Bead Soup Is Coming...

I've been working my little butt off getting my pieces ready and I thought you might like to see what I did.  First, I couldn't sleep last night - really, it was a total loss.  I was up until 5:30 am.  I wasn't obsessing about anything but when I get a lot of creative things on my mind I really have a problem turning off the juice to my neurons.  How about you - does that happen to you too? It really begins to run amuck up there in my head - but at least it was productive and I'm sure I'll sleep like a baby tomorrow  This is my 3am drawing spree and a set of earrings that came out of it all.  They're for the Bead Soup Blog Hop.  Looking good, huh?  Sorry, they'll have to stay as scrambled as my poor brain was last night until Saturday's reveal but they'll be worth the wait.  They're in that drawing....really they are.

It's like it's written in Sharon shorthand - LOL

It will make a lot more sense on Saturday's reveal when you can go back and see which piece looks like which drawing - hahahaha.   Right now it's pretty cryptic but you'll see the method in my madness.  I was wondering how you decide on your jewelry details.  Do you draw it out, just go for it, what's the preferred work method?  You can kind of see what I do - The squares represent the ceramic squares by Melanie Brooks that Shannon sent.  I kept drawing the square with the intention of decorating each one and then inspiration hit and off it went.  I do that frequently - redraw the shape of something in repetition and if an idea doesn't hit I go back and start decorating the drawings with possibilities.  And mostly then an idea will hit and it won't fit into the doodles and I'll be all over the page.  You're seeing the pattern in my scribbles, right?  All of my drawings kind of look like this, in a way.  Scribbles and notes to myself....I wonder what this is all a sign of and if I gave all of my drawing books to a psychologist what they'd make of it all.  Probably sincerely nothing but if they'd discover some secret super power it would make my day.  Uh, maybe I have to quit watching Marvel, Agents of Shield and get some sleep.

 

The Creative Process

Don't worry Bead Soup Blog Hoppers - No finished piece here until reveal day and I'm not so sure which components I'll use.  And, for sure none of those red beads are going into the finished piece.

 

What to do what to do - I've made some progress but am still undecided on so many fronts.  I was originally stuck for awhile.   I put everything away and let it gel (or let it fall completely from my mind for a couple of weeks until I was feeling some pressure).  Either one of those creative situations usually works pretty good for me.   I find getting some pieces together and leaving them under your nose after they've been put away for a bit tends to reboot the computer.  Then comes the drawing pad.  I don't just use it for drawing but also free word association - just all kinds of notes/ quotes/ anything that smacks of setting my creative side afire. 

 

Home - home - home.  There was that odd ceramic shape - so much like my home...but what was I to do with that?  Uh, let's see....and here is where the free association can come in, plus some down and dirty Internet searches. 

 

1.  Home Sweet Home

2.  No Place Like Home

3.  Home is Where the Heart Is

4.  My Old Kentucky Home

 

You get the idea.  You can find the key to your theme within your focal.  Be it a word association - color Segway - poem - chorus to a song - you get the picture.  I'll bet that plenty of those phrases up there brought out visuals for you.   No place like home led me to think of ruby slippers and since it was obvious from my soup that I was going to be working in blue I quickly ruled that out.  Kentucky is a beautiful state for sure but all I could think about what the Derby and horses and for sure that shape was not a barn, it's my house.   Now home is where the heart is appealed to me as I love making glass hearts...but then it hit me.  I've seen Home Sweet Home twisted around every which way but loose and had recently created a bead batch which included a bird - Bang - Wham - there it was:

 

"Home Tweet Home"

 

You've seen the drawings so I guess this post is the prequel to the Blog Hop story I've previously posted since you've already seen the drawings that came after the angst of hiding (uh, storing) my soup and then re-revealing it to myself.  So when in doubt (for me) it's:

 

Lose the objects of frustration to your creative energy (bead closet for me)

Reintroduce the components and leave them where you can see them in passing

Start some free association with the focal component and decide your theme (loosely)

Start your drawing and note taking

Look through your stash for "go with items" (hunting and gathering)

Tighten that theme and the drawings

Begin to create but keep in mind nothing is written in stone (see my experiment with finger weaving)

Experiment with techniques (what haven't you done - how safe do you want to play it?)

Think about this - do you just want to string that piece? Take into consideration how much time you've left yourself for the completion of this project.  But remember - you want people to notice the consideration you've given to that Blog Soup gift and visit your blog again...notice your work and your talent.  Right?  Don't kill yourself - for sure - but use your talents to the best of their abilities.

Make your final decisions - Techniques, Design, Color, Accessory Components, etc.

Create your additional components and finish that piece.

 

For me - this is the process for Bead Soup creation with gift pieces - it's meant to be a challenge but not an agony.  It's never been easy and I always like to throw in an extra curve for myself.  One year it was waxed linen and a spiritual theme, another it was more of a knotting project and a very full necklace but its always been fun.  I'm excited to have an extra week but not happy that Lori's been sick.  I can't wait to see what Shannon has done, but to be honest I was a little "tight" in my color selection and should have thrown her a bigger curve ball - she could have easily handled it.  And now that I've worked my process a bit I'm excited to show what I've done too.  I hope you'll like it.

 

 

 

 

 

Get Your Brain In Gear Sharon

Oh Crap - think think think...I've got this great Bead Soup from Shannon and I haven't started the design yet. Yes, I've mulled over some ideas and even drawn out one or two - or two dozen is more like it but haven't really settled on what to do. And now I've narrowed my time down by telling myself it's not until May - you've got plenty of time. Uh, no it's not May - but, it's not exactly April much longer either. Grrrrrrrr, what was I waiting for, an epiphany?
 

Think, Think, Think!

You've only got until May 3rd.  That is the REVEAL date for gosh sakes.

Revealing My Soup

As you already know I've drawn Shannon VeVart (German), Miss Fickle Media.  I'm underscoring her sites so you can access them quickly.  Shannon is a great designer and has an outstanding on-line presence where you can purchase so many of the parts we use to create our designs.  She is au courant in her designs and supplies so how can you go wrong.

This is the soup she sent me to work with.  Are you kidding - I'm like over the top with this.  First, I love Melanie Brooks pieces.  I've been an admirer for years and have several things in my stash.  And what's not to love with what she matched that with - it's like pearl heaven.  To top all of that off she sent me a plethora of silver findings, links, earrings, and headpins - and, and, and....holey crap. 

Am I a lucky gal or what?

 

 

I don't think I'll put anything yellow with it - gosh I hate that kitchen counter.

 

If you need inspirations for your work you don't need to look far.  Shannon has many images online that will guide you through your own designs and processes.  Some times you just need a little eye candy to get you going. 

 

Miss Fickle Media:

 

 Blog

 Facebook

Etsy

 

There you go - check her out - you'll love what you see.



Bead Soup here we come....

First please let me introduce you to my partner - Shannon LeVart - Miss Fickle Media.

 

Wow - maybe I need a nice profile picture.  Isn't she a cutie?  Better than that, isn't she talented?  I hadn't realized it before but Shannon had at some point purchased lampwork/ ceramic beads from me.  I never much keep track of where the goodies are going and was shocked when I was checking out Shannon's images while I was collecting some links for this post and saw one of my hearts on this awesome necklace.

 

I was excited before - now I'm ecstatic.

 

My soup to Shannon went out a couple of days late.  Unexpectedly my happy little pregnant daughter decided to go into labor two weeks early and I had to dash off downstate for a few days.  I rectified this situation quickly when I got home and my soup went out in the mail today.  And what does my soup to Shannon look like....



 

 

That's all you get!  Actually, you are going to have to wait for Shannon's reveal because I was in such a hurry to make sure this got to the post office I never managed a photo of all of it.  LOL  I hate being late with things and this time it nearly drove me over the edge - hence you only get this photo of the package...sorry about that.  There is a glimpse here and there but it's packed from top to bottom with things.  In the spirit of not giving away to much - YET - and since Shannon is patiently awaiting this package I'm not going to show you any close-ups of what Shannon sent until this arrives in Missouri.

 

But let's take a peek, huh?

 

Nice wrap huh?  I love it - brown wrap - cleaver.

And inside....

 

 

No peeks beyond this until mine arrives but Gheeze Louise - Melanie Brooks goodies!!!!!

Holy - hit the jackpot.

 

Thanks Shannon.  I'm already teeming with ideas.

 

 



 

 

Bead Soup Time

It's that time of the year for Lori Anderson's great blog hop.  If you've never participated in a blog hop I'm sure you'd enjoy this one.  Lori has always been the master of this type of hop.  Its well attended - full of great artists and designers - and just plain fun.  What a great way to get your creative juices going, whether you are mired down in snow or enjoying your summer in a different country - or in other parts of this one (you rats you!- LOL). 

Bead Soup Blog Party - is where you go to get your info and your bead mojo on.  Be sure to sign up on time and join in the fun.  I know I'm going to enjoy every minute of concentrating on this.

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On a separate note.  I won!  Donna, from CG Bead Rollers contacted me concerning her Giveaway.  I won one of the five anniversary rollers.  I am ecstatic.  This couldn't come at a better time here and I am exceedingly grateful for the "pick me up". Besides, these bead rollers are just great!  You can't win if you don't enter these giveaways so please do - you get to know some great vendors and I'd never recommend something that wasn't the bomb!

Take a Winter Break and participate in Bead Soup

It's getting to be that time of year again.  Lori Anderson is gearing up for this years Bead Soup Blog Hop.  I'd say it's time to get your designing shoes on and join in the fun.  Here are the links so you can take a "lookie lou" for yourself and see what you've been missing.  Just click on the name below and it will take you where you need to go:

Bead Soup Blog Party

 

 

And...if you are on Facebook you might want to join Lori's Bead Soup Cafe  HERE !

 

These are great times for beaders so take advantage of one of the great opportunities open to all of us.



My Beads Arrived!

Actually - My beads have been in the post office while I was in Chicago with my daughter and son-in-law.  Today it was a wonderful surprise to receive them and see all the goodies.  Look at that flower - it's a button and it's going to make a great closure.  And the colors - Whoa, what a great combination....I'd of never thought of it, but I love it! 

When I wrote to Raida about how much I love this set I had to tell her that my Grandfather grew sunflowers in the yard.  I didn't explain that he loved the birds and sunflower seeds and every year we'd cook and salt them and then dry them in the oven.   He'd keep unsalted ones for the birds and we'd nosh on the cooked ones all winter ourselves.

This is the soup I sent to Raida.  She said she felt "spoiled".  Frankly, I think we both do!  I sure hope I can do her beads justice and don't forget - We'll be having that Blog Hop on July 28th so you'll be able to see what Raida and I did with our exchange.

Bead Soup Blog Party

I can hardly believe it’s been so long since the last Bead Soup Blog Party.  This time Lori Anderson put together a list of 400 participants and 3 separate reveal dates.  My reveal date is July 28^th.

This time around my partner is Raida Disbrow of Havanna Beads.  I’m jealous – Raida lives in beautiful Florida and I live in beautiful Michigan.  Except for the seasonal stuff/ uh, snow! We’ve been exchanging emails and getting to know one another.   It’s good to be able to communicate a head of time – You wouldn’t want to send green beads to someone who absolutely hates green, would you? 

This is information I pulled from Raida's profile I thought you'd enjoy and the two photos are from her Etsy site - Gentle Wind Designs: "My name is Raida Disbrow and I live in beautiful Stuart, Florida. I have been making creative items my entire life. Several of my lampwork beads and jewelry designs have been published in Step by Step Wire, Beads 2011, and Bead Trends Magazines. I love to create unique lampwork glass and ceramic pieces for others to enjoy and create with."  Already we have so much in common since we both work in metal, glass, and ceramics.

I’ve been playing at the torch and getting just the right combination together to surprise Raida now that I understand her likes and dislikes.  She’s a very open artist and easy to talk to.  I’m just a little afraid my request was a bit of a shocker for her.  You see although I create holiday themed beads I rarely work with any and I asked if she might include those in her Bead Soup Mix.  It is challenging to me since it is definitely not my usual fare but I’m hoping I can really do this justice.  Now what kind of holiday beads (there are lots of holidays you know) I’ll leave the exact nature of those beads up to Raida.  I hope she doesn’t think I’m too crazy.

Hopefully, my bead soup will be ready to send on Monday/Tuesday – My plan is to work diligently on it over this heat spell.  It is one of the areas I truly luck out in.  My torch is in the dungeon (basement) and my home is blissfully air conditioned.  Since I don’t plan on any long trips in this heat wave, except maybe the beach, I’m hoping my early reveal date will keep me moving.