Welcome to my reveal for the 2019 Bead Peep’s Swap ‘n’ Hop jewelry design and blog hop challenge.  I may have gotten carried away by my enthusiasm for this challenge. I’m probably not the only one. It can be fun to test your creativity by letting someone else choose the design elements for your jewelry, and in turn see how they get along with what you chose for them.  I typically participate in design challenges where there’s a set theme but I get to choose my components. But from time to time, I like to push my limits by working with components I might not have chosen for myself. So, here we go!

What is the Bead Peeps Swap ‘n’ Hop?

The Swap ‘n’ Hop is an annual international jewelry design challenge hostessed by Linda Anderson, the admin of the Bead Peeps Facebook group.  Participants sign up, get matched with a partner, swap beads (more on those in a minute), make jewelry with said beads, and then all participants reveal what they made during a blog hop.  (This is my post for that blog hop.)

The “rules” for the bead swap require sending your partner at least two of the following: a focal, a clasp, and accent beads.  At least one of those three things must be artisan-made. Participants are free to send as much or as little “extra” as they choose.  From what I saw in the FB group as we were sharing photos of our goodies received, folks sent a generous amount of beads in addition to the minimum requirement. Some swap packages appeared to have themes or coordinated colorways.  And some included non-jewelry related items like edible treats (more on that in What I Received).

Who is my Swap partner?

I was most fortunate to be paired with Natalie Davidson of North Shore Days.  Natalie lives in New Zealand and I wish I had been able to travel there to swap beads in person.  Not only because I worry about packages sent in the mail reaching their destination, but also because it’s on my bucket list of places to visit and it would be fun to meet her.  Maybe someday.

Perhaps because she lives so near the ocean that she can hear the waves at night, Natalie is especially fond of beachy colors and motifs.  Or maybe she lives near the ocean because she’s so fond of it? Either way, lucky woman. When I asked her what colors she dislikes or materials she avoids, she responded that she doesn’t know what to do with yellow, beige, maroon/red.  So, of course, I had to sneak in a bit of those colors to see what she’d do with them.

What did I send?

If you follow my blog or social media, you know I make a lot of my own jewelry components from polymer clay and that I tend to get carried away making beads.  I had a pair of polymer scallop shell charms and a starfish connector in my stash that I pulled aside to send to Natalie as the “artisan” components. But they looked sad on their own so I decided to make a “few” other ocean/beach components to keep them company on their long journey across the ocean.  I may have gotten carried away. Because making ocean-themed beads is too fun.

It started with a mermaid tail pendant and grew from there.  Seahorses. Ammonites. Sand dollars. Tentacles. A blue crab (the state crustacean of Maryland, where I currently live).  More starfish (formed into toggle clasps). I also painted a metal octopus connector, based on a blue-spot octopus. After making the components I raided my not-small hoard of gemstone and glass beads to create little packs of accent beads in complementary or coordinating colors.  I found some cotton cording in ocean blues and a length of aluminum chain in aquamarine that absolutely had to be included. Toss in a small selection of fancy lobster claw clasps in assorted metal finishes and suddenly there was a pile too large for any gift container I had on hand.

When I couldn’t find a nice tin or decorative box of an appropriate size at my local craft store, I decided to make one.  Because I can’t possibly put these beady treasures in just any old box, now, can I? Of course not. Inspired by the mermaid tail pendant, I found some vintage mermaid images to decorate an unfinished pine wood box. But before I put the mermaids on the box, I stained the wood with coffee (mmm, smells yummy even though I’m not a coffee drinker), then painted, stenciled, and distressed the box inside and out.  After decoupaging the mermaids and some seashells on, I emboss stamped a couple of seahorses and more seashells, then hot-glued sequin tape and crystals, plus a polymer seashell. I may have gotten carried away using *all* the craft supplies.

With a little shredded paper filling and tissue paper wrapping, the mermaid treasure box was the perfect size to keep all the beady goodness safe for its journey. I was nervous about international mail (heck, I stress over local mail arriving at the proper address – because it often goes astray) so when the tracking information simply showed the package was “delivered in New Zealand” I had visions of a plane flying low over the country while a postal worker tossed packages out at random.  Luckily, the New Zealand postal workers are more conscientious than that and the box arrived safely at Natalie’s home. I can’t wait to visit her blog to see which pieces she used and what she created.

What did I receive?

My swap package from Natalie was wrapped in a beautiful tea towel with colorful New Zealand birds and flowers surrounding a map of the country.  I’ve hung it on the wall in my kitchen where it brightens up the drab white walls (I’m not allowed to paint the walls in my rental and they are all stark chalky white).  It also smells of the locally-made soap she included in my package, which has a delightful fresh scent. There was an adorable kiwi bird keychain, which is currently hanging with the tea towel, and an adorable chalkboard heart ornament that Natalie made.  And chocolate!!!! Natalie sent me a bar of the most divine flavor of Whittaker’s chocolate: Marlborough Sea Salt & Caramel Brittle. Soooo yummy. And of course, there were beads. Lots of beads.

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I made it especially challenging for Natalie to choose what to send me because I don’t use shells in my jewelry and that’s one thing they are known for in New Zealand.  However, Natalie is resourceful and found a lovely pendant made by a local artist from native wood with resin. She included a selection of gemstone beads in serene blues and browns to complement the pendant as well as some gorgeous oxidized copper wire links and clasp.  Swoon. Every part of this selection is so “me” that I’d swear Natalie has known me for ages.

Natalie included a second set of beads, in what I’m calling spring flower colors.  Among them are a couple of charming components made by Natalie. This kit included brass components, silver colored drops, and some plastic coated wire in cheerful bright colors.  In our introductions, I let Natalie know that I use “all the colors” and she included a rainbow of choices. So much to work with and so easy to get carried away making jewelry.

What did I make?

It was my goal to use all of the beads and components in my Swap package. I did not reach that goal, but I managed to use about half before I ran out of time and ideas. I also wanted to limit the use of things from my stash to supporting roles and let what Natalie sent me be the focus of the designs. For some pieces, that meant deviating from my usual style and for others, I was easily in my design comfort zone. I wonder if you can spot which pieces are which?

The silver flower drops were asking to be painted.  Seriously, you should have heard them. So demanding.  I used Vintaj patina paints in cherry blossom colors. The Washington, DC metro area where I live is known for its spring Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place in mid-March to mid-April.  I don’t have any photos of the blossoming trees or associated festivities but I’m certain Google does, if you’re curious. The painted cherry blossom drops were paired with some pink faceted glass beads for a perfect pair of spring earrings.

The brass connector with three owls told me to use it in a bracelet. Who am I to argue with owls?  I used my bracelet bender to give the connector a slight curve. I used some of the blue and green beads in my Swap to make beaded links on antiqued brass wire. I also added the blue and green floral charm made by Natalie.

The component from Natalie that challenged me the most was the coated plastic wire. I use wire a lot in my designs, but it’s generally of the bare metal variety. While I’ve used color-coated wire (copper wire colored with enamel or anodized aluminum wire), I’ve not worked with anything with a thick plastic coating.  Google was of little help as it mostly only showed me projects intended for children. Not that there’s anything wrong with children’s projects. I just don’t happen to have any children. So, I tried to channel my inner child and just doodled with the wire.  It didn’t seem sturdy enough to hold a shape in a piece of jewelry. (How does one work-harden plastic coated wire?) And then I realized I could coil it around thicker wire. So I made coiled wire components and used them for earrings.

It took me a while to figure out how to open the locket back to add something. And even longer to decide on what the something inside the locket should be. Once I decided to use the butterfly coins and some pink and purple beads from the Swap for a beaded chain, it was natural to put the pink butterfly connector Natalie made into the locket. It’s free floating in there with some purple seed beads for company.

The brass dragonfly charms got a Swellegent patina treatment in purple, blue, and green. I paired them with metallic beads for a simple pair of earrings. They may become one of my go-to earrings this summer.

One of the three brown agate coin beads became the pendant on a necklace. I used some of the copper links and creamy beige agate nuggets for the chain. Another copper link attaches the coin pendant to the necklace. And one of the matte amazonite beads is a dangle on the pendant. The back of the necklace is finished with some copper chain from stash and a wire toggle clasp I made.

Saving my favorite piece for last, I made a necklace with the wood and resin pendant in my Swap.  I knew from the moment I opened the package from Natalie that I would pair it with the amazonite beads she sent.  It took me a few weeks to consider the composition and in the end I went with a simple beaded-link chain so as not to distract from the understated beauty of the pendant.  I can tell it’s going to be one of my go-to necklaces to wear because the colors are so me, and go with so many things in my wardrobe. Even if I never make it to New Zealand, I will always have this piece of it thanks to Natalie.

What’s next?

I didn’t manage to use all the beads and components I received (although I did eat all of the chocolate!) I had fun getting carried away with this challenge. I’m off to the Hop to see what Natalie and the other participants sent, received, and created.  You can join us and get carried away by all the eye-candy.  Visit the participants’ blog, instagram, or facebook page listed below.

Linda Anderson @cherryontopdesign <–The woman in charge of the Swap.

Jeanne Parker @silverwoodstudio

Fay Wolfenden

Teri Del Signore  @artisticaos_studio

Natalie Davidson  <–She’s my Swap partner.

Tammy Adams  <–You are here!

Shai Williams

Rozantia Petkova

Kari Asbury facebook.com/kariasburyjewelry/

Sarah Reid @sarahreiddesigns

Robin Reed  facebook.com/artistryhcbd

Divya N

Samantha Jones facebook.com/Arm-Candy-by-Sam-1735179996705639/

Andrea Frank  @andreazeef

Inge von Roos

Lois Sherwood  facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps.

Valarie Dunsmore  facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps.

Marde Lowe @mardel1947

Raquel Rosario  facebook.com/seaglassparadisetreasures

Gloria Allen  facebook.com/GloriaAllenDesigns

Leah Schneider  facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps

Cheri Mitchell-Reed facebook.com/creativedesignsbycheri

Kathy Lindemer

Jennifer Strehler  facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps

Terry Jeanette Carter

Cynthia O’Toole  facebook.com/Sparkles-and-Sweets-211404598956160/

Christina Hickman  @laughingsalmon

Cindy Peterson facebook.com/howlingdogjewelry

Hope Smitherman

Bonnie Robbins  @brobbins_wireandwonder

Sarah Auerbach

Catherine La Vite

Nadine Edris facebook.com/moondancejewelrymaine/

Michelle Marson @ellecountry

Lori Poppe

Kristina Peck

Dora Oresic  facebook.com/nakitich/

Krafty Max

Susanne Stelljes facebook.com/sbeadz/

Penny Houghton @forgottentrack

Naomi Knafla @naomiknafla

Heather Faaborg facebook.com/heather.faaborg

Marcy Roll facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps

Carla Fry @carlafrycreations

Renetha Stanziano

Dain Schlegel facebook.com/daintydesignsco

Tina Hemr @mariecaroldesigns

Kelly Rodgers

Shannon Luthy facebook.com/BeYoutifulBeads207/

Marianne Baxter facebook.com/groups/beadpeeps

Heather Canepa @canepaheather

Sue Wagner facebook.com/SueZeeBracelets/

Deborah Apodaca      

Barbara Harbuck  facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps