Soup is Ready.....and Here are my Offerings!!

So today is the big unveiling day for the 7th Annual Bead Soup Exchange, and my exchange partner this year was the multi-talented artist/jewelry designer/bead maker Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio.  Click here to see the beautiful beads Karyn sent me to work with, and you can see the beads I sent her.

This is a closeup of the pendant's "hangy dangy", which is comprised of black cord, silver chain, the silver focal medallion Karyn sent along with the beautiful hand-made polymer clay, glazed ceramic, jadeite blue and green beads that Karyn sent.  She also included the silver flower petal beads that are attached to the chain with a bright peacock-colored silk tie and some of my lampworked beads, 2 keys and some copper and silver beads.

Here's a shot of the pendant with 2 matching bracelets and 2 sets of asymmetrical earrings.  This was such a fun color combination to play with and no matter how hard I tried to stay away from bringing the ocean into the theme, I just had to add that double-shell centerpiece on the bracelet in the lower left of the photo. 

Here's a photo of the 2nd bracelet using the lovely silver clasp Karyn sent me.  It goes perfectly with the silver medallion centerpiece on the pendant, which sports an engraving of a Trumpet Vine flower! 

Please forgive the blurred photos of this closeup shot.  In addition to adding the shell centerpiece on the bracelet, I used copper findings with 2 Boulder Opal beads that really "came alive" when set next to the blue and green Jadeite beads. You can see a bit of the blue and green if you look closely!

This was a really fun exchange and I was blessed to have such a talented bead buddy to trade with.  Be sure to click over to Karyn's site to see what she made with the beads I sent, and then continue checking out the rest of the offerings by clicking 7th Annual Bead Soup Exchange - 2nd Reveal .

Dancing with the Stars

"Dancing with the Stars"

20" x 20"

Acrylic on canvas

$325

I'm often asked where I come up with the titles for my paintings and I have to tell you the names just pop into my mind.  It usually happens right before it's time to say "stop" and with this particular painting, the title was screaming to be born.  

I have never watched the popular TV show "Dancing with the Stars" before.  I'm not a dancer....in fact I feel like a bull in a china shop on the dance floor and haven't danced in years.  Yet this phrase kept making itself known as I was putting the finishing touches on this piece that I had started at my SF workshop a couple of weeks ago.

So I tell myself I need to go with the name because it's what my "Muse" wants me to do.  And there's nothing worse than a pouting Muse......so here's the last painting in my purple series (for now).  I suppose if you really look closely at the drips on the right, you can sort of maybe see a couple of dancers with their arms wrapped around each other, dancing in the moonlight underneath the stars....or not!

7th Bead Soup is nearly here!

The reveal for the 7th Bead Soup Exchange is nearly here and I'm embarrassed that I'm so behind in keeping you up to date on everything.  First of all, let me tell you about my exchange buddy, Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio from South Bend, Indiana.  Karyn has a BFA in fine art and is a freelance jewelry designer and illustrator.  She creates these fabulous earthy, organic polymer beads and has a blog called Plus Size Bangles


In addition to designing jewelry and beautiful beads, Karyn is an amazing illustrator!!  Here's one of her illustrations.....isn't this young lass just lovely?

Several weeks ago, Karyn sent me a carefully wrapped package filled with some of her creamy polymer beads and more!!  Check out the huge stash below - its simply gorgeous.  How did she know these are my favorite colors on earth to work with????  In addition to the polymer lovelies, silver caps and tulips, there are some green and blue glass beads and some pretty ceramic "donuts."  The clasp is a beautiful silver flower and the focal is a Trumpet flower with a fancy design etched around the edges.

I had a really tough time deciding whether to go with something ornate and floral-looking; or an ocean/beach theme or just embrace the beauty of the organic shapes and designs.  Unfortunately, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next week to find out.......our magnificent hostess Lori Anderson took ill and had to postpone the reveal until next Saturday, April 13th.  We're all sending good juju to Lori wishing for a quick and full recovery.

So before I sign off, here's a photo of my humble bead offerings I sent to Karyn.  I'm excited to see what she makes with these little guys......the focal is a lampworked glass bi-cone bead that is annealed and etched along with another etched glass bead, and a bunch of "support" beads. 

Be sure to check back next week for the big reveal -- you can find it right here or on Karyn's blog, or the official Bead Soup blog.