And more earrings

A new Stacked Earrings Challenge reveal is coming up soon. This time the beads (really lovely ones) are picked by Claire Lockwood. The date isn't decided yet, but until then I am still making even more earrings on the side of the challenge. The reason why I am not making any other types of jewelry lately is basically that my studio and my work table is so unbelievably and incredibly messy, so there is literally no space for me to work on. Hence the smallest jewelry objects are the ones I can at least manage to still put together. In all that mess there are both necklaces and bracelets just waiting for that final touch before they are ready. I really really must clean up in there any day soon.

Anyway, here are a three new earrings:

I really like the mix/meeting of the rustic and the sparkly in these ones.

• Green ceramic pods on wire (head pins) by Marsha Neal
• Vintage Swarovsky celadon green rounds (there is lovely luxurious sparkle to them which is not quite captured on this photo)
• Beaded beads by myself
• Sterling silver ear wires, heavily oxidized

I call these ones Arabian Nights. I come to think of a belly dancer in an Arabian night club from some old movie.

• Turquoise, brass color and black polymer clay beads by GracefulWillowBeads
• Facetted black glass
• Brass and silvery beads, findings and ear hooks

These ones I made a couple or so months ago. A very fruity feeling to them don't you agree.

• Yellow faceted pods by Barbara Bechtel of SecondSurf (one of my absolute favorite Art Bead makers)
• Beaded beads by myself
• Copper findings and ear hooks

All three pairs are for sale. Please contact me if you are interested. malindekoning[at]hotmail.com

All my best,
Malin

Bead Soup Book

It is out now! I got my own copy in the mail last Friday :-). It was so exciting to open and look through it. I must say it is a great book, with many different projects, in many different styles and by many different artists. Comprehensive instructions, and just tons of inspiration to get.

And, oh yes, I am one of the contributors with a jewelry piece. It's the stone soup one. I am not allowed to show you the necklace here, but this teaser picture I am allowed to show. :-)

I am also allowed to show you the soup I used. I got it from Lori Anderson herself. Isn't it just plain irresistible!!??!! And I tell you, apart from being just beautiful and very inspiring, this soup had a very special effect on me.

The first time I saw the soup I made an instant and unexpected inner "journey". In my mind I was taken back in time, to the late summer of 1982, when I was 17. And my father and I went on a week's holiday to Fårö, a smaller island just north of the island of Gotland in Sweden. In the middle of the Baltic Sea.

The stone focal with the wild flower motif ressembles the raukar and the sandy colors. The turquoise color reminds me of the sky on Gotland/Fårö, where the sky is big and always present. And most often also the sea. Nature, wind, sunshine, fresh air, rocks, raukar, sparse nature, sand, sand stone, wild flowers, sheep walking freely ... It truly is a magical place.

Lori's soup, with its color scheme, components, and the focal - together they took me there in an instanse. I was very moved by the whole experience, as it was so immidiate and really took me somewhere else in space and time. 

My father and I stayed in a hostel where we had our breakfasts and evening meals, and in the days we explored the unique and beautiful landscape and the pictoresque sceneries of Fårö. Here and there we settled in a special spot for a couple of hours. I was painting, and my father took photographs. I cherish my memory of this trip so much, even more since my father passed away a couple of years ago. It was a beautiful gift to be able to go there via Lori's bead soup. Thank you so much for everything Lori

I wish you all to be able to go there one day. Both Ingmar Bergman and Olof Palme had holiday houses there. Or why don't you watch the film Persona by Ingmar Bergman, partially filmed on Fårö.

The collage of pictures above I made for myself just after I got the soup. (I don't think I ever have done anything like that, but this time it felt necessary.) I made it to illustrate for myself my inspiration during the process of designing and making of the piece I made. (I took all the images from different places on the internet, but I am pretty sure none of them are copyrighted.) 

An now to my GIVE-AWAY!!!!

Because this book came about as an off-spring of Lori's famous Bead Soup Blog Parties in the first place, I thought I'd for my give-away offer you one of the pieces I made in the last party.



It is a bracelet I call "India", and I have used only beads and components from the soup that my partner Marsha Neal sent me. We had decided on a theme, the film "The Party" with Peter Sellers from 1969. Hence the Indian theme ;-). Read more about it here.

If you are interested in owning this bracelet, please leave a comment on this post. Make sure I will be able to get in contact with you IF you are the winner. I'll pull the winner randomly by using a random generator on the 8th or 9th. Check Lori's blog PrettyThings for more details on how the drawings works.

Please also make sure to check all the other post in this week long blog tour. There are so many things you can win. You'll find all the info on Lori's blog.

All my best,
Malin

Aftermaths (as in the meaning of a second harvest)

Aftermaths of the Bead Soup Blog Party #6. As you might remember I got a huge amount of beads and more from my partner Marsha Neal. Check back to the post to update your memory if you need to.

Now I have made two more bracelets almost entirely with things from her soup.

Bumpy lampwork beads by Nikki Thornburg Lannigan, large triangular seed beads, waxed cotton cord, magnetic ball clasp.

Handpainted silk strands from Marsha Neal's shop, mood/miracle beads, toggle clasp in antiqued silver color.

All my best,

Malin

The Party - #6

Welcome! It's time for my reveal of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party. Arranged by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.

My partner is the fantastic Marsha Neal. I am a fan of her ceramic beads and components since a long time. And of her too :-). She is fun and funny. 

We ended up choosing to have an extra inspiration theme for our exchange of soups. The film the Party with Peter Sellers. Read more about that here, and see some clips too.

Marsha was crazy generous with the soup she sent me. Here's the whole lot.

And here's a close up of the art beads.

Now, here's what I have made. I was so inspired by what I got so I immediately made this 3-strand bracelet, using the beautiful clasp. It only contains beads and components from Marsha's soup. I wanted to capture/create an Indian feel in this bracelet, as an inspiration from the film.

I got three tubes of large triangular seed beads. So I wanted to make a necklace using those. I've strung them on waxed cotton cord of the same color as the beads. Making a focal sitting to the side, out of Marsha's wonderful ceramic beads in a row.

I used a fun magnetic clasp especially made for larger/thicker stringing materials, so that you leave the knots visible in a cage on either side. Very suitable here.

I got so many gorgeous silk strands, so I just wanted to make something where they had the main role. Here I braided three of them to a long strand and added a flowery shaped toggle clasp. Flower Power is the obvious name of this piece. Inspired by the scenes at the end of the film when some hippiesh youngsters arrive at the party.

I made two pairs of earrings, using the purple dagger beads I got from Marsha, some facetted czech glass rondelles, and oxidized wire. In the left pair I used a thicker wire than in the right pair.  Just interesting to see that it actually effects the look of the earrings. The hooks are from Vintaj.

Group picture.

Here's what I sent to Marsha. Head on over to her blog now and check out the beautiful creations she made.

Thank you so much Lori Anderson for once more arranging this 

fantastic brain child of yours, involving participants from all 

over the world! 

It is a treat to be a part of it!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 

Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads

Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry

Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems

Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini

Charlene Jacka, Clay Space

Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're 

Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On

Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design

CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations 

Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry

Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog

Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure

Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs

Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia

Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads 

Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads

Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!

Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda

Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy

Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels

Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises

Geneva Collins, Torque Story

Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame

Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential

Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World 

Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It

Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper

Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy

Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez

Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier

Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?

Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs

Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks

Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs

Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu

Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels

Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum

Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems

Judy Riley, Three Red Beads

Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design

Karen Williams, Baublicious

Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!

Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle

Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas

Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time

Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road

Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara

Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry 

Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment

Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs

Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures 

Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta

Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design

Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land 

Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner

Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

You are here ---> Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin <--- You are here

Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious

Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading

Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter

Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry

Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre

Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change

Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs

My partner ---> Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio <--- My partner

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog

Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival

Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter 

Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua

Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts

Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities

Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts

Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color

Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals

Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner

Penny Neville, Copper Penny

Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs

Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry

Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson

Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place

Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry 

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog

Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do

Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe

Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories

Sarah Goode, Pookledo 

Sarah Small, blog by salla

Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire

Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead

Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs

Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads 

Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick

Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought

Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs

Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created

Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse

Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas 

Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo 

Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

FusionBeads - Chained #2

So, last week I showed you two pieces I made with chain I was sent from FusionBeads as a part of the FusionBeads Affiliate Blog Partner Program that they started a couple a months ago. Here's the link to that previous post of mine.

Now it's time for part 2 of this month's reveal. And I have made another necklace and a bracelet.

First the long necklace where I used the twisted chain, with wire wrapped large round beads distributed evenly along the chain and with large gaps. Two colors, and perfectly mirrored sides.

Green semi-translucent marbled lucite 18mm rounds. White carved 16mm rounds, that I can't remember what they are. I bought them ages ago before I had a good system for keeping track of all my purchases. The word jade pops upon in my head, but ... I don't know. Two ceramic pods for a pendant. The green one is by Marsha Neal and the white one by Birgitta Lejonklou. A brass colored ball with a hank sits at the back to balance the weight.

I didn't manage to take a good photo where you can see the whole necklace laid out, or one where it sits on, when I took the photos earlier today. I might give it a go again tomorrow just to give you an idea of the proportions and the length. It reaches all the way down to the tummy.

Now the bracelet.

I used green colored/patinated metal parts by MissFickleMedia. And Rayon gimp cording to tie everything together. A somewhat unusual solution maybe, but that I am very pleased with it. The rayon gimp knots creates a nice effect against all the metal, gives another texture softer and kind of satin feeling, and it adds just a little bit more color too. I've secured the knots with glue and the cord ends with fray check. Two strands of the etched chain from FusionBeads.

The chains used in the pieces above were provided as part of the FusionBeads Affiliate Blog Partner Program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

All my best,

Malin

Goodies on their way

Another find, by Claire Maunsell of StillPointWorks. I have become addicted.

I won these from Marsha Neal at her Marsha Neal Specials Blog. Wow! Lucky me!

Another Fusion - a wilder one ...

I made another necklace for the FusionBeads challenge arranged by Lorelei. I just didn't have the photos for it ready on Friday when I posted about one necklace and one pair of earrings, so I am posting about this one today instead. Here is my other post from Friday.

This is my personal favourite out of the three ones. So many beautiful components joined in a wild exiting marriage.

Look at the four Color Drenched Chains by MissFickleMedia, they're simply gorgeous. And from her also, the black drenched metal long thing in the pendant cluster. In the cluster also a green rustic porcelain shard by MarshaNealStudio. And a decoupage bead, one of the leafs from FusionBeads, the cat's eye facetted beads again. The large Rosey Copper ring that the cluster is hanging from comes from E2SSupplies. The back fiber part I braided with the olive leather cord and two different fiber/yarn strands. I like the way that turned out.

Don't know if I will want to sell this necklace in the nearest while, I wanna get a chance to wear it myself first. Coz I like it, and it's ME! But if you happen to be interested, please let me know :-).

All the three pieces I made for the FusionBeads Challenge together.

All my best,

Malin