8th Bead Soup Party Partner

Hello everybody!
I am finally writing again about beads, and bead parties.
That time of the year has come and I have a new partner for the amazing Bead Soup Blog Party, which reached the 8th edition and has as usual hundreds of partecipants.

Without further ado let me introduce my Bulgarian Partner, Rosantia Petkova.
She is a 360° crafter and likes to experiment with every kind of material and shape. And I am not talking only about beads.

Let me show you some of her works:

Textile necklace, how clever is that?!!

Crocheted earrings

Gorgeous color choices here!

It is always inspiring to have partners who like to play with new materials and love challenges, I am so curious of how things will develop!

We are both still "stirring" our soups and adding the final touches, so stay tuned for more news about the soup!

In the meanwhile jump to the official Bead Soup blog to see who the other partecipants are and what they're up to!

Published and lost

This will be long and boring, but I had patience enough and deserve to steam off a little.
Let me start by saying how deeply I respect the work of anybody and that I am always extremely polite when addressing people, no matter what. I know what it means to work in customers care, and I would never be a nasty, angry, rude customer.

Last June I was contacted by a magazine to publish my Red Lady necklace in an article related to the amazing Bead Soup.

I was so happy! Couldn't believe it!
I didn't want to part from my necklace, but I was going to leave in a couple of days and didn't have time to take proper pictures as they wanted. So I sent it.
I didn't receive any news from them for almost 2 months, as they went on vacation in august. I was kind of resigned that my necklace was lost, but nope: it had arrived safely!
The magazine was due on 5th october and I couldn't wait to receive my copy.
I was sent an e-mail that I had actually been published (yeah!!!) and I was going to receive a copy and my necklace in my hands within a couple of weeks.

Weeks passed by and no sign of any package behind my door.
I wrote to the magazine and was answered, after 6 days, that the necklace had been sent to my address...I look at it and it says n.16 instead of 14...
What? SERIOUSLY??!?!?

Rules are you need to write down your address almost everywhere, on the box, envelope, on a card tied to the piece of jewelry. No way I could have written 16 in any of these places.

Also, it was too late to go nextdoor (that's where n.16 was) and ask to people if they could pay attention to any mail they would receive with my name on. It was already lost or going back to the magazine.
Well, after one more month I can say it never went back to the magazine.

The nasty thing is, the mail wasn't trackable since day one, when it still was in the USA. Tracking number didn't work - I don't know why, they didn't know why.
They left me with promises of sorting things out for me, but they obviously didn't.

How should I feel now???
Devastated. Especially because the raw materials were a precious gift from what has become a dear friend.
So I only have 2 pics of the magazine, my BF took them yesterday night with his phone so you need quite a lot of imagination....

Looks gorgeous and can't wait to have in my hands.
It's a bittersweet triumph for me.
I am thankful for being published but I am so sad now. And I miss my beads so much.

Another piece with Gaea giveaway

I used another amazing piece - a pendant - from the giveaway I won from Gaea.

You can see the first necklace I made with the beads here.

This  time I used this beautiful blue pendant and, as usual, I started with the oh-let's-keep-it-simple attitude and finished in the opposite way

I used some beautiful Czech glass beads from Maya Honey shop and added some beaded beads made with Picasso turquoise Superduo

completing with size 6 gold seed beads and some bronze delicas.

Now I have 1 more pendant from Gaea ... going to use it soon.

Tassel day

When I say tassel, I think about my grandma curtains and her crochet center-piece which is still on her beautiful table. They both have huge tassels which were forbidden for us kids (how can you not touch them?! They are irresistible).

This year is so full of tassel-ed jewelry, so I just followed the wave

Picasso Czech victorian bicones in yellow, my favorites, magenta glass pearls and matching leather tassel.

Maybe some day I'll make a 20's version of it, impossibly long.

In the meanwhile I used some leftovers from the Bead Soup and made another one in green/yellow

New necklace with Gaea beads

I finally used some of the beads I won on the Gaea giveaway.
Remember that?
I was so unsure on how to use them but I finally came up with something pretty different:

There are beaded beads made with both seed beads and Superduo beads, glass beads, Pandora beads and resin chain.

It's so comfortable and light! And I so love this color combo.
Still have to decide whether to sell it or keep it!

Features and sold item

Please visit Nina Design blog to read about their experience as judge for the Bead Soup Blog Party and to see their choices.
It's so nice to be there!
Just got back home from a milanese happy-hour with my friends and found this beautiful surprise, plus another one in the form of a sold pair of earrings

and a couple of surprises to talk about in the next months...
Good night now!

June Bride EBW challenge

This month theme for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge is "June Bride":
"June has traditionally been the most popular month for weddings for centuries around the world. That is where the term "June bride" comes from. Historically, there are several reasons for that. The month of June derives its name from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. In ancient times it was thought that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. There were also many logistical reasons for brides to consider June weddings. Brides married in June were likely to give birth to a first child in spring (also thought to bring good luck) and recover in time for the fall harvest. During medieval times a person's annual bath usually fell in May or June, meaning that June brides still smelled relatively fresh. 

In modern times those things are not so important, but weddings still take place in June more than any other month. It’s the month that summer begins (northern hemisphere), the flowers are all in bloom and the weather is warm without being too hot. So for this month’s challenge, channel your inner bride to create the perfect wedding accessory for a June Bride. Perhaps a decorative barrette for her hair, a cuff to set off her new wedding ring, a beaded sash for her dress or the quintessential necklace full of luster and sparkle. There’s nothing as stunning as a Bride decked out in white, but also think about the red silks of a Chinese Bride, the Henna Mehndi of the Indian Bride, or the bright colors of the Moroccan Bride. "

I couldn't resist the temptation to use my white Swarovski stash, even though I would usually go with something colored. I think I made something unusual though since I decided to go with a relaxed style

I just made a bunch of donuts and knotted them together with waxed cotton thread, like in my Cherry blossom necklace.

I imagined a beach wedding with a barefoot bride or a country style ceremony

(even though this pic looks like a Renaissance painting)

Maybe it's just I don't like stiff, traditional weddings and love those relaxed ceremonies where everybody feels comfortable and actually has fun! I'm not really a wedding girl, if you hadn't got it, but I certainly appreciate the beauty and fascination of a bride as anybody else.

As usual you can vote for your favorite entry fron the 9th to 15th of June on our team blog. 

Don't miss it!

7th Bead Soup Blog Party® contest

I am truly honored (and pretty confused since it's 2 am here) to announce that my Red Lady necklace is one of the winners of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party contest!!!

The fact that I was chosen by Nina Design together with another amazing artist as Malin de Koning, who I absolutely adore, is already a big prize for me.

Please take a moment to look at ALL the winners here, there are 46 of them and all are astonishing creations!

I would like to thank someone before I pass out asleep:

-first of all Lori McDaniel Anderson, the mind and body behind the Bead Soup Blog Party - because it takes a whole lot of energy and physical strength to do all that's required for such a big event with more than 500 partecipants, and she made all of this despite a lot of problems. She's a warrior and we all appreciated her big efforts to make this party such an amazing experience for all of us.

-Nina Design, one of the jurors who chose my piece, a huge honor I wasn't expecting at all!

-my partner Dorota, who sent me that amazing cabochon which led me to bead embroidery in the first place, and a lot of other goodies that stimulated my creativity. Knowing you was a big pleasure dear Dorota, you are such a nice, creative and generous person!

-last but not least, my wonderful boyfriend.
He often makes fun of me saying "I'm going to throw away all your beads!" but actually always pushes me to explore my creativity and bears the presence of all these tiny little things everywhere. I've become much more tidier with time and we don't find beads in our meals or bed anymore, but still he hears me swearing whenever I accidentally pour beads on the floor, and he still loves me.

Thanks for visiting everybody and for taking the time to write kind, thoughtful comments!

Purple claws

As I was saying, I just bought a new tutorial and I made the first component for the necklace:

I love the menacing look of it, enhanced by the use of metallic Rizo beads instead of drops. Isn't it cute? A little purple claw!
Sometimes when I want to be sure about the result, I use a photo editing software to see how the complete necklace will be.
I'm planning to put some Pandora beads in between the claws, so it will look something like this:

I can't wait to wear it!!!

BSBP 4th item: The Indian Flower necklace

If you are still hopping on the BSBP second reveal, here is the link . I'm showing my BSBP pieces one by one all over the week, here is the 4th one.

This necklace has been an ever changing project until the very last minute. This beautiful clasp is not so simple to use, and those freshwater pearls were great to match it, but other than this I didn't know what to do with them.

I was making a multistring bracelet, when I found 2 beautiful ceramic green flowers in my stash. They have the same size and shape of the clasp, so I decided to make some sort of big leaves with these flowers in the centre.

I wanted to put the toggle between them, so it would have been on the frontal part.
But the leaves were too big and I didn't like the first one, the second I liked more but wasn't sure about the shape...
I was confused, until I decided to make 2 small leaves and use the clasp as focal. Something simple.

But then I cut the big leaf making it a big flower shape, and decided to use THAT as focal.

I like this color combo with green and fuchsia/purple, which is by the way the color combo I offered my partner.
Finally I needed something to put in between the pearls, which have a semi-spherical shape. I added some green crystal to mix together the 2 main colors and voilà:

I'm still looking at those leaves, can't realize I actually made them. I won my fear of bead embroidery pretty fast!

BSBP 3rd item: The Cherry Blossom necklace

If you are still hopping on the BSBP second reveal, here is the link . I'm showing my BSBP pieces one by one all over the week, here is the 3rd.

Since I saw these little leaves in my BSBP box I knew I was going to use them, I just didn't know HOW.
I also loved those 6mm pink beads and wanted something to celebrate spring...somehow I found myself making donuts with them and realized they looked like flowers!

The next step was thinking how to assemble them together. I wanted another knotted necklace, simple, something that could resemble an actual twig of cherry tree.
While on Flickr I saw these chain maille "beads" and I thought they would look great made with dark bronze rings...and then, playing with beaded beads, I realized I could complete the necklace with some beaded cherries.

A simple necklace but it has almost become my favorite!

BSBP 2nd item: The Green Leaf set

If you are still hopping on the BSBP second reveal, here is the link . I'm showing my BSBP pieces one by one all over the week, here is the second one.

My partner has been generous to provide me with multiple focals and 2 toggles, both floreal.
One of the focals was this beautiful leaf

She sent a huge variety of green beads: crystals, big rondelles, green turquoise, glass little leaves...

I wanted to use the rondelles but didn't know how. I decided to knot them with some grey waxed thread instead of a plain stringing.

I also decided I didn't want a symmetrical necklace, so I needed something different on the other side; I made some beaded beads with the green crystals and brown seed beads, also I made 2 more with orange/lime beads from the previous neclace to give some contrast.

As usual the final part of a necklace is always the most difficult for me. There were already so many different elements, I didn't want the necklace to be too crowded, and I didn't want to sacrifice some beautiful stones in a part of it that is usually hidden by hair.

I suddenly remembered a gift from a fellow beader: sari silk ribbon!

I loved the contrast of this mustard colored silk. I was saving it for something special...I think I waited until the perfect moment. Plus it is really comfortable to wear on such a sensitive part of the body.

I also made this simple knotted bracelet

with some lilac and a beaded bead in contrast color. I was inspired by my spring bracelets and so I made one more 

I love so much these big lentil beads, both color and shape attract me.

Stay tuned for more details on my BSBP pieces!

BSBP 1st item: Red Lady Necklace

If you are still hopping on the BSBP second reveal, here is the link . I'm showing my BSBP pieces one by one all over the week, here is the first one.

When I first opened the box from Dorota, my Bead Soup partner, the first item I saw (and the biggest) was this amazing embroidered focal.

I fell in love with it instantly and I decided I needed something big to celebrate this gift and my partner's ability.
So i decided to give a serious chance to bead embroidery.
I had bought some bead backing almost 2 years ago from Nicole Campanella, and was eager to use it.
I had some old orange cabochons, looking like rivolis, I started bezelling them using the beads Dorota provided me with (gorgeous, and a lot of them). She also sent those little red pearls she had used on the focal.

I started with some round, floral motif using the orange freshwater pearls on the first rounds and some old golden pearls I had bought 5 years ago on the second.
And then, I got blocked.
I didn't know how to go on. After 10 days working on other pieces, I decided to connect what I had made with the focal using the little yellow seed beads.
Then I thought about going on with the same motif without the rivoli. How to do so? I tried some beaded donut and made 2 with the same beads from the 2nd floral motif. Then I made 2 more donuts, only very small to have a fading effect. I decided for a simple magnetic toggle because I have a sensitive neck and just used 2 red agate beads to embellish it.

How do I look?

Bead Soup Party 2nd reveal: here I am!

I'm so thrilled this day has come!
This is my first Bead Soup Blog Party and I was lucky to have a European partner, so soups arrived within a week! I had a lot of time to think about each of these creations, but you know: best ideas come at the very last moment!
My partner is Dorota Żerańska from Poland and she was hugely generous with her soup:

My whole production is dedicated to Spring!
I tried to use as much as I could adding just indispensable things. And I committed to working with techniques I had never used before. Like bead embroidery.
So here is the first one, which I call Red Lady necklace:

I had never made a piece like this.When you have such an amazing, bold focal, you can either keep it the most simple you can, or you need to go even bolder. So I created embroidered matching pieces (Dorota had sent some of the beads she had used to bezel the focal cabochon) adding only some golden beads and orange rivolis. I started with bigger, richer pieces and made a dwindling effect with some RAW rings up to the small toggle.

Second piece, the Leaf necklace, also featuring something I never used before: sari silk ribbons and knotting with waxed thread.

I used this gorgeous leaf focal here and also one of the two toggles. Look at the amazing variety of green stones in here...I made some beaded beads with the crystals in the soup and the seed beads I had used in the Red lady necklace, which are orange with a lime green lining, to break all this green nuances. I also made a matching bracelet adding a beaded bead:

and using the same knotting technique, mixing some lilac for a change.
Made another one with these other gorgeous lentil beads

Third necklace, I made some more beaded donuts like the smallest of the first necklace.
I only used beads from the soup and just added some chain maille beads...yes! I tried chain maille for the first time! I know it's nothing special, but jump rings are my sworn enemies, so it's a big deal for me.
What I made is a Cherry Blossom Necklace:

...and looks like in the end a couple of blossoms actually produced some fruit!

Forth necklace, the MultisPring necklace made with some of the remaining beads from the first one:

I used another focal here, put it on one side and on the other there's a ceramic connector from ScorchedEarth, which was the perfect color. The news here is the leather cord I've had in my stash forever and never used before.

Last but not least, the main clasp!
Too beautiful to put it on the back of a necklace, too simple on a multistring bracelet, I changed my mind a thousand times on how to use it; finally I decided for something to complete it, some embroidered leaves

But then I found this old ceramic green flower which looked similar and decided, in the end, to put the toggle in the back. The beautiful freshwater pearls and green crystal from the soup complete the piece and match both the flowers.

This is all for now! I still have plenty of soup left, so I'll produce more until it's finished!
I'll blog about every piece in a more detailed way, one each day, so stay tuned if you'd like to know more about the creative process.
Thank you so much Dorota for being so generous and open to communication, and...for sending chocolate! LOL that is why I love swapping. You get to know some really amazing people!
And BIG thanks to Lori Anderson, our amazing hostess!
Now go see what my partner made and take a nice blog hopping on all the other partecipants, you'll find the list here!!!

Spoiling Mom

I'm packing my things to catch a train back to Milan tonight. Same old story.
I took some time to make something for mom though.
I made a cute little bracelet for her and put it in a small Easter paper egg...no pics of it yet.

Then I made this bracelet to match her necklace:

I don't usually like sets, especially this bold, but I have to admit they look stunning together.
I had also bought her a kit at Creattiva fair, composed of handmade greek ceramic beads, silver components and acai seeds, knotted on a turquoise waxed cord.

I waited to make it because I wasn't sure she was going to like it. But she does.
I didn't bring my cameras here so I took this pics with my cell phone, sorry for the quality.
See you back in Milan!

Turquoise waves

I just completed something I shouldn't have started in the first place, having so many things to finish before Easter vacations...but I saw a Naoko Sugita necklace and thought it was the perfect technique to use these amazing African turquoise beads I had just bought.

I try to avoid simple stringing, I love to find new ways to use round, big beads involving small seed beads, without embezelling them completely.
Now off to my Bead soup pieces!!!

Ceramic and wire

I won my fear of wire and used it to finally make my necklace with the beads I had bought from Gaea.

I was so afraid to ruin them, but this was the only way I really, really love them to become a necklace.
This wire is so soft and easy to work with, but also easy to get broken. Didn't really know how to handle it.
I'm such a newbie for these kind of things!
I can't wait to wear it on Easter, I'll match it with a white, fluffy bolero by Ysolda Teague

Source: Pinterest

which is waiting for me to give it some sleeves...

More beaded beads

To be fair, I also made beaded beads with super duos.

The bigger bead is from Pinterest, and I can't find who to give credit for it

I just saw it and it was pretty easy to understand it. So I made it. Another necklace, once I find a pattern for a medium size bead.

New donut necklace

I made another donut pendant yesterday night, while watching Grey's Anatomy:

I plan to make more of them - I can't ever rest my hands while watching a movie.
I am also experimenting with can tabs...I'll show you later.

You've Got Mail

Yesterday I was a bit sad 'cause my bead order from Gaea hadn't arrived after almost one month...which isn't that strange, since packages from USA take so long (but not the other way around).
My boyfriend came home and he had 3 envelopes in his hands...and only one was bills!
First one was this:

an unexpected gift from Preciosa Ornela in return for my blog post about them.
So sweet. Lilac twin beads I can't wait to use.

The other one...was from Gaea!

Where we live now we have a pomegranate tree in our shared garden (which is quite unusual in Milan); it is in many culture a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
But for me is so much more.

One of my first post was about my grandfather and his house in the country of Puglia, where I've spent all of my summers until the age of 12.

I used to spend a lot of time with him teaching me different kinds of trees and how to tend at them, but my favorite was the pomegranate: because fruits got ready when we were already back into the city.
I was eager to taste that strange flavour so, when october arrived, I knew that one of those afternoons I was going to find my grandad squeezing pomegranate seeds to make a juice.
When I saw this pendant the first time, I restrained myself and it got sold; the second time I wanted to purchase it, but hadn't enough money on my paypal. So I told myself: if I get money on time, I'll buy it.
As you can see...I made it. Can we say it was destiny?