The View is Blue

This painter caught my eye as I left the Fontainebleau Palace grounds in France last month.

I would have thought he was painting the buildings given his location.

But instead he was painting an ocean scene. The blue paint just glowed from a distance. I was immediately drawn to it since it was set against a rather brown back drop.

I have no idea how he was able to paint images of water from this spot. Clearly he was painting from memory or perhaps he had a photo on his makeshift studio table. It made me think about artists who have the ability to paint what is in their mind and what a special skill that is.

This canvas is by an artist who will never get recognition for their work.

I found it on a table in one of the antique markets. It was never mounted and the longer I looked at the lower the price became. The vendor wanted to sell it. So $8 Euros later I had it in my bag.

I wonder if this artist painted from memory too. The tower is such an icon that you wouldn't need to necessarily be near it to remember how it looks. I do love the use of only blue, white and black. I will definitely frame this painting and keep it in my studio.

Friday Finds with Lorelei: The Juggler

You could say that I am Smitten with this month's Art Bead Scene challenge painting, The Juggler by Marc Chagall. It's a magical painting, and has a lot going on! Color! Intrigue! Playfulness! Whimsy!

Today, I scoured the internet, searching for some really cool components and art beads that you can use in your designs for this month's challenge. I hope you like the goods I found for you!

a. Bourbon Street Polymer bead set- ArtyBecca

b. Jewels on Wood bead set- StillPointWorks

c. Vintage Music paper beads- 42 things

d. Beautiful Bllue- MA Carroll

e. Leaping Pony- Green Girl Studios at BeadLady

f. Antique Chinese Circus Equestrians Cylinder Focal Bead- SCDiva

g. Golden Lampworked glass rings- Beads of Passion 

h. Time Wheel Toggle clasp- Earthenwood

i.  Clown Pants Lampwork discs- HMB Studios

j.  Ceramic Head pins- Claybuttons

k. Winged Blues- ExpeditionD

L. Carnival Wool rounds- StemellinaSupplies

m. Heart Song charms- MissFickleMedia

ABS Updates

Not only did we change our appearance here on the Art Bead Scene, we've added some new opportunities for you to participate on the ABS.

First I'd like to thank Rose Noble, the incredible designer who created our new look!  Rose was so sweet she even made new banners for our readers to share on their blogs and link back to the ABS. Click here to view them and pick your favorite to add to your blog!

Art Bead Scene Design Team Challenge
I’d like to invite you to apply to participate in a new feature on the Art Bead Scene.

We are going to host a monthly Design Team Challenge and we are looking for designers who love art beads, work quickly and blog!

What is the Design Team Challenge?
One of ABS contributors will send you a set of beads or a pendant.
You have two weeks to create a piece of jewelry and submit a photograph for our blog post.
We’ll feature you and your design in a post on the Art Bead Scene.
The final step is to write a blog post on your blog about your Design Team Challenge entry.

We'll pick 4 designers for each month's challenge.

To apply: email me your contact information and your blog link. Send them to Heather.

We are also looking for news, guest bloggers and more, be sure to visit our submissions page for more details.
 
Ads on the ABS
Monthly sponsors are very special to us.  These are bead artists and our favorite suppliers that we feel exemplify our mission to celebrate Art Beads and inspire those who use them.  In the past, sponsors have been by invitation only but I'd like to open that up to an application process now.  Visit the advertising page for details on how to apply to be a featured monthly sponsor.  We can not accept all who apply.
 
Banner Ads
For beadmakers only, we are offering affordable banner ads. We'll accept the first 10 each month.  Ads run on the 15th of each month.  See the advertising page for rates and details.
 
Scroll down on the blog for a bonus post on the next Bead Soup Party hosted by Lori Anderson!

Another Bead Soup Blog Party!

When Art Bead Scene wrote about having a girlfriend's night and bringing beads to swap and having a bead soup swap, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to bring to the internet. What a great way to meet new beaders and exchange beads and ideas!

The blog party is also a great way to discover new blogs, gain new readers and followers, and network. Several party-goers have even been contacted by magazines to be contributors!

The first party was a great success, so I hope you'll join me in the second party. Sign ups end on May 7th and you have until June 19th to create your piece for the blog party.

Click here to join in the fun!

We Have Turtles!

Yesterday I started the turtle necklace idea. (If you scroll down you can read about these new beads in that blog entry.) It's been weeks since I made anything and what might have taken me an hour or two in the past took way longer. Tools had to be hunted down. Components had to be located. And really, you forget how to do the simplest things if you let too much time pass between projects.

But I was determined. The first necklace idea was this one. I thought I could use the focal bead to pull it all together so It wouldn't look too "matchey, matchey." But I wasn't happy with it in the end. I'll be returning these beads to my stash. I thought the colours might inspire me but it was not a blue turtle day.

But the yellow turtles clearly made me happy! This necklace looked great on my board before I even strung it.

I have a thing for yellow this year.

I am so glad I went back to the drawing board to make a second piece! I love these turtles!

CPS 165 Part 4

This week's designs brought to you by:

Congrats Card
Designer: Angie Hagist

Supplies:
Stamp: Taylored Expressions
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Scenic Route
Ink: Close to My Heart
Markers: Copic, Sharpie
Glitter Glue: Stickles
Glitter Buttons: Hobby Lobby
Corner Rounder: Fiskars



"Thank You" card
Designer: Lea Lawson

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Paper: Webster's Pages
Ink: Clearsnap (Pigment: turquoise, black and Chalk: rose coral)
Ribbon: Renaissance By Design
Flower: Prima
Pearls: Prima & Kaiser Craft
Corner Rounder: EK Success


Inspires
Maren Benedict

Supplies:
Taylored Expressions Make the Grade stamps

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
Ribbon: May Arts
Other: Copic markers


Home
Kim Moreno

Cardstock: Core'dinations
Stamps: Taylored Expressions- "Love Everywhere" set
Ink: Storage Unit Inks
Punch: Martha Stewart (fence), Fiskars (scallop)
Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye
Glitter: Pink Paislee

This week's prize is sponsored by:Taylored Expressions. Be sure to check here each Wednesday to see what you could win along with some great samples from our Sponsor Spotlight team.

To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.

True Colors

Although I cannot seem to remember the year that I bought True Colors (I am guessing it was in 2004), I do remember the tremendous impact it had on me. In an instant my artistic identity was somehow changed. This book seemed to unlock something inside me and offered in its pages, a world of possibilities that I was eager to explore.

I have often wondered why this book seems to have effected me like no other. 288 pages (!) of mixed media brilliance and creative expression. Tremendously beautiful photography and layouts. A publication date when this type of project was pioneering and completely unique. A quality of creative detail that I had not yet to experience in terms of handmade journals. And a sense through the text that this group of 15 artists shared a creative bond and respect that was quite special.

I distinctly remember feeling that these artists were in a league of their own. Do I sound too much like a groupie if I were to admit that somehow their names alone brought a sense of awe to me when I first saw this book? Was I alone in that thought? Little did I know at that time that many of the participating artists would end up becoming friends of mine.

One memory of True Colors that stands out for me occurred quite a number of years ago in a workshop I took with Lynne Perrella, the organizer of the project. At a break in the session, she reached into a bag and took out her White journal. I swear if she had looked the other way for just one second, I would have grabbed the journal and run! As is usually the case, seeing it in person far exceeded the experience of seeing it in print. And as I looked through her creation, I realized that as full as True Colors was, there were so many more pages that had not yet been shared. And I have thought ever since that a second book with views of the additional pages is a must for publication!

Many people obviously share my love of True Colors. In the artist survey as part of The Pulse, more participants chose True Colors than any other single book. It was a favorite of Patti Sandham, Deborah Bohm, Leslie Rosenberg, Inge Bekaert, Paula Bogdan, and Maj Hoenborg.

Join me in celebrating this sensational publication. Beginning on Sunday May 9 and running everyday through Sunday May 16, The Book Guild on The Altered Page will be hosting a True Colors event. Nearly all of the original True Color artists will be sharing their personal thoughts about the project, the publication, and the experience of collaborating with the group. In organizing the stories they have shared, I can easily see why this project was so special and unique. This is one amazing group of artists. And if you have been impacted in any way by True Colors, you can just imagine how it impacted them! So mark your calendars, spread the word, and stop by beginning this Sunday to hear and share their stories.

May Monthly Challenge Prizes

This month we'll have one lucky winner for the Art Bead Scene's Monthly Challenge.

Lynn Davis of ExpeditionD has donated a heart pendant made from polymer clay and a pewter wing pendant. Lynn creates wonderful artifacts that are perfect for your beautiful creations

Visit Lynn at her, blog, Lynn Davis etsy, and ExpeditionD etsy.

Heather Wynn has donated a "live bravely" pendant made from polymer clay with a silver leaf charm and and a "if my words had wings" polymer clay pendant. Heather also works in silver and is a jewlery designer.

Visit Heather on her website and etsy. 

Off Center Productions has donated two porcelain handbuilt door pendants inspired by the doors of Nagaland. Off Center Productions is a two person studio of Joan Tucker and Lana Weed creating one of a kind items in porcelain.

 Visit Joan and Lana on their website, blog and Facebook. 

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

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

"The Juggler" painting by Marc Chagall has many different elements that can be used for inspiration, bright bold color, contrast of color and imagery of the characters.

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

Giving Myself an Assignment

Today I think I may get some real work done. My late return from Paris combined with the arrival of the new puppy has thrown my schedule out the window. When I get overwhelmed, all I seem to do is move items from one pile to another. The more piles there are, the more distracted I get and then nothing gets finished. Last night we finally slept for a few consecutive hours so I feel a little bit more like myself. Today I have assigned myself one project.
Review this pile of beads and make something in time for tomorrow's bead blogging Thursday post.

There is a new vendor in the big antique market in Paris. I met her in January when I was so cold in her stall that I barely made time to look around. Knowing I would come back in the spring made leaving with only a few items easier. Her booth features "objects uniques" in vintage wooden bins. In fact, her whole booth looks like it was built with old barn board.

It is open from either side so you can imagine how cold it would be in the winter. In this entrance is her big table of beads. Her pricing is the best I have found. $10 Euros for a HUGE cup! I think she is just trying to sell out as many as possible.

Now, we all know I need more beads like a hole in the head.
I managed to avoid the beads in January when I reminded myself of that fact.
But this time I noticed the vintage plastic turtles! I LOVE THEM. I didn't want to be too greedy and just turtles in my cup...so I added in an assortment of other beads too.
Today I am making a turtle themed necklace. I am. Really. The next post will have a necklace if I have to make it while simultaneously chasing the puppy.

CPS 165 Part 3

This week's designs brought to you by:

Taylored Expressions is an online store full of whimsical stamps, coordinating kits, and fresh ideas. You’ll find everything you need to satisfy your creative sweet tooth!

Tune in to the Taylored Expressions blog for weekly sketch challenges, inspiring ideas, and how-to videos.

This week Taylored Expressions is giving away one free stamp set to a lucky cardmaker! Be sure to link up your card to Mr Linky for a chance to win!!

Thank you
Designer Lisa Silver

Supplies:
Stamps: CreativiTEA stamp set by Taylored Expressions
Ink: Pumice Stone and Black Soot Distress inks by Ranger
Paper: Natural White Classic Crest by Neenah, Core'dinations, Simply Kraft cardstock by CHF
Embellishments: Pearls by Recollections
Tools: Corner rounder by Zutter, sanding block
Color media: Copics by Imagination International (R81, R82, R85, R89, W1, 0, YG91, YG93, YG95)

You Rock!
Designer: Jeanne Streiff

Supplies:
Stamps: You’re My Hero - Taylored Expressions
Paper – Gina K
Ink: Memento – Colorbox Chalk inks
Other: sponge, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L™ (E-Z Runner, 3D Foam Squares), Gold nailheads Dreamtime Creations


"What's Brewin'?"
Designer: Carla Peicheff

Materials:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions "Let's Do Coffee".
Markers: Copics
Paper: Glitz Designs
Ribbon: American Crafts
Blossom: Prima
Stick Pins: Michaels
Pearl: Kaiser Craft
Glitter: Ranger Stickles






Special thanks to this week's prize sponsor, Taylored Expressions.

To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.

In the Moment

THE MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES

Last call. Moments, a one-of-a-kind, mixed media artwork, will be retired from my Etsy shop next week. It is still hoping for a good home.

LISTEN IN

Have you been to the Voodoo Lounge? The wonderful Rice Freeman-Zachery has created a library of original podcasts of artist interviews. Head on over.

FLEETING FRAGMENTS

I am working on a special project with a special person. As we take the next step in the adventure, I thought I would share a few fragments with you.

LASSO YOU

An overdue thank you to Deb Trotter from Cowboy's Sweetheart who gifted me with the Kreative Blogger Award.

AND THE WINNER(S) IS(ARE)

Thanks so much to everybody who signed up for my DisCo bundle giveaway. Congratulations go out to both Dawn Wilson from Creatively Anew and Rebeca Trevino from Obtainium Art, each of whom won a handmade art bundle that was featured in the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. I am curious to see if you each disintegrate them or keep them as is.

May Monthly Challenge

The Juggler (Le jongleur) 1943

Oil on canvas. 110.5 x 78.7 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago.

 About the Artist

Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian-Jewish painter of the 20th Century and one of the best known representatives of the Russian Avant-Garde in the West. Chagall painted in a style all his own, combining elements of Expressionism, Symbolism, Cubism and, to a lesser degree, other Modernist art movements. A prolific and multi-faceted artist, Chagall left behind him thousands of works in many different techniques and media that have established him as one of the foremost artists of the 20th Century. 

About the Painting

"The Juggler is a major picture of American war years. A very serious and mystical painting in the full sense of the word, it is filled with a personal mythology which avoids any literary symbolism. The signs are esoteric and ambiguous; they seem to suggest something real and then shift to the unreal, yet they are readable as an allegory of a personal confession."

The Prizes:

Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on June 1st.

Our sponsors this month are sponsors: ExpeditionD, Heather Wynn and Off Center Productions, 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.

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

Deadline is May 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.***

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

Painted Flower Pots

I wanted my demonstration table to look really spring like yesterday when I showed off these 3 Birds die cut borders. Sunday afternoon I spray painted these terra cotta pots and then I glued the die cut strip around them.

I think they would be lovely hostess gifts.

I am glad I made the effort because my table did indeed look festive. I plan to spray paint a number of my old posts for the outside garden this year. I won't be able to add the paper die cut strips....but I might use them as a stencil instead to create a similar look. Just one more think you can do with your paper crafts stash.

CPS 165 Part 2

This week's designs brought to you by:

~Coffee with Friends~
Designer: Carla Peicheff

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions "Let's do Coffee".
Paper: Stampin' Up
Cardstock: Staples
Inks: Copics & Memento
Ribbon: Creative Imaginations
Rhinestones: KaiserCraft
Glitter: Doodlebug Sugar
Tools: FISKARS scallop punch & Creative Memories Corner Rounder
Button: Doodlebug



Our House to Yours
Designer: Carly Robertson

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink.
Ink: A Muse
Ribbon: A Muse
Embossing: Swiss Dots, Cuttlebug
Glitter: Martha Stewart

Everything is Better With Sprinkles
Designer Laura Williams

Supplies:
stamps - Taylored Expressions
patterned paper - October Afternoon
buttons - Papertrey Ink
ribbon - American Crafts
solid cardstock, ink - Close To My Heart

This week's prize is sponsored by: Taylored Expressions. Be sure to check here each Wednesday to see what you could win along with some great samples from our Sponsor Spotlight team.

To enter this week's random drawing simply share your design with the CPS readers. Simply click on this week's sketch image in the side bar. This will take you directly to the post where you can add your link. Please use a direct link to your card so the readers can easily find it.

April Monthly Challenge Winner

We have one winner randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries this month. Congratulations to the winner and a big thanks to everyone who played along.  If you haven't had a chance to look through the Flickr group, here is the link.

We received some wonderful entries. Paul Klee's painting was a challenge!

Laura Holm of Jewels by Design is the winner of Aprils Monthly Challenge.

Laura has won a Pendant with Charms from Creative Impression in Clay.
She has also won Pewter pendants, button and beads from Mamacita Beadworks.


Stop back tomorrow to see what our inspiration will be for our May challenge.