Oh dear, oh dear… Today is the reveal day for the 8th Bead Soup Blog Party - something I only realised yesterday evening. I thought it was on Sunday. (I’ve not done at all well with dates recently!) I’ve had to dash around this morning getting my photos taken. So, without further ado, I’d better get on with things. I have made a heap of stuff with the wonderful soup that the lovely Lori Anderson sent me.

For a full run through of the ingredients, head here. The first piece that I made was this bracelet, using some of the recycled glass nuggets.

(ceramic heart charm - Bo Hulley Beads)

I’ve been wondering what to do with these vintage shell beads for some time. The glass nuggets were just the right size. Next, I turned my attention to the beautiful lampwork focals, made by Jane Perala, and the stock of delicious czech glass.

Do you see those vivid blue spacers? I was quite taken with them and there were loads in my soup so I simply stranded the rest of them together to make this skinny wrap bracelet.

(bronze charm - Thea Elements)

The main focal and clasp that Lori sent were both sweet Thai Hill silver butterflies. I wanted to combine them in a necklace reminiscent of pinned butterfly displays. This sort of thing:

So I collected together a few more butterflies from my stash and made several attempts at getting them all to hang one above the other in a necklace, with little success. Then I had a brainwave. Why not just make a number of necklaces that can be layered up to form a column of butterflies?

(ceramic butterfly - Marsha Neal, ceramic drops - Scorched Earth)

It was hell’s delight to photograph, but I’m quite pleased with my solution. My soup included a stack of pewter rings which I’ve wired together to form my own chain. Here’s a detail, showing the clasp.

I had some of the chain left so I mixed it with more of the czech glass in a multi strand bracelet.

(ceramic heart - Blueberribeads)

Earrings next, three pairs:

(ceramic droppers: Scorched Earth)

(enamel leaves - Gardanne)

(lampwork discs - Helen Chalmers)

My favourite bead was one of the large lampwork pieces, so I decided to treat myself to a simple pendant piece - a bit of a BSBP souvenir!

(ceramic leaf - Scorched Earth; ceramic coin - Majoyoal)

And finally, another recycled glass and vintage bead combo:

(ceramic bead - Round Rabbit)

Phew! Told you there was a lot. I’m so grateful to Lori for sending such a bounteous and beautiful soup (and for organising the whole thing!) - Thank you, Lori! Here’s the soup that I sent to her.

To see what she has made with it, here’s the link to Lori’s blog. And, of course, there are hundreds of folk around the globe participating in today’s party. Go visit them and show some love: