Inside the Studio with Humblebeads

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 prize each week to encourage you to use that keyboard and tell us what you think. The following week a winner is chosen at random from all eligible entries. And here are the results from last week!

Congratulations Kathleen Thompson

You have won a £10 voucher for either Songbead or The Curious Bead Shop.

Contact Rebecca to claim your prize!

Well I'm short on words and long on pictures today. In my studio this week there have been a few jewelry making marathons squeezed in during a some late nights. I have a show this weekend, my only in-person one of the season. I'm really looking forward to a fun weekend.  I had some things in stock from a recent art market, like the collection above.


One thing I wanted to do for this show was to create jewelry inspired by the projects in my new book, Beautiful Elements. The oak leaf pendants featured in a chapter of the book and I think hands down it's one of my favorite designs - although I love all the projects in the book. The oak leaves just make me happy. I paired them with Humblebeads disks and ceramic rounds from White Clover Kiln that were transformed into acorns.

The new book focuses quite a bit on a technique that I call Metal Sketches, were I use different mark-making techniques to create images on metal like the evergreen bracelet below and the birch bark cuffs.

 Must make more of these after the show - and one for myself.

It took me a few trials but I was determined to create a holly leaf using the metal sketch technique. I used a patina to create a the green and green/blue hues. Feeling very festive.  I also did some large holly leaves as ornaments too.

And these cuties, I've been making these tree pins for a few years now. Actually I designed them and taught Jess to make them - so they are actually his handiwork! I decided to do some in bronze and silver this year. I also make earrings that go with these, not everything on my table has art beads. Some are simple beaded pieces that work with the rest of my jewelry but I can offer at a much lower price point. Sometimes you need those under $25 impulse buys!

And at the opposite end of the spectrum are these amazing lampwork butterfly wing beauties from Kim Snider. Mixed with Humblebeads and White Clover Kiln ceramic beads.

And these fun ones, I keep things simple and create the same designs using variations with different beads, much like Rebecca shared last week.

And more simple pieces to vary the price points on my table.

And there are lots of earrings, but most of them are simple designs with slight variations. I also do a lot of metal work with tiny leaves and birch branches made from wire.

And then these guys - always best sellers. Probably because they make a great gift since memory wire can fit any size.

There are so many more pieces. Tomorrow I will have  a few hours to set up my display and edit my offerings to keep things simple and easy for buyers. I don't put everything out because I think too many choices are overwhelming.

After my show I'll be selling what I have left online. My question for you is where is your favorite place to sell/buy handmade online - Etsy, your website, Facebook or some place else? Leave a comment and a random will be picked next week for a $30 gift certificate to Humblebeads.com.