This year’s Bead Soup Blog Party challenge is all about love & heart!
Lori Anderson – the mastermind behind Bead Soup – designated the theme of this swap to send something treasured to another, to spread the kindness and love, “… to feel like a true giving of the heart. Paying love forward to a person you may not even know.” What a sweet sentiment.
Our partner packages were to be shipped out on Valentine’s day (Was this a coincidence? I think not!)
So, what did I send my partner? A treasured polymer clay Heart focal piece by Anastasia of Dreams & Elements. I knew as soon as Lori announced her theme, that this was the piece – that it fit the theme perfectly – and that it was meant to be passed on …
(and included with the polymer clay heart, were a few other little pieces to help get the creative flow going … some turquoise chips, beautiful wooly wire, twilight cultured potato pearls, tiny pyrite hearts (I sense a trend here!), black & cream lampwork spacer beads by Burnt Glass Studio, vintage tribal tube beads and some vintage khaki glass beads)
Normally I would have written a whole separate post earlier, to introduce my partner Claire Fabian of Saraccino – to tell you that she loves nature, organic textures and found objects – whose style is tribal and has an ancient vibe – that creating helps her de-stress from her day job doing research in Leipzig, Germany – that she creates the most wonderful, earthy, organic pieces (just one look at her instagram feed and you’ll see what I mean!) … and to share what I had received … but unfortunately, her package to me may have opted to take the scenic route for now … to travel around and have an adventure of it’s own … to see what is to be seen in this beautiful world of ours! My hope is that once it has finished it’s walk-about, it will decide to find it’s way here, to it’s new home, and that I can share it with you then.
In the meantime, still wanting to be a part of the party and to play along, I’ve chosen to create some pieces using other items that I have been hoarding for some time … vintage and upcycled coins. They are mostly from around Europe (including some from trips to Germany – where Claire is from), and include some amazing coin beads made by my previous bead soup partner and friend Niky Sayers. Since our pairing in 2014 – I have commissioned Niky a few times, to make clasps for a series of Canadian (and American) penny wrap bracelets, and she has so graciously gifted me special treats (wonderful buttons and beads) along the way – all of which I have collected and admired for years – squirreling them away – waiting for a special moment to use them, and guess what?! This is it! What a perfect opportunity to do them justice. 🙂
I used three of Niky’s coin beads – a Canadian penny, a sweet wren British farthing, and an Irish peacock penny (!) in these colourful tassel necklaces.
Loving the bohemian/gypsy/hippie vibe … I also made a few more necklaces …
… using my old, hoarded coins – German pfennigs, French centimes, a Dutch guilder and a Cuban centavos – doming and hole punching each to create the start of the focal piece.
I handmade each of the tassels using various colours of embroidery floss, and then embellished them all with a mixture of either rhinestones, amethyst beads, moss agate, aventurine, turquoise, copper or seed beads and brass chain to create a little bit of an accent and add to the folksy feel.
I just love all of the bright colours (and apparently, so does my cat, Loco – I actually caught him carrying one off after I had set them all up to be photographed and left to get my camera!)
I have not heard from Claire since she received her goodies, but I hope that she’s had a chance to create – and am really looking forward to what she does with her bead soup mix! Let’s go have a look at her site to find out … 🙂
And to see the rest of the Bead Soup participants (and there are A LOT!), have a look at the end of this (our amazing hostess – Lori‘s) post for the full list … or see below ↓↓↓ (you might just want to grab a cup of coffee first, and then sit back, relax and admire all of the awesome creativeness!)
Thank you so much to Lori, for creating, organizing and continuing on with her Bead Soup Blog Party!
Enjoy!
Lori Anderson :: our amazing Hostess
Claire Fabian – that’s my partner
Kristina Hahn Eleniak – that’s me!
Beautiful necklaces! I love them. Claire was my partner last year. I’m sure you will get wonderful things from her.
Thank you so much! And I hope to be able to share them here sometime soon 🙂
Beautiful! I love the simplicity and colour in your designs. And your cat playing peek-a-boo behind the strung necklaces and ready to play is too cute for words.
Haha – thanks Tracy – he is a character!
I am a big fan of Niky and I love how you have used her components to make such colorful tassel necklaces. These would be great for summer wear with long tunics or shirts
I agree – love her work! Thanks so much 🙂
Hi – and thanks for such a well written description. I LOVED how you filled in the blanks, made soup from your own ingredients and posted such lovely pictures, jewelry (and tassles, so in right now) and you kitty too 🙂 Great job.
Thank you so much, Joyce 🙂
Oh, wow! Those are stunning! Love the tassels, too 🙂
Aw, thanks so much, Sarah!
Hi Kristine, Kudos to you for participating even though you package didn’t arrive. You showed the spirit of the hop well. Your necklaces are beautiful.
Thank you so much, Becky!
Those are amazing!! So much fun! Just my style!
Awesome, thanks! 🙂
I’m so sorry that your package decided to travel around. I hope it tires soon of sightseeing and makes its way to you. I love how you still participated. Those tassels are so gorgeous! I love the bright colors. Niky’s beads are a perfect pairing.
Thanks so much, Tanya!
SO MANY BEAUTIFUL TASSELS ! I need to learn how to make my own….
Thanks Audrey! They’re actually not quite as difficult as I thought they would be 🙂
I love the international, multicultural feel. Niky makes awesome things so I’m glad your were inspired to let them out of the Hoard and out into the World.
Thank you so much! It was hard to let go, but … 🙂
I love how you took a problem and made the hop work anyway! Niki’s coin beads are wonderful, and I love the necklaces you made with those and your own collected coins! Great work. I’ll have to come back and see what you make with Claire’s soup when it arrives.
Thanks so much! It’s such a great party to be a part of 🙂
very inventive projects!congrats!
Thanks Dorota!
Love the bright and happy tassels on your necklaces – and I hope your will recieve the package very soon.
Thank you so much Elisabeth!
Beautiful and colorful, hope you get your package soon, it never fails when you are waiting patiently for a package, it fails to arrive. I love the way you made such adorable tassels. Fun!!!
These necklaces are gorgeous. Love, love, love the bright colours. Looking forward to seeing what you make when your soup when it arrives.
Love the tassels – so fun & just my style! Sorry your swap didn’t work out. You were so positive & fun about it!
Those are super fun and the tassels are wonderful. Be sure to post in the group when you get your beads and do your second reveal 😉
LOVE those tassels. I love color and these are a brilliant way to use those treasured coins
Plan B designs are beautiful! Can’t wait to Plan A designs when your package arrives!
Your necklaces are fantastic! I look forward to your next reveal when your packages is finished sightseeing!
The tassels and coins are great. I love the mixed chain designs. Good for you for making this party work out with your own hoarded pieces!
What a nice collection of necklaces. I like your description of where your package might be and what it might be doing! When it finds you, I suspect you’ll be quite excited to see what’s inside. Long necklaces with accessorized tassels — what’s not to like? Very pretty. Your kittie, Loco, looks very sweet, maybe a bit mischievous, too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE those necklaces! I’m sure your package will be worth waiting for when it finally arrives, but meanwhile, I’m happy you shared those necklaces with us. I think they’re the perfect combination of simplicity and color and wearability. Did I mention I love them???
I am so in love with your tassels!! What great necklaces!
Be sure to show up what your soup consists of once it’s done traveling.
What a great sport you are!! I love that you participated and your pieces are fabulous! I would wear those in a heartbeat!
These necklaces are fabulous! What a great idea! And your tassels are lovely! Great job making your bead soup with your own hoarded treasures! I hope your partners soup finishes its travels and arrives soon!
Very pretty necklaces! I am Claire’s partner in another swap and it seems that US customs might have taken the travel ban to include our packages! I’m very tempted to attempt to call them! I love that you still used your own hoarded things! Wonderful job!
What a bummer about the lost package. I’m glad you still chose to participate using your own hoarded stash! These necklaces are beautiful!! Love how colorful and those coin beads are super clever and unique!
I love the way you created your multi-colour tassels!
Love those tassels!!! I think you did an awesome job and I am looking forward to when your soup finishes it’s walk about….
I hate that your bead soup never arrived and do hope it makes it way to you eventually. However, the necklaces you did create are way cool! I love the colors and the simplicity of them. They are sublime!!
Ah well, if Claire’s package hasn’t arrived yet, surely Niky isn’t a bad substitute! Love your tassel necklaces!
I love the necklaces you made from Niky’s coins. I was lucky enough to win one of her coin necklaces and I treasure it. It is from Scotland where my grandfather was born so it is very special to me.
I love those necklaces SO much, and have Niky’s jewelry and beads myself! I hope your package does get to you and to her. 😦 You were a great sport and took on the spirit of this blog hop. ❤
I love the tassels! Hope you get your bead soup soon.
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