Friday, March 2, 2012

Time for the Big Reveal!! Bead Soup Party Blog Hop

Yeah!! I can finally show my project!!!

I've titled it " Chase Your Dreams"

Every since I received the wonderful bead soup from Silver Parrot , I've had it sitting on my desk, mulling over ideas... and the thing that kept coming back to me is the horse was running TO something, not away or randomly. So what would the horse be chasing? Dreams seemed like the best fit, as the horse seems sort of like a spirit horse to me with the spiral on it.


Here's my original package

I utterly loved the flame patina clasp KJ included. I've been playing with flame coloring, so I knew I wanted to incorporate more copper in the piece to go with the clasp and cause, heck, it's fun!! I decided pretty quickly to make a back plate for the focal, add "chase your dreams" somehow and use heat patina.



See how the copper I made matches the clasp KJ sent!

I also wanted to incorporate at least some of the beads she sent, and that's the part I tripped over for a couple of weeks. While I loved the focal and clasp, the beads were not singing to me. The beads were lovely, don't get me wrong, I just couldn't get a handle on how to use them in my design.

I finally hit the idea of backing the beads just as I did the focal, and woot! it all fell together at that point!


Making the chain!

Since I wanted everything copper to have heat patina, I had to cut, texture, file, sand and assemble prior to the torch work. I did torch some lose wire to attach the focal and clasp once everything else was done.

Then it was torch time!



Raw Copper and......

Patina from the torch!

Once I got done with adding the color, I used Ren wax to seal them. I'm pretty please on the color... I'm getting much much better at getting the color I want with a torch. ( The copper colors change soooo fast you really have to use a bushy flame and be very very careful!)

Then I wired up the focal to the plate, and wire wrapped the round MOP beads on my copper circles.


I love how my necklace turned out!!


KJ also sent 1 other special piece, a bead with the horse on it. To give the piece just a "dash" of asymmetrical, I used it as the 2ND link in the necklace.

the little horse bead is soooo cute!



close up


I had so much fun with this!! Tell me what you think And if you think I'm alone in my fun, think again... Meet 197 of my new best friends who all participated in this round of the hop!!

Here is the list of the party members!

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

OOOOOOoooo! That is one awesome Bead Soup! I just got my first torch not long ago. I am so inspired by the colors you got. And your design is phenomenal. Definitely a new blog follower here! :)

Giorgia Rossini said...

wow, I'm a partecipant from Italy, I began working with copper and I really love your necklace from the soup :)
ciao ciao

Jenni said...

Absolutely fabulous Kat. You nailed it...I just love how you married the copper that was sent with your own. The focal is a stunner... I love the addition of the metal and words...what a truly stunning piece.
Jenni

Jenni said...

Absolutely fabulous Kat. You nailed it...I just love how you married the copper that was sent with your own. The focal is a stunner... I love the addition of the metal and words...what a truly stunning piece.
Jenni

Joanne said...

Amazing attention to detail! Stunning. A huge thumbs up for 'Chase Your dreams' :) x

Bonnie said...

Copper components were the perfect choice to go with the bead soup beads you received. 'Chase Your Dreams' is a fantastic creation.

roomforchange said...

Gosh your necklace is amazing!!!You are soo talented.

SwallowtailJewellery said...

Ooo! Love this necklace so much Kat! Very inspiring piece of jewellery and makes me want to play with copper. So many things to try and so little time :)

Silver Parrot said...

Oh Kat...this is more stunning than I could have ever dreamed of. The way you chose to back everything with the copper is just amazing. It really elevated the beads to a whole new level. You did a fantastic job.

Sharon Driscoll said...

It was great the metal work you put into the piece. I love how you patina'd the copper - it made it "sing" or maybe stampede would be better - LOL. Great piece of work.

Kathy Lindemer said...

I envy your ability to give your copper heat patina. It really added to the beauty of the copper.

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

Amazing design! I love how you backed the beads with copper-adds a modern element to it.

Heidi Post said...

I realllllly need to get that torch I've been dreaming about. This is wonderful!

Tejae: Heart Shaped Art said...

kat beautiful work!! i love the stamping.

i'll need to come back and check out the rest of your blog.

♥tejae

Unknown said...

This puts copper in a whole new light for me. Absolutely gorgeous. Love your style.

CraftyHope said...

Wow. . you really put a lot of thought and time into this piece. I'm in awe of the spectrum of colors you were able to achieve on the copper (beautiful.) You really made something to be proud of. Well done!

Donna said...

Fantastic! I love what you did and wouldn't change a thing. Yay!

Unknown said...

WOW!!!Very impressive piece!!!...

Alicia said...

Amazing - the whole necklace is so beautiful! I like how you explained the different stages... those horses are beauties.

Moobie Grace said...

Hmmm...my torch patina looks nowhere as awesome as yours!!

Jennifer Cameron said...

That focal is really awesome and you did a fabulous job creating a statement piece. I love it.

Tracy said...

Beautiful, love how you pulled it all together to show off the soup ingredients with your own special touches.

adlinah said...

Wow, love the effort and thought that went into the necklace. Well worth it I think - it's such a unique, creative piece.

Jean said...

Love it love the copper and the heat patina is to die for!

Snazzy Doodle Designs said...

I love what you did with your soup. I really like how you used the copper behind each of your beads, I am sure that was really time consuming...but well worth the effort!

Anonymous said...

Awesome job! I love Chase your Dreams. Copper was an excellent choice, and really sets off the focal and the beads. Very pretty!

Marie Cramp said...

That is something I can picture at our "Calgary Stampede" a huge outdoor Western show we have here every year. It would fit right in! Great job!

Cheryl said...

Your pieces were truly stunning. I kept going up and down on your blog looking and looking. Exceptional I have you bookmarked for further greatness!!

Lori Anderson said...

That is an amazing job! I love how you worked the focal -- super!!!!!


I hope you'll join me again in the summer!

Kristen said...

Wow, you took something that you struggled with and made it look like you were so comfortable designing it! Good for you, beautiful necklace!!

Shai Williams said...

When I saw your soup originally I was curious how you were going to use the focal. And I have to say that you nailed it. So unique and wonderful.

vonna said...

wow! This is stunning! You put a lot of work into this piece and it's just awesome!

Baking Beads in the Keys said...

That is totally amazing. Did you wire wrap each bead on top of each disc? Love the colors you teased out of the copper and just the whole concept and execution is awesome (to use an overused word):)

Wendy said...

You created a wonderful piece of wearable art! As someone who grew up with horses, I really relate to the name you gave your necklace. Great job! :)

Shanti Harvell said...

Chase your dreams is a Masterpiece!!! Luv your vibe on this piece! Copper, fire torched, wire work.. Anything you can't do? In luv w ur design!!!

Sabine Dittrich said...

Woooow, this is one of a kind necklace you have created. Thank you for sharing your working process. It is very interesting how you suceeded in focussing on the different parts by adding the copper. I love that design. It reminds me of some ancient celtish jewelry just found in the ground (the patina...)! Wonderful idea!
You rock! Sabine

Pam Hurst said...

I just love this piece, such a wonderful job!

Steph L. said...

What a beautiful necklace, love the copper!

la mar de bonita said...

Very extraordinary - you did a wonderful job!

Kat said...

What a gorgeous necklace I absolutely adore it. It's just my style. Have a great day!

Kat said...

I don't know if my comment got posted or not, I hope it did

Stories They Tell said...

Really nice work incorporating the patinated clasp and matching your own pieces to it-- I love all your handwork. I also like that you made up a story and keyed the piece to that-- the piece is all the more significant for that touch. And the focal piece you sent your partner was fabulous.

Cindy Cima said...

Too cool! awesome necklace!

Cindy Cima said...

This is so cool and creative - I love the horse!

Sarah Sequins said...

The title of the necklace is just perfect -- the horse really does seem to be chasing something.

I'm excited that you did some metal and torch work for this piece! I love the patina a torch gives copper. <3

Loris Glassworks said...

Oh my Gosh! I love your necklace, it inspires me to work more with copper and the torch. Great job!
Cheers!
Lori D.

Jean A. Wells said...

Oh, man, this is my favorite so far. I love horses and I love copper and I love horse and copper necklaces.......It is gorgeous. What are your plans for it? Great job!

Alice said...

Goodness you put a lot of work into this. The result is a stunning piece of art!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

WOW! Love how you worked that torch! This is just beautiful! Nice job!

Helena de Troya said...

wow!!! you are such a talented artist!!! and you had an amazing partner, what i love the most about the soup is the way every one of us show the way our creativity works, i have never tougth about doing all you did, amazing results!!!!!

WindDancerStudios said...

I Love what you did! Love!

Stacey said...

OH wow!!! Look at all that copper you added! It's gorgeous! That back plate for the focal is just awesome and the "chain" - amazing!

Anonymous said...

Wow!! One word. Stunning.

Well, OK. Two words. Stunning, beautiful.

pam ferrari said...

Your copper is amazing! Very nice soup!

karen hess jewelry said...

Fantastic necklace!! What a statement piece!! Loves it!!

karen hess jewelry said...

Fantastic necklace!! What a statement piece!! Loves it!!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Ok, I am so behind! But this is insanely wonderful! I love every part of it!

KayzKreationz said...

This turned out wonderful. I love the way you backed the horse focal. (I have an affinity for horses) and the heat patina on the copper for the beads to be attached to. I haven't tried to heat patina any of my copper yet. It's something I've been trying to read about and try. Yours turned out great. Congrats.

Cory said...

Wow...your soup necklace is lovely, the colors are fantastic.

Thank you sooo much for the nice compliment you left me.

LoriF said...

Beautiful work! That horse is very special, and I love the way you've added the patina'd copper.

Kari Carrigan said...

Very cool! I love the color you got on the copper!

M.J. Mullins said...

Your skill and design vision are amazing. Brilliant.

Ann said...

Fantastic necklace. I had to laugh a little when you were wondering what a horse would run toward. We have horses and they would run toward food even if they were standing in front of a pile of it at the time:) They also sometimes just run for no other reason than to run. Anyway you came up with a beautiful piece that anyone would love to have. Congratulations!

Jo said...

Gorgeous! I love the flame coloured copper chain.

Third Eye Gypsy said...

Wow! What an exquisite piece! I just love that you showed the process as well! Amazing work!I just love all of the colors you got on the copper!

Pelima Jewellery Design said...

Beautiful pieces. You did a great job :)

Anonymous said...

What an amazing job! I can see how creating a piece like this took some time! It's stunning!

Cynthia said...

Your design is exquisite! And I love the name/theme of it. Bravo!

TesoriTrovati said...

What a great bit of soup! I love Miss Kelly and the piece that she made with your focal was very beautiful. So different! I like that you used copper, and the way you backed those round beads. Gave them more character and more weight. Such a wonderful composition! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the day.
Erin

dreaminofbeads / SAS Jewelry Designs said...

I love what you did with your soup. Love the patina on the copper. Really beautiful necklace.
Sonya