For where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also. ~ Matthew 6:21

Saturday, April 13, 2013

My First EVER Bead Soup Reveal!


Oh happy day!!!  The day of my very first Bead Soup Reveal!!!  I have been blessed to be a part of this amazing artist colony for the past couple of months and this experience has taken me to a new level in my personal artistic endeavors.  I sincerely appreciate the efforts of our coordinator Lori Anderson whose vision and work on this project has been nothing less than super-human.  Bravo to you Lori and my heartfelt thanks!  

I was also blessed with the amazing Alice Craddick as my partner.  This incredible woman has faced so many difficulties with so much grace in the short time I have known her.  Despite all of her challenges, she still managed to get her project posted ahead of me and it is so very lovely.  Who knew that my humble bead offering could be turned into masterpieces such as hers!!!  You can visit Alice's blog at: http://www.alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/   Bravo and many thanks to you, dear Alice!!!  You are my very first Bead Soup partner and will always hold a special place in my heart!

As a relatively new beader, I found myself incredibly humbled and challenged by the task of creating something unique and enduring out this soup I received from Alice.

I struggled greatly with the orange and green bugle beads and decided early on that I did not want to do a holiday related piece.  The red jade focal was so gorgeous and I was terrified that I wouldn't do it justice.  I struggled greatly with "beader's block" and even felt at one point that I would need to pull out of this project.  I know however, that one of the most profound strengths we can develop in our lives is the ability to face our fears and Churchhill's words ~ "never give up . . . never surrender" ~ have guided me through many of my journey's challenges.  And so I looked with new eyes and renewed faith and found possibilities that fired my creative imaginings.  I saw warmth in the rich hues of the seed beads, tenacity and enduring strength in the bronze beads and fittings, and comfort and security in the duel clasps.  This new found inspiration motivated me to try new techniques ~ Kumihimo beaded braiding, metal working and wire-wrapping ~ and it was through these endeavors I ultimately satisfied my personal challenge for this project.  The name of my piece is GENESIS because it truly symbolizes the evolution of my artistic abilities.






Thanks to all the other artists whose work has been so incredibly inspiring to me.  For your own generous dose of inspiration, check out all their amazing creations at:
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/04/preview-of-2nd-reveal-blog-list-for-7th.html




48 comments:

  1. Lovely! I tried once to Kumi with beads. Not my best work. Your necklace and earrings are fantastic.

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  2. Definitely has an asian flair to it Beautifully done! Good for you for seeing it through too!!

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  3. Oh my super goodness, You have truly outdone yourself. I love what you have done with my soup!!! Both pieces rock. I have never done Kumi either. The brass really looks great and I love what you did with the focal and the earrings are too fun.

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  4. You did not give up and you did not surrender!!! You conquered you bead soup and made something fantastic!!

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  5. Hi from another BSBP first timer! I know just how you feel about wanting to do the beads 'justice'. You needn't have worried because you really have :-)

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  6. Chris, it was the first time for me too! I am so amazed at the artistic pieces that you created! How creative and colorful, they are just beautiful! Love them!
    Gina H

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  7. stunning pieces! I think it is a very difficult technique...
    I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time on BSBP, what a fun :)
    ciao dall'Italia

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  8. Gorgeous necklace. I love your beading on the focal pendant, so awesome :-)

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  9. I love what you've done, this challenge means something different for each of us and I love the way your skills have grown and you've combined it all

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  10. Beautiful Work and delicate work .I admire people that work with such tiny beads it's lots of work .

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  11. Beautiful beading! Love the earrings especially, but the necklace is fantastic too! Great job!

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  12. It came out beautiful love the design

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  13. Fabulous design!!! I really love what you made, and how many new techniques you tried - very brave indeed!!

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  14. What a lovely necklace! Fantastic work! - Julie

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  15. Wow stunning set! I just love the beadwork and the beads you chose. Really nice job!

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  16. Such a charming necklace, you did a great job!

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  17. BEAUTIFUL, I just love how you used the spikes, they compliment the design so perfectly!!! ~KM 1st reveal - http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-reveal-33013.html

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  18. Love how you used your soup
    I had to hunt for the ingredients
    You gave them a very special style !
    Great Work!

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  19. Way to try new techniques to create that gorgeous piece! Love it!!! Outstanding work!!!

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  20. Incredible necklace and earring set. BRAVO!!
    Your necklace made my favs list for the second reveal. Check it out: http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
    kathy

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  21. Love that your soup challenged you to strike out in new directions and tackle new techniques. Of course if you hadn't of said it I would have never known as I think you've created a beautiful necklace and earring and I certainly wouldn't of thought it your first in that sense.

    *edit to add* you may want to consider turning off the word verification :)

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  22. Wow, what an amazing necklace. Very talented, indeed!

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  23. The kumihimo rope is beautiful! Great job!

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  24. Fabulous work! I love the kumihimo. You did a great job.

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  25. It blows my mind when I see what you seed beaders do. So intricate, I don't think I could do it. Beautiful work.

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  26. I don't do seed bead work so this is amazing to me! Beautiful designing.

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  27. The kumihimo is gorgeous and I love what you did with the focal! Awesome work ~ beautiful♥

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  28. Wow - your necklace is incredible! The struggle was definitely worth it!

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  29. This was your FIRST kumihimo beaded necklace?!! What a gorgeous job you did!

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  30. WOW, just WOW. Lovely work!

    <3,
    Andrea
    http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

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  31. All your pieces were stunning. Great job.

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  32. Ohhh so unique and beautiful...love them so much...

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  33. Kudos you tackled the big red bead. Lovely use of your soup. I would of loved to see those colorful beads in a design.......you might still have to do that. Those are very intriguing. Great work. Kristin Oppold

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  34. LOVE this combo of techniques. Genesis is a great name for it. It's gorgeous.

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  35. Beautiful, I lvoe how you played with the focal, it made it much more original

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  36. Nice piece! I love the kumihimo.

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  37. Love the kumihimo rope, very nice piece.

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  38. That is incredible. I love that. It looks like dragon scales. Tell me, how many of those beads did you use? Looks like it must have taken thousands. I love it! One of the best pieces I've seen. And, you thought of giving up. Now aren't you ashamed of yourself?

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    1. Thanks Jean! Not ashamed at all . . . just proud!

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  39. WOW. . .to go from beader's block (I like that term by the way) to creating a MASTERPIECE! Your journey has really inspired me to push a little harder and take a long look at how best to use my skills. Thank you.

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  40. What a beautiful job you made of the necklace, I love the rope, I am sure you are glad you persevered, well done!
    Jackie

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  41. Job well done! It reminds me of Dragons!

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  42. You really did your partner proud! What a gorgeous necklace! I'm so impressed with all the new skills you used in this, and how beautiful they are. Great job!

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  43. What a creative way to treat the focal, attaching it to the filigree in such a unique way!

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  44. Your necklace and earrings are awesome.

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  45. I am so glad that you persevered as your set is just gorgeous. I just love to see emerging artists and you milady are one.

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