Bead Soup Blog Hop

"Blue Laurel"
This is my third time to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party,

the brainstorm of an idea by my friend,
Lori Anderson.
Each time seems to get better than the last, so here we go...

When I opened up the package from my partner,

Lyn Foley,

that held this vintage sterling silver book marker,
I knew I had to use it. But, how?

I didn't exactly know, but it was here that I started.

I began by layering "Laurel" with a wonderful vintage brooch. 

I wish I could remember where this one came from, but alas I don't.

  I just know I liked it because of its shape, dainty rhinestone dangles, and great old rhinestones set in vintage pot metal.

When I pulled it out of my stash, 
it just looked like it belonged on top of the book marker, 
as it matched its shape so perfectly.

I tried it in all different directions, before deciding to slide it down just a bit to expose the wonderful curves at the very top of the marker.

 Next, I started traveling down to the lower part,
wrapping it with some of these tiny beauties from Lyn.

 I chose the peacock seed pearls to work with,

even though I tried desperately to squeeze in those beautiful creamy white ones.

I added a faceted crystal quartz dangle,
using a cool new bead cap I bought after one of my students, 
Michele, showed me some she had brought to class.
I pulled the pieces together by stringing a simple choker using the same peacock seed pearls and the gorgeous sterling silver clasp given to me by Lyn, 

then made some of my favorite rondell bead connectors.

 Lyn sent these clear, blue lined glass ones in my package.

I often use this style, sandwiching tube beads (sometimes long, sometimes short) in between two oxidized crystal rhinestone rondells.  

I sprinkled in some wire wrapped oxidized crystal rhinestone ball beads, vintage rhinestone buttons, some great chain, and all of the Indian silver beads sent to me by Lyn.

Now I have a great 4-piece set.

 Each piece can be worn individually or separate on their own.

 ~Next~
I had to use some of Lyn's gorgeous lampwork beads.
She's a master of color and style.
She sent a good stash of her wonderful ruffles of glass, 
in colors I adore.

I began by laying three of my favorites down on the table.
I tend to use things left lying on my work bench, and magically it always works out.
Once again it did, as I spotted one of my etched hearts sitting just to the right of my  beading pad, just waiting to be used.
I strung the ruffled beads onto three pieces of sterling silver wire,
using more of the rhinestone buttons, now as centers to the beads;
twisted more wire around the base to hold the trio together,

 then pulled the wire thru a piece of brass filigree, sort of arrow style...
punching and lacing this little sandwich onto the etched heart. 
I don't wear pins, so I knew this had to become a necklace.

I was stumped and had to sleep on it, which works for me. 

The next day I looked through my jewelry trays and found a necklace I had bought on Etsy,
one that had beautiful rhinestones that just seem to match 
the rhinestone button centers of my heart pendant so perfectly. 
First I had to set two eyelets, one in the heart, one in the filigree.

Then I used a technique I enjoy and incorporate into my designs often.  
I re-purposed a vintage Eisenberg ear bob into a connector.  
That's it just to the left of my heart.

 I did use one of the two vintage faceted earring drops Lyn sent, 
as the dangle beneath the heart.  It matched the ruffles perfectly.

~Next~ 
I wanted to use the last three of of Lyn's glass ruffles,

 so I made a fun cascade necklace, using them 
along with several brass crucifixes,
and the acid green freshwater pearls she also sent in my soup.

 If you have stuck thru with me all the way to this point
you get to see all of my soup pieces together.

 

 So now you also can watch a sneak peak 
of my new online tutorial which I talked about 
here.
Leave a comment (along with an email address if it's not connected to your name), 
and you too will be entered in the drawing, 
as two people will win one of my tutorials called,

Transforming Vintage Jewelry into a Connector,

which is exactly what I did when I re-purposed the Eisenberg ear bob talked about earlier.
You can see it again, just below in the necklace I call

"Flower Power"

Thanks for sticking all the way to the end.
Don't forget the drawing to win this tutorial,
(that will be is in my Etsy Shop on Monday, March 5th now)
will be on the first day of Spring,
March 20th, 2012!
Here's a snip-it.  Enjoy!