My Bead Soup Co-Chef

It's that time again.  Earlier this month I signed up for my third Bead Soup party.  For those of you just joining in, two to three times a year Lori over at Pretty Things, our hostess with the mostess, pairs participants from all over the world to participate in this challenge.  Then each pair exchanges a package of beads which we then must use to create a new piece.  The goal is to work outside your comfort zone with components you did not choose for yourself.  And to share in the fun of watching others do the same. 

This time around, I am fortunate enough to be paired with Judy Riley of Three Red Beads.  Judy's work has a wonderful, organic nature that appeals to me greatly, inspired as it is by the natural world.  A woman after my own heart! 

Mystery by Judy Riley with her paper beads

Absent from the designing and blogging community while she worked on her Masters degree, Judy's now back and ready to roll. 

Doing a little searching on her blog, I found this lovely piece at right.  Inspired by the song Mystery by the Indigo Girls, it includes her handmade paper beads; blue for the moon clouded, red for the sun, and yellow for the colors of summer. 

 When I asked how she'd gotten into beading, she replied, "I started out when I was young doing a lot of crafts like many other people, found and loved beads and have worked with them since."  Sound familiar?  It's interesting how for so many of us, an early introduction to crafts by a friend or family member made all the difference. 

Now we're both waiting (impatiently at least on my part) to receive our Bead Soup ingredients.  While we're not supposed to show what we've sent until our partner receives her package, we're encouraged to share teasers.  Just to whet the appetite you see. 

I fear that my teaser shows a bit more than it's supposed to, but I had so much fun working with my new filters and photo frames from Photoshop Express, I just had to share.  Don't look too closely Judy!  :)


In previous parties, I was paired with the amazing JJ Jacobs (an extremely talented abstract painter as well as glass worker and now one of my favorite online friends) and the lovely Kimberly Roberts.  If you're curious what I made back then, I suggest:

Stitch Until Done: my collaborative effort using JJ's lampwork beads.

A Little Underdone: a totally different look for my work, inspired entirely by Kimberly's fused glass focal. 

A Month and a Day:  When I finally finished the piece (story of my life - at least that time I could blame it partially on a hurricane!)

Working with both artists really made me stretch, finding ways to stay true to both of our artistic visions.  And that I think, sums up one of the major reasons I'm back yet again, for yet another cup of soup.