Today is the big reveal day for the Bead Soup Blog Party. Many thanks to Lori for all the time and work she has put into this as hostess. Corralling almost 400 crafters using all sorts of mediums cannot be an easy task. Add all of us newbies to the veterans, and she definitely had her hands full! Click here for a list of all the participants and check out their blogs to see their completed soups!
My partner was Lori Bowring Michaud, my new friend from the North East who has so much in common with me, it’s scary! Below is a picture of the bead soup I received from Lori.
I was blown away at this beautiful collection of sea glass, wood beads, and the beautiful hand-crafted focal piece designed by Lori herself. I have to admit I carried my soup around in its little box for a few weeks just looking at it and playing with different ideas. Many drawings, layouts, brainstorms later, and the end result was not at all what I thought! I realized I was overthinking, and just needed to sit down and let the pieces speak for themselves.
The final design was a necklace featuring the beautiful focal piece as well as a bracelet. I was so excited to realize I would be able to make two pieces (earrings are on the way!). I added some peach colored beads that I found in a mix this week, and the rest of the pieces came from Lori.
I have had so much fun participating in the Bead Soup Blog Party, and can’t wait to start blog hopping to see as many as I can over the next few days!
That Nothing Be Wasted 
I too had an issue with overthinking (some days I was even in crazy bedazzle mode), but I agree with you that you just have to let the beads and components speak for themselves. Your necklace and bracelet are beautiful!
Really nice job!
There’s such a great beachy feel to this piece. I’m so glad you were able to let all of that other stuff go and just create. Sometimes that’s when inspiration really hits. Nice job!!
I love the peachy colors! I was so surprised by your reveal. We’re all being pushed outside our comfort zones — with amazing results!
Enjoy the hop,
Emanda
http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html
Your pieces have an organic feel to them…nicely done!
What a wonderful soup you received! And what pretty things you made!
Oh, these are perfect for a day on the beach. Love the organic material and the colors. Great job!
Great job Marci! I love the pieces you’ve made! I really, really love the addition of the peach. It’s so unexpected (for me) and adds the perfect pop of color! I hope you enjoyed your soup!
Lori – I tried to post a comment on your blog but my computer glitched. Just wanted to let you know I love the earrings and bracelet you created! I wore my soup necklace and bracelet today and got so many compliments on the focal and beads you sent me.
I also had problems posting yesterday on some of the blogs I visited, Marci. It was frustrating! I’m glad you received compliments on your pieces, they’re lovely! I’ve received many compliments on mine as well. It does a heart good!
OMGoodness…your soup is DELICIOUS my Friend!!! I adore your design, it’s truly stunning! Well done, another AMAZING cup of BEAD SOUP from a very talented designer!!! 😉
your piece takes me to the beach – my favorite place – thank you!
A lovely piece that makes me think of summer in Maine. Why Maine? Because I’d like to think it’s cooler up there (but I’m told it’s not!).
I hope you’ll join me next time — the blog badge and dates are up on my blog now.
Love, Lori
I think you should come to Maine, Lori. Even our hot days are probably less hot than the Mid-Atlantic, South & West!
You may have felt like you overthought your pieces, but they turned out great. I love those wood beads. And all the sea/beach glass is wonderful. I love walking the beach and finding lots of little treasures. Very nice pieces.
this makes me want to go to florida for spring break! what a great, fun, beachy piece!!!
I really like the beachy, earthy colors and feel of these!
That sanddollar focal is amazing, and I love what you have designed for it! Nice job!
Those are some great ingredients…so summery and beachy which is right up my alley! In fact, I’m dying to know where that focal pendant came from LOL! You did a wonderful job pulling everything together – it looks amazing.
That sanddollar pendant is beautiful…your design beautiful! You did a nice job with your bead soup!
They are beautiful! Very light and ‘beachy’☺
You did a great job putting your ingredients together! And I love that you carried around your soup for a while! 🙂
What fun earthy pieces! Love!
I’m still making my way through the bead soup blogs. Love all that you received! What a fun piece you made.
Yes, sometimes it’s easy to overthink things. I think you got it right by keeping it simple and allowing the beautiful handmade focal tell the story. Love the matching bracelet.
Lovely earthy pieces!
Lovely pieces!
Lovely! I adore how you put everything together in a way that showcases the focal. It’s a stunner.
I love that it is organic and classic all at once. Nice!
What a fun soup mix your partner sent you…and you used it all up..oh so well. Lovely pieces!
I am so sorry I am so late hopping your way. My computer dug it’s heels in and said Not gon’a go thaat fast.:^)
Your designs are nothing short of amazing.
Be blessed to be a blessing
I feel like your necklace really honors nature – which I love. Wonderful job!
Julie and Andrea
Love the peachy colours, nice job.
Simply adorable and very warm pieces! I’d surely wear these.
A lovely necklace with an organic natural feel. Well done!
Ambra
What a lovely beach party you created – a wonderful touch of summer as we dive into autumn. It does help to sit back and listen to the beads, doesn’t it (even if it’s really hard to hear at first)?
At least I’m not alone in over-thinking!
I think you came up with some beautiful jewelry!
You can’t tell it from the avatar photo but I too hit the big 50 this year. I can’t wear thongs because my feet have developed bone spurs. That’s the worst of becoming a “classic”, the weird body issues I’d never heard of. Bone spurs? Really?
Warm regards,
Lovely summer jewellery! I like the colours, get a bit of a tropical beach feeling from that and the nice mix of materials (love the sea glass chips). Well done!
I really like the look of the wooden beads on the necklace! And the bracelet is so fun and so pretty! Nice job!
Love the beachy, natural look…those wooden beads are great…and some of the first I have seen of that size.But what I really love is that gorgeous beach glass…got to get me some! Great job and definitely not “over thought”.
jenni
These two pieces are just lovely. I love the peach tones that you added: the peach, green and neutral of the wood really sing!
great soup, the pop of orange is nice
Nice pieces, really different color combination. Great soup out of your ingredients.