Inside the Studio :: Erin Prais-Hintz

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

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.

Congratulations Rouladen!
You have won a pair of Silvered Royals beads from Ema at Ema K Designs. 

Please send Ema an e-mail with your information.

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Creativity in Full Circle

So back in the dead of winter, I was sent an email from my friend Sara Oehler at Soft Flex Company asking if I would like to join them in a special collaboration with the fine folks at Beads of Courage. Of course, I said yes! If you don't know about the Beads of Courage story, please check it out here.

All I knew back in January was that I would be sent a lampwork glass bead from an artist to create what I wanted to be displayed at the Bead & Button Show in June. This lampwork bead would be rendered from a drawing by a child in the Beads of Courage program. As the main creativity sponsor, I could use any Soft Flex wire that I wanted.

What I came to find out was that there were a total of 10 regional hospitals who participated in this program. The children were given a word to represent in their drawings. These drawings were sent to 10 select lampwork artists to create about a dozen of the beads. Some went back to the child's family, others were slated for sale and one went to a hand-picked jewelry artist to feature in a show-stopping piece of jewelry. I was one of those ten jewelry artists selected by Sara. I am so very honored to be a part of this amazing collaboration.

The beads were supposed to arrive in March and we were expected to get them back to Soft Flex by May for photographs and to be readied for their debut at a special booth at the Bead & Button Show. I didn't get my bead until late in April. That shortened the time frame a bit and also made it imperative that I have a plan since I had to turn right around and ask for exactly the wire that I would need for the project.

The bead I received had a card that read 'Peace' by artist Heather Sellers of Dragonfly Lampworks. The original drawing was by Josh Wheeler, honored sibling of Brendan who is in the Beads of Courage program. (You can purchase this bead and the others through the Beads of Courage site).

But I really felt that this funny little face was more about HAPPY than peace. Of course, that song by Pharrell Williams was playing when I was sketching the design. So HAPPY it is!

I wanted this necklace design to be fun and a bit funky to match the undeniably HAPPY bead I received to work with. Because we are doing this in collaboration with Soft Flex, we needed to use their wire as part of the design. I didn't just want to string it and forget it, I wanted their product to be integral to the piece. So I coiled and coiled and coiled and coiled colored wire in powder blue, red, gold, black and silver until my fingers were numb!

I made a lot of jump rings from those coils and created coiled love knots, something I do all the time with plain jump rings. I love the texture that this provides as well as the cushion for the glass bead. I also made some twisty free-form beads with coiled cores that were all strung on a solid wire core for stability.

 
The result is a truly off-beat statement piece that makes me HAPPY to look at! Seriously, you could not be un-HAPPY if you were wearing it. You would look foolish with a frown on your face and this on your neck!

At the Bead & Button Show I quickly found their booth out in the main hallway. I was delighted to walk up and see my creation sitting there with all those other talented artists' work and meet the founder of Beads of Courage, Jean Baruch. 

Isn't she the cutest little sprite of a thing?! She is so positive and warm and welcoming. I felt like we had known each other for a long time after only being there for a few minutes.

Each of the pieces were displayed with a picture of the original drawing and a nice bio card. There is a connection to Jewelry Television with this project and I understand that a commemorative book is in the works as well as an airing on the JTV in the fall. They usually cast all the glass beads in pewter for a smaller, more affordable bead that can be used by the children in the program as well. I will be anxiously watching for that!

Some of the other art necklaces for sale (clockwise from top left):
designer: Cathy Jakcic; bead artist: Lara Lutrick
designer: Ayla Phillips Pizoon; bead artist: Marcy Lamberson
designer: Jamie Hogsett; bead artist: Kris Schaible
designer: Nealay Patel; bead artist: Diana Rast
designer: Diane Trepanier; bead artist: Jessica Rutherford
designer: Fusion Beads; bead artist: Margaret Zinser

Throughout the Bead & Button Show they were accepting a $100 donation to the Beads of Courage organization to purchase the art jewelry that was created. My biggest fear is that someone would not buy my necklace, but that was completely unfounded. My necklace 'Because I'm Happy' sold to a generous soul and I was able to write a little personal note of thanks to the buyer before she picked it up at the end of the show.

They also sold some of the extra beads that were created as well as some of their other beads from past campaigns. My favorite was the Beads in Space mission from 2010. Fifty-six beads went on two different missions on the Shuttle Atlantis and Shuttle Endeavor. These beads were all space themed with aliens, rockets, stars and the like and the originals traveled 125,935,769 miles!

I purchased one of the last remaining replicas of the Starry Night bead by Jeri Warhaftig with a glow-from-within constellation. One of these days I will make something special enough to honor this little bead. I also got a Beads of Courage pewter Space Shuttle bead, which I will pass along to one of you, for the price of an answer to the following question:

Do you like to participate in collaborations? Why or why not? Tell us about a favorite one or suggest one in the comments!

Tell us all about your favorite out-of-this-world collaborations and this space shuttle might wing its way to you to encourage you to reach for the stars!

The EuroPower Punch: Punching holes in Metal

Hello Friends. Today I have a new tool to share with you. Let me introduce you to the EuroPower Punch.

I thought I was going to absolutely love this tool straight out of the case. Unfortunately that wasn't the case (no pun intended..lol). I even contemplated returning it. I have since decided this will be a tool that I will come to love the more I use it.

The Euro Punch punches holes in soft metal up to 16 gauge in thickness. It has a nice range of punch sizes. I believe the punch is advertised as a large hole punch. In my opinion the punch sizes are in the small range but this comes from someone who regularly uses the larger range of a disc cutter (1/2 inch up to 1-1/4 inches). So I'd have to say that hole sizing is a relative term and depends on your needs.

Above you can the see the EuroPower Punch with two of the punches and corresponding dies. The punch comes with 7 different sizes ranging from 3/32 to 9/32.

I love how each piece is marked with the sizes. I'm forever trying to remember or figure out the exact size of the disc I just cut. If you look closely you'll see that even the die has the size impressed on it. 

I wanted to show you this view of the punches and dies. You can see how the die sizes vary to fit the punch. 

I also love that I can adjust the depth consistently. The depth range is .5 inch up to 2 inches. I would love to be able to get this adjustment down to an even lower number, perhaps 1/16 of an inch. (My apologies to all my metric system friends...even I find our US measuring system to be daunting.)

Initially I found the punch difficult to work with but it did become much more user friendly (very quickly) as I learned how to use it. I found it difficult for my small hands to use this as a plier as the shape of the tool would intend. I just didn't have the strength to squeeze it, especially when using the largest punch. I have to brace the bottom of the tool on a table top and press down on the top handle of the plier. The instructions don't say to use lubricant on the punches but I plan on trying this. I think this might help with ease of punching through the metal.

You have to change out the punch and die when you want to punch a different size hole. This involves unscrewing the die and another screw in order to change the punch. Not a big deal overall just something to keep in mind if you're more of an on the fly type of person.

Pros:

• Punches a nice range of sizes, 3/32 - 9/32
• Ability to set depth adjustment
• Ability to see the placement of metal to be cut
• Each punch and die is marked with sizing info
• Nifty carrying case for storage and on the go
• Under $40 for a nice tool!

Cons:

• Hard to use as a plier in my small hands
• Would like to get depth adjustment smaller
• Changing punch sizes involves parts to be unscrewed and screwed in

Overall I think this will be a very useful tool on the workbench. In the past I've had a difficult time punching a smaller hole exactly where I want it to be. I love my disc cutter but it is near impossible (for me anyway) to line up my marked spot once I place the metal inside the disc cutter. I just can't see into those tiny holes to effectiviely match up the marked spot with the hole. I think this tool will defintiely help me to place the small holes exactly where I want them on the metal.

An example of some cut outs I made using the EuroPower Punch, Sea Urchin.

The EuroPower Punch can purchased at Rio Grande or Halstead Bead

As I was writing this I realized just how many tools I have on the workbench for the purposes of punching holes in metal. Would you be interested in an overview of tools that punch holes into metal? What do you think of the EuroPower Punch? Is this a tool you would use in your metalsmithing endeavors?

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Perfect Pairings

It is far too early in the game for any entries for the August monthly challenge, so I thought I would put together some Perfect Pairings of the jewelry kind to get you started in the right direction.

The Curious Bead Shop + Blue Bell Hill Crafts

Arte Bella Surplus + Humblebeads

Beadaholique + Ema K Designs

River Song Beads + Bo Hulley Beads

Mary Harding Jewelry + Ornamentea

What Perfect Pairings can you come up with in your stash?

Please be sure to list the Bead Artist in your description of your piece in the Flickr Pool so that we can find new Art Beads to love!

Check back here next week for (hopefully) a Perfect Pairings featuring...YOU!

August Monthly Challenge Color Palette

Hey ABSers, can you believe it's August already? I'm not entirely sure where 2014 has gone, to be honest. It's going by so fast.

But like always, a new month means a new beading challenge. And for those that like darker, slightly muted colors, you're in luck with Anne Redpath's "The Indian Rug" - this one's for you!

This month's challenge palette is a little different from past months in that the colors here are pretty set. There isn't a whole lot of deviation in the shades; a touch lighter or darker, and that's it. So, if you're going to be following along faithfully, you want to stick as close to the color swatches as you can. Darker and muted is the way to go this month; even the red, which is the boldest, brightest shade, is a bit muted.

As far as amounts go, use both the brighter red, purplish red, and dark yellow sparingly. The dark teal, the two blues, and grays are used most often. And speaking of the grays, not all are represented with a color swatch. If you'd like to use more, focus on the background of rug as inspiration. Use cool middle grays, and if you go darker, go with slightly warmer grays (like the part of the painting directly above the gray palette swatch).

While I normally go brighter with my color choices, this month's palette is just lovely. What do you think?

August Monthly Challenge Sponsors + Prizes

Our Wonderful sponsors for the August Challenge.
We will have 3 Lucky Winners this Month!

Humblebeads

Heather Powers of Humblebeads creates Handcrafted Art Beads Inspired by Nature and Art History. She is also the founder of Art Bead Scene, The Bead Cruise and Inspired by Nature Retreats. Heather is always creating new and wonderful designs and jewelry.

Heather is donating a $50 gift certificate.

Visit Heather at her Etsy Shop, Website, Blog, and Facebook.

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Beady Eyed Bunny

Leah Curtis of Beady Eyed Bunny creates. polymer clay pendants and other jewelry components. She also makes wonderful jewelry that incorporates a variety of materials, from Czech glass and artist made beads, to semi-precious gemstones,vintage beads and metals. 

Leah is donating a $50 in beads.

Visit Leah on Facebook, Blog, and Etsy.

: : :

Big Bead Little Bead

Anna Weller of Big Bead Little Bead runs an internet based business with her husband selling jewelry making supplies. They currently showcase ceramic, dichroic glass, lampwork glass, metalwork, paper and polymer clay beads on their site. Anna says they always seeking to grow partnerships with new artist bead makers to help build our offering of unique, handmade beads for their customers.

Anna is donating a $50 gift certificate.

Visit Anna on Facebook, Blog, Twitter , Google+, Pinterest, Flickr and Website.

: : :

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

The Indian Rug by Anne Redpath has with many different elements that can be used for inspiration: Shoes, chairs, textiles, bold patterns, bold colors of red, yellow, blue and green.

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

Please remember to put AUG 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.***

August Monthly Challenge

The Indian Rug (or Red Slippers), 1942 

by Anne Redpath 

Oil on plywood

73.90 x 96.10 cm (framed: 91.50 x 113.50 x 6.20 cm)

About the Art

The vivid colours and flat patterning of this painting owe much to Matisse, while the 'tipped-up' perspective reflects Redpath's admiration for early Italian painting. Redpath was fascinated by colour and texture. In this painting, the pattern of the rug meshes with the shapes of the slippers and chair to such a degree that it is difficult to separate flat from three-dimensional form. Redpath's father designed tweed fabrics and her work has the sense of patterning sometimes found in textiles. She remarked: 'I do with a spot of red or yellow in a harmony of grey what my father did with his tweed.'

About the Artist

Anne Redpath (Scottish, 1895 - 1965)
Redpath was born in Galashiels and studied at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1920 she married and moved to France, devoting much of the next fourteen years to her family and doing little painting. In the mid-1930s she returned to Scotland, settling in Hawick in the Borders. Redpath admired the French Post-Impressionist artists, such as Van Gogh and Gauguin, and also Matisse. From the 1950s, she became well known in the Scottish art world, specialising in landscapes, church interiors and still lifes painted in rich colours. Her work from the late 1950s responds to Abstract Expressionism in the free and expressive handling of paint.

Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors this month are Humblebeads, Big Bead Little Bead and Beady Eyed Bunny.

Please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes!

Monthly Challenge Recap

• Please post at least one single shot of your creation in the Flickr pool. This will be used to make a collage for the Monthly Challenge Gallery. Every creation will be added to the collage, regardless of a blog post. So everyone gets included!
• Be sure to share with us the name of the art bead artist in the description of your photo so that if you are selected for the weekly Perfect Pairings on Wednesdays, both you as the designer and the art bead artist can get the credit you both deserve!
• An InLinkz button will be added to the bottom of the Monthly Challenge Recap post. Here you will be able to link up your blog post if you have one. It is no longer necessary to add your blog post URL to the description unless you want to. Be sure to hop around and see all the great inspiration and leave some comment love!
• The Monthly Challenge Recap with Blog Tour will be posted on August 30th.

Monthly Challenge Winners
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all pictures posted on the Flickr pool.
• One prize winner will be selected at random from all blog posts added to the hop for the Monthly Challenge Recap post. So if you want to be in the pool for the second prize, be sure to use the InLinkz code at the bottom of the post to share your process and inspirations!
• Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on September 1st.

Perfect Pairings :: Designer + Art Bead Artist
• Formerly the Featured Designer of the Week, our new Perfect Pairings will now focus on both the jewelry designer and the art bead artist. Be sure to point out all the art bead artists in your work in the description of the photo in the Flickr pool. Links to their website or shop are appreciated. That way we can all find new art beads to love!
• From all the entries during the month, an editor will pick their favorite design to be featured every Wednesday here on ABS, 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. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. 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. 

An Art Bead must be used in your piece to qualify for the monthly challenge.

***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply added to wire 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.

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

Deadline is August 31st. 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.

Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***

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

July Monthly Challenge Winners

Congratulations to this Month's winners! 

1 winner was chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants.
1 winner was chosen randomly from the InLinkz blog entries.

Our first lucky winner is CreativeStash/Kristen Fagen.

She has won $50 in Beads from Gaea Handmade.

Our second lucky winner is Carol Briody/ABeadsLife.

She has won $50 in Beads from Diane Hawkey.

    Gaea Handmade                  Diane Hawkey  

               

Thank you Gaea Handmade and Diane Hawkey for being our July Monthly Challenge sponsors!

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

A Big THANK YOU to everyone who entered this month using "Little Mermaid" by Edmund Dulac, as your inspiration. 

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

Visit us tomorrow to see what August's challenge brings.