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Working title: Coral Reef |
- Take a generous helping of lamp worked beads by trading partner JJ Jacobs.
- Mix with seed beads from my stash.
- Combine with six colors of beading thread.
- Stitch until done.
Giving in, I finally let myself play, doodling with beads just to see what would happen. Experimenting with random right angle weave for another project, I came up with something that reminds me of sea fans. The shapes and forms were so fun, I added them in here for accent as well.
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Nearing completion, still needs a clasp. |
It didn't look too bad laying on my bead table, but when I picked it up, gravity did terrible things to the right hand side of the composition, causing it to droop and sag into a limp tangle. Ugh! Not good. Unable to come up with a good fix, I put it away for the day.
After a night's sleep, I still hadn't come up with an easy solution, except to cut. So, first thing this morning, before I could chicken out, I performed surgery (yes, I've now mixed metaphors). I then had to "cauterize" the amputation - securing the surrounding beads - before I could continue. Wish I'd taken some photos of the process. I finally declared the piece done at 5:01 yesterday afternoon. Just in time to take a few photos before the sun slipped below the mountains. Yeah!!!!
Despite adding in as many of JJ's beads as I could manage, I still have quite a number waiting to be made into several additional projects. Should keep me out of trouble for a while yet...
Bead Soup Tour
Over 200 "cooks" participated in the Bead Soup party, and all will be revealing their final recipes today. Here's the complete list so that you can explore the myriad variations of this simple, but versatile recipe.
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Closeup, finished necklace and focal bead |
2. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
3. Michelle Heim, Life In the Bead Lane
4. Lisa Petrillo, Lucid Moon Studio
5. Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
6. Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
7. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
8. Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
9. Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto
10. Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
11. Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
12. Rachel Walsh, Balanced Crafts
13. Marian Hertzog, M's Place
14. Mary McGraw, MK's Musings
15. Sarabeth Burke, Chronicles of Sarita
16. Deci Worland, Gem Trails
17. Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
18. Laura Zeiner, Stick Lizard Designs
19. Kristin Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
20. Cathryn Brooks-Williams, Chile Cats
21. Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
22. Janna Harttgen, Palima-Lim
23. Libby Leuchtman, Libby Leu
24. Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
25. Deb Hunter, Living On Air
26. Diana Ptaszynski, Suburban Girl Studio
27. Jennifer VanBenschoten, VanBeads
28. Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
29. Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
30. Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
31. Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium
32. Patricia Gasparino, My Life Under the Bus
33. Tari Khars, Pearl and Pebble
34. Kristi Bowman-Gruel, Kristi Bowman Design
35. Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
36. Becky Fairclough, Chameleons Designs
37. Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead & Metal Works
38. Lynne Bowland, Islandgirl's Insights
39. Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
40. Lorelei Eurto, Inside the Studio
41. Stacy Hartis, Sissy & Jack's
42. Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
43. Marcie Abney, La Bella Joya
44. Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
45. Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles
46. Melissa Mesara, One Eared Pig
47. Amanda Davie, Articulations
48. Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady
49. Virginia Joste, ViviBijoux
50. Andrew Thornton, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
51. Lori Dorrington, Lori's Glassworks
52. Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
53. Kate Gardenghi, Tropical Blonde
54. Serena Trent, PinkIce Jewel's Blog
55. Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin de Koning
56. Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
57. Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio
58. Amy Freeland, Copper Diem
59. Lisa Liddy, Joolz By Lisa
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Detail, finished piece |
61. Mary Harding, Mary Harding Bead Blog
62. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
63. Leslie Gidden, Mad Maggie Designs
64. Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
65. Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
66. Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co.
67. Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash
68. Laurel Steven, Rue's Daftique
69. Ingrid McCue, Wrapped In Silver
70. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
71. Diana Hawkey, Diana Hawkey
72. Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
73. Jeanette Ryan, Jeanette Blix
74. Jackie Ryan, Silver Lodge Gems
75. Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Be Done!
76. Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium
77. Valerie Norton, Hot Art
78. Jana Trupovniece, Stories of the Secret Garden
79. Amy Severino, Amy Beads
80. Emma Thomas, Fred Beans Nook
81. Karen Zanco, Everyday Gypsy
82. Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
83. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
84. Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs
85. Kristina Johansson, Wild Roses and Blackberries
86. CJ Bauschka, CJ Bauschka
87. Angela Barribea, Re: Angela Rae
88. Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy
89. Tanya Floyd, Glass Migrations
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detail, JJ's lamp worked beads |
91. Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
92. Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Bead
93. Nally Parfyonova, Nally's Creations
94. Karyn White, Releases By Rufydoof
95. Emanda Johnson, Artemisia Studio
96. Sandy Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box
97. Cindy Dolezal, Cindy Dolezal Designs
98. Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
99. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
100. Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
101. Nicole Valentine-Rimmer, N. Valentine Studio
102. Jacinta Meyers, Jamberrysong's Creations
103. Charlene Gary, Gray Girl Studios
104. Rubiee Hayes, Glitter and Keys Galore
105. Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
106. Elizabeth Freeman, Turquoise Sky
107. Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric
108. Lynda Moseley, Diva Designs
109. Grace Danel, Grace Beading
110. Lois Moon, Que Onda Quitman
111. Agnes Shapiro, Beader Bubbe
112. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
113. Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
114. Mary Ellen Parker, Bee Tree By Me
115. Barbara Bechtel, Second Surf
116. Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
117. Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
118. Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
119. Ronda Adams, The Ravished Heart
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Detail, the clasp (not pictured in other photos) |
121. Anna Lear, The Laughing Raven
122. Susie Hibdon, Vintagesusie & Wings
123. Amanda Austin, Sea Shore Glass
124. Jennifer Velasquez, Jen Judd Rocks
125. Hazel Ward, All Those Things
126. Brenda Salzano, Salzanos
127. Dee Gordon, Runako Designs by Dee
128. Anna Denisova, Anita-M
129. Margaret Saari, Mags-Jewelry
130. Genea Crivello-Knable, Genea Beads
131. Penny Neville, Copper Penny
132. Angela Blasingame, Hopemore
133. Helena Fritz, Beadwork by H's Blog
134. Stephanie LaRose, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
135. Stephanie Haussler, PixyBug Designs
136. Diane Cook, Rosa & Josies
137. Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
138. Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by J.P.
139. Shannon Chomanczuk, For My Sweet Daughter
140. Lisa Godfrey, Bead Happy
141. Heather Pyle, Welcome to My Muse
142. Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
143. Liz DeLuca, Creative Arty Facts
144. Sig Wynne-Evans, Beaded Bear's Nonsense
145. Loretta Carstensen, Loretta's Boutique
146. Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
147. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
148. Shelly Graves, Stars Dance With Me
149. Jess Italia Lincoln, Vintaj Blog
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Early, early stages |
151. Carrie Tahquechi, Carrie T
152. Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
153. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Quiet Area
154. Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
155. Magdalena Sikora, Poranna Gazeta
156. Nicole Keller, Nicki's Reef
157. Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
158. Noemi Baena, Fire, Metal, and Color
159. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
160. Barbara Blaszczyk, Labotorium Flory
161. Collette Collins, Firefly Myst
162. Carola Greiser, Polymer Clay Shed
163. Joanna Kopijczuk, Bizuteria z Filcu
164. LeAnn Weih, Summers Studio
165. Cassandra Watsham, Design by Cassandra
166. Anna Motz, Stunning
167. Shea Zukowski, Gr8findings
168. Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
169. Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
170. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
171. Alison Crenshaw, Beads by Earth Tones
172. Dorcas Midkiff, Wondrous Strange Designs
173. Melissa Rediger, Sea of Glass
174. Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
175. Julie Nordine, Julie Nordine | Credit River Art Glass
176. Menka Gupta, Menka's Blog
177. Patsy Evins, Patsy Evins Studio
178. Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
179. Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux
180. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
181. Lyn Foley, Lyn Foley Wearable Art
182. Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog
183. Natalie Schuetz, Natalie S Perlen
184. Kim Hutchinson, Running on Ink
185. Haley Frank, Wide Eyed Smilin
186. Grace Caputo, Suddenly Last Summer
187. Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, Skye Jewels
188. Erin Siegel, Erin Siegel Jewelry
189. Janea McDonald, Organized Chaos
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Starfish charm and coral with trapped beads |
191. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
192. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
193. Whitney Lassini, Whitney Lassini
194. Nancy Schindler, The Rabbit Muse
195. Pam Brisse, The Blue Between
196. Beth Bricker, Vintage Sweets
197. Ruthie Stickney, Rose Works Jewelry and Gifts
198. Rose Noble, Lady Noble Designs
199. Karen Williams, Baublicious
200. Claire Maunsell, The Next Bend
201. Christine Damm, Stories They Tell
202. Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts
203. Wendy Blum, Sand & Sea Designs
204. Juli Cannon, Julsbeads
205. Jenny Robledo, La Dona Boutique
206. Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
207. Pam Krinski, Ewa Beads
208. Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
209. Dana Jones, Dana's Jewelry
210. Shirley Moore, Homeschooling Life
Oh my goodness - What an incredible amount of work. You did a beautiful job putting the pieces together. Great creative imagination. It all works.
ReplyDeleteI so envy your expertise with seedbead work-- I'm really going to try to get going on some soon-- if I could only do it as well as you have! Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteMay I have a second helping? That's some delicious bead soup!
ReplyDeleteSuch a unique necklace, very artistic <3
ReplyDeleteSo impressed you seed bead ladies rock! I cannot imagine the hours that went into this it's just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour seed bead work is outstanding! Love all the fun elements on this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful piece and it soooo resembles what you were trying to capture!! Nicely done. I love your blog and how you carry the readers through your creative proces. have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteVery creative, I bet it will get lots of comments when worn.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to learn a little seed bead weaving! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteI love it so much!! It totally evokes a coral reef in both color and composition; your beadwork is just amazing. Thanks for sharing both the finished piece and the process you went through to make it!
ReplyDeleteGirl, this is soupilicious! Love the coral part. Is that the RAW section?What an awesome presentation of skill. You nailed it!
ReplyDeleteI want to go to the beach now! Love the airy-ness of this! So cool!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, Wow, and double wow! Isn't it gut-wrenching to see all your hard work sink into a mound? But you recovered beautifully! (My piece is sort of beach-themed as well.)
ReplyDeleteI decided to start at the bottom of the list (I'm in the middle at #95). I hope you get a really good response from the swap/hop -- So much fun!
Emanda
ArtymeziaATyahooDOTcom
Artemisia's Studio
Great soup recipe!! This has been so much fun...can't wait for the next party to begin:)
ReplyDeleteWOW Karen -- I'm absolutely speechless. This necklace is stunning and I'm amazed at the way you made my humble beads sing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I was partnered with you and am honored to have contributed to a lovely work of art made by the uber-talented Karen Williams!
Wow! That is beautiful! I love the colors and the structure...and the fact that you master seed beading makes me envious. Very nice.
ReplyDelete#209 here...wow so different, love it...great job...
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun summer necklace! Great job! ;)
ReplyDeleteYour piece is an amazing free-form -- it reminds me of a coral reef! And I really like how you put the photos along the sides of the other bloggers names -- clever!
ReplyDeleteI have NO idea how you even can do what you did -- that's beyond my level of creativity. WELL DONE!
Your design turned out like the waves on the sea. Surrounded with the treasures we find on the sand, and layered with beach and tides. I live on the Oregon Coast, and I love it here. This piece is so special!!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the little mermaid! :)
ReplyDeletehow fun! It looks just like coral - I love it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work and I would really love to know how you preformed surgery without ripping the whole thing out! I am amazed!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece. I too love to do freeform seed bead work and yours is fantastic. Its almost as if the piece is alive.. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!
ReplyDeleteI"m really, really going to have to try freeform peyote! Wonderful job!!
ReplyDeleteA-Maze-ing!!! Way Cool!
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't give up, That would have been tragic. I love your piece. Great job!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, I don't work in sead beads they drive me crazy but I sure do love how they look.
ReplyDeleteOh, all that work. Very interesting and different. I can just see it with a spring outfit.
ReplyDeletevery pretty - look at all those terrific elements - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAh...the RAW! Hats off to you for even attempting it! I even see the words "right-angle-weave" on a magazine project, and my fingers start flipping so fast that sparks start flying off the page! Congrats on turning some RAW ingredients into a cooked soup! ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, this is awesome! Like Lori said, it looks like a coral reef! So cool! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and unique! ANother sea themed piece, totally different to my own though (which features some sea life lampworks!) I love all the different stage photos - thanks for sharing those.
ReplyDeleteLovely. It looks like you grew your necklace... it looks so effortlessly organic. Sometimes when folks strive for an organic look (myself included at times), the piece looks overworked. Your's is like a thing of nature. I can almost see it shimmering under water with little fishies swimming around it. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThis sooo pretty!! It looks like it took so much time to create!
ReplyDeleteYour design is so cool! The beadwork is amazing! Love the beads trapped in the coral:)
ReplyDeleteFreeform peyote is what got me hooked on seed beads... I bought a bracelet and a whole bunch of beads fell off... so I had to figure out how to fix it!
ReplyDeleteI love what you made! Will have to check out your book!
Great RAW with a fantastic feel.
ReplyDeleteI am always in awe of the ability to do this kind of beadwork, stunning piece!
ReplyDeleteFunny that just as soon as I saw your first picture I was reminded of the water. . .I guess that's a good thing. So sorry that you had so many problems, but it looks just divine!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic piece. I love the oceany theme. I'm happy to see your reconstructive surgery worked out :) Clever girl to put pictures in the "credits" ;)
ReplyDeleteVery unique!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beadwork.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a seafloor, that's teaming with life! Congratulations on an excellent representation of Nature!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Really cool. Your beadwork is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI see the ocean, waves churning, sea life teeming, great vision, great necklace. Love the beadwork.
ReplyDeleteOooooh, is this ever gorgeous!! I'm a real fan of free form beadweaving but I've never actually tried it myself. Your necklace is amazing!
ReplyDeletewow, how many hours? this is an awesome necklace.
ReplyDeleteso many tiny seed beads went into that piece, I've got major respect of see beaders, wow, thanks for sharing ^_^ Virginie ViviBijoux.com
ReplyDeleteHi Karen i can only think of one work right now "AMAZING" i would love to know how to do that all those teeny tiny beads must b a lot of work thank-you very good job!
ReplyDeleteI love freeform! This is a fun necklace and it showcases your soup beads very nicely.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness some one has some serious beading skills!!! I'm taken back by all the work that went in to your necklace. You did a Soup-er terrific job!!!
ReplyDeletewow! I just love free form jewelery, and your definitely has an ocen theme going on! its beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou really made a Snazzy necklace here! It would be so fun to wear this anywhere. You have made a wonderful Soup you really have!
ReplyDeleteOh, goodness - you beadweavers are rocking my world on this Soupy Journey! What a wonderful, artistic piece this necklace is!
ReplyDeleteTotally awesome and unqiue! There were a lot of beach and ocean-themed stashes swapped in this bead soup, but you know, they were all completely different from each other and so were the pieces that were made with them. That is so impressive! I totally LOVE what you did here! It looks so fantastic (that must have been a lot of work, though... *faint*). You recreated the look of a coral reef perfectly! I like that you took the picture of it against a sweater; it looks so at home there! Funny. XD Love the colors and the design, amazing work!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did! It reminds me of the waves of the ocean and snokeling among the coral and fishes...lovely work!!! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteamazing work! love it.
ReplyDeleteThis piece makes me see myself lying on the beach in the sun and then snorkeling to cool off. Love it! Your work with seed beads is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletecolorful coral reef, amazing job!
ReplyDeleteColorful coral reef, amazing job!
ReplyDeleteFabulous BEAD SOUP Friend!!! I love what you designed with all your components... Beautiful work!Thanks for sharing your creativity!!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Susie
What a wonderful, time intensive, fabulous and gorgeous beaded necklace! Love, Love, Love!
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative and unique necklace! I'm always fond of freeform. And it's doing a very good job of picturing the underwater scene with the corals.
ReplyDeleteOh how fun! I love the freeform look :-)
ReplyDeleteNice - so much work went into that!
ReplyDeleteWhat an unusual and interesting necklace very nice.
ReplyDeleteJackie
I see waves, coral, fishies, this is amazing. I can only admire all of the tiny time consuming work involved in this bead soup. AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteWow I love your seed work... you've done an amazing job. Very unique and definitely wearable art! Well done!
ReplyDeleteKaryn
Australia
Puuuhrrrty! I love the freestyle organic styling!!
ReplyDeleteI love what you did here! I like wearable art and truly one of a kind pieces! I am still hopping for the BSBP too! Thanks for your comment on mine. You do incredible work... love your fabric art too!
ReplyDelete