Bead Table Wednesday Art Bead Scene Challenge

I feel like it has taken forever to make my Art Bead Scene October Challenge piece!  My studio has been in such disarray that I couldn't even find my pliers to assemble this.  I have had all the pieces laying there, under other things that got piled on top, but just couldn't get in there to create it.  So, after a lot of cleaning, and organizing, and finding of the pliers, it is done and that feels SO MUCH BETTER!!!

Before I show you what I made, I will show you the picture its based on...........................

A Hedgehog in a Landscape, 1643-51

9¼ x 15 in. 23.5 x 38 cm. bodycolor on vellum

by Giovanna Garzoni

I could not wait to make a piece based on this painting.  Nature is such a big theme in my jewelry, that this was perfect!  I also really liked the muted color palatte....all neutrals.  I knew right away I wanted to use one of my fold formed leaves that I made, and some stones as well.  I also thought I'd make a bracelet this time, something chunky, but I couldn't get it to lay right, so it became a necklace, and I am glad it did!

So- I did end up using my fold formed leaf, a smoke fired bead by Artisan Clay, a nice slab nugget of fossil coral, one of my loopTloops in antiqued copper, some little drilled stones from a seller on etsy (I can't remember who, it was sooo long ago) and some awesome ribbon from Lisa Jurist~Mudhound Studio    on etsy.  I made the clasp and matching swirl link as well.  Once I wore this necklace, I ended up wiring the leaf and smokefired bead together so the leaf wouldn't flip....I guess the different weights of them kept making it hang funny.  I didn't get a pick of that, but its all on the back, so it doesn't really change the designs at all.  I really like the creams, browns and greys together and will probably do more pieces in these colors. 

So that is it, all thats on my bead table this wednesday.  Whats on your bead table???

And the winner is.....................

Ritaz Rtistic Rambelz!  Congrats!

Here is what she said about her favorite beads:
"Wow, tough question since it changes all the time. I am totally addicted to metals of all sorts, and lampwork glass. My faves to wear myself are mainly, silver, mixed metals, lampwork and seeds of all sorts. Thanks for the opportunity to win! "
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(Rita-I just realized you did not include your email, and I have no way to contact you.  I didn't want to disqualify you, so you have one week to contact me or I will have to draw a new name....sorry!  but rules are rules)

Thank you all for participating! This was the biggest turn out I've ever had for a giveaway!  I really enjoyed seeing everyone's answers, and finding that I am not the only bead addict collector out there!

My favorites are earthy organic beads, ones that look like they have been dug up. So raku ceramic usually fit that bill pretty well. If you are new to my blog, then I will introduce you to a few of my favorite ceramic bead artists.

 Lisa Peters Art

Artisan Clay

Maku Studio

 

Then of course, I love metals....all metals. Highly antiqued silver that is chunky and textured comes first (I used to LOVE bali beads before I started making my own metal components) and I adore copper, because of how much you can distress it!

Oh yeah- gemstones, my first love, sea glass, and I am begining to find some lampwork and polymer artists I love too.

Yeah- addict. What can I say. I'm a sucka for art beads, or anything earthy and pretty!!!

Thanks again! And Congrats to Rita!!!! Contact me with your address so I can get these out to you!

Trying New Things!

Tomorrow (Saturday, July 23rd) I will be teaching a free demo on drilling sea glass and shells, along with some idea's of what to do with them once they are drilled. 
Its at Beads of a Feather in East Greenville, Pa.  I finally typed up my outline, and posted it to my website as well (that way people can refer to it once they come home...we don't hand out papers for free classes).  But, I still need to make some samples of what you can do with your shells and sea glass you bring home from the beach.
I think I am going to do some sort of a charm bracelet and a couple pendant or necklace ideas. 

I am pretty excited to teach.  I love talking (oh my word, I never shut up!) and especially so when its something I am passionate about.  I also like to share any tid bits I pick up, so others can have as much fun as I do.  So, I think it may be a good fit for me.  I will certainly let you know how it goes, and maybe have some pictures too.

If you do make your way over to Beads of a Feather this weekend, check out Artisan Clay's trunk show of WONDERFUL ceramic beads and pendants.   She blogged about us setting it up over there.  You can read it over at the Artisan Clay blog.

She took this picture of us because we showed up wearing each others necklaces!  Aren't we funny???  I just love her work.  We have had a wonderful chance to grow together as artists, and share tips, websites, materials and encouragement.  She is great, and I am thankful for her.

Black Hole Sun~ Artisan Clay Design Team Reveal!!!!

Whew!  I love Kristies beads, she know's I am a big fan.  The only part where we differ is she LOVES primary colors, and I, well, I just don't know what to do with them.  So I think she was really stretching my creativity when I got a little charm set in YELLOW and black.  But, stretching is good, usually.

(I got that black set second from the left)
(If you are not familiar with Artisan Clay work, I encourage you to check it out.  Her style varies to fit so many people, and I LOVE that she uses recycled glass in her bright and fancy charms and donuts).

So- I had these charms sitting here and sitting here and sitting here.  I also, don't do many pendant or charm sort of focals.  Whew.  More head scratching.  So, I knew this had to involve metal.  Ok, now some ideas were forming.  I thought of pie crusting some sort of leaf or eye like form around it, since it makes me think of a cats eye or something.  Problem being, I haven't tried pie crusting yet, and it looks pretty hard to get just that right result.

Then it hit me.  Black Hole Sun, you know that song, right, by Soundgarden?  It had to be a sun.  While all these ideas were playing around my head, Izzy Winterhart won the monthly Love My Art Jewelry Challenge with her amazing cuff bracelet.  She bezels in some amazing way using rivets????  And I remembered seeing some sort of tutorial long ago on something like that.  So, I did what any artist would do, and I winged it.  I am not really happy with it.  Its bigger then I had wanted it to be.  I wish I would have used brass for the background ILO copper on both layers.  Oh well.  The best part is is the charm, and I guess thats what counts.  I didn't get to make the other one into something, but I will.  When I do, I will post it.  I promise.
So here it is, Black Hole Sun.

So- thanks to Izzy, for the inspiration.  If you haven't checked her work out, please do.  She has some really amazing designs, and makes copper classy!!!









Have a great weekend!  I hope you all have lots of sunshine and smiles!





Thanks to Kristie for allowing me to be a part of her design team!  I love it, and I loved the challenge that this month presented for me.  It pushed to try something new.

Also- I am listing in my Artisan Accents Shop.  Please use coupon code SLO10 to receive 10% off your order.  Good until June 4th!

Here are some pictures of my new items!!!!

I am listing jewelry in my etsy shop. Oh yeah, its true.

It feels like its been ages since I listed jewelry in my etsy shop.....but I am doing it.  Bracelets to be extact, and one really awesome necklace made with an Artisan Clay component.  I will try to list more regularly in both my shops, promise;)  It is definitely an area I struggle with in my business.

Oh, and to celebrate- free shipping on my jewelry shop for one week!  Use coupon code OHYEAHFREESHIP to receive the discount.

So- listing online is a real struggle for me, I want to have all my inventory with me as I travel to shows, but I am trying to be better about it. 

Where do you find you struggle to keep up with your art?

Artisan Clay Design Team~ Our First Reveal & Blog Hop

(If you are looking for the Art Bead Scene April challange hop click here.)

I was so excited to join the Artisan Clay design team, since I have been a LONG time fan!!!!!

Kristie was so creative about the challenge. She posted pictures on facebook of the beads and we could each pic one for our project.  I picked one from this picture...one without the loops.

I thought long and hard about it.  I know I would typically make a necklace in this style (see below) with a bead like that.  Kinda like a collage of focal beads.

So I didn't.  I wanted to do something different.  I wanted to make a bracelet.  But, I wanted my Artisan Clay bead to stand out, and be at the top of my wrist.  I have been playing around with leather and cuffs, and well, this is what I made.

I love it.  Very comfy, just the right colors.  I used one of my bronze swirls under the Artisan Clay Sunburst.  There is silk duponi in a nice nubby brown on top of the leather and lots of crazy stitching.

Here is something else I made using a new style of Artisan Clay bead, along with one of my Artisan Accents bronze hobnail donuts.  I just love how it turned out.  The contrast of texture is so appealing!  I must get some more of those flower pendants with the glass inside!

I can't wait to see what everyone else made.  Hop on over to Artisan Clay for the list of blogs.

Artisan Clay Design Team

So, my good friend Kristie Roeder, of Artisan Clay decided to make a design team.  I am so happy that I got picked to be on it!
Kristie is VERY talented and creative, and never stops bringing new ideas to life in her beads and jewelry.  I think this is a great idea, not only is it fun, but we get to network with new artists, and we all get to use some of Kristies beads (which you can buy here) each month.  Awesome!

Here are a few things I have made with her beads in the past.  I look forward to many more to come!

Kristie makes many styles, she is the kind of artist who can stay true to her style, yet truly create something for everyone!  So stay tuned for more fun with Artisan Clay beads!