Book Launch Party

This weekend kicks off my official book launch and I'm celebrating like my book will be the only one in the store.  I mean, come on - how often does one have a book launch?  Over the top celebrations are certainly in order!  If you are in the West Michigan area I hope you'll stop by to celebrate with me.

And what's a party without presents?  I will be sharing some tips for blogging for creative businesses and we are doing a Make & Take project sponsored by Vintaj with these lovely dragonfly pendants. (Make & Take for the first 30 attendees.)

The Grand Rapids Press wrote up a great article last weekend about my return to Michigan and the book launch - you can read it here.

I will also have some of the jewelry from the book on display. 

Book Launch Party


1 p.m. Sept. 10

Barnes & Noble at Woodland Mall

Grand Rapids, MI

(Cupcake photo credit: Theresa Thompson via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

And finally, my gift to you:

20% off all orders from my Etsy shop!

Use discount code: Celebrate

Ends Saturday at midnight.

Not for use on custom or special orders.

(Present photo from Pinterest)

Inspired by: Zen Gardens

My upcoming book, Jewelry Designs from Nature, is all about inspiration from the natural world and one of my missions in life is to help inspire those on their creative journey. This is week eight!

This week's inspiration is Zen Garden! Your design can be inspired by the photograph or dragonflies in general.  This lotus flowers, bamboo, Buddha, cherry blossoms, om symbols, smooth stones and wood beads.

Details: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 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 Tuesday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Monday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

Plus Size Bangles

Jess Contreras

Marie Dodd

The winner this week will receive 2 sets of Random Acts of Beadiness Disk Beads worth $30!

Order my book today!

The books are now in stock - you can find ordering information on my site, a list of Humblebeads featured in the projects and my upcoming book events! 

For those who have pre-ordered books they are shipping out this week. 

Exciting times here in the Humblebeads studio!

Have fun with this week's challenge - I can't wait to see what you make.

The upcoming challenges:

 Next week we dive into the sea!

Week 9: Urchins

Week 10: Waves

Week 11: Starfish

Week 12: Driftwood

Inspired by: Dragonflies

(Photo credit: Hjhipster 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 dragonflies! Your design can be inspired by the photograph or dragonflies in general.

Details: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 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 Tuesday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Monday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

Dragonfly pendant from Beverly Herman (aka my awesome mom) using one of my Dandelion Wine beads.  You can find the pattern in her Etsy shop.

Kerri Fuhr - she knows how to work a dragonfly!  Check out her shop for more dragonfly inspiration.

This week's prize is a pair of tiny dragonfly charms.

Pre-order the book here.

Have fun with this week's challenge - I can't wait to see what you make! 

Inspired by: Tiger Lilies

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 one of my favorite flowers - Tiger Lilies! This week your design can be inspired by the photograph, lilies, orange flowers, etc. Just as long as it relates to the theme of Tiger Lilies it will qualify for the challenge.

Details:

You have one week to complete a piece of jewelry inspired by the weekly theme. We are going to move from Tuesday to Tuesday from now on - my Monday's are a little too crazy right now!
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 Tuesday I will draw one random winner from the week's entries and feature them here on my blog. (Monday night is the deadline for entries.)

Here are some inspiration ideas to get your gears churning!

My design featuring my Tiger Lily Bead.

TooAquarius

TheBijouBabe

The prize:

One lucky winner will get one of my vintage illustration pendants with a lily design!!! 

(Yes, the are finally coming to my Etsy shop this week.)

Pre-order the book here.

Have fun with this week's challenge - I can't wait to see what you make. 

And yes, the Big Huge Giveaway winner will be announced soon.