It is finally here and I am so excited to be able to show off what I made with all the wonderful ingredients sent to me by my partner Maria Rosa Sharrow of
Willow Street Gifts. According to the rules of this hop, we sent each other a focal, some supporting beads and a clasp that isn't a lobster claw. Maria was more then generous and actually sent me three soups and a focal.
I do want to apologize up front for the pics. I have tried every which way to get some good ones and have come to the conclusion that I have to find a mannequin since I tend to go for longer necklaces. Guess that it is time to start haunting thrift stores.
I also want to thank Lori Anderson for putting together such a wonderful hop. I have no idea just how she managed to keep track of 400 of us and to do it with such grace. She has a book coming out in October based on these hops so aptly named
Bead Soup. Be sure to check it out!
The Bead Soup Blog Party is all about challenge and this one presented a couple. First of all, I have never worked with this style of focal. They demand that they take center stage in an understated type of way. And that led to my second challenge which was to keep things simple. And you know I don't really understand why that is such a challenge as that is the style that I tend to wear. I also challenged myself to use all the ingredients and I did with the exception of the bonus focal. I am waiting for it to whisper to me.
This was my first soup. Isn't that focal just gorgeous! She really reminds me of a sailor's wife waiting for him to come home.
I decided to ease my way into cooking and made this pair of earrings. In a way I guess that isn't really easing as I don't tend to make earrings even though I love to wear them. In these I used the silver heart beads and the faceted coins. I added a pair of sterling silver ear strands to the mix. I am happy with how they turned out.
Next up is an anklet that has already been put to good use this summer. In this serving I used the black crystals that Maria Rosa sent to me and I added gunmetal chain and pewter charms.
This necklace is the one where I really could have used a mannequin as it is 30" long. In this necklace I used that lovely focal and clasp, and added in some gunmetal chain in a couple sizes, some blue beads from
Earthenwood Studios with bead caps and some painted wooden beads. Check out the redhead from the other side of the focal!
Now onto the second bead soup sent by my generous partner. I love this focal though it isn't one I would have picked out for myself. That is the fun of this hop.
I started out with a pair of earrings using the vintage red and gold lucite. I just added a bit of chain and the findings.
For the necklace, I used the focal, the clasp, and some more of the vintage lucite. I added in the chain and the gold Swarovski pearls. This is again a longer necklace at 28".
And now for the third helping. I fell in love with this focal. It is so unique and orange has really been calling my name lately.
I started out this soup also with a pair of earrings. Another challenge that I made to myself and I am happy that I followed through on. In this pair I used some of the wooden orange beads and the black crystal. I contributed the findings and the charm.
In the necklace I used the gorgeous focal and the clasp. I added some chain and some lampwork beads from
StudioJuls. I have been wearing it lately and I have had one person offer to buy it
right off my neck. However this one is mine and besides I had to try to
get some better pics then I had.
My last piece is a combination of all the soups as I wanted to use up the rest of the beads. This is the first time I have tried crocheting with beads and I am not all together happy with this bracelet so I will probably be remaking it.
Okay still with me? I promised a giveaway with this party and so there shall be. I will be giving away both the first and second pair of earrings to one lucky commenter. I will be keeping the giveaway open until September 2nd to give everyone a chance to look at all the gorgeous jewelry that everyone has made.
Now be sure to check out everyone's blogs. There will be lots of eye candy there and possibly more contests.

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose
Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging
Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN
Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope, LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's
Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry
Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode,
Pookledo
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin, Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Terri Gauthier,
Blooming Ideas
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs