Soups Have Arrived and Ideas are Simmering!

The soups of Danas have arrived at their destinations and we can get down to the FUN part! Making something wonderful!

This is what I sent Dana. All metal components were hand crafted by me, clasps, tube beads, caps, and focal. The beads were mostly purchased from small vendors on Etsy and are a wonderful mix of sparkle and organic, at least I think so! I am really looking forward to seeing what Dana does with them.

And this yumminess......is what I Got!!


My ingredients came all packaged up in these awesome tins!


Just look at all this goodness! Dana made the focal and those awesome head pins too!!


Closer look at those lampies....look at that incredible blue!

Incredibly inspiring ingredients, time to get pinning and planning!
Woohoo let the fun begin!

btw...... those super cute little soup bowls.... hand thrown and glazed by my daughter!

See ya next time!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

March Birthstone = Aquamarine

Available in my Etsy

Continuing our monthly postings of Birthstones this month we have Aquamarine. It is of a beautiful pale icy blue color quite fitting for this time of year when ice gives way to the first blush of spring. Especially fitting for this year when we seem to have had wave after wave of ice and snow storms. I for one am quite ready for this springs offerings.

This month holds two stones Heliotrope (aka Bloodstone) has been the stone of record since as early as the 15th century with Jasper as it's companion stone. However sometime around 1912 Aquamarine was substituted for Jasper and has quickly become the more recognized stone of the two.

Bloodstone too is quite fitting for this time of year, with its range of greens and slight speckles of red. The religious connotations aside (marking the upcoming Easter holiday) it is a striking stone, much like small flowers poking their heads up through the mossy ground and matt of last falls leaves.

Who in this world of ours their eyes
In March first open shall be wise,
In days of peril firm and brave,
And wear a bloodstone to their grave.

March = Aquamarine/Bloodstone

January = Garnet

February = Amethyst

March = Aquamarine

April = Diamond

May = Emerald

June = Pearl

July = Ruby

August = Peridot

September = Sapphire

October = Opal

November = Topaz

December = Turquoise

Thanks for stopping by!

We'll see you next time!

Bead Soup #8 Meet my Partner Dana James

Dana - Celtic Goddess of
Manifestation Magic, Artistry, and Abundance

Bead Soup #8 - The Soup of Danas

Isn't that fun! I started my Hiya Partner e-mail off with Hi Dana! This is Dana!! We both work primarily with wire and beads though our styles differ somewhat, she does a lot more traditional wrapping where I play more with weaving and tiny filigree pieces.

I have taught my kids to bend wire and she teaches at ShipWreck beads. I'm a little envious there. Living in the middle of nowhere means my local bead store is Wal Mart or Hobby Lobby, so basically I shop online lol She not only gets to fondle beads in person but gets to fondle beads with others....who actually GET what I just said!! Fondling beads is no small thing!

Things don't stop there either. I just came home from California and she's headed there as I type this.

Neither of us seems to have an aversion to colors or beads so her soup will most likely be what seems to strike my fancy as I pull it together. I had been playing with soup ideas when My Grandma passed and all my beady stuff is exactly where I left it at that time so not too hard to see where I was going in terms of playtime. I have a few more ideas and only a week to solidify them so I need to get back to it pretty quickly. Having access to beady goodness like ShipWreck makes it a challenge of a sorts but I'm up for it!

Why not stop by Dana's blog and take a peek into her bead and wire goodness from last years Blog Party?! I'm sure she'd love to see you there!

Til Next time!
Thanks for stopping' by!