Studio Saturday with Jangles

Happy Saturday from Jangles

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 weeks winner is KatieN, Congratulations! You have won a set of disk beads bead from Humblebeads. Send us an e-mail with your address and we will get it right out to you.


My last Studio Saturday post was all about me thinking spring. I am happy to report where I live in Georgia it has arrived. Along with it the pollen has arrived and that is hard to deal with but I still won't complain. I took this picture yesterday at the Georgia State Botanical Gardens.



Also, in my last Studio Saturday post, I showed several images of new flower beads that I was making. I received a ton of comments on a particular pendant. You, the readers liked the texture. I took this as a challenge and wanted to see what I could come up with with texture. Well, what I got I really liked. Take a look and see what you think...To make these new beads when I ma making the pendant out of clay I texture it with stamps. These stamps are made from drawings of mine. I have them made into rubber stamps. Once the beads are fired I paint the underglaze over the bead and immediately wipe it off. The color stays in the crevices. I go back and paint other colors on top. Two coats of clear are painted on top of the beads. I really like the aged look it gives the beads while keeping my bright colors.




I really like this stamp and think it makes a nice pendant so I have experimented with different color combinations .
Personally, this is my favorite of the pendants, it's got all of my favorite colors.


Once I made pendants and got a look I like I thought I would make some matching beads for earring or stringing with the pendants. Below you can see my pairs.

I would like to give away on of my new pendants for this weeks prize. As you see I gave myself a challenge with the limitations of making some more textured pendants. I find when I have some guidance I feel like I can be more creative. It helps me keep me focused and It clears my mind some. Do you like a challenge with guidelines or do you prefer the sky's the limit approach? Let me know in the comments this week and I will send the random winner a pendant.

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 Bead Biz - Modish Shares Insights

If you are in business for yourself or thinking of starting your own business, head on over to the Modish Biz Tips blog for a collection of helpful and inspirational articles for creative entrepreneurs.

Did you write down goals for 2009? Now is a good time to take a look at them and see how you are doing. Maybe it's time to come up with a concrete action plan if you aren't on track. Or perhaps it's time to add new goals if you have met a few of your milestones already.

Findings Worth Finding - Links Ahoy!

I ran across Atlantis Glass & Bead the other day and fell in love with their organic looking metal links in copper and silver. Along with links you'll find an assortment of earwires, clasps, jumprings and boro glass art beads. They are offering 10% off their metal findings through April 13th!

Rings and Things Product Review

The Art Bead Scene was invited to participate in Rings & Things blog partner program. They send a packet of items to review or use in a project, I share my thoughts and results with you.



This round features Disk & Loop Bracelets. I'm not much a "gluer" so I wasn't exactly sure what I could do with these bracelets when they first arrived. I found myself loving the warm antiqued texture of the brass disks and decided instead of covering up, I'd use them as an integral element of the design.

With a little wire-wrapping I added my teal branch disk beads in between the brass disks, skipping every other one. After the the disks were added I made dangles of copper pearls, amber disks and crystals on brass headpins and attached them to the alternate loops.

I love the fit of the bracelet too. Rings and Things offers the disk and loop bracelets in a variety of styles and sizes. This bracelet is 8.2" long and just perfect for someone with a larger wrist, which is always a challenge when working with pre-made bracelet forms.

(A detail of my wire-wrapping.)

To see more projects using the Disk & Loop Bracelets visit the Rings & Things blog. And stop by my blog today for a free project using the Disk & Loop Bracelets.

Featured Designer of the Week - Lorelei Eurto

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week I picked Lorelei Eurto's shell bracelet. I love how the colors reflect the ocean and the forest in the painting. It's such a lovely design inspired by the painting but a little masterpiece in it's own way too. To see more of Lorelei's work visit her blog.

Want to see your work featured on the Art Bead Scene? Our theme for the month of April is "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is April 30th! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the April Challenge.

Sundays with Cindy

Today is the inaugural post of Sundays with Cindy where ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone will highlight the news from the bead blogging world and throw in a free jewelry project here and there. So sit back and enjoy your Sunday with Cindy!

This Sunday, I've got a large cup of hot coffee and have curled up on the couch to enjoy the Beady News, new designs, book reviews, projects and more. So let's dive right in!

Jean and Barbe spent this week reading. Click on over to read about an inspiring jewelry design book and a business e-book:

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
If it has Margot Potter's name on the cover, you know it will be a superfun and interesting book! Beyond the Bead, Margot's latest, is just that!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe reviews Dr. Weiman's 101 More Jewelry Selling Techniques Ebook

Speaking of e-books and downloadable projects, Linda has posted one in this week's highlight...

BeadStyle Mag
Linda's jewelry does the Lindy Hop far better than she does...check out her inspiration!

Barbe and Tammy were on the same business wavelength this week because Tammy has tips on how to brand your business....

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has some tips for branding yourself and your jewelry product while also putting together some awesome packaging.

Carmi shows us how to make a brooch, Melanie shares how she used glueable findings and Melissa shows us her celadon creation...

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi features a mini canvas pendant on a felted background.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Using gluable bracelet blanks from Rings and Things, Melanie shares ideas for how to use them in two very different ways

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off a celadon-themed necklace she made for Ornament Thursday


Cyndi, Andrew and Art Bead Scene found inspiration in a variety of places this week...

Jewelry & Beading
Thanks to some inspiration from beadmaker Melanie Brooks, Cyndi has an article in Belle Armoire Jewelry!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
A sleepless night for Andrew produced seven new necklace designs.

Art Bead Scene
Feeling out of step with the trends? Here's some inspiration for the fall 2009 season!

Ahhhh...now that we've poured over the Beady News, it's time to stretch out on the couch and enjoy the rest of the day!

Do you have some Beady News? Leave and comment and share! There's always time for another cup of coffee and Beady News!