Miriam Haskell Inspiration Part 1

Sometimes when you are searching online for something, serendipity hits and you end up discovering something new and amazing and suddenly your obsessed.  Okay, maybe that last part is just me but I can not get enough of Mariam Haskell jewelry.  Tomorrow I will share resources and lots of links for making these awesome bead collages.  Today I will share some tips for how I made this Haskell-inspired necklace.

The bouquet is worn to the side in this asymmetrical design, inspired by this piece by Mariam Haskell!

The necklace focal is actually the clasp and starts off as a screened surface that you sew and wire-wrap the beads onto and then attach it back to the base of the clasp.  I had one of these in my bead box from years ago and had no idea what to do with it until yesterday!  I attached all of the beads with either long headpins that were wrapped through the screen, back up and around the base of the bead.  Or sewed/attached the beads on with a thin flexible beading wire.

Plan out your design before you start.  Think about how you will layer elements so they will be secure and strike a good balance for the overall design.  I started with the large leaves first and then worked from the center outward to make the wire wrapping easier, adding the bead clusters with headpins.  You'll need your pliers to pull and maneuver your wire.  Bent nose pliers can be a big help! The darker leaf is a Vintaj blank that has a texture stamped onto it.

The art beads: vintage inspired or not, I have to add in some artist created pieces.  This bouquet is actually brimming with art beads.  I have one of my polymer clay disks in teal.  A lampwork bead from Sea of Glass.  One of Nadin's headpins and the handpainted lucite flowers and a leaf from Vintage Meadow.

After I had my larger elements securely attached I filled in any empty spaces with Czech glass teardrops that are attached with a thin bead stringing wire that knotted easily.  This always covered up some of my messier wire work.

When I was done with the top, the screen fit back on the clasp with prongs to hold it in place. The last step was stringing the necklace, that was the easy part.  And I tried crimp covers for the first time ever. 

Here is a hint if you are going to use this style of clasp with crimp covers. Start on the side of the box clasp where it doesn't detach, add your wires and crimps and then do the crimp covers on that side. And then add the covers to the other side while it's removed from the box part of the clasp.  I put the crimp covers on after I was done stringing the entire necklace, swear words were muttered.  It was not a pretty picture.

I'm not 100% crazy about using box clasps. They are hard to find and it's a little fidgety to take on and off.  For my next creation I will probably work with a Vintaj filigree for the base and add a toggle clasp to the design like I did with the leaves.  Just make sure it's really secured to the filigree!

Join me tomorrow for part 2 of my Miriam Haskell obsession for a little history, design lessons and online resources. 

Flora, Fauna & Fiber: July Monthly Challenge Inspiration

"It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought." ~James Douglas, Down Shoe Lane

This month we visit the garden at Vaucresson as painted by Edward Vuillard. Influences of impressionism are prevalent and the palette is a riot of color. I can practically feel the heat on my neck and hear the buzzing of the bees, can't you?

To kick start your creativity, here are some great components I found on Etsy that fit the July challenge painting. Don't forget to enter your creation in the Flickr group, and if you post on your blog about it be sure to include the exact link to the blog post to be included in our end of the month blog tour.

Let's start off with the obvious inspiration: flora.

I discovered these really lovely lampwork glass blooms from Catalina Glass. I want to pluck them all and put them in a vase, they are so lovely!

This bronze beauty is by the lovely Miss LeAnn of Summers Studio Etc. I love the abstract floral so much, and the bronze would look great with any color you placed with it.

Sweet floral bead caps with a painterly palette from Donna Millard (and do check out her amazing glass beads while you are at it!).

This garden looks like it is positvely buzzing with life. Here is the fauna that I imagine is there.

I can just hear the buzz of this busy worker bee soaking up the pollen on this pendant from ClayDesignsbyGlee. Such great glaze!

A stunning hand cast dragonfly pendant from WildRavenStudio using an ancient glassworking technique called pate de verre (translated from the French as "paste of glass"). One-of-a-kind!

Flitting over the flowers is a hummingbird from Beth Hemilla of Hint. Her charms always make my creations more special.

To finish it off here is some fiber that coordinates beautifully with the palette.

Beautiful hand dyed cords in Tequila Sunrise by JamnGlass.

There is a garden in this feather light fabric ribbon yarn from CoolClimates.

A great assortment of leather in shades of Forest and Lime Green from ThePeddler.

And I know that these are hair pins, but wouldn't a profusion of handmade blooms look gorgeous? Check out these Dark Ivory Shimmer Organza flower hair pins, and all the other magnificent colors, available from Nomsa.

Now that you have seen my virtual shopping tour, what are you waiting for?
Go out and make your garden bloom for the July Monthly Challenge!

Erin Prais-Hintz writes about all things that inspire her at Treasures Found::Inspiration Is Everywhere. Her jewelry designs are one-of-a-kind made one-at-a-time. She collects quotes and dust and invites you to send her your favorite (quote - not dust!) to enjoytheday@tesoritrovati.com.

Random Beady Links

Here is a hodge podge of great links to go visit today to help fire up your creativity this weekend:

First up - let's hear it for commitment! 365 days is a long time to commit to anything, but Cynthia Dies of Ornamentea, has been showing off a necklace a day for quite a while.  (I hope by featuring her here she'll stick with it!) Check them all out at 365 Necklaces.

Rose Noble, of Lady Noble and the Vintaj design team, is another brave soul taking on 365 days of creating on her blog.  Stop by and visit, she is another creative I hope sticks with the challenge - I love seeing what she comes up with next!

Andrew Thornton is having the virtual yard sale of the year with all sorts of beady fun that you won't want to miss.  There are new pendants like the ones above, he's selling some of his original and published designs on eBay, he has lots of artist's beads in his regular shop and he's hosting a big ol' summer giveaway.  Check out all the festivities on Andrew's blog.

Need some color inspiration?  Check out Design Seeds for a mind-blowing array of color palettes.  You'll never again have an excuse for staying in a color rut! (photo from Design Seeds)

Have you put together your muffin tin of beads yet? 

Here are a few clarifications:

Your link is due on Monday by June 27th at Midnight - central time. 

I've decided to give a bonus chance - if you fill your muffin tin and get 6 of the projects complete, you can enter the challenge.  I know 12 is a lot for a summer week when there are pools to visit, meals to grill, lemonades to sip, fireflies to catch - I get it!

Your challenge pieces can use art beads or not - that's up to you.  Earrings and pendants count - surely you can whip up 6 pairs of earrings and snap a pic before Monday.

Good luck and enter your link here to enter.

All About Ophelia: Inspiration for the June Monthly Challenge

Sometimes the hardest part about the Art Bead Scene monthly challenge is just getting started. I will be going to the Bead & Button show and hope to buy some beads for this month's painting, but if you can't make it there, here are a few Etsy art beads and components that you will jump start your inspiration.

For your eye candy pleasure, a treasury that I created inspired by this month's challenge painting.

'All About Ophelia: June Art Bead Scene Challenge' by TesoriTrovati

Inspired by June 2011 Art Bead Scene challenge painting Ophelia by Odilon Redon, and the 7000 Bracelets for Hope challenge, I have gathered a collection of art beads and components that will help you join in the challenge!

Turquoise and Black Small re... artisanclay $16.00	5 Double Flower Beads In Sun... CapturedMoment... $6.50	Taos Julsbeads $17.50	Ancient Goddess Beads I ktotten $12.00
Bubble Link mamacitabeadwo... $12.99	Handmade Raku Cabochon - Tur... LisaPetersArt $12.50	Jamn Coral Reef Silk Ribbons... Jamnglass $24.99	Southwestern Flowers Handmad... aslancrafts $14.00
Variety of Beach Stones stonestudiosto... $15.50	10 Little Ponds - Czech Glas... ZoeAndBruno $3.55	silk sari ribbon sapphire HA... designtalented... $6.50	3pcs round applique/embellis... HMCreativeSupp... $6.90
Cosmic Swirl Polymer Beads storiestheytel... $20.00	zen lotus sterling silver ch... Hint $29.00	Freshwater Pearl Baroque Nat... PottyMouthGems $28.50	HIGH SEAS - set of 5 glass b... jperaladesigns $25.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Don't forget that each Monday one of our editors chooses a winner from all the entries posted to the Flickr group. And I will host the blog tour on June 30th, so post your pictures with links to your blog post in the description on Flickr for me to add to the tour by June 29th.

This month, we are also encouraging you to use the blues in the palette to make a bracelet to donate to 7,000 Bracelets for Hope. If you are participating, please let us know in your description! Read more about this month's challenge by going to this post.


Erin Prais-Hintz writes about all things that inspire her at Treasures Found::Inspiration Is Everywhere. Her jewelry designs are one-of-a-kind made one-at-a-time. She collects quotes and dust and invites you to send her your favorite (quote - not dust!) to enjoytheday@tesoritrovati.com.

Cuff Bracelets

Cuff bracelets will be everywhere this summer.  Give them the art bead treatment to turn them from a trend into a treasure. 

Try a curved connector beads by Captured Moments. 

Or look for beads with two holes like this fun set by Gaea. 

Chinook Jewelry has a collection of beautiful curved ceramic connectors in her Architectural Collection. 

More Skye Jewels offers vintage images on wood, Marie will drill them any way you'd like.  You could do two holes or create a double strand beaded cuff with 4 holes on this component.

Let the clasp become the focal by using a cuff style toggle like these ones by Higher Chakra.

Or look for resin and metal pendants with 4 holes like this one by Gardanne Beads.

Lorelei Eurto curved a copper and resin pendant into a cuff focal bead for her bracelet. 

Jean A. Wells combines a ceramic connector with leather and large chunky ceramic beads.

Staci Louise has layered a ceramic pendant on top of a leather cuff.  I love how the wire mimics the line work of the the quilting.

I created a bracelet using one of my 3-hole spacer beads with 3 Vintaj bangles to create a cuff. 

I could also see a cuff made from memory wire that wraps around the wrist several times with metal seed beads and an art bead charm at the end of the loops.

Kick off summer and whip up a cuff bracelet design of your own using beads from your favorite artists.

Easy Summer Link Pendants

I'm so smitten with this pendant by Kylie Parry.  I've seen numerous variations of pendants using a link as a frame for your beads, but this one is perfect.  So art bead delicious!  I love the play of the ring as the blue sky as the frame for her tiny cloud charm.  She kept it simple with just a touch of color and a delicate 18" chain.

And this design is from Balanced and features a Kylie Parry house pendant, a lampwork glass bead and a hand-stamped tag.  I love the idea of layering the beads as sort of a little story.  These are all attached to a brass ring and chain.

One of my own designs using a Vintaj 15mm jump ring and a collection of glass & resin beads to create a garden for this little fox to frolic in.  The pendant dangles from a lightweight gunmetal chain.

I love the simplicity of Shannon LeVart's design featuring one of her hammered rings and a fine silver charm that she created.  Easy going and so summery!  She used a fun ball chain to complete the design.

(These 4 examples are shown for inspiration only, please respect the designers' copyrights.)

So there you have it, 4 ways with the same basic formula: Link + Art Bead + Chain = the perfect summer necklace! Each of the designers used chain that measured from 16-19 1/2 inches, a great length to show off your framed art. See how creative you can get with these basic elements and what you have in your stash! 

Or if you need a little retail therapy - above are a few of my favorite links from different artisans. The first two are from NeSHEnJewelry, they remind me of tree bark.  The white washed and colorful patina links are from MissFickleMedia.  Those organic silver links are from OakhillSilverSupply.  And finally, the rich dark silver links are from AtlantisGlassandBeads.

Design Lessons from a Tuna

A tuna?  Heather have you lost your mind? (Photo credit: Kretyen)

No! Not the fish - although I'm sure there are some lessons there too, but today let's consider the cactus tuna.  Tuna is the name of the fruit of cactus, shown in the photo above.    It's also known as a prickly pear.  So the other day I came across a few inspiring photos of tuna and started thinking about how they relate to jewelry making.  Well, really if you look at anything in nature and study it carefully you'll find inspiration for your creative work.

Ceramic beads from NPKbeads, polymer clay pendant from Humblebeads.

Lampwork beads from RadiantMind and patina hammered bars from MissFickleMedia.

(Photo credit: Pizzodisevo)

Polymer clay headpins from Humblebeads, lampwork glass beads from DonnaMillard.

Czech glass beads and Vintaj bead cap from DreamGirlBeads.

Now that we've got the eye candy out of the way, here are some lessons from the tuna:

Be resourceful!  Who looked at those things and decided, umm tasty?  But not only do folks cut the fruit and eat it plain, it's made into candy, jelly, drinks and a whole lot more.  The green part of the cactus is cut up and cooked into dishes.  Both are sold at my local grocer.  So look around your studio and get creative with what you already have on hand!

That leads me to the next lesson - take chances!  The plant screams out danger, but someone took the risk to see if it was edible and they made quite a discovery.  Try something new and a little scary in your studio this week.

Nature is the best color instructor - I mean just look at those two palettes.  You could spend your whole life studying nature and color and you'd still have things to learn.

Texture makes life interesting!  Look at those textures - smooth, spiky, velvety soft - mix it up in your jewelry to add life to your work.  Think smooth stones next to warm wood, slick glass next to rough raku ceramic.  Have fun mixing art beads from different mediums with accent beads in dynamic textures.

Explore variations of a theme.  Nature didn't stop at just one type of cactus.  Oh no look at how many there are!  Look how different just the two of these plants are and they are the same type.  Basically don't stop at the first design solution - you'll often find working a design 2 or 3 times in different variations will produce even more creative and successful results.  Revisit older designs and try them in a different color combination or with a new focal bead.

And speaking of lessons from nature - I'm so inspired by nature when it comes to jewelry that I wrote a book about it! 

It will be out in September and can be pre-ordered now:

Jewelry Designs from Nature: Woodlands, Gardens, Sea: Art Bead Jewelry Designs Inspired by Nature