Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Bead Party!

 It's here! Today's the day! It's the day of the unveiling for the Bead Party thrown by our hostess, Lori Anderson. I'm so excited! Look for other wonderful designers on Lori's page!

My bead partner is Elizabeth of Turquoise SkyAwhile back, she sent me these amazing beads. I just loved them! How can any beader NOT love getting new beads? It was such a fantastic mixture of everything--gemstones, lampwork glass, crystals, seed beads, spacers, and glass beads.  And I did what I usually do when I receive new beads...I played with them. That's right. I PLAYED with those beads. I can't help myself. 

After awhile, I started stringing beads together, taking them apart, trying them in new combinations.  I laid out different combinations, added more beads, subtracted beads, used chain and cording and ribbon to see how every thing looked. I was beginning to realize that I was having too much fun playing with my new beads that I was running out of time. So I put together a combination that I really, really liked...at first. And took it a part. Again. That's the beauty of putting together your own jewelry--you can always change the design later. It doesn't matter the reason you want to change it--it just matters that you CAN DO IT!

Finally, I realized that my time to play with beads were growing short and I had to be ready for this special day. I got down to business. And I discovered to my horror that one or more of the Rascals ran off with the ziplock bags containing some of the beads I needed! I still haven't found them but that doesn't mean they won't be found. Nonetheless, I had the important parts for the Party.

According to the Party rules, we had to use the clasp and the focal. 
 
 So here's the clasp. Isn't it gorgeous? I loved its heavy metal look that reminded me of chainmail.
 
 
 The spacer beads. The top one is black glass but shiny! That's Tilly's and Lacey's faces in the distortion. They were helping me photograph the bead. The second picture is onyx nuggets and the frosted cobalt blue rounded bicone spacer. 
 Look at this dreamy lampwork cylinder bead. This wonderful collection had three focals! I got excited just by that alone. I loved the what appeared as feathers, similiar to peacock tail feathers.

While I was putting this ensemble together, I happened to be listening to Bonnie Raitt and John Mellencamp first and then some *uh hum...coughs* heavy metal bands afterwards. I think the music influenced my design. Just a little bit. 

 
 I present you with Lady Sings The Blues Meets Heavy Metal. 

A thank you goes to Elizabeth for such fabulous beads!Another thank you goes to Lori Anderson for this wonderful invitation to a really superb and fantastic party!

51 comments:

  1. Oh! Your bead soup necklace turned out so very lovely!

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  2. That is a very beautiful set - nicely done. My compliments on the photography as well, the piece just sings.

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  3. Cool combination, and I love the clasp.

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  4. I love the little hints leading up to the final image! great necklace!

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  5. What a great choice of names for the pieces. You do such good work. Love it.

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  6. Lovely! The blues are fabulous. Cool title too:)

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  7. Your post was such a teaser...clasp...focal...bead...just show me the money already!!! Great job!

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  8. EXCELLENT work! And you're right, that toggle DOES remind me of chain maille! You did such a good job.



    Thanks for being a part of the party! We'll do it again soon!

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  9. Stunning! Beautiful colors! Great name!
    ~ Marianne (VioletUnderground)

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  10. I love how you pulled all the colors together. Black and Blue just sing together! This is a very cool looking necklace, reminds me of a night of jazz!!

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  11. Love it! Great colors, great design~ it sings!

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  12. Love your Kitty! They are a bit Raccoon aren't they? :) Or is it us beaders are a bit of Raccoon? Your design turned out lovely despite the change in tempo! :) Love the black and deep blue and the clear of the glass, all go so well together, and that little black dress............

    Enjoy the Party!
    Kate Organic Odysseys #46

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  13. anything done under the influence of Ms Bonnie is bound to turn out great~nice work

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  14. Thank you all for your lovely comments. I've been traveling to the different blogs for the Bead Soup Party and let me tell you...I'm humbled and in awe at all that amazing, incredible talent! I haven't found a piece that I didn't like or wouldn't wear! It's blowing me away!

    Go have fun and see the amazing, stupendous talent out there! I love it!

    Thanks for dropping by!

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  15. Cathryn, you are on my daily blog list from now on (later in the day, actually, because I need to look at more necklaces ;-)). This necklace is gorgeous. I love the blue and would absolutely wear it. Really pretty.

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  16. Very pretty...the black and blue combine together nicely!

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  17. What a great combination! Love how you incorporated all of those pretty beads.

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  18. It looks like a party necklace to me! Great Job!

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  19. Heavy metal and blues is a perfect combination, if you ask me. :) haaaaaaaa I love this piece!!

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  20. I love your Bead Soup! Very tasty!


    You are welcome to stop by for a cup of “Spring” soup on my blog.
    http://www.mariagrimes.blogspot.com

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  21. We love shiny pretty things and this piece glows it is so pretty!

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  22. I love the name of you piece...so cool! Great job!

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  23. Love the title of your piece and how you put it together.

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  24. Beautiful job! Love the earrings, too!

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  25. Cathryn,
    I knew you'd knock it out of the park with your talent. This is breathtaking!! Love it!

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  26. Wonderful job on both the necklace and the earrings!

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  27. Bold and fabulous! A real stunning pi8ece.

    Hasn't this been fun?!?

    Emanda
    www.ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com

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  28. You are too kind. I looooooooooooooove your work and you make me so proud!!! I'm so happy to be your partner!!

    You have mad skills woman! Rock on.

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  29. A beautiful piece ... and I love the title too ... very descriptive of the work!

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  30. Cute presentation, and I love the name. You did a great job with this group of beads.

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  31. love this..ps i have the younger twin to your cat.

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  32. Oh that is really very beautiful!!!

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  33. I usually listen to metal while beading too! Last week it was the blues and I came up with quite a different bracelet - deep purple, lol! I am backwards... Enjoy the party, cheers!

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  34. I like the way that the music seems to have inspired you! Thanks for sharing!

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  35. what an eye catching piece of work!! I love the blue and love the silver mixed. The silver makes this piece shimmer in the light...great work and I'll be back to visit often!

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  36. Beautiful, Cathryn... you created a lovely piece w/ Elizabeth's soup mix! Sounds like you enjoyed yourself in the process... :o)

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  37. Great necklace Cathryn. I love the clasp too.

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  38. A bold and fearless color palette. I love your story about how you tried and changed your mind several times. That is the essence of a creative. Always reinventing!
    Thanks for sharing this heaping serving of great soup! Be sure to stop by and taste some of mine. Enjoy the day! Erin

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  39. I am a blue freak, and I love blue and black together - though I find it not the most common combination. I love the necklace you made, and what you had to work with. The clasp reminds me of bead crochet, which is what I do a lot of. Gotta go now and look at your partner's site.

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  40. Very nice - it's not a common combination (as mentioned above) but looks great together!

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  41. A wonderful set. The colors work so well together... perfect :0)

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  42. I love it! I love how it reflects and shines. I don't know if it's your pictures or the beads, but it's such a great depth to the piece. Glad to hear you had so much fun!

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  43. Again, Cathryn, you are amazing!! Thank you.

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  44. This is beautiful! How did I miss this post?

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  45. It is day three and I am still making my rounds!
    First I must say I love the way you unveil your creation, love the name, very cool. Great necklace, wonderful combination of beads.

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