Swept Away

Inspired by the print on the dress in the painting 'Boreas' by John William Waterhouse. I was drawn to the design on the dress in this artwork and found myself sketching it several times while I let this inspiration sink into my heart. I wanted to create a pendant that captured the wind-blown and carefree spirit of the painting.

Some painting just make me sigh.  They pick at things deep in my brain and whisper things to my heart.  Once upon a time I would conjure up words like aesthetic experiences and the sublime - art touches my soul in such a spiritual way.  It's never just a pretty picture on a wall or more likely, on my computer screen.  I take in those pieces of artwork, I see the artist's touch, search for their message, find beauty that makes me want more than what the everyday and ordinary present us.  

I get swept away.  

I hope in some way, my love of artwork translates into my beads and jewelry.  That in some way that euphoria that catches me up in a painting finds its way into inspiring you when you create with my beads.

And just like an artist, I love creating in collections and exploring a series and theme to round out my body of work. I felt like purple would be a great variation of this pendant and I have a traditional red poppy that is waiting a little more paint.  I was also considering doing a peach color.  I don't know why but navy blue, dusty purple and peach/melon always appeal to me. Throw in rustic wood beads or smoky quartz faceted beads, some chain and sari ribbon and I'm feeling like my inner boho chic is ready to go.

If these speak to you, you can find them in my Etsy shop.

Button Swap Blog Hop

I've missed so many great blog hops this year, I was excited to finally jump on board with Cindy Wimmer's Button Swap Blog Hop.  I was paired up with the very talented Cat Kerr who sent me a lovely collection of enamel buttons and beads.  Be sure to check out Cat's blog and shop to see more of her work.

I wanted to tie this hop into the Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge.

Italian's House at Monmarte by Maurice Utrillo.

I paired the enameled buttons up with some tree connectors created from Vintaj Art Metal blanks and hammered links.

My focal is a blue bird that I created in a nest, wrapped on a Vintaj branch and below sits a house from Elukka.

I double drilled one of my feather pendants to create a connector.  I like that it ties in with the enamel beads and the bird.

The shape of the pointed feather speaks to the shape of the bird and the angles of the house.  The round elements had a nice contrast and offers more geometric elements.

Be sure to stop by Cat's blog and see the amazing things she did with my buttons!

Check out all the blog hop participants and have fun finding new inspiration in all that can be created with buttons!

Alice Peterson  and Kim Bender

Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove

 Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame

 Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren

 Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen

 Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman

 Cat Kerr and Heather Powers

 Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic

 Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm

 Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston

 Christine Stonefield and Dana James

 Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud

 Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner 

 Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson

 Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney

 Dana James and Christine Stonefield

Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz

 Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson

 Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski

 Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage

 Heather Powers and Cat Kerr

 Holly Westfall and Sally Russick

 Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano

 Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak

 Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier

 Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison

 Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip

 Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe

 Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata

 Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman

 Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka

 Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano

 Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars

Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk

 Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven

 Kim Bender and Alice Peterson

 Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps

 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.

 Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers

 Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede

 Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley

 Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor

 Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino

 Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett

 Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto

 Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca

 Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers

 Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins

 Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs

 Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter

 Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler

 Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen

 Mary Harding and Stacie Florer 

 Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell

 Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick

 Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson

 Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer

 Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners

 Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer

 Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson

 Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou

* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic

 Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy

 Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas

 Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy

 Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell

 Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson

 Sally Russick and Holly Westfall

 Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor

 Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson

 Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya

 Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel

 Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone

 Stacie Florer and Mary Harding

* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)

 Sue Hamel and Terry Carter

 Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne

 Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle

 Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne

 Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey

 Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque

 Terry Carter and Sue Hamel

 Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin

 Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov

 Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan

 Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore

Trunk Shows

Last month, Rosanne and I headed east to visit Stony Creek Beads for a trunk show and book signing. This gem of a bead store is located in Ypsilanti, just south of Ann Arbor.  Rosanne and I knew were where in trouble the moment we walked in the door.  The owner, Jennifer Schwartzenberger, has amassed a treasure trove of Czech glass, seed beads, stones, crystals and oh so much more!  Stony Creek Beads is also one of the most 'art beady' stores I've ever visited.  She had lampwork, polymer clay, pewter and ceramics on display from various local and national artists. 

If you are on the east side of Michigan or anywhere within driving distance, Stony Creek is worth a visit!

Jennifer and her mom, Susan Schwartzenberger. 

And yes, I have a feeling they have enabled many a bead addict!  The best thing about Stony Creek Beads is that you immediately feel welcomed when you walk in the door.  There wasn't a customer who came in that day who wasn't asked, "What can I help you find?" I loved that!  And their regular customers who came to visit that day were treated like family. 

It was a fun to meet some online friends in person, like Marla James of Marla's Mud - who brought me the cutest ceramic owl pendant and Lisa Lodge from Pine Ridge Treasures.

Another fun thing was to see was Stony Creek customers arrive wearing jewelry they had made using my beads.  The bead store purchased beads before the trunk show to introduce me to their customers.  They arrived wearing the sweetest creations.   I'm so sorry, I don't remember names.  I'm terrible at that - so if you know who is in the photos please let me know! 

This lovely lady created the Birch Forest Bracelet from my book!

My Van Gogh goes were very popular and had made their way into several bracelets!

My friend Susan Kolovson stopped in sporting her Humblebeads! Susan has joined me for several Bead Cruises and my Inspired by Nature Retreat.  I'm always so happy to see her!  Another Bead Cruise buddy, Liz Thompson, spent the day with us too visiting with us during lunch.

Rosanne and I had a great time. At the end of the day all of my books were sold, the bead trays were much lighter and we had bags of new beads after shopping too! Pure joy!

Trunk shows and book signings are by far my favorite kind of events.  I love meeting new people, the bead stores are always fun to visit and I'm appreciative of the owners efforts to promote my work.  I always make new things just for trunk shows, so customers get to see exclusives before I offer them online.  I love meeting people and talking about jewelry design, beads and inspiration!

I hope to get a few more trunk shows scheduled soon - my traveling shoes are itching to go!

Bead Table Wednesday

I haven't done a BTW in so long - so here is what's on my table today, a pile of urchin beads waiting to be finished.  These are for wholesale orders - and then I will start to work on a new pile of them for Bead & Button.

And here I have a few saved out for me, I'm looking forward to pairing them with some of the beads I picked up this weekend.  The wood reminds me of driftwood - a little flotsam and jetsam.

And while I sand those beads today I'm counting my blessings:

1. New beads in the works for B & B, I'll be in booth 1212 again.
2. Bead Cruise registration is filling up nicely, my classes are quite popular!
3. Lima Beads loves me! Lots of new things coming their way.
4. I have an article on the Soft Flex site that I wrote about bead retreats.
5. We are 1 follower away from 2600 on the Art Bead Scene.
6. I'm 25 sales away from 4000 in my Etsy shop.  (sincere gratitude!)
7. I will be signing my book Jewelry Designs from Nature, at the Craft & Hobby Association's summer conference in Chicago.

So what's on your bead table?

Check out the BTW flickr group.

Rings & Things Trunk Show

The Rings & Things Trunk Show came to Grand Rapids yesterday and I had been eagerly awaiting for them to roll into town!  I had my little list of must-haves: spacers, tiny faceted beads, wood and chain.  Mission accomplished!  Of course, I found a few surprises: resin strands in pretty muted shades, some lovely kynanite and bronzite faceted beads - yumm!  I had hoped to pick up tiny gemstones, but they were not in my price range at the moment.  My hunt was mostly for things for summer jewelry - more bangles, necklaces with wood and urchins and other beachy inspired things. 

I need a clone, because I would love to have a line of jewelry to sell to some of these beachy tourist towns dotting the Lake Michigan coast.  I had hoped to do the Artist Market here in town, but found out I missed the deadline.  Yep, definitely need the clone!

I didn't have to shop alone this weekend.  My sweet auntie Rosanne and my friend Heather (you may know her as the Peacock Fairy) drove to GR to spend the day with me.  They have no idea how much I needed some time to play and create! 

I showed them how I make my seed bead bangles and we enjoyed playing with beads and visiting all afternoon.

Rosanne was so productive - until Words with Friends called her name!

Here are the three bangles Rosanne made.

And the ones I whipped up yesterday.  This set features one of my Dandelion beads, a nice chunky raku bead from MAKU and an owl from PatinaWorx.

Here are a few bangles I made last weekend while hanging out with my sister.  We took a long drive to Muskegon and I made some of them in the car.  Then we watched Grimm all night while I worked on a few more piles. 

She kept slipping them on, I wasn't sure they were going to come off - but eventually she gave them back.  With the promise that I would make her set.  Nothing like having a jewelry-maker for a sister!