Friday, March 2, 2012

It's Finally Here! Bead Soup Blog Party Time!

First of all, I can't believe it is March already...I mean, what happened to January and February?  Anyway, the moon and stars must have aligned when Lori Anderson's randomizer picked me as one of the lucky participants in her Bead Soup Blog Party - her fifth and largest party to date!  This is my first time participating, and I was matched with the talented Natasha Lutes of N's Whims.  Here is a recap of what Natasha sent me:


Gorgeous semi-precious gemstones, including turquoise (my personal all-time favorite!)


A beautiful dichroic glass focal, which is quite large, with gorgeous hues of blues, yellows, and brown. The mix also included a few extra glass beads that coordinated with the colors of the focal.


Pearls and glass rondelles.

And last....but not least...a huge mix of Vintaj components!  Look at that star!  Focal perhaps? 


The Vintaj mix also included 2 clasp choices.

I have never used Vintaj components, or dichroic glass.  This is not to say that I don't have any Vintaj in my stash....I just have never used it before!  This was a challenge ... the whole point of this soup!  I was so excited to receive this very generous soup from Natasha....thank you!

I mulled over my design for days.  I was stumped on how to use the dichroic glass.  I had other brass filigrees and tried to wrap it, making the focal into a pendant.  That failed (in my mind).  I happened to have a large filigree that I thought would make a good back drop for the focal.  So, I combined the two...

Instead of just joining the chain to the focal, which just was not interesting to me, I wire wrapped the vintaj star component, some of the beads, and the vintaj filigree bead to the chain.  The toggle clasps on the side....not the back of the necklace. 

I was happy with this design, as the eye travels around the necklace - instead of just focusing on the pendant.  I used extra beads and the small, vintaj star charm and made a dangle that sits on top of the dichroic and filigree focal. 

Since I don't like soup leftovers, I also made a bracelet and two pair of earrings.


I love multi-strand bracelets - and I wanted to use this clasp!



Here is a picture of everything I made -

My niece has already claimed everything I made...thank you Rachel!   

Thank you for stopping by, and your comments mean so much to me!

  Please visit all of the participants by following the links below.


Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer
1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs
32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen You are here!
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

96 comments:

  1. Wow Patti they are gorgeous. I love what you did with the focal. Beautiful

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  2. Patti, what an ensemble! I must admit you started with a challenge with such a variety of components, but you sure pulled it off. I agree, the eye travels around the necklace with the many interesting links and beads! You sure made a pretty set!!

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  3. Very cool pieces! Great job, Patti! :)

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  4. I'm not surprised your niece claimed them, your work is amazing! I particularly like the way you used the star in the necklace for added interest, and the beaded hoop earrings are kinda cute!

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  5. What a lucky niece you have! I love what you did with the dichro focal.

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  6. Patti that necklace is really really pretty, I love all those blue tones and the yellow is a a nice compliment to the blue. YoOu did a great job with your bead soup.

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  7. wow! so fun to see what you did with the soup! i love how you set the focal against the brass filigree and also the creative touches as you move around the neck. beautiful work!

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  8. Your niece is a lucky girl!!! She has great taste!!

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  9. great works, great colours!
    I'm another partecipant, from Italy, I'm trying to see all other partecipant post :)
    ciao ciao

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  10. Patti you did a tremedous job. I just love how you did the focal in both the necklace and the multi strand bracelet.

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  11. How lovely! hope your niece realises she will be wearing something extra special. Are you glowing with pride?? You should be... :) x

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  12. I laughed when I read your niece claimed them. I thought of my daughter doing the same. I can't blame your neice. I would want it all too.

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  13. Wow! You did a wonderful job with the vintaj and look at all those pieces! Beautiful!

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  14. Sweet little bracelet...lucky girl who claimed them

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  15. Fantastic! Love the necklace the most, something about that star just sent me over the edge, it just pulled everything together for me.

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  16. Love the necklace you made with the very cool dichro pendant. Wonderful

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  17. Amazing collection! Perfect colors for spring and summer...love it all!

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  18. Great work Patti -you combined some really diverse components to great effect here. The necklace is full of interest and I love the bracelet.

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  19. Beautiful bead soup - love the colors and the Vintaj brass!
    I love the focal that you created - it has great movement! The earrings and bracelet are wonderful as well - great job!

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  20. You've inspired me to create a sun catcher!!! I love your designs. The eye really does travel all the way around the necklace AND the bracelet. I'm not a fan of leftovers either and love how you used up all the ingredients.

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  21. great designs, love all the textures, makes the designs exciting!!

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  22. First off, I ADORE the color palette of the soup you received and you got Vintaj items too. . .swoon!!

    Now then, your addition of the star piece withing the chain was genius! It looks perfect there. As well, the bracelet and earrings would all totally go with everything in my wardrobe. Love them!!

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  23. Wow Patti, your pieces are gorgeous. I would have been stumped for sure on this bead soup.
    Therese

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  24. Yay!! Sunny and cheerful! That bracelet is yummy!!!

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  25. You received a delicious stash of goodies! I love all the pieces the created. I am inspired by Vintaj pieces and you did such a beautiful job putting everything together.

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  26. wow. You made a lot! I especially love the multi-strand bracelet...You've inspired me to try something multi-strand!

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  27. beautiful work, and lucky niece! really like your designs

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  28. I LOVE how you treated the pendant -- I never would have thought of pairing that style with Vintaj and you rocked it!


    I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

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  29. Beautiful pieces here! I love how you showcased the dicro pendant so it didn't overshadow the rest of the piece.

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  30. Those pieces have spring written all over them!

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  31. Great pieces, I feel like I need to study the necklace to see all the cool stuff going on and I love the bracelet and the earrings.

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  32. I can see why your niece would claim those gorgeous pieces! Beautiful work!

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  33. Nice work. I loved your necklace and the multi strand bracelet..and the earrings are so cute.

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  34. Very nice pieces. I really like the multistrand bracelet.

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  35. Nice. I especially liked the multstrand bracelet too. You've had lots of comments on that one- you really nailed. it.

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  36. Your niece had the right idea :-). Wonderful collection of jewellery. I especially like the necklace and multi-strand bracelet. Pretty!!

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  37. Love what you did with the focal and the Vintaj. Lucky niece! I think your soup turned out fab!

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  38. I love how you combined the metal components with the beads! Beautiful! I love turquoise too so of course I love your jewelry :)))

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  39. I like how you combined the star into the necklace. Gives it that extra bit of visual interest! Great job on all your bead soup creations!

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  40. What a unique way to use all that yummy bead soup. I love what you did with the focal.

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  41. What a unique way to use all that yummy bead soup. I love what you did with the focal.

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  42. Love the colors and your placement of the star! Made for such a happy set, it's no wonder your niece claimed it already :)

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  43. You did some great work! I agree it's a happy set.

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  44. Very cosmic looking, I love it! Nice use of yellow, it's a very under used color in jewelry and one of my favorite colors.

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  45. I agree with the cosmic comment. Liking the balance and perspective of your work. My fave is the bracelet.

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  46. Patty - you had such fun and unusual soup ingredients to work with, and I just love the designs you made from them. The Vintaj accents work perfectly with the beautiful shades of blue and yellow - your niece is a lucky girl! Fantastic job! :)

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  47. Your designs are very pretty and creative! Great job with your bead soup! :)

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  48. I love the color palette here and how you used the many components she sent you!

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  49. A touch of yellow so pretty. You did a amazing job with your soup!! I love what you did with the pendant adding the Vintaj filgree it looks very nice.

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  50. What a great idea of combining the filigree with the dichroic pendant! Your soup is delicious!

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  51. What a great soup and you really did well with it. The pieces, to me, have a real celestial feel to them. I love the blue and yellow and the silver chain. It is all gorgeous and I don't blame your niece for laying claim to them. I know my niece could have anything I have - all she would have to do is ask, or grunt. Great job!

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  52. What a beautiful set, Patti - I love how you mixed everything together; wonderful work! I love the multi-strand bracelet too :)

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  53. You totally did an amazing job with your bead soup! The rustic mix of findings and bright colors is so whimsical and fun. I positively love that star shape. Great work! ♥

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  54. I can see why your nice wanted to claim everything you made! Awesome work. I especially love the necklace -- the star and the glass focal with the chain make it a piece fit for a rock star. :)

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  55. Love the blue and yellow together, what a great necklace!

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  56. So glad you had such a great time as a first time souper! You did a stellar job on everything.

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  57. Those are all amazing. I am completely impressed by that first necklace, I love brass and I would have been a bit stumped as to how to mix it up with that focal! You did such an amazing job!!

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  58. Oh how wonderful! I wondered what you would design with such interesting components. I love the finished pieces. You really pulled off this cosmic feel with that glittery pendant and the components!

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  59. Ah, my favorite color scheme...and you've done a wonderful job with it! I especially love that bracelet. Nice work!

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  60. Beautiful! I like how you layered the focal for the necklace, the two pieces complements each others very well. Great job!

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  61. Love your designs and how you interpreted the bead pieces. It all works very well together.

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  62. I love the colors and the beautiful jewelry you made out of those beads! Good job :-)

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  64. Lovely work- you really made the colors sing!

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  65. Very fun set - just a very happy set!!!

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  66. Very lovely! I like that both of you have used the same fun and unusual colour scheme - very pretty, I will have to try it out!

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  67. Really wonderful designs! You had tricky colors (at least for me) to work with and you conquered them, well done! I really like the diversity of the necklace; the star is really fun. The chain and toggles that Natasha sent you are fantastic, love how you incorporated them into your designs.

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  68. You put that awesome bead soup to really great use!

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  69. wow a lovely soup mix made in to 2 lovely sets....I really like what you did with the star and the big dichroic focal...great job...your niece is lucky indeed...

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  70. you know, lime and aqua wouldn't be my first choice as colors, but I'm really impressed how you made it work! That's one of the things I like about this challenge, it can really stretched your creativity !

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  71. Very beautiful pieces that you made with your bead soup.

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  72. I like that you layered the dichroic pendant over the vintage glass. It tones it down a bit--in a good way. I also really like the swirly wire wrapping that you did on the pendant dangle and some of the other beads. Good job! The bracelet is very pretty too. Love that flower shaped clasp!

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  73. I love your work! At the moment I prefer vintage style and wire work and your creations are a very good combination! The colors of the focal bead are beautiful! Have a nice day, Hugs, Doris

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  74. Your niece is so lucky! What a beautiful collection....I have to try and get in on this next year!

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  75. I don't usually gravitate toward Dichroic glass, but this piece is gorgeous! Great job!

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  76. What amazing soup you had! I love your necklace with the star especially!

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  77. Your niece is a lucky girl. Lovely necklace.

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  78. Beautiful soup you got and you did great things with the beads. I especially like the bracelet

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  79. Love your creations! Especially like the necklace and how you used the arte metal filigree with it. Gives the necklace a kind of "Starry Night" feel. Love it!

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  80. Patti - You had an awesome soup to work with, and you totally knocked it out of the park. The Vintaj was a great choice! Your niece is very lucky. Love the focal.

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  81. I love what you did with the glass focal. I don't have much success using chain in my designs. You did wonderfully.

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  82. I'm a Florida Grrl so lime & Aqua are like staples of color here! I so dig what u did! Really creative, bright & sunny & ur niece will rock it out!

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  83. That necklace is a showstopper! Great job. The other pieces are lovely too. I can't believe you managed to use all your soup!

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  84. Great work!!!! Love your idea and every beads turn out really amazing in your hand!

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  85. I love how you added the filigree behind the focal, it was perfect!

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  86. I am in love with your necklace. I love the stars and I love the colors! Great job with the rest of your pieces too.

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  87. Your necklace is one of my favorites!!! I love how you used the focal and things in it. Your bracelet is great too! All of your pieces are beautiful.
    Sonya

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  88. Love the way you layerd the focal and all the pieces are fantastic, blue and yellow are a great color combo!!

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  90. Hi Patty,
    All your pieces came out beautifully! I too like how you designed the necklace where the focal does not command all the attention and draws the viewer eye to each component in the piece!

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  91. Fun pieces..I like the color combo and the metal...very nice!

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  92. Love the bracelet, really pretty! I like how you've used the little flower in there, very lovely!

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