My Soup Has Arrived! :)

Actually, to be fair, it arrived a week ago or so *hangs head*.  I have only just now found time to attempt write my post.  (vacation, kids... kids post vacation insanity...)  But!  Let us get to the good stuff...  my wonderful partner for this challenge is Cynthia Riggs, if you don't follow her blog, you totally should!  She is the sweetest lady!  She and I have had a great time emailing back and forth learning about each other :)  Cynthia is one of those amazing people who does enameling!  I think enameling is just beautiful, so believe me, I was over the moon when I got her package!

The whole bowl of soup!

Vintaj clasp, Cynthia added the red beads to the toggle bar!

Vintage Czech glass beads (red) and how cute are the green tear drops??

Blue Glass Beads

Enameled Beads and End Caps

Enameled Key Charms and Connectors

Furnace Glass

And the to die for focal!  Isn't it incredible?!

I am so excited and I can't wait for Cynthia to show you what I sent, I (being the space cadet I am lately) forgot to take a picture before I sent it... *facepalm*  

I can't wait to get started with these goodies... now if only the children would cooperate and give me time!  Our blog review is the third one, to give me more time lol, on August 25th!  Here is a link so you can check out the other reveal dates and participants... not to mention what the party is about if you don't know :)

check it out on August 25th

So there you go! There is my soup :)  I need to upload my vacation pics so you guys can see!  I am hoping a few of them may inspire some pieces for the shop.... and I've been working on a piece using my Marsha Neal's Challenge palette...  Here are a few of my latest pieces in general:

Rue's Flowers Wrap Bracelet

Touch the Earth Bracelet

Still hopping!

Bead Soup is HERE

Bead Soup hopping that is! I am so sorry I am running so late this time around, last time I finished in like two days, but this time... just too much going on! I will keep going! I went from the bottom up, and am only, shamefully, at around #58. So if I haven't gotten to you yet, I will!!!! Thank you so much to everyone who commented, you were all so kind! I had so much fun and am loving seeing all of these creative and beautiful pieces!

Have a wonderful weekend! I will try to get another post up with some new work soon!!!!

~Jennifer

It's Bead Soup Time!!!

If you are searching for my Challenge of Music post, go HERE

I have to say, I wasn't certain if I was going to be able to pull everything together in time for this one!  I was not counting on my entire family (including yours truly lol) being sick off and on for over two weeks!  But, somehow,  I did it!  :)  I didn't quite use up all of the incredible bead soup my sweet partner Kari Carrigan of Wee Gems and Charmed Pennies sent me, which you can view HERE, but I made a good effort!  And things are still swirling about in my head what to do with the last bits!

My biggest challenge this time around was... which focal to start with??  Kari was so incredibly generous and I had so many possibilities that it was hard to choose where to begin!  But after sleeping on it one night, I woke up the next morning with an idea... I pulled out the sweet little acorn that she had made and stared at it.  Then I began pulling things from my stash, faceted pale blue jade, czech crystals, stainless steel chain... and finally Marsha Neal Studio silks.  Here is what I came up with and I personally LOVE it, I have already worn it a few times (I couldn't resist).

It's really long, the longest necklace I have ever worn and I love it!  The next piece that I came up with was another necklace, I could not resist the "J" pendant... it made me think of something from the Regency period. So I set out to make something with a vintage flair...

And came up with this :)  Simple but a bit sparkly, elegant, I think it will be perfect for an evening out!

Then it took me time to decide what to do with those gorgeous Charmed Pennies she sent me... Of course the logical thing to do was make necklaces, right?  But no, I had done two already.. and this was supposed to be a challenge... hmm... then one day it hit me... I remembered seeing the wonderful Rebecca Anderson of Songbead had done really cool little bangles!  Now hmm, I didn't have pre-made bangles... but I did have some fabulous 14g Fallen Angel Brass wire.  I'm one of those, if I don't have it I will try to find a way to make it myself girls these days!  I also didn't have a bracelet mandrel which presented another problem, so the first try (the red one) I simply made to fit my own (rather small) wrist by simply bending and shaping the wire around my wrist.  After I finished I thought, hm, well, that's alright... but I bet I could find a better way... and I stared at that coil of 14g wire for a while and then it hit me!  The wire was already coiled to the perfect bangle size!  I tried to fit my hand through a loop and it was no problem!  I was giddy!  So, I quickly whipped up two more bangles for the last two pendants and was pleased as punch!

And the last that I have to show you I made with the incredible lampwork beads Kari gave me, they are so very beautiful!!!  

Please excuse the pics if they are a bit off, it was icy out and my fingers were cold LOL.  Ok, ok, I know you all have a ton of other hopping to do , so I'll close up for now by saying, my son's birthday was yesterday and I'm having a sale in my shop (20% off anything except Blythe jewelry) using the code: BIRTHDAY  Also, I am giving away the gorgeous earrings above to a lucky person who comments (by random number generator but you MUST leave me an email to contact you at, otherwise I will have to redraw!).  I will announce the winner on my birthday, March 26th :).  Make sure you visit my partner Kari's blog to see what she did with what I sent her! http://weegemsdesigns.blogspot.com/

Thank you so so much, Lori, for making this blog hop possible, for having this amazing idea.. and for bringing us all together as a creative community!! You ROCK!

I had to take Linky thing out LOL  it was driving everyone nuts!  Here is the list instead:

Hostess, Lori Anderson
Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman

5.  Alesha Conklin and Becki Mendivil

6.  Alice Peterson and Carol Dillman

7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu

8.  Amanda Dittloff and Brandy Thomason McNair

9.  Amanda Tibbetts and Andrea Trank

10.  Amy Freeland and Kay Mallery 

11.  Andra Weber and Christine Murrow

12.  Ann Sherwood and Diane Welte

13.  Barbara Bechtel and Kerry Bogert

14.  Barbara Lewis and Cat Pruitt

15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)

17.  Cassie Donlen and Deryn Mentock

18.  Cathie Carroll and Janel Dudley

19.  Cece Cormier and Morwyn Mullins

20.  Charlene Jacka and Christina Hickman

21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)

23.  Christine Damm and Deb Brooks

24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs

26.  Cindy Cima Edwards and Eleanor Burian-Mohr

27.  Cory Celaya and Rhea Freitieg

28.  Courtney Breul and Dana Hickey

29.  Cynthia Abner and Jennifer Boreck

30.  Cynthia Tucker and Jean Peter

31.  Debbie Goering and Heidi Post

32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)

34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley

35.  Donna Bohler and Lisa Lodge

36.  Donna Millard and Kiersten Giles

37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)

38.  Elisabeth Auld and Eva Sherman

39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)

40.  Ema Kilroy and Laurie Keefe-Cecere

41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)

42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells

43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday

44.  Genea Crivello-Knable and Heather Powers

45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)

46.  Heidi Kingman and Lori Greenberg

47.  Helen Kemp and Lisa Wangeman

48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent

49.  Jamie Hogsett and Jeannie Dukic

50.  Jeanette Ryan and Jelveh Jaferian
51.  Jennifer Cameron and Tania Spivey

52.  Jennifer Justman and Kari Carrigan

53.  Jennifer Tough and Lorelei Eurto

54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)

56.  Julie Anne Leggett and Kelley Fogle

57.  Karen Hess and Linda Landig

58.  Karyn Bonfiglio and Kathleen Lange Klik

59.  Kashmira Patel and Kat White

60.  Kat Barron Miller and Kelly Morgan
61.  Kathy Lindemer and Rose Binoya

62.  Krafty Max and Sandra Miller

63.  Kristen Latimer and Pam Ferrari

64.  Kristie Roeder and Lea Avroch

65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)

67.  Lara Lutrick and Lisa Suver

68.  Laura DeMoya and Lisa Hanna

69.  Libby Leuchtman and Melanie Brooks

70.  Linda Koch and Rosemarie Cowit

71.  Lisa Chapman and Menka Gupta

 72.  Lisa Liddy and Marion Simmons

73.  Lori Anderson and Marcie Abney

74.  Lori Bowring-Michaud and Mary Govaars

75.  Lori Dorrington and Maria Rosa Sharrow

76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)

77.  Lynn Bennett and Mandi Ainsworth

78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)

79.  Mary Harding and Shannon LeVart

80.  Mary Jane Dodd and Stacey Curry
81.  Melinda Orr and Molly Alexander

82.  Melissa Meman and Michelle Escano-Caballaro

83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)

84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)

85.  Nancy Boylan and Suzette Bentley

86.  Natasha Lutes and Patti Vanderbloemen

87.  Pam Hurst and Rebekah Payne

88.  Patty Miller and Sara Rhoades

89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
90.  Rebecca Sirevaag and Sharon Driscoll

91.  Rochelle Brisson and Shannon Chomanczuk

92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde

93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick

94.  Sandi Volpe and Sarah/Saturday Sequins

95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)

96.  Skylar Brez and Theresa Buchle

97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

99.  Stephanie LaRosa and Vonna Maslanka

100.  Terri Wlaschin and Wendy Blum

Giveaway Winners!

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful week :)  I will start off by announcing my giveaway winners!  Firstly, for the pair of earrings:

Number 14 was Louise, when asked her hope for the new year, she said:

"I have been following your work for a while. I really love your eye for colour. This year I want to realise my own dream - to find my inner creativity and express myself through jewellery. It didn't happen last year so fingers firmly crossed."

Here's to finding your inner creativity, Louise!  You can do it!  

The winner of the bracelet was:

Number 8, Christine!  She said her hope for the year was: 

"Your earrings and bracelet are so pretty!! 

My biggest goal...I'm almost done setting up a torch-fire enamel area & would love to spend more time making jewelry!!"

I can't wait to see what torch fired goodies you come up with, Christine!

Congratulations to both!  Please contact me at:  mysoulsfire@hotmail.com  with your addresses so I can get those out to you!  And for all of you who didn't win...  I am having 20% off anything in my shop, even sale items!  Enter the coupon code:  HOPE20  at checkout!  :)

Now, I'd love to give you all a peek at the new things in my shop :)  I'm really excited about them, I've really enjoyed putting these together :)

Tangerine Sky Bracelet and Earrings:

Twilight in Paris, featuring a beautiful tile by the lovely Marie of Skye Jewels and delicious Fallen Angel Brass Co. brass:

And my favorite... the one I am having an especially hard time parting with... Red as a Fox.  Which features

the most perfect sleepy little fox from Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio (paired with Fallen Angel Brass

Co. wire and lovely sari silk from Golden One Too on Etsy):

If you click on any of those images it will take you to the listing where you can see more pics :)  I felt so inspired with those, they truly make me happy.


Now, for some exciting news!  I made it into Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!!!  This will be my second and I am over the moon excited!  My partner this time is the talented Kari Carrigan of Charmed Pennies!  I started following her blog after the last Soup and am so excited to have her as my partner this time!  I need to put her soup together this weekend, it has been swirling in my head and I think I know what I'm sending :)  So excited!  Check out her blog and shop!


http://www.weegemsdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CharmedPennies

Later this weekend or early next week I will have blog posts spotlighting the work of two wonderful ladies who last month I was lucky enough to receive pieces by!  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

~Jennifer

Blah Days

Do you ever have those days?  Blah days?  Days where you just would rather stay in bed?  I do.  I've had several of those lately... and it was starting to affect my work.  So I took a couple of days off and then was able to get back to work :)  I managed to do a pair of earrings for Heather's Dragonfly challenge last week that I really love.  I didn't win, but hey, it was fun to try!

I love the way they turned out :) And if you love them too they are for sale in my shop now.  I'm now pulling out those autumn colors and have started designing a bracelet which should be done today I think! Yay!

And last but not least... I got my Bead Soup buddy!  Elisabeth Auld of Beads for Busy Gals!  She is such a cool lady!  I am sooooo excited!  I finished my soup for her now I just need to get it mailed off!  We've started chatting and I have visited her really cool Etsy shop, make sure you check out her blog and her Etsy!  She's amazing!

~Jennifer