Today is Bead Soup Blog Party Day!

It's finally here!! I'm thrilled to take part in the biggest bead soup blog party ever. Over 300 bloggers have swapped beads, focals and clasps across the world to be involved in this amazing blog party organised by the incredibly talented Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog.

My partner is Ann Rishell of My Critical Eye blog. Be sure to visit Ann's blog to see the bead parcel i sent to her. These are the gorgeous beads and components that she sent to me.





Ann sent me so many beautiful items I couldn't use them all! I am especially loving the turqouise beads and the coral sari ribbon and focal - turquoise and coral are my favourites right now. I added some coral czech glass beads from my own bead collection to complement the soup, Here are the two necklaces that I made:

Here is the list of all the fabulous people who took part, I can't wait to hop round them all although it's going to take a few days!

Click on each name to go to their blogs.

These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

1. Aimee Wheaton and Barbara York

2. Alice Craddick and Sandra Richardson

3. Alison Sachs and Amy Severino

4. Allison Scott and Cynthia Abner

5. Amanda Cargill Austin and Charlene Sevier

6. Amanda Davie and Patsy Evins

7. Amber Dawn and Kim Ballor

8. Ambra Gostoli and Christine Hansen

9. Amy Freeland and Christine Altmiller

10. Ana Krepel-Novak and Eleanor Snare

11. Andrea Morici and Hope Smitherman

12. Andrea Trank and Jayne Capps

13. Andrea Turini and Charlene Jacka

14. Angela May and Emanda Johnson

15. Anitra Gordy and Elizabeth Owens Dwy

16. Ann Rishell and Debbie Price

17. Ann Sherwood and Lynne Bowland

18. Anna Lear and Barbe Saint John

19. Anna Sabina­­­­ and Erin Siegel

19. Nan Emmett and Erin Siegel

20. Astrid Boyce and Birgitta Lejonklou

21. B.R. Kuhlman and Deanna Chase

22. Barbara Bechtel and Bryna Lumb

23. Barbara Blaszczyk and DaviniaDesign

24. Barbara Judy and Holly Westfall

25. Barbara Lewis and Cathie Carroll

26. Barrie Edwards and Lyn Foley

27. Becky Fairclough and Jana Tarhala

28. Bella Borgouise and Gillian Lehman

29. Beth and Evie McCord and Erin Prais-Hintz

30. Beth Bricker and Heather Pyle

31. Beth Emery and Cassie Donlen

32. Bobbie Rafferty and Cindy Cima Edwards

33. Candice McGinnis and Sally Anderson

34. Carol Bradley and Cece Cormier

 35.  Cathy Khoury and Molly Alexander

 36. Carol Tannahill and Hilary Frye

37. Carrie Tahquechi and Cris Peacock

38. Cat Pruitt and Cindy Gimbrone

39. Charlene Gary and Doris Stumpf

40. Charlotte Pevny and Kate Gardenghi

41. Cherrie Fick and Cathie Carroll

41. Claire Maunsell and Cherrie Fick

42. Cheryl Roe and Jenny Vidberg

43. Chris White and Norma Turvey

44. Christa Murphy and Kathy Alderfer

45. Christie Murrow and Dana James

46. Christina Miles and Collette Collins

47. Christine Brandel and Elizabeth Woodford

48. Christine Damm and Cynthia Deis

49. Christine Hendrickson and Debbie Goering

50. Christine Stonefield and Dee Wingrove-Smith

51. Cilla Watkins and Johanna Rhodes

52. Cindy Wimmer and Riki Schumacher

53. CJ Baushka and Cory Celaya

54. Courtney Breul and Joanna Matuszczyk

55. Cristi Clothier and Kathleen Robinson Young

56. Cryss Thain and Serena Trent

57. Cynthia Tucker and Kitty Durmaj

58. Dana Johnson Jones and Eva Sherman

59. Davinia Algeri and Janet McDonald

60. Deci Worland and Lara Lutrick

61. Diana Ptaszynski and Kristy Abner

62. Diane Cook and Kerry Bogert

63. Diane Hawkey and Jen Judd Velasquez

64. Dorcas Midkiff and Jill Harris

65. Doris Radlicki and Heather Goldsmith

66. Dot Lewallen and Gaea Cannaday

67. Elisabeth Auld and Jennifer Justman

68. Erin Fickert-Rowland and Geanina Grigore

69. Erin Grant and Julie Jones

70. Eszter Czibulyas and Helena Fritz

71. Fiona Christie and Michelle Heim

72. Gail Zwang and Genea Crivello-Knable

73. Geneva Collins and Jana Haag

74. Gretchen Nation and Heidi Post

75. Heather DeSimone and Karin Slaton

76. Heather Marley and Terry Carter

77. Ingrid McCue and Jennifer Pride

78. Jackie Ryan and Nicole Keller

79. Janna Harttgen and Joanne Tinley

80. Jean Yates and Lori Anderson

81. Jelveh Jaferian and Jenny Davies-Reazor

82. Jenni Connolly and Jennifer Heynen

83. Jennifer Cameron and Kristi Bowman

84. Jennifer Geldard and Lisa Liddy

85. Jennifer VanBenschoten and Kim Hora

86. Jess Italia Lincoln and Lori Greenberg

87. Jill MacKay and Lori Bergmann

88. JJ Jacobs and Karen Tremblay

89. Joyce Becker and Kathy Welsh

90. Judy Glende and Karen Sinkowski

91. Judy Riley and Kelly Morgan

92. JuLee Wolfe and Julie Bean

93. Julianna Cannon and Julianna Kis

94. Julie Nordine and Lesley Watt

95. K. Hutchinson and Shea Zukowski

96. Karen Firnberg and Karyn Bonfiglio

97. Karen Williams and Kimberly Roberts

98. Karen Zanco and Polly Barker

99. Kari Carrigan and Laura Twiford

100. Karin von Hoeren and Laura Blanck

101. Kate Richbourg and Lorelei Eurto

102. Kathleen Lange Klik and Maria Clark

103. Kathy Engstrom and Keri Lee Sereika

104. Kay Thomerson and Loretta Carstensen

105. Kelley Fogle and Laurel Bielec

106. Kelly Ramstack and Sally Anderson

107. Kim Stevens and Tiffany Long

108. Kristi Harrison and Mandy Williamson

109. Kristi Kyle and Lana Kinney

110. Kristina Johansson and Sue Hodgkinson

111. Kym Hunter and Laura Sanger

112. Laura Zeiner and Susan Kennedy

113. Laurel Steven and Mary McGraw

114. Laurie Hanna and Lisa Boucher

115. Lesley Weir and Liz DeLuca

116. Linda Djokic and Tracey Weiser

117. Linda Inhelder and Pam Brisse

118. Linda Landig and Lori Dorrington

119. Linda Murphy and Lisa Hamilton

119.  Line Labrecque and Marianne Baxter

120. Lisa Lodge and Monica Johnson

121. Lois Moon and Melissa Muir

122. Lola Surwillo and Therese Frank

123. Lori Bowring Michaud and Marci Brooks

124. Lupe Meter and Norma Agron

125. Maggie Towne and Marge Beebe

126. Malin de Koning and Susie Hibdon

127. Mallory Hoffman and Shirley Moore

128. Marcie Abney and Patty Miller

129. Marcy Lamberson and Melissa Clarke

130. Margot Potter and Suzann Sladcik Wilson

131. Maria Grimes and Wendy Blum

132. Maria Horvath and Melinda Orr

133. Maria Rosa Sharrow and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

134. Marian Hertzog and Melissa Mesara

135. Marianna Boylan and Sandi Lee James

136. Marina Dobrynina and Michaela Pabeschitz

137. Marsha Neal and Miri Agassi

138. Mary Ellen Parker and Melissa Meman

139. Mary Elliott and Tamara Soper

140. Mary Hicks and Laurel Steven

141. Melissa Pynn and Michelle Buettner

142. Michelle Hardy and Niki Meiners

143. Michelle Mach and Moira McEvoy

144. Missy Rappaport and Mags Sarri

145. Molly Alexander and Poranna

146. Mylene Hillam and Nicole Rennell

147. Nadezhda Parfyonova and Stacey Curry

148. Nan Emmett and Nancy Peterson

149. Nancy Boylan and Natalie McKenna

150. Natalie Monkivitch and Niky Sayers

151. Natasha Lutes and Pam Ferrari

152. Noemi Baena and Penny Ilagan

153. Pamela Petry and Rebecca Sirevaag

154. Pat Haight and Mary Shannon Hicks

155. Patty Gasparino and Vonna Maslanka

156. Penny Neville and Sandi Volpe

157. Pepita Bos and Wendy Chamberlain

158. Raida Disbrow and Rebecca Watkins

159. Rebecca Anderson and Sabrina Staub

160. Regina Santerre and Rose Binoya

161. Rhea Freitag and Tari Kahrs

162. Rochelle Brisson and Teri Baskett

163. Sally Russick and Tracy Bell

164. Sandra McGriff and Shay Williams

165. Sandra Wolberg and Sara Hardin

166. Sarah Elder and Salla Small

167. Saskia Kaffenberger and Sharon Gardner

168. Sharon Palac and Shannon Chomanczuk

169. Shay Stone and Suzette Bentley

170. Shiraz Biggie and Tammy Powley

171. Staci Smith and Tracy Stillman

172. Stacie Stamper and Tracy Martin

173. Stefanie Teufel and Vicky Taylor

174. Stephanie Dixon and Stephanie LaRosa

175. Stephanie Haussler and Valerie Norton

176. Suzanne Tate and Terri Wlaschin

177. Sweet Freedom Designs and Tammy Jones

178. Tania Spivey and Tari Sasser

179. Tara Plote and Terry Matuszyk

180. Terri Gauthier and Deana Hager

181. Theresa Fosdick and Tracey Nanstad

For a total of 362 pairs!

Amazing!

If the links in my list don't work for any reason then please go to Lori's list and hop through that way.

I have really enjoyed the whole experience and hope you do too. A huge thank you to Lori for organising such an amazing event...you rock!

September Art Bead Scene Challenge

This one is a bit different to previous challenges - the art inspiration is a quilt instead of a painting and it is seriously beautiful!


"Housetop"--twelve-block "Half-Logcabin" variation, ca. 1965
Cotton, Wool Corduroy, 77"x 65"
Lillie Mae Pettway, 1927-1990
Gee Bend's Quilter

This quilt is one of 60 quilts in the exhibition, created by 42 women spanning four generations, provide a fascinating look at the work of 20th-century artists who lived and worked in solitude.

The quilt is named after Gee's Bend which is located in southwest Alabama on a sliver of land five miles long and eight miles wide, a virtual island surrounded by a bend in the Alabama River. Without a ferry service for decades, the residents were confined by the river unless they made the hour-long drive to the county seat of Camden, directly across the river from Gee's Bend.

Gee's Bend was named after Joseph Gee, the first white man to stake a claim there in the early 1800s. Isolated geographically, the women in the community created quilts from whatever materials were available, in patterns of their own imaginative design.

The exhibition was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The quilts in the exhibition are drawn from the collection of Tinwood Alliance, a nonprofit foundation for the support of African-American vernacular art.

About the Artist
Lillie Mae Petway was one of seventeen children. Her mother Aolor Mosely was one of the founding members and behind the scenes organizers of the Freedom Quilting Bee.
Lillie Mae and her sister Mary Lee Bendolph shared their mothers enthusiasm for rectangular patterns with bold colors.

The palette drawn from this quilt is very colourful and bright!




The Blog Tour deadline is September 28th and the Blog Tour will be on the 30th.

For the full rules of the challenge please the post at Art Bead Scene blog.

What are you waiting for....have a go!

September Design Challenge by Andrew Thornton

Omg, I got one!





There are some absolutely beautiful beads included but it was the vintage Miriam Haskell beads that finally decided me.

I am going to camp out by my letterbox until they arrive....!

For more info on Andrew's September challenge, see here

Bead soup is cooking...

My bead soup ingredients have arrived and Iook how fabulous they are!





Gorgeous ribbon, turquoise beads, speckled glass beads, moss agate, gold coloured pearls, mottled chips, blue glass beads, jasper donuts, a pink resin bar bead, a silver toggle and an amazing ceramic pendant with hummingbird design!








What a gorgeous collection, I will be able to make loads with this!

Heartfelt thanks to my bead soup partner, Ann Rishell of My Critical Eye blog.

Can't wait until reveal day!

Bead Soup has been dispatched!

Can I just state the blindingly obvious? I am EXCITED about Lori's bead soup blog party!

My bead soup partner is Ann Rishell of My Critical Eye.

I posted my bead soup today, no pictures I'm afraid - couldn't get to grips with blurry photos so you'll just have to wait! (Evil genius laugh....)

Hope you are enjoying the week so far....!

Total Treasures Blog Hop

Welcome to the Total Treasures Blog Hop which has been organised by Amy of Copper Diem blog. When Amy suggested this blog hop I was really intrigued so I signed up.

Amy has designed an Etsy treasury for each participant and the instructions were as follows:

Use the inspiration from that treasury to create ANY piece of jewelry. Earrings, necklace, bracelet, rings, all of the above, whatever you like. On August 14, post the screen shot and link to the treasury you were given, along with whatever you were inspired to make, and a list of the hoppers provided by Amy.

Here's the link to my treasury Hot Sunday




I was inspired by the colour red and also the bow that featured in the treasury. I have been wanting to introduce material into my designs for a while and came up with this bracelet which includes satin cord and black onyx strung through on black wire.








In my stash I also had some gorgeous red glass beads which are half coated with a kind of aurora borealis glaze. The beads came from a necklace I found in a charity shop and now they live again!
I tried for ages to think of something else to add to this bracelet but in the end, it looked best as below - the beads are so shimmery!




Earrings made with the same beads and vintage brass wire.




Hair grips wrapped with vintage brass wire.




I'm really pleased with the way these turned out.

And here's the list of hoppers...enjoy!

Copper Diem
Fuego, metal y color
Silver Nik Nats
Beads and Bread
Copper Penny Designs
Green Shoot You are here!
Wild Sally Road
Mamas Got To Doodle
For the Love of Beads
Beads for Busy Gals EBS Jewellery
Cianci Blue
Beads for Brains
Nicki's Reef
Sweet Girl Design
Nicole Rennell">

Thanks to Amy for organising this blog hop, I really enjoyed being a part of it and can't wait to hop around everyone else!

On holiday!

I'm a bit quiet because I'm on holiday, in my favourite place....aka St Ives in Cornwall. This is the view from my apartment window...awesome and inspiring!




We went to the National Seal Sanctuary today and also visited The Lizard which is the southern most point of the UK mainland. Once you get past the touristy bit, the actual Lizard is a nature reserve and very inspiring....gorgeous and peaceful.





Of course I bought a "lite" version of my bead stash!

Enjoy your summer holidays, wherever you are....



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