Saturday, March 3, 2012

It's BSBP Reveal Day!

The big day is finally here! Sometimes it seemed like it would neeeever get here...and then it felt like it was coming too fast LOL!

A little precis of the deal.....our famous and SO organized host, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog has been doing an amazing job of running the Bead Soup Blog Party for several years now...this is the 5th BSBP!


Last time, the BSBP grew so large that it became overwhelming for everyone involved, so this year Lori limited the participation to 200...and I was one of the lucky ones chosen, by lottery, to play.
And how do we play? Each member is paired up by Lori with another beader...sometimes in another country, sometimes down the street...and in my case, across the country and totally by chance, in the city I lived in previously for 35 years. And we lived in the same neighbourhood! And her bff was my next-door neighbour! How random is that!...and we didn't even know one another at the time.

Once our partners are selected, we each get together a "soup" to send to our partner by a specific date; the soup must contain a focal bead, a special closure, and some coordinating beads. Sometimes (lucky me!) it contains MUCH more than that!

Then, on a specified date, we reveal on our blogs, the work of the last month or so on our soups...and have fun and gain inspiration visiting one another's blogs!

Here is a pic of the soup I sent Marie-Noel in Calgary:


And here is the soup she sent me:



Kind of different looking, are they not LOL??! That's the FUN of the BSBP!

Although Marie's style and mine are obviously quite different, I tried to put a bit of myself into the pieces I created from her lovely ephemera bits. One of the pieces went together quite easily, one of them I struggled with a bit, and one of them fought me to the finish!

Here is the first piece, the simplest, and the easiest. This is called Paris Spring:


I loved Marie's focal at first sight, and was able to pull out the subtle lilac in it with the rayon cording and mimic the cording with some simple seed-beaded loops (which slide), knots and a simple beaded dangle for the pendant. I wire-wrapped a closure for the necklace. This one hangs quite long, and I love it!

Here is the second one; this is also a necklace, called Dragonfly Summer:


Dragonfly Summer has linked beads and chain in the soft colors of the gorgeous dragonfly focal; many of them are the extra beads Marie-Noel sent me. The neat Vintaj closure between the upper and lower focals is the clasp Marie-Noel sent as well. The lower focal is an embellished, seed-beaded brass hoop. A large beaded bead provides the balance to the necklace, at the top left of the picture. (Thank you to Liz Reed of The Crimson Moon for the use of her beaded bead patterns here and in the bracelet.) This is the one that was recalcitrant, and I may yet change some things! :-)
Tell me what you think! 

This next piece is a bracelet called Autumn in Paris:


The beautiful russet-toned focal was matched with a variety of gemstones(most of which are Marie-Noel's), another beaded bead and loop as a closure, and a pretty lampworked drop on the looped chain. It is simply strung with metal beads, the gemstone beads and chain. 
This bracelet is my give-away for the BSBP! If you would like to win it, simply become a member of my blog...leave a comment telling me you have joined....and on March 10th I will make a random drawing from all who have done so. Be sure your email is linked so I can get in touch with you! I will be announcing the winner here, so stop back to see! 

Thanks so much for visiting!! Have a wonderful time visiting all the other blogs...don't forget to sign up for the give-aways....here is the list!

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)


21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs


32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)


41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)


76.  Lori Finney (Canada) you are here and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

59 comments:

  1. Hi Lori...I too am a Canadian girl...you did a wonderful job with your soup ingredients from the lovely Marie....she is going to love them...well gotta go hop along...lot of blogs to visit...enjoy our day ttfn Lana :)

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  2. I actually like the recalcitrant necklace. I thought it turned out great! Loved the seed-beaded brass hoop that you used. Have fun visiting the other blogs!

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  3. Lori - this is gorgeous! I like how you combined each of the focals independently in an original, romantic design. A splendid set - great job!

    P.S. Since I would love the bracelet, I'm letting you know I have joind your troops :)

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  4. I love that second necklace! The other pieces are great but that second one has such interesting bits and pieces and fun!

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  5. Lori, love all your pieces and especially the dragonfly summer one. Wonderful job.

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  6. Wow! Everything looks wonderful! I love the original use of the Dragonfly pendant, how fun to add it as a link to the side! I can't wait to hear what you think of my interpretation of your beads :)

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  7. The lilac colored necklace is sooo pretty! You've done such a lovely job with all three pieces. And can I say that the sparkly beads you sent your partner are amahzing!!

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  8. That dragonfly necklace is especially lovely.

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  9. Love your pieces. I really liked the way you balanced the dragon fly necklace and the use of seed beads..marvelous. Take care. Dita

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  10. What a great use of your soup! I have to say the one you sent her was dreammy!

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  11. Beautiful work. I love the Dragonfly Summer necklace, the focal is gorgeous. I joined your blog and can't wait to see more of your work.

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  12. Oh that dragonfly necklace! Totally my colors! I'd steal that one from you!! ;)

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  13. What a beautiful soup you received (and sent)! Love, love, love your second necklace with the dragonflies!

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  14. I'm with Moonsafari..."Oh that dragonfly necklace!" To die for!!

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  15. I love your vintage inspired designs, especially the gorgeous Dragonfly Summer design..it's so me!

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  16. These are all beautiful! I love how you said you put a little piece of you into the jewelry -- that's exactly what this party is all about!

    I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

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  17. Very pretty! Great soup mix! Suzette

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  18. I think you did a great job with all of the cute tiles you got. I really like the Paris Spring necklace, you really made it pop with the bright colors!

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  19. They're all fantastic, but I really love Dragonfly Summer. :D

    Karyn B
    http://plussizebangles.com/blog

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  20. I now have this overwhelming desire to fly away to France! Beautiful pieces!

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  21. All of your designs are beautiful! I especially love the bracelet! I have an obsession with all things Paris/Eiffel Tower right now! :) Great job!

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  22. Very beautiful pieces! Love the bracelet! (have become a follower) :D

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  23. Your beadwork is such an elegant compliment to Marie,s pieces . And your jewelry came out beautifully!

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  24. All of these are beautiful! If you hadn't mentioned you struggled with some of them I would have never known. The necklaces are gorgeous, but my favorite is that lovely bracelet.

    By the way, I'm a follower of your blog.

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  25. Dragonfly summer is amazing! I love it! The other pieces are so gorgeous that it seems impossible they gave you a bit of challenge :-) great job! Following your blog now.

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  26. You did a great job with her soup, but Dragonfly Summer is absolutly gorgeous! Such wonderful work!

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  27. Lori - all three of your pieces are lovely, and it's hard to believe that you had trouble with any of them! I love the way you incorporate the different types of media into your necklaces and bracelet - v-e-r-y nicely done!

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  28. Lori, I absolutely love the pieces you made with the soup ingredients Marie sent. My absolute favorite is "Dragonfly Summer" - the asymmetrical design pulls my eyes through to the beautiful beaded focal. Beautiful job! :)

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  29. Dragonfly Summer is a dream!!! I just love every element in there - the beaded bead, the beaded hoop, the dragonfly emphemra. I couldn't stop looking at it.

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  30. Great pieces but my favorite is Dragonfly Summer too, looks like I'm agreeing with some others as well:) I love dragonflies and the two in this necklace are beautiful.

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  31. I love Marie-Noelle's pendants and I think you did a wonderful job incorporating them! All three are beautifully done, very feminine and romantic too!

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  32. I so adore your designs. I have a weakness for dragonflies, so I'm going to have to say that one is my favorite. Great work!

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  33. Your pieces are beautiful. They so reflect her work and her style with your own personality coming through. I love the bracelet. All are beautiful. Great job!

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  34. Great use of those pendants. Lovely work!

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  35. These are really great! I'm especially happy to see what you did with the pendants because I was a lucky winner of the Feb. Art Bead Scene Challenge and get to go shopping in Marie's shop! It's been a challenge just trying to decide which ones to pick out!

    I love both what you and Marie do with these pendants, but don't want to mimic either one of you (I couldn't even if I tried), but it's so nice to get some ideas of what can be done. I hope I can find some designs of my own that will be 1/2 as creative as these! Thanks to you and to Marie! --Sharyl

    P.S. Love how you went for the lilac and cord in the first one!

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  36. Très chic, très chic! Your designs remind me a little bit of Paris - very nice!

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  37. All three pieces are beautiful. My favorite is Dragonfly Summer. The different elements add a very artistic touch to it; great mix of textures, shapes and color.

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  38. I can't decide which one is my favorite, you have done a fabulous job with these designs. I love dragonfly's, these pendants are great!

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  39. Beautiful! For saying you struggled with the last 2, they sure turned out great. Love it and look forward to seeing more of your creations!

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  40. I love Marie's pendants - you did them justice! Great job!

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  41. I love Marie's focals! You did a fantastic job showing them off... love, love Dragonfly Summer! :-)

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  42. Those are gorgeous, I love Marie's tiles! For stepping out of your comfort zone, you did amazing! Now following you :)

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  43. Hi Lori! I like all of your pieces. My favorite is Dragonfly Summer! I would not have known that you stepped out of your comfort zone. Just lovely. I also joined your blog.

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  44. Beautiful work, love the dragonflys!!!

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  45. I too like the dragonfly, but I also like the paris one!

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  46. I luv ur designs! Especially Dragonfly Summer reminds me of Florida! Hard to believe you stepped outside of what's comfortable! U rock & ur designs are fantabulous !!

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  47. These are so pretty, Lori!!! I like them all, but I'm especially partial to Dragonfly Summer. It just captures something of the beauty of summer, I feel... :) I did follow your blog, so fingers crossed for the bracelet! ;) And that first necklace would be a staple in my wardrobe...it would look great with so many things!

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  48. I love the dragon fly summer necklace. It is simply stunning!

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  49. I love the dragonfly necklace! All your pieces are great. Your style is inspiring.

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  51. Hi, Lori. Great job with your bead soup. I love the piece you called Dragonfly Summer. Please contact me through my blog.

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  52. I love your beadwork on the dragonfly.
    I'd wear that in a heartbeat!

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  53. Let me say I cannot wait to see what Marie created as you really sent her some beautiful soup!

    Now, you worked out of your comfort zone to make some pretty great pieces. I am especially fond of that second necklace. Lovely work!!

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  54. You had a very interesting soup to work with - I love what you designed!

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  55. Love what you have done with your soup...very delicate....just beautiful!!
    I lived in Toronto before moving to Kelowna.... almost moved to Naramata!!!

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  56. Absolutely beautiful!! And you were on a great creative streak, creating so many pieces from your bead soup (which was lovely). I especially love the Dragonfly Summer piece - the beadwork really adds an incredible dimension to it - it is a knock out necklace!

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  57. Wonderful pieces....they are all very beautiful
    Sonya

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