Bead Soup Blog Party 7 Reveal

Good morning. Thanks for joining me for the first reveal (of three) of Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party reveal! A huge thanks to Lori for once again taking all of the time and effort required to coordinate and host such a large event.

For this go-round Lori paired me with the very lovely Sumi Rani of Designs By Sumi and the blog HundredColors. Sumi is such a sweet and lovely young woman and I felt such a strong connection with her right from the start. She, her husband and young daughter moved here to the U.S. all the way from India. I am in awe of her strength and courage, I could never move so far away from what and who I know and love. Sumi is such a talented artist, on so many levels. She is incredibly giving and gracious. She has a degree in Electronics, a Master's in Computer Science and is an interior designer and very talented jewelry designer. Incredible. After absorbing our connection and enjoying our email conversations Sumi let me know that we had another connection - her daughter and my oldest child shared the same birthday, February 28. Kismet.

First, the soup Sumi sent to me:

How beautiful is that?! The Om pendant is so perfect. The vibration of "OM" symbolizes the manifestation of God in form ("sāguna brahman"). "OM" is the reflection of the absolute reality, it is said to be "Adi Anadi", without beginning or the end and embracing all that exists. Love it! The burgundy cloth that my soup is resting on came in a later package from Sumi. It was a gift within a gift. Sumi sent me a love necklace she created for me and it was wrapped in the fabric. This piece of fabric is very special and I'm so honored that she gifted it to me. I have a plan for it that includes the polymer piece from the picture above which I believe Sumi made (I forgot to ask her, I need to!). I had hoped to have both pieces completed, but as always, time gets away from me. Since moving  here, her idol of God has been draped in the fabric. Again, I am so honored Sumi shared this with  me.

Here is the necklace she created for me:

For my piece today I used the Om pendant, the clasp and a lot of the beads Sumi sent to me. I added some vintage brass corrugated rounds and small glass rounds from my favorite bead shop The Beadin' Path (Heather and Jan are closing their in the next month, I'm so sad. It has been the BEST bead store in Maine for about 20 years. I'm not in complete despair though, they're remaining a strong online presence.). It's a soothing palette. Without further ado:

The pendant is washed out in the photo and the beads aren't as bright as they are in real life. Some day my jewelry photo skills will improve, I hope. Here is a detail of the pendant:

Here's a tip for you, one that I know but chose to ignore, until I had to restring the necklace twice (and will a third time - I need to make it a couple of inches longer): the best crimps to use are sterling silver crimps from Soft Flex. Don't use anything else, truly. Cover the SS crimps with a crimp cover to match your metal or a large hole bead. Using anything else is a waste of time, unless you enjoy picking your beads up off the floor.....just sayin'. Thank you Sumi, for sending me such a lovely soup (I'll let you know when I finish the second piece).

Here is the soup I sent to Sumi. I was inspired to stamp "bloom" on the pendant as a result of one of the email conversations Sumi and I had where she said "bloom where you're planted" regarding her move to the U.S.:

Be sure to visit Sumi's blog to see what she's created from the soup I sent to her, and be sure to check out what the other participants of the first reveal have completed:

Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Amber Dawn Goldish	www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Barb Solem	http://www.vivimagoopresents.com
Bev Breisinger	http://countryfrogcreations.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou	www.lejonklou.blogspot.se
Breana Fry	www.vault31.blogspot.com
Brenda Sue Lansdowne	http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com
Bridget Torres	www.Shears58.com
Carol Dee Myers	http://caroldeezigns.blogspot.com
Carolyn Chenault	www.carolynchenault.wordpress.com
Cassi Paslick	http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier	Http://www.thebeadingyogini.com
Cheryl McCloud	www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com
Cindy Wilson	www.itsmyseaofdreams.blogspot.com
Crystal Thain	http://beaddragons.blogspot.com
Cynthia Riggs	http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com
Dana Hickey	http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com
Dana James	http://danasjewelrydesign.blogspot.com
Darlene Fortier	www.darliciousrejuvenations.blogspot.com
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com
Deanna Cox	www.deannaaki.wordpress.com
Deb Brooks	http://www.fromtheheartcreations.blogspot.com
Debra Behrends	http://www.hopefuljourneys.blogspot.com
Denielle Hagerman	http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Diana Frey	www.dianafrey.blogspot.com
Diana Welte	http://lilyweeds.blogspot.com
Dini Bruinsma	http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
DiYana Alcalde	http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Donna Millard	http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/
Dot Lewallwn	http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com/
Duane Clark	http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/
Eleanor Burian-Mohr	http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com/
Elisabeth Auld	www.beadsforbusygals.com
Elizabeth Owens Dwy	www.1996shabbylane.blogspot.com
Emily Greer	http://www.gaiacopia.com/blog-2/
Enikö Fabian	http://perleni.blogspot.co.at/
Erin Grant	http://ErinsJewelryCreations.blogspot.com
Eva Kovacs	http://ewagyongyosvilaga.blogspot.hu/
Eva Sherman	http://evashermandesigns.blogspot.com/
Gina Hockett	www.freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Grace Rotenberg	http://rivkasmomcom.blogspot.com/
Gretchen Nation	www.artfoodlodging.blogspot.com
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com
Heather Davis	http://www.blissfulgardenbeads.com/
Heather Marston	http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
Heather Powers	http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Ingrid McCue	www.wrappedinsilver.com
Jacqueline Marchant	http://jaacquelinesjewels.blogspot.com/
Jan Petek	www.janpetek.com
Janeen Sorensen	http://wildvanilladesigns.com/
Jane-Michael Stallings	http://www.craftvacuum.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel	www.Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Jayashree Paramesh	www.nchantme.com
Jayne Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Jean Yates	http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Cameron	http://glassaddictions.com
Jennifer LaVite	http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Joan Williams	www.lilrubyjewelry.com
Jodie Marshall	www.Marshalljodie.blogspot.com
Judy Riggs	www.rigglettes.blogspot.com
Julie Anne Leggett	www.thepeacefulbead.com
Kat Barron Miller	http://mkpbeadart.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kim Hora	www.kimmykats.com
Kim Houston	http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com
Kim Sparks	http://beadabunch.blogspot.com
Krafty Max	http://kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kris Lanae Binsfeld	www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Krista French	http://expressyourfaith.webs.com/apps/blog/
Kristen Stevens	http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Kristi Harrison	http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com
Kumi Fisher	http://maliekaidesigns.blogspot.com
Laren Dee Barton	www.larendeedesigns.blogspot.com
Laura Bracken	http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/
Laura Demoya	www.Thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com
Laurie Hanna	http://jewelrybylh.blogspot.com/
Laurie Keefe-Cecere	http://treeofliferootedinmysoul.blogspot.com/
Lea Avroch	http://www.LAJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Leanne Loftus	Http://firstimpressiondesign.blogspot.com
Lee Anne Messerschmidt	http://wiredhammerednworn.wordpress.com
Leslie Schenkel	http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/
Linda Anderson	http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/
Linda Djokic	www.lutkaandco.com
Linda Murphy	www.bonitabead.blogspot.com
Linda Sadler	http://idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy	http://lisaliddy.wordpress.com/
Lisa Suver	http://fanceethat.blogspot.com/
Liz DeLuca	http://www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com/
Liz Engriser	http://www.beadcontagion.blogspot.com/
Lola Surwillo	http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen	www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Bergmann	www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Lori Poppe	http://lorillijeanscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	www.Beadaddicted.blogspot.com
Lyn Foley	www.lynfoleyblog.com
Maddison Langford	http://maddy-moo.blogspot.com
Magdalena Sikora	http://porannagazeta.blogspot.com/
Mallory Hoffman	http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/
Marcella Austenfeld	www.goodtogojewelry.blogspot.com
Marcy Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Maria Clark	http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/
Maria Rosa Sharrow	www.willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan	www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Marie Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Marti Conrad	www.marticsclay.blogspot.com
Mary Ellen Merrigan	http://www.MaryEllenBeads.com
Mary Harding	www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander	http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Nan Emmett	http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Niky Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Pam Chesbro	http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/
Pam Farren	http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Pam Sandy	http://pamseclecticstuff.blogspot.com/
Pam Traub	http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Pamela Gangler	http://shealwayslovedpink.blogspot.com/
Patricia Buchanan	http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/braceletstoo
Patricia Johnson	http://patricialjohnsonglassart.blogspot.com
Patty Miller	http://cabaribeads.blogspot.com/
Paula Hisel	http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html
Peggy Gabrielson	http://georgiamountainarts.blogspot.com
Perri Jackson	http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/
Rachel Baron	http://www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Rachel Stanley	http://2catchahummingbird.blogspot.com
Rain Hannah	http://honeyandollie.com
Rana Wilson	http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano	www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Robin Reed	www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Rochelle Brisson	http://www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Rose Rushbrooke	www.roserushbrooke.com/blog/
Ruth Szapa	www.trudicrufus.blogspot.com
Sally Russick	http://thestudiosublime.com
Sandi Volpe	www.sandivolpe.com
Sandra Pendragon	http://sandrapendragon.blogspot.com/
Sandy Richardson	www.SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com
Sarah Small	http://bysalla.blogspot.com
Shannon Hicks	http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Shari Replogle	www.playswithpaper.blogspot.com
Sheila Daniels	http://www.cheekymagpie.com
Sheila Davis	http://www.stonedesignsbysheila.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie	www.secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Shirley Moore	www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Skylar Bre'z	http://brisingbeads.blogspot.com/
Staci Smith	www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
Stacy Pomerleau	www.craftenvilleblog.com
Stephanie Weiss	www.uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com
Sumi Rani	www.HundredColors.blogspot.com
Susan Sheehan	http://susanasheehan.blogspot.com/
Suzette Bentley	http://elliesbijoux.blogspot.com
Tamera Norris	www.beadsinspireme.com
Tracy Choy	www.bumblebeadsdesigns.Blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman	www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Valerie Norton	www.hot-fused-glass.com
Vicki Holliday	http://flopcatdesign.blogspot.com/