Saturday, 25 March 2017

Bead Soup Blog Party - Bead Hoarders Edition

At long last, it's time for another round of the Bead Soup Blog Party. We pair up, swap beads, create, and reveal our goodies en masse. This time, Lori Anderson decided to add a twist: hoarding. For a long time, I convinced myself I wasn't a bead hoarder, but looking at the beautiful handmade beads I've collected over the years is evidence to the contrary. We were asked to choose a special hoarded bead and send it to our partner.

I was very lucky to be paired with Alice Craddick. She loves color. Although I usually stick to certain palettes, I, too, am drawn to colorful delights. Here's the zesty set of orange, lime, turquoise, and purple beads Alice sent me.

Photo from Alice

I was so excited, I even forgot to take a photo! I immediately started making earrings from the small beads, but that pinwheel focal took more time. It's so unusual, and I wanted to compliment the fun, colorful design.

I was very tempted to use the lime lampwork beads (top of the photo) in earrings, but I decided to work them into a necklace with the focal. The lampwork is by Buckaroo Beads, and I love, love them.



                           




In the necklace, I used the ceramic pinwheel, small faceted blue glass, and the lime green lampwork. The rest is from my stash, so this necklace has definitely turned into a stash buster!
I also made a pair of who-hoops with some of the small beads Alice sent. 





I'm sure you're wondering what I sent to Alice, so here are a couple snaps. And yes, it's all pretty colorful. I couldn't choose one color, so I sent Alice a rainbow of components I've collected over the past 8 years.





A huge thank you to my swap partner, Alice, for the delightful collection of beads and for reminding me how fun it is to go a bit wild with it in my designs. Now, I'm off to see what she made!

You can find the full list of participants (it's a doozy!) on Lori's blog, Pretty Things. It goes without saying that Lori is a spectacular hostess. Thanks so much for hosting another Bead Soup Blog Party and for encouraging us to dive into our stashes!
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41 comments:

  1. Barb Fernald25 March 2017 at 06:13

    Nice work,Leah! That focal would have been a challenge for me. You totally got it! The whole necklace looks great. Fun earrings, too!

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  2. lisivonabc25 March 2017 at 06:44

    I like your necklace - sure good to wear!

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  3. Anonymous25 March 2017 at 07:46

    Everything is so colorful and unique; you seem well matched as partners. Your pieces make me smile.

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  4. Ann Schroeder25 March 2017 at 09:15

    I find color exciting too, so your necklace really speaks to me. I love that unusual focal, and you did a fabulous job with it. Love the earrings too!

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  5. Becky Pancake25 March 2017 at 09:20

    Hi Leah, You showed that unusual focal perfectly. Great job using your swap beads.

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  6. Liz25 March 2017 at 09:29

    I absolutely love how you treated the pinwheel focal. I can't get enough of looking at it. You turned something potentially hard to manage into a rock star! Really brilliant!!!

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  7. Leslie S.25 March 2017 at 10:10

    Love that focal! And the colors. Fabulous!

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  8. Hannah25 March 2017 at 11:04

    Stunning - both the soup you sent and the soup you got. That piece with the wire loops all the way around is particularly inspiring. You've done a great job with everything!

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  9. Janine25 March 2017 at 15:58

    Love your soup (sent and received :) ) and what a wonderful job you did with yours Leah. Your necklace is so much fun. Love the pendant. Especially the tiny dangles on the pendant (carnelian? )

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    Replies
    1. Leah Curtis28 March 2017 at 15:09

      Yep, carnelian! I've hoarded those for a long time. Thanks so much, Janine.

      Delete
  10. Alice craddick25 March 2017 at 16:55

    I totally love how you used the pinwheel. Those orange beads really add to the loops. The earrings are fun too. I rest like the owls. This was a fun hop and thanks for being a being my psrtner!

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  11. Alice craddick25 March 2017 at 16:56

    I totally love how you used the pinwheel. Those orange beads really add to the loops. The earrings are fun too. I rest like the owls. This was a fun hop and thanks for being a being my partner!

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    Replies
    1. Leah Curtis28 March 2017 at 15:10

      Thank you! It is such a special piece. I hope I did it justice. Those little orange beads are carnelian. They make a pretty chiming sound when they move against the ceramic.

      Delete
  12. anafiassa25 March 2017 at 17:44

    What a fun focal bead--and what a fun necklace to go with it! I love the design that you made... and the cute earrings, too! Lovely work, all around! :D

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  13. Unknown25 March 2017 at 18:17

    I love the way you embellished the pinwheel! A great way to tackle an interesting challenge.

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  14. Natalie @ NorthShore Days25 March 2017 at 19:13

    Oh wow - gorgeous creations. I love how the necklace turned out

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  15. Leslie S.25 March 2017 at 19:26

    Love that pinwheel focal and what you did with it!

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  16. Ann25 March 2017 at 21:18

    The who hoops made me giggle, great name for them! You really embraced the colors of the beads you were sent and created a striking piece.

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  17. Terri Del Signore25 March 2017 at 22:01

    You did a fantastic job with that focal!! I would have been intimidated by all the loops! You were very giving also with what you sent your partner!!

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  18. Tracy26 March 2017 at 00:06

    What a wonderful soup - that focal is magnificent and I love your bold design. I'd definitely wear this one!

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  19. bailaora26 March 2017 at 01:20

    very interesting focal and great necklace you prepared!I admire!

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  20. Firefly Design Studio26 March 2017 at 05:16

    I always love what you design! Your necklace is totally fun and whoooo doesn't love owls?!!!

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    Replies
    1. Leah Curtis28 March 2017 at 15:11

      Exactly! Can't go wrong with owls. Thank you.

      Delete
  21. Unknown26 March 2017 at 07:00

    Hey Leah, guess what? You're a bead hoarder ;) That necklace is wicked cool! Your earrings are adorable, too.

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    Replies
    1. Leah Curtis28 March 2017 at 15:12

      Bead hoarder? Moi? Maybe just a little. Thanks, Carrie. :)

      Delete
  22. motidana26 March 2017 at 11:08

    I adore how the pinwheel necklace set turned out! I think it's just lovely.

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  23. Shai Williams26 March 2017 at 11:26

    I would have been totally baffled with that focal but I absolutely love what you made! It's colorful yet subdued enough that I would totally love it. You rock!

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  24. Unknown26 March 2017 at 13:28

    This is a really Beautiful design!! I love the asymmetry, the colors, the texture... LOL It has it all!! Great Job. I love the earrigns too!

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  25. craftyd26 March 2017 at 21:35

    Beautiful necklace and earrings. You really used the focal nicely.
    Dolores

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  26. Divya N27 March 2017 at 07:10

    Such an interesting design - I have never seen a bead/disc(?) with loops all around

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  27. Unknown27 March 2017 at 08:15

    I love the bead soup Alice sent to you, the necklace you created is amazing!!! I love that you used the beads in a way that the colors just blend so beautifully!

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  28. Liz27 March 2017 at 17:49

    Wow that focal was fantastic! The necklace is wonderfully creative, playful and colorful. Those earrings are lovely and fun too!

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  29. CraftyHope27 March 2017 at 20:21

    Oh my heavens! First off, I love love what you created. It's fun and whimsical and all of the components work perfectly together. FUN! Just as much as I love what you made, I LOVE what you sent. The color makes me smile big time. I'm sure your partner made something fabulous with the goodies!!

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  30. Skyline Beads27 March 2017 at 22:39

    Your soup is awesome! What a great pendant, you did it justice with that necklace! The earrings are nice too!

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  31. Leah Curtis28 March 2017 at 15:13

    Thank you all so much for the lovely comments! It was a really fun challenge. I just got home, so I'm able to hop. Can't wait to see what everyone made!

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  32. Lori Anderson30 March 2017 at 05:45

    I LOVE that focal! And I would just eat up the soup you sent her! OH my. Serious love.

    Thanks so much for participating!

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  33. Anonymous30 March 2017 at 19:10

    You did a great job with the pendant and all of those pretty colors.

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  34. Yvette31 March 2017 at 03:17

    Stunning! I love the colours in your necklace and that soup you sent Anne is to die for.

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  35. BluMoon31 March 2017 at 08:50

    Great focal and you have made such lovely things with your soup!

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  36. Kelly31 March 2017 at 19:05

    What a focal that is in your necklace!! It's colorful, fun, unique, large, fun to look at - and your necklace balances all of that out while still making it shine. I love everything about it, including the length. The earrings are awesome as well, and I love that you added the owls at the bottom. Get ready for loads of compliments when you wear these. They'd stop me in my tracks.

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  37. Unknown2 April 2017 at 19:24

    WOW! Great job with the focal!

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