Let's get this party started!

Ok ya'll, here we go! To see the complete list of the Bead Soup Party participants please visit our ringleader, Lori Anderson's, blog.

So, these are the beads that my wonderfully talented bead partner, Sue Kennedy, made and sent me. Gorgeous, aren't they? I stared at these beads for a loooong time wondering what to do with them. I really wanted the focus to be on the beads so I tried to come up with a way to showcase them.

And this is what I did. A little different, maybe even odd, I'm not sure yet. All I know is that I like it. :)


As you can see this piece is all about the massive pendant that I created from the beads that Sue sent me. I started by making a copper frame which I hammered for texture and then oxidized. I threaded a piece of sterling wire through one of the large focal beads and balled the ends. This is what the copper frame hangs from. Then I made four rows of beads that are wired on to the frame with sterling wire, creating an abacus effect (except you can't slide them around, I really packed them on there).

It was at this point that I realized that I hadn't included any of my own porcelain pieces. Not that I really needed to but I wanted there to be a little clay in this piece so I added one of my butterfly beads to hang at the bottom, complete with copper chain, another SueBead and an antique brass ball button.

I had a minor crisis over what to do with the rest of the necklace. I mean, I put all that energy into the pendant, how could I finish this off without getting really gaudy? After trying different chains and links I finally decided upon this excellent dusty purple leather cord that I found in London last September. I had been hoarding and protecting it but once I laid it next to the pendant and saw how well it matched I knew I had to use it. (And I still have a nice bunch of cord left to hoard away forever, tee-hee...)

I capped the ends of the cord with copper tubing that I hammered flat and drilled a hole to attach the sterling toggle that Sue had sent with the beads. The toggle was a little on the super shiny side so I oxidized it to bring it down a bit and I think it goes rather nicely with the overall piece.

And that's that! What a fun project this was. A big thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting such a great party! Be sure to head on over to her blog to see a complete list of the participants. And also be sure to check out my bead partner, Sue's, blog to see what she did with the beads I sent her. Have fun!

And while I've got your attention feel free to follow my blog by clicking on the link to the right and/or sign up for my new newsletter. :)

Comments

Patty said…
This is fabulous, Nancy! I like the way it presents all the beads so they can be fully admired. Nice job!
Rickie said…
Nancy, what a creative pendant you designed--the completed necklace is lovely.
Zu said…
So beautiful!!! I love it!
Angela Smith said…
Very clever idea, so different!
Nancy said…
Nancy

That is wonderful! It is amazing to be seeing how everyone's muse spoke to them. I love how you showcased the lampwork in the pendant. Incorporating the simple leather cord to hang it from is just perfect.

Nancy
Kate said…
What a stunning design! I love the way you grouped the beads into one large focal. I did something similar with mine. Subscribed to your blog, happy to meet you!
Have a great time at the party!

Kate #46
Lorelei Eurto said…
WOW!!!!
I am wondering how the heck you figured out how to make the frame big enough for all the beads. I would have tried that and wasted like a crapload of wire.
This is amazing, and that leather cording you got was THE PERFECT ADDITION. love it. love how you attached the clasp too. You always amaze me girl. I am so enamored with your talent!
Mary Harding said…
You are amazing. What a fantastic pendant. I love it. All the details are so well thought out and beautifully crafted.
Erin Siegel said…
Very cool, Nancy! Sweet, modern, eclectic and unique! Your style is unmistakable! :)
Katie said…
What an awesome piece! I love the bead abacus :o)
What a wonderful pendant you created. I love how you incorporated the beads into the copper frame! FABULOUS!
Great job, Nancy, muy creative and I love the leather cord. I think leather is the best for hanging a great pendant, it really gives the pendant the chance to shine. Good job!!!
Judy said…
Such a fabulous piece of art! Just stunning! I love that it is on the leather cord and the way you finished the ends is so creative!
Jen Judd said…
That's so creative! What a great way to really feature the beads!
Rosanne said…
Great necklace Nancy. Its got your signature all over it.
Heather Powers said…
fab pendant Nancy. love it!
Unknown said…
What a great pendant! Definitely different and dramatic but still comfortable and warm - simply lovely!
SueBeads said…
Nancy, you are right - it's fantasic but very different! Amazing! I love it! I too love how you can see each and every bead - I bet it's fun to play with too!
Susan Marling said…
Your necklace is stunning and ever so creative. I love how you created the pendant!! The purple cord with the copper ends just sets it all off! Beautiful.
This is spectacular! The pendant you made is fantastic. And I love the hammered end pieces. Love, Love, Love, this necklace!!!!
mairedodd said…
perfect! you knew exactly what to do with those beads (or appeared to have)!! keeping them together really allowed them to shine...
Kella said…
Fabulous work, golly, golly, its such an ingenious way to showcase those lovely beads.
Lisa said…
Wow...that is so creative. Very unusualy and perfect for the beads!
Pretty Things said…
Intake of breath, "Oooooooh!" -- that's how cool this is! I am sooooo pleased with this! You did so awesomely wonderfully well!

Thanks for being a part of the party — we’ll do it again soon!
Patti said…
This is fantastic! Very creative!
Doreen said…
Wow...really cool!
Artisan Clay said…
Awesome Nancy! I love it!
Silver Parrot said…
I love that you came up with such a different and unusual way to showcase these beads. Really a standout design!
Juli Cannon said…
Fantastic! Such an original design and you have showcased the beads perfectly. Love it!
Maria said…
So creative! Love the mix of lampwork, along with your wonderful ceramic pieces! Just wonderful...


You are welcome to stop by for a cup of “Spring” soup on my blog.
http://www.mariagrimes.blogspot.com
Terri said…
Clever came to mind in describing this...such a cool piece...such talent!
Anonymous said…
love it! beautiful, creative design!
Kerry said…
Love it! That is a fantastic pendant design.

Thanks for the cup of soup.
Mermaid Glass said…
What a wonderful, creative, unique design. It actually becomes like a little piece of art, above and beyond the jewelry.
Unknown said…
'abacus' was the first word that came to mind when I saw this. the colour of the leather cord was spot on perfect, nice work!
Cathryn said…
That is so perfect! I love how you showcased those wonderful, yummy beads, and still kept the simple elegance intact! I fell in love with this one as soon as I saw it.
Mary K. McGraw said…
What a fun and funky pendant and I liked how you capped the ends of the cording.
JBird's Garden said…
I love how your creative mind works! I would never have thought to design those beauties in such a way. And yet it works beautifully! Hooray for you!
EmandaJ said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
EmandaJ said…
Hi Nancy,Gosh you are amazing. Who but you would have thought of making such a wonderful focal out of ALL the beads. It's like an abacus -- the beads count! (get it?)

Hasn't this been fun?!?

Emanda
www.ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Cindy said…
Nancy, when I first saw your pendant, I just thought "WOW!" You sure made an incredible pendant with Sue's pretty beads. So ingenious...the frame, the abacus style pendant, your butterfly piece and the way you finished off the leather cord! :-)
lisa oram said…
Love how original and unusual that pendant is. You said the beads don't slide, but I hope they spin on thier wires. I love jewelry that moves. I am happy to see your own beads, too. They are lovely. I will be visiting you again.
Barbara Lewis said…
I love your "abacus" pendant! Such an original design and the craftsmanship ... awesome!
Spirited Earth said…
this is so different..i like it a lot..very creative
melanie brooks said…
Very cool pendant! And I love that you added your ceramic to it. My focal was ceramic but I had to add my own clay to my piece too. hehe. Thanks for sharing!
Gardanne said…
Its wonderful Nancy, and so unique as usual. Its great to see lampwork pieces used in a different way, Sue must be thrilled.
Julie said…
Not even a bit odd, Nancy... this piece is so beyond creative! I'm really impressed w/ the way you used Sue's colorful lampwork beads. The faceted crystals in the piece add a really wonderful edge to it that would've been truly missed if you had just put it together w/ smooth lampwork spacers. It's really beautiful... I'd wear it in a flash. So glad you decided to go w/ the leather cording... your instincts were dead on. Well done, Nancy. :o)
Unknown said…
What a Reallt VERY Beautiful pc you have made here!!! Very Original for sure I just LOVE it!!!!
TesoriTrovati said…
Nancy, that is perhaps the most inventive piece I have seen yet! What a great way to showcase these special beads! And I think it is perfect to include your butterfly link! So glad to know that I am not the only one who hordes things...my studio looks like a Ziploc factory exploded in it, each containing a different random treasure! Thanks for sharing this heaping serving of great soup! Be sure to stop by and taste some of mine. Enjoy the day! Erin
mairedodd said…
i feel like i need to explain my comment - i know you have a real mastery of design and creation of your vision... what i meant when i said 'or appeared to' is that you make it look so effortless... like there really isn't any other way of seeing it... and you may have gone thru 2 or 3 different other ideas to come around to that...
i am blabbing - sorry!
Islandgirl said…
Really like what you did with those beads.. that focal that you created is really nice!
Sharon said…
I love the originality of your design, just beautiful!
Dee said…
Nancy, this is fabulous...what a creative design. definitely an eye catching, conversation starter! Great job!
Anonymous said…
Wow! What an amazing piece. I can tell you put a ton of thought into it. Very creative, and I think it turned out lovely. Love all the metal work.
Nicki said…
Wow Nancy, when I saw your soup I thought, well that would be a real challenge. I know your pieces are more earthy. But girl, I am totally inspired by how you took those colors and made them into this very cool pendant. and the leather cord is just perfect with it. Reading all those blogs is truely inspiring, you're right. Great necklace.

inspired
Jo said…
What a great idea! It is really lovely, and very eye catching.
I love what you came up with :)
Lynette said…
So creative and totally cool! :)
Regina said…
What a wonderful surprise, certainly sets your creation apart from all others. Bravo!

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