Saturday 20 July 2013

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal

Hello. My name is Adlinah. And I'm a bead hoarder. 

Lori Anderson's brainwave to hold a bead hoarders blog hop was the perfect opportunity for me to come out of the closet. For too long, I've hidden behind the excuse that I needed beads and more beads because darn it! I'm a jewellery maker and I need my materials! 

The truth is, I'm more of a bead collector - a bead curator (hah!) if you will - than I am a designer or artist. The only time I make lots and lots of jewellery is when I'm playing in a blog hop (usually ones organised by the ever-fantastic Lori), where a mix of inspiration and last-minute panic combine to help me produce several pieces. 

If anyone's interested in my...ahem...collection, here's a quick glimpse of some of it:


                               Ceramic beads I've been hoarding since forever


                                Mostly glass, some polymer clay and paper beads

I'm hoping this Blog Hop will be the first step in my treatment and recovery. Despite my fears, I managed to make use of a few (well, only 3 to be accurate) hoarded beads without suffering any painful or embarrassing side-effects. No tears or teeth-gnashing at all! 

So, on to the Reveal! I chose to use some polymer clay bird beads by UK artist Angela Pyke of BeadMeUpButtercup and a lampwork glass focal by Susan Farley of SkholtGlass. 

Angela's work is new to me but I love her birdie beads with their white-washed finish. I decided the birds would make a cute pair of earrings, especially paired with some pretty Czech glass beads.




Next up was a focal by Susan Farley. Now, I love Susan's work - I've amassed several of her focal pendants over the last 4 years and have also given away some of her beads to my BSBP partners in the past. After lots of hand-wringing, I chose to use her Spring Flowering Tree focal bead. I gave it a tassel of beads and strung the resulting pendant on a brass chain to which I added Swarovski crystals.





Both reveal pieces will go into my Etsy shop. They need to go and live in other homes apart from mine :-).

Now that I've learnt I can part with my hoard, I'll be more conscientious about actually using the beads I purchase. I want to thank everyone for reading through this post and of course, Lori for this brilliant Blog Hop. With the help of more such Blog Hops, I'll be well on the way to thwarting my hoarding tendencies. 

I'm off to check out what Lori and the other participants created. If you'd like to join me, please click here.

45 comments:

  1. Lovely pieces both!
    And I am now suffering from Bead envy looking at that gorgeous stash :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Bead Curator" love that! Those little birds are making me drool they're so adorable and your earring design is stunning.
    The tassel of beads on the focal adds a lot of interest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my yes, I think we can all be called curator's, and it sounds so much better than hoarder. That focal is so different but enticing, but must say just love the birdie earrings.

    ReplyDelete
  4. very nice hoard! Love the necklace

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your stash. Both pieces are fantastic but gotta love the birds!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those birds are so adorable and I love the colours in the tassel necklace

    ReplyDelete
  7. What beautiful designs, Adinlah... yes, I am guilty of being a "curator", too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful pieces!! I couldn't join this hop cuz I couldn't give anything up waaahh!! Congratulations on kicking the habit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a shame you couldn't play Lori. I hope you find the courage to take part next time - baby steps, baby steps :-)

      Delete
  9. Nice work. And some cool looking stash too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ha! I thought about starting off my post the same way. Your designs are great. Those earrings remind me of a similar HumbleBeads bird I have that is actually probably one of my oldest hoarded items. I have it out aside from all my other beads. Dang, now I have to remember to design with it too. At least you gave me some inspiration. Oh, and your necklace is so wonderful. I love the fringe danglies!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those earrings!!! Lovely!
    Ambra

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful work! I love the polymer clay birds in the earrings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful! Those earrings are so adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I just want to dig my fingers into your stash and carry it away with me! LOVE those sweet bird earrings...everything you made is great. I am a bead hoarder, but I'm certainly not ready for a cure. My hoarded beads give me too much pleasure!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your work. If your a curator. My home is the museum of beads!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Both of your pieces are lovely, but those earrings are especially fabulous! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. The bird earrings are adorable! But I LOVE the tree bead necklace. The bead is stunning and you did it great justice with your design!
    Patty

    ReplyDelete
  18. ADORE those birds and had to try and find her online! Those earrings are so darned sweet I can't stand it. Just love them.

    Thank you so much for participating!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you Adlinah for featuring my birdies! If any of you lovely people would like to get your hands on some of my birds, you can find me on etsy http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AngelaPykeOfBMUB?ref=si_shop. I'm running low on stock at the moment but you can view what coloured birds I make on my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bead-Me-Up-Buttercup/129606597137993. I do commissions so please feel free to ask!

    Angie (BeadMeUpButtercup)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome Angie. Your birdies are too pretty to be hidden away. Btw, realised I made an error in your shop name. I've corrected it now.

      Delete
  20. Birdie earrings are sooooo cute. Glad you came out of the closet to share them. Welcome to the "Beadie Ford" treatment center for bead hoarders. You are in good company. We are all addicted here ... LOL

    ReplyDelete
  21. :) I love the introduction - and the curator part too :) Aside of being a professional procraftinator I will add being a bead curator on my resume! LOL
    I love your pieces - they are simply delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  22. You really have curated a wonderful collection of small works of art.

    Love your earrings and your necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The little ceramic birds are so cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. The birds are sweet and the necklace is awesome.

    ~cryssT

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful. Colors are so soft. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting & commenting Hannah!

      Delete
  26. I love your hoard, and especially what you did with it !

    ReplyDelete
  27. The necklace is beautiful. I am drooling over your bead stash box. Where are the beads with words on them from?(in the second box)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andra. Those are paper beads by Gillian McMurray, a UK artist on Etsy.

      Delete
  28. "bead curator" - love it!
    What a fabulous collection of artist beads! The bird earrings are precious! I love, love, love the necklace with Susan Farley's focal. Adding a tassel is on my "to try" list.

    ReplyDelete
  29. How lovely! I absolutely love the birdie earrings--so cute!--and that necklace is simply luxurious!

    And, from one bead curator to another, thank you for showing pictures of your stash... what fun! :D

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like both the earrings and the necklace, very beautiful. The beaded tassel is WOW. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  31. OMG! I'm in love with yourbirds earrings!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow, love those earrings, great design. Very lovely pieces!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Beautiful ♥sweet♥ soft♥ colours... and beautiful jewellery made with very special artist beads. I have nothing new to add to the comments above! I agree with everybody's enthusiasm... have a nice summer!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Beautiful designs. I especially like the bird earrings :-)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your bird earrings are sweet. I love the focal bead in your necklace. I can see why you hoarded it. Good job using some of your hoard.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh, your collection is exquisite, your post is fun & lovely and your jewelry -- completely gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love those bird earrings - so cute. I have one those owl beads that I see in your stash too.

    ReplyDelete