Welcome

This blog is intended to document my journey into the world of handmade artisan lampwork beads.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Bead Soup Ingredients

This is what I sent my partner Cheryl Foiles in NC.
It includes my favorite combination of glass focal and accent beads (Reichenbach 104 Multicolor with a clear 96 frit on top).  This combination never looks the same twice.  It is so much fun, but very hard to photograph. I have included a couple of options for complimentary pieces.  I did include a very long balled headpin (just in case she needs it) and a S clasp in sterling silver.  I always worry if I have included enough or to much to inspire creativity.  I have experienced both in my past soups and I feel that both can be paralyzing.  You want to give options but not overwhelm.


Well I do believe that my partner Cheryl nailed it, she included lots of options that coordinated with a beautifully crafted focal and clasp.  She uses a lot of copper in her work, and it is beautiful.  He included several gemstones that I had never heard of and labeled them for me.  I don't get to work with stones very often, so I was thrilled with her choices.  She also included several links (copper and silver).  There are pearls that coordinate with the lamp work beads also.  Her focal and clasp are very unique and when I showed my husband he was very impressed and liked them a lot.


I am a very lucky bead soup recipient.  It is a very similar color palette to what I sent her.  Interesting.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Bead Soup is on the way to my partner

My partner for Bead Soup 8 is Cheryl Foiles from Raleigh, NC.  Her work is wonderful.  She has two etsy shops, one for components and one for finished pieces.  Absolutely awesome pieces.  This could be a marriage made in heaven for me.  I hope she is as fond of my beads as I am of her metal work. 

I mailed off my soup to Cheryl today.  I am never as pleased as I would like to be with my packaging.  I am always looking for something that would just take your breath but never find it.  I see other packaging and just love it.  Got to improve on that aspect.  I tried to send enough but not to much so as to allow her to be creative.  I think sometimes too much soup is overwhelming. 

I am so looking forward to this soup.  Her taste is impeccable and we have similar backgrounds.  We both are full time employees and part time artists.  We both are from the West Coast but live in the South.   We both have grown children living in other parts of the universe.  Our husbands have very busy careers which leaves us time to explore our artistic side.  Oh and did I mention we spell our names the same.  Not that common a spelling.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/020/0/7923519/il_570xN.477314071_t74b.jpg
I just love these earrings.  I may have to hint to my husband about these.  They are fold formed and I have played with this technique, but not to this level of excellence.

I will post pictures when I receive my soup.

Till then, thanks for reading.

Cheryl