Bead Soup Blog Party Partner

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2017/01/instructions-for-bead-soup-blog-party.html

I am happy to say I am part of the Bead Soup Blog Party of 2017 which is sponsored by Lori Anderson. This is a special edition --a Bead Hoarders edition. Our instructions are to open our hearts to hope and beauty and true gift-giving. We are to send our partner something he or she will love and will brightening their day. The beads do not have to be expensive, but should be exceptional in some way. This is a blind trade.  No discussion of colors, styles, etc. For this hop you don't need to send a clasp or co-ordinating beads. An interesting twist is that you need to send a note that tells who made the bead (if you know), the material (glass, clay, etc) or type of gemstone, and why you hoarded it.

Bobbie Rafferty

We only had a few days to mail our bead or beads to our partner. I spent some time this weekend poking around on the Internet to learn a little about my partner--Bobbie Rafferty of Beadsong Jewelry. We have worked together before on as designers for ZnetShows Beads and our jewelry has been featured on their website and Creative Spark online magazines.

necklace by Bobbie Rafferty

Bobbie is predominantly self-taught.  She works with semi-precious gemstones, glass seed beads, contemporary and vintage art glass, metals, fiber, and natural materials. Many of her pieces incorporate centuries-old beadweaving techniques - African ndebele and helix stitches, Native American peyote or gourd stitch, netting, embroidery, spiral weaves and others. She is what many of us call a "seed beader".  She can weave thousands of tiny seed beads one at a time into complex works. She also combines traditional fiber knotting and needle weaving into her jewelry as well. She shows her metalworking skills by creating hand fabricated clasps and other components that she makes from sterling silver or gold-filled wire.

necklace by Bobbie Rafferty

necklaces by Bobbie Rafferty

Bobbie  grew up surrounded by creativity.  She is from a family that now includes its third generation of professional musicians.  Her life has been steeped in artistic interpretation, creation, and performance, and she designs jewelry as an outlet for creative expression. 

necklace by Bobbie Rafferty

You can visit Bobbie on her blog at http://beadsong.blogspot.com/ to find out more about her and her unique on of a kind jewelry.  More of her jewelry can be seen and purchased on her website Beadsong Jewelry.

Visit both of our blogs on March 25 to see what we sent each other to work with and what we created. Thank you Lori Anderson for creating this Blog Hop.