Bead Soup Blog Party 6 Reveal

Welcome to the reveal for Bead Soup Blog Party 6

The Third Reveal (Aug. 25, 2012).

My swap partner is the awesome Malin de Koning

And we had extra fun with our soup, working from a theme:

A movie called "The Party".

Read more about it HERE.

In this necklace/bracelet I used a lot of the up-cycled and vintage beads that were in my soup from Malin.

I was drawn to the gold and black of these pieces and decided to make a double wrapped bracelet.

Luckily, this bracelet fits perfectly as a choker necklace too.

1.8mm golden leather knotted with all sorts of fun beads.

I think I'm going to need to make more of these (and to make clay beads to go with them!)

This pink, purple, yellow triple strand (long) necklace was a bit of zen experience for me.

I used the Barbara Bechtel (Second Surf) pieces, and Malin's Polymer bead in this one.

I blame all the wire wrapped pieces on hanging around at beading nights with my friend Jenny Davies-Reazor (it's totally the good kind of blame - her work is awesome!).

I had wire wrapped some of the focal beads when I first received my soup, 

but then put the soup away for a while to get ready for Bead Fest Philly.

Then just the other night we had an impromptu Beading Night at my friend Bonnie's house while her very cool daughter was home for a week after just graduating from college - Go Jen!!!

This was the first official bead night that I took Chloe (my 4 year old daughter) with me since we were not planning an extremely late night being on a Wednesday and all...

Chloe helped me make brownies ahead of time.

Jenny brought salad and wine.

Bonnie and Jen made dinner.

Lisa brought the fruit.

It was also a Bead Fest Show and Tell night too!

It was SO delightful to just sit around and work on projects together and chat.

 The funny thing that kept happening to me is that sitting next to Chloe,
her little 4 year old wandering eyes kept looking at my bead stash.
Chloe has her own bead stash, an entire triple stacked bin of beads.
And I knew what was coming as Malin's bright pink, purple, green and yellow beads hit my work station - she kept reaching over into my Bead Soup stash...
"Mom. You have a lot of these pink beads. Can I use them too?"

She was SO drawn to them - all those bright colors...

And at first, that grown up voice in my head said: 

"No. I need those beads for my Bead Soup."

Then as I looked at her, with that creative desire going - how could I tell her no?

(I am trying to be extra aware of how adults can say things in a negative way that can stomp the creativity and self confidence within a person, especially a child.)

And I aim to have my daughter be creative, smart, strong and caring.

Besides, I had SO many beads (thank you Malin!), 

and was probably not going to use up every single one anyway.

So Chloe created a bracelet on her purple Irish Waxed Linen string.

You can see it in the photo above.

It is the bright colored one - in the bottom right corner.

So as I sat yesterday putting the rest of my beads on wire and wrapping then assembling them,

I fully let myself be inspired by the creativity of my 4 year old daughter.

Just the love of the colors of the beads and the way they went together.

It's a good exercise to remember to not stress out about how perfect something is, and to enjoy things as they are and make the best out of what you have in front of you.

And to experiment with things you are not quite familiar with,
then be ok with taking them apart again if you need to.

I took to some more leather knotting and wire wrapping with this quick bracelet.

I used the polymer bead from Maureen Thomas 

and the fiber wrapped copper wire from Nellie Thomas (Yarn Sweet Yarn).

I need to get more of that yarn (Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio sells it for her daughter Nellie)

One of the greatest joys in jewelry making is getting together with a bunch of friends.

Either on a blog hop like this.

A FB group where you can all share and chat.

Or at a friend's house, enjoying being together over a meal and finding things in common to talk about.

It's all comes back to "The Party!"...

Thanks Malin for providing our swap a theme!

And for lots of fun and awesome beads!

Thanks Lori for hosting this wonderful gathering of beady goodness!

And thanks to you, the reader of this post and the many others that are participating in this 6th Bead Soup Blog Party!

Here are the rest of the 3rd Reveal Participants:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 

Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads

Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry

Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems

Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini

Charlene Jacka, Clay Space

Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're 

Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On

Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design

CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations 

Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry

Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog

Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure

Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs

Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia

Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads 

Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads

Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!

Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda

Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy

Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels

Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises

Geneva Collins, Torque Story

Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame

Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential

Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World 

Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It

Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper

Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy

Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez

Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier

Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?

Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs

Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks

Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs

Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu

Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels

Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum

Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems

Judy Riley, Three Red Beads

Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design

Karen Williams, Baublicious

Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!

Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle

Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas

Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time

Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road

Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara

Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry 

Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment

Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs

Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures 

Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta

Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design

Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land 

Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner

Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

My Partner ---> Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin <--- My Partner

Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious

Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading

Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre

Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change

Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs

You Are Here ---> Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio <--- You Are Here

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog

Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival

Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter 

Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua

Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts

Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities

Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts

Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color

Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals

Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner

Penny Neville, Copper Penny

Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs

Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry

Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson

Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place

Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry 

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog

Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do

Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe

Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories

Sarah Goode, Pookledo 

Sarah Small, blog by salla

Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire

Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead

Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs

Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads 

Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick

Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought

Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs

Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created

Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse

Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas 

Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo 

Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

The Marsha and Malin Bead Soup Adventure Begins...

This is my 2nd time participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party - which is in the 6th round.

Lori Anderson's Beads Soup Blog Party

My partner for this round is Malin de Koning.

She is a talented artist (love her jewelry skills!) from Sweden, and she and I have very similar "quirky" sense of humor and outlook on life - which is just perfect if you ask me.

Check out her blog post on our Bead Soup Trade...

Part of my packaging to Malin for our Bead Soup Trade.

 She and I are working on some extra special "themed" soup this year.

Still shot of the "Birdie Num Num" from "The Party" with Peter Sellers.

Our Bead Soup is based on the movie "The Party" with Peter Sellers.

I had never heard of it or seen it until Malin and I were paired up, and she posted "Howdy Partener" on my FB page, followed by a link to the clip, then the full film on YouTube.

As we had a bit of time to pick out our "Bead Soup" for each other, and we agreed that picking a theme would add some extra "spice" to our soup. 

Here is a quick photo of the "Bead Soup" that I sent to Malin.

Artist Beads = Nikki Thornburg (Thornburg Bead Studio) and Marsha Neal Studio.
Silk Painting is Fun Hand Painted 2mm silks (sold by Marsha Neal Studio).
Recycled Sari Silk and Banana Fiber String (Darn Good Yarn)
Square Tube Seed Beads from Twisted Sistah Beads & Fibers.
Indian Silver from Beads Mosaic (Expo USA Inc).
Misc Seed Beads. Mood Beads. Vintaj hoops. Purple Daggers. Purple Turquoise (I believe).

I tend to send a lot of stuff because I traveled for a number of years selling my ceramic beads at bead shows all over the USA. And I have a lot of beads in my "stash". Serious addiction...

And here is the fabulous, groovy selection of Bead Soup that Malin sent to me (photos from her blog):

I want to spend some time here going into the inspiration because on August 25, 2012 when we reveal our final finished projects, I plan on posting mainly photos to speed up the blog hopping experience.

And so here is how this Bead Soup adventure began...

First I sat and watched the entire comedic film (from 1968 - that makes it 44 years old!)

Not that that is "old" but how different is life now than back then.

I was born in 1975, so this time period for me really is based on seeing old photos from my grandparents in their prime adult social life and my parents in their teenage years.

I will see if I can dig up some old photos...

I loved some of the lines in this film (not to mention the colors!)

One of my favorites was when Peter's character says (around 17 minutes into the film):

"I love a good laugh don't you? Makes the world go round. It's good to have a laugh."

I personally think you need to have a good laugh as often as possible to get through this life...

After watching the film, I knew what color palette I wanted to send to Malin.

And pulling from my stash, the items just jumped out at me.

Fast Forward a few weeks: we received each others soup, drooled quite a bit, then started to create...

With the movie loaded in YouTube, and my soup from Malin in hand, I ventured down into my basement studio where I sat down to this craziness.

First thing I did - clean up the mess and give myself some table space.

Then I laid out the soup and turned on the movie.

Immediately the sounds of the period and colors of the outfits and home decor started to come to the surface.

And the comedic awkwardness of Peter's character in so many situations, and how he deals with it - well, let me say - I can relate. I can SO relate...

And the inspiration as a whole - I want to make finished items that could be worn to a party like that - but for today...

Malin's Soup To Marsha

I love how Malin captured SO many of the colors from the film in her soup she sent me.

The dancing girl was great fun to watch. Again - awkward.

To me that dancing girl is going to be relating to these pink and purple beads.

I think the blue green of the pool may come into this piece too.

Pink Purple Palette and Yellow Purple Palette (for two different pieces).

These pieces in these two sets will be worked into necklaces.

I even found a perfect strand of rich muted yellow beads in my stash to go with these!

And there are SO many ideas brewing.

I'm grouping these bits and pieces into related piles that then I will focus on individually.

I plan on create sets that can be worn together.

Here is a peek at couple of almost finished pieces in a color palette I am comfortable working in...

And hello - Spiral! Of course you would be my first pick to work with!

Marsha Neal Studio Bead Soup Peek.

I am very curious to see what comes about from all of these bright colors that I rarely ever work with.

But I'm feeling good about this challenge after a few hours of working on it today.

I feel I should also mention that I am not a sketcher-designer,

but rather a go with inspirational images from my head 

and see-what-comes-out kind of designer.

Let's hope it all works out by the reveal date on August 25th!

Want more of Marsha and Malin's Soup?

I'll be labeling and tagging all my BSBP Round 6 posts.

Follow me on FaceBook for lots of updates!

Thanks for taking the time to read all this!

Happy hopping if you are enjoying your time reading through the Bead Soup Posts!

Bead Soup September 2011 Reveal...

Welcome to my Bead Soup Reveal…

I know there is a lot to see with over 300 entries so I'll keep to mainly photos:

Marsha Neal Studio Bracelets.

Handmade Ceramic Beads & Fancy Jasper.

The small faceted Fancy Jasper Beads from Miri were perfect!

I have been stocking up on jasper stones since April.

Loved using one of my fairy ribbons with these silver & large hole beads...

Even made a slip on bracelet with the extra beads from the Bead Soup...

Here is a group shot of bracelets and necklace from Miri's Soup.

Beads on the work table, finding their place

Snapped with my iPhone during creation of the adjustable bracelet.

These will be my new fall layered look...

And can I tell you that after being part of this Bead Soup 2011…

That I am inspired…

No - obsessed (don't we all go there?)

Inspired to use some of these new beads…

And some of these lentil beads that have been around since last fall…

To make some actual finished work that will be available for sale very soon…

Strange Fruit performing at Longwood Gardens in PA, Sept 16 to 18, 2011.

It is all such a strange dance that we keep going around in isn't it?

I plan on stocking up on more of that Fancy Jasper.

So I need to sell more beads to buy more beads…

Want updates on my beads?

Sign up for my newsletter while you're here.

Thank you Miri for sending me those faceted beauties!

And Lori for hosting Bead Soup for me to have a deadline to work towards…

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure to catch up with the 300+ other bloggers participating in this Bead Soup…

Click HERE to see all my 2011 Bead Soup posts.

Preview for My Bead Soup 2011 Entry...

Want a little preview for what I'm going to be posting on Saturday for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party (blog hop)?

Macro Shot of Marsha Neal Studio Bead Soup 2011 Entry

My color palette inspiration comes from things like this:

Begonias in Marsha's Garden

And I find that just in the last two days of having Riley with me at home,

Poor little guy has had a fever of 102 (2 year molars coming in) and has sinus issues,

That I have really been missing getting outside into the garden this year.

I blame it on the humidity, Aster yellows disease (my poor cone flowers), and my wanting to be in the studio creating and my obsession with figuring out how to make more Etsy sales & be involved with Teams on Etsy.

I feel some big changes coming about for me…

I'm a bit frustrated, and I think the change of seasons is a good place for me to sit and figure stuff out.

You ever get like that?

So, on Saturday, September 17, 2011 is the reveal day for Bead Soup.

There are over 300 people entering it this year.

It will take you lots of time to get through all the posts.

Days if you just click on over now and then (which is how I will do it).

Here is a link for the list of blogs to check out.

My partner is Miri Agassi and we're #137 on the list of 181.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, and just incase you like my beads, and you aren't signed up to receive my email newsletter,

take a moment to sign up because I always send out coupon codes for my Marsha Neal Studio Etsy Shop. 

Maybe once a month if I remember…

You can always like My FaceBook Page too for my quick updates on daily happenings around the studio. There is a coupon code over there too for every day use for my FB fans...

Bead Soup Arrival...

My Bead Soup mix from my partner Miri Agassi arrived on Tuesday in the mail.

We're international partners, and with checking the "yes - I can ship international" when signing up for Bead Soup, you just have to assume that your package just might take a bit to arrive. 

I was totally okay with that...

When the doorbell rang, I was in the studio glazing a bunch of chocolate clay beads that needed to get into a kiln firing.
I had written a 23 point "to do" list Monday night before bed and knew that if I opened it my Bead Soup package at that moment, my list of items would never get done.

Besides, seeing that yellow package calling to me was great motivation.

On Friday, as I was photographing some new beads, I took the opportunity (first time we have seen the sun in days) to enjoy opening my Bead Soup from Miri, and photographing it afterwards.

Just look at this drawing that Miri created just for me.

I am honored to have received a bonus piece of her art with the beads!

I just LOVE the rich muted jewel tone color palette she sent me to work with!

And looking at these…

Holding these…

Ideas start to instantly flood in...

I love that I have these to play with.

And when I see all these teeny silver seed beads,

I hear that crazy bead lady mwa-hahaha cackle in my brain going off…

And images of excited, idea filled hands wrenching comes to mind!

Oh, Miri - this is AWESOME!!!

Thank you for such a wonderful mix of beads to inspire me to play…

Here is a glimpse of what I sent to Miri for her Bead Soup.

You can also check out her blog for Bead Soup Updates…

A couple of the pieces I had sent were destroyed in shipping, but replacements were sent out.

I think this is my second time ever (knock on wood) that pieces have been damaged in shipment.

The only thing with that kind of situation, is that the glaze is never quite the same from different kiln firings. 

So I am curious to see how she pulls it all together.

Lori Anderson hosts Bead Soup on her Blog: Pretty things.

The final project reveal is on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Make sure to stop back to see what everyone has made...