Saturday, July 28, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Hop-REVEAL

I've had some excitement and trepidation about the BEAD SOUP BLOG HOP!  But really, more excitement than anything.  Thank you Lori for this wonderful opportunity!

Here was the batch of beautiful beads I received from my swap partner, Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio...




I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the lovely snowflake obsidian beads as soon as I laid eyes on them.  The onyx oval gave me pause for a day, but that beautiful pearl focal and waxed linen cord drove me nuts for more than a couple of days! 

My online friend, Jean A. Wells from Kansas City, does a great lariat necklace and so after a little thought, I brought the snowflake obsidian beads together with some shiny black glass beads I have and here is what happened...



I strung them as a wrap bracelet with the lovely leaf clasp for a closure. It can also be worn as a necklace.  There were a couple left over beads and I used them for matching earrings along with the black rose charms Karyn sent. 



I strung the onyx pendant on a silk ribbon from Marsha Neal Studio and the polymer beads that Karyn made were strung to dangle from it.  Two matching beads were used for dangly earrings. 


The set that gave me the most problem was the gorgeous pearl focal and waxed linen cord.  I had no idea what to do with them.  I really didn't have anything to match or even coordinate with them without making a trip to town.  So I thought about it for a couple more days and as I was reading my Bible in the morning as I usually do, a multi strand bookmark came to mind. 



I cannot tell you how much fun this was for a non-beader and for someone who does not consider herself to be a jewelry maker.

Thanks Lori and Karyn for the opportunity...now I'm off to see what the others have done!

Here is the list: 














91 comments:

  1. Marti! You did a great job! And you say you are not a jewelry designer - sure looks to me like you are. I really love the bookmark. And, the obsidian wrap bracelet is really cool. Everything is just lovely. And, wasn't this fun. I hope you join again. Great job!

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    1. Thanks Jean, looking forward to seeing what you did, but I'm afraid it's going to have to wait till morning!

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  2. First, Marti, I didn't realize you were doing this! Glad you posted on FB! Second, cool beads from Karyn! And I'm from KC too so I'm going to have to have a chat with Jean Wells! :-)

    Now, Marti, I've heard this business about you not being a jewelry maker before, but I no longer believe it! That bracelet in particular is really clever and fun! Love the second round of jewelry too with the onyx! And, I think that stepping outside the box and making a bookmark with the additional items was a creative idea too!

    I didn't join in this time as I had once planned, but I'm going to visit as many sites as I can. I always learn so much and enjoy seeing what people make! Glad I got to see yours! --Sharyl

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    1. Sharyl, I looked for your name, sorry you didn't make this one! It sure was fun! Thank you for your nice comment

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  3. Fantastic work Marti! I really love what you did with the black focal, and the matching earrings, so very lovely. I really struggle with black for some reason. I feel bad for not knowing that you also have a blog and like Sharyl I am so happy you posted about it on Facebook. <3

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  4. Why, exactly, did you feel trepidation! Your pieces are BEAUTIFUL! I love that bracelet/necklace and I would wear it everyday! Karen's beads are beautiful...just sitting on the table, even! You did a wonderful job! And I personally believe that your bookmark is genius! So glad you joined in again - you should feel very proud!

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    1. I felt trepidation because I had to show these pieces to actual jewelry artists! You all have made me feel so great about the job I did, thank you!

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  5. Wow you did a nice job with this.Thank you Love and Hugs Tanya

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  6. Wonderful work, I particularly love your wrap brace;let.

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  7. Great work with your bead soup!

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  8. Marti, What do you mean you are not a beader or jewelry maker? It looks to me that you are! Your designs are totally beautiful! I love the black Onyx and polymer clay bead necklace and the matching earrings, Gorgeous! The book mark is so pretty, it is wonderful that you got the inspiration while reading your bible. See He knows all and is always willing to give a helping hand.
    Therese

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    1. Thank you Therese! And I totally agree, He leads me every step I let Him and I'm trying to learn to let Him more and more!

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  9. Amazing, Marti ! I see lovely pieces from a lovely artisan, myself !

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  10. Marti,

    I love what you did with the soup I sent! That wrap bracelet/necklace idea is so cool, and looks fabulous! I love how you made matching earrings for everything, and the simple linen and shell bookmark is such a great idea. Love all your pieces. Thanks for being such a wonderful partner!

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    1. Thank you Karyn! I am glad you think I did your lovely beads justice. It sure was fun!

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  11. I love to see all the work you can make out of the soup. The wrap bracelet is my favorite!

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  12. Now what is this business about not being a jewelry maker? Seems to me you absolutely are! Lovely pieces, and beautiful soup!

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  13. LOVE the pieces you created! The lariet bracelet is so much fun and I think the bookmark is beautiful!

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  14. I like the simple elegance of the Onyx pendant, and the versatility of wearing it long or short! Nice work.

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  15. everything is great, but I love the multi wrap. I think you can consider yourself a jewelry maker now! I'd also like to say, I got one of your beautiful birds in the button swap, it is so pretty it scares me(as to how to use it, not because it is a bird!)

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  16. Well, I hope you can use the bird button! It is sturdy like glass, so treat it that way and it should be fine!

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  17. You did a great job with all your soup!

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  18. You did a great job with all your soup!

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  19. Yum! I love snowflake obsidian. That necklace shows it off eautifully.

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  20. You may not "think" you make jewelry but your hands and fingers do. Good thing too, they made some really fun pieces ;p

    Nicely done!

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  21. Beautiful pieces. I really like your necklace/bracelet design and love what you did with Karyn's polymer clay beads. The focal you created with them is really unique! Her beads are gorgeous and you did them beautiful justice!

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  22. They are very pretty and soothing!

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  23. What fun you had with all your bead soup. I especially like the wrap bracelet.

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  24. You had beads with strong contrast and pattern, I think your approach was elegant simplicity - and it works beautifully!

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  25. What a clever way to use a lot of matching beads with the bracelet. It looks darling on the wrist. Love everything you made.

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  26. Hi Marti, You got lots of nice things to work with in that soup and made a very good job with it too! Creative and inspiring all of them from wrap-bracelet to book mark...think my favo is the onyx set :)

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    1. Thank you Birgitta! I enjoyed working with all of it...after an idea what to do!

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  27. I love that the bracelet can also be a necklace! How clever!

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  28. The snowflake obsidian is beautiful. Very nice work.

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  29. Great Job Marti! I love that you can wear that one piece as a bracelet or necklace... So Smart! It is wonderful to see you push your boundaries from bead maker to designer with choosing to participate in Bead Soup! Way to go!!!

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  30. everything you made is wonderful..and that bookmark could stand as a simple summer necklace just as well.

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  31. Everything you made is wonderful. I really love the idea of the wrap bracelet/convertible necklace...I love multi-use pieces!! The set with the matching earrings is gorgeous, too.

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  32. I could hardly believe I read you do not consider yourself a jewelry maker!?!
    These are wonderful and I love that you thought of a special bookmark. Bible Jewelry!
    Nice to meet you and I hope you keep making jewelry.
    Shannon

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  33. Thank you so much Shannon...well, maybe with all this encouragement I'll have to keep at it!

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  34. I love that onyx pendant! And the bookmark was a wonderful idea. I know that I am always looking for something to mark my place.

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  35. You came up with some great ideas! I love the bookmark, and the lariat necklace is just gorgeous. Great job!

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  36. How clever you made a necklace that can be used as a bracelet, too! I love it! Thank you so much for participating!!!

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  37. What beautiful jewelry sets. I really love those black rose earrings. Great job. :)

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  38. Your pieces all turned out beautifully. I like your thinking out of the box approach to making the bookmark. I love the color of the linen cord with the mop flower. It's stunning. As well, your wrap bracelet/necklace is fab. The idea of it being a multipurpose jewelry piece really appeals to me.

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  39. Well for not being a jewelry designer you sure did an awesome necklace, earrings & book mark! Hope you had fun & will continue to explore jewery making!

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  40. Your Not a jewelry designer. Could have fooled me!! LOL! Lovely necklace!

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  41. You did a great job designing your pieces - and I love the bookmark!

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  42. Great designs - I especially love that wrap bracelet/necklace, so versatile =)

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  43. Love your collection. And a bracelet/necklace? Great idea!

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  44. You did a great job and its quite nice to use a necklace as a bracelet ;-) Hugs, Doris

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  45. I hate the fact that you are such a great jewelry designer.....because you will be using all your own beautiful beads from now on :) No, honestly you did a terrific job - I love the wrap bracelet/necklace idea. Lovely ear rings too!

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    1. Thank you so much Katherine! I did enjoy it, but I'd rather make beads any day! I could do it now and then for fun, but not everyday! LOL

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  46. Love the versatility of that first piece!

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  47. Hi Marti..!
    The black Onyx and polymer clay bead necklace are wonderfull..! I like the earrings too..! :)

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  48. Beautiful work Miss Marti! Love your beads too!

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  49. I think you did a great job, love the wrap bracelet/necklace, works really well with those beads doesn't it!

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  50. Fantastic job on your pieces. You look like a desiger to me!

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  51. Nice job on your bead soup!! Such lovely creations!!

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  52. Great job!!! I really like that it can be either a necklace or a bracelet.

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  53. All the pieces turned out wonderful, but I love the wrap bracelet with the leaf clasp. Very pretty.

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  54. I love both the earrings!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  55. Well, you'll have to start thinking of yourself as a jewelry maker now :-) your finished pieces are pretty, especially the silk ribbon necklace. Great work!

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  56. The snowflake obsidian beads, onyx focal, black roses, pretty mop focal -- everything is such a pretty soup! I like the beads Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio makes! You created beautiful jewelry! love the necklace/ bracelet, and the earrings! I think the earrings are so pretty -- love them! You were very creative with your bookmark, as well! Lovely and Inspired ;)
    Big hugs,
    Rita

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