Melissa Rappaport

Bead soup finale

2011-09-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come! It's bead soup reveal day, and I'm so excited to show everyone what I've created. Before I reveal my necklace, I'd like to show you what my bead soup partner, Mags Saari had sent me.

She sent me beautiful pearls, shell pearls, sterling silver toggle and an interesting purple focal. I decided to make a beautiful charm necklace to showcase these pretty beads, and I have to say I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I'd like to thank Lori once again for hosting this amazing bead soup swap-THANK YOU LORI! To check out the rest of the bead soup please click this link-lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com.

Bead Soup Reveal!

2011-08-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Since I know my bead soup partner has received her goodies, I've decided to post what I had sent her! I sent her a wonderful strand of hematite rounds, with a beautiful owl toggle from green girls studio, a gorgeous focal from Humblebeads, some coordinating beads from Humblebeads, lampwork beads from blueseraphim, and some pretty czech glass and vintage glass beads.

I was really excited when I received my package from Maags! She had sent me some really pretty strands of pearls, some swarovski crystals, shell pearls, a really pretty silver thai toggle, an interesting purple focal, and some ribbon. In her note she wrote that she saw that I don't use pearls in alot of my work, so she decided to send me some and challenge me! I definitely will be challenged with this I think! But I'm very excited what the end product will be.

(Please excuse the TERRIBLE pictures. I was unable to find my camera at the time, and all I had was my iphone! I will try and take some better pictures for my final product!)

Bead Soup Blog Party August 2011

2011-08-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take part of Lori Anderson's AMAZING Bead Soup Blog Party, and I'm so excited! The last Bead soup I did was so enjoyable that I decided to sign up once again! Lori's idea of bringing people who share the same love of beads from around the world is so wonderful, and I look forward to making some new jewelry friends, and finding many more blogs to add to my list. I love the challenge of putting together a wonderful design using a surprise focal, special clasp and coordinating beads. Here's a little teaser picture of what I sent my bead soup partner. I hope she enjoys it and finds inspiration from everything I sent her.

My partner is the lovely Mags Saari of http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com. Check out her blog to see what I had sent her, and what wonderful piece of jewelry she has made out of it.

Thanks again Lori for making this possible.

I Love The Noisy Plume

2010-08-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

There is something so special about Jillian Lukiwiski's jewelry. The designs are gorgeous and the craftmanship is absolutely AMAZING. Buying a piece of jewelry is always fun and interesting. If you want a piece of Jillian's jewlery, you MUST sit by your computer and keep refreshing her etsy page. The second she lists anything, it sells!! Sometimes it goes so fast it never shows up listed. I've been lucky to "win" two pieces of her beautiful earrings: Circus earrings-Spanish Influenza

Specimen Earrings-Understanding the Sun
I have to say that she is my favorite jewelry designer, and I feel honored to own anything she makes.

BIRTHDAY SALE!!!!!!

2010-07-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

All today EVERYTHING in my shop is 50% off! Take advantage of it!

New items in shop!

2010-07-05T14:36:00.001-07:00

These necklaces have been updated in my shop. I had really enjoyed making these. I wire wrapped each and every bead making these bead chains myself. I know they sell them in some bead stores, but I actually found it really calming. After taking care of a 10 month old all day, it's nice to just sit and make all this. Hope you like them!

The Winner is.....

2010-07-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

And the winner for my bead soup creation is..............EMERALD WINDOW! Sorry for announcing the winner so late, life has been a bit hectic. Thank you to everyone who left a comment for this giveaway!

My Bead Soup Creation

2010-06-23T17:08:00.001-07:00

The blog party has begun!! My Bead Soup partner Suzann Sladcik Wilson (www.beadphoria.wordpress.com) gave me such a pretty combination of beads. I loved all the purples and grays and had such a great time making this piece. At first I wasn't sure where I was going with all these beads. I would put my design all together on my bead board, and then keep starting over. I started out making this a two strand necklace, but some how it turned into a very long one strand necklace. I loved the focal bead so much that I thought this is how it would stand out the most. I want to have a giveaway for this necklace, so anyone who would like to participate just leave a comment and follow my blog and I will pick a winner June 28. Thank you Lori Anderson (www.prettythingsblog.com) for having the bead soup party, I had so much fun and can't wait for the next one!

The Best Giveaway EVER!

2010-06-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

I have to say, I want this stash of beads! Denise Yezbak Moore is giving away all these beautiful beads! Go over to her blog and enter!

Baker Boys

2010-06-17T20:39:00.001-07:00

If anyone out there lives in the chicagoland area I highly suggest you stop by The Baker Boys. It is a neighborhood bakery owned and operated by my brother Jordan Rappaport and his good friend Pete Rauser. It is located at 733 St. Johns Ave in Highland Park Illinois and is open Monday-Saturday from 7 in the morning to 9 at night. The bakery features all homemade frozen custards, cookies, cupcakes, cheesecakes and much much more. All items are made fresh daily, and so very delicious!

And the winner is..................

2010-06-14T07:21:00.000-07:00

Cindy Doleza from cindydolezaldesigns.blogspot.com. Congrats Cindy, please email (yssimee7@yahoo.com) me your address and I will send your bracelet out right away. Enjoy! I will be having many giveaways, so check out my blog regularly. Thanks!

2010-06-08T17:10:00.001-07:00

I've decided to have a giveaway! Who doesn't love winning free stuff!?!? Up for grabs is one of my bead crochet bracelets. The bracelet is made with sterling silver beads and finished with a sterling silver and garnet box clasp. The bracelet fits up to a 6 3/4 inch wrist. If you would like additional chances to win, each time you complete one of the following from the list below, your name will be added for multiple entries to the giveaway.

1. Follow my blog!

2. Leave a comment telling me you are now following!

3. Become a fan on my facebook page!

The winner will be picked June 14, 2010

The Bead Fairy

2010-06-04T19:57:00.001-07:00

My very own bead fairy paid me a visit! I was playing around on the computer this morning with Bella in her excersaucer when I heard the faintest knock on my door. I looked through the peep hole and didn't see anyone so I thought someone must be door bell ditching me! I opened the door and I found a bag on the door handle! Inside of it were beads galore! My bead partner Suzann gave me such a nice surprise this morning! Thank you so much Suzann!!!!!! You really spoiled me!

My Beautiful Egg Beads

2010-06-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

I couldn't be happier! The egg beads that I ordered from kelleysbeads are finished and ready to be shipped! They are so beautiful and I can't wait to hold them! Yes, I do have a strange obsession with beads.... I love buying artisan beads and knowing that the person has put their sweat and tears into their work. And looking at the pictures, Kelley has definitely worked her butt off on these beads! Thank you so much!!

New items in shop!

2010-06-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Bead Soup Party

2010-06-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I found this great blog lorianderson.blogspot.com, and she had created this wonderful idea for a bead swap. The whole idea of this group is to bring people together who share a common interest which is their love for beads. People from all over the world are partnered up to trade beads, and then make something beautiful from their treasures. The bead soup consists of sending your partner a focal piece, some coordinating beads, and a special clasp. This is a little teaser of what I sent my partner Suzann Sladcik Wilson who owns beadphoriaboutique.com. I can't wait to receive my package!

2010-05-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

I just want to show you some of the wonderful beads that I've received lately!

Thank you Ornamentea!
Thanks Humblebeads!
Thanks Missficklemedia!

Bella Shadow box

2010-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Since my move, I've been going through box after box finding so many things and wondering what to do with it all. Through my clutter I found a shadowbox I bought from IKEA years ago. Since I wanted some more of my art around the house I decided to do something with it. I first covered the edges of the box with vintage pages, and wiped some blue paint on all of the pages. I then stamped it using my checker stamp in gold, and made black and white squares on the front. I took the cardboard frame and painted it a light pink. At this point I really had no idea how it was going to turn out. I just wanted to add layers, and hoped something would look right. After I painted it pink I decided to stamp it with my new word stamp. It looked really blah and I wanted to cover it up, but I didn't know with what. I started spraying different inks on it trying to make it look vintagey.....and I actually liked what I was seeing. I blotted it with a paper towel and kept spraying and blotting until I liked it. I framed the cardboard frame with vintage german paper and added some fun pieces I had collected for projects like this. I of course knew which picture I wanted in the frame. We had dressed Bella in an old bonnet and dress that I wore when I was a baby. She looked so adorable in it, and looked exactly as I did when I was her age. I placed the picture in hot water for about 15 seconds, and took some sand paper to it around the edges to give it an older feel. I added a little more paint and stamps, and I was done!

Fun with Resin

2010-05-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Lately I've really liked adding charms to my jewelry, and I've been hunting online for different charms and pendants, and found some BEAUTIFUL ones that I loved. Many were really reasonably priced, but then there were some that were kind of pricey. With jewelry making, every little thing adds up such as: the focal bead, filler beads, chain, wire, clasp etc. I really do love buying artisan beads and pendants, but I decided that I might like to try something new and make my own. I went to Michael's to go buy the resin (for future reference, ask the sales people for epoxy NOT resin, or they will send you on a wild goose chase). I went home and excitedly tore through all my scrapbook papers. I picked some papers I thought would look nice, and I then added a couple charms in the bezels, and was ready to put in the resin. I mixed the solutions half and half and then took my daughters old medicine dropper and filled that with the resin. I carefully added enough resin to the bezels and came out with this!

New items in my store

2010-05-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Bead Soup Party

2010-05-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to be one of the participants in the bead soup blog party! I happened to be checking some of my favorite people's blogs, and came across this! I can't wait to see who I'm paired up with, and all the goodies that come with it. I now need to go through my bead stash and put together a fabulous package for my partner!

I'm back to beading!!

2010-05-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

I'm back to beading!! For the past eight months my life consisted of taking care of a new baby. Now that Bella is older, I am able to start my art and jewelry making again! We finally moved into our new place, and I was able to unpack all my art supplies, and make myself a little art room. The best part was being able to have my beads all in one place (and not in storage) and starting to create again. I've been obsessively cleaning out my bead bins, and making sure each bead has its own place.

Here are some of my new pieces.