Editor's Choice - Holiday Edition

Okay, whether you ran out at 4am this morning or plan on spending the day noshing on leftovers, there is no escape that the Holiday countdown has now begun! Here are my picks from our editor's shops and a few gift ideas using art beads this season.

Have a bookworm on your shopping list? In the Jangles Etsy shop you'll find these cute little bookmark kits.  Fast, easy and full of handmade goodness - who doesn't love that?

Poinsettias are a great symbol of the season.  Cindy Gimbrone has created a stunning rendition in brass.  This would make a lovely pendant for the person on your list who celebrates the holidays in classic and timeless style.

Are you a knitty kind of gal?  I could see using one of Creative Impressions in Clay leaf ceramic buttons for the closure on a knitted neckwarmer.  You could also use Tari's buttons to embellish a felted bag.

My teen would love this bracelet from Lorelei's etsy shop.  It's magical and my girl is into all things fairy!

During the holidays many of the Art Bead Scene editors offer finished jewelry for those who would like to collect jewelry from their favorite artists.  (We understand if they end up in your jewelry box instead of under the tree!)

Aren't these decorative pewter headpins from Lynn Davis so sugarplum sweet? They would look cute as could be in earrings to wear through the winter season.  Pair them up with icy blues or purples to extend their wear beyond the holidays. 

Did you know that purple is one of the hot colors for this Christmas?  Here are some snowflake inspired beads in frosty shades of lilac that can be found in the Humblebeads Etsy shop.  I used these for Christmas ornaments last year.  Many art beads can be transformed into heirloom gifts as holiday ornaments. 

Of course I have to mention the ultimate holiday gift - the Bead Cruise!  7 days in the Eastern Caribbean, now that would be a great way to recover from the holiday madness and escape the winter chill.

Be sure to read about the Black Friday - Cyber Monday sale with the Art Bead Scene editors.

And in case you haven't heard Lisa Peters has a huge blog giveaway this weekend, go check it out!

Editor's Choice - Top Sponsor Picks

We love our sponsors and want to thank them for offering such great prizes to our readers each month. Today is the last day to enter the September Monthly Challenge. Get those photos in today!

Ornamentea strives to offer unique finds for creative jewelry designers. Their product line favors the vintage-inspired, mixed media and the unusual! Above are my top picks from their shop: crepe cord, Czech glass, Elaine Ray bead caps - they look like acorn tops, don't they? An Elaine Ray tree pendant, check out the Fall issue of Stringing to see a necklace I created with Elaine's pendant. And look at that awesome bias cut silk dupioni ribbon. I love silk dupioni and have a huge stash. I tear my own ribbons from my fabric, but this ribbon is beyond awesome and I must have some!

Tari of Creative Impressions in Clay creates buttons that range from tie-dye to goddesses, to alpaca to ice cream cones, coin replicas to tiny branches. You are guaranteed to find something you love! Buttons make great clasps, but don't forget since you are ordering directly from the artist Tari can create her designs in numerous configurations. She can make any design into a pendant with a hole at the top or a loop. Branch toggle buttons - surely you have a fall design in mind that calls for a tiny branch clasp! I also love Tari's leaf designs. I'm smitten!

Editor's Choice - Kandinsky

Here are some of my top picks for this month's challenge from our Art Bead Scene editor's shops.

Black and Brights Toggle by Jangles

Make Art Tag Charm by Lynn Davis

Cosmic Button by Creative Impressions in Clay

Surreal Rhythms in Blue by Cindy Gimbrone

Copper Branch Lentil Bead by Humblebeads

Take whatever part of the painting that catches your eye and translate that into beads. Maybe it's a few of the colors. Or it might be Kandinsky's bold black line that captures your imagination, try recreating that vibrancy in wire. You might see the "trees" in his painting. That is one of the things our brain does when we look at abstract art, we try to define it by shapes that are familiar. There are no right or wrong ways to interpret the painting into jewelry. Just have fun while you do it!