Trendy Bead: Druzy Pendants

Artisan Handcrafted KEY in ... cathydailey $6.00	Butterscotch Chalcedony Druz... loveofjewelry $37.99	Zoa Arts Artisan Handcrafted... cathydailey $20.00	Pink Druzy Quartz Drops FULL... loveofjewelry $34.99
Seafoam Aqua Blue Chalcedony... loveofjewelry $23.99	Ammonite Fossil Shell Rounds... DreamSome $10.00	Sparkling Teal Blue Druzy Qu... loveofjewelry $32.99	White Solar Quartz Stalactit... loveofjewelry $37.99
Full 7 Inches - AAA Green Dr... bismillahgems $25.00	Bronze Shell Charm No.1 THEAjewellery $3.00	11-90 Polished Agate Geode ... beadplace $4.99	saskia owl sterling silver c... Hint $39.00
Druzy Lace Agate Quartz geod... KanduBeads $17.00	Tiny Nest Pendant from Green... dreamgirlbeads $4.00	White Druzy Quartz Oval Drop... loveofjewelry $34.99	Druzy Agate Quartz Geode Par... KanduBeads $33.85

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

.

Combine the fun summer trend of large agate or druzy pendants with your favorite art bead charms!

If you had put me in a room of stone pendants, I would have passed over druzy and agate geodes without a second glance.  But after discovering what designers are doing with them, I've started seeing them in a different light.  They are fun and funky and when paired with other artistic and earthy elements I'm finding them quite attractive.

Cluster them together as drops on a large link or layer a charm on top of a flat pendant with a jump ring.  Below are some examples from other designers, use them as jumping point for your own interpretation of this trend.

Do you look at catalogs, runaway reviews or fashion magazines for inspiration for your jewelry designs?  I don't usually, but when I do they spark some new ideas.  The trick is discovering how to process a trend into something that is personally meaningful to you and fits in with your style.

 1. Urban Outfitters 2. Studio Seventy Five 

3. Urban Outfitters 4. Nordstrom

The Trendy Bead - Turquoise Color Challenge

Need a little inspiration for the Turquoise Color Challenge?  Here is a Trendy Bead Report featuring this year's hottest color and the custom color palette that Margie Deeb created for our challenge.  The deadline is April 1st, so get those beads out this weekend and enter!

Teal dogwood bead by Humblebeads, Knurled Round Chain from Ornamentea and Watercolor Swirl lampwork beads by BlueSeraphim.

Ocean Blue Chain by MissFickleMedia, Yellow Circles by Jangles and Lavender Sparklies glass beads by Erica Beads.

A water lily brass toggle from Vintaj via Bello Modo, Aqua Azure Leaf Square Tile by Lynn Davis and Pink and Violet Double Dips by Cindy Gimbrone.

Czech firepolished glass from MountainShadowDesigns, large flower button by Creative Impressions in Clay and Kiss in the Garden disk bead from Humblebeads.

Click on the links above to go directly to the items shown.

Want more inspiration?  Check out Lorelei's blog with her picks for this color scheme.

The Trendy Bead - Wood Filigree

I found these awesome wood filigree pendants on Etsy last week. Aren't they great for lightweight summer designs? You can see how I would use them on a blog post I did earlier this week. Pair them with your favorite art beads for warm weather styles that are easy to wear.

Filigree Leaf from ShareLiving

Light Blue Filigree Wooden Pendant from ShareLiving

Brown Oval Peacock from ShareLiving.

Purple Filigree Foral Wood Charms from MissMacua

Pink Wooden Filigree Clubs Pendant from ShareLiving

The Trendy Bead - Brides & Beyond

The creative bride can let her personality shine with non-traditional jewelry. Elements such as pearls and crystals can be combined with art beads for unique jewelry that can be worn long after the big day. Here are a few design ideas to help those rowdy art beads turn into wedding crashers!


I can still remember the little flower basket pendant on a gold chain that I wore as a flower girl in my Aunt's wedding. Chinook Jewelry creates these amazing sculpted flower beads that would be a treasure for the littlest member of the bridal party. I'd pair one up with a gold bar and link chain and either crystals or pearls in pale blue. (Chain from knotartoverstok.)


Well, you may not love the dress you have to wear as a bride's maid, but there is no reason you can't love your accessories. Mary Harding offers leafy toggle clasps that would rock a strand of stick pearls in white, cream and soft yellow-green. I'd use tiny 2mm beads in silver or gold to accent the pearls. (Stick pearls from Igotladyfingers.)

Maybe bare feet and sand are more your idea of a picture perfect wedding. Whether you are the bride or there to celebrate you can create jewelry that borrows from the surroundings. I'd use one of my urchin beads in antique gold with gold colored keishi pearls. The clasp? A Green Girl Studios' starfish toggle! (Keishi pearls from Luxbeads.)

Pair up a set of Chinook Roman Circle charms with wire-wrapped briolettes for the proud mom. Dangle a small section of chain from the earwire to attach the briolettes. (Peridot briolettes from NirvanaBeads.)

And hey, why not sneak art beads into the reception? I've always thought my Illuminated Manuscript beads would make a beautiful set of glass charms, a nice touch when sipping champagne. You could do the monogram of the couples' last name or a letter for each of them.

The Trendy Bead - Birth of Spring

Today's trendy bead is inspired by our monthly challenge theme, The Birth of Venus. I've paired Spring art beads with finds from Etsy. We are looking forward to seeing your entries and I thought you might enjoy a glimpse into what beads I would use for the challenge.

For the first set, I want to bring in the color of the flowery fabric with the shell theme. I adore the Large Flower Button from Creative Impressions in Clay, complimented perfectly by the Shell Beads from AndAnotherThing. The texture of the Shell Clasp from Green Girl Studios ties in the two organic elements.

Not quite a literal interpretation, more of the essence of the painting is captured by the Knobby Urchin Beads from Humblebeads, paired with these Carved Conch Shell Roses from JuneJewels, and I'd to throw in a few Coconut Shell Pendants from Goshen to symbolize the forest in the painting.

A whimsical set featuring Amazonite Rondelles from BeadersBoutique reflect the hues of the ocean. A Textured Lime Pendant from Jangles has the color scheme of the painting, and to go back to our inspiration piece, I found these awesome Mother of Pearl Connectors from EarthlyElements which repeat the playful curves of the flower design on Jennifer's pendant.

Here we have the wings that appear in the painting in a Winged Blues Pendant from ExpeditionD. I love the dreamy color of these Wisteria Lampwork Beads from SueBeads, and because shells are such a big part of this month's theme I'd subtly add them in with these heishe style Hammershell Beads from SuperMagic.

For a modern look, I'd focus on one part of the painting, like the sea. So for a sea-foam inspired collection I'd start by pairing Love Links Glass Chain from Cindy Gimbrone Beads with Foam Asian Circle Pendant from Chinook Jewelry, add in a generous sprinkling of oxidised silver chain with a clasp made from A Button Waving by Mamacita Beadworks.

The Trendy Bead - Flirt with Fibers

Add in the surprise of fiber beads to your spring jewelry creations for trendy mixed media designs. Pair them with your favorite art beads, mix in chunky pieces of stone or wood, throw in a generous amount of brass or gunmetal chain and filigree to spark your creativity. I love the icy hue of these satin cord knot beads from Yuki designs.

I spotted these cord covered o-rings in the new Rings & Things catalog. They would be fun as the dangle on a pair of earrings or used as connectors in a chain linked design.

Felt beads are easy to make, but you can also purchase them in great color combinations from Ornamentea. Add a whimsical touch by embellishing them with seed beads.

I'm also crazy for these crocheted beads. You can order them in your choice of colors from craftergirl. They are a great way to add visual interest to a design, without adding bulk or weight. I'd love to see these paired on a bracelet with lampwork and wood beads.

The Trendy Bead - Color Reports

(Photo credit: givepeasachance)

I don't know about you, but I'm craving some serious color this winter! I want oranges, pinks, purple, lush greens - the brighter, the better. I'm loving these photos from Indian markets of fabric and pigments. Pair your bright color beads with neutrals in wood, metal, smokey quartz, and labadorite - think grey and browns accented by a pop of color. THE color for spring? Purple is still reigning but in the softer shades of lavender for this season.

Here are some current resources for color trends for Spring/Summer 2009:

Spring/Summer 2009 Forecast from Fire Mountain Gems.

(Photo credit: mynameisharsha)

Various color trend reports from Fashion Trendsetter for this season and beyond.

Download Pantone's Fashion Color Report of Spring 2009. Read about what is inspiring today's top designers.

The Trendy Bead - Ribbon

(Hand dyed ribbon from Antica)

I've seen an influx of ribbon related clothing and accessories this month. I like the versatility of ribbon, you can use them in alter art/mixed media jewelry pieces, vintage, steampunk or Victorian inspired designs, or you can use ribbons for a modern twist.

You can entwine ribbon in metal chains, use as a cord with a focal bead, embellish a ribbon choker with a pendant, use a ribbon as a closure or tie little bits of ribbon in between beads for some added texture.

A very modern design by Lorelei Eurto combining a Humblebeads spacer bead with wood, glass, stone, brass and a rich chocolate ribbon closure.

Smoky gray seam binding from WistfulSupplies.

A cuff bracelet by MJM Jewelry Designs using another Humblebeads spacer with silk ribbons.

Hand dyed silk ribbon from Jamnglass.

Raku pendant with silk ribbon by MAKUstudio.

Hand dyed ribbon from JodyPoesy.

Here are some more art bead and ribbon designs that have been entered in the Art Bead Scene Flickr group for various challenges.

Ribbon ideas from Beading Daily

And a few designers who offer inspiring creations with ribbons in their jewelry:

Nina Bagley - Narrative/altered art jewelry

Raven Eve Jewelry - Victorian inspired designs

Gilded Cage Design - Ribbon and button jewelry

I'd love to see your designs using art beads and ribbon. Leave a link in the comments if you'd like to share.