Saturday, March 25, 2017

Springtime is a special time of year.  The trees budding, the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths springing forth with new life. It is a true awakening of the senses and the soul is filled with hope.

It is the perfect time to participate in the Bead Soup Bead Hoarders Hop hosted by the marvelous Lori Anderson.  I wanted to be apart this year to challenge myself to get in my workroom and create something new....it has been too long.  I love jewelry design but life's obligations have consumed all my "extra" time lately.




This years concept to gift our partner with a focal that we had been hoarding. My bead soup partner, Marianna Wehner of stargirlshop.blogspot.com gifted me some beautiful lampwork beads which she made herself. She is very talented and her beads are beautiful.





The bottom left picture are some of the pieces that Marianna sent me.  Immediately when I saw the red and blue lampwork heart, I envisioned it as part of a charm style bohemian necklace.  My "Heart of Wisdom" necklace came together when I found this vintage pewter charm holder by artisan Mike Barker and the seek wisdom charm by Green Girl Studios.  I added some vintage and new Czech glass flowers and a fun, flirty turquoise blue tassel.  I added the beautiful vintage turquoise blue glass button with painted flowers to the clasp for extra interest to the Chalcedony linked chain.  I love fun, flirty outcome!







This "Floral Fantasy" necklace features the gorgeous lavender lampwork headpin leaves that Marianna made and gifted me.  I didn't get a before photo of them because I was to excited to use them.  Originally I was thinking of using them as earrings but the wires were too large with the beads that I wanted to use.  So I happened upon this lovely Hyacinth Purple German Lucite rose that I had already attached to a filigree base.  They blended so beautifully that it was meant to be.  I accented the focal rose and leaves with a collection of aqua, rose, white luster and periwinkle Czech glass flowers and leaves.  Above the rose is an amazing enameled connector by Marie Demicco.  The necklace is finished with vintage Japanese glass beads that reminded me of blue sky and clouds. More vintage Japanese glass beads in a Springtime green complete the necklace.  I used another piece by artisan Marie Demicco as a toggle. To me, there is an air of fantasy about it and the colors are perfectly Spring.

You can hop along with us at www.prettythingsblog.com/2017/03/welcom-to-bead-soup-blog-party.html.  Please leave a comment.  Thanks for hopping along and Happy Spring to everyone!