April 29, 2011

Earthenwood Design Team Inspired Jewelry

Last month the oh so talented beadmaker Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio sent me some goodies to play with and this week I finally sat myself down for a little creative session.

First up, thanks to Tracy Stanley's class on the Bead Cruise, I learned how to make my own chain and decided that's what I wanted to do with a big ol' chunk of a tassel.  I had this ivy covered porcelain bead from Joan Miller from my first trip to Bead & Button.  (Just saying the word makes my eye twitch.) I paired it with a lantern and ceramic drop from Gaea.  And look, there is Melanie's resin covered key.  It's the most!  It's hard to see but there is text that says medley.  I liked that, like a little secret message was written on the key, maybe an invitation to some fairy shindig in some secret garden.  The other key is from Objects and Elements and then some of my favorite Vintaj leaves.


I like jewelry that reminds of paths or lessons I need to learn.  Right now nest eggs are on my mind and saving money up for some big things that are coming my way.  When the egg shaped pendant first arrived, I immediately knew I would turn it into a toggle. I'm all over that crackle glaze finish on Melanie's pendant and connector pieces - sweet!  I paired it up with ceramic beads from Melanie that I had in my stash and a little round tab from Elaine Ray.  The bird, egg and golden branch disk bead are from my Humblebeads inventory - yeah for inventory.  That needs to grow faster.  (There goes my twitching eye again.) 

You can see more Design Team member results on Melaine's blog.


April 27, 2011

BTW - Barely!

Almost missed today - I have been making beads non stop for the last three days, getting orders out the door and hurrying to answer emails before I fall into bed.  Above are things done and things left undone.  Seriously I need like 4 more hands!

Pictured  - baby birds, new headpins, lots of beads waiting to be painted, pink dogwood beads au natural, more headpins soon to be earrings, the mother lode of headpins just waitin' for paint. 

What was on your table today?

April 21, 2011

Bead of the Month Club Update

I thought I would share with you the beads that I have created so far for the Bead of the Month Club.  It is so much fun to give myself a day to play in the studio and make something special.  It's a nice change from my production work and often spurs on several other ideas while I test out prototypes.

The Cherry Blossom Tree pendants will be available at the beginning of May with 50% of the sales going to the Red Cross for aid to Japan.

I created this necklace with one of the Cherry Blossom Tree Pendants, as I made several extras last month.  I paired them with dyed buri nuts, resin beads and brass.

The Bead of the Month Club was sold out, but I have decided to offer 5 more.  You can purchase the year long subscription here.  You'll first package will include the 3 beads above and April's bead.  They will go quickly as two have already sold this morning.  Don't wait this will be your last chance. 

Do you schedule days to play and explore new creative ideas?  I highly recommend pencilling in a date! 

April 20, 2011

Bead Table Wednesday - Tropical Pendants

I'm missing tropical islands and beaches so much today that I had to create something to remind me of those awesome days on the Bead Cruise!  Although, at 90 degrees it's feeling rather tropical here today too. 

I created these Hibiscus Petal/Leaf Pendants in some yummy colors.  I'm rather smitten with leaf and teardrop shaped pendants at the moment and thought I needed some of my own.

Loving the colors, bright and fun but antiqued with an earthy umber.

Do not adjust your monitor, this photo is so sad to me.

Burnt beads.

There is nothing worse in my studio than a batch of burnt beads.  It hasn't happened in years, I had adjusted my oven to work on a different project a few days ago and forget to set it back.  Oh the waste, the horror.  Oh the bead-manity!

Ok, so it wasn't exactly Apocalypse Now, but a few choice words may have been uttered.

So those are the goodies and the bad-ies from my bead table, it's Wednesday - so what's on your bead table?

Share your photos at the BTW flickr group and go meet some new beady friends!

April 19, 2011

Amazed by You - Customer Gallery

Have I told you lately how amazing I think my customers are?  So many of you are friends, beautiful sources of encouragement and inspiration!
THANK YOU!
Thank You!
Thank You!

This post is dedicated to you, my heart-felt thanks being sent out to each one of you - you are a bright spot in my day.  And here are some of the beautiful works you've sent to me via flickr or facebook.  Thank you for sharing your work with me!

I love that necklace, like could-look-at-that-photo-over-and-over-again kind of love!  The necklace and earrings were created by Kristy Caroll Abner.  You can see more of her work on her facebook page and in her Etsy shop.

Malin, dear sweet Malin!  She is one of my Bead of the Month customers and whipped up this beauty recently with February's bead.  It was a limited edition butterfly that I created just for that group.  I love how she paired up it with the rich copper color and purple patina chain.  Malin de Koning is a very talented designer and avid blogger from Sweden.  Be sure to stop by her blog to see her work and get to know this creative artist!

Heather Trudeau, also known as the Peacock Fairy, is a fellow Michigan girl and her starfish bracelet calls to my inner mermaid! See more of work in her Etsy Shop and follow along on her blog as she shares her beading journey and her cute-as-a-button baby bump as she chronicles the growth of her little one!



My buddy Rose Noble has been blogging about her goal of creating everyday in 2011.  I'm thrilled to see that some Humblebeads have made their way onto her table of crafty goodness.  Rose is a designer for Vintaj and I love what she created with my Dogwood bead and egg in the first two necklaces.  They are so feminine and pretty.  She also created a totally adorable series of pendants with my woodland creatures and little friendly greetings.  Beyond cute, my friend!  Why hello to you little Mr. Fox, aren't you looking fantastic today!  Follow along on Rose's blog to see what creative adventures this mixed media artist is up to now.

I'd love to see what you've made with Humblebeads.  Stop by my facebook page and share a photo or two.