Bead Soup Party Reveal Day !!!!!

My partner for this bead soup party has been the wonderful Jackie Ryan of Kydo jewellery. She lives in England, in a wonderful small town, Ilfracombe (no, I have not been there, but along with the beads, she sent a wonderful towel that was handmade by a lady from her town, and it shows the harbor - so pretty).
Jackie is a very talented artist, mainly working with Polymer Clay, a medium I always loved (I have tons of this raw stuff, but somehow all my "creations" look as if a 2 year old has spent an hour with PlayDough). Jackie does these great pieces - check our her store here.

She sent me a really cool selection of beads, totally my colors (very earthy). I got a wonderful Jasper / silver pendant, a beautiful silver S-clasp, unakite, onyx and agate beads, some fancy jasper leafs, some pewter bead caps and silver spacers... plus one of her wonderful polymer clay pendants. Isn't this gorgeous? I want to put it in a bracelet where it shines by itself, with a lot of colors and ribbon - but as I am always late with my bead soups - this is for another post.



I need to say I felt challenged though. While I love the color and wear a lot of brown / beige, the rose color in the beads made it hard for me to chose a matching color. I wanted to put more color, but nothing seemed to match (in my pretty much "monotone color schemes). I usually wire wrap everything, but to wire wrap a chain with those onyx beads seemed too delicate to carry the pendant. The hook attached to the pendant is very wide, yet delicate, since it is not solid. that was my biggest challenge. I love how it looks. But it needed a larger strand of beads or ribbon or leather cord....... which was all not what I wanted. So in the end I decided for something classic. Stringing. Elegant. One strand. I found a strand of garnet chips and it clicked. Added some of the jasper beads, spacers, some wire beads and chain from my stash and here is the result......



I need to say as usual I created this in the last minute. Friday night. in between a metalsmithing class that I am taking this Friday and Saturday. I am so looking forward to later today - when I can continue my class and when I get home, that I can see all those wonderful creations from all my bead sisters.

Check out all the other designs by following the links on Lori's website - there is actually 362 (!):
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

Thank you Lori for another wonderful time, for making us get in touch with all those wonderful people. You are not only a super talented designer, but such a sweetheart. You totally rock. Did you ever think this would become this big? I guess not.

57 Response to "Bead Soup Party Reveal Day !!!!!"

  1. Rebecca Says:

    Beautiful Nicki - and classic, just like you say. I'm totally with you on polymer by the way - i had a shot recently and it looked just like it did when I was playing with Fimo in the 80s as a wee girl!!

  2. Niky Sayers Says:

    The garnets bring it all together really well, and are such a nice color!

  3. steufel Says:

    Oh Nicki, die ist ganz, ganz toll geworden!

  4. Jenni Says:

    The garnets look so right with the stone focal pendant and the silver marries it all together. Very classic and beautiful. A good last minute "pull together"
    jenni

  5. moonlitfantaseas Says:

    this necklace is so cool! love the colors!

  6. Helmitarha Says:

    Beautiful necklace! Love the colors and interesting design!

  7. Noemi Says:

    Nice necklace. It is a good choice of colours for that focal.

  8. Marcie Abney Carroll Says:

    How great! I think this is so casual and yet so wearable and perfect for cold weather! Congrats on a job well done! ;)

  9. BluMoon Says:

    Hi Nicki, I think you did really well with the soup I sent you I love the necklace it will work with so many autumn and winter outfits. Belated birthday wishes to little Amelia.
    Jackie

  10. Palimpa Lim Says:

    Eine wirklich schöne Herbstkette, perfekt zu derben braunen Stiefeln, finde ich! Hugs!

  11. la mar de bonita Says:

    Eine wunderschöne Kette - passt zu vielem, könnte man jeden Tag tragen. Gefällt mir sehr, sehr gut!
    Liebe Grüße, Michi

  12. Amy F Says:

    Such a pretty piece! Great job!

  13. tappingflamingo Says:

    Nice!!!

  14. Green Shoot Jewellery Designs Says:

    Wow, a gorgeous necklace, I really love this!
    Deb x

  15. My Life Under the Bus Says:

    Nicki you did a beautiful job! I felt challenged with the darker colors I had as well - This is beautiful and wearable - a lovely job!

  16. Elysian Studios Says:

    I love the black in your design! It is so pretty! What a lovely piece!

  17. VS Says:

    What a beautiful soup you made my friend, your work is truly stunning!! Thanks for sharing & all I can say is yummmmmy!!!

  18. Raida Says:

    What a beautiful elegant piece, I love it! Great Job!

  19. rosebud101 Says:

    Nikki, as always, very nice!

  20. Pretty Things Says:

    I am SO sorry for being late — today our internet provider decided to crash. My stress level is through the roof, to say the least! They’re still working on it, but it’s like dial-up.

    Oh you did a great job with that pendant! I'm sure it just glows because her choice of gemstones is always great. And I can't wait to see what you end up doing for a bracelet!

    I hope you’ll participate again!

    Love, Lori

  21. Karyn B Says:

    Very elegant and pretty and I love the contrast of the bright silver and the dark garnet and earthy jasper.

  22. Lois Moon Says:

    I love how you used the spirally beads to frame the piece. Very clever!

  23. coffeeaddict Says:

    Awesome work :-)

  24. KayzKreationz Says:

    I think it turned out lovely. I like the way you put everything together and the colors. Very nice.

  25. Christine Altmiller Says:

    so very lovely!

  26. Lupe Meter Says:

    You did an awesome job with your soup! Lovely creations!

  27. Dana Says:

    I think you did a great job mixing the pendant with the necklace.

  28. Unknown Says:

    I love jasper, such earth, you worked with it well.

  29. Erin Siegel Says:

    Lovely piece, Nicki!

  30. cw whitedogjewelry Says:

    Very nice autumn design.

  31. Unknown Says:

    I was a last minute lady too!!! Your necklace is beautiful, the colors are some of my favorites.

  32. Loris Glassworks Says:

    Wonderful! You have created a terrific piece of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture, and the focal pendant is so pretty. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
    Lori

  33. Maggie Says:

    Beautiful and it does not look like it was put together at the last moment.

  34. Kathy ~ Artful Accents Says:

    I love it! You had such a lovely focal pendant to work with.

  35. Shirley Says:

    I think you were totally right to pair the focal with the garnets. They look stunning together! Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of it, if this is an indicator! Blessings!

  36. Tracy Says:

    Beautiful classic design, I love the colour palette.

  37. Wendy Says:

    Your necklace is gorgeous! I just love that pendant!

  38. Karin Slaton Says:

    The deeper garnet was an inspired choice with the focal. It says simple and elegant, just what you were striving for.

  39. one-eared pig Says:

    So pretty!

  40. CraftyHope Says:

    I'm so glad you solved your dilemma just in time! It really is a pretty necklace, but I can see how that bit of pink would deter you. It would me too. You solved it elegantly!

  41. Wendy & Megan Chamberlain Says:

    Beautiful necklace, lovely focal with a very special necklace

  42. Sweet Freedom Says:

    What a beautiful necklace and pendant! I love it with the garnet!

  43. Shay Stone Says:

    That is one beautiful necklace you've made!

  44. Unknown Says:

    oh I love garnets & this is a beautiful way to use them, really lovely pice

  45. DaviniaDesign Says:

    Beautiful! You did a great job!

  46. Beadaholique Says:

    Nicki, I really love the design of this necklace. The colors of the beads look so beautiful with the silver chain. :)

  47. SoulsFireDesigns Says:

    Gorgeous! Classy, elegant, and beautiful! I love the mix of the dangles and the chips and they just look amazing with the focal! Bravo!

  48. Bobbie Says:

    Sometimes, simple stringing is the best choice for the beads you're using, and it was definitely the right choice here -and I can't wait to see what you make with the cool polymer bead!

  49. Christine Says:

    Beautiful necklace!

  50. Anonymous Says:

    Garneto chips mathc perfectly the pendant and all the other gembeads. "I usually wire wrap everything", I could have written that!
    Ambra

  51. Maneki Says:

    Lovely necklace! I like that there's a lot of texture in it that adds interest. Great job!

  52. Cindy Cima Says:

    The garnets worked perfectly with the necklace - love it!

  53. Cindy Says:

    Beautiful, Nicki!! You do amazing work under pressure - I know this must look so beautiful when worn too!

  54. Anonymous Says:

    Your idea was perfect; the necklace is lovely!

  55. Jo Says:

    That is lovely!

  56. Aquariart Says:

    Very nice creation, Love the wire thing-a-ma-bobs just before the chain!! calm colors too.

  57. Amy F Says:

    everything okay with you? haven't seen you post in a while - hope all is well :)