Saturday, May 10, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party #8 Reveal Beckoning Bohemian

Welcome to Bead Soup Blog Party number 8. The reveal date has finally rolled around and I am excited to show you all that I have made. This is my fourth time participating in the party and I have found it every bit as inspiring as the first, second and third times. This year my partner is Dana James, I wrote a quick blog post introducing her to you here.



She sent these wonderful soup ingredients that just called Bohemian to me, and when I say called I don’t mean whispered. My muse was very clear this was the direction we were taking, and then she went into creative overdrive…………

Together we made armloads of bracelets.

memory wire bracelets/anklets, colorful bangles, copper & leather cuff


I had never played with memory wire, can you believe it? The stuff has been around for nearly as long as I have been playing with beads and I have never even touched the stuff. Not even once. I had in my mind’s eye stackers. armloads of pretty. I started with the teals, inspired by those gorgeous blues in the lampworked beads. Added those sweet sweet floral head pins and Hey, as long as we’re making stackers, let’s play! I grabbed up many feet of aluminum electrical ground wire riveting the ends together and wrapping the resulting o’s with yards of colorful threads and pearls, adding beads and bells for loads of super lightweight, super colorful, super happy bangles. Super right? We were going to town making these fun little things and it dawned on me, I hadn’t touched a single soup bead since bracelet number one - gasp! Never fear my dear, these are meant for stacking together!!
Returning to the memory wire this time I worked in earth tones picking up the subtler colors in those gorgeous lamp worked beads.

Ready to get in some metal work I made up some textured copper strips and wrapped up some leather fully intending to use one of the clasps Dana had sent. But when I was ready for it, the clasp just didn’t seem to work, sigh. Not one to argue with my muse I finished the clasp using a piece of the leftover copper and textured it so that it matched beautifully. 

I remembered I had this great little bracelet wire from the Bead n Button design challenge that I hadn’t gotten around to using and what better way to showcase one of those lamps than that? I added a stamped filigree, a little flower with crystal center, and a Czech picasso leaf. Just sweet!



Then I made some connectors and played with those cool little copper bars and beads Dana sent. They looked really good with the larger lampworked beads and bracelet number 14 was born. This time I did use one of the clasps Dana sent :)

I had sketched up a design for the focal and ordered the bits I needed from B’Sues. I finished out the detailing while waiting in the lobby at the Drs office while the hubs was getting his eyes dilated. I had planned on etching the mehndi style designs but all I managed to do was discolor the metal ;/ hmmm



While I contemplated discolored metal I formed and forged some frames then wrapped up a couple pair of earrings. I LOVE these earrings. The first pair have Cognac hydro quartz and matching crystals from the soup stash and the second feature those sweet peach pearls Dana sent.

Brass choker - lace & flowers in brass and copper


Back to work on the focal I decided I would engrave it instead. Using a dremel and very slow speeds I did something I thought I could not do, I engraved a straight line. Seriously, I once answered a question about engraving with a no you can’t use a dremel, you need special tools……. ahem I stand corrected. ( I think I might really want those special tools now though - engraving is kinda fun!! )

So I engraved not just front but back. Riveted vintage opals and wired the brass lace into place. I added hand made flowers again with crystal centers and a short length of crystal beaded chain.

At this point I thought I was done. I had very little soup left, bullet casings, crystal points, a clasp, pearls and crystals. I so wanted to make one of those cool bullet casing points but the points are 1 mm too big ONE. The hubs says you just need to stretch the casing. LOL That’s all….. the muse leans over and says I have an idea…..

brass and copper dragon entwined around a quartz crystal point


….. and a dragon was born. The focal piece was my favorite up until this point. Pun not intended! I wrapped the point in a strip of engraved brass, followed by a woven strip reaching up behind into wings. At least it did. I didn’t like the way the one wing was sitting. I thought it was too low. I’m using brass, brass is a fairly hard metal and is brittle when work hardened. I gave a slight bend to the wire, and snap! off came the wing. I had to take the whole thing apart and rework the game plan. This is one of those times when uh oh is truly to your advantage. I made a second pair of wings and sawed a new head added vining swirls to the end of the bale to make the back as interesting as the front and wow! Even my son loves this guy. And look….. the second clasp found its way in too!

At the time of this writing I still have several days until reveal……… I wouldn’t be surprised if another little something found its way into this post as my muse doesn’t think we’re quite finished yet :D

As I was saying with the delay I had several extra days to play! And play I did, I finished up two UFO's you can see that post here (fortunate I did too, as I needed a blog post lol)  AND look at that! Two more pair of earrings found their way into the blog party!

forged and wrapped brass hoops, woven and scrolled brass copper and smokey quartz dangles

First pair is a simple forged pair of brass hoops wrapped with a peach pearl and the second woven and vined brass and copper with smokey quartz and crystal.

I still have quite a few ideas swimming, seriously inspiring this round, BUT it's only a few hours away until reveal. Yesterday was the hubs birthday and Mother's Day is this weekend. I think I'll play with my muse again in a couple days, right now I think I'll spend some quality time with my family and start hopping bright and early - or after I've had a couple sips of coffee  and can form coherent sentences!  :)

We have close to 500 participants again this year… wow! Make sure to visit Dana’s blog  to see what she made with the goodies I sent her (that’s where I’m headed first!! ) then head back to Lori’s blog Pretty Things    to catch the rest of the hop!

And if you'd like to peek at my past soups you can always visit these pages

Bead Soup 5
Bead Soup 6 
Bead Soup 7


Thanks for stoppin by!

We’ll see ya next time!

222 comments:

  1. I am in awe of your designs... I still can not believe this is the first time you have played with memory wire. I love the bangles. Very playful and colorful..And the earrings are gorgeous.

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  2. OMG! Love everything you've done, especially the dragon! I will be back around to view more of your blog!
    Rachel

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    1. Thank you Rachel! Hope to see you around some more :)

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  3. Those bangles are just so happy and colourful. I really love them. Your earrings are amazing! :)

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  4. Dana! Wow! what a great show! I am passing out from all this incredible beauty...you really made some pieces for the ages!
    Thank you as well for making that dragon. What a showpiece! It should be in an art museum!
    Planning any more of those? (hint hint!) !!! You are INCREDIBLE! I love what you made with Dana this year!!! xox jean

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    1. awww no museums but I did enter the dragon in a contest :D Love you Jean Thank you!!

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  5. I'm speechless for the first time ever!! I LOVE EVERYTHING. This is the kind of jewelry I aspire to make someday. Where do you get the brass lace? It's great. The bracelet is chock full of rich copper and glass goodies...wonderful. I want all you earring...they are just my style!!

    THE DRAGON IS OFF THE CHARTS INCREDIBLE!!! Did you make the dragon as a long piece of etched metal and wrap him around the crystal? I wish I could move in with you for a couple of weeks and just learn from you!! I put this post in my favorites and will come back to study it when I have more time. Thanks. Hugs, kathy

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    1. Thank you Kathy!
      Brass Lace, believe it or not I found at Hobby Lobby. Saw it, loved it, bought it. Had no idea what I'd do with it lol then my soup arrived!
      The head I sawed separately. I had a different head that I decided against after the crystal was wrapped and I had broke the wing :) sometimes it just works out! I keep saying our house would be perfect for a retreat when we manage to get it finished.

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  6. Wow - everything is amazing! Your metal and wire work is off the charts!
    Thanks for checking out my page!

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  7. Gobsmacked. Truly gobsmacked. Your bracelets are amazing loads of lovelies there- the earrings to die for, and the focal is spectacular. Dana was my very first BSBP partner, so I'm off to check out her blog. I'm now a follower of yours. Christie

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  8. What talent you have. Love everything you made.

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  9. What a great metal- and wireworks! I'm delighted!

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  10. All I can say is WOW. What a collection of pieces. I can't believe we both made bracelets...love the ones you wrapped with pearls and ribbon. The dragon is awesome...who knew that a crystal point and bullet casing could bring out that creativity. Great job.

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    1. You sent an awesome soup to play with! Thank you so much! I still have ideas for those bullet casings, I just ran out of time :)

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  11. Dana, all I can say is my mouth is hanging. What beauty. I read every word and tried to follow along, but what you were describing was so far above my head all I could do was enjoy the beautiful pictures. The bracelets were so cool, and then BAM -- dragons - one of my favorites. Great job! Thank you for visiting my humble blog and leaving a comment. Jean

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    1. :) oh Jean I've been a subscriber to your blog for quite some time now, I love your work!

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  12. Thank you for such an inspirational post and most artistic creations!

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  13. WOW, metal work,dragons,wire wrapping,and gorgeous beads all wrapped up in fabulous designs.
    Totally love each and every piece.

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  14. fantastic and inspirational pieces. I'm a huge fan of those bangles and the earrings are a joy

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  15. Wow.... I love all the pieces you have created!! You are soo talented!! But I want want WANT that lace!!! Where can I buy that??
    Lovely...

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    1. E-mailed you! Hobby Lobby in case anyone else wants to know :) Thank you!

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  16. WOW! You've been one busy gal. I love it all. Every time I would scroll down, I'd say, "OOOO! That's my favorite...oh no! That's my favorite!" lol It's all very nice !

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  17. Boho Baby Beautiful!! Awesome job :)

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  18. Bravo, bravo! What fantastic soup!! Sooo beautiful!

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  19. What a great soup. Makes me want to belly dance around a roaring fire (well, maybe far away from the fire, in the dark, by myself. Nobody else needs to see that). Truely lovely and exotic. Great job!

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    1. hahaha that's wonderful!! No one would want to see me either but I do think it would be a blast!
      Thank you so much Lisa!

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  20. Love your Bohemian inspired pieces!!! Love the idea of all those bangles and your earrings are gorgeous!

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  21. Love your style !!!!! really cool wire work :)

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  22. Every thing is beautiful and I want to wear them all, maybe even at the same time!

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    1. :) Most of it would look good together!

      Thank you so much Billi!

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  23. That memory wire bracelet is to die for ! I can't believe if your first one !

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    1. Thank you Audrey! My daughters eyes lit up when she realized she could make stack bracelets just that fast with her beads too. She can't believe it took me this long either lol

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  24. love the oodles of bracelets!! Fabulous111111

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  25. Oh, my... this is spectacular: from the wild bracelets (I think I would want to wear all of them at once!) to the bold earrings, to the statement focal, all the way to the dragon. A dragon! I think I'm in love :)

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    1. I had envisioned the photoshoot with my daughter wearing it all (but just one pair of earrings) and it felt right to me. So wear them all is definitely an option :D Thank you Alicia!

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  26. Love, love, love all of your pieces!! They're all so unique and would be so fun to wear!

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  27. Wowee! What an amazing dragon! Absolutely love all your creations but that dragon calls to me.

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  28. Lovely work , beautiful bangles :)

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  29. awesome job on all things you made but OH MY WORD!!! that DRAGON!!! Whoa!!! seriously! I can not stop staring at it, what an absolute stunning piece!

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  30. Okay - I am totally and completely impressed. What a job you did with the soup and otherwise - it's simply inspiring. My dear friend does dragons and fantasy art - she and I do lost wax castings but yours is simply intriguing beyond compare. When your muse runs away with you they must take you to a far away land. I love every bit of it!

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  31. Your designs speak to my Gypsy soul. I love them all!

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  32. Love the earrings, but oh my oh my, that dragon!!

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  33. WOW! You are an amazing talented artist. Love your pieces, all of them. But especially the earrings. Did I tell you you are very talented? Stunning pieces

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  34. Absolutely stunning, fantastic, gorgeous, etc. Your Bohemian Jewellery is ♥Magic♥ I love every piece!

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  35. Gorgeous pieces! The bangle stack is really fin and the dragon necklace is great!

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  36. Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm breathless! All these pieces are gorgeous. But the dragon is awesome. I can't believe it!

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  37. Love this beautiful boho collection of pieces you made. I also really love the elegant presentation and photography. This is just, yay, well done all 'round! And omg the dragon? HOLY WOW. You are super duper creative and awesome!

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  38. Oh my God, are the beautiful works. A jewelry beautiful than the other. As one of the breath stays away. Fantastic, wonderful, exorbitant!

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    1. Thank you! Taking someone's breath away is a high honor!

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  39. You've created some beautiful pieces with your soup. I love how you were so creative with your focal dragon, fabulous. I also love the bangle bracelets - Cheers!
    Lori in Atlanta

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  40. Jaw on the floor. Stunned. Wow. I thought the bangles were cool, then I saw the loopy amber drop earrings and started to drool a bit. Then when I saw the dragon I nearly fainted. Oh. My.

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  41. Beautiful! So creative! I enjoyed seeing what you made.

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  42. Such skills! Wow! All works of art! Totally Love what you did with your Soup! The earrings.... the bracelets.... That dragon... Really Soup-er!

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  43. Such awesomeness in your pieces! The dragon takes the cake! Great way to think outside the box! Love the colors of your memory wire bracelets! Great job!

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  44. I so enjoyed my visit to your blog. BOHO CHIC -ness.
    I love, love, love that dragon.Such sadness but serendipity that you overworked the first pair of wings , though I bet they were spectacular as well. I hope you had photos of them before they broke.

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    1. I hadn't gotten to the point of taking photos during construction yet. I usually do that when I'm contemplating yes or no, this one or that, so I can see side by side whether I like it, but I was very close to it. I shortened and reused them as the second smaller set of wings, originally I only had the one set. I like this way better :)
      Thank you Deb!

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  45. I'm in love with dragons ... and qith your necklace with the dragon pendent!
    Love all you have created with your soups!

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  46. I love the bohemian vibe you've created. It's very inspiring. I'll be following your blog and will visit again soon. Hopping around, but will have to look for the brass lace at Hobby Lobby!

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  47. your beading muse comes with a truckload of eleves to do all the work?! amazing job!

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  48. Love your style, the designs are fabulous!

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  49. I really enjoyed reading your blog and looking at the amazing array of pretty things you have made and I love your dragon!
    Jackie

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  50. OH I love all the warmth of the metal. They look so rich and comfortable. Great job.

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  51. You are absolutely amazing, Dana, and everything is just...well, amazing! I thought the earrings would be my favourites until I went further into the post and saw the rest. Fantastic! You just keep getting better to the point of unbelievable.

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  52. What a gypsy's treasure trove you created! The pieces are all creative and cool -- your Muse was really rocking!

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  53. Absolutely amazing pieces. You have a new follower! Can you please send your muse my way???!!!!

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    1. Thank you Dawn! I rather like my Muse but I'll ask if she might have a friend she could send over :)

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  54. I was lost in your blog. I kept going back and forth between designs. All so very lovely. Then I saw it...the DRAGON, You've made a work of art.

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  55. All of your pieces are amazing! I love all of the earrings and your necklaces are so creative and lovely!

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  56. Love, love your bracelets - very cool designs.

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  57. WOW! Just amazing - that's all I can say!

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  58. Ohwowhowfabulous! You muse was really rockin' that soup. The dragon is my favorite. Maybe because I am partial to dragonish things. Everything is amazing. Especially your metal work.

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  59. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, everything about your soup....Your inspiration photos. The wire bangle with the lampwork focal. Your wire wrapped gypsies earrings are awesome! The metal lace on the etched collar necklace is exquisite. ( I have that special etching tool. Used it for the 1st time on my soup. Definitely makes things easier than using a drummel.) And your dragon is absolutely to die for! Our muses must be related. Mine is very strong willed and relentless as well. I sense a kindred spirit in you. Brilliantly done!

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    1. LOL Strong willed and relentless is pretty accurate :) Thank you Kelley!

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  60. We'll honey you worked your fingers to the bone...but at least you got more than just boney fingers after cookin up this soup...You built a treasure chest full of exotic jewelry....I love it all...I couldn't pick my favorite if ya tried ta beat it outta me...Take your bough girl you deserve

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  61. Omgosh and wow! Amazing array of pieces. Love the feel of everything you made...that tribal bohemian theme is true throughout. Very special work!

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  62. Exceptional work! Love the bracelets and thought what a great job you did with your soup, and then scrolled down to see the lovely lacy earrings, beautiful, and then scrolled down to see even more and more scrumptious goodness. Yowza! Bohemian home run.

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  63. LOVE that dragon pendant ... and the lace piece is amazing too ... and the bracelets ... safe to say I was drooling over it all lol ;)

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  64. Awesome pieces! 'Nuff said.

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  65. God did you make enough jewelry for three reveals :D and they are astonishing. Your metalwork is awesome and your creativity even more. I am speachless .

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    1. LOL I still have ideas for another couple pair of earrings, a necklace, and bracelet :) I just ran out of time!

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  66. Wow, you win the creativity award!! Love the bundle of bracelets and the dragon piece particularly...great soup stirring!

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  67. Mystical, magical and Bohemian for sure! I am in love with the bracelets, but the dragon absolutely steals the show. I just stared with an open mouth...

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  68. Creative! Dramatic! Amazing!

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  69. I can't even fathom having the skill to pull this off. I'm absolutely in awe. I once tried to engrave with a Dremel. It looked like I took to it with a knife lol. Beautiful.

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    1. I know the taking a knife to it look! The hubs bought me new toys, complete with engraving bits! ack I think I'm going to pick up a set of hand gravers, I really want to give it a go with the proper tools :)
      Thank you Corrie!

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  70. Wowzer! What a fantastic haul of beautiful Boho jewels! You created so many fantastic pieces - love how you play with color and form and texture, and the Dremel work is just amazing! Well done!

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  71. Amazing pieces!!! Love that dragon ... and the use of lace .... and your wirework!!! Great use of your soup and great result!!
    Alenka

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  72. So many beautiful pieces! I especially love the copper & leather bracelet and the dragon necklace! Gorgeous work!

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  73. As I started reading your post I was, oh thats a nice bracelet, then, oh! I love that one, later, wow that´s nice, then, Lovely earrings and all of the sadden I was speechless, a dragon!
    All your pieces are so creative and nicely done. I feel like mine are lame! You are so creative and your technique is fantastic. I believe I could learn quite a few things from you. The first being to think outside the box!

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    1. Yours are not lame, they're beautiful and well done! Jana would tell you the same!

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  74. Fun and creative pieces, all of them!

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  75. I really love what you've created! So elegant and unique! The dragon is so very cool...great details!
    Very well done!

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  76. I feel like I keep using the word stunning, but it absolutely fits here. Your jewelry & the way your put your photos together made me think I was looking at a high end bead magazine on-line. Everything is gorgeous & your photos are too. What a great use & embellishment of your beads soup. I am certain I'll be coming back to look at your other creations.

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  77. I really love your designs!!! End of Story!!! LOL But really, you have a unique way of looking at things, an amazing design sense and the colors and texture and movement are to die for!!! Wonderful Job!!! Have a Blessed Day!!!

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  78. So many so beautiful pieces! You have done lots of good work. It is inspiring to see something totally different in this hop, and your jewelry certainly is unique.

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  79. The memory wire bracelets are a feast to the eye! And you got really bohemian with the intricately ornate focal, adding even more details and engraving and getting very playful with the earrings! Amazing job!

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  80. All of your pieces are wonderful. I love the colors and designs.

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  81. Definieky a hoard that any magpie or Dragon would approve of. Ali of your designs are incredible! I love the earrings but rise bracelets would be so much fun .

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  82. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! I studied every piece in fascination! Such great work!

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  83. I so enjoyed your work and post. Excellent soup work!

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  84. Stunning! All your pieces are exquisite! BUT I love the dragon....I am reading a trilogy series right now and that dragon would sooooo fit in! Love it....!!! i am sure it will sell quickly!

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    1. Thank you! Dragons have been a favorite in my house for a long time, I can recall a trilogy or two coming home from the library too :)

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  85. I love those wire wrapped earrings, especially the different colours of the metal.

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  86. I am just loving your work, the dragon is crazy amazing!!! love how you are way out of the box in your creative designs. You inspire me!!!

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  87. Wow, you really did some amazing things with your soup. My favorites are the earrings. You really made some stand-out earrings. And, your stacks of bracelets are so fun as well. Isn't memory wire fun? (I don't mess with it often either though.)
    Anyway, you did a great job with your soup ingredients!

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    1. Thank you Hope! It is fun, I'm not sure why I never played with it before now either lol

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  88. Wow, I love your work! My favourites are the hoop earrings, but all your designs are really bohemian and beautiful!

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  89. I love what you have created, very beautiful and absolutely bohemian. Great use of your soup.

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  90. I love boho inspired jewelry and clothing as well. I would wear all of these pieces in a heartbeat. That dragon is absolutely perfect!

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