October Monthly Blog Tour

"The fox has many tricks. The hedgehog has but one. But that is the best of all."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Did you know that hedgehogs did tricks? Apparently, as pets they are easy to train. The one that people are most familiar with is the ability to roll into a tight ball and then even rolling away from an attacker while keeping the quills on the outer part of the spine puffed out as a defense mechanism. But they are just as likely to run away from trouble and have been clocked at 4.5 miles per hour! I think that might be faster than even I can run! ;-)

This month's painting sure brought out the varmints in you! And the acorns and snails and the soft cashmere colors of a gray fall day. I love it! Here is your monthly blog tour as inspired by the painting "A Hedgehog in a Landscape" by Gionvanna Garzoni.

Our first entry this month (above) came from Linda of SC Diva Designs. She made a pair of polymer clay earrings that is so reminiscent of the wood of a tree. Such a beautiful pair!

Mary Ellen of beetreebyme was inspired by the fact that Giovanna Garzoni was one of the first female still life painters. She was very prolific, which suits Miss Mary Ellen to a T as well, as she is one of the most prolific designers I have witnessed on the Art Bead Scene! Read all about her inspiration for her Gaea necklace plus the multiple focals that she created for this design.

I am smitten with the hedgehog focal that the Beading Yogini created for this month. Too cute! One of my faves for sure! I love seeing the process. Read all about it here.

The colors of fall and a beautiful floral motif (above) are the theme for Cabby Crafter. I thought that the base of this cuff was very clever as it supports each flower and makes it very substantial. The colors were the guide for this talented crafter!

Want to see how danged cute baby hedgies can be? Go check out Klassy Jooz blog for a peek at these darling creatures that she had when her papa hedgie turned out to be a momma. Oh, yeah... and a stunning piece of jewelry too!

Focusing on the word "encourage", Marlene of Amazing Designs created a lovely fall themed necklace just shimmering with life.

Just in the nick of time, Miss Alice of her new blog Alice Dreaming shares her experience with this month's challenge. The frost on the pumpkin has never looked so good. Does this one make anyone else want a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream? Yum!

This month it was all about the forest, and Janet of Honey from the Bee found this sweet napping owl (above) to complete her necklace. The colors are perfect and I love the way the acorn stampings are dangling at his feet. Such a pretty necklace...and thanks for introducing me to a new-to-me artist!

Finding your style is a great aspiration for any jewelry designer. One such designer with a ton of style to spare is the sweet Miss Stacilouise. I love her minimalist designs with the focus on simple, not fussy stones and features. The fold form leaf is the perfect touch of copper in this soft and inspiring design. Read all about it here.

Angela Lund-Logan proves that asymmetrical doesn't mean unbalanced. In this lovely necklace, she plays with the shapes and the colors and keeps your eye moving through the piece. Well done!

Karen Williams of Baublicious may be a newbie at the Art Bead Scene challenges, but you have got to go and check out what she made! She calls herself a 'polymer clay dabbler' and she made the most adorable hedgehog yet, complete with a spiky coat made entirely out of seed beads! She also make wire form oak leaves that add such a nice texture to her fall-inspired necklace. Welcome and we hope to see more from you!

Handmade polymer clay beads, including a snail, acorns and the cutest little hedgehog, as well as some upcycled treasures adorn this lush necklace (above) by Marian Hertzog. What an enchanting design!

We love knowing that we have inspired our readers to challenge themselves each month. Kathryn of Catherine's Dreams says that we have done just that. Her fall submission for October is a riot of color and texture. Well done!

Drawing from the rustic fall feel of the inspiration painting, Keenya of The Cranberry Studio picks up on my favorite motif - acorns - for these sweet little dangly earrings and a necklace. I am a last minute submitter too, Miss Keenya, we are so glad that you could share your talents with us no matter when you complete them!

The way the leaves blow about in the crisp autumn wind is what I am thinking when I see this sweet copper leaf in Shannon's design(above). The spines of the leaf skeleton are so pretty in this etched design and the knotted linen really does make me think of a tree branch.

Our UK friend, Miss Rebecca of Songbird squeaked in just under the wire with this festive bracelet. It has a decidedly retro feel to highlight the sweetest little hedgie that looks like it could have been plucked from the 70s. Such a cute little wrist pet you have made!

Starting with the perfect Ojime carved wood hedgie, Lorelei was surprised to find that she had quite a few beads that would fit the soft neutral palette of this month's painting inspiration despite her usual bold color choices in her bead stash. A very wearable piece of art for sure!

For my own design, I created a hedgehog in a 'simple truth' pendant with the message: "do small things with great love" (hedgehogs being small, you know). I used pearls to create the effect of spines of the hedgie, a swirly shell bead as a nod to the snail, natural and painted wood beads in a lovely soft grey and gold tone, and picture jasper an oak leaf branch and a sweet little art bead pewter acorn. Come on over and see it on my last minute blog post!

Oops! Missed one! Be sure to check out the cuteness factor on Cilla's hedgie bracelet at Tell Your Girlfriends!

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Thank you to all who participated this month! We are delighted that you continue to be inspired by the paintings and artwork that we select for you. Keep it up! Check back in a few days for the revelation of November's challenge.