23 Days of Inspiration: Monet

 

My Monet beads were the first one's I created that were inspired by a painting.  We have a Monet at the local art museum and I've seen a few of the bigger ones in person in NY and when I was younger.  Seeing these painting in real life are like nothing like seeming them a few inches big on a computer screen or in a book.  They take up whole walls.  They are huge and magical, you feel like you've step inside Monet's garden and become lost in his vision and spirit that celebrates the beauty of nature.  I just love them.  He studied this subject for many years and as he aged and his eyesight failed they become more abstract and luscious studies of color.

 

23 Days of Inspiration: Faux Bois

 

Faux Bois means "fake wood" in French.  I first saw crafts with faux bois on the home page of Etsy in a beautiful treasury.  I had created a faux bois bead years before, it didn't have such a catchy name.  I think I called them bark beads.  After seeing the treasury I created a few limited edition sets and have since revisited the themes a few times.  I like putting the brown, creams and whites with softer colors or navy and purple.  Much like the Klimt painting from yesterday.

 

And of course, since even though the art work crosses over into a different medium, it's me doing the creating so I've noticed some similar themes running through my beads and illustration.  Here are two examples of the faux bois pattern in my prints.

If you like my illustrations, be sure to check out my Humblearts Zazzle shop for products that feature my artwork.

23 Days of Inspiration: The Kiss

Who doesn't love Gustav Klimt's painting, The Kiss?  It's a masterpiece isn't it?  I tend to get wrapped up in the surface of the painting, the design.  It's beautiful in subject matter and the embrace, but what I found myself drawn to is the painstaking detail worked in the flowers and clothing of the couple. 

For the show I've been working on a series of beads inspired by his Birch Trees.  You can see the painting here.  The beads, you'll have to see them at Bead & Button or wait until I get back!

23 Days of Inspiration: Dandelions

"Dandelion Wine. The words were summer on the tongue. The wine was summer caught and stoppered...Hold summer in your hand, pour summer in a glass, a tiny glass of course, the smallest tingling sip for children; change the season in your veins by raising glass to lip and tilting summer in."

-From Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. 

I loved that book when I was in high school.  My oldest daughter just read it and it was a hit with her too.  I think it appealed to our small town sensiblity.  The dandelion beads - all of summer bottled up and strung around your neck!

Dandelion photo by Mimimargfiend

23 Days of Inspiration: Squirrels

Once I started making the birds, I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd try a squirrel.  You see, if my family had a mascot it would be a squirrel.  Evangeline wanted to make a banner for our camping adventures that said "Evil Squirrel Troop 11".  Jess calls us his squirrels and sings the girls rock songs with the word squirrel instead of girl.  (Squirrels just wanna have fun...I wish that I had Jesse's Squirrel, that one is just for me.)  We also have squirrel artwork throughout the house and they are often in my illustrations.

And if you have squirrels, they are gonna need acorns. 

(One of my illustrations for a picture book that I wrote and hope to sell soon to a publisher.)

 I have a little army of squirrel beads ready for Bead & Button along with my other woodland creatures! 

Beware of the cuteness.

23 Days of Inspiration: Gnomes

The inspiration for these little guys came from two places.  First, last summer I heard illustrator Don Yaccarino speak at a children's book conference and he mentioned his new book, Lawn to Lawn about a gnome, lawn jockey and other yard ornaments.  Gnomes?  My right eyebrow arched inquisitively and I made a little sketch in my notebook. 

So when I got home and started thinking about gnomes I couldn't help by remember Amelie and her father's gnome.  If you don't know the movie, Amelie steals her father's garden gnome and sends it around the world with her friend who is a flight attendant to be photographed.  The photos finally inspire Amelie's Dad to let go of the past and start off on his own adventure.  Love it!

So that's how my gnomes came to be. Now, go order Amelie from Netflix, it's such a sweet and quirky movie! 

23 Days of Inspiration: Dogwoods and the Bead Buzz

The inspiration for my dogwood pendants came from an object, rather than an idea.  My aunt Rosanne and I were making bead molds from objects one summer and we raided my grandmother's spoon collection.  I love each one of these as they remind me of that visit home and my grandmother.  And in case you couldn't tell, my grandmother is completely precious to me and I always miss her!  I'm looking forward to visiting her again soon during my summer vacation.

Here is the Bead Buzz - a round up of this week's best bead inspired links:

A Bead A Day
Looking to make some super-sized jewelry just perfect for a princess? Lisa uses large blueberry briolettes and a swarovski mix to create just that!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy ask in this quick poll about how you use social networking to promote you and/or your jewelry business.

Art Bead Scene
ABS is here to help you with your business. Check out Zazzle to customize your earring cards for your jewelry business.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Book Review: Wrap, Stitch, Fold and Rivet

Beading Arts
How many people out there are participating in the Bead Journal Project this year?

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's button maker is the reason for this new vintage image necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
This week's Wednesday Wire is a free tutorial, "Matchin' by Wrappin'."

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Learn about the Raku firing process and see the results of Melanie's new Raku adventures!

Humblebeads
Heather shares some time management tips for creatives.

Jean Campbell
Jean reviews Kate McKinnon's wonderful new addition, Sculptural Metal Clay.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean is delighted to review Totally Twisted by Kerry Bogert! You will LOVE this book which focuses on wire and art beads!

Strands of Beads
Melissa discusses the process of reworking a weak necklace design - the revised version of which now appears on the cover of The Best of Step by Step Beads.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Like Czech glass? Andrew hosts a giveaway courtesy of Raven's Journey. Find out how you can win these luminous beads!

23 Days of Inspiration: Poppies

The poppies were inspired by little red paper poppies my grandmother would have in her house, they were sold at the grocery store and the money would help veterans.  I don't know why they stuck with me through the years, but they have.  They are more in honor of my grandmother and my childhood memories than the meaning and symbol behind them.  To me, they are reflection of a childhood filled with small wonders and cherished moments.

Poppy photograph by Bill Barber.

23 Days of Inspiration: Urchins

I found my first urchins in a little shell shop during the first Bead Cruise. I had never seen them before and was immediately inspired.  I made some urchin beads that we sculpted and painted.  I can't dig up the photo right now.  But as soon after I created these urchins. 

I keep a few bowls of shells and urchins scattered throughout my studio, they bring an instant smile to my face.

Part of the reason is that they remind me of one of my favorite family vacations.  One Easter weekend we went to Galveston, stayed on a hotel right on the beach, visited Mermaid Pier, enjoyed the ocean and just had fun together.  My girls seem so tiny to me in this photo.  My oldest is turning 14 in just a few weeks.
 

Another reason I love the urchins, my soul is happiest on the shores of the beach - whether it's a lake, pond or ocean, when I'm near water I feel at home.

23 Days of Inspiration: Fantastic

Opps, missed one day - I was busy making beads!

Okay, here is the story about my fox beads:

There were inspired by this movie. It is my all time favorite movie, had to see it 5 times and laughed like a idiot through each screening. I love the puppets, their handmade charm and crafty goodness just won me over! We quote this movie, it has moved in with our family like a long lost cousin. A Kristofferson, if you will. If you haven't seen this movie, you need to!

Foxes have crept in other places, like my illustrations.

You can check out my little zazzle shop for more of my work on t-shirts, cards, etc.

23 Days of Inspiration: Hedgie & the Bead Buzz

 What is the only thing cuter than a baby hedgehog?

(Photo courtesy of Docpi)

A pair of them!

Really, my only inspiration for these guys are the cute factor and my need for quirkiness.

Check out the adorable earrings Lorelei created with them.

(Hedgie & the Bead Buzz - that's that new punk band, right?)

Here is the Bead Buzz - a round up of this week's best bead inspired links:

A Bead A Day

Lisa explains her thoughts behind part 1 of a new bracelet project.

About.com Jewelry Making

Tammy recently took a trip to the Bahamas and discovered some souvenir pennies in her purse. They were so bright and shiny they had to be turned into jewelry.

Art Bead Scene
It's the fifth month anniversary of the ABS Carnival Blog! Come see how we've grown!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Take a jewelry class with me at CREATE!

Beading Arts

The new Rubber Glass silicone has inspired Cyndi to create some beginner projects!

Carmi's Art/Life World

In an effort to use all that she buys, Carmi repairs and recycles vintage metal from Paris.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva

Cindy's starting a new feature on her blog - The Wednesday Wire! Come take a look!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

A gift from a local potter starts Melanie on a new clay adventure: Raku!

Humblebeads

Heather explores 23 days of inspiration as she gets ready for the Bead & Button Show. See how Van Gogh has inspired her through the years.

Jean Campbell

Jean's just full of travelogues, isn't she? This time she went to a Kansas bead retreat.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Voting has now opened in the Bead Star competition, come check out my 5 entries!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

The best wedding I never went to! My editor's incredibly romantic wedding -- Australian Beading Magazine

Strands of Beads

Like several of her esteemed colleagues, Melissa has a few pieces in the Bead Star competition to show off this week!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Andrew has six finalists pieces in the Bead Star competition. Please take a moment to vote!

Missficklemedia.com

Vote for your Bead Star Favorites!

23 Days of Inspiration: Battle of the Flowers

I can't claim to completely comprehend the Battle of the Flowers Parade or the spectacle that is San Antonio's Fiesta - but it is inspiring!  The photo above is from Lanna DeLarosa.  All of the princesses and royal court of Fiesta that ride the floats in the parades wear crazy shoes under their gowns, as the drive by everyone shouts "Show us your shoes!" and I realize I will never understand this land called Texas.  They are crazy here.

But when in Rome!

No, I'm not running around showing off my bad taste in footwear.  But I did create a piece of jewelry inspired by San Antonio and the Battle of the Flowers parade for the next issue of Bead Style magazine.  (That's a sneak peek above.) It's an All Star issue where they asked their favorite designers to create a piece of jewelry inspired by their hometown.  It's was fun and I knew I would do something Fiesta related as soon as they asked.  I can't wait to see the issue which should be out soon!

23 Days of Inspiration: Tiger Lilies

I actually think these are called day lilies.  Tiger lilies have more spots, which is sort of strange considering tigers have stripes.  But whether it's a spot or stripe, the vivid warmth of these lilies remind me of one thing - SUMMER!  Growing up in Michigan we would look forward to the warm days, the sun and sand on the beach, flowers blooming, blueberries and corn from the local farms. 

Yep, tiger lilies remind me of bliss, complete joy, carefree days and why wouldn't you want to capture that in bead form and wear it around your neck?  My beautiful tiger lily beads are made possible with artwork from Allison Fomich.  I can't say I have the same fondness for summer living in Texas, it's a different world down here.  But I do long for the days when I can return home in the summer and enjoy those simple pleasures again.

23 Days of Inspiration: Branches

In the town I grew up in there wasn't a 4 story building, the tallest things were trees.  I love the woods.  We lived on the edge of a forest, we had forts and adventures among the trees.  The way they change with the seasons and give us hope for the eternal renewal of life is something I've always cherish.
 

My all time favorite bead designs are my branch beads.  I'm sure it's because of the connection from my childhood and the feeling of home that trees symbolize that I find so appealing.  There is nothing quite as stunning as nature.  I hope we work hard to keep it beautiful and preserved for our children and beyond.

23 Days of Inspiration - Production

I think I have to give a nod to my industrial Michigan roots and thank Ford for showing America the benefits of production work. Some days I am a beadmaking factory, working in assembly line fashion.
 

Is there joy working like this?  There is, it's quite satisfying to see piles of you pendants stacked up, wondering where each one will travel to once it's complete.  I love that my inspiration will travel to another designer's table and in turn help them along their creative journey.  It's an exciting process.

23 Days of Inspiration: Van Gogh

I fell in love with Van Gogh in high school.  Tortured artist, utterly unique, strange and socially awkward - what teenage girl wouldn't be all over that.  Seriously, I can still remember the joy of seeing his work in person for the first time.  I mean to think you can see and be just a few feet away from a painting that the real artist created, it blows my mind to grasp it. 

I really want to explore more of his paintings in my beads, but for now I keep coming up with new designs from my favorite, his Starry Night.  Katie Hacker sent me a few of her Katiedids to play with and I immediate thought - toggle! 

23 Days of Inspiration: Willows

The count down until Bead & Button is both scary and exciting!  I thought to keep my sanity, to keep blogging and to not disappear into a pile of beads, I would do a series of 23 days of inspiration.  I will share with you each day something that has inspired my creative journey in beads and jewelry.  I hope you enjoy it.

I love this photograph from Alicia Bock titled BlueGrey Monday.  How perfect, right? When I was a child I used to love finding willows in the fields near the woods.  How magical they seemed, like little gifts left from fairies. 

I don't know why I felt they needed to entwine an egg, but they did.  That's the wonderful thing about art, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason, it's just following what the heart wants.