Look At All These Files!

Is it weird that I love getting tools? A friend of mine just gave me a handful of files. All different sizes and shapes. I am so excited to get them! I have been working with wire and metal for a little bit and I know these will come in handy. Wasn't sure I would use the handles, but we put the one on and it does make it much easier to hold.

The Soup I sent Susan

This is the soup I sent my partner Susan of Libellula Jewelry.I was trying to listen to what Lori Anderson wrote in a couple of the emails she sent all of the Bead Soup participates and get my soup ready before I had a partner. And I did pretty much have it done.  I was very happy with the color combination of the two sets of beads I had made and the lampwork focal. It was what metal I was sending with it, that had  me stumped. I finally decided on the brass. I thought it looked good with the colors of the beads and kinda gave it that beachy look that I love, and I really wanted to include that little fish bead(silly, I know). But that made the clasp a bit of a problem for me. I had the triangular one in my stash, but I really wanted to make one. I had recently found the 16 gauge brass wire at my hardware store. So I made a simple clasp with a double wrap of wire. I had recently taken Kerry Bogert's on line course, where she explained how to patina brass and it worked!  I also included a length of brass chain.

I also sent two enamel beads that could be used for a focal. A couple of pressed glass beads and a length of sari silk.

It was fun to put this soup together and I hope Susan enjoys working with it.

Bead Soup Arrived!

The mail lady brought my soup for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Hop!! Look how cute this box is!! I just couldn't wait to open it!  But first let me start at the beginning. My partner is Susan of Libellula Jewelry and Cicada Silver. She makes beautiful jewelry pieces like this.....

 
I love the colors and the look of this piece. But look at the copper components she has made aren't they wonderful? Look at this bezel and the clasp! Aren't they wonderful? She also does etching, colors metal, makes bead caps, headpins and I am sure so much more. She is very talented. I am so happy to have her as a partner.

So lets get back to the Bead Soup Blog Hop and the wonderful box,(which she also made!!) Susan sent me. She sent me so many wonderful things. There is no way I could ever say how happy I am with everything that was inside that box. It was filled to the rim, and everything was wrapped in turquoise tissue paper.(I should have taken a picture but....well.... I forgot. You would have too.) I took my time unwrapping every piece. It was like Christmas or my birthday or something. So much fun. I love the way she labeled every  item. Makes it very easy to remember what it all is.

First of all the beads...

Cherry Quartz, Pink Opal, Aventurine, Turquoise, Freshwater pearls! They are all beautiful. The ceramic beads on the left which are from Gaea are really pretty spring colors. And I love the recycled coke bottle glass beads. They are such a pretty color.

And now the metal stuff. Honestly it is all just way too cool!!

This is all stuff she made! Headpins, links, a hammered clasp, jump rings that have been oxidized, the copper beads that she has liver of sulfured and verdigrised, the ear wires, the bead caps. (The only thing she didn't make were the enameled headpins on the left from SueBeads) The PENDANT and The BUTTON CLASP....WOW!!!  I know I keep saying it, but I LOVE these!!!

This is just to show a little closer picture of the etching in the bead caps and the colors.

 And here is a closer view of the pendant and the button. The Turquoise is just perfect! My first thought is the button will go on a bracelet...but who knows.

So, that is everything. I have a bunch of ideas running around in my head. We are in the second reveal, which is April 6th. I will post a picture of what I sent her tomorrow.