Enamel Beads

Check out Barbara Lewis' new bead shop, PaintingWithFire, featuring her enamel beads.  They remind me of the seeds in our inspiration painting and would work great for this month's challenge!

Bead Scoop: Patina Gel

Cool Tools is well named. They come up with the coolest tools and today I have a good example, Patina Gel. It's a stabilized form of liver of sulfur. You know liver of sulfur, it's the stinky chunks of stuff that make copper based metals like copper, sterling silver and bronze dark so you can highlight all those beautiful reliefs. But liver of sulfur goes bad quickly. Gee wish I had a stabilized form of it. Oh wait! You can get a stabilized form of it.

Cool.

Yes, and Cool Tools has done it. That's why they're well named.

I love it and use it on my new bronze metal clay pieces.




It's so easy to work with. Go to the Cool Tools website like I did and check out the videos on how to use it. It's a dream come true! Thanks, Cool Tools!

(Photo credit for Patina Gel from the Cool Tools website.)

(written by Cindy Gimbrone who is busy putting a patina on everything she can!)

Bead Scoop - Jade Scott

I don't know how Lorelei finds these amazing artists, but I'm so glad she shares them with us when she does!

Jade Scott creates resin collage pendants that are whimsical and endearing. Here are a few of my favorites:

rainy days and mondays pendant

can a leaf be sassy pendant

floating pendant

The Bead Scoop: Polyester Chain

I was thinking of our Chains of Love challenge theme, and came across this neat new stringing material from Beadalon. It is a colorful, lightweight chain and I think it is a fun material to use with handmade beads. A funky charm bracelet would be cool, or a chunky necklace that would remain lightweight. This is a perfect material for people who might have allergies to metals too.

This polyester chain can be found at Great Craft Works. From the Great Craft Works site: "This innovative Beadalon Chain is lightweight and created with polyester fibers fashioned into large cable chain. Link size 8mm (.315")"

The Bead Scoop: Wine and Beads

Merlot Hollow NecklaceLoves Kahlua and Amber

I stumbled across the website of Rowena Tank of Prescott, Arizona, a lampwork artist who makes beads from recycled wine bottles. Most of her larger focal beads are freeform and still look like molten glass. What caught my interest is that she creates these beautiful pieces of wearable art with a loom. Some are created off loom also. The above beads were made from Merlot and Kahlua bottles. What a great way to recycle after a party!

Bead Scoop: Felt Tree Kit from Art Girlz

I am the type of crafter that is so busy with holiday shows well into mid-December, that I am too busy to buy and decorate a big Christmas tree of my own. By the time my shows are over, I am pooped and just want to concentrate on holiday gifts, parties, and cookies. But I was looking at the Art Girlz website and found this super cute felt tree kit! That's a tree that I can handle decorating! I think it would make a really cute gift to give to others too, especially if embellished with a few extra art beads on the garland, or one fancy sparkly bead for the tippy top.

This kit sells for $11.99 at Art Girlz

Bead Scoop - Ginkgo Leaves

Inspiration for the day - ginkgo leaves!

Lampwork ginkgo leaves by Lisa Kan

Sterling silver ginkgo leaf from Dava Bead and Trade

Ginkgo pendant from BlockPartyPress

Raku pendants from Emerald Beads with Rama

Incredible beaded ginkgo leaves from Diane Fitzgerald.

Staying power - a ginkgo tree can live up to 1000 years and is a symbol for longevity.

Bead Scoop - Recycled Metal Beads

What could be better than doing your part for the environment and recycling? When the act of recycling creates cool new works of art! This is the case for two beadmakers who have discovered ways to recycle commercial metal products into beautiful, funky beads.

Debbie Austin of Glass Onion Studios finds old printed metal pieces at flea markets and crafts them into unique cylindrical beads. Capped by two coins, the colors and designs of the metal, often depicting old products and vintage cartoon characters, bring an instant vintage look to the pieces, whether they are combined with other beads or worn on their own. Instant conversation pieces!

These colorful Bottle Cap beads are made by Cathy Collison of Glass Garden Beads. The Trinket Foundry collection is made of unique, one of a kind, handmade pieces from recycled bottlecaps. The actual caps are soldered using lead-free, and you can even inquire about having custom bottle cap beads made!


Each is one of a kind, and you can pick from your favorite beverages, or choose from your favorite colors and designs.

6 Reasons to Join a Bead Society

Bead Societies are spread across the world and if you are lucky enough to have one nearby, here are 6 reasons to join today!

1. It's not good to always bead alone. Meet other like-minded bead-aholics who won't judge the hoard of beads you have stashed away.

2. It's fun! Bead societies will often have challenges or contests. Our bead society has a design contest every year along with 2 annual parties.

3. You'll be in the know. Bead Societies will help you keep up-to-date on the bead shows coming to your area, as well as opportunities for you to showcase your jewelry.

4. Learn something new. Most meetings will have a special presentation or speaker. Bead Societies often host classes for their members at special rates.

5. Discounts. Yes! Membership has it's privileges. If you belong to your local Bead Society, you might be able to get discounts at your local bead shops.

6. You'll discover the beadmakers in your area and find new art beads you must have!

When it comes to organizations that are run by volunteers, you'll get more out of it if you become involved! Bead Societies are always in need of talented new members to keep the organization growing and lively. Our society doesn't meet during the summer and I'm looking forward to seeing them again next month!

Want to see if there is a society near you? Check out the extensive and up-to-date list on the Rings & Things message board.

The Bead Scoop: Inspirational Tools

Inspirational Message Stick Charms by Earthenwood Studio

Everyone needs a little bit of inspiration sometimes. Many of the big bead sellers on the web understand this, and have sections of their sites to post creative ideas, tutorials, and picture galleries perfect for finding that elusive bit of inspiration. Here is a collection of bead store inspiration pages that I found while surfing:

Rings & Things' Gallery

Fusion Beads' Inspiration pages and Color ideas pages

Art Beads' Learning Center

Nina Designs' Jewelry Design Ideas

Halstead Beads' Design Portal

Fire Mountain Gems' Gallery of Designs

Beadalon's Workshop Menu

Softflex's Design School

Wig Jig University

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

Bead Scoop: Sonoma Glass Art & Bead Festival

Ceramic Heart Lariat by Merit Cape There is an upcoming show coming soon to Sonoma Valley, CA that I wanted to tell you about. The Soft Flex Company is hosting the Sonoma Glass Art & Bead Festival August 9-12, 2007.

Classes are provided by Bead Unique Magazine and start Aug 9th. One of the classes is shown above: the Ceramic Heart Lariat by Merit Cape. This class project features handcrafted art buttons by Earthenwood Studio. I think it is a unique use of buttons integrated into a necklace!

Class information: August 9-12, 2007

The Vintage House, 264 First St. East - Sonoma, CA 95476

Over 70+ classes available Lampworking, basic stringing, wire working and more!

Classes presented by Bead Unique™ Magazine Visit www.beaduniqueu.com for registration details.

SHOPPING: August 11-12, 2007 Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building 126 First St. West - Sonoma, CA 95476

The show also has two days of shopping, Aug 11-12, with a great list of vendors of both handmade and commercial beads and supplies.

Shopping info: Juried show of 95+ exhibitor spaces Beads, gemstones, findings, collectible glass art & jewelry A truly exciting WEST COAST shopping Extravaganza Shopping presented by Soft Flex® Company

For more info about this show and classes, check out the Soft Flex website.

Bead Scoop: beads-of-clay.org

Beads-of-Clay.org, a group that 4 of the ABS team members belong to, has recently received a face lift. This group is very helpful and informative for the earth clay bead artist.

Beads-of-clay.org is home to ceramic bead artists who are interested in working together to promote artisan ceramic beads. With members from all over the country and the world, the styles and techniques that we use vary greatly from artist to artist, giving us a rich and imaginative visual library from which we can inspire one another.

Porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, terra cotta, raku, Egyptian paste, and clay slip are among the varied materials our members use to make beads, buttons, and jewelry components.

If you are interested in learning about making or collecting ceramic beads, please check out our website which is full of information and artwork.

Earth clay is the common ceramic material used by all these beadmakers. The areas of expertise for these ceramic bead artists range from bright colored low fired clay all the way to high fired porcelain. Included in the beadmakers' skills are the handling of earthenware, stoneware, raku, porcelain and Egyptian Paste. The handmade beads and pendants may be glazed, unglazed or tumbled polished. Firing methods used include electric and gas kilns as well as raku and pit fired techniques. The variety and richness of these miniature works of art is a delight for the collector and jeweler.

In addition the BOC website, a new beads-of-clay blog has been started. Info on the lighter side of clay beads and the artists who make them. Please click on by and check it out.

Bead Scoop: Microfiber Faux Suede Lace

While searching online for some black faux suede lace, I found the lace in a total of ten colors at Fire Mountain Beads and Gems. The beautiful blues and greens brought to mind this month's Art Bead Scene challenge theme. Here are two shades that caught my eye and just seem to be calling out to be strung with mermaids and other colorful sea life.


These and other colors can be found online at the Fire Mountain online catalog. If you haven't worked with this cord yet it's worth giving a try. You will be pleasantly surprised at how soft and supple it is and how nicely it drapes. It comes in a consistent width of 3mm, is hand washable, and looks great with crimped cord ends.

The Bead Scoop - Beaducation

Want to take a jewelry-making class from one of the industry's top instructors in the comfort of your own home? Then you must check out the projects at Beaducation. Beaducation provides step-by-step video classes featuring techniques for all skill levels. Visit their website for a few free demos and to see their class offerings.

Bead Scoop - ABS Treasury on Etsy

Here are some top picks from my favorite bead artists on Etsy.

Please visit the Art Bead Scene treasury, leave a comment and click on the images to learn more about these amazing beads and their makers!

The Bead Scoop: Melanie's Bead & Button Stash

Want to see what an incredible stash of art beads one can get at a bead show? I wanted to share my personal stash with you from the Bead & Button show. I think seeing a person's bead stash is very revealing about them. What does my stash tell about me?

A crackly porcelain heart and wicked flowery skull from Joan Miller.

A fish pendant with matching accents from Clay River Designs and porcelain dragonfly beads from Splendid Loon Studio

Square pendant by Marsha Neal Studio, Button by Creative Impressions In Clay, Leaf by Embroidered Soul, and Raku discs by Bag Lady Beads

Brown tablet beads and a highly coveted magnetic clasp by Jangles

More fun stuff from Clay River Designs

Tiny spacers from Clay River Designs

Um, yeah, I went a little crazy at the Green Girl Booth. Check out the Shibiuchi heart toggle!

yep, I went crazy twice at Green Girl Studios.
Here is an incredible bird bead that I got from Kim at North Fire Designs and a flower I got from Ofilia Cinta, whose booth was just two down from mine
Ooh, my special treasure from Anne Choi! This one really spoke to me. It says "be not forgetful to entertain strangers" and it has feathers around it. It reminds me of my grandma and my mom, who love to feed and watch the birds.

A copper and sterling pendant and a toggle bar (it says Fly Away on it) by Coliebug Beads

And last but not least, shell and wood pendants and beads by Lillypilly Designs

Good stash, huh? I can't wait to start playing with all of these!