Working, working (sort of)

A quick check-in to let you know I am working on pairing people up as best I can.  I apparently have that "can't- move-even-if-a-stick-of-dynamite-was-lit-under-me" flu that's going around.  I slept all but two hours yesterday, and I mean, I do adore my sleep, but helllooooo, this is just bad timing.


Chances are your partner will be announced on Sunday.  Here's what goes into pairing people (and I can't get anyone to help but my husband at this point because it's a little complicated, and you'd have to be on a computer right next to me, as my husband does, reading things out).

An old grind stone.  Get it?  Nose to the grind stone?   Ah ha ha.. it's the Nyquil that makes it funny.

1) Visit all blogs. Why?  Some are just contest entry blogs and that's not cool.  Some blogs weren't entered correctly and I have to find them.  And finally, as I try to pair you with someone who doesn't work in your style, I can mark up my spreadsheet with what each person does.... seed beads, stringing, wire, mixed media, etc.


2) Highlight all international people.  There are 142 of them -- most in Canada and the UK, but we have Bahrain, France, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and I'm blanking on the rest.  Once I highlight them, I see who wants to stay within their country and pair them (assuming their reveal dates are also the same -- this is where hubby on the 2nd computer comes in).  Then if necessary, I pull the US people who said they could ship internationally.

Last year's Party.

3) Separate the spreadsheet into three groups.  I need three groups to represent the three reveal dates.  Double check at this point for duplicates.


4)  Start pairing people.  


5)  Email each pair with their partners name, email, and blog.  (Even using cut-and-paste, that's 260-odd emails.  I don't list anyone's email publicly, but I will probably post pairs on this page to make it available faster).


So you see why I give myself a week to do this.  I do enjoy it, though, because there are lots of new blogs to see, and I've been remiss in visiting favorites, so I can catch up.  I am making myself not comment when I visit this time, though, because I'm behind.


Anyway!  While this is going on, please do start putting your soup together.  The quicker it gets out, the better.   Please read the blog posts below for more information you might have missed.


 Thanks!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.

Bead Soup Blog Party® -- rev your engines!

Hello everyone!  Thank you so much for the amazing response to the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party®.  Over 500 people signed up for the three reveal dates.  That's a record!


This week I will be pairing people up and you will get an individual email from me with your partner's name and information.  That email should come over the weekend.  Between now and then, I will be visiting all of your blogs, checking all the information, and preparing for this massive event.


In the meantime, please look to the side bar on the right and enter your email to follow this blog by email.  That way, you should always be alerted if there is something going on with the party.  I also try to send mass emails, but with this many people, I'm trying to make sure you have a place to get the info and not end up in your spam folder.


You can get a blog button and link it to www.beadsoupblogparty.com by clicking here.

For now, please start making up your soup

with these rules in mind.....

 :: One focal ::

 ::  One special clasp (not a lobster claw) ::
::  Some coordinating beads (no need to send a million) ::

No religious items -- crosses, Buddhas, goddesses, etc.

No political items.

No naked bits of bodies (yup, it's happened.)
No cabochons unless you're sending to a seed beader.

Please do not show what you are planning to send 
until after your partner has received it.

You can also join the www.BeadSoupCafe.com 

to join in the chat and the excitement

and get tips and tricks from veteran Soupers.

 

Thank you and stay tuned!

Sign ups are NOW!

It's here!
The sign ups for the

7th Bead Soup Blog Party®
take place now until Sunday, January 27th.

SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS YEAR.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.

Get your Bead Soup cooking now! (And what should you send?)

Yesterday I posted about the Bead Soup Blog Party® sign ups being THIS WEEKEND!  But you know what?  You don't have to wait for your partner announcement to start cooking up your Bead Soup now! 

Each Bead Soup must contain:

 :: One focal ::

 ::  One special clasp (not a lobster claw) ::
::  Some coordinating beads (no need to send a million) ::

You don't need to know who your partner is to make a soup!  Why?  Because that's the entire point of the party -- to send a mix of quality beads, NOT to send beads in your partner's favorite color or current style.  The majority of people receive beads they have either never used before or don't have access to, and that helps expand your design power.  When you get your Bead Soup from your partner, dig into your own stash and start seeing what ELSE you may have that works with it, and embrace the challenge.

If you are a seed beader, you will have a choice at sign up to choose to be paired with another seed beader.  Why?  Because seed beading is a skill and art that is almost impossible for a person who has never touched a seed bead or needle to master for a challenge.  You can absolutely send a seed beaded pendant, beaded bead, and other awesomeness of that sort.

If you are a seed beader who also strings, uses wire, etc, and has the stash to send that sort of Bead Soup,  then you can choose to have a non-seed bead partner.

Basically, please do not send seed beads 

to a person who is NOT a seed beader.

Bead Soup sent to me by Jennifer Cameron.

Some people like to make up pretty packaging for their Bead Soup.  That's not necessary, but feel free to show your creativity that way if you like.  

I'm not terribly creative with paper so I use my jewelry boxes -- still pretty!

DO label what you're sending -- what is it made of, who made it (if it's handmade), even where you got it if you know.

What do I mean by a special clasp?  Something unique.  Something that isn't a lobster claw or spring clasp.  Here are some I've used in my own jewelry:

Sterling silver, handmade silver by me, handmade ceramic by Earthenwood Studio, and a pewter toggle.  There are so many things you can choose, in any type of metal or composition.   

What do I mean by a focal?  Well, to most people, it translates as something meant to be used as a pendant.  The vast majority of pieces made for past Parties were necklaces.  However, you can send a large bead that is special and let your partner know THIS is the focal, and I was thinking it could work for a necklace OR a bracelet.

If you get a focal that is not screaming "PENDANT!" to you, try what I've done in some of my jewelry creations:

Lampwork tube bead from bead soup sent by Rebecca Anderson 

that I chose to use in a bracelet.

Carved wood bead I forgot I had.

And lastly, you are NOT expected to go out and buy beads for this challenge, but if you would like to, you're of course welcome to.  You want to send a quality packet of beads.  That doesn't mean send a million, but ones that are special and something you would send your best friend.  

Yeah, I'm sorry, but there has to be one.  I'm not disparaging these materials, and have even used most of them, but for THIS blog hop, please do not send:

:: Metalized plastic ::

:: Seed beads (unless you are sending to a seed beader) ::

:: Plastic beads (exceptions -- quality vintage beads in new condition) ::

:: Anything you have considered throwing away ::


and per the request of this large, worldwide group,
no religious, political, or similar beads.

(Have a question?  Just email me.)

That's it!

I hope to see you at sign ups this weekend!

 

Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.

The 7th Bead Soup Blog Party® sign ups are this weekend!

Click here!  

The 7th Bead Soup Blog Party sign ups are Jan 25-27 -- THIS WEEKEND!

Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack.  Visit her shops by clicking here.  She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party®   and author of the book Bead Soup.