Findings Worth Finding - Ceramic Bead Caps

I'm so over the moon for Elaine Ray's bead caps.  They are so earthy and delicate.  Perfect for earrings, pair them with wire and stones for instant autumn inspiration.  They also fit nicely with this month's fairy theme - they remind me of the seeds and flowers of the painting.  You can find Elaine Ray's bead at Ornamentea.

Inspiration from the Fairy Feller

I am honored to have been asked to choose a piece of art for November's Challenge, so I picked one of my favorite pieces, the Fairy Feller's Master Stroke by Richard Dadd. My fellow bloggers have already given you a good amount of the fascinating history and story behind this painting and the artist, so I thought I would share my personal history and thoughts about it, and some of my works that were inspired by the painting.

Above, a very regal fairy like necklace made with Earthenwood charms and a face stone, with Vintaj brass. You can learn the techniques to make this necklace in the class I will be teaching on the 2010 Bead Cruise!

I had already been familiar with this painting from a few of my art history and fairy books, when I happened upon the actual piece on loan at a museum many years ago. I can't remember where I was, but I remember being very effected by this piece. It is quite small, just over 15x20 inches, and even though it was in a room of giant paintings, I was immediately drawn to it. It seems that tiny detailed, jewel like objects attract me... who knew?

My Queen Mab Faerie Parade necklace, which can be seen in the gallery section of the new book Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton, one of the other prizes for this month's Challenge!

I spent a good long time staring at the painting, and felt moved almost to tears. Especially with its tiny size, the amount of detail in it is so amazing, it is like it is an impossible piece of art, like a human could not have painted it. It looks like an artifact from a fairy world. The paint is applied with such texture, it adds depth that can't really be seen in reproductions. I feel fortunate to have seen the Fairy Feller in person, and it became a source of inspiration for color, theme, and detail for my work for many years to come. I am glad to share it with you!

I am not the only one inspired by this amazing painting! Did you know that Queen wrote a song about it? Maybe this little bit of musical fun will help you create your fairy inspired piece to enter this month's challenge!

Melanie Brooks is the ceramic beadmaker behind Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.

November Monthly Challenge Prizes

We have prizes this month from 4 different sponsors! Plus 2 randomly chosen winners!
How Fantastic is that?!!

Green Girl Studios has some of the most wonderful pewter charms and buttons. For the release of Enchanted Adornments, Green Girl Studios is giving away a copy of the just released book + 6 charms and 1 toggle worth over $50.

Visit Green Girl Studio's website to order some of their fantastic items. Become a fan on Facebook!

Melanie of Earthenwood Studio creates wonder beads, charms, pendants and buttons out of porcelain clay. Her style and designs are magical. I love the fairy beads. Melanie's prize this month is shown in the above photo.

You can see all of Melanie's creations on her website, etsy bead shop. 

Beads by Laura creates these yummy colorful beads out of glass. They are very whimsical and absolutely adorable. Good enough to eat. Laura will "bake" you 3 cupcakes to your specifications if you are one of this months winners.
Visit Laura's website to see all of her wonderful glass creations.

Bello Modo is the online place to find supplies for all your beading needs

Bello Modo's prize this month is C-Lon cord and Tierra Cast findings.

Visit Bello Modo's website to see all the wonderful supplies you can use for this months challenge.

Get your Art Beads, Buttons, Charms or Pendants out, start creating and enter this months challenge!

Fairy Fellars' Master-Stroke by Richard Dadd is a enchanting fairy inspiration for your creations this month!

November Monthly Challenge

The Fairy Fellers' Master-Stroke by Richard Dadd


To celebrate the release of of Cynthia Thornton's new book Enchanted Adornments, Melanie of Earthenwood Studios choose this enchanted painting to inspire your adornments for the monthly challenge.


Dadd was an English painter of the Victorian era, noted for his depictions of fairies and other supernatural subjects, Orientalist scenes, and enigmatic genre scenes, rendered with obsessively minuscule detail. Most of the works for which he is best known were created while he was incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital.

The painting was commissioned by George Henry Hayden, who was head steward at Bethlem Royal Hospital at the time. He was impressed by Dadd's artistic efforts and asked for a of his own. Dadd worked on the painting for nine years - paying microscopic attention to detail, as well as a layering technique producing near-3D results - and it is generally regarded as his most important work. However, Dadd himself considered the painting to be unfinished (the background of the lower left corner is only sketched in), and as such added the suffix of "Quasi" to its title.

In order to give context to his work, Dadd subsequently wrote a strange poem by the name of Elimination of a Picture & its subject--called The Fellers' Master Stroke in which each of the characters appearing in the picture is given a name and purpose, including myriad references to old English folklore and Shakespeare - apparently trying to show that the painting's unique composition was not merely a product of random, wild inspiration.

Have fun with this mystical color palette. Pull out the fairy art beads, layout some contrasting colored charms and let's see what you can come up with for this challenge!

Your entry this month can be influenced by the colors, pattern or whatever you choose to focus on for your creation. Just remember to include at least one art bead in your design. 

The Prizes:

A winner will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on December 1st.

Our sponsors this month are sponsors: Green Girl Studios, Earthenwood Studios, Bello Modo and beads by laura , please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes! 

Featured Designer of the Week:

From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on the ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.

How to enter the Monthly Challenge:

1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.

***Beads by themselves and beads simply strung on a chain or cord will not be accepted.***

2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a
tutorial for sending your picture to the group. If you can't upload to Flickr, send your entry and information to Heather.

Please add the tag or title
NOVABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.

Deadline is November 30th. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn't followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.

What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.

*** A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.

p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.

October ABS Challenge Winner!

OCTABS closeup
Originally uploaded by vintagebluestudio

Congratulations to Diana from Vintage Blue Studio! You are the winner for this month's challenge. This entry was randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries this month. Diana has won an amazing collection of beads from Jangles and Diane Hawkey!

Thanks to everyone for playing along this month. Join us tomorrow for our next challenge.

Designer of the Week Marie Dodd

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries. This week's pick comes from ABS editor, Jennifer Heynen:

I've chosen Marie Dodd's piece entitled "Ruby & Me".


I love all of the different elements going on in Marie's necklace. The long pendant is just like the elongated cow in Ruby C Willaims painting. She even added some black and white seed beads to mimic the black and white on the cow. Also, check out the "milk" link. Good job Marie!

Sundays with Cindy

Good morning, Beady Readers! Wondering what's going on in the bead and jewelry world? Take a peek at our links and see.....


A Bead A Day
Looking for a great way to commemorate a special moment or gift? Design a piece of jewelry!

About.com Jewelrymaking
It's like Wal-Mart, only you want to be there in this virutal tour of Shipwreck Beads.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene is having a book fair. Read up on your favorites!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has finally discovered how great polymer clay is.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Not thinking about your holiday gift list yet? Cindy helps get you started with a Knot Ready for Prime Time Lucky Knots and Friends Projects so you can get started now!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shares her final Crystal Week necklace... a piece she calls Woodland Mermaid

Jean Campbell
Jean celebrates her favorite holiday by showing off her costume and some very cool baubles

Jewelry & Beading
Krystal Backer, beading artist, shares her creative inspirations with Cyndi.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Have you been following Lorelei's Necklace Round Robin? Come take a look at the finished pieces!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a delightful book by the editor of BeadStyle: Cathy Jakicic

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her favorite necklace created for Cynthia Thornton's Enchanted Adornments and winner in the metal clay category of the British Bead Awards