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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

It's Finally MY Turn to serve SOUP!

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My day has finally arrived. MY turn FINALLY to unveil my blog soup! I hope you all aren't too full from all of the beautiful soup that's already been unveiled!!!

As a recap, My partner was Diane Hawkey, and we were quite suited to each other, I think. There is a similar vein to our work. We both make beads, and the beads, while different, share a similar vision, I feel.

Diane has already unveiled her piece. It's so amazing, because while we both chose different roads and the outcomes are different, there was a singular mindset taking place. Diane described her thought process as making a piece that wanted to be touched like a talisman. I also felt the same way about the pieces she sent me, but rather than make a long piece, which doesn't flatter my frame, I chose to make shorter pieces that can be held close to the heart.

Inspiration from the first piece:

Handmade ceramic beads, made by Diane, made up the majority of the beads she sent me. These pieces are so weighty, begging to be close to you. The aqua focal, Grow, just spoke to me. I wanted to make a substantial piece, that I could feel next to my skin, and reminded me of just that sentiment. I added the small tibetan chimes to the bottom, so I could actually HEAR it, reminding me that growth takes movement. Going confidently in the direction of your dreams, even when it is uncomfortable.

Inspiration from the second piece:

The second piece has a peachy pink sunrise, which also reminds me of a lotus. I added one of my small stamped charms, reading HOPE. It reminds me, just as the sun dawns, and the lotus in Buddhism, that although the world is sometimes rooted in ugliness, each day dawns anew and the lotus blooms, and the opportunity is there to make beauty everyday. The lotus flower both blooms and simultaneously sheds it old blossoms.


And, while I plan on being completely selfish and keeping these two amazing pieces for myself to wear, I took the remainder of Diane's faceted nuggets (which I totally wanted to keep ;) that she sent me, combined them with a bead of my own and made a wonderful piece to share for one lucky blog reader.

So, to enter to win the green branch piece, please do the following:

A) you must comment on this post.
B) you must answer in your comment, "What makes your world beautiful?"
C) You can enter more than once by tweeting, facebooking on a fan page (not on your personal page), or blogging about my giveaway, AND and telling me so here, in a separate comment. If you tweet it, there is no need to mention a specific URL, just make sure you @mention @2ndsurf in your tweet.

D) I will draw a winner on Sunday morning, June 27, after the finish of Bead Soup Party.

p.s. you don't have to be a blog soup party member to join, just enjoying the ride!

Here are the rest of day five soupers!

48. Nan,Spirit Rattles
49. Amy, Copper Diem
50. Malin, Beading by Malin de Koning
51. Anne, Gardanne Glass Lampwork
52. Alice, Alice's Beads and Baubles
53. Barbara, Second Surf
54. Amanda, Articulations
55. Heather, Humble Beads
56. Melissa, Melissa Meman, Art, Life, Love
57. Kate, Organic Odysseys
58. Patti, PJ Clark Designs
59. Stefanie, Stefanie's Sammelsurium




Thank you to Lori Anderson for organizing such a wonderful blog party! I'm so grateful for all the friends I've made and the amazing inspiration I've witnessed! ♥

62 comments:

Lorelei Eurto said...

Beading makes my world beautiful! I can't imagine life before I had this hobby!
I love the giveaway necklace- it's so gorgeous. You did a fantastic job with Diane's soup- you got some of the best soup around, in my humble opinion!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!
I love the Hope necklace. The seed beads you used in between each of Diane's faceted nuggets matches perfectly! How did you find them, were they something you had in stock or did Diane send them to you?? I love that color palette also... Will have to contact Diane and see if she could put something like that together for me!

Barbara Bechtel said...

Thanks Lorelei!

The large speckled seed beads were part of the soup that Diane sent me. I love them too. I think they are glass but they look like stone!Mixed with her faceted nuggets, I wanted to keep that one simple to highlight those gorgeous beads!

Nicki said...

The first one is really nice (2nd too, but pink is not really my color). It looks cool when you wear it. And I really like your "left over's". My days are really beautiful since I get to watch each day how my baby grows and to see all the things she learns every day (and couldn't do them yesterday). And my beads. And my animals. And and and....

Barbara Bechtel said...

p.s. there is also some faceted mookaite there at the top too to help it lay flat around the neck.

Marcie Abney Carroll said...

Wow! I can't believe you're giving away the green one, it's my favorite! What makes my world beautiful? The people in it. Thanks for the giveaway.

Kate said...

They both are great, what wonderful soup you had to work with and I love your inspirations. Your giveaway necklace is stunning as well! Enjoy the party!

Kate said...

Opps, I forgot to tell you What makes your world beautiful?"

All the beauty in nature around me, wither a color I catch a glimpse of in the sky or the way the sunlight looks through the leaves. A bird sitting in my yard singing a pretty tune, a pebble that looks like no other, every discovery is amazing.

Unknown said...

Very beautiful designs, love them!

Michelle said...

Great job on the necklaces...they are all so different. Love the layers of the Grow necklace.
Bead Happy!
Michelle

Kella said...

Such beautiful pieces and I love how the look on you as well.

The first one is my favourite because of the use of colours and different chains, etc.

The third giveaway piece is another beauty, I like it because of the greens and wire links.

So what makes my life beautiful, my family I could ask for a better family and I feel blessed to have them in my life.

Unknown said...

The thing that makes makes my world beautiful is the creative power that makes me stretch at what I know I can do. Oh and birds taking baths in my birdbath in HOT Texas! lol. These necklaces are just so lovely is the 1st thing that jumped into my mind when I saw them. They are so pretty and feminine and I wouldnt mind having them!

Cathryn said...

Wow! Amazing! I'm not full yet--thanks to Lori breaking the whole party to last a week! Your pieces just floor me--I've not touched ceramic beads but I'm drooling over the chance to try them now!

What makes my world beautiful? Simply living. Two years ago, I had death kissing me on the lips--YUCK--and since then have come back. So simply living makes my world beautiful. :D

Filomena said...

LOVE this piece! I think you and I should stand next to each other and wear our necklaces :)
pinkvelvetbird.blogspot.com

Well done!

elisabeth said...

Love the hope necklace - the peachy colors are delish. What makes your world beautiful? Definitely my husband and kids - the rest (beads, beads, beads) is the cherry on top.

Pearl and Pebble said...

Wonderful job on the necklaces! Such beautiful beads. I love how you incoporated many multi color strands in the first, it really brings out the life in Diane's pendant and her pendants are so fun and flirty! And your Hope necklace is so pretty. I really like the pinks in this.

I love your question! It's great when we take a minute to focus on what is good. Sappy as it sounds, my world is sooo very wonderful because my sweet man is beside me!!! I also love hearing the sound of baby's laughter, kitty chatter, busy busy birds, baby frogs and the smell of fresh sheets. Thanks for making me smile this morning Barbara:D

Courtney Breul said...

You got very lucky with Diane! I love all of your pieces, absolutely wonderful.

Susan Marling said...

Your creations are wonderful and I love the inspiration you used to make them. It's funny how some beads "speak"to you! Lovely give away necklace also. Nature makes my world beautiful - a neverending supply of beauty and color.

steufel said...

Great pieces! And my family makes my world beautiful!

Megilon said...

I love all three pieces but the first one just grabbed me! What a great use of the beads. You have a great technique.

My world is beautiful because of my friends and family. In particular my amazingly supportive husband who patiently goes into every bead store with me.

Unknown said...

all three are so pretty,I love the multi chain in the first, the soft palette in the second & of course, the green in the third. I hope I help make the world more beautiful

EmandaJ said...

I am in love with your beautiful necklaces and would love to win the third one, yum! The are all gorgeous.

Creativity (mine own and that of others') makes my world beautiful. Everywhere I look this week there is loveliness.

Emanda
P.S. I am having a giveaway too to celebrate my birthday all week long. www.ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Lovely creations there, really like the blue one! But that's because it's my favourite colour ^_^

What makes my world beautiful? The people in it!

Dawn Doucette said...

Barbara, gorgeous pieces... ALL of them! I love the lotus flower pendant. It is so serene and the colors on that necklace are just beautiful! I'll be tweeting about your gorgeous creations and your giveaway! Whomever wins will be incredibly lucky!~

{Hugs!}
Dawn
http://www.twitter.com/designsbydawnmd

Susanm said...

Easy question - my almost 9 year old ds, even better when he lets me hug him (not in public -lol)

moonlitfantaseas said...

love the results of your bead soup all three pieces are beautiful, and so different from each other!
as for what makes my life beautiful its more than one thing, but the three main ones are where I live, the beautiful green north west.....my family, and my beading, for different reasons, but I need all three equally to feel centered in my life and to make it beautiful!

diane hawkey said...

OMG Barbara I cannot believe what you did with my beads! I am just speechless. I cannot even say which one is my favorite. You did amazing work with them all.Thank you so much!

Carol B said...

Beautiful! I really like how you combined your colors.

Heather said...

Interesting combination and I can picture it being worn with denim. Nice work!

Spirited Earth said...

i love all these necklaces..while pink is not generally "my"color..this one may change my mind about that..
beautiful

Barbara Bechtel said...

Thanks so much everyone! It's so nice to read all your comments!

Don't forget to be entered in the giveaway, you also need to be a follower! If you would like me to follow you in return, just let me know! I tried to follow all of you as I went along and blogger messed up and so I think I'm only following part of you.

Rebecca said...

I just love the beads Diane has made for you, they are so cool! Both pieces are beautiful but the green are just sublime, I'd love the chance to win!

Rebecca said...

Oops! I never answered your question...what makes my world beautiful? Singing. Music. My bunnies. And my sweetheart.

Marie Cramp said...

WOW!! Those are stunning! I am in awe! I would have photos of those on my inspiration wall! Great job!

Marie Cramp said...

I forgot to add the answer...
My Children and my Creative gifts! Those are the things that make my world beautiful! Count this as my facebook post too...
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Skye-Jewels/155664506890?ref=ts

Emerald Window said...

I can't believe you're giving away this beautiful necklace! I wouldn't be able to part with it.
So what makes my world beautiful? Well, since I'm an optimist, I think a positive attitude and kindness make the world beautiful. Beauty is intangible.
Cenya

Kate said...

I love the pieces you created! I think keeping them is totally deserved ;) My world is made beautiful by my 2 sons (and one on the way) but my clay and beads run a close second!

Barbara Bechtel said...

Thank you all so much! I'm all puffed up like a peacock today!

@Cenya~ I agree with what makes your/the world beautiful. You can see that in how many of the comments have nothing to do with physical things, outside of nature. And nature was here long before us and will be here, in some sort, long after we're gone! So it's really about spreading kindness and compassion to those around us all the time. And beads are physical, but as artists we create from our physical experience, these tiny works of beauty and art, so they are an extension of a beautiful soul!

As for me giving away the third, to all you in dismay, I'm keeping the other two! Isn't that selfish enough? Plus, Diane sent me so much beauty, it didn't feel right that someone else shouldn't experience it. Call it a souvenir from Bead Soup Party!

Pretty Things said...

I love them all! The chunky pink beads are particularly cool, and that GREEN! So placid. I could get lost in that. You did SUCH a great job! Going to Tweet you right now, and put you on Facebook!

Lucid Moon Studio said...

All of your pieces are beautiful!! I love the colors, and I have wanted some of Diane's nugget beads forever. I didn't realize you lived in Merritt Island...I live in Indialantic! If I win, you wouldn't even have to ship it! lol. Small world! Thanks for the generous giveaway!

Oh, I almost forgot your question - my family makes my world beautiful!!

Lisa

Denise Yezbak Moore said...

Your designs are Fab! The colors and textures are lovely!

Barbara Bechtel said...

@Lisa from Lucid Moon ~ Are you flipping serious? You live in Indialantic? OMG! Sadly, I would still have to ship it because I live in NC in the summer for 4 months (& no, I'm not a snowbird ;) But we'll have to get together when I'm back in the fall! I'd love to have a beading friend nearby!

Silver Parrot said...

What fun and summery pieces! I love them all!

Regina said...

Love the necklaces, especially the pink one. Beautiful! My world is made beautiful by my family, my friends, and my blessings, too numerous to count.

Karyn said...

My little man makes the world beautiful with his beautiful smile and soul.

I love your pieces you have created by my favourite two are the green and pink ones... I love that lotus focal... very pretty!

Thanks for offering your gorgeous necklace as a giveaway - I envy the lucky winner!

Karyn

Karyn said...

My little man makes the world beautiful with his beautiful smile and soul.

I love your pieces you have created by my favourite two are the green and pink ones... I love that lotus focal... very pretty!

Thanks for offering your gorgeous necklace as a giveaway - I envy the lucky winner!

Karyn

Kate said...

Blogged about your giveaway here

http://organicodysseys.blogspot.com/2010/06/soups-on-giveaway-revealed.html

ViviBijoux said...

Great job on your piece! I'd love to enter the giveaway...what makes me happy would be... Colours in any form or shape

BahamaDawn said...

you made some stunning pieces!!!
creating makes my world beautiful!

Linda Sinish said...

There are so many things that make my world beautiful. My love of life is so full of friends, my darling dog Sadie, my love of God, the beauty of gardens and of course creating my wire and metal jewelry. Getting to meet so many wonderful and talented artist here in the land of blog is such a joyful gift. Friends that create beauty for me to marvel.

drachenei said...

Wow. Beautiful designs. Well done.

TesoriTrovati said...

These are very special necklaces. I particularly like how you shared your inspiration. I am a new follower!

My family makes my world beautiful. I need to remember to slow down and appreciate them more and the little details.

Thanks for sharing your soup!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Charlene said...

I really love what you did with each piece and also how you named them and created the lovely photo collages. Very nice.

one-eared pig said...

beautiful!

Unknown said...

I love your bead soup necklaces. What makes my world beautiful is my gorgeous grandchildren who live so far away, but who will be here in a week for a visit :)

Patti said...

I love the way all the colors coordinate in each piece! Great job! I'm a follower!

There are so many things that make my world wonderful, but today I would have to say it's because I'm visiting my daughter in Iowa! On another day it could be something as simple as listening to a chirping bird!

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful pieces. I think I like the second one best. Love the colors.

As for what makes my life beautiful, I'd have to say my kiddos (as sappy as that sounds). They drive me nuts, but at the same time their love of life and joy in the journey is inspiring to me. I would not be me without them.

Ellz said...

These pieces are beautiful. I would love to wear one (I think I look good in green)

My kids make my world beautiful. Probably a common answer, but none the less true. The make me smile every day.

zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

Ellz said...

I tweeted your giveaway.
http://twitter.com/EllzReadz/status/17094850927

zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

Lucid Moon Studio said...

Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/lucidmoonstudio

Lucid Moon Studio said...

Posted your giveaway on my Facebook fan page for Lucid Moon Studio:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucid-Moon-Studio/127361617293195?ref=sgm

Anna Lear said...

THREE gorgeous pieces -- I love what you've done with this collection. The multi-strand work on the first piece is especially eye-catching. I know I'm too late for the giveaway, but I'll say anyway that what makes my world beautiful is being able to see how other people express their unique creative vision!

Prairie Emporium said...

Barb, all three of your necklaces are lovely!! The 1st one with 3 strands is awesome, great work with your mix.