Hello friends!
Well today is the big day! How did you do? Did your designs just jump onto your bead table and transform into amazing creations?
I will just give a quick re-cap of things before my reveal. My very talented partner is Jael Thorp of Jael's Jewels. She sent me these amazing beads with which to work! She really spoiled me!
So believe it or not, I broke the rules! Shame on me! It's been a crazy time. I just recently moved and ran into a run of interesting problems to say the least with my studio still sitting disassembled in my garage :( You can read about the "demon sink" episode here. Nothing kills creativity like stress! Ick.
So I did something I don't normally do. I took on more things than I could "handle". If any of you know me you know I am NOT what I call a "pressure cooker"(the people that work best under pressure) or a procrastinator. Lately in life I have had to let things go, give up my plans, go with the flow, and "fly by the seat of my pants". This is really challenging for me, but provides me with some good balance.
So how did I break the rules? I didn't use our "required" pieces to design my soup. I looked at it like this. I figured I would just start with the things that inspired me and hopefully putting those things together would keep that good energy going.
During one of my morning meditations. Jael's heart beads came into my mind with this design around them. I recalled a pair of earrings my friend Melissa had made that looked very henna patterned with lots of negative space. This is the design that popped into my head. When I got done with my meditation I sat down to create these earrings! I call them "Sunshine Lotus" earrings.
"Loving Lotus Rays" -Jael's hearts with the faces and petals make me think of flowers and suns. This design works both as flower petals or sun rays. The earrings are surprisingly light for their size and I just love the negative space and repetition of the petal/ray shape in the design.
Polymer clay heart beads- Jael's Jewels
Patinated hoops- Starry Road Studio
Raku Wooly Wire- Wooly wire Etc.
Here is what they look like worn. Amazing, huh?! I really love the look of them! Now I am inspired to make another pair of these with my lotus beads inside!
My next design I totally fell in love with! I was on a super beachy theme of beads so I blame that for my desire to create this piece.
Here are some of the beads from my beach collection.
This was the bead that was really talking to me. I just love this sweet little ocean and shore bead. Don't you just love the little waves lapping up onto the sand? The shimmer of the glitter? The color faded waves, sandy texture and shell? Yep, I love it all!
Here is my design in progress.
Here is a close-up of the "cord" part of the design. I just love all of the details! I was especially pleased with how I rocked those tumbled recycled glass hoops from Trinket Foundry! There are no holes in the hoops for stringing materials. I make swirl centered wooly wire connectors to make the hoops into a chain, and then used hemp to suspend the recycled glass rounds across the center :D
I love the contrast of the bone beads and fish vertebrae along with my stone textured lampwork and the shimmer of the raku beads by Xaz. I chose a hill tribe copper simple hook clasp to stay on that oceany primitive theme. I didn't want anything to fussy or fancy for the clasp.
For the pendant I wanted to create a long dramatic focal point. I used one of Karen's gorgeous flower hoops at the top with one of my ocean beach stone jewel wing dings, and Jael's beautiful beach bead at the bottom.
I call this one "99 problems, but a beach ain't one". This necklace is a bit hard to photograph in some sort of normal sized photo since the pendant is so long. I think this shot really got all of the details in one photo.
Beach shore bead- Jael's Jewels
Ocean Beach Stone Jewel Wing Ding, spiral beach stones "white sands" coins, and beach stone spacers "sandy fossil"- Genea Beads
Flower hoop focal- Starry Road Studio
Raku rounds- Xaz
Recycled Glass hoops- Trinket Foundry
Here is what the necklace looks like worn.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Want to see what everyone else created? Check out our other participants here.
Happy Hopping!
xo Genea
124 comments:
You did a truly amazing job, Genea. I'm blown away.
Thanks so much Jael! Your beads are amazing! I wish I could have gotten more created. xo Genea
Such a beautiful soup and the necklace enhances the beauty of those beads, just fantastic. I love those earrings big time.
Gorgeous necklace. I love anything with a beach theme.
I love what you've done with your soups. Its' all so beautiful ^_^
Amazing "ocean" necklace! congrats!
Beautiful Genea - the necklace is absolutely beautiful! Such an unique piece!
Fabulous! Love both the earrings and the necklace!
Beautiful pieces! I love all the colors and textures! Nicely done!
Rachel
WOW! you got the motherlode of bead soups! I think the earrings are my favorite! Fantastic work!
LOVE the necklace. I would wear it every single day and never take it off, ever ever ever. :D
Wow! Beyond fabulous! Wiping drool off the keyboard.....
Beautiful pieces! I LOVE that focal!
WOW! I love your designs. And how you used my components and Nellie's WoolyWire. Jael Thorp's beads are awesome and you really rocked them!
Holy wow is that focal amazing or what ???? Every one of your pieces is breathtaking !
Your designs rock!! Love what you made with your Bead Soup. Which is a great one, by the way.
Wowza! Beautiful soup ingriedents and lovely creations from them, That focal is amazing!
it's beautiful!
I love your earrings and necklace. Love the necklace name!! When I first saw the earrings, I thought you had made the metal "flower" frame, and then I saw the petal part is WoolyWire. I love it!!
Holy smokes that necklace is fantabulous!!! Love what you created with that focal pendant! I also love your earrings - love what you created!!!
Oh god, those earrings are so beautiful, but the beach...how can you not love a beachy necklace...and yours is so full of incredible details, from materials to shapes. Simply amazing.
That focal on the necklace is awesome, I love how you designed around it without compromising its beauty, and those earrings......FABULOUS!
I'm in love with your seashore necklace, that bead is stunning!
OMG that beach focal!! That and your design talent makes for some amazing bead soup creations!
Well honey you sure didn't let anything dampen your creativity. Your soup was just yummy it sure wet my appetite. What that brilliant brain of yours designed and created is more than amazing it is gorgeous, beautiful and I actually heard and felt the beach in that one design. ty so much for sharing..
Such beauties - love beachy themes and you have beautiful designs! :)
Fabulous soup you got from Jael and very original designs as a result - great work.
Gorgeous pieces and I love how you have used them all!! That long beach bead is really something and you put it all together so beautifully with lots of your won luscious beads!!
Fabulous soup! Love the necklace! Everything is amazing!
That focal bead is out of this world - and your work - well, WOW. The earring you made after your meditation are spectacular and so original. Love them!
This is a very nice collection. The "wave" bead is amazing. Beautiful job!
Such creativity! Wow! Beautiful designed! Your rocked it! Really Really Soup-er!
Thank you to everyone for your kind words, comments, and stopping by! I will be e-mailing everyone that left me a comment personally as I know how hard it would be to go back to each blog to see if anyone has written back :) xo Genea
Lovely and unique pieces!! I love the wooly wire in your pieces!
good gracious, you have talent! love the earrings and their uniqueness and that necklace, breathtaking!!
Well done, you did a great job! I love the necklace so beachy beautiful!
beautiful stuff! I love them BOTH! I am a beachy type gal myself (I grew up in FL), and my daughter is a yogie she would love those earrings, as I do!
wonderful pieces~~~very creative
Oh I so love both of your pieces, I now want to play with woolly wire!!
The ocean breathes life into my soul so when I can't be near it, I try to surround myself with reminders of it. Is it any wonder I love your beachy creation?
Those earrings are to die for!!! Love the uniqueness of your necklace, i love asymmetrical designs and yours is stunning.
beautiful necklace...
Hi Genea,
those earrings are just stunning!!
and the necklace too !! You made a fantastic tasty job with this soup
and You got some nice beads to work with for sure :-) from Your partner... and those You make
xo B
What gorgeous beads, and you used them so beautifully! I absolutely adore the flower earrings with the heart centres.
Gorgeous creations! I always love your work and these designs are no exception. I think my favorite are the earrings...those beads are fantastic and you really made them stunning!
I love what you did with that beautiful focal bead =)
Great work, Genea! I love the ocean necklace, it's stunnig! Thank you for working with the wooly wire (and the link), I didn't know this before.
Amazing!!! Those earrings are beautiful, but the necklace ... oh and ah ... it's fabolous!!
Alenka
What a beautiful beautiful necklace, amazing colours and such a ♥great design... it must be very special and fun to wear!
Well you were certainly insired to create with this soup I love the beach scene necklace gorgeous! But what interesting fuzzy wire? you used for the earrings what fun!
Jackie
Beautiful pieces!
Wonderful necklace design. I can picture myself on a beach lounging in a chair when I look at it. Gorgeous!
Beautiful! Love that long pendant look. Great job.
Awesome designs! I love the details of the earrings, so fun to see hoops that aren't worn as hoops if you know what I mean, but love the open feel. The details on the necklace are divine, love all those textural combinations. Great job considering the moving etc, hopefully it will feel like a great home in no time
Great soup and fantastic pieces you created!
After all you've been through, I can't believe you made such amazing pieces with such terrific detail! I LOVED the beach and shell bead when I first saw it and am doing a trade with Jael to get one! And you KNOW how much I love your beads -- your style has developed so beautifully since the time I first did Cup of Bead Soup with you!
Here's to much less stressful days for you! Thank you, dear friend.
I just knew you'd come up with a stunning design and you didn't disappoint. You make magic! And Jael's beads...well...she's good. The two of you together is a dangerous combo!
Hey Lori!
You know I did sit around and feel sorry for myself and stress out, and in the end I realize that these things are just annoying and they will pass(although that just doesn't make the stress dissolve). Then I think of people like you Lori who struggle with their health and thing how can I complain and be upset and annoyed with things that are out of my control when you are in a fight with your own body? It is me who admire you my friend. How you even get up out of bed some days makes you such a brave person indeed!
Thanks so much! I got lucky. I really wanted to connect with Jael's super intricate and colorful pieces, but I just went with the ones that talked to me. These ideas for the pieces I did create just flooded in with such details I had to sit down and get them together. I did too! I have this love of the beach and ocean for some reason even though the ocean terrifies me(all the creepy stuff living under waves you can't see with icky stuff touching your feet. *dies*). Maybe it's because my star sign is Cancer? How awesome! I am glad you are getting yourself a wonderful little shore bead! I do! Thank you so much! I am honored to have traveled with you on my bead career where you have been able to see me grow <3
and to you my dear friend, Wishing you peaceful pain free days. xoxoxo Genea
Ginger-Thanks so much Ginger! I had my doubts. Stress can really stifle creativity! I'm so glad you enjoyed my design. Thanks for your kind words! She is! I just love the intricacy and colors in her work! Ha ha ha! Yes, we are! Thanks so much for stopping by. xo Genea
If you don't see a comment back to you here, I emailed. I know how hard it would be to come back to every blog to read your response! Thanks so much for everything! You all rock my socks! xo Genea
Gorgeous designs, I love how you have used your soup. The focal beach bead is fabulous and you put the necklace together so beautifully. Cheers!
Lori in Atlanta
You really got some great stuff out of that bead soup. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Hannah Rosner
http://goodrivergallery.blogspot.com
The necklace is completely drool-worthy! So lovely and tactile!
I am I am blown away by all the talent that is coming from the participants in Bead Soup 8. You did an amazing job with your soup. And you have some yummy things left to work with. I love the earrings.
asymmetrical designs are the best!!! i especially love the finished earrings and you're right, the beach/shell bead is really gorgeous.
Wow wow and wow, beautiful, I can't even pick a favourite, although I do adore those lotus earrings. The beach bead and the necklace it is on is amazing. x
I can almost hear the waves and smell the salt... It took me a second on that focal.. I was like... what?!!! NO way! That's a slice of beach on a pendant. It's absolutely beautiful. You composed it beautifully! Another thing- this wooly wire stuff- it intrigues me and I love the earrings you made.
I looooooove those earrings Genea. And I looooooove the necklace too. I loooooooove how you use and combine beads and components in such creative and fun ways. Looking at your designs makes me wanna rush right into my studio and start creating. So inspired :-).
Love the Beach-themed necklace! Such a statement piece :)
Both designs show a great eye for the detail. Both pieces are stunning, the necklace just gave more room for adding those little details. Love the wooly wire swirls! Very ingenious links there :)
Both of your designs are creative and wonderful!
Love that beachy soup and your beachy beads! You created a beautiful piece!
Your pictures are great, so are your own beads. I live at the beach and love your sea creations.
Your wonderful design for the lotus/sunshine earrings is fab.
I love how you used the wooly wire as connectors doubled with the hemp really compliment the glass connectors.
Two fabulous designs.
Beautiful designs!!! I really love the necklace with all the details. I think the earrings are very fun and pretty!!! Have a Blessed Day!!!
I remember when you showed that beach bead with the polymer clay waves and that was so inspiring! What you did with it is dynamite! I adore the swirly wooly wire....squee! I never would have thought to use it like that. And it plays so well with all your other pieces, especially your wind dings! Those earrings are such a great design. Again, with the wooly wire! You are a marvel, Miss Genea. I love how your mind works! Thank you for sharing your talents with the 8th Bead Soup. Enjoy the day! Erin
You definitely got the beachy vibe down! Great job! I especially like the 3 glass hoops with the green beads, hemp & wooly wire connectors ... so creative!
Beautiful designs. Love those earrings. Yes, you need to make more lotus flower earrings. I need a pair. Or maybe I only want them? Same difference, right?
Beautiful! That is really a stunning focal you got to play with, and I think you did it justice :)
You definitely have a real vision and talent for designing one of a kind pieces that make a statement. These pieces were no exception. I can't wait to see what you come up with for the rest of the soup, when things finally start to settle down for you (and I do hope they do soon! I know how awful stress can be.)
Beautiful necklace and ocean beads! I absolutely love the earrings and cant wait to see the lotus ones :)
Awesome! My fav is the necklace! I feel 'the wave'! (Beach wave, not sink wave!)
that wooly wire looks so interesting! both pieces are amazing but I have to say the earrings are my fav. They look so fun and light! hope you get your workspace up and running soon - and stress really does kill creativity, but sometimes the procrastination can make you create something you never would have thought of before!
Alainn- Oh it's so much fun with which to work. Have you gotten to try some wooly wire yet? I did a video tutorial on finishing the ends and doing a wire wrap. You can see it here.
I am super excited to be teaching a class on wooly wire at Bead Fest Philly in August! It's going to be so much fun! Thanks so much! They really are! They just look large due to the negative space. Me too! Omg it really does! Oh man I will be on a roll as soon as I get back up and running! Thanks for stopping by. xo Genea
Oh wow.... Wooly Wire looks like FUN! Hooray, new materials to discover! That focal bead is just gorgeous, and I love the way all the elements of that necklace play together!
Such a talent, I love your pieces. The ocean bead goes so well in your necklace. Well done!!
Love the earrings - such a creative idea to make flower petals that way! And the long beach focal - AMAZEBALLS! That is just gorgeous and you designed a great necklace around it!
Your "99 problems..." necklace is a piece of art!
absolutely adoooooore that necklace, seriously a masterpiece!
Rules sometimes are meant to be bent. I love the inspiration for the earrings, they are fab!
Oh holy cow Genea, that is so awesome. I love them so much! The beachy necklace is just... holy wow. Pardon while I flail with tiny dinosaur arms for a second. THe lotus earrings, also super cool. Beautiful job!
Hooo yeaaah... another awesome pieces to keep me hopping blogs.. Your necklace is a piece of art.. every detail is a statement.
WOWZER!!! Love it! Nice to see another Kansas Citian in here!!! Beautiful work
Lovely designs - you've made me want to go play with wooly wire now lol ;)
Dear Genea, your jewelery is a dream. The necklace in the holiday mood and the earrings are just to shine. Both are so unique and amazing. Fantastic! You have a new fan :)
pretty pieces
Absolutely gorgeous pieces! Love that necklace, I'm all about the "beachy".
Really nice use of the wooly wire in those earrings. Your necklace is amazing!
beautiful! Love that beachy necklace
Looking at what you made I can almost feel the whispering of an ocean and a warm sand under my feet! (:
Great bead soup to begin with, and you made wonderful pieces with it. I love your necklace and seeing your process in putting it together. I can put off a trip to the sea for a bit longer now that I've seen that design!
OK, I love it all, but that necklace with the beach center....oh my goodness!!! I have to say, that is my favorite! How lucky were to to get such a great soup to design from....and design you did!!! AMazING!! ~KM
Love that necklace! Asymmetry perfectly done!
What a great soup. That necklace is gorgeous. I love all the various elements in it. Looks very beachy to me. Like the ribbon and the wooly wire to hang the glass rounds.
you did an amazing job setting this beautiful focal into scene!
Great blend of mixed media! I love the bohemian assemblage style, it is warm and earthy. Your pieces have a lot of interesting textures to them which draw your eyes completely around the design. Great organic nature to the designs.
Genea, I LOVE your aesthetic so much. I want to wear those earrings to Lightening in a Bottle (which, sadly, I'm not going to). It's all so beautiful!
Your focal necklace is amazing. Love all of its elements.
Gorgeous work and soup! The wave focal is amazing.
Fabulous! But then pretty much everything you make I love. The earrings are adorable. Great use of the wooly-wire and negative space. I especially love the combination of that yellow flower ceramic with the polymer beach focal. It looks like the sun shining on the beach. And of course your mix of textures is brilliant as always.
Hi Genea,Your "Sunshine Lotus" earrings are very cool. "99problems, but a beach ain't one" is awesome. It is one of the best pieces I have seen in this hop. Using wooly wire to link the sea glass hoops was very creative and it added great texture. The lampworked waves on the beach bead is fabulous.Wonderful job using your soup.
Love those sunshine lotus earrings and the beach themed necklace is what we all need after this long winter. I'm sure nobody noticed that you broke the rules. Besides you have a good excuse with moving house in the midst of all this partying. Beautiful work.
Love what you did with the soup. The earrings are simple yet eye catching and the necklace is definitely a summer statement piece.
I love all the gorgeous beads and the necklace is exquisite!!! I'd love to wear it at my daughter's home in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Bravo!!
Love the beach focal! I don't know about breaking the rules, I think the only thing you broke was a mental block :)
Beautiful soup and wonderful pieces!
The necklace you made is fantasticly inspiring!! Great for summer!!
I really love the earrings! So nice! And the ocean and shore bead is simply amazing. Well done!
Excellent soup! I love the necklace, would look right at home on my neck here in Florida.
veradesigns.blogspot.com
Your beach necklace is awesome! But I'm in love with the earrings, so cool!
I absolutely love that focal, it is fabulous, as is the work you created with it! Great job!
Genea, you made lovely designs despite your stressful circumstances :) Your necklace is outstanding and the earrings are inspired!
That beach necklace is killer. Awesome work.
Nice necklace! Love turquoise jewlery :) I'm actually organising a mass bead soup where all the crafters get the same set of beads :) i think it ll be really cool too see what 10s or even 100s of people make with the same beads! planning to send out the beads 2 aug with designs revealed end aug. Would be cool if u d like to take part (details on https://hapinesswherever.wordpress.com/bead-soup/) :)
Both the earrings and necklace are beautiful. Love all the sea theme beads. Also, you do cool things with wooly wire, something I haven't played with yet.
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