Enter Art Bead Scene's Monthly Challenge

Almond Branch by Vincent Van Gogh

Every month Art Bead Scene has a monthly challenge. A piece of artwork is provided as "inspiration." You create a beautiful piece using an Art Bead. This challenge is not just for jewelry maker. You can participate if you are a collage artist, fiber artist, creative type of person using different mediums to express yourself, just include an art bead.

ABS has great sponsors every month. For those who enter winners are randomly picked to win prizes our sponsors donate. How cool is that? You could win a prize just doing what you do being creative!

This is a branch from my Flora&Fauna Collection. It would look fantastic incorporated into something wonderful...necklace, collage, painting or felted object. Imagination and creativity are a wonderful thing.

Heather from Humblebeads creates these beautiful Lentil beads that reflect the color of the paintings background and movement of the branches.

Cindy Gimbrone makes these wonderful glass links in her torch. The color of the links represent the dark and light colors of the Almond Blossoms.

Jennifer of Jangles creates her new Flowers with Vine and Leaves which would represent flower and leaves in the painting.

Lynn Davis of Expedition D creates these lovely vintage inspired pendants, charms and findings. She has flower imagery in this piece that reflects the flowers in the painting.

Lorelei Eurto created this beautiful necklace with all the elements of the painting represented. Pink buds on the green ribbon, more green of the leaves represented in the glass links, the brown colors of the branches is in the bronze chain, and beads.
Lorelei's Post about this months challenge.


Your interpretation of the inspirational painting is just that, your interpretation. Take your inspiration from any or all elements. Then create, create, create. 
Who knows you could win a prize or better yet be the featured designer on a Monday!

Studio Saturday at Artbeadscene

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 Cindy Dolezal. Congratulations! 

You have won a pair of Toad Stool charms from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 

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

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Well it used to look like a studio. Now it could be declared a disaster area. 

I can get to my desk and my computer. There is a path, sorta. Yes, it's embarassing but I have to take on the attitude of my coffee mug above so I can get done what little is possible, when you have a mess like this. Blinders are on until you have time to deal with it.

 

The culprit for the standstill is the blue shelf on the left. I measured the shelf and the space and it still won't fit. I guess it helps if you measure the correct spot the includes the countertop. I am determined it will fit. You can see I took a hammer to it but the front lip still won't it fit. I am determined, I will win. The photo on the right is where my little photo booth lives. Now there is loads of stuff piled on it.

I had intended to show a new design today but, I can't find it. Wonder why?

The left side and right side of the studio with a path. You can't move forward till one thing is moved so the next item can be moved and so on. The first thing to be moved it the shelf and it's stuck. I have been living like this for about a month. The good thing or bad (whichever way you look at it) I don't have a lot of orders currently. The time is now available, until the next child needs something and I have to stop. Working at home is both a blessing and a curse. They all think because you are home you are available all the time.

My actual working space where I glaze has shrank significantly. It's the shift and the shuffle when you are working to complete a project.

Piles and stacks are everywhere. I think it's time to ditch the old computer so I can use the space. 
Hope no one tries to fax, it's buried in the corner.
Now that I've aired my dirty laundry...studio, I should probably try to start moving, condensing, rearranging and cleaning my studio. 
Give us dirty laundry, sing it Don!
When I am finished, I am going to have a studio sale. 


My question this week is:

How bad is your clutter? Or working space.

Leave a comment at Art Bead Scenes blog and you could win the 4 buttons pictured. Because I could find them!

Studio Saturday at Artbeadscene

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

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 Sharon Driscoll of Right Turn ArtWerks. Congratulations! 

You have won one of Jangles Heart Pendants from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 

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

I can't believe it's almost the end of January! There are so many things I have wanted to do to start the beginning of the year. Mainly get organized and clean my studio. Instead I have been stuck working other things like taxes. Such an arduous task and one I dislike tremendously but the government wants their cut.
My goal since last year has been to start painting again. I miss taking the time and doing something I don't have to do, but want to do. Somehow doing the dishes, picking up the house, cleaning my studio and in general taking care of a family, doesn't quite fill that void. We artists are funny that way. I need to stretch myself creatively. 
One of the good things about being a part of Art Bead Scene and Studio Saturday's is that I make myself do things I generally don't make time for in my schedule. I have had blank bags in my studio for quite a while. It was time to paint. Last night I painted this little bag. OK, scheduling is not my forte. Showing something new was important to me so I stayed up to work on the bag. I found myself remembering painting class in school. The technique I wanted to achieve was always something loose. Of course painting loose eluded me. Leslie, my prof, told me "it's harder to paint loose than tight." For me that was correct. My training was graphic arts the first time around art school.  Painting realism was what was asked of us. 
The bag is my beginning of the new year. I'm not quite happy with the results so far but it's a start.

I am going to paint this year. It could me furniture, bags maybe even a canvas but I'm going to paint.

I found myself last night as I was drifting off to sleep seeing paint strokes...nice.


My question this week is:

Where do you get your ideas or like to create/design?

I see ideas in my head as I am trying to sleep or sometimes in my dreams.

Life is short Create!

Leave me a comment at Art Bead Scene Blog and you could win a set of Bead Buttons shown above.
Winner will be chosen randomly.

Studio Saturday @ Artbeadscene-Button Earrings, 5 in under 5

Peace

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 Heather Cote of Azure Island Beads. Congratulations! 
You have won one of Jangles Holiday Beads from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 
Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

As we are doing the sprint into Christmas, I wanted to give you ideas for quick earrings. Since I mostly make buttons, I wanted to show 5 Button earrings you can make in under 5 minutes. It is possible. I am into simple.

Locate your supplies, you need: buttons, jump rings, charms and earwires.

Pair number One is made using beading hoops and layering the Lady Bug buttons over the Leaf Buttons.

Pair number Two. These are charms I use for stitch markers. I attached the enamel charm  and ceramic charm to the earwires. I like that they aren't exact matches.

Pair number Three. My favorite and my daughter's favorite. She asked to wear them before I had photographed them. Use a jump ring that is large enough to through the first button hole and close. I put the jumpring through the charm and the Tie Dye Button hole, attach to the earwires.

Pair number Four. I used two jumprings per anodized aluminum washers, attached one jumpring to the earwire and the other to the Layered Bead Button. Very swanky!

Pair number Five. Twisted jumprings are used in each of the two button holes. One attaches to the earwires and the other to charms that hang off the bottom of the Dot Buttons.

Very quick and easy. Great for when you need a gift fast. I have had a guest show up and I did the "uh-oh" I don't have a gift. I am out in my studio frantically making earrings or ornaments while my husband entertains.
Just keep smiling!

My question this week is:

What last minute gift have you had to create?

Leave a comment on Artbeadscene and...

You can win your own set of Lady Bug Buttons, so you can create your own earrings.

Happy Holidays! 

I have a very hard time dealing with the holidays. I'll be standing over here with the fake grin pretending "It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year."
I wish you warmth, happiness and your best coping mechanism...pajamas and a glass of wine.
I got a new camera...I'm trying hard to improve my photography!

Simple Silver Earrings

Very simple earrings that uses finding most of us have lying around in our studios.

Supplies:

3 sizes of Sterling Silver Jump Rings (total of 6 Jump Rings)

6 small Jump Rings (I used twisted jump rings)

Ear Wires

Bench Block

Hammer

Chain Nose or Flat Nose Pliers

These are great for when you need a gift fast. Plus they look fantastic.
You can use as many Jump Rings as you would like. Graduate the sizes either up or down. Beads can be added but aren't necessary. Especially if you are in a time crunch.

Hammer the 3 different sizes on your bench block. Try not to distort roundness much if possible. The rings will open up. I held the rings with my pliers and tapped them closed. I also tapped them back in round.

Use the 6 small jump rings (twisted jump rings in the photo) to connect the 2 sets of 3. I needed to tap my small jump rings on the bench block to make them oval shaped. I didn't have the next size up.

Attach to earwires.

You're done! I'm a lazy beader, so this works well for me. No muss, no fuss.

How to Make Decorative Ornament Hooks

I posted this last year. It seems fitting to post again this time of year.

As we get closer to the holidays it's time to start thinking about gifts. I always make ornaments every year. I can't seem to get out of it and everyone expects one every year. Here is a Decorative Ornament Hook that can be used to hang many things. Using copper looks great and it's inexpensive.

Start with 4" piece of 18 gauge copper wire. I picked a spool up at Ace Hardware. Don't try to straighten the wire too you will put kinks in the wire that you can't get out.

With the curve of the wire facing away from you, use your round nose pliers to make a small loop at the end of the wire. Always roll your wire away from your body.

Using the handle of a large paintbrush, about 1/2" up the loop end of the wire bend the wire over handle. Do this by smoothing the wire as you bend it. Bring the wire slightly under the handle and begin curving the other end to form an "S".

Begin making the coil on the end by using the large end of your round nose pliers to create an open loop.

Complete the coil by rolling it upwards towards the top of the hook with your fingers.

I like my hooks hammered. Use a hammer and a striking plate to hammer the small loop and coil.

Completed Hook.

Combining your hook and ornament.
Cut 10" of sheer ribbon. I get mine at Michaels. To give the ornament and ribbon a nice finished look and to keep the ribbon from doing the annoying split, I slide a 10mm glass donut over the ribbon. Fire Mountain Gems has a great selection. The clear glass donuts go best with all ornaments.

Don't forget to add your artist tag so everyone knows they have a hand crafted item by you. This one is 1" x 1"

Tie the ribbon onto the bottom of the hook using an overhand knot. This keeps your ornament and hook together and secure.

You have a beautiful finished product hanging from a handmade copper hook. Colored wire works wonderful also. Just don't hammer it.
18 gauge wire will hold most ornaments. The heftier the ornament the thicker your wire needs to be.

Claybuttons Etsy Shop

It's been a very long time since I have had any items in my Etsy shop.

Now there are 20! Woo Hoo!

Pictured above is a Needle/Pin Minder. It's 2 parts, one goes on top of your canvas, quilt, etc., one goes on the bottom. Either side may but up depending on your mood. Both sides have Earth Magnets in them. They attract/mind your needles and pins. This way they don't end up in the floor, chair or you. They can also sit next to you on the table while you are working and keep your pins and needles.

http://www.claybuttons.etsy.com

I'm having a clearance on Tie Dye Pendants.

They are now $25.00! Great deal for everyone on your Xmas list.

 

Groovy Tie Dye!

Happy Holidays!