(If you do not want to read through all my musings just scroll to the pictures….)

This Bead Soup Party has been quite a challenge. On all fronts: time wise, chronical pain wise, weather wise and computer wise…. Of course I had already identified my challenges in a previous post:

1. Beads with big holes; I am never sure how to make them work so they won’t woble and move around.
2. Coin shaped or flat beads; in what type of jewelry do they “perform” best and are they most comfortable to wear?
3. Curved tube beads; I love them but how to best incorporate them?
4. The Chinese/Delft Blue patterned beads; can I combine them with other patterned beads or just solids?
5. Facing my blue “demon” once again:-)
6. Do I add other colors to the blue theme or not? If not, how do I add depth?

I must admit that I failed to meet the challenges #2 and # 5. The Big Blue Bead (30mm) got the better of me.

Bead Soup received from Wendy Chamberlain

I had this great plan for the big blue bead. It involved copper and patina and all kinds of fun stuff. I just couldn’t get it to work though. Then the time constraint kicked in (I had spent a week in Berlin waiting for the new baby nephew to arrive), but even worse my Chronical Pain Syndrome thought it a good idea to hit me with a pain attack. It is the only flaw in my “just in time” approach that usually works very good for me:-)

Of course I came up with a lot of other designs involving the big blue bead, but I find the coin shape extremely difficult to work with. So all ideas were X-ed. I even contemplated doing some type of seed bead bezel around it. I have never done that but you have to try anything once. Time and pain did not permit at this time however. I am open to suggestions…. and will see what I can make with it in the near future.

But I made two pieces. It made me realize that I like simple. Maybe too simple, but I am a person of simple tastes and in my work I prefer going from A to B in a straight line. I like elaborate stuff, but to make myself is still quite a challenge.

My first piece reminds me of something that reminds me of places visited. China in this case I guess. The beads and spacers are simply strung on Greek 1mm leather cord. Although I would like to wear this, for the challenge I am not happy with it. I can do better. And when time permits, I may take it apart.

Piece 1: Memories of the Orient

Piece #1: The clasp

Piece #1: Chinese Delft Blue Beads and Spacers from Soup

The second piece I made involved the curved tube bead. I wanted to use two, but that led to results I wasn’t happy with. So I used one of them with Greek 2mm leather and other beads and a clasp from my stash. I am happy with this piece. For this piece I have no name yet. Suggestions anyone?

Piece #2

Piece #2: Laid out

So now it is time to check everyone else’s Bead Soup creations, clean up the studio and start selling some stash before moving to Spain.

Happy blog hopping….

Postscriptum:

I have been worrying all day if my one design was too simple:-( Have been designing in my head ever since. All the lovely comments so far make me feel better though.

Due to the pain in my hands that I have at the moment (and a work deadline coming up) I will be hopping and responding to all my commenters later. Thank you for your patience.