Not long ago I had signed up to join
Lori Andersons Bead Soup Blog Party. I was lucky and had been randomly chosen, along with 198 other jewelry designers.
First, you are paired up with someone. I had been matched up for the exchange with
Cathie Carroll. Next, the two of us exchange beads that would be challenging for the other to create a piece of art jewelry with. Here's a look at the
bead soup ingredients that she had sent.
Then everybody makes something!! And blogs about it!
Now the main reason why I had wanted to join this exchange was to get my creative juices flowing again. It's been quite some time since I have made any jewelry. I always seem to simply string something up, and that's it. So blah, so boring.
That's why I was SO HAPPY when I saw what Cathie had sent. She had included 2 Sari Silk ribbons. Which I have never used. And have always wanted to!
I was determined to have the ribbon be the "glue that holds it all together."
I also wanted to included some of the mesh ribbon that she had used for the packaging. By using simple knots, I was able to use the ribbons, and get the look I had been wanting!

I included some of
my handmade lampwork beads, added a knot between each one. Clipped a couple of the base metal hoops and slipped those through the two holes in the hand carved Jade focal. Then linked that to the clasp and hung it from the ribbon knotted beads.
With just the ribbon being behind the neck, it is rejoined at the side by using more knots, the Victorian era molded glass oval, one of my lampwork beads and one of the metal hoops. Which is then completed by knotting the mesh and pink ribbon from the metal hoop to the toggle bar.

WHEW! It's finished! It's complete! It was quite the challenge, believe you me. The rule was you had to use the focal and the clasp in your design. It was tougher than I have let on but I got through it! Now let's go check out and see what Cathie and everyone else has designed!
Follow this link to Lori Anderson's "Pretty Things" to see the list of participants!