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Saturday, 17 September 2011

Bead Soup Blog Party 4 - Reveal

Hi,
Welcome to the reveal of what I did with the soup I got from my party partner Susie Hibdon of VintageSusieAndWings. Check it out, isn't it just perfectly awesome! Very exciting. I love it! Read more about it here.
If you know me from before, you might be thinking this is a way more color-less collection of beads and findings than I normally work with. Yes, that is very true. So I decided that would be my challenge. To work in a completely de-saturated and grey-ish color scheme.

The ten numbered tags was what first caught my attention, and I early on had this idea to make ten pieces on the theme of the ten commandments. Sort of illustrating each of them. I made quite a bit of research which I would be happy to share with you at another time (I found out some pretty interesting stuff, I was not yet aware of). And I am still keen on that idea, although I realize it would be a rather advanced and more of an artistic project for me. At least the way I have thought about it. Perhaps one day ... :-)

So now this is what I have made:
My first piece is a lariat style necklace. With a Christian feel to it. I made quite a few alterations along the way, working with the colors, to create something interesting. Trying to figure this, for me, new thing out (the color scheme). I've used almost only stuff from Susie's soup, adding only a few milky white glass beads, and the black glass cross.

My second piece is a bracelet containing the clasp Susie sent me. So by now I had gotten more used to the color scheme, and I am pleased with the way I managed to work with the grays, whites and blacks and still compose an interesting piece. Simplicity does not have to be boring at all. All the round beads come from my own stash.

A big THANK YOU to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for making this world wide beading event possible. Have fun blog hopping, here's the list of the participating people/blogs, grouped by partner couples:

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke
















76 comments:

EmandaJ said...

Hello Malin, What an interesting and intriguing soup mix. I love the numbered gravestone/headstones -- very Goth! You did a wonderful job working outside your comfort zone. The challenge is what this is all about, eh?!

Enjoy the hop,
Emanda

http://artemisiastudio.blogspot.com/2011/09/bead-soup-reveal.html

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

I would have had trouble with this one as I love color. You did a wonderful job and have created some lovely pieces!

Islandgirl said...

I love colour too but you did a great job with your black and white palet!

Michelle Mach said...

Nice job! I think the color combination does have a soothing elegance to it, but I can understand how challenging it would be to work with. (I'm not sure if I would have been able to resisting sticking in some red or another bright color.)

I'd really like to see what you do with those tags. I think your idea sounds intriguing!

Malin de Koning said...

Oh ladies, you all know me (and yourself) too well! :-)
Michelle, you're spot on there. I was soooooooo tempted to stick in just one color. That one single one. I think that would have looked absolutely amazing, enhancing the greys AND the color. But ... I had restricted myself. And I did learn a lot from it. Glad you all appreciate it too. Thanks!

Yes, the ten commandments idea is exciting, I agree. Thanks for encouraging me to go forward with it. I probably will in some way.

All my best.

Unknown said...

You did a splendid job making the monotone grays flashy!

Brittany Kuhlman, COC, CPC, CCC said...

I totally adore the bracelet you made! The designs you came up with are so great. Excellent job!

Maneki said...

Det kan verkligen vara en utmaning att arbeta i gråskala om man är van vid färg -- och tvärtom också, det har jag sett hos andra. Du har lyckats bra.

Jag gillar designen på lariathalsbandet. Många former och nyanser som ger liv och struktur till den. Inte för mycket, inte för lite. Armbandet är enkelt och fint med ett lås jag verkligen gillar. Very nice indeed!

Rebecca said...

Pretty Malin! I like the bracelet especially - simple and calming to look at.

Shyme said...

Gillar lariathalsbanded skarpt! Det blir spännande ned de olika hängena och den numrerade tagen passar bra in :) Armbandet är även det vackert i sin enkelhet, leken med färgschemat gör det hela lite mer spännande.

Anonymous said...

Nice work Malin! I think the necklace is fantastic, more like a piece of body armour than just a necklace. Very interesting to see you working with such different materials.

Thanks for your comment on my blog: after I made the frayed-cord necklace, I thought 'What a Malin necklace to make!' so glad you like it! I like the idea of being more playful with the materials, kinda like 'just roll with it', right?

And no - the photos were taken on my dining room table! Hehe

All the best
Elly

VS said...

Hi Sweet Malin, my Bead Soup Partner!!!
I am in LOVE with how you used my Soup to make this amazing necklace & the bracelet looks so beautiful with the clasp, just perfect!
The necklace is so iconic, it looks like something that a monk in the middle ages would wear, simply wonderful!!!
I know it was hard for you to have so little color, but I think what you accomplished is wonderous, very timeless & elegant!!
Thank you friend for the lovely soup you sent me, I had so much fun cooking with it. :)))
Have fun hopping...
Susie

CraftyHope said...

I smiled as soon as I realized that it was your blog I was hitting next. Is that bad? You really did step outside your usual MO. . . However, a challenge or not, you executed these two pieces beautifully. I would have expected nothing less. Wonderful job Malin!

Anonymous said...

Love what you designed! Great focal and clasp too! Take care, Suzette

Cindy Cima said...

Very lovely!

Shirley said...

These are such unusual pieces. I love how you made the soft colors work in interesting ways. I was so curious after seeing your soup post, as to what you would do with the numbers. What a great way to incorporate them! Awesome job!

Sally Anderson said...

Simple does surely not have to be boring. I loved this simplicity. It makes the pieces very elegant and classy! Great job, Malin!

Elysian Studios said...

Malin- it's lovely, as usual- how stunning is that photo where the black beaded links hang over the cross- wow! I love the bracelet, too- you worked this monochromatic color scheme out, girl! Gorgeous!!

JLYNNJEWELS said...

Your bead mix is very interesting with the colors, pieces and unique focals and gorgeous clasp. I loved how you kept the black and white them going - almost like a ying/yang theme - beautiful designs...

Lutka And Co. said...

What a neat soup! And I love the necklace you fashioned - very nice!

Lutka And Co. said...

What a neat soup! And I love the necklace you fashioned - very nice!

Unknown said...

Ohhh love love your bracelet!! You always Bring it Missy! Lovely Soup!!

Angel Whisperer said...

Fantastiskt Malin ! kul att du fixade till det och du har jobbat hårt med att få dessa färger eller brist på färger att bli tjusigt- vilket du lyckades väldigt bra med_ YOU ROCK !! föresten är det lite kreepy att hängena tydligen är gravstenar ?? hade jag inte fattat :)KRAM!!!

steufel said...

Oh Malin, this lariat is so cool and stylish! And the bracelet.....hmmmmmmm:-)

Malin de Koning said...

Birgitta, jag tror inte de ÄR gravstenar, utan det var bara en möjlig tolkning som EN person gjorde i sin kommentar här (hittar inte vem det var just nu). Jag tycker den är intressant, och faktiskt lite makaber. Intressant hur olika människor ser olika saker, och tolkar ...

Tack för ditt beröm!!! :-)

Stories They Tell said...

I love the silver elements and how you used the number tag. Very sophisticated!

Lyn Foley said...

You had quite a challenge with the colors and I think you did a very good job of it. It was nice to see your process and how you really stretched.

Cynthia said...

all that monochrome IS a stretch for you but you succeeded brilliantly! very nice details on that bracelet, too...I love the placement of the black, white and gray beads!

Barbara Lewis said...

Malin, You did beautiful work! I love the lariat style necklace and the bracelet is the kind of thing that you could wear every day. You withstood the challenge of working without color and did it well! Congratulations! xo

Karyn B said...

What an interesting soup you received! I can see why it sparked such lofty ideas.

I think you handled the monochromatic scheme wonderfully. The bracelet is so elegant, but modern. And the lariat is a very cool take on a cross necklace. Beautiful work, as always.

My Life Under the Bus said...

Oh Malin I loved those tags when I first saw them and I love what you did! It's modern yet vitage very cool! Enjoy your hopping! : )

Erin Siegel said...

So beautiful, elegant and sophisticated! The color scheme is appropriate for the theme. There's an ethereal elegance to both pieces.

Pam @ The Blue Between said...

elegant! black and silver - always right :)

Holly said...

Malin! As is expected of your lovely work, this necklace is stunning! The way it flows and works so nicely is gorgeous. And that bracelet is just lovely too :)

Heidi Post said...

It's so strange to see you working without color! You've created a very unusual necklace - but I like the design. And the bracelet's very pretty - that clasp is fantastic. Yay!

LissC said...

Oh my goodness that soup you sent your partner...so very yummmy!!

When I first saw your soup..i thought..hmmm..those numbers would be a challenge for me...what to do with them.

You totally pulled it off. The commandments never entered my mind. Your rosary piece looks so cool! It's one of the best one's I've seen. And the bracelet is fantastic. Bravo!

Christine Altmiller said...

these are so very pretty!

Astrid said...

What a wonderful soup and such a fantastic design, I just love it!

Torque Story said...

That is a cool clasp on the bracelet. I find blacks/whites/grays are a favorite because they go with so many things.

Loris Glassworks said...

Wonderful! You have created a terrific piece of wearable art. I like your use of color and texture. Thank you for sharing your artistic process along the way. Cheers!
Lori

Kym Hunter Designs said...

Malin, both pieces are very pretty! I fell in love with your soup ingredients when I first saw them and you certainly created wonderful pieces. I just love the clasp on the bracelet.

Lori Anderson said...

I had Susie last time -- wow, what a different soup you got from what I got! Isn't that the way this is supposed to work?

You did a lovely job -- everything you do is lovely, though.

I hope you'll join me next time -- the blog badge and dates are up on my blog now.

Love, Lori

KayzKreationz said...

They both turned out very nice. I like the bracelet very much. Very simple, but elegant.

Sweet Freedom said...

What a challenging soup you received! I just love your creations, especially the bracelet!

Silver Parrot said...

That's an unusual and eclectic assortment of soup ingredients you received and you did a fabulous job with them!

Chris Hansen said...

Malin, you did a fabulous job with Susie's Bead Soup - it kind of reminds me of the black and white photos that Ansel Adams took - the lack of color allows the viewer to better appreciate the detail and texture of the composition. Well done!

Steph L. said...

Great job with your soup, I love that lariat style necklace.

Stacey said...

Well it may different than what you are used to be it is very beautiful with the muted grey tones. Love it actually!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

Way to rock something that challenges you! Love what you did with them!

Maggie said...

I'm still making the rounds! I love the religious, yet modern look to the necklace. That clasp on the bracelet! WoW! It's the perfect touch for the simplicity of the beads.

Wendy said...

Very nice, love the lariat style design of your necklace!

coffeeaddict said...

Wow, let me just say I'm so impressesd that you actually did research before designing pieces. I bet one can surely get lost in the volumes written on 10 commandments.
The soup was definitely challenging but you made stunning pieces :-)

Malin de Koning said...

Thank you all so much for your encorouging comments. Now I feel I have to continue making the rest of the commandments. I'll do one at a time. And I'll do them in which ever order.

@Christine - Goodness me! Ansel Adams! I am beyond flattered by that remark. And thanks for guiding me in that direction. Can you have a more excellent inspiration when working in the grey-black-white scale? I'll look more into his amazing work now. Long time ago for me. I think there might be some books on him in my parents home. So, "Hello Mum!" :-)

Myléne Hillam said...

Bravo! I love that you created a piece with a Christian feel to it. It would indeed have been interesting to see a piece designed around the 10 Commandments. But I do LOVE what you came up with - it might be simple as you say but it is interesting!

Amy S. said...

I was fascinated by the soup ingredients and couldn't wait to scroll down to see what you made! I love the lariat - it reminds me of a rosary. And the bracelet - perfect! The white beads you added really liven things up!!!

Jennifer Cameron said...

Very cool and what a challenge. The numbered tags make me think of gravestone markers...

I love both pieces, but adore the bracelet. I would totally wear it!

Unknown said...

It's always a challenge to work with a monochromatic tonal pallett. YOu aced it!

Terri said...

Now that's some soup mix & you've made some very Soup-er cool creations with it!

I LOVE color! said...

I am so sorry I am so late hopping your way. My computer dug it's heels in and said Not gon'a go thaat fast.:^)
Your designs are nothing short of amazing.
Be blessed to be a blessing

Lola said...

I really love the way you used your soup! So lovely!

earthlyjewels said...

These pieces are definitely something I could see myself wearing! They're absolutely lovely!

Beadaholique said...

Your soup came out beautifully! You had such interesting ingredients to work with and pulled them together so well!

Julie and Andrea

gail vanderster-zwang aka angelmoose said...

i love the black and white scheme, they are my colors! you created some beautiful vintage pieces, enjoy!

Tracy said...

Great Gothic vintage soup mix, and love what you made with it.

beautifullybrokenme said...

I love the Gothic vibe I'm getting from your soup - beautiful job! :)

Alice said...

The bead soup you received from Susie is just gorgeous!!! And just as beautiful are the pieces you made. Nice work!

Cris Peacock said...

I'm a color person too but the lovely pieces you've made want me to try experimenting with some more muted tones too. Beautiful!

Bobbie said...

Malin, I knew you would create something lovely, and you did - even working in such a muted palette, you made elegance. Terrific!

Cece Cormier said...

Awesome-ful! So glad I stopped by your blog again to see what you did with these. When I saw what you had to work with, I was so wondering what you would do. WOW!

Anonymous said...

Your project of makeing ten pieces each one for every commandments seems a big challenge! So far, you did great!

Ambra

Here Bead Dragons said...

Very nice, the bracelet is very lovely.

~cryssT

Anonymous said...

You did a beautiful job working with the neutrals. I hope someday you do follow up with the 10 commandments project-what a great idea!

Jenni said...

How elegant...I think monochrome is quite difficult but you did great! It looks quite vintage...and yet..not! I love the tags...but they would have been a difficult design element for me...not You!
jenni

Unknown said...

I think the colour scheme you used is really beautiful

Christine said...

Your bracelet & necklace are lovely!!

Ann said...

You did well with the muted palette. Great soup.