Soup-a-Palooza Begins!

My new apartment is still jammed with boxes, but I'm ready to share in the bead soup-y goodness for this week's adventure.  Many thanks to Lori Anderson who coordinated this event for the second time with much success.  :) 

I was thrilled to be paired up with Cindy Dolezal...she sent me a gorgeous green focal pendant (that she made herself!) plus a great mix of brass and earthy toned beads.  The Vintaj brass clasp was a really cool component, too!!

I focused on the metal...gave me a chance to really work with the warmth of the brass.  Then, I found this feather pendant while out browsing and thought it would make a fun coordinating piece.

So, first off, the necklace...along with Cindy's focal, I added my own colorful zip (including orange, of course!  haaaaaaaa) with some gorgeous lampwork glass rounds from BeadAddicts.  Then, lots of colorful dyed magnesite nuggets along with some green glass rounds and brass spacers from Cindy.

I wanted to feature the pretty clasp on a bracelet so it'd get more visibility, so I used the moonstone rounds from Cindy, some more magnesite, and more lampwork to create a little asymmetric number that lets the clasp shine!

I used the feather focal along with some brass chain and a few of the Vintaj brass beads from Cindy to create a coordinating necklace.  Finally, a little bit of rollo chain and a few more of Cindy's treasures worked themselves into earrings.

Party Week starts June 19th. Last party, we had so many attendees that we really needed several days to visit all the blogs and view all the loveliness, so this time the party has been extended for a week!  Here's the party people and the schedule...

Saturday, June 19th -- blogs 1-13

1. Lori, Pretty Things

2. Lorelei, Lorelei1141

3. Norma, Moonlit Fantaseas

4. Beth, EB Bead and Metalworks

5. Katie, KatieBead

6. Kimberly, Bahama Dawn

7. Debbie, Prairie Emporium

8. Lisa, Joolz by Lisa

9. Kate, Tropical Blonde

10. Janet, Singing Woods

11. Julianna, Juls Beads

12. Erin, Treasures Found

Sunday, June 20th -- blogs 14-26



14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks (Whoo hoo!!)
15. Kella, Me But a Little More In Depth
16. Emanda, Artemisia Studio
17. Marie, Skye Jewels
18. Loretta, Designs By Loretta
19. Stacy, Sissy and Jack's
20. Joanna, Filcowe
21. Diane, Diane Hawkey
22. Marianna, Pretty Shiny Things
23. Anna, The Laughing Raven
24. Marcie, La Bella Joya
25. Lois, Que Onda Q'town?
26. Jayne, Mama's Got To Doodle

Monday, June 21st -- blogs 27-36


27. Lisa, Alterity
28. Dale, Dales' Flights of Fancy
29. Melanie, Kookie Designs
30. Christine, A Hot Piece of Glass
31. Nancy, Beading From the Heart
32. Laurel, Rue's Daftique
33. Sandi, Do Be Do Bead Do
34. Nicki, Nicki's Reef
35. Virginie, ViviBijoux
36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

Tuesday, June 22nd -- blogs 37-47



37. Filomena, Pink Velvet Bird
38. Lyn, Lyn Foley
39. Tari, Pearl and Pebble
40. Rebecca, Song Beads
41. Regina, Regina's Writings
42. Nancy, The Rabbit Muse
43. Whitney, Whitney Lassini
44. Maria, Garden Path Beads
45. Michelle, Life in the Bead Lane
46. Ann, My Critical Eye
47. Lisa, Lucid Moon Studio

Wednesday, June 23rd -- blogs 48-59
48. Nan, Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium

Thursday, June 24th -- blogs 60-71


60. Carol, Carol Bradley Designs
61. Wanda, A Frayed of Fibers
62. Diana, Vintage Blue Studio
63. Marieke, Marieke's Blog
64. KJ, Silver Parrot
65. Maire, Maire Dodd
66. Shannon, Miss Fickle Media
67. Dana, Dana's Jewelry Designs
68. Charlene, The Bead Dreamer
69. Elisabeth, Beads for Busy Gals
70. Cathryn, Chile Cats
71. Missy, Melissa Rappaport

Friday, June 25th -- blogs 72-84



72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs (my partner!)
73. Valerie, Hot Art
74. Courtney, Beads by Breul
75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations
76. Shea, gr8findings
77. Julie, Pryce Designs
78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog
79. Patricia, Verre Design
80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman
81. Heather, My Muse
82. Susan, Night Beader at Large
83. Sonja, Drachenei
84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

Saturday, June 26th -- blogs 85-97

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads
86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork
87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof
88. Denise, Bling on the Blog
89. Doris, Glaszwerg
90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor
91. Jo, Daisychain Designs
92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design
93. Kristie, Artisan Clay
94. Jess, Vintaj
95. Suzann, Beadphoria
96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
97. Michelle, bMichelle

Bead Soup: Hey Cindy!!

I'm pleased to announce that my partner in Bead Souping for this second round of bead nerd debauchery is Cindy Dolezal. Cindy's a clay bead artist who makes some seriously lovely nature-inspired pieces.  I can't wait to actually get a piece for myself.  She posted earlier this week about "agonizing" over choosing just the right thing for the swap.  There are only a few parameters...include a clasp, a focal, and some coordinating beads.  And, as Cindy found, it can be harder than you think!  We "stalked" each other's blogs and websites looking for insight into style and taste...from there, it's time to "shop" through our stashes to see what we can share.

I had a great time with my partner during the inaugural BSBP (Bead Soup Blog Party...I have to use acronyms because I am in the military and that's how we talk).  Julie Nordine of Credit River Art Glass posted a teaser photo of my pending challenge set using a little photoshoppery to hide the details. 

I love that idea, so to Cindy, here are your goodies!!  They're in the mail.  :)

I'd be remiss if I didn't send some love out to the BSBP Hostess, Ms. Lori Anderson, at her Pretty Things blog where you can find a complete list of all bazillion (okay, only 97) bead nerds/partiers.

Once I get my goodies from Cindy, I'll keep ya'll posted with my progress, but you'll have to wait for the big reveal of all the party aftermath in the BSBPH (Bead Soup Blog Party Hop...haaaaaaaaa) starting on 19 June.  I'll be rocking that party from my new apartment in Hampton, Virginia!  Wish me luck with that cross-country move!  haaaaaaaaa