My reveal

Ok - drumroll..... here is my finished bead soup result.

My lovely partner Rebecca of Songbeads has sent me a lot of beads (see pictures here). I need to say that I felt challenged, as I usually don't work with small beads. When I first started I sketched down a number of designs, but couldn't decide what I wanted to make. I actually have started a few other pendants that will turn into full projects to be published here at a later date. But then yesterday (I know I waited til the last minute), I finally settled on this one. I need to say I struggled. I wanted to stretch myself and create something that I will absolutely love. I am not sure what you ladies think, but I really like it right now. I must have taken this thing apart about 10 times yesterday, but now I think it was worth it.

So what's new for me:
1) Use of three different metals in one piece (copper, silver and gunmetal wire).
I always thought this does not work - must be wrong. But I wanted to try. What do you think - does it look wrong for you?
2) Using copper sheet metal.
I had this self adhesive copper sheet metal for some time, but didn't use it. I know that the execution part will hopefully improve over time, but I think for a first try it is not so bad (see the copper bar on the necklace and the ring).

3) The dark blue beaded sweetwater pearl flower.
I saw those a few times, but have never tried one. It was actually fairly easy, and I think it looks cute.

4) The BWB.
I invented the beaded wire bead. (Ok, let me dream for one more moment - I know I can't patent it, and people have probably done something like this before). I love the beaded beads that some of my friends are making, but I do not have their small fingers, so I thought it might work with wire as well. Plus it allowed me to use some more of Rebecca's smaller beads.

5) Using sari silk ribbon.
I actually got this from Stefanie at one of our last dates. I have never used it, but right after finishing this post, I will go buy some on Etsy.

6) Trying to make a 3D-pendant.
The wonderful lampwork bead I received from Rebecca is very large, and I wanted to make it the center of the piece. But since the rest was more delicate, it needed a kind of 3D frame. Like it? I know - remember I said "trying"

7) The gunmetal chain.
I wire-wrapped all of those links to create a knotted wire chain, which I think works well with the messy barbed wire look of the pendant.

8) Last but not least: the ring.
With copper wire, sari ribbon, one of Rebecca's glass beads, and some copper foil. Definetely not a ring to carry the baby around (and get stuck with the ring), rather for a elegant dinner in a restaurant (where you do not have to move your hands a lot). I know it is kind of high, but that's the way I wanted it to be.

Am I going the right way ladies, or is this too freaky?
Thanks for your honest feedback - please leave a comment, and then go visit the other wonderful creations of our bead soup party friends. And thanks again to Rebecca for being so generous and to Lori for that wonderful party - when can we do the next one?

Bead Soup Party 2 - Reveal Day 3

Just a quick note - there are the next 10 ladies revealing today.

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 (DON'T MISS THIS ONE)
35. Virginie, ViviBijoux
36. Janeen, Wild Vanilla

And stay tuned for my reveal at about 10 am EST / 4 pm German time. I have to do a little work this morning, but my piece got finished yesterday and I LIKE IT.

Bead Soup Party 2 - Reveal Day 2

View the next wonderful 13 ladies exposing their designs:

14. Jen, Jen Judd Rocks
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

Ok ladies - one more day and it's me.... I guess I better make my last decisions today on how to complete this thing.

Songbeads' giveaway

My bead soup partner Rebecca of Songbeads has won Cristi's "Go"-necklace (she is so lucky) and she is having a giveaway to pass the happiness on. You can win a wonderful book called "Four seasons of beading". I don't have it and really would like to get this. If I win, I will host a giveaway myself. Hop over to Rebecca's blog to play along.

Bead Soup Party 2 - Reveal Day 1

Get this party started on a Saturday night
Everybody's waitin' for me to arrive
Sendin' out the message to all of my friends
We'll be lookin' flashy in my Mercedes Benz
I got lotsa style, got my gold diamond rings
I can go for miles if you know what I mean......
(Pink)

Ok, maybe not for me only. I will be up for the reveal on Monday.

But enjoy the creations of 12 fabulous designers who will post their pieces later today (US time zone....):
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

I can't wait for tonight to see all the nice creations. I might go check if somebody posted already. See you later.

Lucidmoonstudio's giveaway

Sorry I can't come up with better titles. Lisa of Lucidmoonstudio is having a super cool giveaway. You can get a chance to win one of her really beautiful resin bracelets or a $ 25 gift certificate to one of her stores. Or you can buy something in her jewelry Etsy store (Lucidmoonstudio) or her NEW Etsy store Lucidmoonsupplies, where she offers the cutest polymer-resins pendants. Plus she is having a 20% off sale for everything in her Lucidmoonstudio Etsy store. Go read the full rules on her blog here.

Psychosomatic bugs and other animals

I had psychosomatic bugs today. I always have them running all over me when I come back from a walk in the fields or forest. Obviously they don't exist, but I can't sit down before taking a shower. I love the walks outside, but they mainly end with Nick saying "go take off your psychosomatic bugs".....

Before the bugs arrive, we took Knoedel, our grey bunny to the vet, since she pulled out a nail yesterday and can't really walk. The doctor said it is not inflamed but the joint is swollen a bit, so she has to take pain killers for 10 days (sometimes I feel I need painkillers too - just kidding). Caspi (black bunny) joined us, because the vet is kind of far away (bunny specialist that we always go to) and so we got them both vaccinated as well. Needless to say we have two very angry ladies hopping around hiding behind the curtain.

One of the other mommies I hang out with called me today and told me that she is missing her cat since Monday. So we thought we go for a walk in our area to see if we would find that cat (hence the walk in the fields and the psychosomatic bugs). Let's hope that Bruno will find his way home soon. His friend Anno is missing him very much.

The party's here!


The bead soup party will start this Saturday. For an entire week almost 100 designers that have joined the party will post their creations. That means over 10 blogs to visit every day. Isn't this fun?
If you are interested who the party people are, hop over to Lori Anderson's Pretty Things Blog here and see the groupings, read the rules and get prepared for the fun.
Mine will be up on Monday June 21st (good that I have some days left, because I am still tweaking it).
So stay tuned for some beady fun.

Giveaway land

I am trying to catch up on my blog reading and it feels like everybody is having giveaways. I even read that some people are passing this time as there are too many. I like this one too though, so I will blog about it - up to you if you want to play (if you don't I have a higher chance to win). So Cristi from 2 if by the sea is giving away the "go" necklace featuring a Jade Scott pendant and lampwork discs and raku nuggets from Blue Seraphim. To win you have a leave a comment and host a giveaway yourself. Interested? Go here to get the "go"-necklace.

Copper Diem Blog Giveaway

I can't believe it - Copper Diem is hosting a blog giveaway. You can win a pound of beads. Yes, that was not a typo. A pound. Do you want it? Jump over to the blog here.

Sale and a giveaway

Artisan Clay is having a 25% off sale and a giveaway. If you want one of her gorgeous pendants (and you should want one - because, yes, you guessed right - I already have one, so I know how cool they are) go visit her blog or her store directly.

The birthday of my best friend ...


.. has given me some headache - what should I give to her? Last year I gave her a voucher for her preferred spa / cosmetic place. Difficult to be topped. Her birthday is tomorrow and since mine is on sunday, we decided that instead of presents, we will spend an evening on the riverfront (yes we have a beach area) and make a picnic and have some champagne. Time is the best gift.

Nevertheless, I had already bought a book for her (the latest one from Minette Walters in german - she loves that writer) - and of course I made her a necklace. While I started off with everything symmetrical at my bead beginnings, I can't do it anymore right now. I love to find the balance of an asymmetrical piece and haven't made anything else in months. But she does not like that. So I tried a little symmetry again. How do you like it? I think she will enjoy it. It includes light and dark wood beads, red glass beads, green chita gemstones, and a few different seed beads.



I wire wrapped the chain and the clasp (that's what I do when I have absolutely no inspiration left in my brain - I can sit for hours and make wire wrapped chain). I came up with this "chain design" if you want to call it like that (I am sure somebody has done something similar before) - it's easy to make and it looks pretty cute I find. I have some left, so that will probably go into a piece for me. Maybe for the bead soup.

Spending an evening with Stefanie


You know by now that I have a new friend: Stefanie from Stefanie's Sammelsurium. She is also playing along in the Bead Soup Party, so we met on Tuesday to discuss our plans for the big reveal. None of us is done with our pieces right now, but we will do our best, both feeling challenged and wanting to create something really special.

While Stefanie and I did some beady talk, her husband / boyfriend made a wonderful dinner that night - Chicken with a red wine, olive and tomato sauce - hmmmm - unfortunately my baby was at home with Nick, crying, so I felt a bit rushed to go back and help them out....

Stefanie made a ring for me that you can see in the (really not so good) picture above. I am not a big fan of the word, but she literally whipped it up in a half hour. The pictures really don't do it justice. I feels really warm on the hand when you wear it due to all this Sari ribbon. I think she should go and sell those - wouldn't you love to own one?

Thanks Stefanie, for the dinner, the evening, the ring and your wonderful company. To many more beady hours...
PS: by the way, her bead soup piece will be really cool I think - the beads she got from Marieke are really gorgeous, and paired with Stefanie's talent, we are waiting for a great piece to be revealed in less than two weeks.

Make a wish at Kella's Creative Wishes

Kella is one of the ladies playing along in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party. She asked for feedback on her jewelry, so I really went there for the first time, and fell directly in love with two tiny books that she made. They can be used as pendants.

I received her package yesterday, and I need to say this was the nicest, most wonderful package I ever received. Packaging is adding just a little something to the actual piece, but Kella really went over the top. First I was super curious when I found the envelope in the mailbox....


Then I opened it - and found this. She handstamped the paper, the ribbons are matching the stamped tree and butterfly, the tags are handwritten, and even the business cards are handmade.


Obviously when I opened the little treasureboxes (she should actually go into mass production because these alone would be worth the money), I could not believe how cute these books are in person.


As if this would have not been enough, she added a little gift and put some heart tags in the package as well, made out of this beautiful thick paper. The card reads - thanks for making a wish at Kella's Creative Wishes. That girl really loves what she does, and I think you should all (I mean all!) hop over to her site and show her some love, leave a comment and make a wish (in her store).

Thank you Kella, this truely made my day. I hope I can meet you one day in the UK, and experience that love for your work in person.

To add or not to add...


This is my last post from the Netherlands where we spent our little vacation. Everybody left today, so it was kind of a sad day. Since I have been a kid, I always hated departure days after a school trip or a vacation. We spent the afternoon in the "subtropical swimming paradise" with the baby, which was not so subtropical and not so paradise, but it was fun for the baby. It cleared up afterwards, so we went for a walk later by the beach, and although it was really windy, it was nice.

Earlier in the day I made this bracelet. I love to make jewelry when I am on vacation, so the pieces will always remind me of the nice days spent. I am trying to make bigger things, so while this might still be really small to some of you, for me it is already quite big. And I love it. The question is just if I need to add a little charm on the chain. I am going back and forth with it. Any thought?

About being slow

We are on vacation in the Netherlands and today is our last day. We went with a group of 15 other friends (old and new ones) to a tiny resort (if you can call it resort) by the sea. We have a cute little house with a garden.
We had really nice weather the other days, but today it is really rainy, and the baby seems to be a little sick. Originally we wanted to go swimming to a nearby subtropical swimming paradise, but it seems like my ear infection is coming back and with her being not so good, I am not sure if we will do that. The other guys all left today, except one couple that we will meet for dinner. So it looks like we might go for a small walk later in a closeby village called Zierikzee. And that I get a chance to do some beading, since I did not go to the Creative Summer Fair with Stefanie in Cologne today. I am really missing that, but a) I really have enough beads and b) it would be stupid to drive back one day earlier. Stefanie called me yesterday and said she is really enjoying it though. She will maybe bring some wood beads back for me (= so I will have more wood beads in my collection). I used some the other day, when I made that little bracelet you see in the picture. Funny enough, when I was sitting on the beach with my pliers, and most of the other guys were playing beach volleyball, one of the girls came over to me and said she has done a metalsmithing course in Cologne and she is making jewelry. Stefanie and I talked about taking that class maybe in July or August. She wore a gorgeous pendant that she made, so maybe I will come up with something cool too.

When I sat on the beach there, I was working on my beads soup. It is a real challenge to me, since Rebecca was super kind and sent me so many beads that I have several designs in mind and cannot decide on one. But there is not a lot of time left, so I'll better hurry up. Maybe I will meet with Stefanie and we try to figure it out together.....

Let the sun shine


I have made a statement

There will be no traditional ABS Carnival Blogger Post in June, due to a lot of us bloggers being busy with Bead and Button Show. The unfortunate ones that don't get to go have decided (under the lead of the talented Cindy Gimbrone) to fill the empty space by creating a tribute piece to Bead and Button show: a statement necklace.

Now my statement contains neither a lot of beads nor a lot of buttons, but a lot of wire. For me, it is a true statement though. It is large. It is pink. It contains those wonderful etched lampwork beads from Mermaid Glass.





I tried to get out of my comfort zone (everything I make is small and more delicate), thinking that I will probably never wear this. And guess what? I really love it. It hangs wonderfully around the neck and collarbone, plus it is a totally new shape for me.


Are you curious about more statements? Visit all the blogs below:

Cindy Dolezal Designs

Cindy Gimbrone

Intuitive Sparks by Christine Hansen

Island Girl's Insights

Janel Dudley

Jeannie's Blog

Jen Velasquez

Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Kate Clawson

Marcie Abney

Mary Harding

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A contest like no other by Barbara Lewis

You like beads? You like enameled beads? You like the ones of the very talented Barbara Lewis? Well then better hurry up and go over to her blog. She has one of the funniest giveaways ever. Guess how much time she needs to clean up the studio and win some of her beads in the color of your choice (I have some already and I tell you, you really need some!).

Incredible

She won! With 246 points - with Turkey being second (170 points) and Romania third (162 points). Germany won the first time since 1982 - and the song was way better than Nicole with "Ein bisschen Frieden" (click to view the video).
This is incredible!

Countdown for Oslo

Do you know the Eurovision Song Contest? What an event. 125 Million people watching it on TV. 25 countries from Europe (or somewhere close- I mean Israel and Azerbaidjan are not really in Europe) are in the FINALS that are shown live from Oslo tonight. This year, we have a real cool participant from Germany, the 18 year old Lena. Go look at her official website here and listen to her song SATELLITE. As of about 10:30 pm, we will hear "Hello Oslo, this is Europe calling: Germany 12 points!" (and no less please). Go Lena!

Rebecca got my soup

... and she liked it. I am so glad, since I was really not sure what to send to her. She uses mainly small beads (at least it looks like that when you look at her blog). I am not using very big beads either, but for sure bigger ones than what I have seen in her designs. I found those orange glass tubes and I thought she might be able to incorporate it into one of her seed bead designs, if she did not want to use the other beads. I also put a couple of different elements for her to use as the focal, in case she did not like my choice.
I was laughing when I received her soup, since that ring I sent her (see in the middle) was also in the package that I got from her. We must have something in common.
I could not find a nice sterling clasp, so I tool that heart component you see on the left, and made a wire woven hook to add it, so she can use it as a clasp. I think it turned out nice.
I can't wait to she what she will make with this. The soup is simmering.
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Necklace for mom's birthday

My mom's birthday was Tuesday. I made this necklace for her a while ago, but was hesitating if I should give it to her on Mother's day or on her birthday. I waited until this week and she was really happy about it. She likes longer pieces (she always tells me if they are short, she can't see them when she's wearing them ;-). I used amethyst beads from Michaels, silver plated wire and some chain (don't remember where I got that one). I made the clasp myself, and I like actually how it turned out. The middle U shape wire pieces is coiled with a very fine gauge wire, so it's hard to see in the photo. My mom loves all kinds of "angel"-things, so I thought this little angel-coin would fit perfect in her necklace. What do you think? I know it is simple and monochrome, but in person it is really cute.
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Join the ArtBliss Event


The wonderfull ladies Cindy Wimmer and Jeanette Ryan have decided to bring some ArtBLISS to the DC Metro area. Join those ladies in the wonderful mixed media workshops they will be hosting in September. I won't be able to go myself, but you might enjoy this truely inspiring event. Go over to the ArtBliss website here.

Gazpacho for dinner

I received my bead soup yesterday. My wonderful partner Rebecca has sent me not one, but two soups.

I will work with the blue one first - if I have the time, I might try to finish two pieces. I also want to go a bit more out of my comfort zone and try to make it bigger than what I usually make.

I have spent hours in looking at all those beads, and I made a ton of sketches about what this might become one day. I have a lot of ideas, but I need some more time until I decide for one design. Any suggestions from your side?

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Et voilà: the bead soup teaser


My package for the bead soup party was finally shipped out today. My partner is the talented Rebecca Anderson (visit her blog at songbeads.blogspot.com). She is mainly working with seed beads, and wire. I unfortunately had to skip the seed bead part in the package. I have piles of seed beads at home, but don't really use them, and I am sure I do not have the real good stuff. Rebecca could for sure tell the difference, so I decided to go with something that would suit her outside of the seed bead world. I hope she will enjoy it.
Here is a teaser for you Rebecca, and I hope there will be some stuff in there that you will like. Please excuse the dark colors, that is due to my poor photo skills. I am exicted - and will post a full picture once Rebecca has received the package.

I won a giveaway again!


I am a lucky girl. I won this book that Lorelei was giving away since her birthday is this week. Thank you Lori, a million times. She is giving away another book tomorrow, so hurry and leave a comment on her blog.
This fits perfectly since I will meet with Stefanie of Stefanie's Sammelsurium next Monday. She found my blog after the first bead soup party and she lives right around the corner in Cologne as well. This is so cool since there are really only very few beader around over here that take beading serious (do I sound like a teacher?). Stefanie is doing really cool stuff with metal (besides all the other stuff she works with), and I am sure this book will just be perfect to help inspire us a bit more. Go check out Stefanie's blog - she is playing along in Lori Anderson's bead soup party as well, so come back and stay tuned for our new creations......

The secret project

You might know that I am part of the ABS carnival bloggers, a group who is writing a post each month about a secret topic. As we are a larger number of bloggers, we were split up in two alternating groups. I am part of the group that posted in April about "Anticipation", the May post about "Growth" was just published (see here), and we will skip June due to Bead and Button Show (everybody will be busy). However, for all of those who will not go, Cindy has a fantastic idea for us to prepare for a special post with a secret project. We will publish it on June 3rd, so stay tuned for that. Sorry that I can't give you more hints, but I just finished my secret project, and I can tell you guys, it is something.... well, be prepared for something big (at least in my terms of big).

Egg-cellent!

It almost feels like Easter again! All these pretties are coming my way. Kelley of Kelleybeads sent me different shots of the eggs she just finished for me. To pick some. Look at those pictures and tell me which ones would you have refused..... All the possibilities. Is there something like a yearly "egg-subscription", Kelley? I would definetely be your customer. Thanks for the pleasure.
If you want eggs too, contact Kelley. She is currently only taking custom orders, but you can get in line (you would be right behind me for the next order).






Beading and reading - no good

I have an eye infection. So I am at home sick. Since Tuesday. At first I thought - great - this could give me some time to work on all those bead ideas that I have in my head. Then I realized - actually this is not so cool because it really hurts. I have three different eye medications that I need to drop in permanently. And on top I got a migraine yesterday. I need to get over this today because I really really want to make some components for my bead swap partner Rebecca of Songbeads. She makes this really delicate and wonderful seed bead jewelry, so go over to her Etsy shop Copperway Crafts here and treat yourself (spend your money on "Bright Young Thing" - I think it is well worth the money...)

Happy Mother's Day!


Dear Mommy friends out there. I wish you all a wonderful day. You deserve it. May the sun shine bright in your corner of the world, may your flower gifts be rich, and may your family and babies be nice to you.

Dear Babies, no matter if you are 8 month, 8 years or 18... we love you!

PS: And no, I am not feeding her mud!

I think I'm freaky


One of the local toy stores has gone out of business and is having a total sale. I went to grab some cheap toys for upcoming birthdays and found this set to create a farm of salt water brine shrimp. When I was about 10 years old there was a magazine called YPS (you german readers might know it well). I got the issue that had prehistoric brine shrimp eggs inside. So I grew them. The largest one was called "Darling" (I told you I am freaky). When I saw this, I needed to get it. Let's see if I can grow "Darling 2".

How I feel


Have worked too much this past week. Need to work today and tomorrow. Revise the written abstract for the strategic plan version 278. Get no time to bead. Feel... tired.
(picture of baby fallen asleep in the high chair while playing)

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