My partner for this year’s hop is the talented lampwork artist Maryse Fritzsche -Thillens of Glass Bead Art and this is the fabulous bead soup she sent me all those weeks ago – not just a beautiful selection of her own organic beads but some lovely sterling silver pieces too…
As soon as I got these beads the big focal in the top left of the picture jumped out at me because it reminded of the beautiful Jurassic coastline not far from where I live…
This inspired my first necklace which uses beaded and braided waxed linen to give a layered effect and a curved sterling silver tube reminiscent of the many coves and inlets along this stretch of coastline.
The region is also a renowned site for fossil collecting so the silver spiral shell is a perfect finishing touch for this piece.
Next up comes a bracelet designed to show off the silver focal clasp along with some of Maryse’s lovely sparkling rock beads. I found some silk that matched the beads perfectly and wove this through sections of chain and then oxidised the clasp to knock back the shine. The bracelet is finished with two Hill Tribe Silver rose charms. The cool palette and contrasting materials in this piece give it a mixed organic/urban feel.
My favourite beads from the soup were the green/neutral toned rocks and I put some of these together with one of my own bronze leaf focals to make another bracelet. I am completely infatuated with rustic seed beads at the moment so multi strands of these in varying sizes were a no brainer.
The palest of the beads from this set I teamed up with the pretty green leaf headpins and a little ruffle of russet suede to create this fun pair of earrings.
All the while I was making these pieces I was going back and forth to that Silver butterfly focal and trying to do something spectacular with it but I wasn’t happy with anything I came up with. In the end I decided I much preferred it with this very simple treatment of fine chain interspersed with Czech glass beads in graduated tones of blue and amber and a chain tail with matching teardrops.
Although I still had lots of beads to play with that’s where I called it a day but I will of course be returning to the rest of my soup before too long. Many, many thanks to Maryse for sending a bead soup that was such a joy to work with and now I can’t wait to see what she has made with the ingredients I sent her.
Lori Anderson, Hostess www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Click below to read the full list…
Love, love, love all of your pieces!!! I would take all of them!!! What a clever idea to wove the silk through the sections of the chain – it makes the bracelet particular and unique!!! Gorgeous work!!
Alenka
What a fantastic soup, i love how you used the wonderful focal bead it really does have a coastal feel to it. The way you threaded the silk through links looks great, and i adore the little red fold of suede on the leaf headpin earrings.
I remember seeing your soup and looking forward to what you would create. I simply adore that urban bracelet, like skyscrapers of glass and concrete, but stylish. They're all a match made in heaven
Very beautiful designs. Love the bracelet with the ribbon thru the chain!
Wow – beautiful pieces all! Love the way you wove the ribbon through the chain in the bracelet especially, but everything is spectacular.
All so beautiful!
Gorgeous and wearable – love every single one!
Love the landscape bead with the necklace most! But also your chain mail work is great! Hugs, Doris
Lesley, your sense of design just makes me happy. I so, so love that bracelet with the ribbon through the chain. Your elegantly simple design is perfect for the butterfly, I just don't even have words.
I adore the earrings and the leaf bracelet! I have a pair of your earrings that I wear constantly. That easy, knotted necklace is such a pretty design, and a wonderful opener for the rest of the blog post. I love reading your blog, and seeing what you create. Thank you for sharing your creativity!
beautiful and stunning!
Beautiful beautiful beautiful designs.
Love them all =)
Lovely pieces!
REALLY beautiful pieces! Very classic and chic. My fav would be the bracelet with the leather. SO – gorgeous and clean. I'm going to try this technique soon!
Linda A.
http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
http://cherryOnTopDesign.co
I really love the weaving of the silk through the chain. I've been fascinated by these techniques, and your results are stunning. I really can't choose a favorite, though.All beautiful!
Love everything you designed. You have a great eye and sense of mixing colors, shapes, sizes, textures. And the simplicity of the butterfly is perfect!
Gasp! Everything is do earthy and yet so very, very elegant! I love how the tiny little seed bead accents in your 'jurassic' necklace give just a hint of sparkle and how the woven ribbon adds subtle texture and colour in your first bracelet. The gorgeous browns in your second necklace make me drool. Such a talent. Xxx
Absolutely gorgeous pieces! I thought that first necklace was stunning and my favorite. Then I scrolled down and saw the cool chain/silky/glass bracelet. And then of course there's the smile but so very pretty butterfly necklace. Your designs and craftsmanship is fantastic. Love it all!
Your designs really highlight your breadth as a designer, Lesley, from the earthy dramatic bracelet to the beautifully feminine butterfly necklace : Everything is so very tasty!)
Your treatment of the various soup components is really exceptional. Each design is lovely. All of them are unique and capture the beauty of the individual pieces in a fascinating way. Love your work! My favs have to be your light blue bead and silver bracelet and earrings. Gorgeous!
The weirdest thing, Lesley. I subscribe to your blog and when I got to your name and saw the giveaway post, I said "I've already been here, why isn't she marked off my list? I posted this to FB, I remember" Anyhow, long story short, I got the post through the email about the giveaway but not the Bead Soup post. hmmmm
Anyway: You are so right! That focal does remind me of that coastline and the shell is the perfect dangle. I love it! I want to go there! And the bracelet with the silver clasp and chains and way cool beads! I love it.
Every design you created from your soup showcases the beads and components perfectly. Stunning work.
Your first necklace is very beautiful. I love the focal and how you made it pop while it is also balanced with the other components. The green leaf earrings with suede are lovely too. I like the subtle colors on the green beads, and your design lets them shine.
Your creations are drool-worthy… I love every piece and would wear every one of them. It is so amazing that you made your beads come together in harmony. I am speechless and in awe of your creativity.
All your designs are gorgeous, but I have to admit my favorite is the bracelet with the rustic seed beads. That piece is just amazing.
I love everything. It's amazing how well that glass focal perfectly matches your coastline. I love the way you wove the silk cord through the chain in the icy blue bracelet. I also love the way you used the suede bits in the earrings with the headpins. Very clever.
Stunning designs… all so different and beautiful at the same time! The bracelet with the silk and silver clasp with the earrings are my favourites… Being so creative, I love all the pieces!
All of your creations are really perfect, like that's what the elements were destined to be. I especially love that first bracelet, it's breathtaking.
What beautiful earthy pieces you made with your soup! I love them all! I especially love how you put all the elements together. Great job!
Beautiful pieces, each one so unique and such pieces of art. Incredible work!
I have always admired your work Lesley and once again you went off the richter scale with these gorgeous designs. I love how you woven the silk into the chains for the bracelet and the simple yet elegant design of the butterfly necklace is so beautiful! Love the bracelet using one of your gorgeous leaf component. Wow just wow! Thank you for always inspiring me!
Awesome soup! And I adore your designs…yep I'm still hopping… don't want to miss a thing!
The story of your first necklace is truly amazing and it is so much like the inspiration for it! There is something solemn about the organic/urban bracelet and earrings with its subtle tones and I like it very much! The multiple strands rustic earthy bracelet is beautiful. The earrings with the suede are unique! And I love your design of the butterfly necklace with the occasional sparkle in the chain and the dangles!
I love everything! Just wonderful pieces all!