Saturday, April 13, 2013

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Time!

It's Bead Soup Blog Party time again. You can visit Lori Anderson's BSBP blog for links to all the participants. I am part of the "second reveal". And again, my partner is Julia Gerlach, editor for Bead and Button magazine. In February I posted a teaser photo of what I sent her and here is the real deal:


In that stash are a large dichroic pendant signed "Catharine", a cloisonné bead; two copper clasps, some square and cube-shaped black agate, pearlized glass in pink and green (the pink are vintage), Czech table beads with copper bevels in two sizes, faceted Czech ovals, etched window beads, faceted rondelles, and some 6/0 seed beads in black.I thought you might like to find out a little more about Julia so we did a little interview session:
T: How long have you been working for B&B and how did you get to where you are today? 
J: I've been working for B&B since 2005 and for Kalmbach Publishing since 2002. I started at the company as a part-time administrative assistant in the Books Department and worked my way up to my current position. It's been quite the journey! 
T: Did you bead before the job or did it become part of your life after you signed on with the magazine? 
J: When I started in Books, I had no beading experience but I did have access to all the back issues of Bead&Button, so I would take them home in the evenings and on weekends and I learned the various stitches and techniques that way. I worked on some of the early books and booklets in the category so I learned a lot just by reading through those. By the time I was hired as an associate editor for the magazine, I had a lot of basic techniques under my belt, but I really got immersed in the hobby at that point.
T: I've visited Milwaukee once for the B&B show, but what is it like living and working in that area? Remember, I'm Texas born and bred so the thought of living where it snows that much is alien to me. The year I was there I had to buy a sweater in June because it was so cold there!
J: Milwaukee is a great place in a lot of ways – there are great restaurants, parks, and performing arts organizations. We have an amazing art museum and there are things to do here year-round, as long as you can deal with the weather. For instance, we know that just because March 20 is the first day of spring this year, we may not get really nice weather until early- to mid-June, when it will be perfect for one day and the following day it will be blazing hot and three days later we'll need to pull out our jackets again! But like I said, we get used to it. One of my favorite weather conditions is actually when it is about 20 degrees and sunny with no wind. If I'm dressed properly, it's just awesome!
T: What is your favorite beading technique? Is there a reason why you prefer it over others?
J: I don't know if I have a favorite beading technique – I really enjoy all of it. I stitch, string, and crochet, do wirework, kumihimo, and loomwork, and I even do a little with polymer and metal clay. Maybe it's because I am always trying new things and I haven't really dug in and gotten obsessed with a single technique, but I can't seem to claim a favorite.
T: Working for a major beading magazine, what do you do for relaxation? (I get this question a lot & my answer is usually fishing) Since my coworkers and I work with beads all day, most of our customers think beadwork is what we do to relax. It's difficult to explain sometimes that beads are work; beadwork is still work & not necessarily what we do for fun & relaxation. Is that the same for you?
J: I love to garden. I also enjoy cooking for my little family (my husband and 11-year-old daughter). I do bead at home quite a lot, though, mainly because the beading I do at work is obviously work-related and if I want to create for personal reasons, then I have to do it at home. 
T: What piece of beaded jewelry do you now own that you absolutely could not live without?
J: I made a really cute – and super easy – pair of earrings with some findings that I got in a Bead Hoard Curiosities box (from A Grain of Sand). I've attached a photo of one of them as well as a picture of the findings I used.  

I love those earrings and I really want to visit Milwaukee specifically to meet Julia in person. I'll wait until the blizzards are done though. Too cold for this Southern girl. 

In March I posted a teaser photo of what Julia sent me and here's the real thing:


So, I received a beautiful focal consisting of lampwork leaves and flower by Barbara Svetlick; (oh my goodness, the yumminess!), a sterling box clasp with a peridot, the cutest 3mm green pearls, olivine green dagger beads, some 13x20mm Czech glass goodies in a gorgeous orchid, white 10mm pearls (to die for), 10mm teal and purple died agate, 6mm two-hole lentils in lime (slurp!), 4mm purple fire polished beads, 5x18mm disks in a purple/green/teal (swoon!), 5x7mm curved petals in purple AB and 4x6mm opaque lavender drops. Breathe! It's like she read my mind and discovered my favorite colors. 

I love everything Julia sent me - that was my first dilemma. The second was that I am a bead weaver - I like teeny-tiny beads put together with needle and thread, so I am often stumped by stringing. I did come up with a couple of things. First, the requisite use of the focal and the clasp:


I used the pearls (both the tiny green ones and the large white ones) and mixed them with some "pearl jade" that I picked up from the store. I really wanted to showcase the flower, and the creamy pale green mixed with those pearls really seemed to do the trick, plus I wanted that focal to be off center. It's a bit dressy but I love it. That means I am keeping this baby for myself. The photo does not do it justice - it was really difficult to capture the colors. I may get my friend Jessi to take some better photos. 

Next, I focused on those disks and the agate. I found some nylon cord in a nice teal green and did some knotting:


I had some vintage faceted Bohemian glass in a purple irid but I'm not yet sure if they work. They may be too formal looking to work with the rest of the piece. I'll look at it for a while before I decide. I need to find something to give me four inches on each side of the piece. I might get some lampwork rounds from Pam to finish this. We'll see. 

As for the rest of the stash, I've already got plans for them. Those two-hole lentils will be a challenge but I'm sure I'll figure it out. I'm considering a macramé piece to work everything into. And those large orchid beads will become the base of another necklace.

And in other news I have some new classes coming up at Nomadic Notions. There will be plenty of eye candy in the next few weeks. I'm baa-aack!


36 comments:

Mags said...

A lovely necklace with the focal!

Empty nester at last said...

I love the knot one! That is something I would wear. Great Job!

PiPa said...

Lovely pieces so far, can't wait to see how the 2nd will be once finished!

Bead-Mused said...

Thanks Vera! I will definitely post a pic when the knotted necklace grows up. I've got my eye on some amethyst rounds at work. ;)

T

Bead-Mused said...

Mags, thank you so much!
PiPa, thank you also!

I think both pieces may soon morph, plus I have that macrame piece to start composing!!

T

Kristin Oppold said...

Great work! Kristin Oppold

Bead-Mused said...

Thanks, Kristin!

T

Liz said...

Great use of the focal. You managed to highlight it perfectly. I can't wait to see how you use the rest of the beads!

bailaora said...

flower necklace is great!

Billi's Paper Batiks said...

The first necklace is so sophisticated. I would wear it to dress up!

Unknown said...

Lovely work !

Sea of Dreams said...

Beautiful pieces!

Lupe Meter said...

Nice job with your bead soup...lovely designs!!

Bead-Mused said...

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate the compliments.

T

Unknown said...

I adore the pearls with the flower. It's just so Southern.

Shai Williams said...

Your pearl necklace is just stunning! I would definitely keep it.

Bead-Mused said...

Thank you, ladies!

Becky Pancake said...

Theresa you did a great job showcasing that flower focal. I like it off center.

Bead-Mused said...

Thank you, Becky!

T

Karin said...

Beautiful work! I love how you used the focal.

Rachel said...

That first necklace is perfect to showcase the beautiful lampwork flower! And I really like the second necklace, too! No one would know that you usually don't do stringing!

coffeeaddict said...

Beautiful work! I love the design on the second necklace and I can totally relate when you're in search of that perfect something that will finish off a piece. Good look hunting!

Michelle Tucker said...

Beautiful necklaces. I love the color scheme of the first one and I love what you have done so far with the second necklace.

Chelle said...

beautiful pieces.

Bead-Mused said...

How nice to come home from work (teaching bead weaving) and find all these nice compliments! Thank you all so much!

T

A Polymer Penchant said...

Off centre is just perfect. I bet this would be spectacular with a crisp white blouse and dark pencil skirt.

Libellula Jewelry™ said...

I can see why you're keeping your floral necklace. It's beautiful and will be such a treat to wear this Spring & Summer!

Kepi said...

Very nice, I really like the first necklace, love how the focal is framed.

Jean A. Wells said...

I enjoyed the interview, loved the soup and the necklaces are fabulous. I like the knotted one - I love the drape of a necklace that is knotted. They just feel good in your hand and around your neck. Great job.

Bead-Mused said...

Thank you so much, everyone! I had (and am still having) such a good time with this soup! I have truly had a good time.

T

ACBeads said...

Your necklace is gorgeous. Excellent work.

Phil and Cris said...

Yummy indeed! Love your floral necklace too and would love to see your knotted one when it's finished--it's looking great so far. I want to try that one of these days.

CraftyHope said...

I'm really smitten with the simplicity of both of your designs. They are beautiful both on their own or simple enough to be layered with other pieces. Wonderfully done!

baymoondesign said...

I do love those necklaces. Well done!

Bobbie said...

Nice! Both pieces are lovely and delicate -- a nice jump outside your comfort zone into the world of the bigger beads!

Unknown said...

Nice job with your soup...lovely designs!