaufen. Schade eigentlich, da es sich so schön mit dem antiken Messing kombinieren lässt.

Mein erster Gedankengang beim Anblick meiner Perlensuppe war  denn:

"Sommer, Sonnenuntergang. STRAND. Leicht, luftig. Organzaband? Oh ja, definitiv Organzaband. Vielleicht auch noch Muscheln? Und Fransen. Ganz bestimmt Fransen."

Wie ihr sehen könnt bin ich ziemlich dicht bei der Originalidee geblieben.


Breaking out of my comfort zone? HELL YES!
BREAKING out of my comfort zone - I've never before worked with beading wire, nor crimp beads or tubes.  Nor do I usually use ribbon in my design, or do fringes. I do own a pair of crimping pliers however,  strangely enough, as I'm somewhat of an obsessive/compulsive buyer when it comes to craft supplies. Especially when it comes to pliers. I've just never used these ones. 

I have to say though, I did like how quick and easy it was to create the fringes for the focal and the earrings using crimp tubes and beading wires, the same goes for positioning the beads on the necklace. The wire was so vibrantly colored, I  really wanted for it to show, so I decided to not clutter the design up with too many beads but keep everything light and airy instead. Another thing I liked about using the crimp tubes and wire is, how the beads seem to float on the wire, nice!

I used very little from my own stash actually - a firefly drop here, the very obvious lady-in-the-moon brass stamping (which arrived just two weeks ago, and ordered before I knew what my soup would contain - I was so delighted to discover it was a perfect fit for the MOP disk, so ON it went!), the chain of course  - I cannot go without chain - and the shell beads. The latter of which I got some three years ago as a freebie, but never found a use for.

Those eye-shaped brass stampings I used for the earrings are also something I'd never gotten on my own. So glad I got a pair of hole punch pliers just recently (I think I did mention already I happen to be a bit of a compulsive pliers buyer?), so these were super easy to convert into drops.

The organza ribbon was purchased for this project specifically, and it works quite well imho.


RAUS aus der Kuschelzone!
RAUS aus der Kuschelecke - ich habe noch nie mit Schmuckdraht und Crimpröhrchen gearbeitet. Auch Schleifenband nutz ich in der Regel nicht, und Fransen sieht man bei mir eher selten. Komischerweise hatte ich eine Crimpzange herumliegen, nur halt unbenutzt. Bin eine ziemlich impulsive/zwanghafte Zangenkäuferin.

Was ich wirklich mochte, war, wie simpel es war das "Gebamsel" mit dem Schmuckdraht und den Crimpröhrchen zu machen, oder die Perlen auf der Halskette zu positionieren. Der Draht ist so herlich knallig in der Farbe, den sollte man definitiv sehen, weshalb ich mich perlenmäßig für "weniger ist mehr" entschieden habe und versuchte das Design leicht und luftig zu halten. Was mir auch sehr gut gefällt ist wie die Perlen auf der Halskette zu "schweben" scheinen, klasse!

Ich habe sehr wenig von meinem eigenen Material benutzt - der kleine Libellenanhänger hier, die offensichtliche Frau-im-Mond aus hohlgepresstem Messing (die gerade mal vor zwei Wochen hier ankam, und eine gute Weile bevor ich wusste was in meiner Perlensuppe sein würde von mir bestellt wurde - aber sie passte GENAU auf die Perlmuttscheibe, also nix wie drauf damit!), die Kette natürlich - ich kann einfach nicht ohne Kette - und die Muschelperlen. Letzteres gabs mal als Gratisgeschenk auf der Kreativwelt, vor fast 3 Jahren, und ich bin superglücklich endlich eine Verwendung dafür gefunden zu haben.

Die augenförmigen Messingteile die ich für die Ohrringe benutzt habe hätte ich mir im Leben nicht gekauft - mit der Lochzange die ich mir vor kurzem geleistet habe (wie erwähnt, zwanghafte Zangenkäuferin) wurden sie jedoch supereinfach in Anhänger konvertiert.

Das Organzaband wurde speziell für dieses Projekt gekauft.





 







Please visit my BSBP partner Sara Hardin on her Blog Softflex Girl and all the other participants:


Bitte besucht auch meine BSBP Partnerin Sara Hardin auf ihrem Blog Softflex Girl und all die anderen Teilnehmer:



These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke



19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel


































For a total of 362 people making jewelry!





67 comments:

  1. That is so lovely! You met the challenge really well! I do love the lady in the moon.

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  2. **Squeal** I LOVE what you did. Both designs are fabulous. The organza ribbon really does make a difference in the design. I'm so glad that you enjoyed using the colored Soft Flex. Yay! Good work!

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  3. I so love your focal point! The whole design turned out really great. ♥

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  4. Wow! For someone that has never used beading wire, you certainly mastered it. I love that necklace and wish that I had a long enough neck to pull earrings like those off.

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  5. Really great stash there and an outstanding creation. :o)

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  6. Your Bead Soup pieces are just wonderful.

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  7. I really love what you came up with all the colors go so well together and its really well balanced!

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  8. Oh my! I love everything you made! So beautiful!! You are amazing! :) Well done!

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  9. That focal is awesome!Love the colors and textures brass and turquoise is a great combo.

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  10. So pretty! It looks like you've been using beading wire all your life! I especially like the earrings--they look like they would be fun to wear!

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  11. I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.

    WOW but did you knock this out of the park, and I'm so glad you ended up with Sara so you could really try out beading wire. Aren't you excited now about trying even more things????? And if you want more Vintaj ever, just let me know, I'll gift you more!

    I love what you made! You should be proud!

    I hope you’ll participate again!

    Love, Lori

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  12. i love both pieces but the earrings are so stunning and beautiful. they look like they have so much motion!

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  13. Just lovely, you did a great job, I love the colors!

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  14. I totally love what you've created! One of my favourite soups. The colour scheme is not one I would have previously considered, and I definitely will now - it's beautiful. I think those earrings are my favourites - absolutely gorgeous :-)

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  15. Delightful and whimsical..beautifully crafted! I'm inspired!

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  16. Sandra: So romantically beautiful. Love your work. I sent you a note on the alcohol inks so you can get some if you like.

    Terri

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  17. I LOVE the earrings! major props!! :)

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  18. Lovely creations - I love your style! And I really enjoyed reading your creative process. Great job! And you're right; finding pretty orange beads is hard, but yellow is even harder!! I had to laugh at that!

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  19. Oh, I know about that, having a colour that you love but more or less never use in your own jewellery making. (And also about yellow and orange being rather unpopular compared to some other colours in the bead shops -- despite the fact you can do so many fab colour combos with it.)

    But back to your jewellery: I think it loooks fab! I really like the layered focal and the blend of wire and sheer ribbon. Great work!

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  20. Wow! I have to say that this is one of my favorite soups thus far. The color scheme is amazing and I love the mix of the ribbon with the chain and beads. Those earrings are especially fantastic.

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  21. Stunning work! I love what you made with your soup ingredients.

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  22. Thanks so much for your kind comments on my blog "Byzantine feel"! Love that! Love your pieces too. Wow, what a challenge for you. We’re all being pushed outside our comfort zones — with amazing results!

    Enjoy the hop,
    Emanda
    http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html

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  23. Wonderful, great soup and colors , beautiful designs.

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  24. Wunderschön im Fairy-style! Die Farben harmonieren so wunderbar miteinander, mit dem Einbinden vom Organzaband hast Du dem Ganzen Elfenzauber mit eingehaucht!
    Liebe Grüße, Michi

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  25. Very pretty, you really took to the ease of softflex and crimps. I really love those earrings, they're beautiful.

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  26. Light and airy and absolutely fabulous. You captured your theme beautifully.

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  27. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I'm very inspired by your "floating" beads!

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  28. Very pretty work you did with the received beads! I like colours and rich shape.

    Best shot Sandra! yes, I'm Polish.
    Waiting to be used not only beads, but the "sleeve" made ​​of metal mesh, because this is not a ribbon. In fact, I didn't ever used anything like that and I have no idea what to do with it - still looking for inspiration. I can imagine i have to put beads inside but still haven't decided what kind... ;-)))
    Have a nice day!

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  29. Oh, those turned out so pretty. Very dainty and elegant. I'm a dangle girl, so I love the dangles, chains and such on both the earrings and focal. And the organza ribbon adds just the right touch.

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  30. I love your layering! Those earrings are fantastic, they must be so much fun to wear.
    Shannon C

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  31. Mensch, sind die Sachen schön. Wow, traumhaft! Die Kette hat es mir besondes angetan:-)

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  32. What I love the best is that you were totally outside your comfort zone, and created such beautiful pieces. You did a wonderful job using that colored wire, it's just awesome. Give yourself a big pat on the back for stunning design!

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  33. beautiful pieces, love the design of the earrings

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  34. Lovely, I particularly like the earrings!

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  35. I really like both pieces but the earrings especially are amazing! What a clever use of various beading elements which you do not usually incorporate into earrings - it totally works though! I want to wear them, they are fabulous!

    Julie

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  36. Lovely, lovely, lovely! Great use of the colors!!

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  37. I love it ... or them! The colors are amazing and your asymmetrical design of the necklace and the multi strands are so beautifully done. I really love what you did!

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  38. i really love how you let the wire be part of the art! i tend to think of stringing as covering the wire. brilliant design, well done!

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  39. I have a hard time believing this way your first time using wire and crimps. You totally rocked this soup :-)

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  40. It's hard to believe you had never worked with so many of those techniques because you pulled it off like a pro. I love the touch of whimsy to the earrings. The necklace is gorgeous.

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  41. I know what you mean about how difficult it is to find cool findings and vintage items.
    Here in Spain we don't have that vintage culture settled and there are no charity shops.
    I LOVE what you did with your focal. And it is true that so many of us have used fabric on our designs. Minds alike think alike. ;)

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  42. So pretty! I really love the colors and how you used the ribbon in your designs!

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  43. Wow, you did great with the beading wire, wonderful for the first timer! Love what you have made. Especially love the lady on the moon focal.

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  44. Both of your pieces are really beautiful. I love the earrings you made with all the dangles. It's great that you experimented with some new materials and techniques and created some really lovely items! Well done.

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  45. What a wonderful set, Sandra! Nice job!

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  46. WOW! Really you have done a fantastic job, each piece is really beautiful. You worked the color orange perfectly!

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  47. So very pretty, the focal with the lady in the moon looks wonderful. Love the combination of colours used.

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  48. The pieces do call up images of the beach - light and breezy. And aren't you glad you had those pliers on hand? You certainly put them to good use!

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  49. What lovely designs! I think that necklace is stunning - the combination of turquoise and brass is lovely, and the flow of the ribbon really emphasizes how light the piece is! And those earrings are lush, lush and more lush!

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  50. I love both pieces! They both look so feminine and flirty! Excellent job with the beading wire☺

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  51. Looks like you did a lot of things out of your comfort zone - and you did a great job! I adore the earrings and the necklace!

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  52. Wonderful designs, I like the use of the ribbon.

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  53. WOW!! all of your pieces are absolutely gorgeous but that necklace...incredible!!!

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  54. I love all of the movement in your work, really beautiful!

    Orange is one of my favorite colors, I can mix it with just about anything.

    Warm regards,

    Cathie

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  55. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all the pieces...good job.

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  56. I really love all of the pieces you made...so light and airy and beachy. Just lovely.
    Michelle

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  57. What a fantastic soup you received. You did a wonderful job with all the layers. I can never seem to do that well and you did it beautifully! I think i would have been nervous to get a lot of wire too. But it was a great soup!

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  58. WOW! The pieces you made with the soup are incredible. So pretty and feminine all while being very interesting. Great job!

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  59. I love that you let the beading wire show. Very lovely!

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  60. Here Here to challenges...You did an awesome job esp with those earrings WOW!

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  61. Gorgeous pieces!! Love the dangels!

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  62. What fabulous pieces you created for someone who has never used wire! I love the floaty earrings...just delightful..the addition of the ribbon in both pieces works perfectly for the look.
    Jenni

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  63. For being your first time with wire and crimps you did awesome! If I were you I would be very proud of the result.

    Ambra

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