Saturday, April 27, 2013

7.3 Bead Soup Blog Party

This is my soup for the 3rd reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Party Blog, well, most of it. I got my great soup from my partner, Brandy Thomason McNair of Bella Vita Jewelry. Click here to check out her jewelry with my beads. I say this is most of the soup as I was so in love with some of the beads I made my jewelry piece before I took the photo (bracelet below). The little green chips on the top are Kyanite. I think the green rounds are jade, maybe....they were in a baggie labeled "?" along with the lovely purple stones. The focal is a faceted bamboo agate. There are some handmade charms in copper and brass and some antique buttons.
Here is a close up of the handmade charms Brandy made. I haven't made anything with these yet; I'm ashamed to say. I will use them, I promise. I think I'll add the little WA charm to my bracelet, see below.

This necklace uses the rings that Brady labeled "Vintage". I think they maybe Lucite or Bakelite, I'm not sure. I usually like to make beads to use with my focal piece and that was an issue this year. The focal bead was a lovely large bamboo agate (see below). It is a lovely white stone, but with a lot of grey. I made at least three sets of lampwork beads to go with it and they did not match at all. The beads above were they 3rd set I made. I used silvered ivory glass to get the grey and yellow colors, but they were just too dark, but I thought they looked great with the warm yellow rings. Brandy also sent a copper clasp, so I wired wrapped the beads with copper wire and used a long copper chain. I added rings of coiled green wire to bring out the green in the beads. I think I should have either gone without the rings or more asymmetrical (but I have a really hard time making asymmetrical items).  The cain doubles through the rings so there is a length option. I used my torch to patina the copper with fire for blues and purple colors, but it didn't really stay on the wire when I manipulated it. I think I may patina with either LOS or vinegar. I'm not sure if the green/blue color made with the vinegar will clash with the green in the glass beads (I can always change out the green coils to match better or use a contrasting color or take them out all together).

Here are the stones and antique button I snatched out of the package and made into a wrap bracelet immediately. So quickly that I have misplaced the baggie that had the name of the stones. Brandy, little help with these? I just love them.


Here is my focal bead, the bamboo agate. It is so lovely and I'm not happy with what I have done. I focused so long on making matching beads, I kind of didn't come up with other ideas.  I have not done any wire wrapping before, so I took a shot. I think the shot missed by quite a bit. Oh boy, what a sad little pendant.....  Of course, I should have used the stones I used to make the bracelet, look how perfect they are together...


Many thanks to Lori for organizing the blog hop and CLICK HERE to find all the other blogs.

37 comments:

Bella Vita Jewelry said...

Lara these look so good! I love the first necklace so much!

roomforchange said...

Fab pieces!!

VS said...

Beautifully done, each piece is fabulous in it's own way. Well Done!!!

WindDancerStudios said...

What you did get finished was awfully cute though! I want to see what you do with the owl too so when you do post!! :)

la mar de bonita said...

Very elegant Lara!

Amy said...

Great pieces, Lara! Love the wrap bracelet and how you combined different elements in the first necklace.

Monica Phillips said...

Lara, I love the necklace. I also saw what you sent to your Blog partner and those beads are also awesome, especially the silver you added.
Hope to run into you soon at ArtEast, girl,
Monica

Unknown said...

Super jewelry. Great wire work.
kathy

Kari Asbury said...

I love the first necklace...and even though you didn't create an asymmetrical design I think you could turn it a bit when you wear it or experiment with how you clasp it to create an asymmetrical look. It's a great design and looks like it has a lot a versatility. The bracelet is beautiful. Your pendant is great too for a first attempt...it's inspired me to give it a try which I've been debating for awhile! :)

Chris Hansen said...

Lara - that first necklace did turn out great - and yes, working in an assymetrical style *is* a little tough to get comfortable with initially, but you've got a great start on it! Love your lampwork beads - the SIS is perfect with those vintage rings. The wrap bracelet is faboo - I can totally understand why you felt the impulse to put that together NOW!!! :) The pendant - yes, it is a lovely pendant, and maybe you're new to wirework, but I still think it turned out well. Great job!

AllesPerle said...

Lara, your designs are always amazing! Stunning!

Pepita said...

The first necklace is my favorite, but like very much all the pieces. Beautifully done!

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher said...

Ooo - I like! Totally earthy and versatile. I would wear these all the time. Nice work!

Giorgia Rossini said...

I love them all, totally everyday wearable!
love the color palette.
ciao dall'Italia

VasDea said...

Well done Lara, really like what you have created , especially the bracelet.

Just Beads said...

Very beautiful pieces, Lara. I love them all. I can't pick a favourit!

PiPa said...

Love your pieces, that ring necklace is awesome!

Lara Lutrick said...

Thanks for all the kind words.

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Unknown said...

Love all of your creations but especially the wrap bracelet....beautifully done!

Anonymous said...

I think your wire wrap looks great!!! I do love the wrap bracelet, too.

Unknown said...

I like all your pieces but I especially like your lampwork beads in the first piece.

Unknown said...

What a lovely soup, you really made some gorgeous pieces, the rings in the necklace look fab with your lamp work beads and the bracelet is fantastic.

min said...

no favourites because they all look so pretty... the wirework isn't so bad.. i honestly think it was a job well done!! and i do think you did justice to the colourful stones with the wrap bracelet.

Kepi said...

Love the wire work, great designs, really beautiful!

Nelly May said...

So very lovely! The necklace is probably my favourite but I would seriously snaffle up all these pieces.

Christine said...

Great job with your soup! Your lampwork beads go beautifully with the vintage rings!!

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Becky Pancake said...

Lara you made great use of your soup. I like all of your designs. I think that the green coiled rings add the perfect touch to the first necklace. Kudos for trying wirework. It can add lots of dimension to jewelry.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous pieces..I just love the first one. Fantastic job with your soup!

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Shai Williams said...

Beautiful work!

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CraftyHope said...

You did a fab job with this soup! I especially love that first necklace. The beads you made to go with the rings are gorgeous. The depth of them is mesmerizing! Oh, and that wrap bracelet is really great. I can understand not waiting to get the picture, when inspiration strikes it STRIKES! Great job!

Lara Lutrick said...

Thanks everyone! Modified my copper necklace and am taking it to my gallery today.

Lori Bergmann said...

I love everything that you created with your soup, but I'm especially in love with that bracelet! Great job, Lara! *Ü*