My Entry for Team Upcyclers Monthly Creativity Challenge for February.

Whew! This is a last minute entry for me. This month’s item to upcycle was wine corks. Team captain Bee gave tons of extra ideas for this challenge.

The pieces have been sitting on my bench half done for a couple weeks now…but something just didn’t look right to me…so when in doubt add shiny pretty crystals! J

For my pieces I wanted something special for wine lovers. I found a great cork that had “The Joy of Wine” printed on it. I also borrowed a couple beads from my Bead Soup Stash a large round copper bead and little copper heart that were just perfect! Mixed with vintage crystals and recycled sari silk in a nice wine color. I cut the cork and sealed the pieces and set them in a riveted frame made using recycled aluminum and copper. I put it all together using handmade blackened steel components and jump rings.

I had a great time with this challenge. I really liked using the cork and want to experiment with it more.

Hope it sparked a little upcycling bug in you!

Happy Upcycling All!!!

The Soup I Sent & More on My Partner.

My partner received her beads! So now to share with you what I sent.

A “snakeskin” focal and matching beads. (Made by me using a tutorial by artist Lauri Copeland.... please check her out here... http://wildfire-designs.com/  

A handmade recycled aluminum clasp w/ vintage patina.

Recycled sari silk ( Mudhound Studios’s)

Vintage glass & silver beads, dragon vein agate, yellow jade, silver spacers.

An extra little surprise of recycled computer parts and metals.

I’m thrilled to be paired this time with artist Stephanie Weiss. She married  her college sweetheart 9 years ago.  They have an amazing 7 yr old daughter. A bit of mom gushing J Stephanie works from home teaching recruiters how to find candidates online using free tools such as Google, Bing, Facebook, etc. She is also a huge Texas Aggie fan.

She has been making jewelry for 2 years now. I really like her work and I am dying to see what she does with the soup I sent. I also had great fun reading the posts on her new blog. I especially like the trips to the hardware store and cool finds she shares. Here is a link to her blog … http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Here are a few pics of Stephanies work.

An extra little note: She got her start learning wire wrapping from her mother Kimberly Sciaraffa Berlin. An incredibly talented artist and author of the book Build Your Own Wire Pendants. Everywhere I look the book is getting rave reviews! So funny my daughter sent me a link to the book a few days before Lori matched partners. Check out the book here… http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Own-Wire-Pendants/dp/0871164566 

Her mother will be teaching at Bead & Button this year in Milwaukee. Since I live close by we are going to try and meet up for coffee or something…how cool is that! J

My soup has arrived!

My soup has arrived! It all arrived very neatly packaged in this cool little tin. I know my partner was hoping I would use it to make components. But, it is such a great shape I can’t cut it up. I do love my little boxes. Now, for what was inside that little box!

2 small lampwork spacers by Raida Disbrow,

1 lampwork focal artist unknown, (if you happen to know who’s work this is please let me know)

3 Picture jasper focals.

2 handmade copper clasps.

A mix of copper beads& chain, a strand of picture jasper rounds, smoky quarts, cut red glass, natural stone briolette’s, felt beading pad, and the tin.

 The unknown focal...if you know the artist please let us know...gorgeous bead!

When I was going through the box I did have a few idea’s pop up. I am hoping to sit down tonight with everything.

I just love the colors and everything my partner sent. Thank you Stephanie!

You can find out more about Stephanie here… http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Thought I would share a little teaser picture of what I sent my partner. Oops the picture...

Thanks for stopping by...stay tuned!!

It’s here…it’s time for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party!!!

The 7^th Bead Soup Blog Party is here! Created & hosted by Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs.

The hop has become so big it is now a once a year event.

Lori pairs up partners who will swap a mix of beads called bead soups. The soups have to consist of a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads. Something you would be proud to give to your best friend. We then create something using both the focal and the clasp and mix in any of the beads sent and anything else you would like to add.

This time the party is even bigger than the last. Because of the size the reveal will be broken up into 3 different dates. We all will post pictures and a little blurb about our soups and finished piece. Then we visit each other’s blog and are treated to an incredible amount of eye candy!

Find out more about the party here http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/p/what-is-bead-soup-blog-party.html

Learn more about Lori here http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

My partner for this hop Is Stephanie Weiss. Stephanie loves metalworking and is an admitted hoarder of lampwork glass. I’m very excited to have her as a partner. We exchanged little bits about our families and ourselves. I was delighted that her story made me think of my own family and when my kids were her daughters age. She started learning wire wrapping just 2 years ago and now getting more into metalworking.

I just love her metalwork and am heading a bit in the same direction. Lori did another great job pairing people.

I have been having a major dilemma in deciding what to send. I have narrowed it down to 3 soups to pick from. I hope she really loves the soup I choose and enjoys the little fun extras I am sending.

You can find out more about Stephanie here… http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Here are a few pictures of her work...

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