My Bead Soup Creation!

This has been quite an adventure for me!  Thanks first to Lori Anderson for hosting this tremendous project.  It's been a lot of fun to participate!  Next I'd like to thank my partner Jane Haag.  She is a very sweet and kind person that I'm so happy to have met...long distantly.  I've enjoyed working with her little works of art so very much.   

Now, I thought I'd start out by showing a couple of teasers so you could get just a taste of what I'm serving up.

Everyone should know by now that I'm not really a jewelry maker.  I made most of the lampwork beads in the necklace and bracelet for this Bead Soup project.  I chose some of my favorites to compliment what my partner sent me.

Hungary Yet?

Double Helix is a silvered glass which when exposed to a reduction flame brings out all different kinds of shimmer.  The main bead in the middle of the top picture is made with two different types of DH glass. The side with Psyche is where you see the green, purple and pink luster.  Triton is the other side with the rich purple luster.  The pinkish beads are made of Aurae, another DH glass that really is sort of unpredictable, sometimes gold, sometimes pink and sometimes a soft magenta!

My partner Jane Haag, sent me the most beautiful silver hammered pieces that she made herself.  I really love how Lori Anderson paired us up, with both of us being artists that create the components of jewelry.

I love what Jane sent me too, and when I saw all the ingredients I pretty much knew what I wanted to do.

If you read one of my blog posts a while back, you know what I mean by "Who am I making this for?"  The answer is, I made it for me.

I've always loved necklaces that have different tiers of strands with kind of a whimsical, random look.  I also like necklaces where you see the exposed silver wire that space out the beads or charms.  So that was my plan.

Looks Good Enough To Eat!

It was a no-brainer that I was going to use the sterling silver flower as the focal (she sent an alternate which I used in the bracelet).  That was the main piece of the bottom tier.  The silver hammered rings were stunning, but she only sent me three!  The challenge there was how was I going to make this work....remember I'm no jewelry designer.  I played around with different ideas and came up with the idea of wire wrapping one of my beads to link two together.  So that was the focal of the next tier.  Finally, on the last tier I used that last ring to attach the sweet little charms together.  Joy, calm, and bliss.....well, not yet.

I could write a book about the struggles I went thru putting it all together, but I know you have other blogs to hop.  Let's just say that I felt that joy, calm and bliss after about 3 weeks working on it...on and off.  I had to get away from it at times to collect my thoughts and think how to solve the many problems I encountered during the construction.

Triple Layer Bracelet with Kazuri Focal Bead

By the time I was finished with the necklace, I was totally exhausted so I got some of that memory wire and started using up what was left of the beads that Jane sent me. 

This is How We Hang!

Since it was necessary for me to show how the necklace would hang around someone's neck. The only person around I could use as a model was my husband, so that was out.  I could have modeled it myself, but naaahh. Please excuse the less than perfect photography.

It worked out fine with the necklace display piece, even though it was dirty.  I covered it with a pretty piece of fabric.  In order to get it to hang right, I had to wrap the back of the necklace around the front, which shows off the lovely clasp that Jane made.

Sorry to have kept you so long.  I did go back and do some editing....really!

Happy Hopping!

Accomplishment

I am proud and relieved to report that I have completed my necklace design for my "Bead Soup."  My reveal date isn't until August 25th, so I can't show it yet.  I just wanted to say that I feel a real sense of accomplishment for having made a complicated (for me) necklace design that actually meets my own standards of craftsmanship!

Most of my friends know that I am not a jewelry maker.  I am a lampwork artist who is totally consumed with making glass beads from colorful molten glass.  I love and appreciate beads made by my friends and heroes, I love jewelry, and I especially love jewelry made with my own beads.  However, when it comes to creating a piece of jewelry myself, I get totally frustrated!  It's so tedious, having to put the little wires through  tiny holes, crimping, closing jumprings so that they don't let go, and messing up and starting over at least 20 times before I get it right.  I also hate it when I ruin a piece of silver, arrrrggghhh!  It's too expensive to waste!  Hence the reason that I rarely make jewelry. 

I went thru a lot of silver wire to create my Bead Soup Necklace, as well as a lot of crimps.  Thank goodness there's a jewelry company that buys back silver that's been wasted.  I think my craftsmanship has improved a bit too!  I'm just so glad that it turned out the way I wanted it. 

When I tell my friends about "Bead Soup" they always ask me, what happens to the jewelry after you do it?  Lori, the Bead Soup Hostess told me that you can keep it!  I guess some jewelry designers sell them, maybe even trade back with their partner, but I do plan to keep mine.  First of all I really like it, and second, there is no way anyone could pay the amount of money that I would have to charge given the amount of time I put into it!  So I guess I'm going to have to go out and find a shirt that would set it off just right!  I guess if someone offered me $200 I'd let it go,...it's worth that much to me anyway.

Soup From Jane!

 Oh boy!  Don't these look like the most yummy ingredients?  I hope my photography is doing them justice.  I certainly took enough different pictures!  But finally, I think I captured the right composition to present Jane Haag's lovely gift in the right light.

Here is a close up view of Jane's handcrafted silver pieces.  This is my favorite part of the soup.  To me, the best part of this challenge is to be able to hold little pieces of art that were made with the heart, soul, and sweat of another artist.

All of these pieces were stamped, soldered and forged by Jane.  The flower will absolutely make the best focal, as she needlessly sent me two.  I keep dreaming up different arrangements for using these pieces in a jewelry design, and I haven't decided anything for sure, but never doubt these will be the highlight of the piece!


Jane sent me a nice selection of ceramic, pressed, and lampwork beads.  They all coordinate with the African Kazuri Bead which is the alternate focal.   I'd never heard of Kazuri beads, but since Jane sent me one as an alternate focal, I knew it must be special.  When I Google'd it, I learned there's a charming story behind these "small and beautiful" works of art. 

She also sent me some jasper cubes to compliment the whole set.  I particularly like the ceramic beads!  They are so earthy, yet they have an organized stripe design on them.  The pressed glass is also really lovely.  I think they will make a nice bracelet combined with the Kazuri bead.

I love the silver leaves and flowers she sent me.  I'm fairly sure these will be used in the necklace I'm going to make with Jane's other silver pieces.  She didn't mention the brass spacers as being her own handy work, but they are stamped and I think they would look neat in an earring design.  I've linked three together and we'll see if that works. 

This is going to be such a fun adventure!  I am VERY glad we have an August 25th reveal date!  If that doesn't give me enough time then I'm just a louse!  

Jane, thank you so much for selecting such a neat collection of your stash to share with me.  I hope I can do it justice.  

Now I'll Show You What I Sent to Jane

 I had a time deciding what I wanted to send her.  I have a lot of beads!  So my strategy was to pick out one of my favorite focal beads and work around that.  Seems logical?  It took me long enough to figure it out.  

This arrangement is the only photo I have.  I just poured the beads and other nick-knacks into a bowl, like soup.  Therefore it is sort of hard to see the details and differences between them.  The focal bead is at the top of the picture, but it doesn't contrast very well with the disc beads.  I bet Jane does a better job of showing them than I have. 

Got My Ingredients!

Yesterday I was excited to receive my package of Bead Soup ingredients from my partner Jane Haag of MJane Designs!

When I opened the package, she presented me with 2 lovely gift boxes wrapped in raffia bows!  It was like having a surprise party!  I guess that's why it's called a Bead Soup Party....duh!

Inside each box were beads, spacers and of course a lovely handmade focal and clasp.  She gave me SO much to work with.  I think I have enough to make a necklace, a bracelet and probably a couple of earrings.  I kinda feel like I was stingy with the ingredients I sent her.  Is it fair to send more extra spices after the initial mailing date?

I don't know how much I can divulge about the contents but I'm sure it's OK to say that Jane has lovely taste!  Lori did a good job of pairing us up because I sent Jane mostly my lampwork beads.  Jane being a silversmith sent me some of her beautiful handmade pieces!  The focal she sent was of course her own work of art, as well as the clasp....I love them!  She sent me some beautiful hammered pieces in silver too.  Each set was labeled as her own, or where they came from....She sent an extra focal that came from Africa, but that wasn't necessary since her own handmade focal was the best thing in the whole package!

I think I've arranged and rearranged about 25 different combinations for a jewelry menu, but I'm sure I'll do about 50 more before deciding since Jane sent so many ingredients!  One thing I'm sure of, is that I will use  all of her handmade silver pieces with my lampwork beads to create my meal; plus use some of the extra beads she sent me as garnish. 

I plan to serve set of earrings as an appetizer.

 A bracelet will be served as the bread (Southern cooks always provide bread with the soup).

The main course will be the necklace because the combination of her silver with my beads will make for a hearty meal.

Don't know if the set will match, but variety is the "spice" of life!  Right?

Bon Appetit!

Just Mailed My Soup to Jane!

My Bead Soup Partner is Jane Haag.  She and I have been in touch, sharing addresses and websites. 


I selected some of my favorite beads with some sweet colors and I already know that she's going to make something absolutely gorgeous with them.


I am now anxiously waiting to see what she sends to me!  She is a silver-smith and she has some really lovely work on her website.  I already know the clasp she will send me will be amazing! 

Bead Soup!

I'm very excited to be a participant in Lori Andersons' Bead Soup Party!  It is my first time and I hope I'm able to put together something interesting for my partner.  

The thing is, I'm not much of a jewelry maker.  I am a lampwork artist and that's where I'd prefer to spend my time.  Now, that doesn't mean I don't have some findings and other necessary supplies to make jewelry, I have to make things with my beads to wear sometimes.  

This past winter, I spent some time with my friend Marie Weulfing who taught me some of her tips and tricks of the jewelry making trade.  She makes lovely pieces, and she's a very good customer!  I'm also one of her good customers since I often give her a handful of my favorite beads and ask her to make me something with them for me. So under her tutelage, I've learned some of the skills I'll need to know to put together something that looks professional.

So in the mean time, I'm on the look out for new ideas  for jewelry designs.  I like to hang out on Etsy and Artfire to look at all the beautiful work that designers put on the web.  There's no end to the inspiration I find there!

While I was in FL this winter, I made so many beads!  I've selected just a few focal beads to show off here.  I will have a hard time deciding which beads I'll send to my partner.  I know that she doesn't have to use all the beads I send to her, but I'm hoping she will.  I'm going to select beads that coordinate.  I'll probably go to Michaels and pick up some cute charms and complimentary elements that should make it easy for my partner to get inspired.  

The Need to Bead

It's been way too long since the last time I wrote.  I have no excuses, just haven't done it.  I usually do it when I'm inspired by other blogger friends.  I guess what I need to do is keep an open tab on my computer to remind me.

I have been in Florida for the last 6 months where I was able to spend a lot of time on the torch.  I had the opportunity to take a class while I was down there with Roscio Bearer.  I also spent some time with my friend Marie Weulfing who is also a bead maker.  I didn't get to spend much time with my friend Shirley Groser, which I regret, but we keep up on the phone and Facebook.  I was really hoping to get to do a little "big glass" work with Rick, but he wasn't doing any classes because he was busy with working on his own body of work.  Maybe next year.

 So, while in Florida I made tons of beads.  I have such a stash I've gotten way too far behind photographing and posting them on Etsy or Artfire.  That's another one of my shortcomings....photography and prepping the photos to be posted online.  Here's a few pics of some of my work.

So as I inserted these pictures, I got very frustrated!  Another reason I have a hard time getting off my butt to write in my blog is frustration!  I really wanted to arrange these photos differently, but they just wouldn't move where I wanted them to, so this is what I got.  

A Community of Hearts

Ever since I started making glass beads way back in 1995, I have met some of the nicest people and made some very good friends who share my interest in lampwork and jewelry.

Something about the people I've met, and some I only know via the Internet, are special in a unique way.  Most of the folks are bead makers who I have admired and aspired to be as skilled as they are.  Some of the people I've come across are jewelry artists who buy my beads to create their special works of art.  I've never met a soul who hasn't given me pleasure to know and share with.

Around 2000 I started teaching lampworking on a HotHead torch at "Stone and Paper Art Studio" in Mandeville, LA.  Mary Elaine Bernard was my boss and she has become one the dearest friends I have.  I made tons of friends who were interested in learning this new medium, and we had a ball doing it.  A couple of my students went on to become very accomplished bead makers!  The point is, having the experience to work with Mary Elaine and all the students I taught was a blessing.  By the way, Mary Elaines son Eddie Bernard is a well known glass blower in New Orleans!  I admired his work for years and through his mother he has also befriended me....but that's another story!

I sort of fell out of the habit of making beads during a troubling time in my life, but when I picked it back up in 2005, I sought out people of like minds to learn from.  Of course that brought me more new friends!  

I started searching out beadmkers in my area.  I found Shirley Groser in Jensen Beach, FL and she and I have become buddies ever since.  She showed me how she does boro and let me give it a try...I found that I was just going to stick to soft glass!  She and I attended out first Gathering together in Louisville, KY.  There I made even more friends, people I've run across on eBay, Etsy, and Artfire.  The Gathering has turned out to be a turning point for me in "gathering" more friends ever since.  I've decided to volunteer to work with the ISGB on one of their committees and I'm going to volunteer 8 hours at the next Gathering in Seattle.  I can't wait!  I'm going with another great friend, Marie Woelfing who I mentioned in my previous blog.

Another big venue I've found for making friends is Beads and More classifieds on Yahoo where I've sold lots of my beads and have found outstanding bargains on jewelry findings, books, tutorials and more.  Today I got a message there that Lori Anderson of "Bead Soup" is giving away some wonderful DVD's! Check out her blog here.......http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/. I plan on participating in her next Bead Soup project.  BaM classifies has been a great place to find friends who share my joy of creation!

All in all, I love to collect friends!  They are better than beads, aren't expensive, and don't break!

To Blog or Not to Blog? That Is the Question!

As an artist who really wants to just sit at the torch all day 

creating little works of art, I see from what my peers are doing, I must do more than that.  I need to focus on putting the sets of beads that I've created together and take pictures of them to post on the web for sale!  I must focus on being more savy about promotion and sales of my work.  I've got work on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/GracefulGlassDesigns ArtFire http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/gracedorsey, and occasionally I post some on eBay, but it's not getting the kind of attention I'd like to see.  

     After looking at some of my peers websites and stores I noticed that most of them have a blog.  They are usually entertaining, some write on things directly associated with the beads they are presently creating, then some go a little off topic and that's kind of interesting.  I do like to expound upon my beads and other topics, so why not create a blog?  Especially if it helps give me exposure, after all my goal is to garner more people to see and buy my work to be incorporated into beautiful jewelry!  

 My forte is really just making beads and not making jewelry with them.  I'm very critical of my own craftsmanship.  Occasionally after spending several hours stringing, re-stringing, twisting, untwisting, wasting materials and blowing my top, I come up with a piece of jewelry that pleases me.  So you will rarely see me making jewelry.  However, I've recently made a necklace that I think is worthy of putting out there for the public to buy and feel confident that it will stay together and have no flaws....that I know of.

 So to get out of jewelry making I found some bottle openers at Michaels that I could put my beads on.  They looked pretty nice, so I gave one away as a gift.  My friend was so thrilled with it she told me that I MUST start selling them.  So I made more. 

Another great find I happened upon at the recent "Gathering" (besides new friends) was a cool mandrel that I could make cabochons with!  When I saw it I had all kinds of ideas for what I could do with it!  The first thing I thought of was purse, or handbag hangers.  I'd seen them used by some of my friends and they were all commercially made, probably in China.  Well mine would be one of a kind!  So I found a supplier and bought a bunch of them and now I've got them on the web and in stores.  Some of the cabochons I made didn't quite fit the purse hangers so I put them up for grabs on "Beads and More" classified.  I've sold a few of those but I wish I'd sold all of them.

So now I've completed my first blog!  I hope I'll find some followers!  

Take care all and if you have any ideas for me, I'm more than open to them.  You can contact me at gracedorsey@att.net.