Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy and Cherry Blossoms

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.

Congratulations to Liz!

You have won a $20 gift certificate to Erin Prais-Hintz's lovely shop, Tesori Trovati.  Send Erin an email to claim your gift certificate. 

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Hello Art Beading Friends,

It's been some time since I've had a chance to visit with you. I'm happy to be here today. The day job, family life and snow (as I write this post on April 9th, it snowed ... again! Mother nature has been overbearing this winter.) have kept me incredibly busy over the past few months.

I wish I was better at carving out time to create. Lately I've been feeling a sense of lack in myself because my schedule hasn't allowed time for me to relax and create. Or maybe I haven't properly scheduled the time. Whatver the reason I've had plenty of sources for inspiration!

New glass inspired me.

This scrumptious pink glass, Opal Raspberry, by Reichenbach is simply amazing. It's an incredibly expensive glass. This rod is sold by the ounce whereas most glass rods are priced by the pound. I'm always on the hunt for delicious pink glass so when I saw this I couldn't resist, I had to buy a few rods and I'm glad I did. This is simply a luscious glass to work with. 

Raspberry Cherry Blossom

Opal Raspberry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom heart

Staying with the cherry blossom theme I was inspired by a scarf worn by my friend. She was kind enough to take it off so I could snap a couple photos to use for my inspiration.

 Cherry blossom scarf ....

... becomes Cherry Blossom beads.

I also found inspiration in a blog; Earrings Everyday March Inspiration photos. Our own Erin Prais-Hintz choose some fantastic macro dragonfly photos for the March inspiration. Here is just one. I just love these photos!

Macro Inspirations

I'd like to explore these macro photos a bit more. The color combinations and the macro nature of the photos light my creative fires!

(Side note: I'll be listing these beads in my shop on Sunday morning. The beads have been added to my shop on Etsy)

As always, thanks for visiting ABS today.

Please share with me how you manage your time.

Answer this question to win a $20 gift certificate to my shop.

 How do you work creative time into your schedule?

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy: A Study of Trees

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

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.

Congratulations to Denise McCabe! 

You have won a $15 Gift Certificate to Creative Impressions in Clay. 

Please send Tari an email with your information.

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Did I happen to mention that I LOVE trees? I'm still making trees inside the studio!

I know many folks get a bit gloomy when the leaves fall off the trees. Such is not the case with me. In my eyes, when the leaves drop, the trees are in their most glorious state. In their nakedness I see them as truly beautiful, revealing layers of branches reaching for the sun and stars. They truly make me happy!

I'm often found looking up, taking photographs. I'd thought I'd share some of my favorite photos with you.

So cool!

This is one my favorite inspiration trees. Sadly it has been loosing limbs over the last few years.

I'm not alone in my love of trees. I recently found out about a woman who has traveled the world photographing trees. Beth Moon is a photographer who has published a book, Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time. A book I will have to buy!

These are the beads inspired by the photos I've shared with you. The glass as a canvas and I feel like I'm painting the trees on. These are fun to make. I look forward to carving out more time at the torch to create more of these beads.

Answer this question for a chance to win a $15.00 gift certificate toward a purchase in my Etsy shop.

Have you found something that has fired you up this New Year? Perhaps a color, as Rebecca shared in her last Amuse the Muse post or maybe the ABS January challenge has inspired you. 

What's got your gears spinning? Oohh....gears...now I'm thinking.

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy of Ema K Designs

I'm heading out on vacation. The day this post goes live I'll be relaxing with my Mom, two sisters and my niece in Florida. We're heading to a favorite spot of ours on the Gulf of Mexico. As I prepared for this trip I wanted a pendant to wear that captured the turquoisey, blues and greens of the beautiful Gulf waters. I'd say I leaned more toward the blues but I can't help myself as blue is my favorite color. 

 It's been difficult for me to find a substantial amount of time in the studio these days. When I have been able to carve out time I'm finding myself drawn toward the torch and working with glass. I spent the earlier part of this year working in metal and now I find the glass is calling me back.

 I love simple, statement jewelry which usually consists of an art bead as a pendant hanging from a silver chain. Lentil shaped beads make me happy.

Lentil shaped beads make perfect focal beads.

I'm enjoying the swirls and visual textures achieved within these beads. Although the beads themselves are smooth.

I tried to mix it up a bit by combining turquoise with a lime green. I don't think the colors photographed well. It's much more vibrant in real life.

Here's my collection of turquoisey, blue jewerly I'll be wearing beach side!

The bead above is going to belong to a lucky ABS viewer.

Leave a comment for your chance to win.

I'd love to know the answer to this question. Do you have a favorite color that you use in your jewelry designs?

Thanks for stopping by ABS today!

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog