The Big Bead Soup Reveal

Hi everyone, 

This is the day all of us, 

the Bead Soup Blog Party participants,have been waiting for. 

Here is the link to our gracious host Lori Anderson Click Here,  

and the entire list of jewelry designer's websites so you can follow the blog hop.

My partner is Beth Bricker    

Click Here  or  Here to see the wonderful and generous amount of ingredients 

she so carefully packaged, labeled and sent meand the stash I sent her. 
Here: Vintage Sweets to meet Beth and see  her creations. 

I loved how Beth labeled all the beads because 

I am not an expert about different types of stone and crystal and 

I haven't labeled my stash carefully so I tend to forget what a lot of my beads are called. 

I really love the smokey quartz, the czech beads and 

those chunky black tourmaline beads are just amazing. 

There are some beads totally new to me that really intrigued me; 

the amber red deer horn beads, the antler button and the deer bone beads. 

Fortunately I was so inspired  that I got started right away because I have been sick this week.

I could not be the queen of the last minute this round. 
I was unable to use all of the goodies she sent but have plans to use them in the future. 

Not only did these beads inspire jewelry but they also told me a story, 

  So grab your coffee or tea and relax and enjoy a little Mountain Romance.

The air was cool and crisp, perfumed with a refreshing balsam scent from the glorious pines all around her. It left a fine mist on Mira's skin contrasting sharply with the crackle of dry fallen leaves under her feet. They both stopped at the same time without saying a word.  The music of  water trickling in a rocky bedded stream was not so distant now.  He knew they were almost there. She had no idea what he had in store for her, simply put he had said: "I have a surprise for you today and had handed her a rusty old key."  

"What is this for?" she had asked and he simply smiled and said: "You will see soon enough." Mira loved the way that smile made her heart flutter and as she looked into his eyes she knew how much she trusted and cared about Josh. She could almost see the thrill of being surrounded by nature coursing through his Inuit blood and just before he turned to continue their hike, she looked down from his eyes, and between the lapels of his plaid flannel shirt  to the dream catcher he always wore around his neck, just over his heart. 

Mira loved the feathers that hung on either side and the unusual seed in the center. She wondered had he made it as a child on the reservation and what dreams had he captured in that tiny net. She was going to have to ask him more about that one day but for now she simply followed him through the forest paradise.  Similar to a slow crescendo in a Beethoven Symphony, the soothing but exciting music of the stream was getting louder and the forest brighter as they approached a clearing.  Like little fairies playing hop scotch with magic wands glistening in their tiny hands , the light of the sun flitted on the green and sandy brown pebbles and floated away down stream on the fallen leaves, temporarily blinding her to what lay ahead. 

When Mira's eyes had time to adjust to this sudden burst of light, a gentle gasp excaped her lips.  There before her was a bridge, surely hand made from logs in this forest that led over the stream bed to the most perfect little log cabin she had ever seen. She had always dreamed of living in the woods someday, relishing the clean air and the beauty mother nature hid in the emerald forests of these rugged Northwest Mountains, away from the noise of the city and all it's frenzied occupants.  Josh took her hand and led her to the center of the bridge. Then he did the strangest thing.  Still holding her hand in his he knelt down on one knee and said, 

" Mira, you are holding "The Key To My Heart" 

and the key to this log cabin I built with my own hands just for you.  Will you spend the rest of your life here with me?" And like a gentle breeze  he whispered "... I love you..."  

Mira dropped to her knees in front of him, tears burst from her eyes and trickled like the stream down her cheeks but the smile on her face said,  "Yes... yes, a thousand times yes." She would never have to ask about the secrets in his dream catcher, she would live them with him for the rest of her life. 

Okay,

 now you know I have read a few too many romance novels in my lifetime 

but with 360+ blogs to read 

I thought you might enjoy this little enhancement to your reading pleasure. 

Before the necklace I made a bracelet and earring set too. 

Here they are:

For the mountain loving women like Mira; 

an everyday casual type bracelet and earring set 

she could wear with jeans and a nice flannel shirt 

while cozying up to the fire in her perfect little log cabin in the woods.

 

I loved the contrasts between the turquoise (Josh the inuit), 

the round horn beads (mother natures creatures recycled) 

and the chunky black tourmaline beads (like the charred wood in a fireplace) 

so I wired them together for the dangles.  

The smokey quartz (smoke curling from the chimney in the log cabing) could stand alone. Copper was my main choice of metals for this set 

The necklace has both copper and antique brass components. (Male and female characters)

 I added the stone chips and leaf chain to the bead soup 

because it helped to let your eye trickle (like the stream) 

from all the details of the key clasp on the left (key to his heart and cabin)

and the dream catcher on the right side of the necklace.

(Josh's dreams to be shared with Mira) 

The tawny czech glass beads reminded me of split logs with some bark left on. 

(inspiring the log cabin and the bridge) 

and I used the fabric Beth wrapped my soup in, 

torn to create the plaid ribbon to evoke a casual feel to the necklace.

(the lapels of Josh's flannel shirt)  

Lastly (For all of you who are cynics)- 

I wrapped one piece of the smokey quartz with copper wire 

in the head of the rusty key to symbolize 

how slightly clouded our heads get when we are in love!!  

Just kidding.... LOL 

I for one am a hopeless romantic and isn't that what jewelry is all about? 

Enjoy your blog hopping!! 


PS Check out the  HUGE CLEARANCE SALE  in my heatherp22 Etsy shop-  
starting Tuesday Sept 20th, ending Sept 30th!! 
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!! 

Heather-Aquariart

Bead Soup for Beth Bricker

Okay, this is the teaser. 

Beth's Bead Soup is in on it's way to her. 

Meet my Bead Soup Partner caught at a Bead Show.
Beth is on the Right- with the great smile.
Do you think Beads make her happy?  I do.I had fun with Adobe Elements and disguised the pictures I took of her ingredients. I don't think you will recognize anything in this but that is the point. Surprise!!  

Bead Soup a la Jurassic Park for Beth
andI love this one, came out really abstract after about 8 filter effects.

Bead Soup el Cognito

I sent her a really nice clasp, handmade by a favorite etsy artist I will divulge later.

I made the focal pendant and all of the polymer clay beads 

and then poured in a lot of spicy beads to warm it up. 

I am anxiously waiting my ingredients for the Party too! 

(Saturday) 

Okay, that was yesterday, the teaser above, 
(Now you know one of my little secrets, I started to prepare this post yesterday for today)
my husband brought in the mail and 
Guess What?!!@%$&*
My Bead Soup arrived from Beth!! 
(Today- Sunday)
I had to wait until this morning to photograph it all.
Beth was so generous!!
and there are beads I have never ever seen before in the mix! 
This is so exciting.
 I need to take you through 
the visual experience of opening this package of goodies

The mysterious package- I think she discovered that I sew too!  

A kind and encouraging note and more fabric related wrapping- love it!!  

Oh my, very organized, all labeled and carefully packaged!
This is a lesson for me.  I am learning from this.

This is unbelievable!! So many truly unique beads!
I am so wowed by how many I have never seen before.
You need to see some of these close up:

We have mountain sheep here in Nevada but I have never seen
Horn, Antler or Deer Bone beads
in any of all the bead stores here in town
and I have been in them all.
 I love them!  
I think that deliciously nubby big bead is the antler bead,
it is really amazing- wish you could see it from all angles! Can't make a truly tasty broth for the soup without some Bone can we.
Also I have never seen undyed howlite or seeds quite like these. 

There are some really different czech beads too.  I love all the earthy tones.
They are making me yearn for a vacation in the Montana Mountains,
where I could wear a plaid flannel shirt with my jeans like this cloth
and not sweat to death like I do here in the Desert. 

I think she may have figured out some of my favorite colors
with the Mardi Gras beads and the Turquoise.
The Black Tourmaline is so unusual- love the chunky randomness of the facets,
I couldn't quite capture it's true beauty because
I over slept this morning and the sun was already too bright. I love copper and will probably be adding even more to the mix

The Earthy Howlite Focal and a gorgeous Copper Clasp. 
(sorry about the tint, the sun was not cooperating outside
so I moved indoors for the rest of the photos)

Last and most precious,
an alternate Focal; a Rusty Key.  
I found all these ingredients really inspiring and can't wait to get to work. 
Thank you so much Beth for your amazing package of goodies!!
I am going to get started with some wire wrapping,
right now,  with Copper of course!! 
Be sure to come back on September 17th for the Blog Hop Reveal. 

A little Fiber Fun

I have a whole part of my life wrapped around fiber that I don't always share here 

due to all the art bead and polymer clay challenges I have been participating in lately. 

I teach crochet classes at Gail Knits here in town. 

She has a fabulous selection of gorgeous yarns and 

I love to see all the ones Gail gets in that are new to the market.   

This morning I finished a scarf  using two brand new yarns from Trendsetter Yarns:  

Flamenco (the ruffly green) and Minestrone(the gold, brown beige multi textured one).  

Here is my lovely daughter Jessie modeling it. 

This is an extra long crocheted scarf.  

I will be listing patterns in my Etsy Shop- Aquariart this fall 

for all the designs I have created for my classes. 

If you would like to be notified leave a comment below-

I will contact you when they are listed. 

Here is this month's challenge piece for my Art Quilt ect. Circle.

We had to use a shoebox to create something. 

The first thing you see is the top which is a small quilt 

I free motion stitched and then painted

of water dripping and rippling. 

This one inspired my to do a larger water quilt which I have started using the same technique.

I love how the paints bring out the liines in the quilting. 

Next you notice there is a quote around the side and front of the box:

"If there is magic on this planet then it is contained in water."

It's all about water.
Zentangled waves, bubbles... 

The bottom and back of the box - Zentangles all over! 

My very relaxed bathing lady.  Her legs flip out of the box and hang over .

She is free motion stitched and then painted with Shiva Oil Sticks.

Don't ask me where I get these ideas, I really don't know sometimes.
I apologize for the photos- I didn't take them early enough in the day so there are lots of shadows.

Okay now back to Bead Stuff-
I have to go raid my stash and put together a wonderful set of beads for my Bead Soup Partner -Beth Bricker.
You can find out more about her on her blog here.
This is a wonderful party for jewelry designers hosted by Lori Anderson at Pretty Things.
Check back for more about that and
the Big Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal which will be Sept 17th!

Another Bead Soup Party Coming Up!!

I just have to say that Lori Anderson at  Pretty Things 

has had a huge positive influence in my growth 

as a blogger and jewelry designer.

I am so grateful for all the opportunities she has provided. 

These are pictures from my last two Bead Soup Parties. 

My soup ingredients, my partners's ( Emanda Johnson  and Angela Rae) soup ingredients
 and all of our our resulting creations. 

Lori's picks 2010 

and my "A Leap of Faith Necklace"  published in Bead Work Magazine!! 

 So here is your chance to take a leap of faith and participate too!! 

For more info go to http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ and check out the fun!! 

The Ingredients for some really delicious soup have arrived!!

Good Morning to my fellow beaders!! 

Angela's bead soup ingredients are here!!

 I missed one little tissue wrapped item when I opened the package the other day. 

It was the best surprise ever when I began my photo shoot this morning. 

I unwrapped this amazing wooden bird!! 

Now my Muse is talking to me because she wants the bird to be the center of attention.  

I also love the brass leaf bead caps, that beautiful gold and red ribbon and the chandelier glass.  

I am thinking I have enough to make several items here.  

Hope to get started today because I have a busy week and it will fly by. (Pun Intended) 

I should have taken pictures of the package all wrapped up but I couldn't wait.

There was this little text covered flower and leaf on the outside I hope to incorporate in the design too.  

See what I mean about the bird- she wants all the attention too! LOL

She looks quite plump. 

I'm  thinking she is looking to gather up things to build a nest so she can lay her eggs.

After all spring is right around the corner. 

Almost forgot to show you the gold clasp and this cool little brass medalion piece.  

So many little inspirational pieces are tucked into this stash. 

Come back Saturday, Feb 26th to see the first of the Bead Soup Reveals 

and Blog Hop to your heart's content!! 

Tweet, tweet!! 

PS I have opened a second ETSY SHOP for my fiber art items.  

Thanks to Heather Powers at Humble Beads I was able to quickly create new banners with Picnik.

You can now shop Aquariart for fiber art, knit, crochet, art quilts...

and Heatherp22 for Polymer Clay items and Jewelry. 

Please bear with me while I move all the fiber items- this takes a long time. 

If you had a favorite fiber item please go to Aquariart and favortie it again 

as I lose all my stats in this transfer. 

I am determined to get organized (an extreme challenge for me) this year.

Thanks for stopping by!!  

Heather

Bead Soup for my partner Angela

Bead Soup Ingredients for Angela- Multiple Morphs in Adobe Elements

Here it is! 
my specially shopped for Bead Soup Ingredients for Angela 

my partner in the first Bead Soup Party of 2011. 

Yes it is hard to make out what exactly I have sent her but that is the point.  

She will be surprised when she receives her package!! 

The Road to California Quilt Show has a multitude of wonderful vendors 

so I was able to find a fabulous focal bead at Wendy Lee's-Petroglyph Booth.  

Unfortunately she does not have a website but you may find her 

at different Craft Shows in California. 

The remainder of the beads I purchased at the Kahn-Fagan booth; 

you can find her at www.beadway.com (web site under construction) 

and several upcoming Fairs in California. 

AND 

at my local Bead Haven here in Las Vegas. 

 It is so exciting that there are over 200 artists signed up this time.  

The reveals and blog hop will start on Feb 26th 

so be sure to stop back 
and look at all the wonderful work of all these artists.