Keeping Inspired....

As I mentioned yesterday, it's the time for seed catalogs. There's alot of inspiration to be had in them, the flowers of Thompson and Morgan English seeds.

Or you can hop on over to Moosey Country Garden to take a look at their "Colour in the Garden" for more spring time inspiration while it's still winter. The pictures below are courtesy of their website.





How are you keeping inspired while the world in blanketed in white?

The Victorian Garden Bee Skep Focal Bead

February is when the seed catalogs arrive to remind me spring is not far away. Always a welcome site in my mailbox, I look forward to seeing warm sun and rich red tomatoes even if it's only in a picture from one of my favorite catalogs, Cook's Garden...



I'm reminded of gardens planted in the Victorian Style and brought back to life by expert gardeners. One of my favorites is the Pilgrim's Rest, an award winner at the Chelsea Garden Show last year.

In Colonial and Victorian times, keeping and encouraging bees in your garden for pollination was common and a bee skep like this one from Bee Craft



It's this tradition and a wishing for spring to arrive that inspired by latest polymer clay bead creation, The Victorian Garden Bee Skep.



Even if spring isn't here, I can create beads that remind me that eventually, spring will arrive.

Sunday Photo

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

About.com Jewelry Making
Catch up on the latest jewelry web news from contests to free tutorials with this handy list of links.

Art Bead Scene
Searching for a way to achieve an etched metal look? ABS has a free tutorial for you!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Are you a follower? Barbe has a giveway for her blog readers.

Beading Arts
A beautiful glass bead becomes the focal point of a Valentine's Day necklace!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi did "knot" stress out making this new necklace!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
With the help of Vintaj brass, Cindy whips up a set of tethered butterfly earrings with her bronze floral charms.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie reveals the delicious ingredients she received for the Bead Soup Party.

Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Kim Miles! Who makes prettier Valentine's day, or "just for yourself" gifts than Kim? Wait til you see what she has up her sleeve...the Ace of Hearts, so to speak!

Strands of Beads
Melissa is giving away a $25.00 gift certificate from Artbeads.com this week!

Grunge Beads- Faux Bois in Color or Noir

Thank you for all the lovely compliments on the grunge beads! I've decided to dedicate a page to them on my website so check them out. I put up the Faux Bois pendants first, one in black and white (noir) and the other in color.





Which one do you like best?

Flying Ace

Last week, the studio was at 8 degrees - needless to say, I wasn't able to get in there and melt any glass. Yes, the hot kiln helps to warm the studio but once the outdoor temperature goes down to 35 degrees, nothing will heat it. So, in my never ending quest to keep fingernails instead of biting them down to the nubs because I can't melt glass, I'm happily kneading and rolling polymer clay.




I'm calling this one, Flying Ace. I love the little propeller and wings. I've thought for a long time that my gear beads needed a bead-pal to go with it and Flying Ace is just the bead to do it! Hey, if you're name has Ace in it, you know it's gonna be good!

Sunday Photo