Saturday, February 26, 2011

Oh Happy Day -- Reveal Day










I am so excited that today is here. I cannot wait to start hopping around and seeing everyone's beautiful work. Oh inspriation abounds!
Here's a link to all instructions for the bead soup that was painstakingly organized by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things. She deserves a medal for all her hard work, what a huge undertaking to make this happen and pair up 210 participants.
Lori has the date for the next soup as August, boohoo. I will be on vacation that month and won't have time to participate. I'll just have to sit and drool over everyone else's fun!

My partner is Lynne Bowland from Islandgirl's Insights, she's a lovely lady who is also from the east coast of Canada. She is an incredibly talented beadmaker, or should I say glass artist and sent me the most gorgeous beads to work with, she made this challenge easy for me.

Here's what I made with her beads. Photo #1, the three strand necklace was my first attempt. I kind of liked it but it was just too much for me. I am more of a single-strand girl, I guess. I love what others make with multi-strands but I just wasn't diggin' my own. So back to the drawing board and came up with #2. Now I like the second one much better and I really like the wire wrapping effect. Remember I am new to jewellry making and the wire wrapping is a new technique to me.

Photo #1 The one I took apart!
I tried to twist the three strands together, but , blach...
I do like the knotted strand, that was an easy technique I will definitely be using again. A good learning experience overall!











And here's the keeper.
I love doing the wire wrapping technique, although I do need more practice at it. I am not usually a symetrical kind of girl so this was challenging for me to make it balanced. I prefer the willy nilly look! Anyway, like I said these beads were easy to work with and have swayed me over to the blue side. I never really liked blue much before but know I find myself looking for more blue beads and ideas. I can't wait to make something summery in turquoise!!


So here's the link for all the others, I would love to see some more beginner beaders work. I have so many of you pros saved and LOVE all your work. If you leave a comment, and I hope you do, let me know if you're new at this too!!

64 comments:

  1. Oh I love it when people show their first starts -- really like the final design you came up with. Nice work!

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  2. you did great!! thanks for showing us the first try and the final . I like your decision.

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  3. Your piece turned out really cute! Wonderful job!

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  4. I agree that the first one isn't half as lovely as the second try! Much more refined and elegant!!

    GREAT JOB!!

    Sig

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  5. Aw, I like the first one better, actually, although not by too much. ;) They are both lovely and it's impressive that the same beads could be used in such different ways to stunning results. The most important thing is that you, as the designer, are satisfied with the finished results. It takes a brave person to be able to take hard work apart like that. :) Lovely work all around.

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  6. Love your keeper. Blues and copper do so well together and your combinations of chain, links and bead look so good together.

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  7. They are both lovely, but I do like the second one better! :) Good job!

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  8. I love both pieces but the second chance steals my breath away! Blue and copper--favorites of mine! WOW! I just am blown away by your creativity!

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  9. I thought I commented here first thing this morning but I obviously moved on without uploading... I think my beads look great with the copper... but then I used more or less the same colours in the necklace I made from your beads! I would have liked to see the first necklace without the seed bead strand....

    Great JOB!

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  10. Looking good. The first one also had great potential.

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  11. I love both pieces and they look like you had fun making them. Beautiful

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  12. You did a lovely job and we all have pieces that we take apart and start over. We learn and we get better. So pretty!

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  13. I do love it, seems like it always takes a few tries for me too.

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  14. I wish I had taken pictures of the ones I considered failures! They are both lovely but the second one definately shines! Beautiful!

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  15. I like the 2nd one the best, too! But I agree -- it's good to just go for it and try new things, and look, you learned a new skill!

    THANKS for participating!

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  16. I love how it turned out! It's beautiful! Great job! :)

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  17. Great design - love that big oval link........

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  18. I'm fairly "new"... I own all the fixings, but beading takes the back burner, to my rubberstamping, altered books, and paper obsessions! But I love all of it! So glad to see your 1st necklace that you ended up taking apart and then the finale'! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. Both are very pretty! Great work!

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  20. You did a great job, both are amazing....

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  21. I like the second one more too, the color combinations are perfect

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  22. Hi, I love what you did with your bead soup, beautiful! I am new to the blogging bit, I started my blog at the start of this year but have been making jewellery for much longer. Its great to meet you!

    Deb x

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  23. I love the strands of seed beads in the first piece, but the wirewrapped second piece is great. The filigree link and chain add a lot of interest. Bravo!

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  24. You're definitely right about the keeper, it's a very professional looking piece and I do like the closure on the side. Clever! smile, Virginie ViviBijoux.com

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  25. Hi Lisa, I had to smile because I am multi-strand challenged too. I try but it never seems to have the great look I see in other peoples work. I think your keeper is right on target. I love it and you made Lynne's beads look beautiful.
    Ema

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  26. I like them both!! You did a fantastic job with the bead soup mix you were given...It's Soup-er!!!

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  27. You did an amazing job! Love them. Congrats.

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  28. I love this color combo: blues and browns. It seems to be very popular with our soup makers. Great job!

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  29. Yes I def like the 2nd try even tho the 1st one was nice. Youve made such a lovely Necklace! For a beginner this is really lovely! Your wire wrapping will become better and better as you go along. This is so nice and a beginner? You did a HOT Soup!

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  30. I really enjoyed seeing your first attempt. I also am multi-strand challenged! The second one is stunning.

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  31. you did a wonderful job, just doing you! great idea to stretch your imagination first thought...i love your finished necklace!

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  32. I agree. The second one is fantastic! Great job.

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  33. I like both pieces!
    I really appreciate seeing many of the same beads used two very different designs!
    Thank you for sharing your creative process! EXCELLENT Soup!
    m.e. :)

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  34. I like both pieces! Love those colors!

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  35. i have been hop hop hopping like the energizer bunny and finally #90 on my list Hello fellow Canadian!!, Lisa i love what you have created with your bead soup copper is my fav, i am new to blogging so i am not quite set up with pics of my own designs yet. i have added u to my follow list look forward to blogging with you ttfn Lana from Ontario Canada :)

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  36. I think you did really well and I hate to say this but I really liked your first design the most. I love the movement in it and the placement of the focal off center. I really admire the designers that can pull off fantastic asymmetric designs. They are challenging. I still consider myself new to this and have never taken a beading class. I am completely self-taught so don't worry. You are doing just fine!

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  37. I love your second try! I love the glass beads, they are great!

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  38. I love your necklace the second design is the keeper that's for sure, I would definitely wear this one!

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  39. So beautiful friend, I love this necklaces & what you did with your SOUP! Simple Stunning!!! ;)
    Thanks for sharing...
    Susie

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  40. Beautiful job Lisa, I liked the first one you put together too!! I like blue too, especially the turquoisey blue!! My bracelet is available if you really want it.

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  41. Nice work! I had to rework mine a couple of times before I was totally happy too.

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  42. What fun. I like both of your designs, but think you made the best choice to show off the beads by picking the second.

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  43. You know what I like most about this? That you were honest with yourself and us that sometimes things don't always turn out the way you expect! That is a very valuable learning experience. And it is still fun to participate in. And good practice!

    Off to hop some more... might be until Easter, but I will get it done! ;-)
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  44. That's a really great idea to show your first creation! I liked your first draft, but the second one is awesome. Well done, you're gonna be a great jewellery maker!

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  45. Love your persistence on achieving perfection. Beautiful creation, it all just flows perfectly... stunning :0)

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  46. I like both of them, but I have done exactly that...worked a piece to death, then hated it, took it apart, and the 2nd version makes itself! Lovely work!

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  47. I see where you were going with the first piece, but I'm not really a multi-stand girl myself. So, I understand your need to remake it. That second attempt though. . .SCORE!! It's a beauty. You'd never know you were new at this. Keep it up!!

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  48. I do like both pieces but have to admit I do like the second piece better! Definitely a keeper! Well done!

    Karyn
    Australia

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  49. Oh, what a gorgeous necklace! Turned out phenomenal :)

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  50. Great work! I can't tell you how many times I've made a piece and then completely taken it apart and re-worked it. Great idea to take a photo of your first attempt! That second one really is perfect!

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  51. Great beads, I definitely like the second version of the necklace better. I agree it was a great idea to take a photo of your first attempt, I never think of that.

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  52. That's lovely! I think you were right to switch to your second design :)

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  53. Lovely necklace! I really like the colours and the design, feels crisp.

    It was interesting to see your first attempt as well. I liked seeing a glimpse of the process behind how a creation is born.

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  54. Girl...you did good!! Don't feel like you're alone in the newness...taking things apart and practicing wire wrapping and loops will never get old! haaaaaaaaaaa I've only been around it a few years and consistency is always a challenge. :)
    Just keep focusing on the bliss of being creative!
    Take care!!!
    Jen

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  55. I reworked my first attempt also! I didn't think to post it...good idea. I like the second one better. Very nice composition and balance. Beautiful wire work! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. So nice of you!

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  56. Oh, I love the end result! Second piece is definitely a keeper! Great job!

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  57. Very nice job on both of them. I kinda like the airy feel of the first one- but then if you would never wear it what good is that. Your wire wrapping looks good too. I have been beading for a while now and the wire wrapping is not for me- maybe it is your "thing"
    Alice's Beads and Baubles
    As with everything it takes time to find your "thing"- Mine is off loom bead weaving.

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  58. Just lovely, both of them! I love long necklaces though so I would have to say I prefer the second one at a push!

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  59. I did like the first one, but agree that the second is better. I'm also new to the whole beading/jewelry thing, so you're not alone! I'm also still trying to finish hopping to all of the blogs! Glad I found a fellow newbie!

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I love reading your comments and thanks so much for stopping by.