Studio Saturdays with Missficklemedia

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.
This weeks winner is Adee. Congratulations! 

You have won a this bracelet from the studio of Lorelei. 

Send Lorelei an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.
This week we visit Shannon LeVart of missficklemedia.com in her studio(s)!

I would love to show you a picture of a studio that sparks radiant light of boundless creativity.
 But I do not have that. I have "places". Spots, if you will. Tucked here and there in my little house. And most of them you have to climb mountains of laundry to get to. But I am grateful I have them. These little niches in my house have allowed me to stay sane as a mother, feel cared for as a wife and have emboldened me as a woman.
 I hide from the kids in the bedroom and roll clay.

 I shut myself away in the utility room and whack away at metal on the work bench my husband put together for me.

 I stand at the side kitchen counter and put this bead with that bead and this chain with that finding and I send these projects out to the acceptance of the handmade jewelry community.

 It's scattered. And distracting. I go into the utility room to start a load of laundry but I see patina developed on a piece of copper and the next thing I know I am heading outside to seal it, the laundry still sitting in the basket.  But it works. 
 Somehow, I have slowly built a job for myself using my passion for jewelry making. I refuse to let my circumstances get in the way of creating. No money, no space; it doesn't matter, I am doing what I am meant to do.

 Do you have a special place in your house that you create from? Your coffee table? Your nightstand? Your kitchen table? Please tell me I am not the only one who doesn't have an actual studio. Leave a comment letting me know where you create from and we will draw a name next Saturday for this awesome prize...

 Just kidding. You don't have to do my laundry unless you want to.
This is the piece you could win by leaving a comment; a vintage brass bezel showcasing a blue bird and antiqued ice resin, drilled and set with a brass eyelet for easy wire-wrapping.

Have a wonderful weekend from where ever you're at!
Much Love and Respect,
Shannon
missficklemedia.com 

Pop Culture Inspiration

First, our winner from the Alice in Wonderland drawing is Alice Howe! How fitting! Congrats Alice, please email me your address and I'll send those pendants out to you today.

Today I'm showing some exciting new pendants from Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio.  If you follow Melanie's blog, then you are fimilar with her Song Lore Saturdays.  Each week Melanie takes a song and creates jewelry or beads inspired by the lyrics.  Her latest creations are based on Paul Simon's Graceland, which happens to be a favorite of mine.  You can read the post here and the can find the entire Song Lore series here.

Melanie is offering some of the heart pendants in her Etsy shop.

From Alice in Wonderland to Graceland, beadmakers and jewelry designers can find a treasure trove of inspiration in songs, books, movies and more.  Have you created jewelry based on one of these inspirations?  I'd love to hear about or read a blog post about it, if you have written about a special piece you've created.

Findings Worth Finding - Ceramic Bead Caps

I'm so over the moon for Elaine Ray's bead caps.  They are so earthy and delicate.  Perfect for earrings, pair them with wire and stones for instant autumn inspiration.  They also fit nicely with this month's fairy theme - they remind me of the seeds and flowers of the painting.  You can find Elaine Ray's bead at Ornamentea.

Jangles - Sponsor Spotlight

What are your current inspirations?
Right now I am in love with folk art and mixed media. I moved to Georgia three years ago and fell in love with all of the self taught and folk artists we have here. I started collecting paintings, wall hangings... you name it. I am especially in love with anything made from wood that is painted in bright colors. Here's a picture of one of the walls in my family room. Look up in the top left hand corner and you will see my Ruby C Williams painting.

What is your favorite bead that you make?
I have two favorite types of beads to make. They are both very simple. They are the big ball beads, I call them Jangles Pearls and I like making pendants. The reason I like making these the most is they are a great blank surface for painting. The painting is what I love the most about making beads.

When you have to whip up a quick gift, what do you usually create?
For quick gifts, I try to think about the person I am giving the present to and give them something they would like the best. But you can never go wrong with a simple pendant or earrings.

Thanks to Jennifer for being one of our monthly sponsors, be sure to stop by Jangles.net to see what's new!

Diane Hawkey - Sponsor Spotlight

What are your current inspirations?
The trees around me are turning amazing colors. It still shocks me every year when I see it happen. We are surrounded by oak trees and the acorns are everywhere. They are wonderful works of art by nature. . The autumn light just makes everything come to life with a shimmery golden energy, I can't help being influenced by that.

What is your favorite bead that you make?
Hmmmmm thats a tough one. I'd have to say I love my mermaid the most since she always makes me smile when I am working on her.

When you have to whip up a quick gift, what do you usually create?
Jewelry is such a personal thing. I try to keep it simple. One of my pendents on a cord is always a good choice. I try to match my work with the personality if the person receiving the gift. A quick pendant of one of my birds on top of one of my word beads ending in a simple pewter charm dangle is always a good choice. I can match the word with the person and the occasion.

Here at the Art Bead Scene we are so thankful to our monthly sponsors!  Be sure to stop by Diane's website to see more of her work.

Fall in Central Park

While looking through some of my new favorite beadmakers, I noticed a little story trying to tell itself.  One of the big city, the trees in autumn splendor in the park and a little squirrel gathering nuts that lay spread out near a statue.  Well, okay maybe I just wanted an excuse to show off these fab beads!

Jubilee

Librasundesigns

Macarroll

From Heather's Sketchbook - Chinook Pendants

I love Mellisa's designs from Chinook Jewelry. Her ceramic pendants offer an earthy color palette in intricate designs. She also has some color pieces with no texture, that are perfect for layering with charms. I love pairing Chinooks work with my branch disks, they work so well together. Click on the sketches to see them larger.

For Art Bead Scene readers:

Receive 10% off your orders from Chinook Jewelry through the rest of October. Enter coupon code: OCT09ABS at checkout.

Art Formed From Earth, Transformed by Fire

Our very own Melanie Brooks Lukacs was recently published in the August 2007 issue of Simply beads - Yeah!!! Way to go Melanie. Though she appears several places in the magazine - this blog focuses on her incredible article about Ceramic Beads.

Melanie began the journey of writing this article quite a while ago and the time and care put into the article shows as she explains how porcelain, stoneware and earthenware clays are used to make fired beads and pendants. There are many, many examples in the magazine but I wanted to show you some right here that coincide with our monthly challenge theme of Mermaid's Grotto.

Porcelain examples:

Stoneware examples:

Earthenware examples:

Make sure you check out this issue of Simply Beads to see Melanie's other submissions!

- Elaine

Findings Worth Finding: Jangles Magnetic Clasps!

Magnetic clasps are an easy closing alternative to the traditional spring ring clasp. A plain magnetic clasp is nice and a colorful one is even better! Here's a new ceramic magnetic clasp from Jennifer of Jangles. A brightly colored magnetic clasp to complement your jewelry design. In addition to her wonderful clasps, Jennifer has designed brightly colored ceramic hoops too!

Bead Scoop: beads-of-clay.org

Beads-of-Clay.org, a group that 4 of the ABS team members belong to, has recently received a face lift. This group is very helpful and informative for the earth clay bead artist.

Beads-of-clay.org is home to ceramic bead artists who are interested in working together to promote artisan ceramic beads. With members from all over the country and the world, the styles and techniques that we use vary greatly from artist to artist, giving us a rich and imaginative visual library from which we can inspire one another.

Porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, terra cotta, raku, Egyptian paste, and clay slip are among the varied materials our members use to make beads, buttons, and jewelry components.

If you are interested in learning about making or collecting ceramic beads, please check out our website which is full of information and artwork.

Earth clay is the common ceramic material used by all these beadmakers. The areas of expertise for these ceramic bead artists range from bright colored low fired clay all the way to high fired porcelain. Included in the beadmakers' skills are the handling of earthenware, stoneware, raku, porcelain and Egyptian Paste. The handmade beads and pendants may be glazed, unglazed or tumbled polished. Firing methods used include electric and gas kilns as well as raku and pit fired techniques. The variety and richness of these miniature works of art is a delight for the collector and jeweler.

In addition the BOC website, a new beads-of-clay blog has been started. Info on the lighter side of clay beads and the artists who make them. Please click on by and check it out.

The Mermaids of Joan Miller

Looking for that special bead for this month's challenge? Clay beadmaker, Joan Miller creates colorful and expressive mermaid focal beads. It's Joan's attention to detail that makes her beads so unique.

Her beads have caught the attention of Beadwork magazine who has profiled Joan in their August/September 2007 issue. Joan’s mermaids also won FIRST PLACE in the handmade beads and buttons category at the 2007 Bead Dreams competition. Congratulations Joan!