Fall Designer Challenge by Firefly Design Studio

It's time for my fall designer's challenge!  This is round #3 and the theme is bird on a branch in 2 different color palettes.  15 kits in each color is offered.  Each kit is $20 and has a bird focal, 2 small birds, a leaf bracelet topper, a pair of leaf charms, a branch, 2 12mm round beads and 2 10mm flat beads.  The kits are for sale in my etsy shop.  The link will be down below.  The rules are simple - use everything in the kit, plus whatever you want from your stash in whatever beading style you want.  Every round includes a mystery component.  Susan Sudnik from Bead N Sisters is a wonderful mixed media jewelry designer.  All I am going to say is it is copper component :)

This is the Cardinal Red kit (3 remain)

This is the Smokey Blue kit (10 remain)

Designers will upload their pictures to the Facebook group where all this fun happens.  (I will post the link down below for you to check out.  Even if you don't want to design with a kit, we need people to vote for their favorites!)  There will be 4 pictures from each designer - one of the necklace, bracelet and earrings alone and a collage picture of all 3 pieces together posted on the group wall. Every like and comment on any and all photos, counts as a vote! The voting period is Tuesday, November 1 at 12:01 am EDT - Sunday, November 6, 2016 at midnight EDT. 3 prizes will be awarded on Monday, November 7, 2016. One for the public's vote, one for the best use of the ceramic components and one for the best use of the guest artist's (Susan Sudnik's) piece. 

Kits are available through October 17, 2016, so there is still time to participate!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1670109743205467/

www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com
www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com

Ceramic + Enamel = Fun Earring Challenge

It is time for the big reveal....Michelle from Firefly Design Studio and Anne from Gardanne each started with identical ceramic and enameled pieces and thought it would be fun to see what each comes up with.  Here is a refresher on what each designer started with:

Anne started the earring design with her fun surfboard shaped enameled pair of charms.  They are a bronze base with teal and pops of gold, lavender and blue.  Michelle added 15mm teal ceramic earthenware discs and 5mm coordinating spacer beads.  We each took these components home from the Bead and Button show, so we've had some time to think about our plan of attack!

This is what Michelle designed:

All Michelle added to the above components is 24g wire, 3mm spacer beads and earring wires, all made by Vintaj.  Cut 8" of 24g wire and fold it in half.  Squeeze the wire tightly together with your flat nose pliers.  Hold the disc in front of the charm hole and from the back, pass the folded wire (folded end first) through the charm and disc holes.  Stop at the half way point and bend the wire down at a 90 degree angle.  With your fingers, hold the wire in place at the bend and start to twirl the wire over the disc hole.  When almost finished, take your flat nose pliers and push the end down through the hole to give it a finished look.  With the double wire tail sticking up, place a metal spacer bead, a ceramic spacer bead and another metal spacer bead.  This will help with the components fitting together nicely.  Make a small wire wrap loop and place earring on the earring wire.  Repeat and enjoy!

Firefly Design Studio Designers Challenge - Voting is Open!

I am hosting my first challenge and the entries are live!  The participants received a ceramic paisley kit in either neutral or bright colors and were to create a necklace, bracelet and earring set.  I have a group on Facebook where all the action is happening and you are invited to vote for your favorite! There are 4 pictures posted - 1 of each individual piece of jewelry and a collection shot where all 3 jewelry pieces are.  Your like or comment (you have to be a group member to comment but everyone can like the picture) on the collection photo is what counts.  Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1670109743205467/

Here is a photo of the kits the participants received:

or

I also had a guest lampwork artist contribute a surprise bead to the kit.  Shannon Vickers from Blue Blazes Lampwork created a fun bicone bead to coordinate with each kit.

Here is an entry from Kimberly Kretschman:

I will be holding the challenges a few times a year.  I also award prizes!  First place receives a $100 bead package, second place receives a $50 bead package and third place receives a $25 bead package.  Voting is open through 11:59pm EST, Monday, February 29, 2016 with winners announce the next day.

8th Day of Christmas + Inside the Studio with Erin Prais-Hintz

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 prize each week to encourage you to use that keyboard and tell us what you think. The following week a winner is chosen at random from all eligible entries. And here are the results from last week!

This week's winner is Mary Morris.
Congratulations! 
You have won a JOY ornament from Michelle of Firefly Design Studio.
 Please contact Michelle to claim your prize!

 

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Hello lovely art bead peeps!

I am pinch hitting for Miss Heather of Swoondimples today (you can read her Inside the Studio next week, on Christmas!). Since I didn't know that I was going to be doing this post until about 9:30 on Thursday after I got home from the Christmas concert (the most lovely rendition of Silent Night and Carol of the Bells by the chamber choir along with a stirring medley of the Nutcracker by the band - puts me right in the holiday spirit!) I had to quickly whip something up. Fortunately, I seem to thrive under the last minute pressure. As luck would have it, I also realized in that moment of yes that I needed to also make earrings for my monthly We're All Ears challenge on the Earrings Everyday blog. It is my party that I host each month (would love to have you join in!), so I had to find a way to roll this all together.

For the We're All Ears theme for December I came up with the Leftovers Transformation challenge. The idea is that we all have that craft table littered with the remains of projects past, or the craftermath, as I call it. What better time than now to do something with those! Sometimes limiting yourself to just a few materials and giving yourself a very tight time frame can really kick things into high gear. I figured that what would work for the Earrings Everyday blog would work for this post as well.

The first step to the Leftovers Transformation Challenge is to take a picture of what you are working with. So here are a few pictures of the craftastrophe that is my studio..... please don't laugh! I actually work in about a 6" square space (and you can't see the floor behind this table is piled up.... but there are paths to walk in!).

As I was going through my trays and bins, I came across two bean beads from Heather Millican of Swoondimples, that I had her make in late spring/early summer when she was doing the Awareness Words hop. I had her put the word "remember" on these purple beads for Alzheimers' and intended to make something for my sister and I to wear. Mom lives in a facility not too far away, and I do get to see her, but she really doesn't have any words, so it is hard to figure out what she is thinking.
 

When it comes to the holidays it is a bit sad for me as my mom is in the latter stages of this terrible disease. The holidays are always filled with a lot of memories and traditions and it has been years since I could share those with her. But my sister and I are doing our best to keep those memories alive and continue the traditions that my mom started with us so long ago. Like baking my mom's chocolate lace cookies and using her spritz cookie maker... giving an ornament to each kid so that when they leave home they will have a whole set of ornaments to start out... putting an orange and a walnut in the toe of each stocking... I inherited the gold glass ball garland from my dad after last Christmas. This was my grandmother's decoration. I can vividly recall watching the adults gingerly place this on her tree each year. When I was putting these fragile strands on each branch, it was like dressing up in my grandmother's costume jewelry (I also inherited her jewelry box and some of her costume jewelry when I was 18). This is a special old memory and new tradition that I will be carrying on.

My sister Kelly celebrates her birthday on January 3rd and even though we don't really give each other many gifts for Christmas (we focus on the kids more), I do try to make her birthday something special. So I thought I would make something just for her. Oddly enough, my sister doesn't have that much of my jewelry. Her tastes tend to be very simple. So I might be really pushing her boundaries with this wackadoodle style, but I think that she will appreciate it.

This is a pretty old picture of us... from about 2006... I was so much younger and thinner with way shorter hair... Kelly (on the left), well, she hasn't changed all that much and looks pretty much the same!

I like making necklaces with orphan beads. My studio is overflowing with them! I actually just bought two sets of orphan beads from two different glass artists from overseas stating that I never met an orphan I didn't like. I much prefer the challenge of making different beads in different mediums work together. I call this style a "this and that" because it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that!

To make your own "This & That" necklace...

Ingredients:
assorted art beads with a color theme in mind (try to find ones that are made from different materials)
beading wire (about 8" or more if you are going to bead the entire thing)
crimp tubes
spacer beads
seed beads (optional)
chain (about 10-12")
clasp

1::String a combination of art beads separated by smaller spacers onto the beading wire (use a bead stopper on the end so they don't fall off). You might need to pull them on and off until you reach the right balance for the weight of some beads, and color placement. Make sure that it will hang correctly (i.e., don't put the heaviest beads to one side!).
2::Separate the chain links in half.
3::On one end, string a crimp tube and then about 7-9 seed beads (to cover the wire). Crimp the wire securely.
4::Repeat step 3 for the other side.
5::Attach a clasp.

I had fun combing through my art bead stash for this necklace. I pulled all different shades of purples for Alzheimer's and in a variety of mediums and shapes. In addition to Swoondimples, I used glass from Cathie Roberts, a beaded bead from Malin de Koning, an enamel filigree and a Facet Effects bead (I made both). I know there are at least two other glass beads, but I am not sure who made them - the swirly purple and the dottie blue/lilac/lime. (Speak up if you know and I would love to give credit!). I added some funky black gunmetal chain links to the back. That way if I need to adjust it to fit her, it will be a simple thing to do.

I also made a pair of earrings as part of the Leftover Transformation Challenge. If you would like to see what I made to complement this necklace, head over to the Earrings Everyday blog. (P.S. I am also having a giveaway over on the Earrings Everyday blog...if you join in the fun and create some earrings to share in the hop! It is not too late to play along... you have one week to join in. Check it out!)

I have a $25 gift certificate to give away to one lucky reader for answering this question....

What is your favorite holiday memory?

I wish you many fond memories of this holiday season spent with those that you love carrying on those time-honored traditions and making new ones!

Review: Understanding Color: Color Theory Made Easy

Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.  ~Claude Monet

As a creative, I have always been drawn to color. I love the way my Crayons were always lined up with their pointy hats ready for me to turn that coloring book into a masterpiece. It was there that I started experimenting with my favorite colors and how they worked together without really knowing the science or theory behind it.

I really have absolutely no training whatsoever in art. I just know what I like. I seem to have a knack for colors, but I have no idea why. I wasn't even sure that I was doing it right, or that there was even a method to my madness. So a few years ago when I first discovered our editor Miss Brandi Hussey, I was intrigued by her masterful use of color, first in her Catie's Blue jewelry and then in her amazing photography. She sucked me right into her color-filled world and I have to read her blog every chance I get. I know that color is her obsession, and I am so glad that she shares that with us. I personally find Miss Brandi fascinating, down-to-earth, and totally my go-to color guru. She has taught me so much.

{Color Palette #171: Crepe Myrtle}

 And then I found her custom made color palettes. I was hooked.

Miss Brandi doesn't make jewelry anymore (and the pieces I have from her are some of my very favorite), but her love of color, and more importantly, her winning way with explaining it in terms that I can easily grasp, gets me excited every time. It is like I opened up that box of Crayons again for the first time excited by the relationships of all those colors just waiting to party with me!

I don't know about you, but Miss Brandi's color theory posts on Art Bead Scene are some of my very favorite. I look forward to them every month, especially the ones where she shares her take on the artwork that has been selected and shares multiple palettes that can inspire us. It's not as if I don't see those colors in the art, but to understand the relationships they have to each other really makes the art come alive for me.

When I heard that she was compiling a book of all her color theory posts, I knew that I had to be the first to sign up! Just last month, Miss Brandi released her book Understanding Color: Color Theory Made Easy. I signed up for a pre-order and got both the instant download and a copy of the print version.

I got my print copy of the book Understanding Color this past weekend. I LOVE IT! I also have the digital version (which I have on my computer at work so that when things are slow I can have a bit of inspired reading), but there is nothing quite like holding a book in your hands. This one is so soft and silky, the colors are so vibrant and it is laid out so well. Blurb.com does a wonderful job with self-published titles and I am very impressed with this one.

Brandi's stated goal is to "make color theory approachable." She has done just that. Without a degree in art, I have felt stymied by some of the way that color is explained in that world, almost to the point of tuning out. But with Brandi's new book, I know that it finally makes sense to me.

 
My favorite part of this book is the chapter on Color Relationships. Let's face it: the thing that sets our designs apart, or whatever art that we are called to create, is the relationships of the colors that we have chosen to use. I didn't know why I liked the combination of red, yellow-green and blue-green, I just knew that it worked. Now I understand that it is a Split-Complementary color relationship. 

I also like that she goes into depth on Value & Saturation, especially focusing on the role that black, white and the quasi-neutrals like brown and beige play in design. I am fond of saying that black is my favorite color. Now, I know that it is not a color in the true sense of the word, but it is to me. And now I know why. These supporting cast members can really play a pivotal role in a design, or as Brandi puts it, "They add a lot of depth to a song without taking away from the lead singer." I love to sing, so I love that analogy! Descriptions like this are what makes this book very accessible for those not steeped in the science of color.

From how a color is made, to how you see a color, to how you use a color, Miss Brandi's step-by-step workbook really stands out to me as a go-to reference for creatives of any type. So if you are ready to take your art to the next level - it doesn't matter if your chosen medium is jewelry, paintings, interior design or fashion - this book should be on your shelf!

Click the images below to get your copy:

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To celebrate the launch of this book, Miss Brandi is hosting a Color Challenge.

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is this: grab a color palette, make a piece of art using those colors as inspiration, then enter to win a prize pack.

Once you’ve made your piece, take a photo of it, then fill out this form to submit your entry. Don't delay! You have until 12pm Central Standard Time on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 to enter. Join me, won't you?

Hop on over to her blog and read all the details. 

And for more color inspiration from contemporary artwork, be sure to check out her new blog that I am crushing about: Oh, The Color.

Inspired by Music

People can relate to the musicality of shapes... Painting is 'silent music'... Soft and hard edges are similar to loud and soft notes... Harmony, chords, pitch, rhythm, syncopation and timber can all be translated to the visual arts.
~Clyde Aspevig, painter

There are so many things that can inspire a piece of jewelry. A walk in a garden, a sunset at the beach, cute little baby toes, a snippet of your favorite poem and, of course, the art that we select on Art Bead Scene.

Usually, when I am designing I let the beads just talk to me and tell me what they want to be, but for a piece to be truly successful to me there has to be more than just pure prettiness as the inspiration. Of course, the best is when I am inspired by the person that I am creating for, but sometimes there isn't anyone in particular in mind for a piece of jewelry. In those instances, I like to turn to other sources when seeking inspiration.

Inspired by the song 'Gravity' by Sara Bareilles

A few years ago, I decided to challenge myself to see how I could turn varied inspirations into my own interpretations. I started offering what I call the Quarterly Challenges to my blog readers. I was actually surprised to find that so many were willing to join me in the Challenges. I promise my blog readers that they will have fun, learn new things and that I will always put a little bit of a twist to the Challenge just to keep it interesting. This month I am hosting a blog hop for the 2nd annual Challenge of Music. There are 48 participants who will be sharing their music and their creative interpretations for the reveal on March 1st.

Inspired by the song 'Uncharted' by Sara Bareilles

Your musical choices say a lot about you. And the personal playlist of every person on this planet will be totally unique. Last year I asked the participants to share their favorite pieces of music through a piece of jewelry. Since there were participants from all around the globe, we had a true world beat.

This year I challenged the participants to select a piece of music that was purely instrumental. Why instrumental? Well, when you select a song with lyrics you invariably see what the lyricist leads you to see. But when you select a piece of pure music, it is open to your interpretation. At first I worried that others would feel that it could be a bit boring without the lyrics to guide you, but I have found is that instrumental music is anything but boring. I also thought that it would be easy to select, since there is no shortage of instrumental music in every genre, style and era. That is proving to be the hardest part, even for me as the host!

Inspired by the song 'Gonna Get Over You' by Sara Bareilles

So, how do you go about choosing a piece of music to inspire you? For me, it has to have emotion. As I listen to it, there has to be some power behind the sounds. Not necessarily that it is a driving beat or loud, but that the music makes me feel something in my gut when I listen to it.

Once you select a piece of music, then what?

I suggested to my Challenge participants that they listen to the music over and over. Have it on in their studio space when they are doing something else. Play it in the car. Try listening to it at different times of the day. While you listen, close your eyes (okay, not when you are driving!) and let the sound wash over you. Pick out the individual instruments. Listen to the beat and rhythm. Every time you hear it, pick up on something new.

Close up of some doodles for a design I am working on based on one of the songs

Then, with pen and paper, doodle while you listen. Fill an entire page with shapes and lines and squiggles. It doesn't have to resemble anything that you will create and you don't need to be a great artist. Just make marks on the page. You might be surprised to find repeating patterns relating to the rhythm or sound of certain instruments. Set that aside and come back to it later. You might be able to translate one of your doodles into a shape you can create with wire, or beads, or fiber in your work.

 I wrote a blog post about synesthesia, in particular chromesthesia, the idea that you can see with your ears. Consider the colors that you see in your mind when you listen. What textures or shapes or patterns are prevalent in the music. If there is a driving beat, what beads in your stash evoke that strong force? If there is a repetitive pattern, how can you use beads to reinforce that? Does the music loop back onto itself with repetition of sequences? If the music is soft and mournful, what materials or colors might you use? As I am listening, I will go around my studio and pull out all the pieces that I feel represent the music to me and then start to arrange them like puzzle pieces.

My doodles and notes after listening to several songs I am considering

I used to teach a 7th grade English class and we would write poetry inspired by a piece of instrumental music. But this exercise can also help you with any visual representation of music. Try this:

Listen to the piece of music and freewrite your thoughts, feelings, moods, phrases, whatever it is that you see in your minds' eye when you hear the sounds. Don't worry about grammar, punctuation or complete sentences. Don't lift your pen once the music starts. Just write and write and write. Be as descriptive as possible whether you are writing a story of what you are envisioning or just the feelings, shapes, textures the music evokes. Maybe you can even envision a scene unfolding. When you are done you should have a page (or more) of words. Next, fold the page(s) in quarters. Cut the paper(s) into fourths. Highlight or circle the words and phrases that pop out at you on each piece. These words will be powerful and can become incorporated into your interpretation literally (if you use words in your work) or figuratively by translating those words into shapes and colors and textures.

For me, it is easy to pull out all my art beads and make something pretty, but sometimes the piece feels flat and lacking soul and substance. I feel that my work goes to a different level when I allow myself to be inspired by something - a walk in the woods, the monthly art inspiration from Art Bead Scene, a powerful poem or a piece of striking music - that is larger than myself.

Please come by my blog on Friday, March 1st to see the reveal of the 2nd Annual Challenge of Music and consider joining me for the remaining quarterly challenges coming up in May, August and November.

Do you find it easy or difficult to interpret various inspirations for your creations? Would you rather just let your beads lead you to beauty, or would you prefer to have some sort of an inspiration? Why do you think that is? 

Thinking Outside the Box part II

You should remember my last post about Thinking outside the box. If not, you may want to go HERE and read it first, before you start on this one. 
For part 2 I am honoured to share the designs of two wonderful designers. I challenged them to use my components thinking outside the box, look at them in different ways, and see what they could create that is slightly out of the ordinary. 

Here is what they came up with...
Donna Martin Bradley was the first one I asked.  I asked her to use one of my large 1.5 inch round pendants, in a different way.

She turned it into a fantastic large Bracelet focal, instead of using it in a necklace! Fantastic results! With Spring coming soon, it's a great time to start thinking about making your summer jewelry!

The use of woven ribbon inside the chain is always a wonderful extra touch. You can find Donna on Facebook on her STRANDED BEADS page! Her beautiful designs are also available on Etsy! 


Next I asked Diana Ptaszynski. I thought it would be fun if Diana could make some earrings. 


Here is what she came up with...

Great idea to mix and match different charms and make the earring asymmetrical! I love that she incorporated her own handmade sea shell charm and bead links.

These look fun and beachy! You can find Diana on Facebook on her SUBURBAN GIRL STUDIO page! Her Fun original jewelry is available in her Etsy shop.


It was a complete coincidence that both designers used Ocean inspired pieces. I did not pick the components, so it was fun to see that they went so well together!


To get your own fun, quality Ephemera pieces, please visit my More Skye Jewels shop and shop around or feel free to request something special! For more ideas on how to use them you can also visit my Skye Jewels Blog.


Thanks so much for stopping by!


Marie

Thinking Outside the box!

If you are like me, you love a good challenge to get those creative juices flowing. I have put together a few fun things to help challenge yourself into seeing your Art beads in a new light!

To start here we have one of my own Ephemera pendants. When you see this you think of a necklace, something maybe a little mythical or "Avenging Angel"! lol

Well, what if you had two...

Now this could be interesting... so think outside the box! What would you do with a pair of wings? You could certainly put one on each side in a necklace, or you could...

Make Earrings!!  These are quite large of course, but that is the fun of thinking outside the box!
So here is the next idea...

A beautiful Pendant by Summers Studio! As you can see, the pendant has two holes at the top and one on the bottom. It is made to be hung a certain way, with a dangle at the bottom.
Well, think outside the box!

Turn the pendant sideways and add dangles to two of the holes, in unexpected places! 

What a fun and unique piece it becomes! It hangs beautifully and you would never know it was meant to be done a different way!

What else can you do? How about using a Toggle in a different way?

Love this toggle from Vintaj! Beautiful shape, texture and colour!

Why not change it into...

Earrings! You just add your Art Beads {in this case lampwork by SueBeads} to the combo, sideways with jump rings as an extra out of the box touch! These are really perfect for spring and you know no one else will be wearing them ;)


Keep an eye out for my next post, it will be a continuation of this one, with pieces made by other designers I have challenged to "Think outside the box!"


Marie


All Jewelry pieces and ephemera art beads are made by Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of Skye Jewels. Ephemera pieces are available at More Skye Jewels on Etsy