Bead Soup Blog Party 7

Today is the day...the first reveal in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party! This annual event is divided into 3 reveals. To learn more click on this link: Bead Soup Blog Party My soup this year is from talented PMC artist and jewelry maker Rain Hannnah Here's a link to her blog so you can see what she made with the soup I sent her and be sure to check out her Etsy shop! http://honeyandollie.com/ My soup is very earthy, which I love...and had some whimsical items too, so I decided to separate them and make a necklace and bracelet, 2 totally different styles. For the necklace I made some olive green lampwork lentils to go with the Patricia Healey copper components, lampwork beads by Julie Miller and the Mykonos focal. I had so much fun putting it all together! For the bracelet, I wanted to use the polymer flowers by Elaine Robitaille of Too Aquarius along with the cute enameled butterfly, so I chose some floral lampwork beads out of my orphan box and some peach pixie dust lampwork beads as well as a few green crystals, added a cute flower toggle and voila! A super Springy bracelet! (Perfect for upcoming Mother's Day too) Both of these pieces are available in my Etsy shop. More jewelry blog hopping here: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

I'm having the time of my life at a three day workshop with Andrea Guarino Slemmons in Port Townsend, Washington. Today we made 3 different bead styles. Here's her demonstrating. Tomorrow we make 2 or 3 more styles and learn how to cap and core the big hole beads. Tomorrow is also the Bead Soup Blog Party that Lori Anderson hosts every year, so I will be posting in the morning but unable to comment on other blogs until Monday...(except my Bead Soup partner of course!)

Fun with Tools

I'll admit... I'm a bit of a tool junkie! I have recently purchased a new bead roller from CG Beads Donna makes great tools and I love my stubby bicone shaper. This denim blue color has been so popular lately, I made this set with silvered ivory and fine silver wire. I am learning the trick to these tools is not too much glass to start with. Otherwise the bead gets too wide and you end up loosing your "dimple"