Studio Saturday With Jangles

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments!

As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. Last weeks winner is Carolyn, Congratulations! You have won a surprise bead bead from Cindy Gimbrone. Send us an e-mail with your address and we will get it right out to you.

This week we are visiting the studio of Jangles, where Jennifer is trying her hardest to think spring!


Have you had it with winter? I don't know about you but I am ready to be sitting on my porch in the warm sun. This time of year is really hard for me because I am longing for the warm weather and with a chance of snow this weekend(in Georgia!) it's hard to think spring will be here. I have seen hope the baby lambs were born at the farm down the road from me, that's always my sign that things will be getting warmer. Okay, enough about the outside, let's talk about inside my studio.

I just returned from the Buyers Market of American Craft last week. For me this show is always my kick off to the spring season. I know when I get back I will have orders to fill and need to start getting ready for my trunk shows and bead shows. This year, because of my worse than usual spring fever, I added a lot of flowers to my line. Below is a picture of some new pins I made.

I have always enjoyed making flower beads but I have always tried to keep them the same. I decided this year to really push my self and make some new designs, new colors, etc. With ceramic clay, I can think in my head what I think I want it to look like but until it comes out of the kiln and is finished, I just don't know exactly. It's not like a painting where you can keep adding to the layers until you get it right. I have a lot of trial and error in coming up with new work. I would say 99% of the time, I have a new beads in the kiln I am firing, sometimes I like them and other times I don't. So here are some of my flower experiments that I liked.


First of all I had to add some polka dots to my standard flowers I make. I think it's just spunks them up a bit.


I tried some white, for some reason I am in love with white this season. I usually like to add black to my colors schemes but not with this phase I am going through. I think white so much cheerier .


This is a pendant that I made a bit thicker so I could paint the sides, with polka dots.


This is a pendant I made with some texture. I really like how this one turned out, so I think I will try this one in some new colors.
As you can see I have been having some fun in the studio getting some new ideas worked out. To me, spring is a perfect time of the year to start working on new designs. This leads me to this weeks question... What are you working on that's new? Is is new designs? Is it a new display, new color combinations? Leave me a comment in the box and this weeks winner will get one of my new flower beads. Good luck and Happy Saturday!

Jennifer

Fit to Print Book Review - Art Nouveau

Is it possible to be in love with a book? This is one that I have been pouring though for the last few weeks. It's so inspiring! Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau Jewelry and Accessories from Judith Durant and Jean Campbell features 12 projects inspired by the designs of Art Nouveau. Each project has been inspired by a design from the time period, not only paintings but the architecture too which adds depth to some very interesting jewelry elements. Along with the projects, they write about the art work that inspired the piece and offer all sorts of helpful hints and tips along the way.

The projects focus on beadwork, but there are also designs for wire-wrapping and stringing. Most of the beadwork projects are smaller components that would be easy for a beginner to follow along and learn some of the basic techniques. The beaded vase inspired by Gustav Klimt's painting, "The Embrace" is simply amazing!

This would be a great book to use for inspiration. Like our monthly challenges, I'd love to go through each project and create my own design from the Art Nouveau art work. If you look for bead books that offer much more than a how-to, this is one to add to your collection!

Mirror, Mirror...

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, What's the coolest blank of all...
This Mirror Blank is of course!
I stumbled upon this website that makes blank for you to showcase your buttons and beads.
Since I make buttons, I thought this was a great idea. It's a Mirror compact. The area for your button or beadwork is 1 7/8".
This would be perfect as a prize to win at show for customers signing up for your mailing list.
I may have to order some for my next show to see if they sell! Get all the details at ArtCraftWorld.com

It could work!

Oh Frit!

For this month's challenge, I think lampwork frit beads are the perfect art bead for the theme. The frit designs remind me of the flowers on the dress of the woman and at the bottom of the painting. So here are a few of my favorite frit picks:

Sue Beads


Rufus and Roxy
Blue Seraphim

There is still time to enter our monthly challenge, pull out those art beads and join in the fun!

Halstead Grant

Call for Entries - Jewelry Business Development

Grant Deadline: June 17, 2009

Award: $6,000 in start-up cash and materials

No entry fee required

Application details at www.halsteadbead.com/grant

Halstead Bead, Inc. is calling for entries to its fourth annual Business Development Grant competition for new American jewelry designers entering the bridge jewelry trade. The grant will be awarded to a winning candidate in August. All finalists will be eligible for a mentorship program that matches new designers with established and successful jewelry entrepreneurs.

The Halstead Bead Business Development Grant differs from other jewelry industry competitions and awards because of its emphasis on business skills. Entrants must demonstrate not only extraordinary design, but also a strong business strategy.

Designers utilizing a wide variety of fabrication techniques including casting, lampworking, precious metal clay, beading, or metalsmithing are eligible to enter the competition. Candidates must be US citizens who began their businesses after January 1, 2006.

Featured Designer of the Week - Round Rabbit

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week Cindy Gimbrone picked Round Rabbit's bracelet. Cindy noted, "Felt, ribbon, ceramic, and etched metal combine to create a colorful mixture of texture and art beads. Nancy has made her art beads sing in this beautiful bracelet." To see more of Nancy's work visit her blog.

Our theme this month is "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is February 28th! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the February Challenge.

The Desperate ABS Neighborhood

Bringing you all the gossip from the Desperate ABS Neighborhood....

About.com Jewelry Making
It's party time! Mix it up with your own beaded cocktail! Tammy shows you how and what to do with the mess afterwards.

Art Bead Scene
It's cold outside! Get a clasp on things.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe Reviews the fiber jewelry book "Elements of Style"

BeadStyleMag.com
Tips on submitting your work to BeadStyle magazine

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi "repurposes" a belt into a new necklace.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie's finishes her Alchemical Glove costume project: an intricately articulated metal glove constructed of brass filigree and jump rings.

Jewelry & Beading
Combine wirework and embroidery with stringing to make a beautiful one-of-a-kind necklace.

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off an unusual stash acquisition - mammoth bone beads

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares six new earring designs, utilizing some of his favorite artisan made components.

Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, The Desperate ABS Editor.

Studio Saturday: Inspire My Surroundings

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments!

As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. Last weeks winner is Dale, Congratulations! You have won a heart tile bead bead from Lynn Davis. Send us an e-mail with your address and we will get it right out to you.

Cindy Gimbrone opens up her jewelry making studio today after a bit of a hiatus....



I'm in the process of cleaning and re-organizing my jewelry making studio/office. It's a big chore - but the time has come. I was reading a blog the other day that said your studio should be inspiring. Since I was sitting in my jewelry studio, I took a look around.....





I don't think the blogger was talking about my studio - white plastic is much like the British-roots cuisine my mother used to feed us - bland. So, in true DIY/recycle/reuse spirit, I tramped through 4 different second hand stores today looking for something to help me organize my studio yet inspire me. I came across the ivory female bust. Although she isn't a container of any kind, I love her look and brought her home.

So dear readers, today's question is - what DIY/recycle/reuse ideas do you have to help me infuse inspiration into my jewelry making studio/office decor?

Please share your ideas by leaving a comment and be entered to win a free surprise bead from me! I look forward to reading your ideas!

collar

col•lar: anything worn or placed around the neck.

Collars are very interesting pieces of adornment. When I typed "collar" into etsy I experienced a vast array of necklaces that varied in size, style and materials.
Here are some examples of what I found...

by BlingsAndThings

by irregularexpressions

by cindiesmithdesigns

by TotusMel

by VIRR Couture

by Bella Beads Studio

Share your collars with us!

Beading Poster

I found this poster that would be helpful for beaders and some of our readers.
Designed by Rosanne at Beaded Phoenix.

From Roseanne's website:

"I designed the BEAD & STRING REFERENCE CHART & TIPS BROCHURE because I had my own personal need for this type of product. I needed something I could look at easily, so I could get vital information fast and hands free while designing jewelry, or teaching a bead class. As soon as students and fellow bead artists saw this product, they wanted one for their own use. I love to help folks learn beadwork, and this product is a result of that."
Rosanne Andreas-Author of "Beaded Phoenix Bead & String Reference Chart Poster Set.

NO MORE GUESSING AT:
What size beads should I buy?
What kind of stringing material should I buy?
What kind of needles should I use?
How many beads will I need?
What size do I create the piece?
Is that a treated Gemstone?

ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE WILL BE ANSWERED ONCE YOU OWN "BEADED PHOENIX BEAD & STRING REFERENCE CHART POSTER SET".

Take the mystery out of understanding beading supplies. Spend less time wondering what you need, and more time in producing a quality piece of bead work.

*Poster is shown in Black&White but comes in color.

Bead Buying Tips

My favorite thing in the world is to bead shop, you are probably the same! As luck would have it, the Rings & Things trunk show is the week I return from the Bead Cruise. I can't wait to go stock up on my favorites!

I read on Marcia Decoster's blog, a little bead shopping tip that I wanted to share with you. Before she went to Tuscon she made a visual shopping list with the beads she is looking for, labeled in little plastic baggies and attached together with a ring. You can check out her post and photo here.

You may be headed off to one of the big shows this spring or summer, so here is a link to Ms. Bead-It-All's guide to shop til you drop!

This is Tacky - Portable Workstation

Those little tiny beads won't go anywhere with
Tacky BOB (Box fOr Beads) hanging around!
These little cases (about the size of a CD case) are lined with acid-free tack.
Pour your beads in the case and you can bead on the run without the fear of your beads spilling everywhere.

Featured Designer of the Week - Lorelei Eurto

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week Lynn Davis picked Lorelei Eurto's Kiss Necklace. Lynn noted, "The gold brass etched bead, the unusual configuration of the structure, and the colors - a different and special interpretation of the inspirational picture by Klimt. Very original and inspirational use of art beads - can think of several that would be good in a similar arrangement. Brilliant!" To see more of Lorelei's work visit her blog.

Our theme this month is "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is February 28th! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the February Challenge.

The Desperate ABS Neighborhood

Bringing you all the gossip from the Desperate ABS Neighborhood....

About.com Jewelry Making
Is Etsy passe' for jewelry designers? Is it time to move on? Google seems to think so.

Art Bead Scene
A kiss inspires the ABS monthly challenge.

BeadStyleMag.com
A great new way to share our free earring project e-newsletters with your friends.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi recreates a vintage embroidered brooch using hand sewn linens.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie is touched by the golden fingertips of creativity, in part two of her earworm inspiration journey

Jewelry & Beading
Using a bead frame, you can create a special necklace.

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie's spreading the beady love with free shipping and a CRYSTALLIZED™ jet twist pendant with your purchase of the new book, Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed, from her website. Offer ends Thursday, Feb. 19th.

Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
The amazing Margot Potter is coming out with a new book, Beyond the Bead, by Margot Potter--next week! Read all about it, here!

Strands of Beads
Melissa ponders how the jewelry of one's youth informs a designer's style.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
On the heels of a trip to Tucson, Andrew shares a glimpse inside the annual Swarovski Party.

Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, The Desperate ABS Editor.

Studio Saturday Harmony and Melody

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments!

As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. Last weeks winner is Beadliotheque, Congratulations! You have won a Van Gogh cuff bead from Heather Powers at Humblebeads. Send us an e-mail with your address and we will get it right out to you.

Welcome to my studio, this week it's color box frenzy. I'm having a creative blowout with colors and three-dimensional bead shapes.

To be honest, I'm not certain they are only beads, they are growing more sculptural and rising up from the bead table. This is the newest one, it's called 'Sweet Dreamer' and shows a rainbow-like box with its wings folded, at least in rest if not actually dreaming.

I've been having lots of random words pop into my mind lately, and so I've been interpreting them into beads and just letting the creative notions pop out and surprise me. I wish I were the sort of designer or creator that makes meticulous drawings and does color sketches of things before I get started, but I usually start with some materials in front of me, and just let my hands go and make something.


This top view shows the lid of the ornate dream reliquary, with the dreamer's visions coloring and radiating on it. I started to put the words 'Sweet Dreams' on the side of the vessel, but it somehow changed from being about the dreams to being about the dreamers themselves, that they inhabit the little reliquary in their sleeping and dreaming moments, so I added the words 'Sweet Dreamer' instead.


The lid is tightly sealed, to contain all the beautiful thoughts and ideas contained inside, with the notion that when the sleeper wakes, the wings would open and spread to fly through the imagination of the waking dreamer's mind.

The worktable in the studio is spread and waits, with colors and unformed shapes to be made, thanks for dropping by the studio to see what's going on and joining me in considering how creativity happens and grows. The process is mysterious and wonderful!

So here's the thought-provoking question for this week:

Do you get inspirations for your designs from your dreams? And do you dream in color, and remember your dreams vividly? Or do your dreams wake you up in the night with an idea that you must jot down so you don't lose it?

How does your creativity influence or receive influence from your dreamer's imagination, tell your story and leave a comment for a chance to win a colorful heart bead tile from Lynn Davis for Valentine's Day!

Earthenwood "Arteria Arcanum Pendant" Tutorial

I designed this plain metallic ceramic heart pendant so that I could make it fancy with a Vintaj brass filigree wrap to cover it. I didn't really have a plan on how to do so at the time, so that took some experimenting, lots of experimenting! I love the end result, an art deco inspired pendant that I call Arteria Arcanum. I want to share with you the steps I use to create these pendants, and encourage you to play with some brass to wrap art beads and pendants on your own!

(above) The raw materials, 1 metallic heart, 1 brass Deco window filigree, 1 brass swooping swallow bird pendant, and 2 brass etched jump rings. Just a few simple things to make an elaborate looking artwork!

(above) I first place the bird pendant on top of the heart, with the head of the bird nestled into the central cleavage area of the heart.

(above) Using just my fingers, I wrap the wings around one side of the heart, to hug it in place firmly. Shown here are the front and the back sides of the same step.

(above) The most important thing to remember for this pendant is to be symmetrical. This step involves matching the other side of the bird wing to the first side, bending it around the heart so that the bird pendant fully and closely grasps the heart and the wings meet in the back. Again, I used just my fingers to bend the pendant around the heart, but if you need to, you can also use pliers to help you bend the metal.

(above) The Deco window filigree shown next to a fun tool available from Vintaj: a pair of Bale Making Pliers. The pliers have two straight cylindrical sides, in two different sizes. Perfect for making rings and bending filigree evenly.

(above) Set the Deco window between the pliers at the center of the filigree, on the wider half of the pliers. Fold the filigree in half, leaving a large curve at the center (where the pliers are), with the goal of the two pointed ends of the filigree meeting lining up (but they should not touch yet, you are just preparing for them to line up later)

(above) Slip the heart, with the bird pendant in place, into the Deco window. Pull up, letting the bird wings catch on the two side arms of the window. You may need to adjust and keep pulling up, to center and balance the two pieces of metal. The goal is to have the two side loops on each side of the Deco window line up so that the jump rings can be inserted.

(above) Using the Bale Making Pliers, press the two tips of the Deco window pendant together. The goal, again, is to get the side loops to meet, front and back, so that the jump rings can be inserted. There will be a slight gap between the two sides of the Deco window, even at the tip, but they should match up as symmetrically as possible, front and back.

(above) Open a jump ring with two pairs of chain nose pliers and insert in the front and back loops of the Deco window. Close tightly. Repeat on other side. It is the jump rings that hold the whole thing together, forming the connection that cages the bird pendant and Deco window in place. You can attach chain or cording to the rings themselves, or you can string through the rings and the center of the brass over the heart.

Visit Melanie at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles blog, where she shows an idea for stringing this pendant into a necklace! You can find finished Arteria Arcanum Pendants for sale in the Earthenwood Etsy shop.

Melanie Brooks is the ceramic beadmaker behind Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.

Join in the fun!

Maybe you've just stumbled upon the Art Bead Scene or you may be a frequent lurker (someone who visits without leaving a comment), you love the blog and want to be a part of the community here on the ABS.

Here are a few tips for getting noticed or partnering with our blog.

1. If you are a jewelry designer, the best thing is to leave a comment if you like a particular post. Our readers will probably stop by your blog to see what you create. If you don't have a blog, you can still open a blogger account with your bio and website links.

2. Post an entry to our monthly challenge. We want to inspire you and hope you'll share your work with us! You might even be picked as our featured Designer of the Week.

3. Join us every Saturday for our free bead giveaway. All you need to do is leave a comment on the Studio Saturday post.

4. Share the scoop! If you know of an upcoming event, new product or have a topic you'd like to see us cover here, send me a little note about it. I'd love to hear from you.

If you are a beadmaker, author, or a bead-related company the best thing to do is send a quick email as an introduction. If you'd like to be a sponsor for our monthly challenge, again just a short email to let me know you are interested. Please don't send attachments. All emails sent to the suggestion box are delivered to me, Heather - the Art Bead Scene editor.

The Bead Biz-A Quick and Easy Display Idea

I am getting ready for the Buyers Market of American Craft this week. I always like to make my display a little different each year. This year I have made a major change going from all black to all white display pieces. Of course, I didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I thought I would share with you one of my quick and easy display pieces for bracelets that I made this year.

It's a small felt pillow for bracelets. I took a 6 inch square piece of felt and sewed around three of the sides. I added a little stuffing. I didn't add a lot because I wanted the weight of the bracelet to sink into the pillow so it wouldn't slide off. Next, I sewed up the last side. I can see a lot of different options for these. For instance, they could be bigger for necklaces or smaller for earrings. You could make them out of a burlap for a more earthy feel or satin for a more sophisticated look. The skies the limit. The best part is they are light weight and they aren't going to break.

This post was written by Jennifer Heynen of Jangles.

Clasping Your Shawl, It's Cold Outside

Recently I've noticed that many beaders and bead-makers also seem to do some sort of stitchwork, either knitting or crochet. It got me thinking about the history of knitted clothing and closures, and how we can combine our art beads with our wearables.

In ancient times, clothing was unstructured. No zippers, snaps or clips, and for a long time no buttons. Drawstrings and pull-ties were often used to secure clothing.

Shawls and loose, unstructured wraps were worn for warmth and secured by a straight, metal shawl or scarf pin. This is a picture of a bronze shawl pin from the late Incan period in the collection of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. That's a long time ago!

It was found in the area where elite upperclass women brewed a drink from a pepper tree berry, found in the floor mixed in ash from the boiling fires, so maybe they were lost during the work of creating the brew and fell into the fire. Or maybe too much frolicking was going on.

We can still make and wear shawl or scarf pins, out of metal wire and ornamented by beads, just to decorate and accessorize with them.

They can be cast in glass, or beaded with wirework - and no matter how they are made, they are fun to wear.

You can easily add an art bead to the end of a hairstick or ornate chopstick for the part that goes through your knitted fabric.

This photo is a shawl pin based on the 8th century Irish brooch now in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Now that's ornate!

Another type of closure for clothing that can still be found in use is the Roman fibula or clasp pin. They can be seen in disk and S shapes, and the design is very ancient.

Here's a beautiful scarf pin in the kilt pin shape made by Melanie of Earthenwood Studios, using art beads to ornament it.

This is one of the free projects from the 12 Days of Christmas series, but it's useful to have a scarf pin all winter so give it a try and make some for yourself!

Put those art beads to work, decorating your scarves and shawls as you wrap up for warmth against the lingering winter weather.

Featured Designer of the Week - Peacock Fairy

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week I choose Peacock Fairy's Kiss Cuff Bracelet. I love the mix of colors in the accent beads that tie in perfectly to the art bead. The construction is very unusual with vintage watchbands as the back half of the bracelet. I love the vintage redux style! To see more of Heather's (peacockfairy) work visit her blog.

Our theme this month is "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is February 28th! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the February Challenge.