First, I have to say that participating in my first ever Bead Soup Blog Party has been a blast! Thank you so much Lori Anderson from Pretty Things for setting this amazing experience up for me and other beaders like me!
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| by Karin Slaton |
I was paired up with Karin Slaton from Back Story Beads. Her site is full of amazingly intricate, and thoughtful seed bead woven designs. I have to say that at first glance, I was intimidated. I know find this really funny because if you read her initial post, it seems she felt the same way! I may own a bead store, but as many store owners will tell you, we hardly ever bead anymore! I've always gravitated toward the instant gratification, shall we say, style of beading. I know how to weave, know all my stitches, have even taught (gasp!) beginner classes on it over the 18 years we've been here. But I am always in awe of bead weavers who always have a project going & can whip around a free-form cab faster than I can get my kids off to school in the morning. Anyway, Karin is clearly a very talented bead artist & I was very excited to be paired with her.
And then I got my beads!
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| Pretty Packaging with my Bead Soup |
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| Carved Horn & Tibetan Beads |
Talk about Christmas. And again, you might think me jaded. Actually, I'll confess. I AM jaded! I see beads 12-20 hours a day, 6-7 days a week & pretty much year round... well, I see them a lot. And beads of all kinds. However, the beads Karin chose for me were so varied from the typical beads I work with & even more impressive, not typical of the types of beads we carry here at The Beadin' Path. One thing that was really cool however, is that she sent me some amazing carved beads. I believe they are carved from horn, but they have similar qualities to a vintage carved Bakelite bead. I love my plastics & hardly ever work in 'naturals'. So this was the perfect cross-over bead for her to send. And here's the funny part: I sent her carved jet beads, along with her mixture of lovelies. We must have been on the same wavelength!
You have to see the lovely packaging & labeling she took time for. Another reason, this was such a fun package to receive.
OK, my finished piece:
I'm thinking I might rework one section of chain & add in some more of the aged brass. But I'm wearing my necklace to work today & I have the rest of the staff drooling over it & claiming they're going to steal it off my neck. That's a good sign. They're jaded too!
Thank you Karin & thank you Lori!
Can't wait for the next Bead Soup Blog Party!
20 comments:
That turned out very nice. I like the chain you added to the beads and the assymetry of it. Also the length. I like long necklaces. I can see why your co-workers/friends want to steal it from you.
Very neat, very earthy. It's great to hear that both you and the others who work in your store can still be impressed.
Very nicely done - very versatile and wearable!
Your piece looks wonderful! A great bold statement piece:)
I love all you have cooked up with your soup. Nice job with the design.
Depending on how tihs necklace is positioned around the neck, you can end up with several different styles. Good work!
Love the carved look beads...and they go so well with the brass....very nice ethnic look.
jenni
LOVE long necklaces! I can that with more chain but I like it as is, too! I am also a fan of chunky beads and have LOVED the ones I've bought from your store.
I hope you'll play again!
Oh my gosh! I love, LOVE what you did, Heather! So looking forward to my upcoming trip to Maine - The Beadin' Path will be one of my first destinations!
Your design is fantastic! I love the longer length and the mix of beads and chain styles. Great year round piece. Well done!
oh, this is so fun! I love the big, chunky beads w/ the chains
Super lovely piece!
Lovely necklace! I really like the different charins. Great job!
Pretty pretty! I love the juxtaposition of the large beads and the chain.
Lovely colors & mix of chain!
Yes, I might have to arm wrestle you and your store staff for that necklace, too, if I was only close enough -- it's really cool!
Glad you broke out of your jaded trck and enjoyed the beads you received. Very interesting.
love it! i wouldn't change a thing! it has great style and versatility!
Love the asymmetrical design that showcases your beads. I love it!
Glad you included the picture of you wearing your necklace becausevthe beads are -much- larger than I'd realized from the earlier pictures.
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