Sweet Bead Studio Blog
6th Bead Soup Blog Party!
The Bead Soup Blog Party is back….for the 6th round! This great big bead-swap-design-challenge-blog hop has become so popular that there are 3 separate reveal dates this time around. And to celebrate, I have a SURPRISE for you at the end of this post. Thank you, Lori, for hosting this online party that now spans 45 U.S. states and 25 countries – can you believe it? I’m especially excited for Lori as her book, Bead Soup is due out before too long!
My bead swap partner hails all the way from Texas – the wonderfully talented Nan Emmett. I know many of you are familiar with her work – her beautiful ceramic beads and components. I absolutely love her rustic style and the colors the colors she works with….and many of you love her work too, seeing how quickly it always sells from her shop!
I have a quick story I have to share….and this illustrates out connected we all are in this jewelry community. It seems that once we become familiar with another like-minded beading soul, our paths will eventually cross again…..it may take a few years, or a few blog parties, as in my case. Way back in the very first blog party, Nan Emmett hosted a giveaway in her BSBP post. Do you remember it? She gathered up an incredibly generous assortment of ceramic beads. Guess who won them?? 🙂 I couldn’t believe my luck. And that luck continued on as I had a few jewelry pieces published later using some of those giveaway beads…. there are just so many Bead Soup Blog Party stories, and this is one of mine. SO happy to come full circle and be partnered with Nan. So enough talking, let’s see the goods!
My Bead Soup that traveled from TX to VA!
A shot of the clasp in my Bead Soup mix. Nan made the clasp from polymer clay in the same pattern that she used in the focal.
Using the copper in the clasp as a cue, I set to work in my favorite medium. I twisted and coiled copper wire, and later oxidized and hand-polished it link by link.
I wanted to use the heart focal in a way that wasn’t expected. I created a focal cluster, hanging the ceramic heart with tiny copper beads to a twisted wire ring. I mixed in additional handmade components, such as the resin pendant by Jade Scott and the sweet ceramic bird by LeAnn Weih.
I was excited when I finished my BSBP piece, because although I like the challenge, my favorite part is the photo op that comes afterwards! I love gathering up my props and figuring out how to style my pictures. For this special occasion, I couldn’t wait to break out my brand new but old chippy white board. Just picked this up at the DC Big Flea last weekend, as a matter of fact.
Did you catch that part in the first paragraph about a surprise? I wanted to pass along a spirit of giving that Nan shared with me many Bead Soup parties ago and host a little give away too! I made a bracelet just for you – to say thank you for stopping by. You’ll be entered to win with your comment on this post. I know it takes a long time to visit the many blogs in this party, so I’ll wait to announce the winner on the Bead Soup Blog party second reveal date – August 11th!
Now don’t forget to visit Nan’s blog to see what she created with the bead soup that I sent – a mix created around an ornate, vintage pin!t *Update: I LOVE what Nan created! She even saved some of the bead soup that she sent to me to mix in with what I sent to her….go see!
On to the rest of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party Participants!
Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com
Alice Craddick, Alice’s Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations
Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy’s Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie
Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris’ Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Dana James, Dana’s Jewelry Designs
Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery
Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things
Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry
Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia’s Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry
Inge von Roos, Inge’s Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama’s Got to Doodle
Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry
Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There’s Beading to Do!
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life
Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains
Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade
Kim Ballor, Vitamin C… A Daily Dose of Creativity
Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie’s Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry
Linda Landig, Linda’s Bead Blog & Meanderings
Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Lori Dorrington, Lori’s Adventures in Etsy Land
Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry
Marti Conrad, Marti C’s Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles – Spirited Earth
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs
Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions … Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky
Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre’z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal’s Attic
Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Sue Hamel, The Bottle Cork and Crystal
Suzette Bentley, Ellie’s Bijoux
Szarka, Magpie Gemstones
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau
Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift
Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash
Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna
181 Comments
Leave a Comment
Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her best-selling jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was released in Fall 2013. Read more.
Oh my goodness! What beautiful beads and what a gorgeous piece you made with them. Teal and orange are one of my favorite combinations. I may have been hiding under a rock, but I never paid much attention to “bead soup” I had to look it up on Google. I am a beader from way back, but didn’t pay it much attention to it on my computer. Well that is about to change. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! My excitement may keep me up at night!
Janet
Hi Cindy,
Gorgeous necklace! Every time I look at it I see something new. The bracelet is just as gorgeous thank you for the chance to win it.
Therese
The beads you received are wonderful.
Your design is absolutly awesome. Great job.
What beauties you have here! Gorgeous work!
That is just stunning!!! Your attention to detail and technique is just phenomenal Cindy. Nan’s beads are gorgeous and paired with your talent has made this piece a show stopper 🙂
PS. That bracelet is INSANELY gorgeous!!! If I win I think I’ll faint! LOVE IT!
Love that bracelet! Beautiful work!
What beautiful components you had to work with. You did them justice too 🙂
Your necklace is gorgeous! As usual, your wire work is outstanding!
I love Nan’s beads and pendants! I don’t have as many as I wish because I never get to her store in time!
Would love the opportunity to own your beautiful bracelet!
[…] Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends Cindy Wilson, Mommy’s Dream Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs Cris Peacock, Cris’ Page […]
your necklace is totally amazing! I love the way you used the focal a a dangle! I would totally wear this necklace!
So rustic and earthy and beautiful/ I love your work!
I love the variety in your necklace, not only of the beads, but of the techniques. Same goes for that bracelet, which would love to come live with me!
Gorgeous Cindy! I love what you did with the focal cluster! And the hand-wrapped links are such a beautiful touch. So inspiring!
Just a simply stunning creation!!! 🙂
your necklace is beyond breath takingly gorgeous, your idea to use the focal in a cluster adds extra interest, and then there is your exceptional wire work and design sense..i was so happy to have you as my partner..you certainly worked magic with the soup ingredients.
I really love the colors and the oxidized copper in your necklace, the pendant cluster is fab with all the little charms on it too.
Oh that necklace ( and bracelet) is stunning! I wouldn’t be surprised to see it in a magazine too! And I love how you first ‘met’ Nan by winning her beads, which influences your designs… and now get to partner with her 🙂 so awesome 🙂
stunning job.. I just love how the copper looks.
What a gorgeous necklace. Yes, I am very familiar with Nan’s work and have been using her components from back when you could actually go to her shop and have a selection of items to choose from – she is so famous now, that you practically have to special order or have the luck of the fairies with you. Your necklace flows beautifully, and I love the interesting things you did it in – one that sticks in my mind is how you wrapped the white beads around the black bead on the front. Just beautiful. And, a giveaway, what a deal! Thank you for the opportunity to win that gorgeous bracelet.
Very great wire work with beautiful beads and very best pictures I have seen during blog hop! Greetings, Doris
Cindy, absolutely beautiful necklace and bracelet.
Gorgeous pieces! I love both the necklace and the bracelet!
Cindy, you take the most beautiful pictures! I love your necklace it is beautiful! The bracelet is gorgeous!
Im in love of the necklace! What a wonderful design!!! I love your work. Have a wonderful day and keep creating beautiful things 🙂
Wow, I love how you made that piece long and elegant. The twisted copper circles add such a nice tone to the piece and just the the right balance. I’d love to be entered in the drawing for the bracelet. Thank You.
What a nice coincidence that your paths crossed again. I love all the wire details in your work.
Ambra
These are so lovely and stylist. Thank for for participating and sharing your creativity with us.
The necklace and bracelet you made are gorgeous! I love the wire work and the blending of colors!
Awesome work, Cindy, as always! I would wear that bracelet with joy!
Cindy,
As usual, you did a stunning job with your soup. You have so many goodies hidden in that necklace that you notice something special each time you look at it. I am partial to the aqua colored flower. I like the links you used as well. You have such a talent at wire wrapping. My hands can’t take it, I wish they would. Thanks for sharing the treasures.
Gorgeous pieces! I love the necklace you created. And the bracelet would look great on me. 🙂
I don’t really have words to describe how breath taking this necklace is. Also gorgeous bracelet. Fantastic job and great eye for color!!
So divine! love the detail work and the colors!
Wow-what a stunning necklace and bracelet! The wire wrapping is amazing-love the circles that you created. The ceramic beads Nan created are fantastic and you really made them shine! Really gorgeous work Cindy!
I am always amazed at your lovely creations, Cindy. You really let yourself be guided by the materials at hand, and the resulting whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. It is so generous of you to offer that little “surprise”!
Awesome creations Cindy. That necklace is stunning and I loved the soup that you received. You did a great job and I love the wire wrapped complimenting beads you made out of copper. Now I’m off to see what was created with the cool beads that you sent.
I love all the elements and techniques you used Cindy. The colors all work so well and your wirework is gorgeous! That weathered wood piece is stunning as a backdrop for the necklace too. : )
Cindy, these are both totally awesome! I love how you handled that focal so much! I also love the wire wrapping and the way you oxidized and polished it all. So gorgeous and so clever. I would so love to win this bracelet and have a “Cindy Wimmer Original” of my very own. I’d wear that so proudly and probably show it off to strangers in the grocery store. Heehee. You’re my first stop on the hop so I’d better hop on. I’m so glad you didn’t sit this one out!
Cindy, your necklace is simply stunning. The links are just to die for and the array of beads and textures is amazing. I am continually in awe of your work. I can’t wait to see it in person.
What a beautiful necklace! I love how you did the photography too, very different and eye catching! Beautiful designs as always.
Hey Cindy, I love what you created with Nan’s beautiful beads! It’s a stunning piece! Now I am going to pop over to her blog to see what she created with your soup!
Very pretty pieces!!
You always come up with something amazing, the colors in your necklace are just beautiful. I can imagine that bracelet on my wrist 🙂 what a nice giveaway!!!
GREAT WORK CINDY…
Theresa
Beautiful work as always Cindy! Your photos never fail to dazzle me! Really loved the ones of your little boys playing in the water! Could almost hear the giggles coming from them!
OMG! Both the necklace and the bracelet is just flat incredible. I am really drawn to the copper rings that you wrapped in both.
Love your long wire wrapped necklace and the wonderful way you photographed it. Nan’s beads are lovely and are so becoming with your copper wire work. Loved hearing your story about winning Nan’s beads.
Just fabulous. Sigh…..
another one of my favs!!! Always love your work & you did it again. you were sent some lovely items & you did them justice. Awesome!!!
That is a great necklace and bracelet! I would love to win the bracelet. Very generous of you.
I am a newbee to jewellery making. So new, that I missed the signup for the bead soup. I can’t wait for the next one.
You have given me great inspiration. Thanks!
Oh wow, that necklace is just awe inspiring! You can tell from just glancing at the piece you put some of your heart and soul into it! The soup you got to work with was exceptional too; that necklace probably fell right into place 🙂
I love the story of your first soup and being reconnected with Nan; the universe is a funny, funny thing sometimes!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win that bracelet-I’d be honored (as well as tickled pink) if I was chosen to win 🙂
Happy hopping!