My Reveal for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Hop

Special Packages sent to me from Jayne Capps for Bead Soup Blog Hop

  I was very excited about the packages that my partner Jayne Capps sent me for the Bead Soup Blog Hop 7.  When I opened the envelope,  I found a personal note from her and 3 cute little envelopes.  Inside each envelope she carefully wrapped different ingredients for the "soup".  She sent 2 focals, a clasp with hints of turquoise, turquoise beads, citrine, and African trade beads.  I couldn't wait to create with this mix, but I have to say it was a real challenge.

The necklace went through numerous redesigns.  I intended to use the African trade beads, turquoise, and beautiful citrine and ended up using none.  The reason being that the Irish waxed linen that I was determined to use wouldn't fit through them.  I even downsized from 6 ply thread that I originally  to 4 ply natural Irish waxed linen thread that I ended up using.  Since I only had to use 1 of the 2 focals  and the clasp, I could abandon those gorgeous beads and add them to my bead stash.

Love this cute monkey with a banana!

I then had to decide which focal to use.  I love both so I used both since they look like they belong together.  I also thought that these focals had the potential for a tribal look that is so popular this year.  I got that Irish waxed thread back out and tried and tried until I came up with a design that I was happy with.  I think that the Irish waxed linen is a perfect fit for those focals.  It gives them an earthy look.  I think you will agree that the monkey eating banana makes a unique and fun focal.

Monkey Necklace by BayMoonDesign Available on Etsy

Next,  I went through my bead stash looking for the perfect colors, textures, and hole size.  I love copper and I think that the copper brings out the colors in the focal and thread.  It also ties in with the copper in the clasp.  The wooden beads and shell chips in my bead stash also meet my color, texture, and hole size criteria.  If you look, you will see that I had to change the way I beaded with the thread from starting with 2 strands at the focal and through the wooden beads to 1 thread beginning with the first copper bead to the clasp. I had to figure out how to do this and where.

Has Popular Tribal Look

This was really a challenge but I am happy I stuck with it and thrilled with my monkey necklace.

Alligator in the Everglades, Florida

I visited the Everglades a few times while working on this necklace and I have to say that even though I didn't see any monkeys there, I could imagine them along with the alligators which were plentiful.  Seeing those alligators was a thrill and a bit scary.

Birdie Giveaway

  I won these 3 darling bird beads by Blueberribeads.  I have decided to share 2 of them.  I gave 1 to my BSBH partner Jayne.  Please stop by her blog to see what she did with it.  I am giving it away to a lucky person who wins a random drawing for it.  Anyone who comments on my blog can earn 1 entry.   Following my blog earns another entry.  A third entry can be made by liking my Etsy store.  Of course, I kept 1 for myself.

Like my store at: http//www.baymoondesign.etsy.com
or 

Like my Baymoondesign  facebook page.

The winner will be announced May 1, 2013 on my blog.

Another bonus for my readers!  I am offering a 10% discount in my Etsy store between now and April 7.  Just use the code FFAWEAW when you check out.  Happy Spring!


Please stop by the other participants' blogs on this hop.  Thank you Lori Anderson for organizing this!  A complete list of participants is available on Lori's website.