Bead Soup Strikes Again!

Welcome to Lori Anderson's amazing and very popular Bead Soup Blog Party.  For bead lovers, it's the party of the year.

My partner was the lovely and very talented Hannah Rosner, from Good River Gallery.  When I looked at her work I was simply blown away.  She has been beadweaving since 1986 and lampworking since 1992.  She began teaching both lampworking and beadweaving in 2000.  She has participated in Battle of the Beadsmiths, the Toho Bead Challenge, and so much more.  Was I intimidated?  Well, maybe just a little.  But, I had a bead I absolutely loved that needed to go into expert hands.  With Hannah I hit the jackpot!

I sent a few little things, but the main event was a bead based on a painting by Alphonse Mucha. 

I bought this bead at my local bead store, and for all the great love I felt for the bead, I never knew what to do with it.  I was told it was Japanese, hand painted on ceramic.  It is one of a kind, signed by the artist.  I can't wait to see what Hannah did with it.

So, now on to my journey.  Hannah sent many beauties that I am not finished playing with.  Ahhhhh the joy! 

The first thing that caught my eye was the gray and black banded agate, which I combined with a piece of driftwood and a wooden hoop to make into a wall hanging. The agate is quite translucent and the light shines through it just beautifully.

There was no question that I would also use the second agate slice, the red one.  I loved the color, so warm and deep.

I ended up making a heart patterned after Amor by Anne Hesse.  Even though I'm not particularly fond of hearts, I like this piece.

I still have the fossil to play with.  Who knows what it will become.  Thanks Hannah for being a great partner.  Once I'm done at Hanna's blog, I'm going to go head over to Barbara Fernald's  blog.  Barbara was Hannah's second partner and makes some very amazing stuff.  I particularly like her use of tumbled beach rocks.

A giant thank you to Lori Anderson for once again making this happen.  Nothing better then spending my Saturday morning with a few cups of coffee and 160 bead blogs.