Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bead Soup Reveal Day!

It's Saturday, March 31st and the Big Reveal Day.

I am up before work posting my pictures and looking at the beauties that my Bead Soup companions are posting on their blogs.  Delicious Soup was cooked up by my official Bead Soup partner, Mary Ellen Merrigan.  We exchanged a group of precious beads and left it to our partner to design something fantastic.  Before we get to my creations, a link to her project and the inner workings of talented jewelry design goddess  "ME".  Did I mention she shows her work at a real gallery?

http://www.maryellenbeads.com/

Visit her blog to see what she made out of the soup I sent as well as the story behind the fantastic butterfly focal she gave me.  The focal was special enough to stand on its own and I was tempted to make a lovely brooch out of it.  However, it was also special enough to want to wear often and my new job isn't really a "brooch" type of office.  I  decided a fun necklace that I could wear with jeans and a t-shirt might be a better option.

I took the large butterfly she crafted out of old earrings and a silver concho, and combined it with a silver chain, mixed metal capped blue-green pearls and odd bits of filigree and silverware plated stampings. I added copper butterflies to carry over the theme. Mary Ellen was thoughtful enough to enclose the leftover Delicas that she used in her bead embroidery so I embellished her butterfly with fringe and included  a sample of the beautiful crystal briolettes that she picked up for me in Tuscon.  I was lucky to have such a thoughtful partner!






Butterflies mean "Metamorphosis" to me and, as if she read my heart, the theme followed through my work on the other pieces in my projects.  My projects I hope capture the hopefulness of the future and the fond memories of the past.  My Life is undergoing severe and painful changes with the loss of my beloved partner of 13 years, Carl.  I am much like a butterfly, reinventing a new me in my flight through life alone.

Mary Ellen gave me a lovely clasp for my butterfly necklace but when the necklace was done, it just wasn't the right piece for such a chunky necklace. I've always coveted something from Green Girl Studios so I was so excited to get the clasp!  It is beautiful on its own and sooner or later, it is going on the FRONT of a necklace.  Until I figure out how to do that, I have placed it on a jade donut and embellished it with a couple of blue green crystals from my Soup, silver leaves and some jade green and pale blue seed beads from my stash.  (Yes, I loved those crystals!)  Lots of peyote stitching finished the piece.  I started noticing how many lovely colors complemented those crystals!  The butterfly clasp closes the "Jade Queen."



In my package was also a nice mix of lighter and brighter green beads.  Not much left to do but embellish a pendant that I bought at the same time I found the focal for Mary Ellen's soup. Synchronicity !  The green in the pendant matched the beads perfectly.  I believe this is another Suzy Komar pottery pendant from the same artist where I purchased Mary Ellen's focal.  "Summer Heat" portrays the summer to come in Oklahoma, when the heat bakes away the blue green hues, leaves turn paler and seeds from native plants are brown.  It is Oklahoma's own peculiar kind of summer beauty. and perfect for lazing about on the patio, grilling meat and veggies and watching birds.  A fond memory of the past.



Last but not least is a piece that is wearable, straight-forward and unfussy.  A few more of those lovely blue-green crystals are woven with golden glass pearls.  "Sunset on the Pier" reminds me of those lazy evenings in my teenage years spent gazing out at the Pacific ocean and the setting sun. It was a long way, in both time and place, from where I am now.   It is important to remember that the sun will rise again the next day and we will have another chance to make memories, even when we aren't young anymore.



I hope you enjoyed my creations.  Please visit the other blogs in the first reveal!  ...And don't forget the mistress of them all, Lori Anderson, and her book, Bead Soup.  What a wonderful thing Lori has invented.  It brings our creations to light!

You will find links to all the other party bloggers here too.
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Thanks for visiting!  Come back soon.

42 comments:

Mary Ellen Merrigan said...

Pam, I'm thrilled to have you make a jean's necklace from my butterfly. It's awesome! Truly special. How fun to read about your other pieces at the same time. New outfit? May I just recommend several new ones? Every one of these pieces deserves its own (and new) outfit!

PiPa said...

Every piece is so beautiful, but the butterfly necklace is my favorite!!!

april grinaway said...

Lovely work!

Sea of Dreams said...

They all are beautiful pieces, but I think my favorite is the first necklace! You did an amazing job with your soup!

Pretty Things said...

I'm really touched at the meaning behind all your pieces. You really put your all into everything and it shows. AMAZING work.

Thanks for coming to the party -- I hope you come again next year!

Krafty Max Originals said...

They are all beautiful, but the brown and green one is amazing!! ~KM http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/6439795#

Unknown said...

I love your pieces, and I am sorry for your loss. :( Losing a loved one is never easy.

Shiraz said...

Beautiful pieces! I was particularly drawn to "sunset on the pier".

Cheryl said...

Lovely designs!

Giorgia Rossini said...

I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time on BSBP
amazing works! :)
ciao dall' Italia

Kepi said...

Great pieces, love the butterfly necklace.

anafiassa said...

What lovely pieces! Wishing you all the best in this time of metamorphosis--you are an inspiration, making such beautiful things even as life changes.

Sandra Pendragon said...

Love all that you created with your soup! Your butterfly necklace is great.

Unknown said...

So many great necklaces! Yummy.
kathy

Bev said...

The pieces are very nice. Great way to use your soup!

Laura Bracken said...

So many beautiful creations in your blog post!

WindDancerStudios said...

Oh those butterflies are sweet! Wonderful pieces!

Chelle said...

Butterflies make me think of spring.. I love it.

Lori Bergmann said...

You did such a great job creating so many unique deisgns! And butterflies are one of my favorite themes too! :-D

Perl - Eni said...

Everything is so beautiful!
Amazing work !

Dry Gulch said...

Beautiful necklaces!

vovsblog said...

beautiful work well done!

Cornerstoregoddess said...

I really like the way you wove the butterflies into your piece. Great job!

Unknown said...

i love how each piece is so uniquely different

Nchantme said...

Beautiful work from beautiful ingredients!

Unknown said...

We work from our hearts when we need to...it is obvious that your necklaces are made with love. You are very creative and talented. Thank you for sharing.

Ann said...

Outstanding group of pieces from your soup! I think my favorite is the green and brown one, although they all stand out.

Just Beads said...

Love all thes pieces, but the butterfly is my favourite. Beautiful!

EWA gyöngyös világa! / EWA's World of Beads! said...

Very pleasing to the eyes!Beautiful works! Congrats!

Gaia Copia said...

I love the butterfly necklace and would wear it A LOT! I really appreciate how your current life outlook is mirrored in your work. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us.
Fly high, butterfly. And be well.
Emily

Unknown said...

Love all the necklaces ♥ the butterflies ♥ are amazing!!!

Shaezocha said...

Very pretty, I'd wear them all.

Unknown said...

Beautiful designs - my favorite is the green and brown. I love your story about the butterfly ((hugs))

Bobbie said...

Lovely pieces - and what a lot of beautiful work you were able to do with your soup!

bailaora said...

im delighted! super creative designs!

baymoondesign said...

Summer heat speaks to me. I love the colors.

Becky Pancake said...

All of your pieces are amazing. Great use of your soup.

Rachel said...

What a lovely collection of pieces! Nice job with your soup!

Kimberly said...

LOVE the butterfly piece!

Amber Dawn Inventive Soul said...

~*Great work, Pam! It's lovely to view your multiple arrangements of the bead soup! The pieces are all nicely done :) Thank you for visiting my blog, last week! :) *~

CraftyHope said...

All of your necklaces turned out so nice! I especially like your first one with the butterflies. Well done :)

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