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Beadsoup Blog Party: Shalini's Soup is Served! Finally!

The chef is a lazy sod but I do hope the servings have been worth waiting for?

For a while it was Will she, Won't she, Can She? Yes she can! :-)

I didn't get to use any fancy tools like the torch, saw, drill or add ingredients like solder but I did what I could with the lovely ingredients and I think they did not need any extra embellishments to be honest! The fantastic Bead soup from my partner Susan McClelland had enough ingredients in it to just add a bit of wire, a few findings to create this!

The main piece!

Sari Silk Ribbon, Ceramic Pendant Focal, Hand etched Copper Clasp, handmade glazed ceramic beads and plenty of copper wire. All joined together with my trademark spiral links.
YES Fabric! Not really my friend! But it was too beautiful not to use! Thanks for the challenge Susan, I quite enjoyed playing with the sari silk to make it part of the pendant.
Tools: My hands, Flat and round nose pliers and dodgy eyes. 

And because Susan sent me such a generous helping with 4 Focal Pieces!

Another Main Piece!

Wooden Dragonfly Pendant,  handmade glass bead, Stone heishi beads and Waxed Linen Cord.
So Linen Cord... another one of my (non) friends. A long time ago I had a necklace made from apple seed which was just lots of seed knotted together randomly on a thread. I used that idea and knotted the little stone beads on to the cord and I am quite pleased with the result. Will I be ordering more linen cord? Maybe...
Tools: Hands and dodgy eyes!
This was going to be it! I put the rest of the soup ingredients away for a time when my eyes would be in full working condition again. But I got the all clear from iritis and with medication cut down the vision started improving. And the reveal date was postponed by a week.

So...

Some sparkle

Bollywood earrings? These glass beads are a fantastic colour!  I matched them first with copper, then silver and they looked beautiful with both. Then I remembered a Benaras silk sari someone I knew had which was in this beautiful turquoise/teal shade with gold thread work. I am not in touch with that lady any more and I don't even know if that sari still exists, but it inspired me to make some bling! I added some gold plated chain and little gold plated spacer beads on jump rings to connect the beads together. At the moment I am not sure if this will be staying in my personal collection or going into my on-line shop...
Tools: Pliers, a magnifying glass occasionally and improving eyes :-)

And some wire-work earrings 

These glass beads are really pretty and perfect for spring. Originally I was going to make a simple wire bracelet but now that spring is here and coats and scarves are finally off the wardrobe for a few months I thought I would make another pair of earrings instead. There are more of these beads so maybe I will make a second pair too later. Or make a matching bracelet...

And Finally!

More ribbon!  Its beautiful hand-dyed ribbon but something else out of my comfort zone. It matched really well with these yellow stone beads and the sparkly Chinese crystal cubes with flashes of blue. Wire spirals came to my rescue again and I made this necklace last night. Its just simple knots in the ribbon with the beads hanging from it. The necklace has a simple handmade hook and eye clasp. All wire is silver plated copper. Something else to add to your spring wardrobe yes?
And while I was busy doing this my partner was doing some amazing stuff with the soup I sent her. Check out her blog M is the Word and the fabulous pieces she has made from what I sent her. Really lovely creations Susan. Love each one of them but specially the red necklace. Red is my favourite colour :-)

And once you have finished drooling over Susan's pieces check out what the other participants of this wonderful blog party have been up to! There are nearly 500 participants from  30 Countries


I have had so much fun being part of the 8th Bead Soup party. Thank you Lori for being such a fabulous hostess and thank you Susan for being such a lovely partner. I hope I have been able to do some justice to the lovely ingredients you sent me. 

I really look forward to hearing from everyone about my work so please, please do leave a comment. Thank you.  

Comments

  1. Fabric can be intimidating yes, but makes the jewelry look more personal, great pieces Shalini

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    1. Thanks Divya :-)
      It has been an interesting experience working with fabric and I may use more in my work as time goes on.

      Delete
  2. I have lived through this extended iritis attack with and have seen how down and frustrated it made you, but it's great to see you bounce back in such style, nice work Shalini a sign of things to come maybe!

    Love

    Dave

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  3. i think the bollywood earrings have to be my favourite :)

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  4. Loved your serving of this wonderful soup . ....yummy indeed Shalini .:)

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  5. Very beautiful and imaginative pieces of jewelry! I'd love to add textile to my work but am still uncertain about that. You're lucky you had to take the challenge and did well :) Love your spiral links and how you used them in the "construction" of the yellow necklace.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks :-)
      I think I might using a little more textile in my work occasionally. I do use felt beads sometimes but not done much with ribbon before. It has been fun to try different media. Give it a try, you might really enjoy it too.

      Delete
  6. You and your dodgy eyes did a fantastic job!! I love the use of fabric you incorporated. The Bali earrings look so festive and happy -- like the joy from your healing eyes bursting through! And wow - the spiral hung beaded necklace on ribbon! Funny how sometimes the most amazing pieces can be inspired by a simple solution. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Heidi :-)
      You know what its been like and I was really not sure I would get anything made. Lady luck decided to finally be kind! I have really enjoyed this and might just be a bit more brave with ribbon thanks to Susan.

      Delete
  7. Wow - I'm so impressed with every piece you made! All 3 necklaces are amazing - I love how you used the cord and ribbon. The focal for the first "main necklace" is stunning - so creative. Your wire loops make each piece so unique and sophisticated. Thanks for being my partner - hope we can keep in touch.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Susan. You made this possible! You sent me lovely beads and some good challenging bits. I am slowly getting more comfortable with textile. I have a few bits still left to play with.
      Thank you for being my partner too and of course we should stay in touch.I love what you have created with my soup especially the way you have used the felt beads.

      Delete
  8. Nice pieces Shalini... great job. I love your knotted bead cord necklace with dragonfly focal.. and your bollywood earrings.. and your wirework glaasbead earrings... and your yellow necklace.with ribbon... hahaha.. you really did awesome works!

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  9. Great jewelry. I love your use of fibers!! I think the last necklace is my favorite.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :-) I am quite surprised how much the yellow necklace has been liked. It was the one I was least sure of from the whole set.

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  10. A beautiful reveal. I love those teal cascade earrings and the yellow stone necklace. Great job.

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  11. bollywood earrings rock!!!!your soup was very generous and you used it delightfully!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks :-) I think I am going to have to make a whole new range of the Bollywood earrings. It might become a new range.

      Delete
  12. You have conquered all of your challenges really well. Beautiful job on everything!

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  13. Love the knotting on the dragonfly piece :) very nice pieces... it's so nice to do something different :)

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    Replies
    1. Funnily enough that is my favourite piece from the whole collection Eve :-)

      You should have a look at the fab pieces my partner made from the felt beads I sent her. The ones I learnt to make from you http://mistheword12.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/bead-soup-ready-set-make/

      Delete
  14. I love what you've made with your soup ingredients. You have so many original ideas.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Eileen :-) I know you have been following my eyes saga and it was such fun to get back into making again!

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  15. Really nice pieces, I love the dragon fly necklace most.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks :-) Me too even though I shouldn't be biased about my own pieces!

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  16. Shalini, I'm so happy for you that you are able to participate and create again :-) Some ♥beauties are the results :-) Love them

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dini.
      Its so good to be able to see again and more importantly as you say create again :-)

      Delete
  17. Love those sparkle earrings and even though that last piece seems like the simplest, I like it the best. It's festive and fun.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :-)
      I am quite shocked at how many lovely comments the last necklace has had to be honest. I didn't think anyone would like it because its so simple.

      Delete
  18. So many beautiful things! The colours on the last necklace are just a joy, though.

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  19. I love the first focal, how you used fibers, so original! Also love the knotting in the second and the overall awesome wirework!

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  20. Such lovely work well done!

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  21. Hi Shalini, Your first necklace is unique and creative. I have never seen sari silk wrapped around a focal frame before. I like the knotted necklace with the dragonfly pendant. The teal earrings are cool. They are just my color and my favorite of your pieces. Kudos to you for working out of your comfort zone. The yellow stone necklace is also great. You did a wonderful job working with your soup.

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  22. Love the delicacy and simplicity of the last necklace, and how you used fiber in your first necklace! The Bollywood earrings just sing with vibrancy. Great job! Hope your eyes are feeling better!

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  23. Beautiful creations. The gold and teal earrings are my favorite.

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  24. Love the necklaces and the earrings are gorgeous! I really admire the way you mix materials, incorporating fiber and silk with chain and wire. Great work!

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  25. Lovely pieces - I love how you used the fiber!

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  26. Beautiful designs! I especially like the earrings you made..they are real eye catchers! Really Soup-er Soup!

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  27. I love your original designs, especially the fibre ring in the first piece, Shalini :)

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  28. Oh, wow, great designs ! Clever way to use fiber, and your use of yellow, my old nemesis, is inspiring !

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  29. You did a great job with your soup

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  30. Wow you are amazing and did an awesome job with your soup. Incredible pieces!

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  31. So many beautiful pieces! I think that my favorite is the dragonfly pendant. It is definitely my speed. Great job!!

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  32. What wonderful pieces! I'm not sure I can pick a favorite... each one is so unique. Thank you so much for sharing!

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Thanks! Shalini

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