25 Sat Aug 2012
Today is the third reveal for the Bead Soup Blog Party. I was in the second reveal on 11 August.
Head over to Lori’s blog to find the list of participants (be sure to scroll down to the 3rd reveal) and have a look at all the wonderful creations.
11 Sat Aug 2012
Tags
bead soup, beads, bracelet, coral, earring, handmade, mermaid, necklace, pearl, rock pool, shell, stone, yarn
Welcome to my reveal for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party. This is the second of three helpings of beady loveliness. My partner Dorota Żerańska sent me a super generous selection of wonderful beads. Here is an overview photo, for more details see my earlier post.
The first beads I unwrapped were the large white ones (I think they are coral) and they reminded me of a shell focal that has been waiting in my todo box for years. I knew I wanted an all white necklace and it was to be called “Mermaid’s Purse”. I was intending to make faux shells and coral from polymer clay, but then I unwrapped actual shell beads, and white stone disks. If that wasn’t enough confirmation the final bead I unwrapped was the mermaid herself!
Now that the mermaid had her bling (and a matching pair of earrings) it was time for me to consider where she herself would be at home. I noticed that the stone chips had beautiful flashes of blue which matched some blue ribbon yarn I had. I used some tiny red seed beads that matched the mermaid’s colour to make some branched dangles and created “Mermaid’s Rock-pool”.
I then noticed a tiny bunch of grapes on the toggle Dorota had sent and realised that the colour of the pearls reminded me of the velvety shimmer you get on black grapes. I used one of my polymer clay focal beads which had a vine-like filigree pattern and made a multi-stranded choker and a pair of earrings.
I also made two bracelets.
And a third pair of earrings. Dorota even sent me ear-wires!
I still have many wonderful beads I haven’t managed to use yet (including two focals) so I’ll be busy until the next Bead Soup Party! Have a look at all the other participants (scroll down to Reveal #2) especially my partner, Dorota who does amazing things with seed beads. Thank you Lori for sharing this event with so many of us. 🙂
To celebrate this party I’m offering a 20% discount in my Zibbet shop until the next reveal date (25th August 2012). Enter coupon code BSBP6.
Also there may be a free surprise gift available if you are willing to pay it forward.
04 Sat Aug 2012
Posted in My work
I have finally finished my Thailand painting. I was getting really worried that the earlier parts of the painting would crack in the oven as the baked polymer clay “canvas” was arching upwards with the passing days, but there wasn’t a problem. Yay!
“Upwards, Thailand” by Cate van Alphen
Polymer clay, 10cm x 10cm
The original image is from google streetview. I have an earlier post about this painting in progress.
Other good news is that I may be one remake away from finishing an “official” Bead Soup piece. I’ve already completed some but not using the toggle or focal I was sent. So, head down till the big reveal on 11th August!
12 Thu Jul 2012
Posted in BSBP
Lori Anderson, hostess to the Bead Soup Blog Party, is holding a generous five part giveaway including the Bead Soup book pictured below until (lucky) Friday 13th. Check out at what else is on offer.
27 Fri Jan 2012
Posted in Inspiration, My work
After not being lucky enough to be chosen to participate in the bead soup blog party, I decided I would do my own “bead side salad”. I already had some ideas about what I would be sending out and I had intended to use these myself to be completed by the bead soup date. Amazingly when I visited my mom she gave me a bumper lot of mixed beads and broken necklaces. Voilà! Instant Bead Salad!
So far my challenge is the opposite of the Bead Soup – there’s no obvious focal (the cabs are currently brooches) and no interesting clasp – but the whole point is that it’s a CHALLENGE. Come back on 3 March to see how I get on…
Fulgorine 