Big Huge Giveaway - that's the BHG!

Have I lost my mind? 

I feel like one of those used car commercials - come on down to crazy Heather's and save, save, save.  Okay, maybe not that bad and certainly not desperate.  But I do have an abundance of beads that need to find new homes.  I'm in the process of a major studio purge and I have some huge bead bundles that I'm going to auction off next week, they are filled with amazing one-of-a-kind beads.  But this was a smaller set - and I thought, why not do something crazy like give it away.  So, that's what I'm doing.  Maybe my brain has melted from one too many days of 100 degree weather.

Some were experiments, some are discontinued items and others are just overstock.  They are wonderful!

So what do you need to do to enter? 

Leave a comment - tell me what your favorite Humblebead is - if you are new here, check out my Etsy shop and pick a favorite.  That is one entry - blog, facebook or twitter about the giveaway and you will be entered for each one that you do.  Leave a comment to let me know which ones you did.

So four chances to have this collection of beautiful beads heading your way!

And because I think my brain really has melted, I am having a sale until Sunday night at Midnight.  Save 20% off everything in my Etsy shop, excluding custom orders.  Use discount code TOOHOT when you are ready to check out.

I will draw one random winner on Tuesday.

Good luck with the giveaway - I have my fingers crossed for you!

Inspired by: Bees Prize!

Yeah, it might be a good idea to mention a prize for this week's challenge! 

This week's prize is a $25 gift certificate from Humblebeads.com, you'll get to pick a few of your favorites!  So pull out those bee beads and enter today.

You can find my tiny charms and all sorts of other goodies in my Etsy shop.  I just restocked some of my best sellers.

Ombre Necklace

This was an experiment I whipped up this weekend.  I wanted to try something that was a little modern and was definitely influenced by the ombre and color spectrums I've been seeing on Pinterest lately.

I created a set of disk beads in a green, teal and purple colorway using my willow, birch and floral designs for each bead.

I then fashioned a chain out of steel wire.  I love that every part of this necklace was created by me, from the beads, to the chain - even the jump rings and clasp.  (There are some tiny nickel seed beads tucked in between the disks.) It's amazing what you can do with wire.   

I'm working on designs for fall and holiday shows.  I would like to have a line of jewelry that I offer on a more regular basis. 

Sometimes I miss making jewelry and selling at shows, that is where I started when I was in art school.  Jess and I would do shows together on the weekends.  I miss those summer Art in the Park events, meeting customers, visiting with other artists, spending the day outside - hopefully under a canopy of trees and with a fresh cool breeze.  Yep, miss those days! 

In between the weekends of the big shows we'd set up for a few hours at the farmer's market - mixed in among fresh flowers and an abundance of zucchinis, crisp green beans and juicy tomatoes.  And then as September came we would enjoy our weekends in churches and high schools, selling at holiday shows until December.  Those were fun and simpler times.  Doing those smaller shows definitely have their place when paying your dues and building up your client base.  We sort of out grew the 'crafts-on-a-stick' shows while living here in Texas.  I know now to focus on shows that feature art work and higher end crafts. 

How about you - do you do shows?  What are your favorite types?  I still like shopping at all of them! 

Bead Table Wednesday - One Love

Well, my bead table is it's usual disaster so I thought I'd show you some goodies plucked from the wreckage rather than subject you to the horror of my creative aftermath.  Oh the beadmanity!

Here are two orders heading out the door today.  Some orders just make me stop and go 'ahh'.  Above someone has a lovely creation planned with these Illuminated Manuscript beads.  Since they asked for the holes to be drilled vertically I'm assuming these will end up in a necklace.  Won't that be sweet?

And I adore this combination of Dogwood Pendants in green, Birch Log beads, Branch Lentils in lime and in the corner are some of my Mum beads in olive green.  Sometimes filling orders can spark all sorts of creative ideas for me - combinations I wouldn't have pulled together are suddenly there whispering my name!

So what's on your bead table today? 

Share a pic. in the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group and connect to other bead crazed folks!

In honor of the love beads, here is a little Bob Marley for you!

Inspired by: Bees

(Photo credit: adapted from Joel Olives' photo via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is the humble little bee! This week your design can be inspired by the photograph, bees in general, beehives, honeycombs or honey colors.  Just as long as it relates to the theme of bees it will qualify for the challenge.
Details:
You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. I know, I missed Monday - don't ask - so you have one less day to be fab, you can whip up something amazing in 6 days, I know you can!!! 

The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!


Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week.

To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. On Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

Necklace by Lorelei Eurto

Pendant from Kylie Parry

Pre-order the book here.

In case you were wondering, the weekly challenges are inspired by the themes in the book - the woodlands, garden and sea. Can you believe this is the 5th week already and we've moved from the woodlands into the garden.  I'm going to give you the weekly themes for the remaining 7 weeks. I thought that would help you plan out your creations with a little advanced notice.

Week 6: Tigerlilies

Week 7: Dragonflies

Week 8: Zen garden

Week 9: Urchins

Week 10: Waves

Week 11: Starfish

Week 12: Driftwood

If you'd like to shop for something Humblebead-ish for an upcoming theme, I'm offering free shipping on orders from my Etsy Shop for the rest of the week.  Use discount code: Inspired.

Forest Floor Challenge Winner

The winner 3rd week's Inspired By Nature Challenge is Aquariart!

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries.

Mixed media artist Heather Pyle worked up a fiber and bead creation that looks like Mother Nature herself would wear.  She adorned her felted creation with some of her handcrafted acorns and oak leaves along with fabric floral elements and a sundry of textures.  And check out that great copper clasp!  You can read about the creation and process of Heather's necklace on her blog.

Heather won one of my Fern Pendants.

Can't wait to see what everyone makes for this week's challenge!

Inspired by Trees Winner

The winner 3rd week's Inspired By Nature Challenge is Bay Moon Designs!

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries.

Kathy Lindemer worked up a lovely necklace with earthy tree-inspired tones using stones, pearls, crystals and brass spacers. 

Kathy won one of my Branch Lentil Beads in copper and a few matching disk beads!

I'm looking forward to seeing your Forest Floor inspired entries this week.

Inspired by: Forest Floor

(Photo credit: adapted from Code Poet via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration is the Forest Floor! It can be anything woodland related, from mushrooms, ferns and acorns to creatures you'd find in forest like squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, etc.- you can run with the inspiration photo and or go with a more loose interpretation. As long as it relates to the theme of the Forest Floor it will qualify for the challenge.

The prize this week - one of my Fern Pendants!

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already had started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week. To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!
 

My Woodland Charm bracelet

What's Hiding in the Forest necklace from Hint

Hedgie Earrings from Lorelei Eurto

Pre-order a signed copy of the book here.

Rock the Trees!

Just two more days to enter the Inspired by: Trees challenge!  I love trees, they just kind of speak to my soul and make me all sorts of happy.  I love the pattern of birch bark, the long draping vines of the willow tree.  I love oak leaves and acorns.  I love trees that are tall and ancient.  I love trees that are delicate and filled with blossoms.  I love the lonely and bare trees of winter and marvel when they are encrusted with icy jewels.  I love the sun dappling through trees in the summer.  I love hearing the leaves rustle as the wind howls on Autumn days with gold and crimson swirling to the ground.  Give me a tree and I'll find something inspiring about it!

So let's rock the tree theme today!

Only 3 spaces left!

Bead Table Wednesday - Quick, get me to the beach!

I had to double check - is today really Wednesday?  I'm still not convinced!  Days are flying by as my to-do list is being whittled away.  There isn't much on my bead table today, aside from the same ol' pile of awesome.  I have been busy working away - but it's on secret book proposal projects that won't be shown for many a moon.  One thing that is hanging out in the photography area are these awesome urchins that I just put up on my website.  I had to photograph and list them today because they are little stars.

Yep, famous before they even hit the streets.  I created these for a project earlier this year for Interweave's Everyday Bracelets emag.  I puffy heart Interweave's emags.  They are not just some stuffy boring pdf download.  Oh no Ms. Interactive - they wow us with videos, cool links and good tricks.  It's so much fun going through and it's rocking quite a collection of innovative bracelet designs from some of today's top designers.

I will also share this necklace I have hanging on a board near my work area.  It reminds me of walking on the beach, collecting bits of driftwood, tiny rocks and searching for the ever-elusive piece of beach glass.  Many an hour was whittled away on the shores of Lake Michigan hunting for treasures.  I'm totally counting down the days until my Bead Retreat.  I'm in serious need of a beach - stat!

So that is what's happening on and around my Bead Table - how is your little corner of the creative world looking today?  Add your photo to the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group and connect with other bead obsessed folks from around the world!

There are still a few rooms at the Beach House - but hurry, spaces are filling up!

I've also added some transportation options for those flying into Grand Rapids, hopefully that will make your travel plans a little easier for those who aren't driving to South Haven.

 

Read about the travel details here.

Inspired by: Trees

My upcoming book is all about inspiration from nature and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. So from now until the book release I am hosting a weekly challenge.

This week's inspiration are trees! It can be anything tree related - you can run with the inspiration photo and or go with a more loose interpretation. As long as it relates to the theme of trees or leaves it will qualify for the challenge.

The prize this week - one of my Branch Lentil beads in copper and I'll throw in a few matching disk beads.
You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme.  The entries have to be created this week - you can finish something you've already had started, but the purpose of the challenge is to inspire you to make something new related to the challenge!

Anything goes, it can include Humblebeads or not, art beads or whatever you have in your stash. It's up to you and however the inspiration strikes you for that week. To enter add your photo to the Inspired By Nature Jewelry Challenge Flickr group. Every Monday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Sunday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are a few designs to get your creative gears turning. 

Midnight Tree necklace from Jess Italia Lincoln

Birch Trees and Falling Leaves necklace that I created.

Sure Sign of Spring necklace from Erin Prais-Hintz.

Pre-order here.

Inspired by: Feathers Winner

The winner for my first Inspired By Nature Challenge is Tropical Blonde!

The winner was chosen by random from the all the entries.

Kate Gardenghi created two pieces this month,  check out the other one here.  Peacock feathers are so amazing.  Kate went straight to the source and used real feathers in both of her pieces..

Kate won one of my Bird Nest Pendants!

Can't wait to see what everyone makes for the Tree Challenge!

Hope

What dream has taken flight in your soul lately? 

I can see my hopes on the horizon, perched in tree tops just above my grasp. 

With a little stretching of the wings, those hopes will soon be singing my song.

I love the idea of hope, hope is more than just a wish.  It's a quite comfort that dreams will come true, that life is good, that we are cared for in ways we can't imagine.

Today is the last day to enter the Inspired by: Feathers Challenge.

The necklace above features a beautiful sparrow from Vintaj, a few sweet Czech glass eggs and a hand-painted egg by me.

Don't miss out - sign up today!

Join me for my Inspired by Nature Retreat

(Photo credit: adapted from Andrew R. Whalley via the Creative Commons on Flickr.)

What is a retreat but an invitation to walk with the instructor on a creative journey?  To open your eyes to the possibilities around you, to learn to trust in your artistic instincts with the encouragement of your fellow travelers.  The instructor offers new insights into both the minute and vast beauty in nature, leading you to come up with new ways to translate that experience into something tangible.

And whether you feel like an artist or not, you are given the skills to express your vision into an object. By the time you leave the retreat you are renewed and energized, ready to return home with a deeper understanding of yourself and your creative process.

(Photo credit: Christina Harrison via Flickr)

I was talking to someone yesterday about my retreat and realized that creativity without any kind of boundaries or safety net can be scary for some.  I'm a "let's-dive-in-there-and-see-what-we-can-come-up-with"  kind of girl myself so I hadn't thought of that before.  The classes and structured lessons make the process less intimidating.  You don't have to be an artist to enjoy my retreat, but hopefully you'll feel like one by the time you leave.

Creativity is the willingness to take risks.  Artists realize there are no mistakes, only learning opportunities.  It's part of the process. 

So I invite you to go on a creative journey with me for 3 days.  It will be a safe place to try new things.  We will play with resin, seed beads and wire, we'll study color, texture, and the design lessons in nature.  We'll have fun making jewelry together. We'll walk on sandy beaches, explore the delights of the garden and visit the still quiet of the forest. 

Visit the site to learn more about my Inspired by Nature Retreat and celebrate the release of my book with me!

Taking Notice

These are some little vignettes from my best friend's backyard.  She is so stylish in everything she does.  Do you have a friend like that - the one you go to for fashion advice or who always makes even a simple event into something beautiful? 

Our families have celebrates many holidays together over the last 7 years - everything from New Year's Eve dinners to their annual 4th of July cookout. They have become family - and never more true was the saying:

"Friends are the family you choose for yourself."

I definitely would have picked my best friend to be my big sister.  Wise and kind, full of grace and self-confidence.  I'm so thankful for the dear friends that I have, both those who are near and far.

I decided one of the things I love about traveling back home is that I pull out my camera and take notice of the little things around me. 

I slow down, I hunt for the beauty in the ordinary. 

I'm there, focused. 

So I took my camera along to our 4th of July fete and spent some time in the moment - eyes open, searching for that play of patterns, colors and textures.

Eventually, all those tiny bits of color and design make their way into my beads - filtered through the years, tempered with sweet memories.  They find their way from my heart to my hands.