Bead Soup reveal!

Today is my day to reveal what I made with all those gorgeous beads that Mel Poxon of Kookie Designs sent me. Mel sent me so many beads to choose from that I had a very hard time pinning down a design concept that could use a bunch of them while still being able to add my own personal touch. Truth be told, I had planned on making several pieces to show but time got away from me. Alas.

Anyhoo, this is the necklace I came up with. I am currently obsessing over herringbone wire weaving and tried to do it in a slightly askew, asymmetrical kind of way with odd shaped beads. I quite like the effect so I think my obsession will continue.

Since the beads are all glass and super glossy and colorful I thought it would be a good idea to make some porcelain disks that wouldn't compete. So I simply drew on the disks with an underglaze pencil and fired them to give them a permanent graphite kind of look. They are wonderfully matte and smooth and show the clay body, which is something that I just love, and they provide an excellent contrast to the shiny glass beads.

I put some of the spacer beads in between the herringbone "pods" to add a little more color and punch. I like how they slide around in the space they are given.

I used a heavy gauge steel wire that looks nice and scribbly when twisted and looped around. Again, I was looking for a contrast to the glass beads - something a little interesting, maybe unexpected. I really like the satin finish to the steel wire. It looks a little dirty, like it might rub off on your skin, kind of like the pencil glaze on the porcelain disks... for some reason that type of similarity makes me happy.

Be sure to check out all of the Bead Soup participants. I have been away for several days so I have a lot of reading to do, but I am going to give it the old college try!

And thank you, thank you to Mel for sending me such a generous and beautiful collection of beads! Be sure to check out her blog to see what she made with the beads I sent her. :)

Comments

a very cool and artful piece! love all the contrast
Unknown said…
What an eye stopping pc youve created! This is def so original and its exciting too! Just Wonderful really super duper job youve done!!
Malin de Koning said…
Wow! And those disks had me reacting big time. I thought, "where did your partner get those?", but it turns out you made them yourself. And the steelwire. Lovely. I bought some steelwire, but it is soooo hard to bend. Maybe coz it is meant for garden use? I will have to find another one! Love that graphite feeling!
Nicki said…
Nancy, this is gorgeous. I love all things wire and have not tried herringbone, but I have seen it in some of your recent creations and love it. But this assymetrical is just over the top. It looks so heavy and cool - and the steel wire is a wonderful idea.
Kella said…
Such a unique piece you have created and designed, it is jaw droppingly individualistic.

LOOOOOVVVVIIIINNNNGGGG IT!!!!!!!!
Mel P said…
Oooooooo Nancy I love this you are so talented. This is fabulous xxxx
Nancy said…
I love the eclectic nature of your work. This is a great marriage of glass, metal and your wonderful ceramics!
Filomena said…
Wow! So industrial! Love it!
Pink Velvet Bird
steufel said…
I really love the rustique yet delicate feel of your necklace.
Spirited Earth said…
wow and wow..this is amazing..ilove the beads you received..and this design really lets them stand out..i love steel wire..and the way you kinked the wire at intervals..stunning.
This is so unique and amazing! I love the herringbone weave and the steel wire...and really everything about your necklace! Spectacular job on your bead soup!!

Lisa
elisabeth said…
Very cool piece - bold yet delicate!
Nancy it's Super Artsy -LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! The "scribble" discs are awesome!
Unknown said…
this is simply amazing~ I have wanted to try herringbone weave since I saw it~ I love the neck wire, everything! really great work/piece
Megilon said…
Very colorful! I love the herringbone wire technique you used. Nice balance with the porcelain.
drachenei said…
Stunning. What a wonderful design. :)
EmandaJ said…
Love the necklace, especially the crenallated wire that the fancy beads hang on -- awesome! This is so different from your normal work -- but I LOVE it!

Emanda
Courtney Breul said…
Great piece. I love all the wirework! MMMMM.
Michelle said…
love the simplicit of it...it shows off the beads and the porcelain drops!
Bead Happy!
Michelle
Kate said…
Gorgeous. I love all the details and how they only serve to show off the glass to it's best advantage. Wonderful!
I can see why you are obsessed with the herringbone weave. I love it too and love how you framed the beads with it. The steel wire is awesome. Great overall design. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention my favorite part...the beads that are trapped and move along the wire. Yeah, love kinetic beads.
Dawn Doucette said…
How pretty! I'm brand new to your blog (via Lori's list of Bead Soup participants) and I just love what you did with this necklace. The glass beads really do pop and it works great against the steel wire.

Great piece! I'm a new follower and look forward to many more of your posts!

Have an awesome day!
Dawn

http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
I really love the contrast of the shiny glass and steel wire. The design on your porcelain discs with the underglaze pencil is brilliant. It really mimics the steel.
Marie Cramp said…
Fantastic piece! I can't wait to see what else you create! Love the discs!
Pretty Things said…
Holy crow! One of my favorites, to be sure! I'm in awe!
Anonymous said…
Very Beautiful !

Dawn
Rebecca said…
Oh my goodness, what an amazing piece! It looks like space! What a great design.
Unknown said…
great! very nice - perfect wirework! See ya Doris
Cathryn said…
I actually like this! It's funky and artsy without being pretentious! That speaks to me and my funky-artsy beader muse! It's also carefree and fun!
TesoriTrovati said…
Incredible! I think that you could wear these together but it would be fun to have them separate as well, to match something for every day of the week! I love the funky herringbone weave. Really brilliant, Nancy.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Silver Parrot said…
You always come up with the most unique designs! I love the herringbone with the lampwork in the middle - it looks wonderful!
ViviBijoux said…
You're full of talent girl, well done on that intriguing piece! Just back from your etsy extra shop...lovely pendants! would you have more of these pretty ladies you've made for a show? please LMK, smiles, Virginie
Loretta said…
Love the herringbone design. Keep up with your obsession, it looks great!
diane hawkey said…
That is an awesome & highly original design. Very cool.
Regina said…
I loved reading your thought process in creating such an original piece of art, it is WOW! I take my hat (if I was wearing one) off to you! Bravo!
Christine said…
Oh my gosh, I think this is my favorite of all the pieces so far! I love the 'scribbly' wirework, and the herringbone weave and the ceramic disks! Wow!
Karyn said…
Wow I love it - such a unique looking piece. I am hopeless with wire so I really admire your talent with this piece. Well done!

Karyn
Very modern and unique design. Love it!
I love the contrast of the steel with the beads.

Stacy
Sissy & Jack's
Heather said…
Wow, This is so unique and interesting. I want to keep looking at it. Love the matte and shiny glass bead contrast and your porcelain beads are fantastic.
Anna Lear said…
What a striking piece!! I absolutely adore it, especially the darker neckwire and how it contrasts with the silver and the glass beads. Beautiful herringbone weaves; I've done that wirewrap a few times and it's a challenge! Wonderful work.
Jo said…
Wow! What a fantastic mix of materials, colours and textures! I love what you have made with your soup.
Nancy you are so talented. I love the necklace. I know that the herringbone work took a lot of time. It turned out fabulous!

I absolutely love our ceramic pieces. They are so original - vintage yet contemporary!
Dale said…
how unusual! the herringbone looks completely fantastic. Great great stuff.
Unknown said…
I like your "askew weaving" it fits my askewed thinking.

Your necklace is fabulous and wild and I love what you have chosen to use your bead soup beads for!
Charlene said…
WOW! I love the herringbone wrap - still on my to-do list of things to work on. I also love the moodiness of the wirework. Gorgeous!
Anonymous said…
That is a gorgeous piece! I love what you did with all the beads and the herringbone. I totally makes me want to play with it and see the beads move around on the necklace. Love it!
Marieke said…
Wow totally amazing, I absolutely love what you did with your soup!
mairedodd said…
gorgeous necklace - you have a way of nailing every design ...
Jen Judd said…
What an amazing piece!!! My new fave adjective is "scribbly" and it works perfectly to describe the fun design. Love it!!!!
Patti said…
Outside of the box... and outstanding!

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