Hello, Sparkle Squad!! It’s reveal day for the Bead Soup Swap & Create Challenge! Look for my Part 3 reveal video on YouTube at 11:00 AM EST Saturday April 10th! Check out others in the Bead Soup Swap & Blog Hop here.
Back in the Beaded Saddle
I am participating in my 1st bead soup challenge and am posting a sneak peek at what I just received as well as what I sent to my partner. Since deciding to participate in this bead soup exchange hosted by Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Café Facebook group, I’ve also been inspired to see what bead trends are happening since my move back across the country which has prohibited me from making jewelry. (Most of my supplies remain packed up due to a home remodeling support beam and crawlspace issue). I hope to get that remedied by my birthday in May and then I can assemble my craft cabinet and organize my craft room! But I digress. Lol.
As a result of the bead swap entry and trend research, I allowed myself to purchase some Czech glass flower beads. This then led to a myriad of bead purchases. So, needless to say…I probably don’t need to unpack my beads at this point. I’ve cut myself back off, but hopefully not for another 2 years. Lol.
I plan to post my bead hauls on the Sparkle by Monica Youtube channel, so please be sure to keep checking back in to see what I’ve been buying up from my fellow Etsians, small business bead shops and other sources.
Bead Soup Swap & Create Challenge by Lori McDaniel Anderson
Click here to see Lori’s jewelry design reveal. What I Sent my Partner
Inge von Roos was selected to be my bead swap partner. She’s participated in these swaps before whereas I have not. She’s from California and loves to take advantage of the beauty and great weather to hike and post travel photography to her Instagram and blog. Inge’s been making jewelry for 12 years, but is not currently selling any of her lampwork glass beads or jewelry designs. Here’s the soup that I sent to her on February 12th and check out her blog post to see what she made with those sparkly goodies.
What I Received from Inge von Roos
Despite the severe winter storms, I got enough sparkly goodness to melt the frozen tundra outside! Lol. Inge gave me some special lampwork beads, including many that she created herself. She also included a beautiful paua shell that she bought in New Zealand, several Czech glass flower-shaped beads, some Chinese crystals and some cherry quartz drops.
I’m excited to dig into these beads and figure out my challenge design(s) for the big reveal April 10th. I’m also releasing this swap as a companion 3-part video series at my Sparkle by Monica YouTube channel, so please be sure to check out the final design reveal. Sparkle on!
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Nicely done, Monica! I hope you enjoyed your first Bead Soup Swap. As for your designs, I think the one with the shell is my favorite. Blues and greens always call out to me.
Sweet pieces!!! Thank you so much for your creative energy!