Art Bead Scene Blog

January Monthly Challenge Winners

2012-02-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to this Months winners!

We have 2 winners chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants.

Our first lucky winner is Shaterra Clay/Sharleen Newland.

She has won a $50 gift certificate from Melinda Orr Designs.

Our second lucky winner is Patti Vonderbloemen.

She has won a $50 gift certificate from Ornamentea.

Melinda Orr Designs Ornamentea

Thank you Melinda Orr Designs and Ornamentea for being our January Monthly Challenge sponsors!

Winners, please E-mail Tari, tari@claybuttons.com with your information so your prizes can be sent to you.

A Big THANK YOU to everyone who entered this month using "Trellis" by William Morris , as your inspiration.

We were so fortunate to have so many beautiful entries and experience such creativity from our wonderful readers.

Visit us tomorrow to see what February's challenge brings.

January Monthly Blog Tour

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

"I know a little garden close

Set thick with lily and red rose,

Where I would wander if I might

From dewy dawn to dewy night

And have one with me wandering."

~William Morris

We were treated to a classic this month, the stylistic wallpaper of William Morris. And our ABS community rose to the challenge of bringing this Arts & Crafts image to life.

Jenna of HoneyBijou (above) puzzled through how to create a mold for her handmade clay beads which makes them multi-dimensional. The color on these are a spot on match to the Trellis wallpaper. I am impressed that she also included a trellis bead that she handmade and was able to use recycled materials to make it work. This is a sweet and whimsical and fresh way to start out the hop.

Elisabeth of BeadsForBusyGals make a garden fairy pendant come to life with the mix of olive silk and a carved rose bead from England. She looks like a mischievous garden spirit!

The bracelet that Shaiha of ShaihasRamblings made looks like it would be fun to wear. All the dangles were a lot of work and really play up the twining vines and leaves on the trellis in the inspiration wallpaper.

Welcome the ABS Challenges, Miss Patti! For this, her first challenge (above), she found so many pretty art bead treasures in her hoarded stash (don't worry, we all have them!) that suited the Morris wallpaper. Choosing an egg - which is where the bird comes from, right? - was a smart design choice, especially one so perfectly shaded as this one! We hope to see more of your work this coming year!

Updating a classic and making it new and exciting is hard to do. But that is exactly what Kelly of MackinArt did. She used a right angle weave technique to create a modern interpretation of a trellis complete with one stunning art bead leaf. Infinitely wearable and chic

Cece The Beading Yogini has this wonderful spirit. She has taken this inspiration and crafted something so unique and pretty that it actually made me gasp. The attention to detail in each little stitch on her fabric pendant is gorgeous.She must have incredible patience to do such intricate work.

Constructing a trellis out of enameled links is what Beth & Evie of EBBeadAndMetalWorks did for us this month. The skill that it takes to saw out the flowers and then enamel them in pretty variegated colors is truly awesome. Add in a smattering of Beth's handmade glass beads and you have a masterpiece that would be at home in any garden party!

Taking her cue from Victorian images, Lynda Moseley of SCDiva created a lush and hushed garden nymph focal bead and a necklace that is just dripping with florals.

Cilla of Tell Your Girlfriends (above) found her inspiration in the dragonflies flitting among the trellis. Her bracelet brings in the color palette of greens and orange so expertly and looks like it would be very fun to wear!

Reconstructing a memory is what bee tree by m.e. did with her lovely challenge necklace. She recalled her grandmother's wire fences as "garden jewelry" and created a wearable version of this. What a sweet tribute to a loved one!

Welcome Miss Rebekah of Tree Wings Studio! We are so happy that you decided to start the year out right by jumping in on your first ABS challenge. Your handmade cabbage rose flower beads (above) are the perfect shade of salmon. I love the extra details you added to make the serpentine bead look like the trellis with the wire wrapping and the finishing touch on the ends of the cord. We hope that you will come back and play with us again!

Karen Gille of Squirrel Haven Studio worked in so many details into her piece. I love that she was willing to try something new by creating a pendant in a mosaic fashion with polymer clay. I was really inspired to read about her process. I love the way it all works because of the cohesive color palette despite the variety of elements.

The Claying Mommy came up with a clay design that perfectly mimics the garden that is all a-buzz with life in her beautiful necklace (above). This elegant filigree encrusted pendant has swooping birds and flowers on the vine. I love the way the pendant is like a microcosm of that wallpaper. So intricately detailed!

Sharyl of Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections gave us a macro tour of her necklace and earrings. Taking macro shots is a great way to show all the wonderful detail that goes into making your design stand out. The focal art bead all wrapped up in wire is a wonderful way to interpret the trellis!

Elaine of TooAquarius really knows her way around polymer clay. She created a focal with the palette and themes of the wallpaper that looks to me like something special my grandmother would have worn. This is a sweet and simple necklace that would be a way to welcome the spring that will surely come.

There are a lot of us hoarders out there, aren't there? We buy pretty beads with no earthly idea of what to do with them. Then inspiration strikes! We are glad that Pam of KlassyJools (above) had these amazing glass flowers just lying around waiting for just the right moment. Her necklace is a showstopper!

Miss Sue of SueBeads created two lovely entries this month. Her necklace was created for a show that didn't happen. Lucky for us, she still had this perfect necklace that really ties into the floral theme. I am sure that this lovely won't last for long!

Art beads by different artists can truly play together nicely. Kym Hunter proves this in her beautiful piece with a soaring bird, lampwork glass and ceramic toggle and leaf. I love the way the colors all work in harmony despite the very different materials and makers.

I love what happens when you go out on a limb. I would like to think that I helped encourage Miss Keirsten of CerebralDilettante (above) to join in the ABS challenges, but I know that Miss Keirsten would only yell at me for being a pied piper and trying to get her to join in the fun! (Did I read that right? You enjoyed it?! So, does that mean you will be back again?;-) Her necklace is truly remarkable in its styling and components, many of which she made herself. In her car. Hammering on her lunch hour. How's that for going out on a limb?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can you all do me an itsy-bitsy favor? It would help me immensely if you would kindly post the exact blog link in your comment. Please, please, pretty please... please put your exact link to your blog post in either the Flickr description or in the monthly challenge post comments! (Okay, this is me begging now!) I spend hours, days really, reading through each and every one and then writing the summary post. I love to see the inspiration that you share, the process, the materials. Sometimes I have a suspicion that a regular has posted something on her space, but hasn't left the link, and then I go searching for it through pages of blog posts. But the worst is when I click the link and then it is just not there. I don't want to not include you, but it is so hard to search for it sometimes and I don't want to disappoint you if you are not in the hop. So I search and I search until I hopefully find the exact post. I am so inspired by all of YOU and I want to help share your wonderful posts with the world. So help me help you! Thank you!

Looking forward to seeing what you do with the February challenge!

Link Library with Melanie

2012-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, Heather shared some great links to blog posts sharing ideas for organizing and storing beads. Check out that post from the archives here.

And now, here are some great links from our beady friends this week:

A Bead A Day
It's Toho competition time! If you are up for the challenge check with a bead store near you for more details.

About.com Jewelry Making
Are you struggling with the cost of metal right now? Tammy gives you a tip for getting the look of metal beads without the cost.

Art Bead Scene
Gaea shares some of her current favorite beading and craft related tools

Beading Arts
Interested in publishing this year? How about starting out with a magazine?

Beads and Books
Join the spring challenge and makeover a ready-made wintry bracelet into a piece of springtime jewelry!

Jean Campbell
What exactly does a beadwork tech-editor do? Read on!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Everyday Gemstones from the publishers of BeadStyle magazine is beautiful, easy, and is a special Winter 2012 issue --and Jean thrilled to be in it!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Want to help a small business out? It's so easy! With a few clicks you can help Allegory Gallery get some free advertising dollars!

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

Tooling Around

2012-01-26T07:56:00.000-05:00

Brains and imagination are not always the bottom line for creating, although you can get quite far on those alone, but chances are you may need help in the way of tools. These are a few of the gadgets that are saving my mind (and hands) in the creativity department.

EuroTool Power Punch

After destroying my hand held hammer hole punch set (as well as my fingers!) I realized more than brute strength was needed to punch holes in metal! This nifty, easy to use metal hole punch has easily replaceable dies in a variety of sizes! Yay! A small investment for perfectly punched holes!

Beadsmith Bead Reamer

Nothing drives me more crazy than pulling out a beautiful strand of semi-precious beads only to have half of them not fit on the wire. A bead reaming tool will save the day! Bead Reaming Set from EviesToolEmporium.etsy.com

Small Sketch Pad

Keep a small sketch pad at hands for those quick ideas. A sketch app like Doodledroid for your smart phone is a nice paper free alternative. A beautifully made art journal is inspirational in and of itself! Art journal from Indra's Ideas.

Camera

Nearly every phone has a camera feature. It is perfect for capturing inspiration and ideas. (Inspiration comes from many places. Don't judge.)

Aveda Hand Relief

One word.... Ahhhhh.

Bead Crushes

2012-01-25T07:59:00.000-05:00

Some of my current bead crushes on Etsy. Oh how they make my head swim with my ideas and my Paypal account whimper! I want them all!!!

Lavish Cuff Bead in Periwink... CapturedMoment... $5.95	Ceramic Pendant Flower Textu... MarshaNealStud... $15.00	Set of 11 Handmade Porcelain... tashamcksupply $32.00	country church building bead Jubilee $9.00
Quatrefoil- handmade ceramic... SlateStudiosSu... $8.00	Earthy branches- handmade ce... kylieparry $12.00	Verdigris Links - 25mm Patin... missficklemedi... $15.00	Qty 2 - Athena Ancient Patin... ORRTEC $10.00
Fancy keyhole- copper patina... kylieparry $16.00	Ampelos Textured and Hammere... ORRTEC $8.50	Sketched feather pendant- ON... kylieparry $16.00	Chestnut Brown - 16mm Patina... missficklemedi... $13.00
Autumn Dreams Leaf Clasp In ... ORRTEC $11.00	Oxidised Copper Oak Leaf Hoo... daisychainextr... $7.50	Blue Acorn / Ceramic Acorn P... gaea $18.50	Set of 10 Handmade Pottery G... tashamcksupply $32.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Designer of the Week: Mackin-Art

2012-01-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week.

One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week's featured designer is....

Mackin-Art

Here is what ABS editor Heather Powers said about Kelly's necklace:

"I love the beadwork on Kelly's necklace, with the fun play of the colors inversed. What a clever way to interpret the trellis pattern of this month's inspiration. The pendant is the perfect focal for the graphic beaded backdrop and the clasp fits in perfectly with the design elements of the beadwork, echoing the copper colored glass beads."

There is still time to join the challenge. The blog entry deadline is January 29th and the last day to enter for this month's prize drawing is January 31st. Read the complete challenge rules here.

Link Library with Melanie

2012-01-22T13:10:00.000-05:00

If you will allow me to indulge myself for a moment, today's peek back in the Art Bead Scene archives is one of my own posts from 2008 when I first started exploring Steampunk. It's hard to believe that was almost four years ago now. It's fun to see the way Steampunk exploded in the craft scene... it was pretty cool to be there from the start to see how things evolved. While I still am involved in the imagery and genre of the scene, it is exciting to think about what new trends are developing right now...

Perhaps we will see the rise of some new trends in some current links from some of our beady friends:

A Bead A Day
Interested in using plastic to create special Valentine's Day Jewelry? Here are a couple of pieces for inspiration.

About.com Jewelry Making
What is better than some beaded embroidery how-to for a buck? Errr..nothing!

Art Bead Scene
Heather offers a beautiful free project inspired from high in the treetops!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has been trying to encourage everyone to get out there and take a class this year!

Beads & Books
See the 30+ beautiful winter jewelry designs in the Secret Snowflake Challenge. Participants used techniques such as bead embroidery, resin, stringing, wirework, etching, and more!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a link to a kumihimo give-a-way to share!

Charlene Sevier Jewelry
Sometimes jewelry acts up a little before it comes together. Charlene shares one of those times

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie looks back at an older post where a favorite song inspired a series of wing themed pendants.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Valentine's Day is one of the most delightful days on Jean's calendar! Why? Because she gets to think about love, and jewelry such as the astounding pendants at NanoStyle! Tell your beloved "I love you" in a most incredible way!

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

Studio Saturday - Trunk Shows

2012-01-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

Congrats Carol D. you are the winner of the Humblebeads' owl pendant from last week! Please email me with your mailing address so I can send your necklace out to you!

Well, hello there again dear friend. Hopefully next week we'll be back on track visiting the studios of the rest of our blog team.

What have I been up to this week? I have been slowly but surely refilling my bead boxes getting ready for two awesome bead trunk shows over the next few weeks. (Click to view my upcoming events.)

You'll have to excuse my Ipod photos, no glamour shots today!

I love doing trunk shows. I've done a few where I've sent a box of goodies to shops and some where I get to go and sell my beads in person and visit with everyone. Of course, I prefer the second. I love meeting people who are excited about beads, you are my tribe after all! I've had the privilege of meeting so many great people over the last few months during trunk shows and book events.

Trunk shows are a great way to start a relationship with a business. If you live in a town with a boutique you could set up a trunk show once or twice a year to show off your latest goods. The best way to start if you don't already know the owner is check out the shop where you feel like your work would be a good fit. I'm a little shy myself, so if I didn't know the owner I would probably see if they have a website and facebook page and then I'd muster up the courage to send a quick introductory email with a link to my website. I'd let them know I am booking trunk shows for the spring and would love to bring in some of my work to show the owner and see if they would like to set up a date for a show. NOT that I've done that with jewelry, but if I was feeling ambitious, that is what I would do.

A trunk show is nice because it's a fun way to build up excitement about your work, you don't have inventory tied up in a consignment situation and it's a nice way for a store owner to see how well your work does without her making any big financial commitments. Of course, follow up with the store owner after the trunk show if you sell your work wholesale.

Make sure if you do a trunk show your terms are spelled out clearly. What percentage is being taken by the shop, who is collecting the money, what advertising is going to be done, what materials will you need to provide for marketing, will you need to bring your own tables and display items? You can never ask too many questions when hammering out the details.

Don't wait for events to happen, create your own!

So you know the drill, each week we ask a question and give away a prize. This week you can win one of my new flower pendants in a bright and cheery orange design inspired by this month's challenge.

My question:

What is one brave thing you'd done lately when it comes to your business or creative pursuits?

I can wait to read your stories.

Pantone's Color of the Year: Tangerine Tango

2012-01-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

Handmade Lampwork Glass Bead... mermaidglass $17.00	ORANGE CRUSH FLOWERS Lampwor... SerenaSmithLam... $12.00	Scarlet Orange Enameled Cone... NadinArtGlass $6.00	Lampwork Focal Bead -Coral D... PowersArtStudi... $25.00
Handmade Round Raku Clay Bal... funkyprettybea... $6.00	Glass lampwork beads Rustic ... radiantmind $4.75	Lampwork glass headpin / Mix... GardanneBeads $10.00	Artisan Handmade Lampwork Gl... squirrelylumpk... $15.00
Yellow Orange Vintage Brass ... missficklemedi... $10.00	Small Pendant Art Nouveau St... maryhardingjew... $10.00	Copper Leaf Pendant humblebeads $14.00	2 Large Rectangle Curved Bea... CapturedMoment... $5.99
On Sale 30% Off Handmade Lam... NomadCraftsEtc $7.00	Big Handmade Brass-Fiber Bea... jimenasjewelry $26.00	Lampwork Carnelian Dragonfly... kerribeads $95.00	Glass lampwork Head Pins Apr... radiantmind $9.25

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Are you ready to dance? Tangerine Tango is an energetic color that adds a pop to any jewelry design. Go all out with a sun kissed creation or add in bits of the orange as accents. Pair tangerine up with teal and grey for the modern palette. Or go with greens and browns for an earthy creation. Pick a sherbet colorway and add in yellows, pinks and purples for a combination that is ready for spring.

Pantone's Color of the Year

I'm feeling sunny already!

Tree Top Necklace

2012-01-19T10:31:00.000-05:00

Shh, don't tell anyone but this is really the last 12 Days of Christmas project. I'm just a little late...

Anywho, I thought this was a fun project to share because it's a simple one that you can whip up in no time flat yet offers a nice visual impact with the large pendant. I love having the clasp in the front and as such an integral part of the design.

Have some cabochons or pendants without holes? Wrapping them in filigree is the easiest solution. If you haven't done this before here is a tutorial on filigree wrapping from Vintaj.

Supply List
1.5" Ephemera pendant
2 12mm polymer clay disks
2 8mm Czech glass beads
2 8mm smoky quartz beads
2 6mm brass beads
2 2" headpins
1 15mm brass jump ring
16" brass chain
4 6mm gunmetal spacers
59mm clover petal filigree
2 9.5mm etched jump rings
2 6mm brass jump rings
25mm leaf toggle bar

Directions:
1. Wrap the corners of the filigree around the pendant.
2. Use two pairs of pliers to open and close the etched jump rings. Attach the jump rings to the top loops of the filigree. String the large jump ring through both of the etched jumped rings.
3. String the glass bead, spacer, disk bead, spacer, quartz and brass bead unto the eye pin. Trim the wire the form a simple loop. Repeat with the second headpin.
4. String one beaded link onto the large jump ring and close the jump ring. On the other beaded link attach the toggle clasp with two jump rings, doubled up for strength.
5. Attach the chain to the top loops of both links.

Resources:
Pendant: More Skye Jewels. Disk beads: Humblebeads. Glass beads: Beads by C. Filigree and jump rings: Vintaj. Chain, brass beads, spacers and eyepins: Hobby Lobby. Toggle clasp: Nunn Designs or Bello Modo. Smoky Quartz: Rings & Things.

Art Bead Color Palette #1

2012-01-18T08:54:00.001-05:00

Lost My Key Lentil Boro beads, from AtlantisGlassAndBead on Etsy

Hello ABSers! Today starts a new monthly post from me with color palettes derived from art beads. It's combining two of my very favorite things together, so I've been looking forward to this post for the last two weeks (squee!).

When I started using art beads in my own jewelry, I gravitated almost immediately to borosilicate beads. They were the first art bead that I ever fell in love with, and the colors that swirled in the glass had me absolutely mesmerized from day one.

So, what better way to celebrate a new series about art beads than to share with you a cherished favorite? A significant portion of my boro stash has come from the fabulous husband-and-wife duo of Val and Patti Hernandez of Atlantis Glass and Bead. I flat out love the color combinations they use, and their beads are a little bit of visual inspiration for me.

Take it Easy Boro Glass Lampwork beads, by AtlantisGlassAndBead on Etsy

If you liked the pop of yellow-orange and bright blue from the December Challenge Palette, then a set like these would be perfect, color-wise. Adding that pop of yellow would be a fun way to play with the colors (or a pale lavender, like The Crazier Sister pointed out!).

Midnight Stars Boro Lampwork beads, by AtlantisGlassAndBead on Etsy

If you prefer a darker palette to work with, how about something like this set of beads? A dark navy with a shimmer, and a surprising pop of sky blue.
Photos are from Atlantis Glass and Bead; palettes created by Brandi. To view more from Val and Patti, including their line of findings, be sure to stop by their shop!

New for the New Year

2012-01-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

The New Year can be a time of reflecting on the past or looking forward. It is also the time of year when I start to plan for the year ahead and think about the holidays and seasons to come. There have been some amazing art beads and art bead projects in the past year and I'm looking forward to seeing what new art the new year has in store!

_________________________________

Amanda Cargill Austin

These Vintaj embossed pendant sets are from Amanda Cargill Austin of SeaShoreGlass who will have these available in Tucson at the Best Bead Show in February, along with her beautiful boro lampwork beads (booth G-204) SeashoreGlass.etsy.com

________________________________________________

Erin Siegel

Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop

Bead Fest Philadelphia August 2012

Saturday, August 18th

8:00am - 11:00am

Class description:

Learn simple knotting techniques to make a trio of bohemian chic earrings! Using waxed linen cord, you will learn 3 different ways to attach colorful beads to a ring component.

Students will learn basic knotting techniques to make three pairs of stylish earrings. Techniques covered in class will included: lark's head knot, half-hitch knot, overhand knot and how to use knotting tweezers for precise knotting. Usingwaxed linen cord, students will learn 3 ways to use knots to attach beads to a ring component. Students will have the following color choices for each pair of earrings: red, orange, green, turquoise and blue.Variations on the three designs made in class will also be discussed, so student will be able to expand on the techniques they have learned.

Here's the link to the class page on the Bead Fest website.

_________________________________

Janet McDonald

Lampwork artist Janet McDonald has been busy making beads and sending them around the world! Here are a few of her new bead gems... You can find her work at SingingGlass.etsy.com

________________________________

Marsha Neal Studio

"I have been gearing up in 2012 to make use of what I have, but try new glazes & finishing techniques. By adding oxides under & over the glazes I have to change them and by using glass etching materials to remove the glossy finish. This brings out the puddling colors underneath..."

MarshaNealStudio.etsy.com

________________________________________

Gaea Cannaday

Playing with a bit of copper and some new clay designs! Old has become new, as many of the pendants will be offered as cabochons!

gaea.etsy.com

I hope this new year finds some fun and new ways to share your creative spirit!

Designer of the Week: Sue Beads

2012-01-16T10:16:00.002-05:00

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week.

One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week's featured designer is....

Sue Beads

Here is what ABS editor Heather Powers said about Sue's's necklace:

"Symmetrical design can sometimes fall flat. But through a clever mix of textures, shapes and materials Sue has managed to create a balanced design that has movement and has the eye dancing back and forth between the elements as the speak to each other."

Link Library with Melanie

2012-01-15T11:52:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago, Jean Yates wrote a blog post for Art Bead Scene where she shared the reasons why she loved bent nose pliers, specifically the Lindstrom ones shown above. Check out her reasons in this post from February 2008.

Now let's see what some of our bead blogger friends are up to this week:

A Bead A Day
Looking for something fun to do in April? How about having some Bead Fest Fun?!

About.com Jewelry Making
Don't you love rubies? But, they are pretty pricey unless you opt for sparkling ruby yarn. This necklace combines ruby yarn and black filigree components.

Art Bead Scene
We giggle and chuckle along to the sexy bead humor of the new blog Beaded Laughter by Sylvie Lansdowne

Beading Arts
Do you struggle to add Swarovski rivolis to your bead embroidery? Cyndi has the solution for you in her brand new e-booklet, "Three Bezels Plus a Bonus"!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi declares 2012 as the Year of The Knot!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie goes into her blog archives to share two pretty bird necklace inspiration pieces

Resin Crafts!
Carmi has a two part series featuring resin on agate!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Margot Potter, Swarovski, the incredible low down on the most fab event at Tucson this year! You must check this out!!! WOW!

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

Studio Saturday: Humblebeads

2012-01-14T14:21:00.001-05:00

Congrats to Shannon N who is the winner of copy The Art of Resin Clay compliments of Lori Anderson. Please email Lori with your mailing address so she can send your book out to you!

Welcome to the Humblebeads' Studio today with Heather Powers.

I should definitely have some "Under Construction: Excuse the Mess" signs up today. I have been slowly moving into my new studio space. My largest space yet. It doesn't look like it from the photos, but it is 22 x 14 square feet of space dedicated to creating. I love that.

Although it's a large space, there are some drawbacks. Like it's dungeon like appeal that I'm combating. It's an unfinished family room on the lower level, there is natural light via a sliding glass door. But it still feels like a basement to me. And then there is the cold. Oh Michigan, you will toughen me up before the winter is over!

I covered the utilitarian bulbs with with some lovely paper lanterns and added in a scrap fabric banner in some festive colors. I need to rethink the gray curtain - I may go for some flowy white ones instead. The walls are a warm earthy green that work well with my nice wood tables. (A total steal at a used a furniture shop.) Let's take a moment to celebrate no more folding tables in the studio - yeah!

Getting the studio back to normal has been such a slow going process. I've been working on fixing it up between being sick for the last two weeks. So not fun. I feel like frozen sludge moving down a river. As you can see above, the clay table is up, so first things first!

We have some pegboard to paint, an inspiration board to cover in seagrass paper and some shelves to hang up still. My sister has been repainting a large round table for me. This is a space where I could teach small classes. I have four work surfaces to use plus lots of shelving. I need a comfy chair or loveseat for some daydreaming. As my buddy Andrew says, "Little by little the bird builds her nest."

And then there is the unpacking. And purging. There are so many boxes of crafty stuff that I haven't seen since August and it just makes me wonder, if I could live that long without it do I really need it.

I would like to opt for less stuff and more room for creativity.

And speaking of creativity, while I was gathering ideas for the studio I used Pinterest to collect my inspirations and thoughts. You can see my color palette and some ideas that we will add into the space as times goes on. Yes, Jess is even going to paint that pattern on one of my walls. He has the template, now to get him to pick up the brush again.

For this week, I'm giving away the owl pendant above. It's an awesome necklace with a stamped brass owl, a lampwork glass bead from Sea of Glass and a disk bead from me. And look - it matches my studio!

All you have to do is leave a comment and answer this question: Tell me one thing you've created or done that was inspired by something you saw online. (Not copying, of course, just inspired.) Maybe it was a tutorial you tried or a color palette that inspired a necklace. If you'd like some extra brownie points, write a blog post about it and share in the comments section too!

Bead Cruise Sponsors

2012-01-13T10:52:00.000-05:00

The countdown to my annual Bead Cruise has begun. I'm still accepting sponsors for our 2012 sailing. If you own an online bead shop or offer a product that beaders would love, email to find out how you can be featured in this year's Bead Cruise Program.

Last year's program can be viewed, downloaded and printed from Issuu, click here. The program includes free projects and resources for beads, supplies and classes.

Thanks to all our 2011 sponsors.

If you are in need of beads, I highly recommend checking out their sites.

For more information on how to become a sponsor email me for details.

Beaded Laughter Blog

2012-01-11T12:18:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the new blog Beaded Laughter by Sylvie Lansdowne?

OMG

That girl eats funny for breakfast.

Above is my little rendition of the "Hey Girl" meme, don't you wish your husband was that understanding!

Sylvie was inspired to create the blog after reading Handmade Ryan Grosling. For a tip she'll create a custom "Hey Girl" just for you or have one dedicated to a beady friend.

Here are some of my favorites from Sylvie:

When Sylvie isn't googling images of hunks and thinking up funny quotes, she is at her torch making lampwork beads and getting ready to teach her next workshop.

Check out her website to see where she is teaching next.

Thanks for the daily dose of giggles Sylvie!

Arts & Crafts: January Monthly Challenge Inspiration from Etsy

2012-01-10T10:47:00.000-05:00

It is imperative that we surround ourselves with honest, uplifting, simple and beautiful expressions of ideas to be conveyed to the brain through the eye by means of form and colour.

~Gustav Stickley

Birds, bees, dragonflies and flowers.

I love the Arts & Crafts period. The lush botanicals of William Morris' wallpapers and fabrics have always intrigued me. I love the rich, earthy color palettes and the hidden treasures in each. They are more like European tapestries with their complexity than a simple repeating wall treatment. I think that is why I love them so. I found a fascinating history of William Morris and his tumultuous life here titled "William Morris: The Soul of Arts and Crafts."

A company called Pendleton Woodworks in Canada offers reproductions of William Morris' fabric and wallpapers as well as other Arts & Crafts style textiles. I used their patterns one other time to create a bracelet design. I love looking through them to see the variations in color schemes. I especially love that they show the textiles on the walls and furniture of restored Craftsman houses. I have always thought it would be terribly romantic to live in such a space.

{This room shows the Trellis fabric and wallpaper in an alternate colorway. It looks so lush and tropical.}

I went searching on Etsy for some inspiration for this month's challenge. I found some beautiful artbeads and components that will totally have you evoking this quintessential tapestry style of William Morris' textiles.

'Arts & Crafts: Inspiration for the January 2012 Art Bead Scene Challenge' by TesoriTrovati

This month we are inspired by William Morris and his distinctive Arts & Crafts style.

Poppy Earring Bead Pair chestnutridged... $12.00	my heart takes flight - bird... TesoriTrovati $17.00	LEAF BEADS Olive Green Lampw... SerenaSmithLam... $5.00	verdigris bee pendant bethanycooper $7.00
Birdcage Pendant earthenwood $10.00	Orange Poppies 2 from Mystic... mysticmoonbead... $59.00	sparrow bird charm , SWOOPIN... PatinaWorx $6.95	Beauty Berry Flora Clasp in ... ORRTEC $12.00
Bird bead. Handmade lampwork... glassdaft $20.00	Lovely Antique Blue Stonewar... potterygal66 $5.00	Orange Crush and Peach Satin... LuckyLadyAppar... $12.00	Hibiscus Petal/Leaf Pendant ... humblebeads $12.00
Handcast Pewter Leaf Pendant MamacitaBeadwo... $12.99	Rose in Bloom --Miniature Ar... TuckooandMooCo... $30.00	Bird pendant magpipe hand pi... AnnaSiivonen $36.00	5 Flower Beads In Pumpkin CapturedMoment... $6.25

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

What image in the Trellis textile is most intriguing to you?

We look forward to seeing what you create with this inspiration. Don't forget to add your pictures to the Flickr site tagged as JANABS and a link to your exact blog post (please don't make me search for it!) in either the comments on the challenge post or (preferably) in the description of your Flickr picture.

Designer of the Week: Lynda Moseley

2012-01-09T11:57:00.003-05:00

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week.

One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week's featured designer is....

Lynda Moseley

Here is what ABS editor Melanie Brooks said about Lynda's necklace:

This piece is such a wonderful example of the Art Nouveau style inspired by William Morris. The natural brass in floral shapes blend beautifully with the soft, muted earth tones scattered throughout the necklace, and the fairy like theme matches the dreamy imagery of much of the literature and art enjoyed by the movement.

Click here to read more about this piece in Lynda's own words.

Thank you Lynda, for sharing this piece with everyone!

Link Library with Melanie

2012-01-08T15:29:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of this month's challenge inspiration of William Morris and his Arts and Crafts/ Art Nouveau designs, I went back into the archives to find an interview with and artist whose work is reminiscent of the art of that time period, Gabriel Studios. Read the interview from 2008 here.

And now here are some of our blogger friends' links!

A Bead A Day
It's Snowflake Design Challenge time! Everyone has received their beads and Lisa's taking design ideas.

About.com Jewelry Making
Step up from the basic pearl post earrings with this dangle earring tutorial.

Art Bead Scene
It's the start of a new year and a new month and that means a new Art Bead Scene challenge! Check out the beautiful color palette that we pulled from a William Morris wallpaper design.

Beading Arts
Have you heard about Take a Stitch Tuesday?

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie starts a new blog project for the year, being inspired by places of the imagination. Read about the first month's inspiration of places in the sky.

Resin Crafts!
Carmi makes a rose themed necklace with cooking molds.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean's involved in a new project! It's jewelry, wait--it's crafts, no--hold on--it's dolls, no wait! It's a book! Hold on to your hats! It's a whole bunch of fun and it is debuting this week! See more on Jean's blog!

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

January 2012 Challenge Color Palette

2012-01-05T12:22:00.000-05:00

This is going to sound nuts, since it's winter here in North America, but when I first saw this month's Challenge photo, it struck me as a perfect photo for January. Because it's right around this time, after the holidays have ended, the new year has arrived, and life has started calming down, that I start craving spring. And this William Morris design is a nice taste of what's to come, don't you think?

When it comes to winter colors, I think of subtle, quiet tones, which this Challenge photo definitely has. Soft grayish greens, muted yellows, and quiet peaches, all subtle enough to fit into the season while still hinting at spring. I especially love the pops of reddish-orange against the cool gray-green of the background.

Even the natural subject matter is perfect, with flowers growing, insects buzzing, and birds resting on a trellis in a garden. It's getting me excited for warmer weather, which I'm always a fan of. How about you?

Beyond that, though, I think it's a great choice for this month's challenge because there's a lot of directions you can go in regards to theme. Flowers, leafy nature, flying birds, insects, vines, wood textures, grids and patterns, an Arts and Crafts style, or even just a mix of subtle colors.

What do you think? Which direction do you like best? What colors do you see?

For more about Brandi, you can visit and connect with her on her blog, Brandi Girl.

January Monthly Challenge Sponsors and Prizes

2012-01-04T06:00:00.004-05:00

Our wonderful sponsors for the January Monthly Challenge.

We will have 2 lucky winners this month.

Ornamentea

Ornamentea is a wonderful place to buy beads, jewelry supplies, enameling supplies, metal supplies, paper arts supplies, fiber arts supplies, resins & adhesives, ribbon...lots of ribbon. Plus loads of tutorials to do lots and lots of projects. Besides a fun place to shop they are fantastic to talk to on the phone!

Ornamentea is donating a $50 gift certificate to be used on their website.

Visit Ornamentea at their website, blog, Facebook, YouTube and twitter.

: : :

Melinda Orr Designs

Melinda Orr of Melinda Orr Designs makes beautiful metal components and jewelry. She strives to create unusual designs not found anywhere else. Take tour of Melinda's Etsy store where you will find tools to get the job done, kits, toggles, misc. finding plus finished jewelry.

Melinda is donating a $50 gift certificate to her etsy shop.

Visit the Melinda Orr Design on Etsy, blog, Facebook, and flickr.

: : :

Submit photos of your wonderful creations using one or more Art Beads.

Trellis by William Morris has with many different elements that can be used for inspiration linear pattern, flowers, leaves, birds, vines and nature.

We can't wait to see where your creativity takes you with the art for this months challenge!

Please remember to put JAN ABS in the title or tag of your submission(s).

Provide us with the artist of the Art Beads used and we always love to know all the materials you used.

January Monthly Challenge

2012-01-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

Trellis by William Morris, 1862

About the Art

"Trellis was William Morris' first commercially available wallpaper design. It was sold through the company of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co, which was later to become Morris & Co, in 1864. However, the design itself had been completed by Morris two years before in 1862.

Trellis was said to have been inspired by Morris new family home of Red House which had been designed and built, with assistance from Morris himself, by his friend and architect Philip Webb in 1859.

Interestingly, the design itself was an inspired combination of talents, rather like the designing and building of Red House, between Philip Webb and Morris. Morris throughout his life lacked confidence in his drawing ability and while he was secure enough in his ability to produce excessive amounts of flower and foliage throughout his career, he was always less certain when it came to anything biologically more complex. Therefore, in Trellis Webb produced the birdlife while Morris produced the rest of the design.

...This was the first example of a Morris wallpaper design that the market had seen, it was also very different from what was immediately available for interiors during this period. The design work is purposely naive and unsophisticated. A strategy has been taken by the designer in producing pattern work that bears little resemblance to any machine produced wallpaper of the period and this was obviously a conscious factor in Morris creative output. The flattened graphic appearance of the pattern work and the disregard for any form of naturalized three-dimensional quality sets it aside from much of the excessive floral and topographical wallpaper design work that was so much a part of mid-Victorian interiors. That many of these wallpapers are now long forgotten while Morris Trellis is still as well known and familiar today as it was one hundred and fifty years ago, says much about the designers own conviction and strategy towards the decorative arts.

Despite the early date of this wallpaper, it was always one of Morris favorites. It was part of the decor of his bedroom at Kemscott House during the last two decades of his life. Morris may well have been sentimental as to the perceived origin of the design. It perhaps reminded him of the period of his life where opportunities abounded. It was an era where he was starting out on a new creative career, a new marriage and a new house. However, Trellis can also be seen on a much wider scale as one of the first steps in a career that was to fundamentally change so many aspects of the English decorative arts world, much of it permanently." –The Textile Blog

About the Artist

William Morris March 24, 1834–October 3, 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. He founded a design firm in partnership with the artist Edward Burne-Jones, and the poet and artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti which profoundly influenced the decoration of churches and houses into the early 20th century. As an author, illustrator and medievalist, he helped to establish the modern fantasy genre, and was a direct influence on postwar authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien. He was also a major contributor to reviving traditional textile arts and methods of production, and one of the founders of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, now a statutory element in the preservation of historic buildings in the UK.

Morris wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. His best-known works include The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems (1858), The Earthly Paradise (1868–1870), A Dream of John Ball (1888), the utopian News from Nowhere (1890), and the fantasy romance The Well at the World's End (1896). He was an important figure in the emergence of socialism in Britain, founding the Socialist League in 1884, but breaking with that organization over goals and methods by the end of the decade. He devoted much of the rest of his life to the Kelmscott Press, which he founded in 1891. Kelmscott was devoted to the publishing of limited-edition, illuminated-style print books. The 1896 Kelmscott edition of the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer is considered a masterpiece of book design.

Blog Tour

The Blog Tour deadline is January 29th.
Links must be added to the monthly challenge post comments (this post).

The Blog Tour will be on the 31st.

Monthly Challenge Winners

Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on December 1st.

Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors this month are Ornamentea and Melinda Orr Designs.
Please visit us Wednesday to see the prizes!

Featured Designer of the Week:

From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on the ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.

How to enter the Monthly Challenge:

1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.

***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply wire or cord will not be accepted.***

2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group.

Please add the tag or title JAN ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.

Deadline is January 31st. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn't followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.

What is an Art Bead?

An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.

***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.

Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***

p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.

December Monthly Challenge Winners

2012-01-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to this Months winners!

We have 2 winners chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants.

Our first lucky winner is Jill Palumbo.

She has won gift certificate worth $50 from Beads of Clay for their Etsty store.

Our second lucky winner is ForMySweetDaughter/Shannon Chomanczuk.

She has won prizes from Nunn Designs (shown below) worth $75.

Beads of Clay Nunn Designs

Thank you Beads of Clay and Nunn Designs for being our December Monthly Challenge sponsors!

Winners, please E-mail Tari-tari@claybuttons.com with your information so your prizes can be sent to you.

A Big THANK YOU to everyone who entered this month using "Chrysler Building" by William Van Alen, as your inspiration.

We were so fortunate to have so many beautiful entries and experience such creativity from our wonderful readers.

Visit us tomorrow to see what January's challenge brings.

Link Library with Melanie

2012-01-01T10:15:00.002-05:00

Qwerty Components by Earthenwood Studio
The editors at Art Bead Scene and I would like to wish you a new year filled with hope, love, creativity, and of course BEADS! Happy New Year, everyone!

In the holiday rush, I overlooked last week's Link Library, so here are lots of links for you to start your year!

A Bead A Day
Have you ever heard of 3-D Printing? How about using 3-D printing to design jewelry? This post might boggle your mind a little! (In a good way)!

About.com Jewelry Making
Don't get hung up on hang tags. Learn some easy options for creating earring cards and hang tags.

Art Bead Scene
On the 6th Day of Christmas, Gaea posted a fun beaded holiday card hanger project! Check out all 12 Days of Christmas projects on the Art Bead Scene blog!

Beading Arts
It can be a bit hard to find nice ornament cover patterns that are free, so Cyndi has rounded up a few goodies for you!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a post about Natural Touch resin beads and making them your own.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discovered a wonderful way to boost your inspiration! It's called DOTS--and you must get some! :)

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Embrace the holiday spirit of giving and bid on one of the fantastic "Artists Helping Artists" auctions going on to help Penny of SparrowSalvage!

A Bead A Day
New year, new jewelry! Lisa's working on a new piece to start the new year off right. What are you working on?

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy shares some of her favorite jewelry tutorials from 2011.

Art Bead Scene
Check out the funky metallic necklace our weekly challenge winner Molly Alexander made using copper elements

Carmi's Art/Life World
The holidays give Carmi the time to return to felting some special beads!

Snap out of it, Jean!There's beading to be done!
Jean found out that Kim Miles, one of the greatest art glass beaders in the USA, is having an ongoing sale! Check Jean's blog for details!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew finally gets his torch-fired enameling station setup and embraces color on metal!

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

Studio Saturday: Book Review - "The Art of Resin Clay" by Sherri Haab

2011-12-31T10:14:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Alice who is the winner of two Earthenwood pendants. Please email Melanie with your mailing address so she can send your new pendants out to you!

This week we have guest blogger Lori Anderson bringing us a fun book review.

I was thrilled when Potter Craft sent me a copy of Sherri Haab's latest book, "The Art of Resin Clay". I'd never heard of these techniques before and was immediately intrigued.

This 144 page book contains five chapters:

* Resin Clay Essentials

* Imitative Techniques, which covers faux scrimshaw, raku, coral, and metallic effects.

* Creating Bezels for rings and pendants

* Mixing Resin Clay with Other Mediums, such as embedding beads, using colored pencils, etc.

*Molding and Sculpting Techinques, such as repairing and redesigning vintage jewelry and creating beads over cores.

All of Sherri's books are eye candy. If you never make a single project, you'll still get inspired just by flipping through the book. But you'll want to try these projects out, because she breaks things down in such a way that ANYONE can do it.

Sherri thoroughly covers the basics, so when you start the projects, you'll feel comfortable. There are tons of step-by-step photos to lead you along, and the contributor gallery shots are amazing, showing you just how far you can take this new medium

And now, I'm giving it to one of you!

So the question this week - what has been your favorite bead book of 2011? Leave a comment and be sure there's a way to contact you.

Then visit my blog, Pretty Things, and learn about the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Party! It's one of the largest bead swap blog hops you'll come across, and wouldn't it be cool to use your new resin clay techniques for the Party?

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.

December Monthly Blog Tour

2011-12-30T06:00:00.004-05:00

"Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves."

~ Julia Morgan, architect, best known for her work on the Hearst Castle

There are buildings that just speak for themselves. The Chrysler Building in New York City is at the top of the list. The classic art deco style and the strong geometric patterns are so beautiful and iconic.

This month's challenge brought out the inner-architect in each of you. Building a stunning structure with plays on pattern and color, you wow us with your ability to translate the inspiration art each month and morph it into something completely unique and one-of-a-kind-you!

First up, Miss Shannon Chomanczuk of For My Sweet Daughter (above) turned a lovely button with an architectural fluted flair into a stunning pendant. I never would have thought to do that! And the grays with flashes of blue really play up the steel cladding on the Chrysler.

Mary Ellen of Bee Tree by m.e. really had to challenge herself and make a piece that was more geometric than free-form and no flowers! But what a stunning collar desing you made! This will be perfect to ring in the new year as it looks just like the Chrysler building crown all lit up.

Playing up the brilliant blue sky are the lampwork glass beads that Katherine of Catherine's Dreams. These beads with the classic combination of turquoise and black really work with the silver chain and accents.

Jill Palumbo (above) is learning to speak Spanish, so her tutorial on how she made this beautiful polymer clay pendant and matching earrings is written entirely in Spanish! The steps she went through to make the details is outstanding. Now that is what I call talented multi-tasking!

Miss Molly Alexander of Beautifully Broken Me got her inner steampunk Diva on with a unique design of metalwork echoing the terraced windows on the structure. Molly stamped and patina-ed and etched and soldered and wire wrapped her creation. The detail in this piece is amazing.

Bringing to life the hood ornament gargoyles on the building, Pamela of Klassy Jools made those details come to life with her stunning pendant design.

I love versatility. Cece Cormier (above), aka The Beading Yogini, has created a clever necklace with lovely blue gear shapes that she created herself from borosilicate glass (when can I buy some of these, Miss Cece?). This necklace can be worn several ways making it a truly functional piece of art.

Representing a classic American icon was no trouble at all for Miss Lynda the SCDiva. She used the filigree setting and the cathedral beads with their silver caps to mimic the art deco lines of the structure. And nothing is more American than Uncle Sam, right?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From all the ABS Editors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you.

The reason that we do this is to inspire others to find the joy of self-expression in creating, to share our passion for working with art beads, to bring together creative souls in a like-minded community.

But you give us so much more.

You show us innovation and inventiveness.
You exhibit an awesome attention to detail.
You introduce us to new products and talented art bead artists.
You show us how one little spark of inspiration can be turned into as many varied ideas as there are people reading this blog.

For this, we thank you.

If you have joined us for a challenge this year, you know how creatively freeing it can be. We invite you back to join us in sharing your talents. If you haven't yet jumped in to join the challenges, we sincerely hope that you might join us in 2012. There will be many wonderful sparks to your creativity to come. We wish you the most creatively inspired new year!

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Willow Leaf Pendant

2011-12-29T11:56:00.002-05:00

This was a fun project to design. I needed to add a series of pendants for a gallery show last month and found myself drawn to the simplicity of monochromatic color palettes, letting the textures and shapes of the beads shine though. I had fun mixing metals using copper, gunmetal and steel. The copper became an accent color and added warmth to the darker metals.

These are quick and easy. I used a pre-made chain to finish the pendants. I simply cut a chain in half and attached it to the end of my design.

Supplies:
Willow Leaf Pendant
Czech glass leaf
6 glass beads
15mm Arte Metal jump ring
8mm copper jump ring
2 4mm copper jump rings
8 links from a chain (make sure your chain links can open and close.)
1" copper headpin
6 1" copper eyepins
18" gunmetal chain
3" 21 gauge steel wire

Pendant length: 22"

Directions:
1. With the steel wire create a loop through the pendant and wrap the wire twice, from a smaller loop and continue wrapping the wire under the small loop to create the bail.
2. String the glass leave on the headpin and create a simple loop.
3. Attach the pendant, glass leaf and large copper jump ring to the Arte Metal jump ring.
4. String one glass bead on an eyepin and create a simple loop. Repeat five more times creating six beaded links.
5. Attach three beaded links together with a chain links. Attach the links to the large copper jump ring with a chain link. Attach a chain link to the top bead. Cut the 18" chain in half and attach one side to the top of the beaded links with a small copper jump ring. Repeat on the other side.

Resources:
Pendant: Humblebeads. Czech leaves: Dream Girl Beads. Glass beads: various sources, check out Beads by C. Art Metal jump ring, chain and findings: Hobby Lobby. Copper jump rings: Rings & Things.

Special bonus: As a year end gift, I'm offering 20% off my Etsy shop now through Monday. Use discount NewYear when you check out.

On the 10th Day of Christmas: Tree Top Necklace

2011-12-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed all our projects that use up orphan beads? Here is another design to help clean out the bead box! A nest pendant is paired with a series of beads that reflect the color palette and balanced by a long branch connector.

Supplies:

Nest pendant

Branch connector

10x14mm lotus pod seed

10mm faceted Czech glass beads

8mm firepolish glass bead

8mm smoky quartz bead

8mm Czech glass flower

6 gunmetal 5mm jump rings

7.5mm gunmetal jump ring

1" gunmetal headpin

Gunmetal lobster clay clasp

13" gunmetal chain (cut in two lengths of 6.5")

10" 24 gauge sterling silver wire (cut in five 2" pieces)

1. Wire wrap a bail with the sterling silver wire around the pendant by forming a large loop through the pendant and create a wrapped loop at the top, wrap the extra wire around the top loop several times.

2. String the glass flower on the headpin and create a wrapped loop.

3. Wire-wrap the other 4 beads with the pieces of sterling silver wire, create 4 beaded chain links. Before closing the loops, slip the next link on the loop.

4. Attach the pendant and beaded chain links together with a jump ring. Repeat to attach the branch connector to the pendant. Attach the flower dangle before closing the jump ring with the connector.

5. Attach the chain to the end of the beaded links and connector with jump rings.

6. Attach the clasp with the small jump rings. On the other end of the chain attach the large jump ring with the smaller jump ring.

Whip up a pair of coordinating earrings with Branch Disk beads and nest charms from Green Girl Studios. Use a little bit of 24 gauge steel wire to create the wrapped loops.

Resources: Polymer clay nest pendant and disk beads: Humblebeads. Czech glass: Raven's Journey. Branch Connector: Bello Modo. Gunmetal findings and silver wire: Hobby Lobby. Steel Wire: Ace Hardware. Lotus pod: Sorry - they were a Bead & Button Show find and I can't find the source any longer.

Featured Designer of the Week: Molly Alexander

2011-12-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week.

One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week's featured designer is....

Molly Alexander

Here is what ABS editor Heather Powers said about Molly's necklace:

"I love that Molly was inspired by the repetition of the building this month and that is what she translated into her necklace with the herringbone-wrapped beads. The copper is such a departure from the cool color palette and I like that she added in those silvers and blues with tiny bead clusters. She was able to make something that fit her design style but found it's inspiration in our challenge."

You still have a few days to enter to participate in our blog hop and win fab prizes from this month's sponsors! Visit here for complete challenge details.

We are finishing up this week with the last three 12 Days of Christmas projects and our blog tour on Friday.

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Kissing Balls

2011-12-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

A kiss can be a comma, a question mark or an exclamation point. That's basic spelling that every woman ought to know. ~Mistinguett (Jeanne Bourgeois), Theatre Arts, December 1955

The evergreen kissing ball is a romantic tradition dating back to 18th-century England. As the charming custom goes, a young lady stands beneath the ball and receives a kiss, removing a berry, until all the berries (and kisses) were gone.

Create these mock kissing ball earrings in just three easy steps.

Materials:
Enamel balls - Barbara Lewis, PaintingWithFireArtwear.com
Brass and gold plated bead caps
Swarovski crystals
Vintaj brass ear wires
Vintaj eyepins

Instructions:
1:: Gather your materials. Find some round beads, like these emerald green fluted enameled balls from Barbara Lewis of Painting with Fire fame. Sting onto brass eyepins.

2:: Pile on an assortment of bead caps with various looks. Stacking your bead caps is an instant way to add texture and interest. Try stacking bead caps of differing metals, like brass with silver or gunmetal with gold.

3:: Add some sparkle with Swarovski crystals to catch the light and draw his eye. Attach to ear wires of your choice, I prefer these long swingy ones from Vintaj.

{Kissing Balls - available on Etsy}

Put these modern-day kissing balls on your ears and be prepared for some smooches!

On the 8th Day of Christmas: What to do with Christmas Leftovers

2011-12-22T10:49:00.001-05:00

Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart.
~Thomas Fuller

Do you ever have leftovers after the holidays and just don't know what to do with them? I actually hate eating leftovers, but I love BEADING leftovers. After making all the ornaments and necklaces and earrings and bookmarks and other beaded goodies, I ended up with a lot of leftovers and a great idea... make a potluck! A potluck Wrist Garland, that's what!

I started with some 'simple truths' initials in red and green to spell out L-O-V-E and J-O-Y. I have been making these as sweet little initial pendants and bookmarks for my family and friends so I hade bunch left over. Why not spell out a message for the New Year? I picked those two words because they are more than just holiday words, but ones that work all year long. I kept the colors fairly traditional in red and green, but you could mix it up and combine colors or use other ones like blue or purple if that is your thing. The key is to use up your leftovers, so see what is in your prodigious stash and let that color be your guide. If you don't have some 'simple truths' lying around, how about an assortment of other art beads in the same color family?

Next, find a sturdy bit of chain in your left over bin. You don't have leftovers bins? Just wait... you will! Fish out a jump ring or round link to add to the chain and a trigger clasp. If you want to get even more fancy, check out the tutorial I posted on dressing up your plain clasps.

Then I went to the bowls and containers that cover my desk filled with the leftover bits and pieces from the past six years. I am notorious for not cleaning up after myself, so every once in awhile I just dump all the pieces that didn't make it into bowls. I keep buying more pottery bowls for my table. I have them for pieces of chain, art beads that I didn't use, and all manner of beads. If I were smart I would sort them into colors, but that would be thinking ahead too much!

Sort through your leftovers and pick out beads that suit your color scheme. Then just wire wrap them all on headpins and start attaching them to the links in the chain. I prefer to wire wrap them directly to the chain (this is where a ChainSta would come in handy for me!) or you can just make the wrapped head pins and then add them all at once with jump rings. Your call.

Et voila!

I thought these looked like little garlands you might hang on your tree but are instead for dressing up your wrist. Wrist Garlands! Enjoy using up your leftovers. ;-)

Wishing you JOY and LOVE in abundance in the New Year!

P.S. Psssst! I am giving away one of these bracelets! Just hop on over to my blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere and leave a comment! Winner will be chosen from comments on my blog only and announced on December 27th! Merry Christmas!

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Holiday Pendant Project

2011-12-21T12:28:00.002-05:00

Holly Pendant

Supplies:
Ceramic Holly Pendant
4 assorted red and green accent beads
2 brass 2 inch headpins
1 10mm brass jump ring
1 brass chain necklace

Instructions:
1. String a red and a green bead onto a headpin. Just above the bead make a simple wire loop, trim excess wire and set aside.
2. Repeat step one to make a second beaded dangle.
3. Open up the jump ring and string the pendant, the two beaded dangles, and the chain on. Close the jump ring.

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Season's Greetings Card Display

2011-12-20T07:47:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite memories of the holidays was visiting my grandparents in Northern California. My grandma and grandpa moved around quite a bit in their time and had gathered many friends, far and wide. As the family and their circle of friends grew so did the season's greetings they would receive each year. Grandma Betty would hang a wide silk ribbon on each doorway and pin each card up as it arrived. This Season's Greetings Card Garland is in remembrance of those lovely times together. All of the beads used were gathered from around the studio, which makes it great for orphans beads and left overs! This project can be as simple or elaborate as you like!

Supplies:
4 feet heavy stringing wire. (you could also use 22 gauge copper wire in a pinch!)
several hundred loose beads.
1 gingerbread ceramic snowflake
8 to 10 hanging clips (available at Michael's. OH! And checkout the fantastic Michael's coupon app for your smart phone! Coupons with out the clipping!)
15 to 20 art beads
crimp beads

Tools:
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters

1. Layout your beads in a pattern with the snowflake pendant in the middle.

2. Loop one end and close with a crimp bead.

3. String beads and add hanging clips at 5 to 6 inch lengths. Make sure to pinch closed the clips hanging ring.
4. Loop end and crimp.
5. Run to the mail box!
6. Hang and enjoy!

Book shelf.

Table edge.

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Lampwork Bangle Free Tutorial

2011-12-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

Hello from the UK, and welcome to the 5th day of Christmas! It's getting pretty near to the big day now, so I thought I'd show you how to make a really quick and easy last minute present. It's a great little project for using a pretty lampwork orphan or focal that hasn't found quite the right home yet.

Lampwork focal by HelenJewellery, another Scottish artist.

Ingredients:

Vintaj Creative Hoop

Lampork focal or two

Co-ordinating beads

Antique brass jump rings

Antique brass headpins

20g antique brass wire

1. I start with my lampwork focal. I have a huuuuge stash of lampwork, and it can be hard knowing where to use some of them; they can be just too pretty to put with lots of other beads. They seem to want to be the solo star. So for this project, I like to pick one which I have perhaps had for a while; one that I've not been quite sure what to do with for a while.

2. Take it on a little trip round your bead stash, picking a pile of co-ordinating beads. Don't worry about how many, you just want to get a little co-ordinating pile of bead soup going.

3. Pick some beads from this bead soup, and turn them into bead dangles using headpins and wrapped loops. You could also might add in a little charm or connector at this stage - like a little TierraCast bird. All of the dangles now go onto jump rings so they are ready to slip onto the bangle.

4. Cut a 20cm piece of 20g wire and coil it around the hoop as in step 4, passing it through one of the pierced ends.

To finish, slip on the dangles at this point, before closing the bangle by sliding on the lampwork focal onto the wire, and passing it through the other pierced end of the hoop, coiling once again to close. And there you have it, a pretty, quick to make bangle, finished in a matter of minutes. A simple design that you can personalise so easily, depending on the lampwork (or any art bead) that you select. And that bead soup you have left over can easily be turned into more jewellery - a simple knotted bracelet, a pair of earrings with clusters of bead dangles....there are so many possibilities. Another great thing about choosing a bead soup in this way is that you can end up putting together colours that work, but that you might not have considered combining otherwise.

Lampwork beads from top left clockwise: HelenJewellery, MoMoBeads, Moogin and PixieWillow. Lampwork headpin GardanneBeads. Czech glass and brass stampings from YashmaCreations and ArteBellaSurplus.

Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer and singer, currently living in Manchester, England. You can read more about beads and singing at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com.

Featured Designer of the Week: Klassy Joolz

2011-12-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features a Designer of the Week.

One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week's featured designer is....

Pamela Traub of Klassy Joolz

Here is what ABS editor Heather Powers said about Pam's pendant:

"I love the bead that Pamela used for her pendant - it captures the architectural feeling of our inspiration painting, yet it's a little unexpected. The sense of story with the birds flying underneath add whimsical charm and narrative to the design. I also enjoy the unusual construction of the pendant, it's a great way to use a large disk bead."

Link Library with Melanie

2011-12-18T16:54:00.002-05:00

Did you know that the Art Bead Scene has been doing a 12 Days of Christmas blog series of free projects for several years? If you follow the blog tag 12 Days of Christmas, you can see tons of projects from the last few years!

Here is the latest news from some of our beady friends:

A Bead A Day
Share your holiday jewelry on A Bead A Day blog. Just leave a comment or send an email to get your work featured!

About.com Jewelry Making
No time to make beaded ornaments? This is so not true when you have this super fast and inexpensive tutorial to help you.

Art Bead Scene
Jennifer decks the halls with a super colorful, Jangles styled bead garland, and her free tutorial will show you how to make one too!

Beading Arts
Every new year should bring a new challenge. How about getting inspired by the Ring A Day challenge...and maybe win a copy of the book?

Carmi's Art/Life World
This week I made a beautiful component even better!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean has fun being a new designer blogger for Nina Designs! Come and see what she made!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares a couple of magazines that he was recently published in.

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

On the 4th Day of Christmas: Embellished Clasps Free Tutorial

2011-12-16T07:15:00.000-05:00

"Excellence is in the details.

Give attention to the details and excellence will come. "

~ Perry Paxton

Obviously, we love using art beads around here. And when you are using art beads in your designs, you want something a bit more special for the closure. This tutorial shows you three ways that I like to add that special touch to my designs.

I purchase a lot of generic looking findings wherever I can get them. I love toggle clasps and hooks as they are like a blank canvas waiting for me to embellish them. They are like the work horses of my design studio. These humble little toggles can be dressed up to complement the color and style of the art bead that you are using.

To add that special touch, all you need are some simple toggles and large jump rings, wire and beads.

Top Row:
Take a pretty egg bead from Kelley Wenzel of Kelleysbeads in a lovely midnight blue with gorgeous frit. Pair that with a rope twist copper plated toggle, vintage bronze wire, and some navy seed pearls. Wrap one end tightly around the base of the toggle. String one pearl and then two wraps in between. Repeat until the end, tucking the wire into the toggle.

Middle Row:
I love word beads from Diane Hawkey. This red color is so bright and cheery and will make a perfect gift for my Tiny Dancer's dance instructor (and red happens to be her favorite color!). Sometimes I wander into different aisles at the craft store just to see what I can find. I think I had read about this on a blog once years ago (I wish I could remember where) that there was an embroidery floss that was wired. I happened upon the thread aisle at Michaels and discovered the DMC Color Infusions Memory Thread. This copper wire wrapped in embroidery thread adds a soft touch to your design and was perfect for embellishing a plain jump ring to make a pretty toggle to go with the 'dance' bead. Just wrap tightly around the ring, making sure that the opening to the ring is inside the coil and then tie a tight knot.

Bottom Row:
My favorite embellished clasp uses this hook from Vintaj. I use the vintage bronze colored wire to wrap the end of the hook tightly then add beads along the outer edge of the hook, in this case I used seed beads. Then just wire around the curve of the hook for a nice detail. Works well with the affirmation rings from Vintaj.

Another great look is to find some larger holed beads that can slip over the hook, like I did with this bracelet design (which happened to be my May 2009 ABS challenge entry, "Song of the Golden Lotus"). Just wrap the wire tightly between the beads for a charming variation.

I believe that the true strength of a design is in the details, and having a simple clasp on a stunning piece created with beautiful art beads is just not good enough. Have fun spicing up your designs with these simple touches.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Art Bead Bookmark

2011-12-15T07:13:00.000-05:00

Books, books, books! Who doesn't love books? No one around here, that's for sure. This beaded and braided bookmark is my holiday gift for family and friends this year. What a perfect time to share my project with you!

Handmade bookmarks make quick and easy gifts for just about any reason or season. I made this one in less than 30 minutes. They look great holding your place in your favorite novel OR even better, your favorite beading book!

Materials:

1 daisy ceramic lentil bead

1 blue/green “mermaid” ceramic bead

120 yellow transparent size 8 seed beads

11’ of orange 4-ply Irish waxed linen cord

Tools:

Scissors

Ruler

Macramé board and T-pin

Tip: Pin your work to a Macramé board to keep even tension on the cords as you braid.

Directions:

1: Cut the linen cord into six 22” pieces.
2: Form an overhand knot at the end of 1 cord. String 20 seed beads. Repeat step for the remaining 5 cords.

3: Bring all six cords together and form an overhand knot after the seed beads. Use all six cords to string the daisy lentil bead; form an overhand knot after the bead.

4: Pin the last knot to the top of the macramé board with the T-pin. Separate the cords on the board so that you have 2 cords on the left, 2 cords in the middle and 2 cords on the right. Braid the cords for about 11" and remove from the board.

5: Use all six cords to form an overhand knot. Use all six cords to string the mermaid ceramic bead and form an overhand knot. Trim ends to ½” and fray.

Resources:

Daisy lentil: Golem Studio. Mermaid bead: Gaea. Linen cord: Ornamentea. Seed beads: LBS.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Holiday Tree Garland

2011-12-14T10:10:00.000-05:00

Materials Needed:
1.5cm-2cm felt balls in assorted colors
1.5cm-2cm wood beads in assorted colors
Size 6 seed beads in assorted colors
Upholstery thread
Needle
12" 18 gauge craft wire

Instructions:
1. Cut the craft wire in to two 6 inch pieces. Make two wire scrolls with a pair of needle nose pliers.These will be the hooks to attach the garland to the tree. Once made, set them aside.
2. Leaving your thread on the spool, thread the needle and pull about 12" of excess thread through the hole.
3. Begin by stringing a felt ball onto the thread. Next string approximately 7 inches of seed beads.
4. Continue by string a wood bead, follow with another seven inches of seed beads, and then a felt ball.
5. As the thread fills up with beads, unroll a little more thread and slide the beads further down the thread. Follow the previous pattern to string as long of a garland as you would like.
6. Tie the needle end of the thread to the end of a wire scroll. Slide the strung beads up so they are snug against the wire. Tie the remaining end of the garland to the second scroll. Trim any lose threads.

Enjoy!
Jennifer Jangles

On the 1st Day of Christmas: Cardinal Pendant

2011-12-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

I love seeing a little flash of a red cardinal on snow covered branches in the middle of winter. I created this winter inspired bird pendant as a reminder of those bird-watching memories as I wait for the snow to fall here in Michigan!

This pendant is so simple and easy, you can whip it up in 10 minutes or less thanks to a purchased beaded bead that adds in the wow factor without all the learning to follow a bead pattern.

Supplies:

Cardinal pendant

Red beaded bead

4 glass drops

15mm arte metal jump ring

6" of 19 gauge steel wire

26" oval cable chain

Directions:

1. In the center of the wire create a large loop, open and slide the pendant through. Close the loop and wire wrap the tail of the wire above the loop.

2. String on the red beaded bead and create another wire-wrapped loop with the rest of the wire.

3. Open the jump ring, string on the pendant, the 4 glass drops and the ends of the chain. Use two pliers to close the jump ring.

4. Yep, pour yourself a glass of egg nog - you just finished a Christmas present!

Use any large bird pendant and beaded bead combo to change up the look. I've done some great ones with a turquoise bird and a large nut bead too. If you have some large interesting textured lucite beads that would work well too.

Resources:

Pendant: Humblebeads. Glass Beads: YukiDesigns. Beaded Bead: Michael's. Wire: Ace Hardware. Jump Ring & Chain: Hobby Lobby.

12 Days of Christmas - 2011 Edition!

2011-12-13T09:17:00.002-05:00

The contributors of the Art Bead Scene would like to thank our readers for another year of support! Thank you for joining in our monthly challenges, sharing your thoughtful comments on Studio Saturdays and following along with us every day as we celebrate art beads and inspire those who use them.

As a thank you, we present to you the Art Bead Scene's 12 Days of Christmas. We have a new batch of free projects from our contributors to offer over the next few weeks.

So no matter what holiday you celebrate this season, we hope you do it in style - adorned with art beads!

Link Library with Melanie

2011-12-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

I am taking a break this week from looking in the archives, because I wanted to remind you all of the Ornament Blog Hop that took place this past week! Lots of links to inspiring ideas for the holidays, including the Humblebeads Deck the Halls Ornament above! Check out the whole list of Ornament Blog Hop posts that we posted here earlier this week!

And now, even more links from our beady friends!

A Bead A Day
If you are looking for some fabulous giveaways by a wide variety of artists and crafters, Lisa is linking you up!

About.com Jewelry Making
Time and money are items many of us don't have much of right now, but not to worry. These simple projects are just what you need to inexpensively spread some holiday jewelry love.

Art Bead Scene
Erin provides an inspiring treasury of architecture inspired jewelry compontents to give us some ideas for the Art Bead Scene December challenge!

Beading Arts
Wanna learn to work with chains in your jewelry designs? Cyndi has a copy of "Chains Chains Chains" up for grabs!

Beads & Books
Michelle turns an inexpensive printer's tray from a craft store into a beautiful display for a jewelry show.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a series of bezels filled with last year's Christmas cards to share this week.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean hosts a very lovely giveaway from the sublime bead and jewelry store in Florence, Italy, Beaded Lily!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew creates a piece to be silently auctioned off to help a fellow artist out! Bid on his necklace to win and check out all the other fantastic auctions going on!

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

Studio Saturday with Melanie Brooks

2011-12-09T15:55:00.001-05:00

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.

Congrats to EmandaJ who is the winner of last week's Simple Truths Ornament made by Erin Prais-Hintz! Please email Erin at enjoytheday@tesoritrovati.com with your mailing address so she can get your holiday goodie out to you!

I have been getting ready for the holidays lately, helping to make lots of holiday presents for my customers on the weekends at Rust Belt Market. While I don't have a lot of holiday specific designs, I did make one design that reminds me of Christmas.. this Candy Swirl pendant. These pendants start out as black and white drawings that I scan and Photoshop to make a very graphic jpeg file. After getting the file done, I upload it to RubberStamps.net, who then sends me a rubber stamp that I can use on my porcelain clay! I love this process, because I can draw up anything I can imagine and have it easily transformed into a clay pendant, and it is quick and easy to build up a big library of designs.

Here is an example of the sort of Story Necklace that we make at the Rust Belt. It's a mixed media collage of metal keys, charms, and gears with recycled sari silk ribbon. Holiday inspired, but also recycled and a little industrial...festive and funky but not too sweet.

This week, you can win this pair of Earthenwood Studio ceramic pendants: one Candy Swirl and one Holiday Peace pendant.

To enter to win, comment here on this post and tell me about your favorite holiday sweets!

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

Aritists Helping Artists Auction

2011-12-09T10:04:00.001-05:00

A single leaf working alone provides no shade. ~Chuck Page

Artists Helping Artists
We need your help.

Artists from around the blog community come together to help a fellow artist in need. There have been a lot of hops and challenges lately, and they are a lot of fun and stretch your creativity. But this is a hop with a cause: giving help where it is needed most.

What is it? Artists Helping Artists is a group of bloggers who has made something special offered up for the auction. All proceeds will be directed where they are needed most to help out our fellow artist in need. All you need to do is leave a comment on each blog in the hop with your bid amount. The auction will run through Sunday, December 11 and winning bids will be sent a PayPal invoice. Come back and bid againa and again!

What do you get? A beautiful hand- and heart- made piece by a talented artist. Christmas ornaments, beads and components, rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. These are all very beautiful pieces that are just perfect for that special someone on your Christmas list, or a treat for yourself.

Here are just a few of the pieces available in this auction:

{New Growth-New Directions necklace offered by Erin Prais-Hintz}

{Strength of Spirit earrings offered by MaryJane Dodd}

{Ceramic bracelet offered by Nan Emmetts of Spirit Rattles}

{Glass bouquet bead necklace offered by Kerry Bogert}

{Ammonite bowl filled with components offered by Kristi Bowman}

{Necklace offered by Rebecca Anderson}

{Cute birdie ornmanet offered by Erin Fickert-Rowland}

Please consider supporting this auction by visiting the entire list of participants below:

Heidi Post http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com/

Marie Cramp and Lori Anderson http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/

Barbara Bechtel and Staci Louise Smith http://secondsurf.com/

Erin Fickert-Rowland http://elysianstudiosart.com/

Keirsten Giles and Susan Fincher http://www.cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com/

Andrew Thornton http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/

Kristi Bowman-Gruel http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/

Nan Emmett http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/

Maire Dodd http://mairedodd.blogspot.com/

Amanda Cargill Austin http://www.seashoreglassgirl.com/

Janice Everett http://jlynnjewels.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Anderson http://songbeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Iko Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Justman http://mysoulsfire.blogspot.com/

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/

Kerry Bogert http://kabsconcepts.blogspot.com/
Erin Seigel http://erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com/
Courtney Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/

We have built a caring and committed community of artists, designers and bloggers the world over. And when someone in our midst has needed it, we have come together to show our support and love and friendship. That is what makes this beading community so very special. Thank you.

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." ~ Author Unknown

This is definitely a 'something good' today!

Art Deco Architecture: Etsy Inspiration

2011-12-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

"The design, originally drawn up for building contractor William H. Reynolds, was finally sold to Walter P. Chrysler, who wanted a provocative building that would not merely scrape the sky but positively pierce it. Its 77 floors briefly making it the highest building in the world – at least until the Empire State Building was completed – it became the star of the New York skyline, thanks above all to its crowning peak. In a deliberate strategy of myth generation, Van Alen planned a dramatic moment of revelation: the entire seven-storey pinnacle, complete with special-steel facing, was first assembled inside the building, and then hoisted into position through the roof opening and anchored on top in just one and a half hours. All of a sudden it was there—a sensational fait accompli."

~ Peter Gossel and Gabriele Leuthauser, in Architecture in the Twentieth Century

I have always been fascinated by architecture. Some of the structures that we live in, work in and play in are beautiful. Unfortunately, we often overlook their beauty because we are surrounded by them every day. But the Chrysler Building is hard to overlook and is a fascinating ode to the era in which it was built.

When I was in high school I was obsessed with the artistic movements of Art Deco and Art Nouveau. (I was a strange kid). I did some searching on Etsy and found that a lot of what is marked as Art Deco is really Art Nouveau and vice versa. So what is the difference between these two? I am not an art history major (although I think I aspire to be one!) so I did a little digging.

Art Nouveau literally means "new art", and was popular from the 1880s to World War I. This style was heavily influenced by the artist Alphonse Mucha who produced a famous stylized lithograph advertising poster for a popular play of the time. The Grand Palais in Paris is a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture. You will notice a lot of natural subjects in art nouveau like insects and botanicals and fairies. Graceful arcs abound in this style. Flowy and flowery are good adjectives to describe this art movement. Our challenge from August was a good example of this style.

View from one of the North facing triangular windows

Art Deco emerged after World War I until just before World War II. The name Art Deco was taken from the 1925 Exposition Internationales des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, France. This art movement was influenced by the opulence of the Jazz Age and features a more streamlined, geometric aesthetic. Sleek is a good adjective to use. More industrial and less natural looking, materials such as chrome, steel and inlaid wood are popular. The Chrysler Building is the very epitome of Art Deco design with its sleek shape, geometric patterns and terraced crown. It is goreous on the inside and out and is a jewel of modern architecture.

I am sort of obsessed with triangles. Maybe it is because I was a member of the sorority Tri Delta in college (our Greek letters are three deltas, or triangles), but I love them and I love the top of the Chrysler Building even more because of that crown detail. And just look at the view! So I put together a little Etsy treausury that is all about the triangle to get you thinking.

'Art Deco Architecture: Inspiration from the December Art Bead Scene Challenge' by TesoriTrovati

Our inspiration this month is the iconic architectural style of the Chrysler Building. I love triangles and the bold shapes and geometric themes in this month's inspiration are teeming with possibilities!

Square Nail Pendant citizenobjects $36.00	25 mm Silver plated connecto... jewelmaterials $5.60	The Deco Pendant twigcrafts $7.00	Light Blue and Aqua Porcelai... tashamckelvey $35.00
Antique Bronze Triangular Be... ScarlettsGarde... $1.40	Art Deco Geometric Necklace ... SilkPurseSowsE... $14.00	Large triangle Focal Stonewa... MuddyMommaPott... $5.00	22mm DECO - Silver Vintage B... HauteButton $3.99
Necklace, Triangles, Royal B... ABJglassworks $24.00	Etched copper pendant - art ... annamcdade $20.00	Deco Series Handmade Ceramic... keystoneclayan... $13.50	2 PC Natural Brass Art Deco ... mermaidsdowry $5.00
5 SILVER Mykonos Ceramic TRI... LindenAvenueDe... $2.25	Abstract Art Deco Inspired C... SilverForrestS... $25.00	Free Shipping Needlepoint Pa... NeedleYou $30.00	Recycled Green Wine Bottle T... urbanartifaks $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Ornament Blog Hop

2011-12-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Art Bead Scene's Annual Ornament Blog Hop!

We have a great group of beady bloggers who have put together ornaments to share with you today. Be sure to visit them in the links below.

Holiday Beaded Ornaments

by Heather Powers

Supplies:

10-12" 19 gauge blackened steel wire

3-4' 26 gauge silver craft wire

30 grams seed bead mix (purchased or mix your own)

14mm polymer clay disk bead

10mm pewter bead cap

6-8mm accent bead

(optional: 4-6mm accent beads to embellish the beaded part of the ornament.)

Tools:

Chain nose and round nose pliers

Heavy duty wire cutters

Bead spinner

Directions:

1. Form the steel wire into your ornament shape. For the round shape you can use your hands, for a geometric shape use flat or chain nose pliers. Wrap one end of the wire around the top of the shape to secure it. Wrap the other end around the wire heading toward the center of the ornament, pull the wire straight up and string on the disk bead, bead cap and accent bead. Wrap a wire-wrapped loop. Wrap the rest of the other wire under the disk bead.

2. Put your bead mix into the spinner and give it a stir. Make a tight loop at one end of the 26 gauge wire, so the beads won't fall off and slightly curve the other end of the wire into a hook shape.

3. Place the curved wire into the bead spinner and spin the beads onto the wire. A 4" round ornament takes about 3 1/2' of beaded wire. If you run out you can add another piece of beaded wire to finish your design. Leave a 6" tail of wire.

(Optional: you can add in a few larger beads while you are adding beads to the wire for some texture and color.)

4. Wrap the end of the beaded wire around the steel frame and pull the wire across the steel frame to the other side. Let the beads slide down on the wire and wrap the end on the other side of the frame two times.

5. Repeat wrapping the steel frame with the beaded wire until it's completely covered. Trim the wire and tuck in the end with the chain nose pliers.

6. Create a spiral hook with 3" of steel wire.

Once I pulled out the bead spinner, everyone in my family become keenly interested in this project and we spent a few nights this week whipping up a whole collection of beaded ornaments.

My 13 year old daughter came up with the Christmas tree.

My husband created present shapes and the ornament shape below.

Now 'tis the season for giving, so we are going to give away a Bead Ornament Kit shown here and a $30 gift certificate to Humblebeads!

To enter: Spread the news about the ornament hop today on one social media site or more: like facebook, twitter or your blog. One entry per person. Leave a comment in the link below to let me know you helped spread the holiday cheer.

Grab a candy cane and a cup of cocoa while you meander through the blog hop:

Life in the Lyon's Den