August 17, 2012

Pity Party Day 1 - Bust Your Stash

(Click here is you are looking for this weekend's discount codes)

Today to avoid bead envy for those lucky sticks at Bead Fest, we are busting our bead stash!  My challenge for you is to dig in that bead stash and pull out something that hasn't seen the light of day for a while. If you have been to a big bead show, I challenge you to find something from a past bead show purchase.  You can share a photo and story about it.  Create something with it or give it away on your blog or Facebook page.

For my Bead Stash Bust I'm sharing my three most treasured beads from the Bead & Button show, tips on using those precious beads and then I totally went for bust and made something with a few beads I have collected over several bead shows.

First up - my treasures.  They include a lampwork bird from Kerri Fuhr.  A lampwork flower from Kim Fields. And my Anne Choi bead that reads, "Had we but world enough and time."  Each of these were from trades I did with the artists, which makes them even more special too me.  Because those artists found my work worthy of the exchange, it was an honor that I treasure.  One day I will break down and use them in a design, but that time hasn't arrived.  Do you have beads like that?

Daffodil Fields is a project from my book.

"Some beads are little works of art and could sit on a shelf to be admired as such.  The trouble is, it can be hard to feel like those art beads will be done justice in a jewelry design - there is a fear they will be swallowed up by a supporting cast of beads.  I feel that way about Anne Choi's beads - they are so amazing, it's hard to create a design that doesn't distract from their simple and understated beauty.  My goal for this design was to create a necklace that let the art bead tell the story.  Picking up on the color of daffodils that one would imagine in this silver rendition, I created a lush pendant of faceted citrine dangles.  Each part of the necklace is carefully considered to relate to and accent the art bead.  From the silver links in the geometric design to the oval link cable chain and subtle grey of the lampwork disk bead - each part speaks to the art bead without overpowering it."  - Jewelry Designs from Nature, Heather Powers

And now for the piece I whipped up to wear this weekend.  It features a copper pendant from my buddy Andrew Thornton that he gifted me one year.  A ceramic bead from Golem Studio that I picked up this year at Bead & Button, one of my willow disks beads and a tiny spacer from a Hager Studios that I picked up a small local bead show last year.  I combined some of my favorite leafy chain - a B & B find, with a delicate chain to finish the design. Stash busted, mission accomplished!

And now for the giveaway - I will pick one random comment for a $25 gift certificate to my website, www.humblebeads.com. If you "bust your stash" today and blog or share about it on the Creative Bead Chat Facebook group you'll be entered twice - be sure to let me know if you do that in the comments too.  I will give you until Sunday to bust your stash and will pick the winner Monday morning. 

32 comments:

The Dutch Girl said...

Absolutely lovely! I have been busting my stash too this week, just not my bead stash... I have sewing owl pillows from my fabric stash. They do accompany your woodland creations quite nicely. (http://www.dutchgirloriginals.com/2012/08/owl-pillows.html)

Have a great weekend, Heather. I'll try to post some pictures from last weekend's UP trip for you.

Hanneke

Marie Cramp said...

I have so many beads that make me feel that way. Am I worthy to make this bead shine in my design! I wait and sometimes they come out and do shine! Now I just need to be able to work my magic...

JINe said...

splendide !!! JINe

Cindy said...

Heather, what absolutely gorgeous pieces! I am just so drawn to your designs - no matter what you create, they have such a distinctive style and flow so beautifully. I won't be able to fit in any jewelry-making this weekend, but will enjoy seeing other's Bead Busting designs! What a great idea!

Erin S said...

yep, I'm guilty of "saving" my most treasured beads for just the perfect inspiration. I do actually have one of them on my bead board right now--a pendant from Green Girl studios. Not finished yet, but I'm hoping for greatness!

Unknown said...

I feel exactly the same way about some of my beads, but they are doing me no good in a box. It's almost 2am so I'll try to bust my stash after some sleep.

Unknown said...

I need to bust my stash that is for sure! Your work is awesome!
Sharon Lowery

Ginger Davis Allman (The Blue Bottle Tree) said...

I've also got a Kim Fields bead that I've never been able to find the right setting for. I tend to just wear it alone as its own piece of art. So I hear you on that one. But yes, you're right, others I have are just sitting around in boxes. I really do need to liberate them and get busy making things. And if they don't sing to me then I need to move them along to someone who they will sing for.

DG Jewelry Designs said...

Lovely creations. I, too, have a bead stash which inspires me. Your beads are wonderful.

Sweet Willow Designs said...

I'm a big hoarder of beads and all craft/art supplies. Sometimes I like to just look and admire them. How about I use them and make something! Or, I could take your advice and post a giveaway. Think I'll do that. Unless I get distracted by looking at all my stuff. :)

Theresa Fosdick said...

I can definitely see why you treasure those beads they are just beautiful. Love the necklace you whipped up for the weekend. You always have such an amazing flow to your work.

LOVE IT!

I have been cleaning off my table for days sorting and storing away, yes I have a bit of a stash.

CraftyHope said...

Ohhhh, the goodies you got made. Such awesomeness!!

I went ahead and played along today, so here's my link for the Pity Party - http://craftyhope.blogspot.com/2012/08/bead-fest-pity-party-day-1.html

Unknown said...

My mouth waters everytime I visit your blog. And I positively drool when I visit your Etsy site.

I don't have many beads to bust my stash, but I am slowly building them up from links from you site - and off to check out all the site that have joined in your Pity Part - what a unique and fantastic idea.

CraftyHope said...

I shared by part in the part in the CBC group as well! :)

Ashleigh Becker said...

Love your creations! I have a small stash that I might have time to delve into this weekend!

LouAnn said...

I love the pity party idea....we can't do it all !!!

thecolorofdreams said...

Beautiful necklace and what a great idea. I will be looking through my beads this weekend.

Rebecca said...

Gorgeous! Your daffodils necklace is one of my favourites. I would absolutely be intimidated by that beautiful Anne choi bead and it would 'end up' in my printers drawer display cabinet. But you make it work and get the balance between bead and design perfectly. As for your new piece, it's stunning. Love that golem bead A I would never have thought to pair it with the Andrew Thornton disc but it works so well. Befitting of your talent!

Alice said...

Gorgeous beads! I can see why you want to hoard them!

I just love the pieces you made,especially Daffodil Fields.

Thanks so much for hosting this fun pity party!

I posted some of the beads I hoard, and something I made with them on my blog:

http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com/2012/08/bead-fest-pity-party.html

Alice said...

Oh, and I posted on the CBC as well.

Liz said...

Both are beautiful. I wish I could go to philly too...maybe next year.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit I have quite a few of YOUR beads in my hoard, Heather! Not sure if I'll get to busting my stash this weekend as I am halfway through my beadsoup creating and I have a (very small in comparison to BeadFest) bead and gem show to visit, but I will definitely do something soon!

A Polymer Penchant said...

I know we probably all have some Humblebeads in our stash... here are a few of mine which will hopefully come back out this weekend http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.ca/2012/08/joining-in-on-bead-fest-pity-party.html

swopemelmel said...

Very, Very pretty.

Heather Powers said...

I'm glad to read some that some of you are jumping in and busting your stash! I look forward to more blog links because I love seeing what you are up to.

sasha + max studio said...

Im very guilty in the bead stash arena , lots of your beads, nancy schindlers beads, chinook,... Oh dear, time to use some of those babies! Love your necklaces above,, some very special beads for sure.

Raida said...

It's so hard to "bust your stash". I also have a beautiful lampwork bead I purchased from Kim Fields from a class I took with her years ago that I just can't find the perfect design for. It's just so beautiful on its own. I think maybe it's time to bring it back out!

KayzKreationz said...

I didn't get a chance to bust my stash Friday, since I was finishing up painting, helping my hubby put in new flooring and going to a friends so we could go to the Bead show on saturday. But I'm hoping to get a chance to bust my stash today (Sunday) and finish some work on my BSBP pieces and then take pictures.

Kimisjewelryandgifts said...

I went throught all my beads and I won this amazing bead from NLCBeads awhile back http://www.etsy.com/listing/101834537/pink-floral-lizard-chameleon-gecko . I have not had the chance to create with it and It is just so cute. So that is what I did today. I never create for me so I took this weekend to play around and make a few me things. to see the outcome. come visit my blog tonight.

www.Kimisjewelryandgifts.blogspot.com

This is such a fun idea. Im so glad you did this pity party :). Im disabled and I have to say I get pretty sad that I cant travel to these amazing shows for beads and classes. I want to learn from the best and browse through those bead fest booths. Ugh Id be in heaven. And broke. lol. Im praying for next year. I Have to get a surgical procedure done soon that I pray will help with my walking. If it does. Bead Fest's Everywehere, Next year. IM SOOO THERE :)

Kimisjewelryandgifts said...

My finished blog about my fun filled Bead Fest ~ Pity party weekend. Hope everyone stops by. Ill be checking out everyones tommorow to see how all of you were inspired. Thanks so much for having this. I really needed the pick me up. Alot of hurting the last few weeks and this really got me motivated. Hugs and happy creating to all.

http://kimisjewelryandgifts.blogspot.com/2012/08/bead-fest-pity-party.html

Zeniswoman said...

I've been rummaging through my stash all weekend... I too have several Anne Choi beads that are like talisman (in particular a few of her mandrake beads). I have been keeping a design journal again... so many ideas. I'm trying to create a final piece that continues the narrative and lives up to the beauty of these beads. I'm determined to really make what I imagine. Thanks for all the inspiration :)
Holly (zeniswoman@yahoo.com)

Andrew Thornton said...

I love what you did with the pendant! The necklace looks fabulous! Great work!