I was introduced to the concept of Bead Soup by Lori Anderson and participated in 2-3 of them. After several years, she has re-launched the bead soup swap through her Bead soup Cafe page on Facebook. Bead soup is a swap event where you send your partner beady goodies (and in return get some fabulous beads). You create jewellery using the beads and components given by adding from your own collection. At the time of the reveal, you put it up on your blog/social media for the world to see. I signed up for Bead soup swap and create this year and Birgit Franck from Berlin, Germany is my partner.
About Birgit Franck
Birgit or Gite to her friends works at a pharmacy by day and is a seedbeader at other times. She is a frontline warrior who takes joy in her children and little pleasures in life. Gite loves blue-green colours but has seed beads in all colours and sizes. She told me that she is leaning more towards the steampunk aesthetic these days.
Her husband knows black smithing, carpentry and goldsmithing as well. He even made their engagement and wedding rings. How cool is that? You can see some of her work here.
Bead soup swap and create – what I sent her
I was very worried about international parcel laws newly in place in India (in January 2021) and the escalating timelines that I sent only a small parcel of beads. I did not want it to get lost or get stuck in customs but reach her on time. Gite put my fears to rest after receiving the package saying that “it made her dance around the table.”
Bead soup swap and create – what she sent me
Gite has been super generous in sending me several seed bead components made by her. I cannot even imagine the time and patience required to create such exquisite things. Knowing that I make picture jewellery, she tried out a version of that technique and sent me a pendant. It’s one of a kind post card pendant with a seed bead bezel. I am a (lot) embarrassed that I did not send her anything that I make.
Bead Soup Reveal
As the soup was beadifully gorgeous, I made lots of jewellery. The seed bead components made by Gite were so perfect that I decided keep my intervention to the minimum. I typically connected the components together and strung them up with beads from my stash. Two necklaces, a bracelet and a pair of earrings to be specific using both halves of the soup. Here they are.
Horizon necklace
As I am a picture jewellery maker, I began with the beaded cab pendant and made my horizon necklace. Apart from the green beads and blue crystals that she sent me, I used a lot of blue Indian glass beads. I also used Gite’s beaded tubes. This necklace is for sale.
Fuchsia Flowers in the bush
I typically make to sell, but after seeing Gite’s beaded components, I wanted to keep the resultant products for myself. The magenta with teal is a favourite colour combination of mine and she had specially made the one with the Chaton for me after I told her that I love to look at such components. Isn’t Gite a delight? Since I wanted the beaded components to shine, I attached them using jump rings and added a chain to complete the necklace.
The beaded beads and ring components were begging to be made into earrings. Thus the set was born with matching earrings. Wait, there’s more. There was also a beaded clasp which deserved be its own king, a focal in a separate piece. Therefore, I made a bracelet using some beads I was given in exchange for giving a lecture on beads at college. Tada, tada, a Demi Parure was born!
Those are the four pieces that I made and I hope that you enjoyed seeing them as much as I enjoyed making them. Thanks to Lori once again for hosting this event. Please head to her blog the Sum of small things to see the list of participants. Hop around and enjoy the beautiful jewellery that has been created by all of us.
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
37 responses to “Bead soup swap and create”
Your necklace is stunning Davya.
Thank you Becky.
wow!! such talent in this pairing!
Thank you Lorelei.
Delicious colors and fabulous results!
Thank you Bobbie
I’ve always been in Awe of those who can bead like you!!! The designs are Beautiful and the colors are Amazing!!! Great Job!!
Thank you Robin, but all credit goes to Birgit who created the beautiful components. I merely put them together.
Breathless. What an amazing soup – and you more than did it justice. SO creative, professional and well made. I love the brilliant colors – so yummy. (not to mention the amazing seed bead work!). You worked wonders! Truly talented and what a great job.
Thank you, Joyce but in all honesty its the components that deserve the praise.
wow! you bead weavers always impress me so much. I love everything, but am really drawn to that sailboat piece.
Hello,
I read your blog article very carefully. Your blog article very useful and informative.
Thanks.
Oh Divya, your creations are so great. They incorporate Gite’s seed bead elements into your style so effortlessly. I love the contrast of the green with the magenta and teal in that one piece. But, they’re all lovely.
Thanks Hope, I just wanted to keep it simple and let her components shine.
I love very piece, but that sail boat is amazing. I just can’t imagine how much work goes into creating with seed beads. Just beautiful!
Yes I agree, Gite has indeed put in a lot of work.
What a beautiful combination of seed beads and larger ones! I always freeze when I see those tiny things & you made them work in such a beautiful way.
I too cannot with beads below 8/O that,s why I really admire Gite.
Beautiful work, Divya! I love what you made with your soup. I really like how you incorporated her Gite’s seed bead pieces into your own style… what a lovely artistic collaboration! 🙂
Thanks Jenny, it is wonderful to collaborate with talented people.
Very nice colors in the designs. I’m not patient enough to totally stick with beadweaving, but the resulting art is amazing. Sparkle on!
I am not that patient either; the beadwork was done by my soup partner.
Great pieces, I love the magenta/teal color combo as well.
Thanks Ann
I love the color combination.
Thank you Kathy.
The magenta and teal! What an amazing color combination and your work and her work together is terrific. Thank you so much for participating again!
Thank you for Hosting and giving this amazing opportunity to meet a new friend.
[…] Divya N […]
Beautiful pieces!!
Thank you
Your work shows how much you enjoyed your bead soup! Each creation is wonderful! Love the Horizon necklace, it feels like a childhood dream to see the world 🙂
You are right, the pieces are dreamy – particularly the sailboat on the horizon!
What an impeccable beader Gite is!! I am amazed!!!
Love your exchange (and will probably visit her blog to see what she makes with your beads) and everything you’ve created with those luxurious beads is mind blowing!
Thanks Maya, Yes I am very fortunate to have been paired with Gite and she has made so many pieces with what I sent her.
Your style worked so well with the beads and components she sent you. Wonderful!
Thanks Ann, yes, I had fun with them.