Amuse Your Muse Monday with Rebecca of Songbead

Morning all, and a happy Monday to you! Just trying out titles for this new weekly segment - whaddaya think of Amuse Your Muse Mondays?! I almost added in Magical but I think that would have been overkill....thank you to those of you who put forth suggestions on titling this new post of the week!

We had some really great comments last week - thank you! Sometimes it could get a little lonely posting on Sundays, when folk are so busy, so YES to Monday and YES to you lovely people sharing your art beady goodness with me and everyone else! If you're reading this post later on in the week, do take a minute to check out the comments for some extra inspiration. You won't regret it! (That means if you're reading it on Monday, you'd better leave some extra fabulous art bead links!)

So, this week, we did indeed get left some awesome links. Claire Lockwood shared some awesomely Autumnal ceramic buttons (they are just a little bit Wicked, if you are a fan of musical theatre ;-) Perfect for anyone who wants to make some very subtly Halloween-themed pieces) from ChelleV2. 

These would look just fabulous as either oversized clasps or focals, don't you think? I could see the larger of the pair as a gorgeous front-on clasp to a necklace. And another exciting thing about these buttons is FOUR holes. What could you/would you do with those extra two holes? Potential...

Mary Harding shared a bracelet that she created, using one of her own (I believe) buttons as a clasp. 

I am always a little in awe of Mary's beautiful freeform peyote stitch work. I used to do a lot of bead-weaving (time gets in the way now, sadly), but I never ventured into the world of freeform. Mary makes some really stunning pieces, which she frequently incorporates art beads into. 

And Monique suggested posting not just links to pretty art buttons to buy, but to an awesome tutorial on how to create your own polymer clay buttons from Tina Holden! I know from our monthly challenge entries that many of our readers like to work with polymer clay (even I have been known to break out the Fimo before! Although my creations are currently not ready to be released to the world at large....), so I thought sharing this tutorial was a really great idea. My blog-tech knowledge does not extend to how to embed these videos, so you're going to have to hop over to Tina's blog to watch this tutorial. Here's a picture of what you could create, along with one of her moulds, with Tina's help:

Speaking of shank buttons, here's a bracelet design of mine using a shank button from Green Girl Studios as a clasp:

Fairy Queen

We've still a few weeks of October left, so pleeeeease leave you art button inspiration links in the comments below. I can't wait to see what you find! 

And now for the Bead Blogger links:

Carmi's Art
Discovering someone else's jewelry collection is always a treat. Buying, cleaning and possibly re-stringing it is something to consider too.

Art Bead Scene
Check out guest blogger Lorelei Eurto's post on holding an open house jewellery event!

A Bead A Day
Ready to share your holiday jewelry making secrets? What's your inspiration? Share on A Bead A Day blog and get in the holiday jewelry making spirit!

Resin Craft Blog
If you have not tried working with a channel bracelet, this post is for you! Jewelry clay and a bangle means instant happy!

Snap out if it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is hosting a book giveway for the wonderful jewelry instruction and design book by Kristal Wick, Metal Clay 101 for Beaders--come and comment on her blog for a chance to win it! 

Beading Arts
Don't you feel sooo good when you finish a project? Cyndi has just finished a large bead embroidered necklace, so she's feeling GREAT!

Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer, currently living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. You can read more about her and her work at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com. She also has a supplies shop at thecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com.