Bead Soup Blog Party 3 Begins with Lots of Ingredients

My Soup sent to me by Hannah Annear

When I first opened my package from Hannah Annear of Cornwall, England, I found such variety and quantity of beads that I was overwhelmed.  I decided to focus on selecting the clasp and focal to use.  We are required to use a focal and a clasp from the mix.  Everything else is optional.

Brown and Blue Polka Dot Necklace by Bay Moon Design

I zeroed in on the large brown focal bead and huge heart shaped clasp.  Determined not to buy anything else, I rummaged through my bead collection and found a set of wonderful blue and brown polka dot lampwork beads that I had squirreled away for several years.  I also located a Marsha Neal Studio Silk Ribbon and Fairy Ribbon in complimentary shades of brown and a few wooden beads for the ends of the ribbon.  All I had to do is some wire wrapping and I was all done!

Pastel Rabbit Necklace by Bay Moon Design

  Hannah sent me 3 silver components that all matched.  I decided to put them into a necklace and use one of the cute pink flower beads that she sent.  From my stash I selected some large pastel beads.  I grabbed a silk ribbon that I had on hand that matched well and created a rabbit necklace that was inspired by my love of the wonderful book character Peter Rabbit.  I purchased the rabbit from Magpie Gemstones several years ago and I finally came up with a perfect home for him.

 Multicolored Stripped Necklace by Bay Moon Design

 When I spotted the pastel blue, purple, yellow, and pink stripped ceramic beads I knew that I had to do something with them.  Realizing that they had larger than usual holes, I thought that this might me an opportunity to use silk ribbon.   I went through my collection of Marsha Neal Studio ribbons and spotted one that was the same color as a button that I had on my jewelry table.  What luck!  I added some pretty pink peanut beads that I had on hand.   The rest was easy.

Would you like to win some silk ribbons like the ones that I used in my 3 necklaces?

Of course these silks will be the "Down by the River" palette that I submitted for Marsha Neal Studio's  challenge.  Anyone who comments on my blog can earn 1 entry to a drawing for this palette of browns and greens.  Following my blog earns another entry. A third entry can be made by posting a comment with a link to a social media sight like twitter, facebook etc. in a comment on my blog.

A winner will be announced September 30. I am keeping the contest open until then to give all the bloggers who are in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party a chance to enter when they read my blog about my beads and design.  

A big shout out to Lori Anderson for putting together this Bead Soup Blog Party!  Please visit all of the participants in this third and final blog party.   A big thank you to my partner Hannah who gave me these great ingredients.  I still have lots more left to stash away for the perfect time to use them.  I believe that there is a zen to beading.  I wait until all of the ingredients come together on their own and I just need to string or wire them.  Good excuse for bead hoarding!

Please visit the other participant.  Comments are welcome!

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 

                                                      Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous


Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs


Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs
Hajer Waheed - My Beaded World

Bead Fest Phiiladelphia 2012 Great Fun!

Bead Fest Philadelphia 2012

Friday,  I attended Bead Fest Philadelphia 2012 for 3 hours and learned some new techniques, saw some new products.  I picked up some products that were new to be.  They included 3 gorgeous shades of Parawire and Glider's Paste at Kabela Design. I can't wait to try them out. I also bought some wonderful enamel and ceramic pieces.  I was able to do all of my shopping in 3 hours because I didn't look at any of the gemstone beads and there were tons of them.  I have a huge stash of beads at home so I went with a list of colors and types of art beads that I need to use with specific pieces that I am working on.   I also went with a posted note of studios that I wanted to visit.   

I did my homework ahead of time and looked at the websites for the vendors before I left and made a list of my interests with booth number.  Next time I will print a map of the vendor locations!  

7D Studio

One of my first stops was 7D Studio.   I thanked them for sending me a  pass to get into the Fest.  That saved me $12 which I spent plus more there.  That pass really pushed me over the fence to go.  A wicked 2 1/2 hour drive there and $12 admission to spend more money is not something I enter into lightly.  So thank you once again Studio 7!

While at 7D Studio I checked out Marsha Neal Studio ceramics.  They are even prettier in person than online or pictured in bead magazines.  A really benefit of going to the Fest is the ability to touch and see the beautiful things there. 

I visited  Suburban Girl Studio and bought some really cute ocean themed beads.  Living by the ocean I couldn't resist.  I added to my owl collection at  White Clover Kiln .  

White Clover Kiln owl used in necklace by Bay Moon Design

 These 3 studios are part of the 5 Beads of Clay Professional Artists that were at the beads fest.  All of them have fabulous creations that I can't wait to incorporate into my jewelry.

Stop by my blog next Sat. Aug 25 to see what I created as part of Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party.  Also, make sure you enter my giveaway.  You might win some of Marsha Neal's silk ribbons.  Of course these silks will be the "Down by the River" palette that I submitted for her challenge.  Anyone who comments on my blog can earn 1 entry to a drawing for this palette of browns and greens.  Following my blog earns another entry. A third entry can be made by posting a comment with a link to a social media site like twitter,  or like me on facebook etc.

Palette Created by Bay Moon Design

A winner will be announced September 30. I am keeping the contest open until then to give all the bloggers who are in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party a chance to enter when they read my blog about my beads and design.  I will be blogging on August 25 about what I created and my partner Hannah Annear will be blogging about what she designs using what I sent her.

A New Design for an Old Necklace

Gray Starfish Necklace by Bay Moon Design

This gray starfish necklace has a history.  It began with a necklace that I made when I first started making jewelry.  I was never happy with it.  I loved the freshwater blister pearls.  They are a high quality pearl with a hint of pink in them.  My mistake was in using  inexpensive Chinese crystals that I thought would add some sparkle to the necklace.  I also used a base metal clasp that was nothing special.  I thought these pearls deserved better!

Original Gray Pearl Necklace

Magpie Gemstones supplied me with some sparkling little pyrite faceted gemstones that enabled me to transform the first necklace that I made into something more sophisticated and interesting.

Pyrite Gemstones from Magpie Gemstones

These pyrite gemstones are tiny--about 3 mm.  They have sparkle and texture.  I decided to take the Chinese crystals out and replace with pyrite to add sparkle and some tiny pink peanut shaped beads to bring out the pink in the gray pearls.  I also upgraded the clasp with a pretty starfish made from pewter.  I feel like I have finally done justice to these pearls.  I thank Magpie Gemstones for supplying me with the pyrite gemstones that I used.  Right now they have a sale going on that includes these same pyrite gemstones.