The Perfect Bead

by Patty Lakinsmith

Now that I'm up and rolling in my new studio space, I'm thinking a lot about new bead designs. Since I wear two different hats, that of a bead maker and a jewelry designer, I started thinking about what I would do if I had to choose or make the perfect bead. What would it be like?

Would it be large, and self-supporting as a work of art on its own, or would it quietly add interest to other beads? Would it be round, or some other shape? Would it give its user a number of choices when it came time to using it in a jewelry design, or would its one purpose be obvious and well thought out?

Would it be soft to the touch, or prickly, or smooth? Would it be in a color that played well with others, or would it shout out loud that it was unique, and vibrant?

Would it make you remember an occasion, or think of what you ate for dinner, or would it remind you of a dear friend? Would it be heavy, or light? Would it make you laugh, or cry, or draw your eyes in for another look?

I don't know if I could describe just one perfect bead. But maybe you can.

Art Spark for June...

by MaryAnn Carroll

Put on your thinking cap and join us for

Art Spark...

In this new challenge that we are hoping is going to get you thinking about your thinking.... 

Pretty deep, huh?

and

This challenge extends to those of you who do more creating of art beads/components (like me) as well as jewelry designers who create handmade using handmade.

We hope that you share your creative experience with us.  If this is your first time participating in our challenge, please be sure to read through this entire post.  Or, if you are like me.... and you are NOT new to this, you might need to read through the entire post too....  since... you know...

what was I saying?

I forgot....

Oh yeah...  about reading through the post.  You might need a refresher.

We have some absolutely FABULOUSLY unique prizes too!

Before getting to that...  (no sneaking before you finish reading.....)

Let me see if you can figure out what our June ArtSpark is going to be about.... 

Here is your clue:

When I was young, I grew up in a neighborhood where we were fortunate to have six weeks of arts, crafts, games and more every summer.  I made many a boondoggle (lanyard) keychain, a never ending supply of potholders for my mother, paintings and more.  I have very fond memories.  Another fun activity during those years was tetherball.  There were 3 poles set up, 2 little and 1 big!  As I got a little older and more skilled, I graduated to play on the BIG tetherball pole court. Well..... not only was I able to play, but I kicked butt played well and bragged was proud to admit it.

 When I spent some time capturing that tetherball memory in a piece of handmade jewelry, here is what I came up with.

Now it is YOUR turn.

Think about a time when you were a teenager or younger that you felt very proud of something that you did well.

hopscotch champ, best speller, top reader, had solo for a chorus concert,

best chalkboard eraser clapper...

 huh?

You get it...  I know that you do, because you are smart as well as talented....

Can you do it?

I think so and here is a peek at what you might win..... But remember..... read the directions at the end of this post veeeerrrryyyyy carefully.... and have fun!

This adorable small wood-fired lidded container was made by Bill Perrine (my husband).  This adorable piece (with a slight defect under the lid) can be used to store your rings, favorite beads or anything else that you might like to keep in it.  For more unique wood-fired pieces, visit his shop:

http://splitfirepottery.etsy.com/

 Barbara Bechtel donated these beautiful polymer clay components.  Check out Barbara's Etsy shop for some more fabulous beads, pendants, earrings and more:

 http://floridity.etsy.com/

Our very own Mary Jane Dodd donate the book on beginning soldering.  If you have been interested in learning more about soldering but might feel a little intimidated by the process this is the book for you.  You can see what Maire has done with her soldering skills by visiting her shop:

http://mairedodd.etsy.com/

So.....here is the best part....  The RULES!!!

A game without rules is like intersections without any traffic lights....

One last mention before I go on.  If you are interested in more detail about our ArtSpark Challenge, click ArtSpark on the navigation bar above. 

And......
in addition to the FAB prizes above, you will also win one month on the sidebar of our blog showing off your piece as well as ONE YEAR on our website along with links to your shop and/or blog.

Once you have your creation ready, here is what you do:

1. Take pictures of your creation and upload it to our flickr account.

2. Leave a description of your thought process while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking related to the theme so please make sure that you description is thorough.  It does not necessarily have to be in paragraph form.  Be creative.

3. Since we are a group promoting 'creating handmade with handmade', your jewelry consist of at least 75% handmade. This doesn't mean that you have to create everything that goes into your piece. You could use beads/components created by other artists. Please give credit to that artist in your description.

4. If your submission will be loose beads/components created by you, it may include any medium that you prefer to make those in. These submissions would also require a description of your creative thought process. 

5. Please only one submission piece per artist. Up to three views of the work are allowed and encouraged.

6. Have fun an come back often to check out the entries!

7. Links to our flickr site can be found on the blog sidebar.

Spice Up Your Sunday....

by MaryAnn Carroll

....with a sprinkle of color and class.....  This great book by Jennifer Heynen, the creator of Jangles Ceramic Beads, could be yours by sharing a little about yourself.....

"What colors do you tend to gravitate to when you

 sit down to design and why?"

Mine would be colors that are earthy.  The reasons I think that is the case is because I like everything that is rustic and earthy.  As a child I was raised in the suburbs, but had friends who lived in the country.  I always wished that I could live out there amongst the farm animals, the woods and away from lots of houses, stores and more.  As an adult that is what I did..... moved to the country without the cows and horses....  That fantasy disintegrated when I realized that someone more equipped than I needed to be in charge of taking care of all of those farm animals ;o)  They were substituted with dogs!! 

 That works for me. 

So..... colors?

....it's khakis, browns, greens for me....

How about you?

Then....as always.... If you want to enter more than once you can do that by sharing this giveaway on your facebook, blog, twitter, etc. and come back each time letting us know that you did.

are you soaring?

mary jane dodd

do you keep jewelry you make? do you make jewelry for yourself? i find that often, we do not... but i have this little pile of things together - red thread, a bronze lotus pendant from leann weih & a nepalese fertility bead from patty lakinsmith... red is a color known for protection, for passion... the lotus to represent the development of a human towards enlightenment... and the fertility bead is for birth - as life is oftentimes a slow process of coming into being - with bumps and starts, small steps and great leaps... 

as my workspace develops... i begin to dream... 

'i believe the most important single thing,

beyond discipline and creativity

is daring to dare.'

~ maya angelou

what are you daring to dare?

Inspiration

by Kelli Pope

Izzy's interview this week got me thinking about how we create. I once interviewed with Mary Ann also, and she asked me too, if I sketch out ideas ahead of time. At the time it seemed like a strange question to me, as I'd never done it. I just sit down and create. I let components, colors, shapes inspire me. Sometimes I get a "vision" of a piece when I'm not in the studio, and will sketch something out, but it's really just an idea to follow later. Usually a component, or shape, not a road map for the finished product. I like to let the creativity flow. BUT, I realize, what allows me to do that is wonderful, inspiring handmade beads and components. Many people purchase something and create with it. I'm more of a "collector". I like to hunt, gather, stash, THEN create. I see wonderful pieces I just MUST have, but it often takes months before they inspire me to create with them. Sometimes my own handmade metal components create the "spark".

I just made these earrings for myself this weekend from GORGEOUS enameled copper discs from our own Maire Dodd. I bought these months and months ago, but just wasn't sure what I'd do with them. (wore them today Mary Jane and got LOADS of compliments!!)

This piece was inspired by the bird. I bought some of these locally in January from Caroline Zama, but wasn't sure what to do with them. I think the recycled glass, ceramic beads from Gaea, and clay beads from HumbleBeads work perfectly with it.

This one is actually from my own ceramic beads. I've had these for months also. They were just waiting patiently for the right "spark" to hit me.

And finally, this lovely focal bead is from JulsBeads. I bought it last year. The large enameled turquoise bead is from Barbara Lewis, and worked WONDERFULLY with it. (That I've had a while, too)

What inspires you?

What a Girl Wants

by D'Arsie Manzella

A little peek into my favorites on Etsy.

You gotta check these out.

Swinging summer love,

pop of color,

handmade honey-bead bliss.

~Cut from tin, ancient and fresh, Egyptian queen~

fancifuldevices.etsy.com

~Circle dance, opulent beauty, sugar maker~

octaviabloom.etsy.com

~Tribal secrets, pulling weeds, framing grace~

stillpointworks.etsy.com

~Wildflower, holding hands, flash dance~

mamaslittlebabies.etsy.com

~Nightfall, cha cha, vineyard walk~

lorelei1141.etsy.com

and the best part about each feature?

handmade, baby.

xoxo

Mamacita

The Real Deal....

by MaryAnn Carroll

Pet Peeve # 3.623

Etsy, which I love by the way, is continually making changes, upgrades, etc. to make their site easier to navigate around and certainly, easier to list on.  One thing that the folks at Etsy have little control over is the "tags" that people use to promote their own shops.  My complaint is this.....  If it IS NOT a handmade supply then don't use the tag.  Etsy allows commercial supply sales, which is not my complaint, but the sellers should list them as commercial to help out those of us who create handmade supplies.  People that are new to handmade beads don't always know the difference at first and listing commercial beads amongst those who create their own beads does not help those of us who are creating one bead at a time.  With that said, here are some handmade ceramic beads from some of the members of beads-of-clay.

YolandasClay

Winchell Clayworks

Shaterra

MaryHarding Jewelry

 

Marsha Neal Studio



Lisa Peters Art

Joan Miller Porcelain

Golem Studio

Gaea

Chinook Designs

Artisan Clay

Marsha Hedrick

Artisan Beads Plus

If you are interested in more work by the ceramic bead artists listed above, the links are listed in the same order as the pictures.

http://yolandasclay.etsy.com/

http://winchellclayworks.etsy.com/

http://shaterra.etsy.com/

http://maryhardingjewelry.etsy.com/

http://marshanealstudio.etsy.com/

http://lisapetersart.etsy.com/

http://joanmillerporcelain.etsy.com/

http://golemstudio.etsy.com/

http://gaea.etsy.com/

http://chinookdesigns.etsy.com/

http://artisanclay.etsy.com/

http://amazingporcelain.etsy.com/

http://macarroll.etsy.com/

And to see more ceramic bead artists and/or learn more about creating ceramic beads, check out:

http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/

http://beadsofclay.org/

http://ceramicbeadartists.com/

If you know of any handmade bead artists (ceramic, lampwork, metal, other) that you would recommend, please share.

thank-you for supporting artists by

~creating handmade with handmade~