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7th Bead Soup Party: Shalini's Sparkly Serving Revealed!

So the day is finally here! Its PARTY TIME! My parties are always "Bring a Bottle" kinds so help yourself to your favourite tipple and enjoy!

Part 1: This is my first entry into the world of Bead Soups. Be gentle lovely people...

It all started when I signed up for the Pretty Things 7th Bead Soup Blog party on 26 January. I have since blogged a bit about it.

My Partner Sarah Goode from Pookledo sent me a lovely stash of shiny things!
A handful of Swarovski disc crystals / Some metal glitterballs in various sizes / A length of silver plated chain / Some Swarovski glass pearls / a magnetic glitterball clasp 

Yummy I hear you say! It is! But apart from the silver chain these are things I have NEVER worked with before!
My pieces tend to have a lot of colour in them! And here I am looking at lots of grey (OK shiny silvery grey but it is shades of grey, maybe not quite 50 but near enough!) HELP! This is totally out of my comfort zone!

You set me a challenge Sarah. A BIG one! I spent a few days staring at the soup on my work board. Then I put it all away. Then I went on the internet and looked at pictures of jewellery made of crystals. Then I stared at the soup some more...

And then I made this!

I added a handful of Haematite beads, a Haematite twinned heart and some silver plated jump-rings to Sarah's soup

This crystal necklace set is listed in my on-line showroom: www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/sparkly-crystal-necklace-with-haematite/

So that's the crystal discs, Focal Bead, clasp and all the chain taken care of.

But what about those clear glass disc beads that Sarah cleverly omitted from that soup picture above and from the list of beads she wrote on her blog. They are not grey but they are CLEAR Glass! They have NO COLOUR! Quite different from similarly shaped Turquoise beads I have played with a lot in the past. But then I don't have to use ALL the beads in the soup do I? Maybe I won't use them....

Get your glasses/cups refilled before you start on Part II: 

Its now the middle of March and Mr A and I have spent a lot of time talking about how nice it would be to have spring, some sunshine and some colour outside again. Its been cold and snowy and grey and snowy and wet and snowy. Enough already! And I still have clear glass beads and silver-grey Swarovski pearls that I really should use!

If mother nature cannot bring some colour into my life I will find some for myself! OK?

Continuing with the chain theme I used gold plated chain and added generous helpings of dyed yellow and orange shell beads and green Aventurine beads to this one


The Spring has sprung jewellery set is now listed in my online showroom: www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/spring-necklace/ 

And some Freshwater pearls to match the gorgeous chunky Silver Glass Pearls

This one off  pearl bracelet is now listed in my online shop: www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/pretty-in-pink-pearl-bracelet/

And I couldn't possibly leave the two remaining crystal discs as orphans could I?

This one off piece is now listed in my online shop: www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/pearl-crystal-earrings/

I have had SO MUCH fun trying out new ideas and making these pieces. I am very grateful to Sarah for setting me this challenge. It has given me so much confidence! And taught me that anything is possible if only I believe in myself enough! Because if I don't why should anyone else believe in Me?

I have not yet decided if I am keeping all of these pieces or if they will be available to buy. I'll get back to you on that one!

Hope you enjoyed my party. Don't forget 521 other jewellery designers are co hosting a similar party and you really should  check them all out!


And  these are the other parties starting today:
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/04/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-2nd-reveal.html

This party started on 31st March and is still going on!

And there will be another one starting on 20th April which I will give you an address for on the day.






Comments

  1. Beautiful on all counts, Shalini! So glad you joined this round of BSBP. <3

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  2. What a wonderful thing to be challenged! I love the necklace you created from your shiny chrystals. Something to wear with that ballgown, isn´t it?

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    1. I think Mr A should be presented with my wish list of ball gowns... :D

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  3. Just off to a craft fair but couldn't resist coming in and seeing what you had made before I went. Wow! I can't decide my favourite. Maybe the necklace with the sneaky clear glass discs, or the silver and pink bracelet. And the swarovswi necklace needs a stunning ballgown to match it.

    Well done!

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    1. Thank you Sarah. You made these pieces possible. So grateful to you for sending me this challenge!
      I love what you made with mine too! Quite a contrast eh? I sent you LOTS of colour and you sent me a grey canvas. And we both made something amazing from it!

      Have a great day at the craft fair. I have one tomorrow and will be showing off with my Sparkly pieces!

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  4. Wow, that is a lot of bling! I love the first piece. I'm a navy blue and silver girl myself. If I was to wear a lot of color though I love the yellow, orange and green set. Those colors just make me happy. You have created so many pieces you have a new jewelry wardrobe.

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    1. Thanks Ginger, I have loved every moment of this, even the staring blankly at the soup wondering what to do!

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  5. I love what you've done with your sparklies, they're all fun pieces, I chose to be 3rd reveal so there's still heaps to see

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    1. Thanks Lorelle :-)
      The first two reveals have brought up some fabulous designs, I am sure the 3rd will be really good too!

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  6. My knowledge of jewellery isn't the greatest but one doesn't need to know a lot to see how absolutely beautiful and amazing these pieces are.

    And to think that this was the first time you were working on these types of beads - that shows how good you are,so don't ever sell yourself short. :-)

    To use a cliche from the world of boring cricket commentary, "this should do your confidence a world of good". :-)

    Now that you know what more you are capable of, this should encourage you to broaden your range of products so that there is something for every taste out there.

    Very well done, Shalini. Congratulations!

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  7. Love the shimmery colours and the elegance of the necklace and bracelet

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  8. You have some wonderful pieces there! I love that you put it aside for a while, then gave in to another creative spurt!

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    1. Sometimes walking away is the best thing to do and it worked! I was panicking to start with...

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  9. Bead -utiful designs !
    That first necklace is just bling-alicios !!!

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    1. bling-alicios has to be the word of the day! Thank you :-)

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  10. Look at all that sparkle! You've made some really fun pieces!

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  11. Oh my, everything's beautiful, but that shiny necklace...is beyond words!

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  12. ~sparkling beauties indeed...these are wonderful pieces you have created...much love light and blessings~

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  13. Very elegant work!!!!!! Kristin Oppold

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  14. Wow, that first piece is very elegant and regal

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  15. How i like sparkling pieces!!!!!!super designs!

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  16. Oh wow... utterly breathtaking !

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  17. Love what you did with the crystals. The necklace is soooo romantic.
    kathy

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  18. WOW!!! These are fantastic pieces!! That top necklace is a stunner -- even without your trademark splash of color. Each piece is beautiful -- but I do love the set with the bright colors and the "dew drops" of clear glass. So lovely! ;)

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    1. Thanks Heidi, I really do value your comments a LOT! :-)

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  19. Sparkle is gooood :-D It's really stylish too!

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  20. Well I do think you need to get Mr A to buy you some ball gowns!!! That first necklace is exquisite! I love reading history romances and anything with vampires and witches and such and that first necklace just screams ROMANCE!!!!! Excellent Job.

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    1. Thanks!
      Its not a style of work I have considered before but I think I will now be keeping my eyes open for sparkly things to add to my bead stash for future designs :-)

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  21. I'm such a magpie ;-) no wonder I fell for the crystal necklace set! Wonderful work

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  22. Wow, I love what you made from the soup! Congratulations! <3

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  23. Wow! For someone who was so clearly presented a challenge, you overcame it with grace. That first necklace is such a stunner. I could easily see it being worn on Downton Abbey.

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    1. Ah Shaiha, I did initially call it my Downton Abbey tribute :-) Lady Grantham would look lovely wearing it wouldn't she?

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  24. Shalini your did your soup proud. I had never thought of a clear soup. The pink and gray bracelet and earrings are my favorite.

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    1. There is something to be said about starting with a clear canvas, It can be whatever you want it to be and these turned out rather nice. Thanks Becky :-)

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  25. Ohhh shiny jewels :) what an elegant first piece. & yes color is a great thing :)

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  26. I love the second set!
    I'm on the 3rd reveal, I'm partecipating for the 3rd time... I love this funny BSBP!
    ciao dall'Italia

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    1. Thanks Jo, I am so glad I found BSBP! Look forward to seeing your work.

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  27. You took my breath away !!! So beautiful.

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  28. Stunning pieces! I love how each has a different feel

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  29. Beautiful jewelry. The first beauty looks like it would be owned by an exotic belly-dancer and the second necklace with its colorful palette is my favorite. Everything is lovely. Great job!

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    1. Thank you Jean, I am having a big debate with myself about the second one at the moment. Should it stay or should I offer it for sale...

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  30. Your work went from exotic to playful to conservative/traditional and right back to playful! I love that you work in so many styles--variety *is* the spice of life.

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    1. That's a nice way of describing it :-) I quite surprised myself too at how different each one turned out!

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  31. Wow, that first necklace is a work of art! You really rocked that chain and crystals. As well, the rest of your pieces also turned out so fabulously! Well done. :)

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  32. What fun! I love the first one especially, very Gatsby-esque

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  33. Lovely designs, great job.

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  34. Wow love everything you made! The focal you made for your partner was beautiful too! Great job!

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    1. Thanks Kumi. I enjoyed making the focal too, a variation on the herringbone weave :-)

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  35. What sparkly fun! The first necklace would look right at home in a gorgeous Bollywood spectacular. The clear beads in the second set brought the perfect touch of pop to highlight the colored beads -- who'd have guessed that would happen? I really like all your pieces.

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  36. Love all your designs but the sparkling necklace is just amazing. Can't take my eyes off it.

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  37. Wow really gorgeous pieces! You did a fantastic job with your soup!

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Thanks! Shalini

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