Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party Swap!

Gosh, this was fun!  My uber-talented partner, Cathie Carroll, sent me such nice things to work with.  I simply love "Grampa's Farm" by Jubilee and the carvings on the rings and clasp by Lois Venarchick of Wynwood Beads add so much ... they're very sweet.  According to Cathie,  "pearls, a piece of jade, chunks of chalcedony, and red glass beads that belonged to a Civil War Army Nurse" were a part of her Americana Bead Soup. I was thrilled with these things.  The colors appealed to me as did their texture. 

The focal raku pendant was perfect for a technique I used in my book on a project called "Flying Trapeze." It's a fun way to suspend a pendant.     

I put the sterling silver rectangle for the pendant trapeze through the rolling mill first to get this floral texture.  I just love that brass pattern sheet with the little flowers.  It's perfect for so many things.

I love making these bead clusters.  The project "Pink Ink" from the book shows how to make them, but it's not hard to figure out just by looking at these.

Lots of twisty wire adds a touch of opulence. 

I adore milky translucent beads!  Absolutely adore them!!!

A big hug goes out to Lori Anderson for organizing this event.  It just keeps getting better and better!  Thank you, Lori.  And, thank you Cathie for selecting such lovely items for me to work with.  I was thinking of you the whole time I worked. :-) To follow the trail of beads, please go here.