Bead Soup and the Reveal . . .

 All of our ingredients have been simmering on low and it's time 

to serve up what we've been cookin'.

This is my first time participating in the Bead Soup Blog Hop Party

and if you're not sure what this is go here to get the scoop.

Tiffany Long is my bead soup partner and you can find her here.

 "Sakura"

This is the first piece that I made and the size of the focal was a challenge for me. 

It's about 5-6 inches wide and I wanted to make sure that the focal wasn't overshadowed.

I'm a firm believer that sometimes less is more (unless more is just better)! ha

The first thing I did was research the Japanese Cherry Blossom and what I found

was that in the Japanese culture the Cherry Blossom

represents the cycle of life and death and how our lives

blossom and fall.

That they are richly symbolic because of their extreme beauty and quick death.

So I immediately knew what I wanted to do  . . .

I wanted to somehow have blossoms that seemed to be falling off

symbolizing the transient nature of life,

and lucky for me there were two perfect places to attach a jump ring with fine chain.

I used brass chain with a vintage finish and  

I searched through my stash and found the right color orange seed beads

to use with the few Cherry Blossoms that would fall from the chain.

Some more of the soup I received . . .

I then decided to make a bracelet with some of the remaining soup. I used a variety of metals

in this bracelet that would be all about dangles. From the soup I used a few light green pearls as well as the

pretty pink ones, and the very lightweight silver looking ones all topped off with bead caps

I had in my stash. Even though none of the beads had any heavy weight to them, the chains seemed to want

to get tangled easily so I used a jump ring in a couple of places to keep them neat and tidy but

stay in keeping with that loose feeling. 

But it still need that one last thing - pink sari silk ribbon topped it off!

And one last creation using the clasp that she sent me. Silver just didn't seem to go with

the first one and I could have used it in the bracelet, but I think it's just right in this one.

In this one I used this cluster of leaves she sent with crystals that were already put together.

Check out the great little rhinestone headpins!!

And there were 3 pink pearls left. I added some more chain from my stash just like

I incorporated into the bracelet with a vintaj pendant and bird charm - simplicity!

And then after I was finished with both this necklace and the bracelet I had an 'aha'

moment! What if . . .  when I wasn't wearing the bracelet I could attach it to the necklace.

Now, I just need to figure out the best way to do that.

A tremendous thank you to Lori Anderson, Artist and founder of Bead Soup Blog Hop

at Pretty Things.

There are over 300 participants in this blog hop and you can find

the entire list here.

Happy hopping, see ya there!