Bead Soup Blog Party Update

Wow I finished my Bead Soup and I just wanted to give you a little tease.  This is from a group of buttons that I got a couple of years ago. (I have been scouring my purchases to find out who the artist is) I originally bought them to make my friend Jeannie a necklace.  She is a quilter who has made two quilts for us.  One when my husband and I got married 25 years ago, a yo-yo quilt and on our 20th anniversary a beautiful bright batik fabric quilt.  So I have been thinking about a necklace for a long time and still never could figure anything out.  I was going to include it in my partner's soup because Marti collects buttons, but it didn't seem to go with my soup to her.  So here is the blue button that I incorporated in my soup.....BUT you have to come back on the reveal date on May 3rd to see what I did with it.

Isn't this cute!

Sonoma Coast Event! Please join me.....

I will be participating in this event so if you are in the Northern California Coast Area this weekend stop by my booth and say hi.  Many artists, wineries, music and restaurants are participating also.

Hope to see you there.
Marianne

Hooked On PMC

I took a class on bezels and bails in PMC last weekend with my friend Vicki.  We had so much fun.  I made two pendants and refinished a pendant I made a long time ago.  We will be having several play dates this month to work in Bronze and copper.  The class was all silver and I was especially interested in adding my glass with the PMC.

Here is the first after firing but before setting and clean up.  This first photo is the setting that I added my glass piece to.  The second one I added a pink jasper to.  You will also see the finished piece front and back.

 

This is one that I did about 4 years ago and I shined it all up and I like it more now.










Stay tuned for more PMC work.
Marianne

Received My Soup Today

I received my Bead Soup today!  So excited to get started. This is my fourth Bead Soup Bead Party participation.  You get teamed with a partner anywhere in the world and you exchange a "Bead Soup which you have to use the Focal and the Clasp.  Most bead partners send coordinating beads to go with those two items.  I normally send two soups but my partner didn't want lots of beads to be sent because she is new to jewelry making.  So I will be giving a Bead Soup away after the reveal.  The winner will be selected randomly from people who make comments on my reveal.  More on the contest later.

Back to my Bead Soup, Marti Conrad my partner went all out on her cute packaging!

So cute little tied up packages in blue denim!  I immediately thought of my friend Jeanie who makes just lovely quilts.



 Then on to whats in the packaging.  These beautiful candy colored beads go so well with the greens in the gemstones.  Kinda way out of my comfort zone using gemstones but I love these colors.  So Spring!  She also included these really cute vintage looking connectors on the left.  Not really connectors but I am blanking on what there called right now.

Finally look at this beautiful clasp that Marti made herself, out of clay. Just beautiful.  The clasp is handmade by Jean Wells.

Stay tuned for my reveal on May 3rd to see what I did with these beads.

Bead Soup Blog Party

I received my partner for the Bead Soup Blog Party and her name is Marti Conrad and if you click on her name you will be taken to her blog. I mailed her soup today so when we both receive I will post the pictures of the Bead Soup I sent her.  She makes wonderful clay pieces that I am sure you will enjoy,  Check out her ETSY shop.
Looking forward to getting my soup.  Always a fun time for me waiting in anticipation, designing a piece.  I usually end up changing my mind and re-doing several times!  I always wonder what color I will be working in and what the focal will look like.  I usually end up donating all my pieces when I am done to different charitable groups where I live.
Well stay tuned!

The Color Orange

A few days ago I told you how I don't like the color orange. Well the very next day a friend of mine posted this on Facebook:

Orange is a power color. It is one of the healing colors. It is said to increase the craving for food. It also stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange means vitality with endurance. People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Lady luck's color is orange. I have been told that if a change of any kind is needed in life, just burn an orange candle for 7 nights.

Orange Energy:

While red is associated with fiery heat, orange is associated with the benign warmth of the sun. A dynamic color to be sure, orange offers a more thoughtful control than explosive red. Curiosity is a driving characteristic of orange, and with it comes exploration of new things.

Put some orange in your life when you want:
to spice things up when you feel time is dragging
to become more involved in something
to increase creativity
relief from things becoming too serious. 

Who knew....I guess I will be working on that orange curiosity!
Marianne