Carnival Blog: Commitment

Summer is the season of weddings, graduations and street fairs. Weddings are a traditional show of commitment while graduations are the celebration of years of a commitment to schooling. It's easy to be cliche about what commitment means or how we describe it. But have you thought of commitment in terms of art beads? Our Carnival Bloggers have and it's a diverse group of definitions.

For me, commitment means planning and following through with creating the Adjustable Double Dip Ring.

My colleague, Chris successfully committed to creating floral tulip beads. She shares a photo of her lovely glass bead (below).

Being a Mom finds you caring for everyone in your family except you! Nicki has promised to honor her commitment to herself. Wondering what that might be? Make sure to stop over to her blog and find out.

Michelle Mach writes how she has yet to commit to beadmaking but has found herself taking class after class in pmc. Her latest class was in image transfer shown below.

Marcie weaves a story of commitment that follows a young girl throughout her life. Marcie's theme of commitment is similiar to Patti who is dedicated to her glass art. While Lyn takes us on a journey of wedded commitment and how it is intertwined with her glass art. Our good friend, Kelly of Silver Parrot, though is not a fan of the "C" word. She gets around it and creates a lovely piece.

Kate has the opposite reaction to the "C" word. She tends to over commit and tells us about it on her blog.

Think you're hearing things? Well, Holly doesn't listen to the voices in her head, she just ignores them and creates interesting glass eye beads (shown below).

Melissa has just made a commitment to the Carnival Bloggers and shared a lovely art bead laden bracelet she created for the May Art Bead Scene Challenge.

In this season of Commitment, what have you committed to?

Findings Worth Finding: Vintage Groove

Have you checked out the new Vintage Groove line of findings at Fusion Beads yet? If not, you should! Part of Designer Jill Schwartz's collection, these vintage inspired charms and components  are perfect for the ever popular layered jewelry.

Here's a few sets that I bought last week. I love that you can buy these convenient charm or connector sets- ranging from 2.99 to 15.99 - they are affordable and fun to use. They also have pendants, pre-made chains, alphabet charms, and full kits!

With these sets, I created a long charm necklace using some large teadrop link chain, and added some wire wrapped faceted lucite coins in a coordinating teal color.

Designer of the Week: Cindy Dolezal Designs

Each Monday the Art Bead Scene features the Designer of the Week. One of our editors picks her favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries. This week's featured designer is Cindy Dolezal!

ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone chose Cindy's design not because they share a first name (hee hee). Cindy's interpretation of Calder's mobile is abstract and symmetrical echoing the principles of design the artist employed when creating the original. You can read more about Cindy's work on her blog and purchase her work at her Etsy shop. Bravo, Cindy! Nicely done!

Sundays with Cindy

Happy Sunday! Hope you're enjoying your coffee this morning! Let's see what's going on in the Bead Blogging world....

A Bead A Day
If you are a fan of turning flea market finds into shabby chic treasures, stop by A Bead A Day to help Lisa with ideas for using a bead reminiscent of an antique treasure.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has been thinking about Christmas in July this week, starting with beaded ornament covers.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene offers up a unique inspiration piece for July. Stop by and take the ABS Challenge!

Beading Arts
Cyndi wants to know: what does your work say about YOU?

Carmi's Art/Life World
A Napoleon themed medallion is this week's resin project with Carmi!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
This week's Wednesday Wire is in the mood - in the mood to make something special so she turns to a fabulous tutorial.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie reviews some of the Song Lore pieces she has finished in the first half year of the project.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei was a participant in the first Designer Challenge at the Art Bead Scene. Come over and see what she made with her Humblebeads!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
This book review by Jean discusses making fabulous earrings in 30 minutes flat! How cool is that?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Honoring a friend who passed away, Andrew hosts a necklace auction on his blog to raise money for a good cause.

Reverse Gardening - Studio Saturday with Cindy Gimbrone

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.

Last week's winner is Lissc ! Congratulations! You have won a set of Lynn's openwork disks. Send an email to Lynn and she will get them right out to you.


Welcome to the Studio of Cindy Gimbrone!



Well, the seeds I planted last Winter are bearing fruit this summer. Yup, I've done some "reverse gardening" but not with plants, with the Double Dips, turning them into published easy jewelry projects. I planted two "seeds" at almost the same time.

I love to create simple, easy wire projects. My goal is to take the obvious and put a unique twist on it. I make the flamework glass Double Dip components and then set about designing a unique way to use them.

I submitted the project to Step by Step this past winter. I planted the seed. It's hard to keep a new project under wraps while it's germinating at the magazine. But like the plant that grows and blooms, it puts the published project has grown and bloomed. It's now happily nestled among the other projects like flowers in a garden. Ready for the readers to pick and enjoy.

Have you done any reverse gardening this past year? Did you plant the seeds earlier and now you're seeing your creation bloom?

Comment and share your story, I'd love to hear from you! When you do share, you'll be entered to win one of my Double Dips to use in your very own ring!

(Photo of the August issue of Step by Step Wire courtesy of Interweave's website.)

Sponsor Spotlight: Lyn Foley

Lyn is a glass beadmaker who primarily sells her gallery quality jewelry.  Last year she started branching out selling her beads online, which are exquisite!  I could see her beads matched up with layers of gunmetal chain, onyx or labradorite or crystals in black dorado and fiery magma.

I could see each one of these in pieces to match this month's challenge theme.  Our challenge this month is such a fun one, I can't wait to see what you guys make!

 Lyn's color palette spans from earthy and dark to bright and playful.  Visit Lyn's website to purchase beads and to view her blog.

Book Review -- The Earring Style Book

I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of "The Earring Style Book" by Stephanie Wells, published by Crown Publishing/Potter Craft. From the first flip of the page, I was enthralled.

This is definitely NOT your ordinary earring book.

The premise of the book is to create trend-setting earrings -- earrings that you'd see on the stars. Stephanie's award-winning styles have been seen on the likes of Oprah and Rachael Ray, and now she's graciously showing US how to make 40 different pairs of these signature earrings styles.

(Do I hear you jumping up and down yet????)

Made with a mix of metal and chain, embellished with beads, gemstones, and even fabric, Stephanie leads you through easily understandable instructions. The photos are crisp and clear and (need I say) drool-worthy.

The book will be out on Amazon.com August 17th is available now for preorder. It's a fabulous, unique book to add to your jewelry library, and it will certainly open up new avenues of design to you.


Lori Anderson designs jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and writes for the blogs Pretty Things and An Artists Year Off.