Louise Nelson Bird Beads

Hello cuteness! 

I recently discovered Scottish glass artist Louise Nelson and just had to share her wonderful birds with you.  I could see them paired with brass branches, leafy chain and Czech glass leaves and flowers.

She has a very limited offering in her Etsy shop, but maybe if we buy her out today that will spur her on to share more of her feathered friends with us!

Iced Lemon Bead Theme

I love the color palette from this month's challenge painting!  Here are some of my top picks that would fit with our theme.

MissFickleMedia, AslanCrafts, 

BEADiNtRiGuE and CapturedMoments

Starry Road Studio, ClassicBead, 

AtlantisGlass and KyliePerry

Have you entered our challenge yet?  I'm amazed by what I'm seeing so far!

To read more about our challenge and join in this month, visit here.

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.

If I'd Only Known -- Some Tips for New Beaders

I've mentioned in the past that I got into the jewelry design business completely and totally by accident.  I didn’t take a class, just jumped in with both feet and started messing around and figuring things out for myself.

Almost immediately, my hobby turned into a business.  Looking back, there are so many things I wish I’d known:

1)  Beads will take over your life.

Do not fight this.  So from the start, get a huge storage system in place.  It will be full sooner than you know.  The quicker you allocate studio space (even if it's a corner in your basement!), the quicker you’ll be able to find things when you need them — and you'll know what you have so you don’t keep buying the same supply over and over again!

2)  Take some classes early on.

I don’t know how long it was before I learned how to make a perfect wrapped loop, but at first, I had no idea how.  And it showed.

I now allow myself to make all sorts of mistakes while I'm learning a technique....

...but when it comes to selling something, I'm very, very particular about how something is constructed.

3)  Explore different mediums.

Right now, I’m a stringing/wire work jewelry designer.  I know traditional metalsmithing and lampwork bead making, but I’ve gotten so involved with keeping inventory up for the shows I do that I don’t have much time to look into other things, or hone new skills.  If I’d started exploring new mediums sooner, who knows what I’d be making now … altered art?  Woven wire?  PMC?.  It also would have helped me figure out what direction I wanted to go with my jewelry — what did I want my primary market to be?  I didn’t allow myself enough experimentation time before starting to sell.

4)  If you’re going to sell your work, use the best beads you can afford.

I should have been pickier when I first started selling my work.  I cringe now at what I was using.  This doesn’t mean you have to start with AAA London Blue Topaz, but if you’re going to be serious about selling, be serious about your beads.  There are LOTS of wonderful art beads out there that will run circles around the run-of-the-mill beads you'll see in craft stores.


Suburban Girl Beads

 5)  Get a handle on your pricing structure right away.


I quickly learned that my retail prices weren’t going to support a wholesale business.  I also learned that because I started with such cheap beads, it was a little difficult for my customers to get used to prices once I discovered beauties like handmade glass.  (Another good reason to make sure you’re happy with your style before you start selling it!)  Do some research by hitting the craft shows -- what is the price range that seems to be selling?  Additionally, try to decide right away if you’re going after the wholesale or retail market.  Each one has its own peculiarities, and it’s often a good idea to choose one or the other.

I feel pretty lucky that seven years later, things have turned out as well as they have.  But it sure would have made a difference if I knew then what I know now.

What are some things YOU wish you'd known then?

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off.    She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party. 

Art Beads and Birthstones

Personalize gifts and custom orders by using birthstones and art beads that match.  Birthstones can get a little pricey, use just a few as accents or substitute crystal or glass beads in the same hues.

January: Garnet

Cindy Gimbrone Heart Headpins

Garnet beads from GemmeTresor

February: Amethyst

Lavender lampwork beads from LavenderBeads

Amethyst beads from LoveofJewelry

March: Aquamarine

Classic Bead's Ceramic White Daisy Pendant

Aquamarine beads from GemtoneBeads

April: Diamond

Saskia Owl Pendant in Silver from Hint

Herkimer diamond beads from KawaiiBeads

May: Emerald

Kylie Parry's Ceramic Garden Focal Pendant

Emerald beads from DesertFireSupplies

June: Pearl

Lampwork Egg Bead from StarCatcher

Pearls from PottyMouthGems

July: Ruby

Ceramic Fleur de Lis Pendant from ClayDesignsByGlee

Ruby beads from OllieandJo

August: Peridot

Marsha Neal's Ceramic Flower Pendant

Peridot beads from JewelsforGrace

September: Sapphire

Humblebeads' Midnight Willow Leaf Pendant

Sapphire beads from LuxBeads

October: Opal

Lampwork Beads by KreationsbyKarenK

Opal beads from WholesalerofBeads

November: Citrine

Chinook Jewelry's Ceramic Pendant

Citrine beads from AliveGems

December: Topaz

Polymer Clay Bird Pendant from Floridity

Topaz beads from OddlyEnchantingGems

Golden Finches & Bamboo Bead Collections

Birds, bamboo and golden hues - I can't wait to see what you make for this month's challenge painting.  Here are some of my picks that would work great together.

Betty Hanseen, Island Girl

Pugla N Pansas, Humblebeads

Poetry for the Skeptic, Kreations by Karen K

NKP Beads, Firebabies

What's the Buzz? Bee Bead Round Up

I'm loving bees, beehives & honeycombs at the moment. 

From milky golden honey hues, to sunshine infused yellows these little bees and their accompanying accents offer a touch of whimsy for your spring and summer designs.

Here are some bee inspired art beads that I would pair together. 

Miss Fickle Media, Kerri Fuhr

Outwest, Kylie Parry

Kylie Parry, Gaea (Beads of Clay)

Hint, Humblebeads

Green Girl Studios, Elaine Ray

Kelley's Beads, Jangles

Mix your bee inspired art beads with warm brass findings, tiny metal bee charms, yellow onyz, citrine or yellow opal.  For contrast you could add in wood beads or smokey quartz. 

Art Heart Beads

Allys' Heart Drilled Stones

There's no sickly sweet here! These art beads of various hearts are edgy, sophisticated, grungy, and unusual!

Be sure to click on each photo to view it large for all the delicious details.

Loreleis' Mucho Gusto necklace

Skyes' Ephemera Heart Pendant

Cindys' Heart Mandala

 

Aunalis' Calligraphy Heart Ear Wires

Karens' Pomagranate Heart Bead Set

Shannons' Distressed Heart in Russet

Ralphs' Sterling Silver Heart Jumps

Lynns' Red Iris Heart
Jangles' Custom Small Heart

 

Dorcas' Love Gives Your Spirit Wings Pendant

Loris' Secret Love Earrings

Jangles' Custom Small Heart

Leanns' Bronze Swirling Heart

Erins' Carnival Walk Treasures

So even if you aren't into bright pink and purple, there's lots of choices to choose from in the art bead world!

Much Love & Respect,
Shannon LeVart
missficklemedia.com

Love Ya

A few earthy Valentine themed hearts and sentiments for you today.

(Left to right)

Heather Wynn, Earthenwood Studio,

Mary Harding, Chinook Jewelry, Diane Hawkey and Block Party Press.

Think outside the red heart-shaped box for your Valentine creations. Pieces created with non-traditional colors and styles offer wearability long after the roses fade and chocolates are gone.  

An Early Spring

Hello Spring?

Hi, yeah it's me Heather.

Umm, do you think you could come earlier this year?

Great thanks, see you soon!

Not gonna happen anytime soon where you live?  Well, we can at least enjoy some spring inspired creations with these sweet little nest beads.

Left to Right:

Green Girl Studios at the BeadLady, Chinook Jewelry,

Jangles, Earthenwood Studios,

SandhraLee, Humblebeads.

Friday Picks - Into the Woods

In celebration of autumn here are a few woodland inspired art beads and pendants.

(Left to right)

1. Gaea  2. Spirited Earth  3. Kylie Parry

4. Creative Impressions in Clay  5. Out West   6. Iced Moments

7. Chinook Jewelry   8. Humblebeads

9. Cindy Gimbrone  10. Lynn Davis

Studio Saturday with Shannon LeVart

Welcome to Studio Saturday! 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 free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is Elizabeth!. Congratulations! 

You have won a pair of adorable candy corn earrings from the studio of Tari Sasser. 

Send Tari an e-mail with your address and she will get those right out to you.

 

This week we visit the studio of Shannon LeVart at Missficklemedia.com.

Welcome! I was struggling to think of what to write about today as I have been experiencing a bit of a burn out. I think the the burn out is a result of too much assembly line production work and not enough day dreamy designing. I recently finished a very large order that challenged me personally and while I am glad for the experience I gained from this personal challenge, I'm also relieved that it is over.

 

Plus, like a lot of custom requests, it gave me a new product to add to my line of goods; double soldered circles, perfect for framing art beads in! As I contemplate their use, it occurred to  me that they had a duel purpose.

 The first, a left over pair of the prototypes (version 3) became extravagant hoop earrings with Claire Maunsel's Jewels on Wood art beads;

  

 Adding a patina in shades of brown and blue complimented the deep blue in Claire's beads surrounding this pair of hoops. And another prototype (version 5) became the focal point in this violet statement necklace that features Gaea's Swirling Teardrop Pendant in pale peach;

 

How fun is that!?! The same build that gives two completely different looks! After finding these very versatile, and giving myself a good long week off, I have decided to offer them in a rainbow of colors. The first pair, done up in the ever popular Verdigris patina, is going to the winner of next weeks drawing! Yay for winning!!! 

 

 

 In order to have your name entered into the drawing, you must leave a comment answering this question -

What favorite jewelry component do you use, or would like to use, that has more than one use? 

As always, thank you for visiting us here at Art Bead Scene, if it wasn't for you, well, I'd just be talking to myself now, wouldn't I?

Much Love & Respect,

Shannon LeVart

missficklemedia.com