Studio Saturday with Creative Impressions In Clay

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 Shaiha, Congratulations! You have won a digital copy of Erin's Bohemian Knotted Earrings TUTORIAL. The PDF file will be sent to the winner via email once I receive the winner's email address.

Send Erin an e-mail with your email address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at 

Creative Impressions In Clay.

I didn't have time to participate in the ornament blog hop.
So, I thought I would make one for Studio Saturday.

Lets start with cutting the top and bottom off of 2 Sprite cans.
Cut the can in half lengthwise. Cut those two in half, you should have 4 strips. Cut the 4 strips in half.
8 strips total from one can, 16 from 2 cans.

I drew out a shape on a piece of 1/4" luan plywood. My darling husband cut it out for me on the bandsaw. Put a wash of green on the tree and brown on the trunk.


You need a wicked sharp pair of scissors. Cut your strips of the aluminum can into scallops.


Start from the bottom and layer (like shingles on a roof) your scalloped strips using a glue gun or in my case, since I couldn't find the glue gun, double backed carpet tape. Bend over the edges to the backside. This may take a bit of coercing on the sides of the tree so the strips on the back are straight.
Keep layering and overlapping your strips till you reach the top.


Fully layered tree. I then applied Modge Podge and sprinkled fine pearlescent glitter on the tree so it looks frosted. You may choose not to do this step.


I used Vintaj 25mm Altered Blanks, metal stamps and acrylic paint for the topper. A wooden dapping block was used to round the disk. The tree is decorated with my charms and felt balls from Ornamentea. I put a jump ring through the disk, added 10" of ribbon, a glass donut and a decorative copper ornament hook. Voila!

My question today is:
What Makes you happy?

I love to create! It keeps me happy. I haven't had much time in my studio lately but take the time when you can. My job lets me create displays for art. Plus I get to be around art everyday. Happy, Happy!

Leave a comment answering the question and you could win a snowflake button. 

Holiday Collection

Feeling Sassy as usual!

Tari Sasser

Creative Impressions In Clay

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...Simple Christmas Ornaments

Did you know that the 2nd day of Christmas is actually either the 26th or 27th December, depending on whether you come from the East or the West? Either way, what more perfect way to spend the one of those quieter days after the hectic run up to the 25th, than sitting down and creating some extra special beaded ornaments or decorations. Something really quick and easy, that you could create with kids of any age (5 to 95!). 

1. Take a ceramic snowflake pendant (or holly leaf!) and a 25cm (10 inch) piece of waxed linen cord. 

2. Attach one end of the cord to the pendant with a lark's head knot, and tie a further knot over the top to secure.

3. Slide on any beads you wish, knotting in between. 

4. Double the cord over on itself at the end, and tie and overhand knot directly above the top bead, to create a large loop. 

5. Repeat as many times as you like to make quick, easy and pretty decorations! 

Of course, you don't have to wait until Boxing Day to create these pretty ornaments. They would make great decor for any special presents you have going out for the holidays, and will of course look lovely on the tree, or in the window. Happy creating!

Ceramic snowflakes, holly leaf and faceted round - BoHulleyBeads.etsy.com 

Polymer bird - SomethingToDoBeads.etsy.com 

Polymer winter cottage - PipsJewellery.etsy.com 

Lampwork round - MooginMindy.etsy.com 

Czech glass and waxed linen cord - TheCuriousBeadShop.etsy.com 

Clear frosted czech glass - SmittenBeads.co.uk 

Acrylic rounds - ReductionNation.etsy.com 

Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer and singer, currently living in Manchester, England. You can read more about beads and singing at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her work at songbead.etsy.com.

On the 1st Day of Christmas: Snowflake Necklace

 Snowflake Necklace

 The snowflake is my favorite wintertime motif. There's something so magical about snow. The intricate, lacy details of an individual snowflake are beautiful and captivating!   

Snowflake Necklace

Erin Siegel

Materials:
48 white 6mm potato freshwater pearls

12 amethyst 4mm rounds

1 handmade, iridescent blue-glazed ceramic snowflake pendant

1 card of light blue size 6 silk beading cord w/attached needle

2 sterling silver knot cups

1 sterling silver lobster clasp

1 sterling silver 4mm jump ring

1 sterling silver extender chain

Fabric cement

Tools:

Scissors

Crimping Pliers

Knotting Tweezers

Chain Nose Pliers

Instructions:

1: Remove all the cord from the card. Stretch a small section. Repeat for the entire cord.

2: Tie a double overhand knot at the end of cord opposite the needle. Trim. Dab knot with glue. Let dry. String 1 knot cup and close over the knot using crimping pliers. Attach the knot cup to a jump ring that attaches to the lobster clasp.

3: Tie an overhand knot. String 1 pearl and form an overhand knot. Repeat 23 times. String 1 amethyst and form an overhand knot. Repeat 5 times.

4: Form a lark’s head knot on the pendant. Snug the lark’s head knot against the last overhand knot. Working from left to right across the top of the pendant, form 4 half-hitch knots. Repeat step 3, reversing the knotting and stringing sequence.

5: String a knot cup through the bottom; form a double overhand knot inside the knot cup. Trim. Dab with glue. Let dry. Close knot cup and attach to the chain extender.

Resources:

Snowflake Pendant: Clayworks by Lisa Boucher. 

For more jewelry project ideas, check out my book: Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry.

Erin Siegel is a jewelry designer, beading instructor and co-author of the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog: Erin Siegel Jewelry.  

December Monthly Challenge + Sponsors & Prizes

Sleeping Beauty by Erté, 1983

26 1/2" x 33" Serigraph

About the Art

Erté's characteristic style found a new and enthusiastic market in the 1960s, and the artist responded to renewed demand by creating a series of colorful lithographic prints and sculpture.

His taste for the exotic and romantic, and his appreciation of the sinuous and lyrical human figure is felt in all of his art.

About the Artist

Romain de Tirtoff (23 November 1892 – 21 April 1990) was a Russian-born French artist and designer known by the pseudonym Erté, the French pronunciation of his initials, R.T. He was a diversely talented 20th-century artist and designer who flourished in an array of fields, including fashion, jewellery, graphic arts, costume and set design for film, theatre, and opera, and interior decor.

Erté is perhaps most famous for his elegant fashion designs which capture the art deco period in which he worked. One of his earliest successes was designing apparel for the French dancer Gaby Deslys who died in 1920. His delicate figures and sophisticated, glamorous designs are instantly recognisable, and his ideas and art still influence fashion into the 21st century. His costumes, programme designs, and sets were featured in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1923, many productions of the Folies Bergère, and George White's Scandals. On Broadway, the celebrated French chanteuse Irène Bordoni wore Erté's designs.

In 1925, Louis B. Mayer brought him to Hollywood to design sets and costumes for the silent film Paris. There were many script problems, so Erté was given other assignments to keep him busy. Hence, he designed for such films as Ben-Hur, The Mystic, Time, The Comedian, and Dance Madness. In 1920 he designed the set and costumes for the movie Restless Sex starring Marion Davies and financed by William Randolph Hearst.

By far, his best known image is Symphony in Black, depicting a tall, slender woman draped in black holding a thin black dog on a leash. The influential image has been  reproduced and copied countless times.

Erté continued working throughout his life, designing revues, ballets, and operas. He had a major rejuvenation and much lauded interest in his career during the 1960s with the Art Deco revival. He branched out into the realm of limited edition prints, bronzes, and wearable art.

Our Sponsors

Our Wonderful Sponsors this month are Songbead, Jan Atherton and Humblebeads.

We will have 3 lucky winners this month.

Songbead

Rebecca Anderson of Songbead handcrafted beaded jewellery. She love vintage style, colour, birds and beads.....All of her pieces are one of a kind (ooak) as she uses a great deal of individually handcrafted art beads, sourced from all over the world - right here on Etsy! If you don't see the perfect piece in her shop, then do contact Rebecca about a bespoke item - I love custom work.

Rebecca is donating a $50 gift certificate to her Etsy Shop.

 Visit Rebecca on her blog, etsy shop, etsy shop 2, and Facebook.

: : :

Jan Atherton

Jan Atherton is a Scottish artist transplanted to the US, her work evokes both the landscape colours and seasonal changes of Scotland and those of her adopted city, Chicago. Inspired by the sparkling waters on Loch Linnhe and Lake Michigan.

Jan is donating $50 to be used in her Etsy Shop or towards a custom design.

Plus she is offering ABS readers 10% off the month of December. Use code ewan1stxmas at checkout. 

Visit Jan on their website, blog, Etsy, twitter, flickr and Facebook.

: : :

Humblebeads

Heather Powers is an innovative bead and jewelry artist, creating art beads collected by bead enthusiasts all over the world. Her work has been featured on television, in magazines and books. She is currently working on a jewelry design book for Kalmbach. Her mixed media jewelry designs are sold locally at art galleries and markets. Heather graduated from art school with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art & Design. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she is a work-at-home mom, balancing business and family.


Heather is donating a $50 gift certificate to be used on in her Etsy shop.

Plus she is offering ABS readers free Shipping for the month of December. 
Use code Merry. 

Visit Humblebeads on the website, blog, Etsy, twitter, and Facebook.

: : :  

 
Submit photos of your wonderful creations using one or more Art Beads.

Sleeping Beauty by Erté has with many different elements that can be used for inspiration: snow, bold red color, high contrast imagery, art deco, female form, blue, weeping willows and sleep. 

Complete details and instructions for the challenge can be found here.

We can't wait to see where your creativity takes you with the art for this months challenge! 

Please remember to put DEC ABS in the title or tag of your submission(s).  

Provide us with the artist of the Art Beads used and we always love to know all the materials you used. 
Art Beads MUST be used in your entry.

Blog Tour

The Blog Tour deadline is December 28th.
***Note Change***

Links must be added to the Art Bead Scene flickr page where you upload your entry. 

The Blog Tour will be on December 31st.

Ornament Blog Hop

Welcome to the 3rd annual Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop!  Now is the time to warm up a cup of cocoa, throw in a few marshmallows and turn on some holiday tunes while you enjoy over 20 artists sharing their holiday inspiration.

I gathered together some of my favorite woodland themed art beads, steel wire and sari ribbon to create a series of ornaments for my tree this year. I used simple wire wrapping to create wrapped loops above and below the beads.  The beads are strung on 6" of 21 gauge steel wire.  The hooks were created with 8" of 19 gauge steel wire. 

1. Sweater Weather Pendant and Teal Disk Bead from Humblebeads. Faceted Bead from Diane Hawkey, Ceramic Faux Wood Bead from Earthenwood Studio.

2. Snow Bird and Branch Disk from Humblebeads.  Peace Bead from Diane Hawkey. 

3. Mushroom Charm from Jangles.  Ceramic Teal Bead and Red Disk from Earthenwood Studio.  Branches Disk Bead from Humblebeads.

Be sure to stop back here tomorrow for the December Monthly Challenge and on Thursday we start our popular 12 Days of Christmas with free projects from our contributors and special guest bloggers!

Head on over to see the rest of the festive decorations created by jewelry designers and bead makers.  Happy Holidays!

Art Bead Scene - you are here!
Humblebeads
Treasures Found
Song Beads
Viki O'Dell
Sue Beads
Modern Nature Studio
Diane Hawkey
Suburban Girl Studio
Jen Judd Rocks
Ellie's Bijoux
Island Girl's Insights
Life By The Seat Of My Pants
Too Aquarius 
Shelley Graham Turner
Artfully Ornamental
Charis Designs Jewelry
Harrison Hollow Designs
Silver Nik Nats
Bead Soup Mix
Toodles and Binks
Bead Recipes
Play Sculpt Live
BeeTree by M.E.
Billi RS Rothe
A Half-Baked Notion
Kimis Jewelry and Gifts

November Monthly Challenge Winners

Congratulations to this Month's winners! 

We have 2 winners chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants.

Our first lucky winner is Heather Davis/blissfulgardenbeads2012.
She has won the items shown above + extras $50 from Skye Jewels .

Our second lucky winner is Staci Smith/stacilouise.

She has 2 of Tin Snippets worth $50 from Lorelei Eurto Jewelry.

 

       Skye Jewels                     Lorelei Eurto Jewelry          

                                                      

Thank you Skye Jewels and Lorelei Eurto Jewelry for being our November Monthly Challenge sponsors!

Winners, please E-mail Tari, tari@claybuttons.com with your information (Name and address) so your prizes can be sent to you.

A Big THANK YOU to everyone who entered this month using "Three Worlds" by MC Escher, as your inspiration. 

We were so fortunate to have so many beautiful entries and experience such creativity from our wonderful readers.

Visit us Wednesday to see what December's challenge brings.

Show Me Sunday

Silver Bells polymer bead set by Continuum Designs

Show Me Winter Holiday Beads! 

 

Tis the season for winter holiday beads! Let's see some of those great beads, charms, and components that celebrate the winter season! Holiday specific beads, pine trees, snowflakes... let's celebrate all of the things that remind of us December. Post your links in the comments here and I will select some of the links you leave on this post to highlight in another Show Me Sunday post. 

 

Here is what some of our beady friends have to show off this week: 

About.com Jewelry Making

Have an affair with jewelry? Consider this latest book store find. 

Art Bead Scene

Gaea guides us on a Fall Walk with this autumn themed bangle bracelet tutorial.

Beading Arts

Have you seen Maruti beads? They're gorgeous, and they make it really easy to make a one-of-a-kind necklace!

Resin Crafts!

Vintage seventies imagery and a simple bezel results in a very pretty pendant series.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean reviews the incredible life changing book we all need, The Shameless Art of Self Promotion. by Margot Potter, and has even more super news a la Margot the Great!