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Creativity Returned

01 Sunday Aug 2021

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Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton: Project Destash, Ceramic Art Bead Market, Diane Hawkey, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Gaea, Saki Silver

I haven’t felt especially creative in a while, though I’ve done some things. Today I felt like coming up to my studio. I didn’t make the things I initially had in mind, but I am back to my old way of having materials I see inspire the pieces I make.

First, I was getting out some seed beads for a necklace I will still make in the future, and I saw a textured bronze frame pendant from Saki Silver. I thought of a couple different beads that would go well with the frame. I have another one, so maybe I will make one of the other ideas eventually. This time I decided to go with larimar, star cut amazonite and labradorite.

Bronze textured open frame pendant with coin labradorite bead inside. Necklace portion consists of a mix of larimar and amazonite for a mix of blue, brown, greenish, whitish, and cream colored beads.

I alternated the larimar and amazonite with tiny labradorite chips in between. I hung a labradorite coin in the middle of the frame. I got a deal on the larimar from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash. I got the amazonite and labradorite from Allegory Gallery and/or Andrew Thornton: Project Destash.

Then I started to put away some beads that have been sitting out for quite a while – cherry red vintage lucite rounds. I love read beads, and I have been thinking lately that I need to use some of the art beads I’ve been hoarding. I knew if I looked through my Diane Hawkey stash, I would find a nice pendant with a red accent, and I did! (If you are looking for Diane Hawkey beads, she sells on the Ceramic Art Bead Market.) I used a Gaea off white bead above it, some large red/metallic seed beads, and gold colored pewties from Allegory Gallery. I hung some sparkly pyrite from the bottom of the pendant.

Rectangular ceramic heart in hand pendant that is white, blue and gold with sparkly small beads dangling from the bottom and small red/larger white bead above. Necklace part made of large red rounds and small gold spacers.

It felt good to be creative today. I feel like making another necklace too, but I think I really need to clean up my space a little bit. But first, lunch!

Stay safe and creative.

Art Bead Scene With a Side of Jasper

10 Friday Apr 2020

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Art Bead Scene, Art Journey #3, Gaea, Gee's Bend quilts, jasper beads

My first post of makes as a regular contributor to the Art Bead Scene is up! It was really fun making pieces inspired by Gee’s Bend quilts, which I love. Check it out here.

I also wanted to show a jasper necklace I made. I’m not a huge jasper gal (though I should explain to myself why I still have a box full of jasper beads!) but I loved this pendant on sight. I also really liked these jasper round. I don’t know the type of jasper for either, but I loved how they look together.

I added some round ceramic beads in matching colors by Gaea and a few larger metallic glass pearls. I love the warm color combination.

I have today off and plan to de-stress and thoroughly enjoy my long weekend. I hope something positive is going on for you too.

Allegory Gallery – Bead in the New Year 2020 – #3

19 Sunday Jan 2020

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Allegory Gallery, Allegory Gallery Design Challenges, Bead in the New Year, Classic Blue, Gaea, Gaea Handmade, Jewels of Sayuri, Mary Redman, Miss Fickle Media, Pantone, Starry Road Studio

I’m having a great time again this year with Allegory Gallery‘s prompts to Bead in the New Year. Here are my makes for week three.

Day #13 – Let’s see something you made with ceramic beads

I’m a huge Gaea fan and have a lot of her work to choose from. I happened to use something I got more recently. 

This is her heart pendant and several ceramic beads. I strung these on waxed linen with matte amazonite rounds and faceted garnets. I finished it off with a copper clasp, also by Gaea.

Day #14 – Break out the polymer clay and make something

I’m going to have to catch up with this one later. I always have to work myself up to breaking out the clay. But I’ve got ideas percolating.

Day #15 – Organize at least one part of your craft area

I didn’t have a lot of time to work on things this past week, so I decided to clean a critical yet quick part of the studio. Here is a before picture.

I get out boxes of beads and supplies and as I work, they pile up around my chair. It’s a tripping hazard and just bad all the way around. Even though I tend to want to clean up my work surface first (and it needs it!) this was really the best use of my limited time.

Now I won’t trip and get injured. I’ll live to make another day. I am going to devote some time to my work surface this weekend. But it’s so difficult to focus on that when there are so many ideas to bring to life!

Day #16 – Use the 2020 Pantone Color of the Year: Classic Blue

I’m surprised how excited I’ve been about this color since I’ve long considered blue my least favorite color. Also, when considering ideas for this project, it was nice to see how many things near the color of Classic Blue I have. I had two other ideas, but ended up with this sweet, fun necklace. The peachy ceramic bead is by Gaea, but I got the bird pendant in a destash and don’t know the artist. The larger blue beads are vintage lucite, so it’s all nice and light.

Day #17 – Focus on metal as the main element in a new creation

I used a chain from Miss Fickle Media I have had for over five years. It is hammered brass with verdigris patina. So beautiful. I considered pairing it with leather in the back, but I decided to go a different way with this batik ribbon I got on a package from Starry Road Studio a while ago. Simple, and let’s the chain be the star. 

Day #18 – Utilize natural materials to make something

I had decided when I saw this prompt to make something with cowrie shells. Divya of Jewels of Sayuri often uses cowrie shells in her jewelry to beautiful effect. She wrote a post about cowrie jewelry that talked about some of the positive symbolism and myths regarding cowrie shells such as feminine power and warding off the evil eye. I also saw something about shells being in fashion in the coming season, and I had the opportunity to get a nice bag of cowrie shells last year. This was the perfect opportunity to use a few of them!

Mary Redman gifted me with her beautiful polymer clay shell pendant. I nestled it between some shell heishi beads, fun gold shell sequins and the cowrie shells. I just love how it turned out. It makes me want to walk on the beach (unlikely with all the snow we’ve gotten this week!)

Day #19 – Construct a non-jewelry piece using beads

My cat, MooKitty, isn’t much for toys. But I did notice that when I happen to lean over her and my necklace or bracelet dangles, she bats at it. So I thought I should make her a toy that I could pretend was a necklace. I used cotton cord and crocheted beads. 

At first I put it around my neck and leaned over her, and she wasn’t interested. But it was a really fake way of hovering over her which she probably didn’t like. So later I just held it up. Her hunting instincts ignited and she had fun batting at it for a little while. After she “caught” it, she didn’t want me to take it back. That’s a success! And a good use for some of these crocheted beads I have never found a good project for.

To see what others are making or join in, visit the Allegory Gallery Design Challenges Facebook page.

A Tisket, A Tasket

08 Saturday Jun 2019

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Andrew Thornton: Project Destash, Crystal Clay, Gaea, Miss Fickle Media

I got a beautiful ceramic, multi colored basket by Gaea in one of Andrew Thornton’s destashes about three years ago.

Photo by Andrew Thornton

I’ve always loved Andrew’s mixed lots. They are a design idea and supplies all in one. I knew I would use some of the beads with the pendant. I wanted to put something in the basket, and after the first time I used Crystal Clay, I decided to use vintage parts to create flowers to cement in there. The other day I wanted to make something, so I got out the clay and thought I’d finally get this done. 

I think it’s just the cutest thing. I made a few flowers out of vintage flower parts, crystal and headpins. I rolled the clay into short ropes and packed it down with the end of a headpin. Then I pushed the end of each flower to the appropriate height and  laid it aside to dry. 

I used the vintage Czech glass from the mixed lot and added some other Czech glass from my stash. The brass clasp is by Miss Fickle Media. I think this is so fun! Perfect for the warm weather that is finally here.

Welcome to My Studio

18 Saturday May 2019

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3crows, Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Cynthia Thornton, Diane Hawkey, Erin Prais-Hintz, Gaea, Gina Chalfant, Heather Powers, Holly Strope, Jules Sontag, Mary Harding, Peter Max, Sara Pulver, Signe Baumane, Staci Louise Originals, Stephanie Schroeder, The Polymer Arts Blog, The Polymer Studio, Wendy Wallin Malinow, White Swan Studio

I’ve been wanting to do a studio tour and finally have. I love studio tours and getting ideas from other artists. I mention this blog post from The Polymer Arts Blog (which I call The Polymer Studio because that’s the name of their magazine I get.) It talks about studios in a really helpful way and links to some fun studio tours.

I tried to do a nice intro, but then I couldn’t figure out how to turn the camera around. It did give me a funny post for Facebook!

I am by no means a videographer or a smooth talker, um, but here is a link to the tour. I can’t figure out how to embed it, even though I’ve done it once before. I hope you find it interesting and maybe get an idea for your own space!

Here are links to the artists that I mention in the video.

Cat lady picture is by Sara Pulver of 3crows

Holly Strope

Erin Prais-Hintz

Gaea

Peter Max

Signe Baumane

Heather Powers

Cynthia Thornton

Also find Cynthia here at Green Girl Studios

Find Andrew Thornton’s work (and other fabulous things) at Allegory Gallery 

Find Gina Chalfant (I’m sorry I pronounced her last name wrong!) at White Swan Studio

I should have re-listened to the Allegory Gallery podcast with Gina to get that name correct. But this gives me the chance to tell you that Allegory Gallery has a podcast featuring interesting interviews with artists. Check them out here.

Wendy Wallin Malinow

Diane Hawkey

I’ll give you a tip. Diane doesn’t post a lot on her site, but you can find some things in shops, at shows or sometimes when she does trunk shows on Facebook. I know as of this writing, Allegory Gallery has a really nice selection of her beads and pendants.

Jules Sontag

Staci Louise Smith

Stephanie Schroeder

Mary Harding

 

Simple to Quiet the Muse

30 Saturday Mar 2019

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Gaea, Miss Fickle Media

The title of this post might seem odd; why would anyone want to quiet their muse? Because she’s too loud, that’s why. I don’t often feel uninspired, but sometimes I have too many ideas swirling in my head competing for attention. It can make me feel a bit stuck, like I can’t hit on one because too many are bouncing all around, like trying to play racquetball when you aren’t good at it.

When that happens, I go right for the simple. If I make something simple and/or clean up my workspace, that provides focus and quiets things down enough for me to think more creatively. Today I made a very simple, very lovely necklace. 

I’m very into colored chain lately, and I had the perfect color for this sweet little moon pendant by Gaea. I added a clasp from Miss Fickle Media (a freebie!) I’ve realized lately that my “short” necklaces aren’t quite short enough for some of my necklines, so I want a few simple, shorter necklaces that highlight the pendant. This fits the bill.

I always feel more settled once I’ve made a piece of jewelry. It’s like sorbet at a fancy meal. Palate cleansed. Now I’m ready for the next course.

Bead in the New Year with Allegory Gallery – Final Wrap Up

31 Thursday Jan 2019

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A Man Called Ove, Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Anne's Glass Jewels, Ava Motherwell, Bead & Button, BuliBeads, Dakota Stones, Fredrik Backman, Gaea, Ginkgo et Coquelicot, Heather Powers, Humblebeads, Maggs Creations, William Jones

I made it through 31 days of prompts! Whoo-hoo! Allegory Gallery heard their customers say that they wanted to be more creative and take more time for self care in 2019. For many of us, creativity and self care overlap. So they came up with a calendar of daily prompts for January to help us all along. We could use it any way we chose. I chose to complete each prompt in order and post it on the day listed. That doesn’t mean I made one item a day; I definitely had to work ahead when I had time. But I’ve never felt the ease of making jewelry so clearly. It’s like these prompts helped me get out of my own way. On to the last five prompts!

Day 27 – Make a piece inspired by a book you’ve read

This necklace was inspired by A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Ove is a curmudgeon, always annoyed, hence this exasperated lampwork face bead by Maggs Creations. The mix of glass beads represents the chaos Ove feels in the changing world around him. I brought in the purple from the pendant with some amethyst. The beautiful copper claps is by Gaea.

Day 28 – Remake an old project into a new one

I still have a fair number of older pieces. If I haven’t taken them apart yet, it generally means I like the beads and maybe even the design, but it needs to be updated to fit my current style. I used two necklaces in this remake. 

I wanted it to be longer and a bit chunkier. I added the teal beads and pendant by Andrew Thornton. I love the teal with the chartreuse!

Day 29 – Use an Allegory Gallery wood pendant

This wood pendant is one Allegory Gallery made to honor Aretha Franklin. The lampwork lentil is by Anne’s Glass Jewels (given to me by Karin of Ginkgo et Coquelicot – thank you!) The yellow and orange smaller lampwork beads are from BuliBeads. I love this sort of mix of colorful beads. The smallest of the colorful beads are vintage German glass from Ava Motherwell. I was ridiculously happy to get those. I do love how this turned out.

Day 30 – Create a piece inspired by nature

When jewelry artists talk about what inspires them, nature is often mentioned. I love beads and jewelry inspired by nature, but I can’t say I’m particularly inspired by nature. My initial thought was to make something winter-inspired because it is very wintery here now, and I love white beads. But then I realized I didn’t have to actually make something inspired by the outdoors; I have plenty of nature-inspired beads. I have been hoarding this hibiscus flower bud pendant from Humblebeads for a while. I decided to keep it simple, inspired, in fact, by Heather Powers herself. Her inspired by nature designs are always wonderful. I added a couple spacers and a couple of her disc beads, some copper chain and a bird clasp. Done! This will be a great, light necklace on hot summer days.

Day 31 – Make a piece that’s big, bold and over the top!

I had splurged on this strand of rough labradorite slab beads from Dakota Stones a couple years ago at Bead & Button. I loved it and wanted to use it all together in a collar necklace – another project these prompts helped me complete. I added a small labradorite spacer between each slab so the collar would curve nicely, and added chain at the back so the length would be adjustable. I’m going to revisit this prompt. I want to make my first assemblage piece, but I knew I wouldn’t have time for that (or glue, but it’s on the way!)

As I keep saying, I’ve loved participating in this month-long challenge. Big thanks to Andrew Thornton and William Jones of Allegory Gallery for these fun and inspiring prompts. Follow them on Facebook, their blog, or instagram to learn about all the fun challenges they dream up!

Random Winter Giveaway

19 Sunday Nov 2017

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Artybecca, Gaea, J-Lynn Jewels, Melissa Gabelle, The Clay Hen

It’s been about 8 months since I’ve done a giveaway, so I think it’s time again. It’s a Random Winter Giveaway!

Snowflakes by spacefem

It might not be cold or snowy where you are; it might not even be winter! But you are still welcome to join the giveaway. Once I decided to do a giveaway, I just picked a variety of random things. Often I choose from boxes that are full enough that I have trouble closing them, thinking that will help in the organization of my studio.  So, here are the goods!

This is the top of the grouping.  It includes purple sari silk, two strands of tortoise pattern Czech glass, a Frida bead, a deco floral pendant by Melissa Gabelle of The Clay Hen, two large polymer beads by Artybecca, a lampwork pair by an unknown artist, a pendant and two barrel beads by Gaea, a mixed bag of purple beads and a strand of red cultured sea glass. 

Here is a picture of the bottom part of the grouping. It includes a black glass heart with a green clover, a gold beehive charm, a wooden elephant pendant by J-Lynn Jewels, an old key, a few swirly Czech glass beads, and a section of fancy, shiny silver chain. 

Here is a close up of the art beads. Just a note: I won’t be able to mail these out to the winner until early December.

To enter, just leave a comment listing something you are grateful for. Entries will close at 11:00 PM Central Time on Friday, November 24, 2017. International entries are welcome. I will announce the winner sometime that weekend.  Good luck!

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Two More Necklaces

20 Sunday Aug 2017

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Allegory Gallery, BlueberriBeads, Creating Unkamen, Gaea, Linda Landig Jewelry, My Elements

Last night I went up to my studio to clean up a little bit.  There is always cleaning to do.  I usually do some cleaning but also end up making as well. Which is still cleaning because I am using materials.  So, here is what I made.

Not long ago I got an adorable cat pendant and a couple of whirligig charms from Linda Landig Jewelry in the completely fabulous mid-century modern color combination of turquoise and orange.  Love!  So I did not want to add much because they are perfect just on their own.  When I have pieces like that with a really bright color, I know what to do. Head straight over to My Elements because it will have exactly what I need in the color I need it to make a piece that will highlight my beads. So one order of orange ball chain, orange jump rings and turquoise O rings later, here is my necklace.

This is one of those what I call “floppy” necklaces. Not a lot of structure, maybe a big jump ring that makes it lay weird when flat.  Hard to get a good picture. And I see one of my cute O rings is askew above.  Here’s another shot.

I fell in love with this cat pendant the second I saw it.  My vision was to put the O rings on the ball chain so there would be a pop of turquoise between each orange round, but I need either slightly bigger O rings or more patience.  Or I could just leave it as it.  It’s pretty darn cute now.

Next I got a lovely bird pendant from BlueberriBeads. I didn’t have anything particular in mind for it, but while I was cleaning up, I was putting away the bird as well as several strands of a favorite yellow plastic beads I get from Allegory Gallery. I really love them and keep buying them even though I haven’t used that many. But I saw the yellow on the bird and thought they’d go nicely together. 

I used other beads on my table to round things out.  One random Czech glass to hold the bird on (it has a large hole).  What I believe to be a Gaea bead above the bird, and then some apatite rondelles as spacers.  

I used a hand forged black iron hook clasp from Creating Unkamen. I have to get more of those. I love them.  Ok, so I didn’t spend as much time cleaning up as I might have, but I look at it as fewer beads to put away (and more fun jewelry to wear)!

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On the Bead Table

30 Sunday Jul 2017

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Gaea, Patricia Healey, Tesori Trovati, TierraCast, Tracey Seder Donoughe

I was looking for a pendant to go with some beads I had chosen to make a design I sketched.  So of course I won’t be showing you anything made with those beads.  But I did come across a butterfly pendant by Tracey Seder Donoughe. The butterfly has some dark red spots, and I had some red beads on my table from a project I had just made. 

I also had a strand of light yellow beads on my table that I thought would look nice.  The pendant is a tile with no hole, so I needed some sort of bail.  Also on my table was a small, textured ring by Patricia Healey. I thought that would make a great bail, so I glued it on.  Perfect! I added a copper clasp by Gaea. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite clasps. 

I like the chunky way it turned out.

Then I went back to the original design I had in mind.  I had some London blue quartz and black tourmaline faceted beads on my table. I thought they would look good together and wanted a two hole pendant to use with them. I was looking through my stash (always fun) and found a couple of possibilities. But when I came across this tube bead by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati, I knew I’d found the right thing. This bead, Night Landscape, is what Erin made based on the art for the January 2016 Art Bead Scene challenge. The necklace looks different than the knotted one I had in mind, but I really like how it turned out. There are gold accents in the bead, so I added some gold spacer beads and a gold toggle clasp from TierraCast. 

I like having all different style and lengths of necklaces so I have something to go with every outfit!

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