Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Big Reveal!!!! It's Party Time!

I can't believe this Big Bead Soup Party started with just one post from Lori Anderson way back in December! She took on the coordination for over 80 artists (click to go to yesterday's post that has the whole list, with links!) who signed on, swapped favorite beads, and then created something new to reveal today--so, it's a big day!

First off, I have to say whooo hooooooo about my partner, Julie Nordine from Credit River Art Glass. We hit it off from the very beginning...even though she lives far from Alabama up in Minnesota and we actually haven't met in person. :) So, as much as I looooooove the pieces she sent me to work with and my final result, the coolest part of the party was meeting someone who shares the same enthusiasm and passion about life! So, thanks, Julie for being such a generous new friend!! As a reminder, here's the stash she sent me that includes tons of goodies that she had her hands on making or modifying:
Click on the pic to go to her blog post that describes each piece in more detail.

I couldn't stop fondling the copper washers! I studied them and finally figured out that they were etched. Well, I'm not really into acid or electro-whatevering to try that myself, but I can sure wield a mean chasing hammer!!! haaaaaaaaaaa So, I took out a few plain old washers and pounded to my heart's content...I even bought a new hammer with texture just to change things up! I just loved all the circles and the rings and while playing around with them on my work table, I ended up here....

It's a Free Fall of etched copper, textured copper, and textured silver all linked together with copper jump rings that highlight the gorgeous Credit River Art Glass focal bead and smaller coordinating round beads. There are even lovely etched copper bead caps on each of these glass beauties that tie them into the piece perfectly! It's all finished off in the back with an etched copper toggle.

Another cool tip I learned from Julie was this trick for photography with the "spotlit" background...makes it look like a really professional feature! haaaaaaaaaaaaaa

In case you're wondering how it hangs, it's asymmetrical, as most of my pieces tend to be, because I wanted the falling "bib" portion of rings to balance the focal and I'm totally satisfied with the way it flows. I even did a wear-test out with some friends last week and made a few tweaks as soon as I got home (even with Buffalo wing sauce in my cuticles!)
This "Soup" created some great inspiration:
- I've come to love working with copper...it's been in most of my pieces in the last two weeks.
- I'm not afraid to deal with jump rings to hold things together
- I'm now willing to spend hours reworking designs, even if that means taking most of it apart!
- I dig blogging and all those folks out there who are doing the same thing!!

So, many thanks again to Lori and Julie and to all the other designers, artists, crafters out there who were part of the party!!

Jen

50 comments:

  1. WOW! Julie's glass bead is amazing. I love how you put this all together. Looks time consuming! beautiful work Jenn!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jen Judd you DO Rock!! Awesome piece! The pieces Julie sent you are stunning and the finished product gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is fabulous! You did an amazing job:) I love all the copper and the glass bead- wowza!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely piece, Jenn! You've done justice to Julie's beautiful beads with an awesome design!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jen, this is stunning!! What more can I say!
    Jeanette Blix

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gorgeous Jen, what a wonderful work you have done. Love everything, the lampwork bead, the hammered links, the colours and the way it flows. Beautiful !

    ReplyDelete
  7. Absolutely wonderful! What a great team you and your partner make. The results are stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great ingredients to start with and you sure did a bang up job (no pun intended,well, maybe :) ) with all those rings! I've got a bunch of sizes I have been saving for what, well I do need that texturing hammer and I think you kick started me to go tool shopping today! I love your piece, the colors, the metal and the free flowing design!

    Enjoy the Party!
    Kate Organic Odysseys #46

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jen, Jen, Jen.... I knew the minute Lori paired us together that this was going to be a wonderfully creative partnership... I had no idea that a wonderful new friendship was going to be part of the package. I am truly blessed to have you in my life now. Can't believe we've only "known" eachother for a few short weeks. Whew knew? LOL. ♥

    What a thoughtful post... makes me want to go back & rewrite mine, LOL.

    Now to this incredible piece you've created, Jen. WOW!!! I'm quite stunned. You've been teasing me for a good week & 1/2 now... it was definitely worth the torture & the wait! :o) I know the whole organic soup was sent to be a challenge...but I think you're quite an intuitive designer & would've been able to put together an incredible piece no matter what was thrown @ you. I'm so proud of your wonderful work of art, Jen.

    Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience, Jen!! What a blast!

    ...Julie.♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is amazing! All those textured links! And of course I'm a sucker for lampwork!

    Thanks for being in the party -- we'll do another soon!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow...love the results. I love texture too! Simply stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! Beautiful necklace with some beautiful beads!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow you had a beautiful focal to work with and you really made those copper washers sing--I love your fantastic design!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jen!!!!!! Stunning!!! You are amazing!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. beautiful beads! Beautiful necklace!


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

    ReplyDelete
  16. A song has popped into my head...when I saw this..."this is how we do it"
    ...seriously....this is a Totally terrific piece!

    ReplyDelete
  17. gorgeous, i love the copper with the misty blue glaze.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Girrrrl, you are only 90 miles from me! We definitely should get together for some bead shopping and creating.

    Oh, and be sure to bring this hideous necklace. I will make the sacrifice of taking it and hiding it away.

    ON MY NECK!

    (love it!!!!)

    ReplyDelete
  19. this is beautiful - i love how you created enough weight in the necklace to balance that incredible focal - and at the same time keeping it very light looking... the washer design is fabulous -

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well, all I have to say is YOU ROCK! That is striking, eye-catching artwork that had me from the first!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is stunning, I love the lampwork and the textures that you have so skillfully put together, its is FAB xxx

    ReplyDelete
  22. that is just stunning, Jenn! the links, the asymmetry - perfection!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love what you did w/ all the copper washers, I think I've found the second pice to be in my top 5

    ReplyDelete
  24. Like you, my partner sent along some copper links -- it was a real challenge for me but I loved it. You piece is stunning -- gorgeous focal and fabu copper links. Love it.

    Emanda
    www.ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. WOW - I love what you did with all the washers! It looks great :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a fantastic afternoon! I got to browse all sorts of cool blogs and have my ego stroked...haaaaaa Thanks for all the lovely comments. I'm going to put on my hideous (just saying that cracks me up!!) necklace and dance around the living room!!! haaaaaaaaaaaa

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a lovely piece! So sophisticated and warm. I really love those textured copper washers. Feeling a bit of bead envy coming on . . . :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. i was crazy about that focal when i first saw it..love what you did with the copper

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, what a beautiful focal and you incorporated it so beautifully! I love copper!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love the textures and layers of the rings, Jen! Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love Julie's work and your design of her soup is beautiful. You did a really nice job of highlighting all the individual elements. One of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  32. BEAUTIFUL necklace, and yes...I can make beads, and yes, I can make them in different colors. Here's my e-mail: abney_m(at)yahoo.com Hehe...looking forward to hearing from you and oh, by the way I grew up in Decatur, Athens, and Huntsville. Roll Tide. (Unless you're an Auburn fan, in which case, Go Tigers!) Haha!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow theres some real talent here! Your pc is really Nice!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow, what a lovely creative piece. Love the earthiness of it

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is some clever work and both your skilss marry beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love love LOVE what you did with your soup. And thank you and Julie for the tip about the spotlight photo paper as well. So nice to meet via the Bead Soup Party.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I dig you too, Miss Jen!
    Love the assymmetry here. And the copper. I can't get enough of either. It is a challenge to make assymmetry work without it looking like a hot mess, and you, my friend are brilliant! That glass from Julie is the bomb! I will have to look into getting some for me! Thanks for sharing this heaping serving of great soup! Be sure to stop by and taste some of mine. Enjoy the day! Erin

    ReplyDelete
  38. I also LOVE copper! Your design is awesome! Cheers :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. The beads you had to work with are beautiful..and the finished piece is awesome!!! great work and so glad I found your blog through the party!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow, that is spectacular. Beautiful beads to work with and a great design.

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a lovely focal... really like the copper loops too...Not to mentio the finished piece looks great! Come check out my soup at http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com/2010/02/bead-soup-party-revealing-all.html

    ReplyDelete
  42. Fantastic and fabulous!...the blue and copper...stunning for sure!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Jen - you and Julie are a creative force to be reckoned with! Thanks for sharing your process, and your test runs, and your beautiful design. It's really cool.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I just now got to your blog and HOLY COW! I love love love your necklace, how gorgeous and unique! Can I have it? LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oh Jen, this is one of my favorites. I would have never come up with this cool design, although this is exactly what I love. So heavy and so light at the same time. Perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  46. What a gorgeous necklace! love copper, your necklace does justice to the magnificent focal bead.

    ReplyDelete
  47. What a fun design with all the washers! I love your focal too. Gorgeous! Great work!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love what you have done with the rings! Great work! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'm still making my way to all of the blogs and I'm almost at the end...I see I saved one of the BEST for last! Oh my goodness, this piece is sublime. I absolutely love it...it's got many of my favorites going on here - the colors, the lampwork, the copper! Absolutely stunning work, Jen!!! :-)
    Cindy
    www.sweetbeadstudio.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for coming by...I would love to hear what you think!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

About Me

My photo
Bedford, PA, United States
I'm a retiree/artist/student who makes things. It's a nice kind of lifestyle!

Total Pageviews