Green Girl Studio Winner!

Okay, so you have been waiting all day, right? The winner is Nancy aka BagLady! Congrats Nancy, please email me your address.

A huge thanks to everyone who spread the word, that was by far our most popular giveaway. Not surprising - who doesn't love Green Girl? They go with just everything! And a big thanks to Green Girl Studios for sharing such a great prize with us.

It was wonderful to hear from so many readers who are little shy about commenting. We LOVE comments here on the ABS and we LOVE hearing from our readers. Thanks for supporting our blog. (Yes, I got a little excited there!)

Featured Designers of Week

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

A necklace came through flickr last night and I couldn't ignore it. It really deserves a feature. Once again it's the end of the month and I am picking two beautiful pieces.

This week Tari Sasser picked Summer Sunami by Heather Pyle.

Tari noted, "I was so intrigued by this piece and realistic polymer clay shell. The swirling handmade polymer beads, coral and shell it's perfect for this months challenge." To see more of Heather's work please visit her Etsy store.

I also had to feature a necklace by Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit.

Nancy was trying to keep up with Tari and procrastinating. Nancy's necklace was posted Sunday evening and it is so unique it deserves to be a part of Monday's feature.

"The necklace used the shapes, colors and movement of this months challenge. I am in awe of it's uniqueness I think it should be worn on a Runway somewhere in New York or Paris."

To see more of Nancy's work please visit her Etsy store.

Want to see your work featured on the Art Bead Scene? Our theme for the month of August is Great Wave off of Kanagawa by Hokusai Katsushiki. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is August 31th! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the August Challenge.

Sunday with Cindy

Good morning, Beady Readers! Wondering what's going on in the bead and jewelry world? Take a peek at our links and see.....

A Bead A Day
Have you ever used sterling silver curly-Q tubes in your jewelry designs?? Lisa is searching for cool ideas for these adorable tubes.

About.com Jewelry Making
Do you use blogging to promote your jewelry business? Tammy has some thoughts for you on this.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene expands the editorial staff and welcomes Lorelei Eurto!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses shrink plastic to make a neat little bracelet.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
What do bronze and rawhide have in common? Cindy explains how she uses both in her studio.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Check out this unusual call for entries the Crafty Princess found for Momiji doll lovers.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows off some fun experiments that she has seen coming out of her studio, mixing copper and pewter

Jewelry & Beading
Looking ahead to the fall, Cyndi shows how to make a new necklace called "Autumn Arbor".

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is hosting a Necklace Round Robin, but you have to leave a comment to be entered to win a spot!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Beadfest Philadelphia was packed with talented artisans and bead-makers. See what Andrew picked out!

Studio Saturday with Creative Impressions In Clay

Geisha Buttons ©

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 BellaJoya Congratulations! You have won one of Jangles New Links from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

I just can't get the song "Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so..." out of my head.

OK, so I'm a bit warped. We warped ones are what make your world interesting.

These new buttons go with the genre of this month's Challenge. Unfortunately they are not that new in my studio. I am embarrassed to say how long they have been hanging around. They have finally been glazed and I fired them last night. Nothing like being on top of things.

My friend requested Geisha buttons for a knitting project she was working on. I'm sure it's been done for quite a while and she has moved on to many more knitting adventures.

There always seem to be more pressing things that need to get done; making& filling orders, kids, husband, grandkids, making&filling orders and making&filling orders.

These should never been put off this long. I'm sorry Kristine, I will mail them this week.

The colors turned out great with the boldness of the red and contrast of the yellow. Background color is a light celadon, which needed to be a muted color so the design and other colors would stand out.

The "Procrastination Queen" question this week is:

:: What project has been sitting around your studio and for how long? ::

Leave a comment and you could win the Round Geisha design shown above as a Pendant.

© Tari Sasser :: Creative Impressions In Clay

Best of the ABS: Recycle a Tomato Cage: Alternative Use of Art Beads

Recycling is gaining popularity. Most of us wouldn't think recycling and art beads go together but I created a garden sculpture doing just that in this 2007 ABS post....

I've been staring at an old tomato cage for a few months. It looked like a tree, it was asking me to make something from it. I had to think, though. I'm a rabid recycler but my weakness is that I ALWAYS think I can re-use something - even when it's broken beyond repair. But this tomato cage wouldn't let me send it to the curb. I finally figured out what it wanted to be - a beaded garden sculpture! I've been keeping those pretty beads that weren't saleable in a bowl in the studio. No one is allowed to take them - well, ok, maybe I've let a few kids take them - but they're just not up to the standards I have for saleable items. They're little pieces of art, though, and I just couldn't bear to put them into the glass garbage.

I think the beads whispered to the tomato cage - "let's work together." I know, I know, the beads don't talk and neither does the tomato cage, but sometimes art does have a way of speaking to us. Does it speak to you?

Handy Size Chart

I thought I'd share this handy little chart that I printed out, laminated and keep next to my computer. It's a size chart for cabochons but I use it when I'm buying beads online and want a quick reference to what exactly 15mm looks like in real life! I also use the chart when I'm writing up project instructions or listing items on Etsy.

Download the free chart from Fire Mountain Gems & Beads.

Green Girl Studios Giveaway!

The good folks over at Green Girl Studios sent us this awesome little collection of mermaid charms and pendants as a fun giveaway for our readers! How perfect, since waves and the ocean are this month's inspiration. This giveaway is separate from our monthly challenge. In fact we are making it so easy to win, everyone has a chance!

How can I win that sweet stash?
Your name can be entered into our drawing twice.

One entry: leave a comment to this post. Yep, it's that easy!

A bonus entry: blog, facebook or twitter about this post and leave a comment to let us know you did the deed!

I will draw one random name on Monday. So you have until Sunday night to enter.

You know those beads are calling your name!

Did you know that Green Girl Studio's is hosting a mixed media design contest to celebrate the release of Cynthia's book, Enchanted Adornments?

Here are the details, deadline is October 1st.

And don't forget:

You have 5 days left to enter Soft Flex's Flex Your Creativity contest featuring their Trios wire combinations. Deadline is September 1st!

Enter the Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge to win bead from Elaine Ray and Patty Lakinsmith. Deadline is August 31st.

And spaces are filling up on the Bead Cruise, don't get left behind! Grab those beads and head to the high seas for 7 days of beading fun with me and our instructors: Melanie Brooks, Margie Deebs, Barb Switzer, Bevelry Herman and Mary Hettmansperger. Visit the website for all the details.

Earthenwood + Fusion = Great Fall Beads!

If you've been following along on former ABS editor Melanie Brooks' blog, you've probably seen a glimpse into the production of beads that she has created for Fusion Beads. Fusion is a great source for art beads, offering limited edition collections and best sellers from some of your favorite artists. I'm happy to see Melanie's beads among their inventory.

Check our her kooky line of Spooky Head beads, great for Halloween, and her steampunk inspired collection in a beautiful array of colors perfect for autumn designs. They have an awesome free project using her Steam Stones that you should check out!

Bead Fest: Philadelphia

You'll probably end up seeing many different posts about Bead Fest: Philadelphia, all around the blogosphere this week. I wanted to share some of my loot with you today. Although I went to Bead Fest with the intention of NOT buying a boatload of Art Beads, I was not very successful.

I can't help it! Bead Fest is probably one of the best places to stock up on art beads! There were so many great artisans there selling their handmade beads.

I stuck to some tried and true favorites like Green Girl Studios and Bob Burkett pewter beads and components, and Marsha Neal Studios ceramic buttons and bobbles. I also snagged some beads from some new peeps, like these enamel metal components from C-Koop Beads. I can't wait to start putting these beauties into some jewelry designs. I picked up a few pieces from Kristie Roeder, of Artisan Clay, a couple of her smoke fired beads, and a Fall inspired ceramic connector with gorgeous leaf colors. And then after I was all done shopping, I spotted and fell head over heels for this sweet little Shibuichi bee charm from Leanne Hartman, at the Pumpkin Hill Beads booth. Look how sweet he is! I might have to keep him for myself.

All in all, it was a total blast, and well worth the Philadelphia traffic, pouring rain, and uncomfy Sleep Number bed. I got to meet in person some fabulous people such as my roommate and partner in crime, Kelley Wenzel of KelleysBeads. And walked away with a huge stash of new beads! If you didn't get a chance to make it to the show, I would put it on your calendar for next year and I'll see you there!

Written by Lorelei Eurto

See more of my work at my Etsy shop, and check out my blog!

Designer of the Week

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

This week Jennifer Heynen has picked the August ABS submission created by Katie Nelson. The focal bead was created by Gwacie Beads.

Jennifer said this about Making Waves 2:

"I love the variation in the blues of the beads crochet. It looks exactly like ocean waves. I can tell Katie has spent quite a bit if time at the ocean, it is reflected in this piece."

Katie's work can be seen at her flickr page.

Want to see your work featured on the Art Bead Scene? Our theme for the month of August is a Japanese Woodcut Design titled Great Wave Off of Kanagawa by Hokusai Katsushiki - it's a classic. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is August 31st! Click the link to get all the rules and information on how to submit your work.

Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the August Challenge. The winner gets some fabulous prizes!

Sunday with Cindy

Good morning, Beady Readers! Wondering what's going on in the bead and jewelry world? Take a peek at our links and see.....

A Bead A Day
Creating a "tiara" for your wrist is easy using Jill MacKay beading components and bicone crystals.

About.com Jewelry Making
Check out my beautifully organized list of mixed-media book reviews and find the perfect book to help you mix up your jewelry making.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gets green findings at the local re-use store.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a short demo on how she came up with a contest entry.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
What do bronze and rawhide have in common? Cindy explains how she uses both in her studio.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie contemplates taking risks, making changes, and creative experimentation to prevent art burnout.

Jean Campbell
Jean whips up a pair of funky Steampunky earrings; you can make them, too!

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi wants to know, what's the best thing you've made so far this summer?

Katie's Beading Blog
Check out Katie's upcoming workshops!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Take a peek into Lorelei's studio and see some cool bead storage solutions!

Strands of Beads
Melissa reveals her Use the Muse II Entry, "Briar Rose"

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Come join the fun in Philadelphia this weekend at Beadfest! Stop by the Green Girl Studios booth to say hello to Andrew and check out all the great new things available!!!

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 Congratulations, Kiwiken ! You have won one of Cindy's White Frost Links. Send Cindy an e-mail and she will get it right out to you.



Welcome to the Studio of Jangles and Studio Saturday!

Hi everyone! My studio Saturday post is the time every month when I sit down and look at what I have been working on. I think about what's new in the studio. This time around, when I thought about whats new I came up with the answer of everything! My children have gone back to school so I am back on a regular work day schedule instead of my summer hours which are whenever I can cram it in. The new schedule makes me excited to create new work and just to clear up the list of things I have put on the back burner. There is just something about the fall that makes me want to turn over a new leaf. Ha!, get it? New leaf. Okay, maybe I have had to much coffee already.

First things, first I finally got a facebook page. I got called out at the Art Bead Scene last month for not having one. I avoided it for as long as I could, but now that I am on there. I have to admit it's a lot of fun. I am still learning things and I still have to set up my fan page but for my first week, I think I am doing all right. My name is Jennifer Heynen Jangles just in case you want to be my friend. (Sorry, I haven't figure out how to link to my page.)

These beads above are new. I am calling them embellishments because I have been using them a lot in craft projects and mixed media projects lately. However they are glazed on both sides and have a hole through the middle so technically they are still beads. I have a project in Creative Jewelry with one of them. I also have a project with them in the new issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

When I first started making beads I only made them for my jewelry. Eventually I started just selling the beads. But the point is, I have had a line of jewelry and small gifts that I sell to gallery and artisan shops for the past nine years. Stores are starting to place their fall and winter orders so I have been filing lots of orders for the stores. This is one of the little flowers vases I make.

New links were also added to the website this week. I have wanted to make smaller links for awhile, it was the first thing on my list when the boys got back to school. Above is a bracelet and below is a necklace made with the link beads.

As you can see I am busy and quite happy to be busy again. I love summer but I love this time of the year. I feel like I get so much accomplished when the little munchkins get back to school. Tell me about your fall ambitions....what's on your to-do list or what have you been working on? Leave me a comment and one of you will be chosen randomly to win a pair of my new links.

Happy Saturday!
Jennifer
Jangles

Welcome Lorelei Eurto

I'd like to welcome the newest member of the Art Bead Scene, our dear friend Lorelei Eurto. A talented and prolific jewelry designer, we are looking forward to having Lorelei share her finds and inspirations with us here on the ABS. Lorelei is an art bead fanatic and one of our long-time readers. We are excited to have her join the team!

To see more of Lorelei's work visit her etsy shop and follow her inspiring blog!

Beady Back Track: Creative Jewelry

In all the excitement about Creative Jewelry, we forgot to add that ABS editor, Cindy Gimbrone's one of a kind art beads are incorporated into one of the projects in the magazine: Sara Graham's bracelet design entitled Creamsicle on page 133 - a perfect summer confection for your wrist!

It's always exciting to see the ABS editors' work in print along side other inspired and creative work. Sara's design is just one of the many projects incorporating handmade art beads. We look forward to seeing more of Creative Jewelry!

Buttons, Buttons...

Buttons have been around for a very long time and have a history that dates back to 3000 BC. They did not gain popularity and functionality as we know them till 1250 AD. My favorite website giving the history of buttons is Lands End. Think about how many items you own that use a button. What used to be an art for many is still carried on by some artists today. Different mediums are still used to make these wonderful little ornaments. Buttons can and have been made in every medium you can image.

Here are only a few examples.

Earthenware with underglazes by Tari Sasser of Creative Impressions In Clay

Earthenware with underglazes by Jennifer Heynen of Jangles

Natural Wood Buttons by Jenn at The Button Shop

Shrink Plastic Buttons by Elsita (Elsa Mora)

Polymer Clay button by Laura Timmins of Go Head Over Heels

Enamel Cloisonne Button by terrabea's

Though buttons no longer indicate a rank or status as they once did, many collect and covet buttons.

Have you hugged a button artist today?

Findings Worth Finding - Magnetic Dexterity

Rio Grande has a new clasp, it's a variation on the magnetic clasps you've probably seen before. Rio Grande carries these in argentium silver which resists tarnishing, and also in gold. It's sleek, it's secure and simple to open.

It's called the Magnetic Dexterity clasp, and the design is very clever. You don't see the magnets unless you look from the side, but they make this clasp very easy to put on one-handed. Just hook the loop or jump ring around the post while you squeeze the clasp open, then release and the magnets grab a tight hold.


This clasp seems more secure than some of the other styles of two-sided magnet clasps I've seen for bracelets and necklaces, those sometimes make me nervous about losing my bracelet or necklace with a too-hard tug.

Rio Grande is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico but they have fantastic catalogs and online shopping to make it easy.

Planting Seed Beads

Image from ArtBeads.com

I know very little about seed beads, the different types, how they are numbered and what they mean. This seed has been rolling around in head for a while, so in my usual way, I took to the internet to find a basic explanation on seed beads.

I found this article on Street Directory by Paul Shane.

"Seed beads are tiny beads that are measured by a /0 numbering system. Higher the number, smaller the beads. Basically, the number indicates the approximate number of beads in every inch, when the beads are arranged in a linear manner on the ground. For instance, if you can lay 6 beads in a straight row within an inch's space, the beads would be numbered as 6/0.

The most famous of all types and kinds of seed beads are Czech and Japanese beads. While the Czech beads are famous for the uniformity in their sizes and shapes, the Japanese beads are known for the high precision in quality of the beads and beautiful and unique designs they are available in. Czech seed beads are shipped on hanks. (Hanks refer to a strung bunch of beads, where a standard hank contains 10 to 12 strings that are 20' long.)

Apart from jewellery, seed beads are also useful in art and craft projects, in decorating upholstery and tapestry, and in beautifying accessories to give them a funky fashionable look. If you are looking for good quality seed beads with nice designs and different colours, a good place to look for them is the Internet. There are many good websites that provide all the jewellery making materials, where you would get seed beads of your choice."

This article explained the mystery of seed beads to me. Like wire gauges the bigger the number the smaller the wire. I needed that info to help me understand this mystery.

Now that we've planted the seed beads, I can't wait to see what grows from your creativity!

Design of the Week: Sea Scallops

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 has picked the August ABS submission created by abney-m/Marcie A entitled Sea Scallops.

Cindy had this to say about Marcie's design: "The simplicity of the ceramic art bead surrounded by the beadwoven scallops echoes the feeling of the wave in the woodcut print masterfully. The colors are perfectly chosen and layered in the beading. Lovely interpretation of the challenge!"

Read more about Marcie's work on her blog, "La Bella Joya."

Sunday with Cindy

Good morning, Beady Readers! Wondering what's going on in the bead and jewelry world? Take a peek at our links and see.....

A Bead A Day
A Crystallized "Square Ring"! If you have never seen a "square ring", stop by A Bead A Day to see how it has been incorporated into a bracelet.

About.com Jewelry Making
Too Much Jewelry Business Success? Is it really possible? And if so, what do you do about it?

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene announces the August monthly challenge theme - a beautiful woodcut print.

Beading Arts
The simple spiral square stitch can add pizazz to your projects. Learn this easy stitch with an easy-to-follow tutorial!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi explains how she made her glue gun leather brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Looking to create a pendant from one of her antique button treasures, Cindy tries her hand at mold making.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shares her new Shino glaze tests, and ponders about new work.

Jean Campbell
Jean helped deliver two babies this week: a new nephew and a new bracelet design.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
There are a couple of new bead and blog books on the shelves at Barnes & Noble! Lorelei's got the scoop!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
The BIG REVEAL is here! Check out Andrew's submission to the Use the Muse II contest!

Studio Saturday: Frost is in the Air!

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 Stasha! Congratulations! You have won one of one of Lynn's nautically inspired handcast charms! Send Lynn an email and she will get it right out to you.

Welcome to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone and Studio Saturday!

Here at Studio Saturday, the editors of the Art Bead Scene have talked alot about re-fueling and re-energizing. Like my cohorts, I've spent the summer learning new techniques such as mold making,

bronze metal clay

(pppsssstttt! That's the back of a new pendant and connector series I'll unveil on my blog next week)

and I even drove to Corning to take a week long glass beadmaking class.

Since then, I've been in the studio making sure I'm ready for fall when jewelry designers and crafters start to make their holiday gifts and frost forms on the still green grass.

Reminiscent of that morning frost, I've made the Frost Links. I work to create a "green studio" so the frost on the links is created using a tumbler rather than a chemical etch.

In addition to the colors above, the Frost Links come in a lovely green pear color and a white frost. I love the feel of these so much so, I can't stop making them in every transparent color I can get my hands on!


So, tell me, have you spent time re-newing and re-energizing? Do you create with an eye on making your studio green? Do you feel fall coming? Leave a comment and tell me about what you've been up to and you'll win one of White Frost Links. I look forward to reading your comments!

Bead Fest

The next big bead event is Bead Fest in Philadelphia, August 19-23rd. If you are in the area I hope you'll stop by to scout out some of your favorite bead artists. There are a ton of great classes to take too. What a great way to recharge before the busy days of fall creep back upon us!

Can't make it to the event? Interweave is offering video classes from past Bead Fest events. You can purchase them as a DVD or online download.

Findings Worth Finding-From a Re-use Store

I just spent the day scouring the re-use stores in my town. I found all sorts of interesting objects for using in my jewelry. I wanted to share with you my findings and maybe inspire you to go hunting for you next design elements in an unlikely place.

I am sure everyone has taken apart vintage jewelry for reusing in a new piece of jewelry. I wasn't out to find old jewelry, even though I did find some. I was after odd bits of junk.

I found all sorts of round rings, most of them were washers and small wheel parts, and some I have no idea what they were previously. But now they will become rings in a necklace. Don't you love the rust and worn finish?

I also found some games. These pieces can be drilled very easily, even the dice. They will become beads. Are you seeing the possibilities here? I am going to save the score cards and game boards for some mixed media projects, they make great backgrounds.



Are you looking at that big red ring and wondering, what the heck is that? Look closely and you will see it is a ring from the top of a set of curtains. I thought it would be super cool as a pendant with an art bead hanging from the center. I really like that it has been used and shows the wear.

I hope I have inspired you to go searching for your next components in an unlikely place.
Happy Beading!
Jennifer
Jangles