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Friday, July 27, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party #6








It's that time again! If you missed the blog about what my partner Kitty Bozzini sent me, you can check it out here. She's a very talented lampwork artist and made me an assortment of beads and even a glass toggle!


I admit that I was thrown for a loop when I received her beads - not because they weren't beautiful, they are absolutely gorgeous - it was just because they're not at all the sort of beads I normally use. However, that is exactly the point of this challenge, is it not? Shortly after I received my beads, I injured my back, and was unable to do anything at all for over a week, let alone make jewelry. All I could do was imagine what I might do, but that's never as helpful as pulling 50 things out and playing. I also consulted a couple of my beady friends for their thoughts -- and it was the brilliant Malin deKoning who insisted I try the toggle on a bracelet. She knew what she was talking about! I tried 15 different arrangements until I settled on the final version, which I absolutely adore!












I strung the purpley square beads on some pea green suede and turquoise leather, then wrapped the ends with some waxed Irish linen cording. So simple, but gorgeous! I am totally thrilled with this piece and very well may keep it for myself.

Then there was the focal. An idea came to me that seemed like it would suit it perfectly - however - it was not even remotely the sort of necklace I would ever make or wear. I still can't decide if it was a mistake not to do it that way, because it would have been a great solution - though one I personally wouldn't have liked one bit. And because you're curious, I'll explain: 5 pieces of different colored waxed linen cord passing through the pendant (which would be placed at about 8:00) and then coordinating Swarovskis knotted onto the cords every inch or so. I think it would have worked, but like I said - SO NOT ME.

So I tried a few other things, including knotted sari (which seemed a bit of a cop-out, but remember I'm still having a lot of back pain and I couldn't really overextend myself), unknotted sari in bracelet form, in choker form, etc. And finally arrived at what I thought was a good solution.









I used the same pea green suede to thread through the copper chain and a copper hook I'd made a few weeks prior. And to fasten the suede, I went one step further than I usually do and hammered the wire flat before wrapping the ends. I think it has a much neater effect, which this necklace called for.

I'm sad that I didn't get to use the cone shaped bead and the purple saucer shaped bead, but I will get to them eventually. All in all, pretty good for having a sprained back huh?

Thanks for stopping by, and make sure to check out all the other creations in the hop! For a list of all the participants' blogs, click right here!

77 comments:

  1. Hi Heidi,
    The bracelet is so pretty I love that you made the gorgeous toggle the focal so it could shine. The necklace is just as pretty I love the glass bead pendant your partner sent to you and it looks awesome on the leather woven copper chain.
    Therese

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  2. Beautiful! I love the simplicity of these. I adore the bracelet, I would wear it everyday!

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  3. great use of turquoise & green in the first piece, in the second piece I love the suede woven through the chain, nice soup!

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  4. I love that toggle and you really made it shine.

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  5. Delightful use of colours and style.Lovely Love and hugs Tanya

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  6. bold pieces, as always you manage to infuse them with your unique creative vision.

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  7. Stunning!
    There's no other words...I love your beautiful necklace ^_^

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  8. The use of the lampwork toggle in the bracelet is PERFECTION! I would have to keep it! And I think the necklace is gorgeous, especially with that awesome focal bead! I think you did a beautiful job! So sorry to hear about your back...I hope you are feeling better soon!

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  9. I love how you used the toggle in the bracelet ! And the necklace... swoon... So many lovely colors

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  10. I love that clasp, great design! You got a really nice soup mix! Enjoy the hop!

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  11. Heidi!!! So very very nice!!! Both pieces. I really love how you did the necklace in the end. It's simply perfect for that focal. And the way you did with the bracelet the glass toggle really gets to shine. Beautiful work as always!!!!!!

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  12. Lovely pieces and the way you did the toggle on the bracelet was truly an inspired idea. <3

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  13. Brilliant use of the toggle! Ans what a gorgeous focal!

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  14. Two gorgeous pieces! You certainly did justice to that bead soup. I love, love,love thaty bracelety with the fantastic toggle!

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  15. Amazing work !
    Very nice jewelries!

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  16. Oh honey -- I know how your back issue can sap you (as I sit here on pain killers, afraid to move left or right!). I LOVE the bracelet -- that is brilliant. And the necklace is excellent, too. I'm a big believer in letting the beads talk, and you really did a marvelous job of letting texture take the stage, too.

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  17. Hope you are feeling better now. Your makes are fab, love the bracelet!

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  18. Great designs - love the texture of the leather cord with the chain. And what a cool lampwork toggle!

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  19. The clasp made a wonderful focal on your bracelet, it brought everything together. Your necklace is fantastic! The focal suits it perfectly...love how you strung the cord through it too, great touch.

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  20. Well, you definitely pulled this one out of the bag! That toggle really is something else, isn't it? I like how you've kept it simple with both pieces. And the hammering flat of the wire before wrapping - genius idea! Hope your back gets better soon, you must be so bored of it by now!

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  21. Heidi these are such fun pieces and totally wearable - great job. Hope you're on the mend.

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  22. That toggle is amazing! You were right to showcase it simply. The focal is gorgeous too. So many colors flashing from it. You did a great job!

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  23. Lovely work - the colours are beautiful and I love how you wove the cord through the chain on the necklace =)

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  24. I was sorry to hear about your injury, I do hope you are better now. I love what you did with the bracelet and that necklace -- just so you know -- is not a mistake. Nothing that beautiful could be called a mistake. Great job!

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  25. Love the bracelet. That's perfect for the toggle. And I love the necklace too.

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  26. I love the necklace! It goes perfectly with that gorgeous focal bead without overwhelming it. Very nice work! <3

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  27. I like the balance of color on the necklace, the pale green complements the focal but still allows the colors to stand out. It's very pretty!

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  28. That bracelet is perfect. I would wear it all the time! Love the necklace too!

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  29. I think both your solutions were perfect! I love the clean lines and bright color in the bracelet, and that necklace is so very cool. You really did a great job, and I hope your back is totally healed.

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  30. Wonderful use of colors and shapes. Beautiful!

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  31. Both pieces are wonderful, but the bracelet has me smitten! Very funky and fun-love it!! You succeeded beautifully, I would never have known you were working outside your comfort zone.

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  32. Wow that glass toggle clasp is amazing! And you did a great job adding it to your design, the same with the rest of your pieces, all lovely!

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  33. My favorite had to be the use of the toggle for the bracelet - great designing job.

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  34. Love your colour palette. I went shopping yesterday for Aussie spring fashion and saw so much turquoise and green. Pairing the green with the copper chain looks amazing with the focal. Great work!

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  35. Love the use of the clasp as the focal on the bracelet. The necklace color scheme is gorgeous as well!

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  36. I think that you were right in following your instincts. That necklace is absolutely perfect!

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  37. Nice jewelry. I especially like the necklace. Nice treatment of a large focal bead.
    Inge

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  38. so sorry about your back! i know you aren't getting much sleep either with that kind of problem... Love how you used the clasp on the bracelet, great design, I have no idea what I would have done with it. And the colors you used on both were perfect.
    Get better soon, so you can get back to beading!

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  39. so sorry about your back! i know you aren't getting much sleep either with that kind of problem... Love how you used the clasp on the bracelet, great design, I have no idea what I would have done with it. And the colors you used on both were perfect.
    Get better soon, so you can get back to beading!

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  40. I hope you feel better. You must have worked through the pain because these pieces are beautiful. I love the green uniting the bracelet and the necklace, and the colors are fabulous with the copper you used.

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  41. So sorry to hear about your back! You managed to get some pretty amazing jewelry together for your soup! Really love the mixed media in the necklace - stunning

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  42. Stunning! I love the texture of the leather mixed with glass and metal you did a great job.

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  43. Beautiful pieces. I love what you did with the bracelet. That closure is awesome and you used it well.

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  44. The bracelet with the toggle is perfect. I love the necklace..the cord looks great with the copper!

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  45. I HATE that your back is giving you such a hard time. :(
    What you created is lovely though, so simple and clean like a breath of fresh air!!
    I do hope you get to feeling better SOON! {{Hugs}}

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  46. Heidi! Please take care of yourself, I hope your back heals soon. I know it can put a damper on creating.

    You're right, the toggle and focal bead are breath-taking, I would not know what to do with them except fondle! But I love what you did do and the touch of green with copper accents ended being perfect.
    Happy Blog Hopping!
    Shannon

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  47. hi Heidi, I do love the way you have worked with different structures and shapes here ....and actually I can feel a bit of Malin in the bracelet :) You made a minimalistic and brilliant design with that toggle ! Also You did wrap the ends with fiber a bit similar to what I made in my design gives a much softer feel than metal..
    I hope You get better in the back soon ...not fun with those problem I am much too familiar with...Take care /B

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  48. What a fun, dichroic focal. Pretty with the green suede cord. Speaking of green, I want your guacamole recipe! I loved reading your bio...very entertaining!

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  49. Well I like both pieces, but must confess the bracelet is my fav. The clasp being front and center was a wonderful suggestion!! How nice to know I am not the only one who does, and re-does my work. Your sight is great too.

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  50. Great job, and no fun with back pain poor you. Hopefully you are recovering well then it's time to hit the town wearing these pretties!

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  51. Very pretty pieces. Love the suede through the copper chain. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

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  52. I love the bracelet, great way to showcase that toggle clasp, and the necklace is just lovely!

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  53. I love how you used your soup... the bracelet is smart I love the beads and the toggle on the suede. Iabsolutely love the suede with the chain and the focal! You obviuosly had fun in the making of these pieces...

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  54. Love what you did with the lampwork clasp. You highlighted it without overpowering or letting it be all alone on the bracelet. Beautiful.

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  55. I'm so sorry you hurt your back. A little extra simmering time doesn't seem to have hurt your soup though :) Love that bracelet! Well done!

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  56. That lampwork focal is gorgeous and I love how you set it off with the chain and green suede! I would wear that in a heartbeat!

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  57. That bracelet is a showpiece - love it! And what a great idea to weave suede through copper chain.... you are a creative genius! Hope you are feeling better.

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  58. I really like the pieces that you made. Thanx for inspiring us.

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  59. I like the use of the clasp as the main piece of the bracelet! Nice work.

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  60. Pretty!! That glass clasp is beautiful and I like how you used it as a focal...nice job!

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  61. Girl, I soooo feel that back pain, literally. I hurt mine AFTER the hop came due, and have been struggling to sit in a bad computer chair to read through the blogs. :-P I hope you are doing much better by now! I totally love how you handled each of those beads. I would have been very challenged by each of them. I particularly love unusual clasps, and that one looks really fun! The necklace was such a surprise to me. It turned out to be such a classic looking necklace from such a modern looking bead! Wow! You worked quite a talented switch-er-roo there! Bravo!

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  62. I love the beads and how you thought of weaving the suede in the chain - I'm always challenged by how to add other elements to my work and you handled it beautifully!

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  63. Your pieces are just beautiful!

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  64. Brilliant solutions - and I adore the simplicity of the bracelet, with all of the gorgeous color!

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  65. Oh, these are adorable - love how you blended the textures and colors. Delish!

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  66. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  67. I loved seeing how to use suede in jewelry to. Create a colorful look.

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  68. I loved seeing how to use suede in jewelry to. Create a colorful look.

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  69. I love the necklace!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  70. Heidi, I really like what you did!!! Those are two gorgeous pieces!!! They may be simple, but they work! I love them! I think you did right by that necklace! It's a great way to show that focal off without taking attention away from it! =)

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  71. WOW, that focal is just amazing! Love the pea green fiber you used to mix with the dichroic.

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  72. Stunning.. I love what you did with your soup. great job.

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  73. Beautiful, Heidi! I like what you did on the necklace, I believe it's perfect. If you still have the cone - why not find some coordinating glass beads (not swarovski) and try the idea you had? I like it very much and it might work even better with the code :)
    Take care of yourself!!

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  74. Amazing post! I initially found your blog a week or so ago, and I want to subscribe to your RSS feed.

    Kristofs jewelers

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