Sunday Photo

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has a few new projects incorporating pewter, a perfect substitute for silver.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gets down to business and talks about loss leaders.

Beading Arts
Cyndi just finished a 45 hour project that reused antique steel cut seed beads...and some steel buttons!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi takes classes with Swarovski Elements Ambassadors and finally learns how to crochet..

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
It's fall and along with it comes a gray sky in the form of jewelry.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Rotting veggies and over ripe fruit makes for bead inspiration and a delicious muffin recipe!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
A little antiquing adventure, and Lorelei's got some cool new props for an upcoming craft show!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviewed a unique and very beautiful book: Metal Clay Origami Jewelry, by Sarah Jayne Cole. Please come and see the review on Jean's blog!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Beadaholique has generously donated a leafy assortment of autumn-inspired beads and components. Find out how you can win this Thursday Giveaway!

Wednesday Wire: What I'm Wearing Thanks to Miss FickleMedia

Little over a week ago, I was reading Miss FickleMedia's blog. No, I didn't leave a comment but I left one in my head which was me excitedly yelling -

I HAVE TO HAVE THAT LOTUS PENDANT!!

I promptly went over to EB Bead and Metal Works and bought it. I love the deep plum and yellow color. How many times have you heard me expound on the much maligned color yellow?

Don't you smile when you see forsythia in the spring? A little purple helps it pop. But the deep pinot noir/ plummy color of the lotus pendant is suited to a winter palette.

Once I paid for the pendant, it was sent promptly and I couldn't wait to make it into a piece of personal jewelry. I put together a quick and easy necklace where I added just a bit of my other favorite color, green by using my double dips.

I particularly like adding a bit of green because it's associated with the heart chakra. Some associations with the heart chakra according to about.com are:

# Color - green, pink
# Sanskrit Name - anahata
# Physical Location - center of chest
# Purposes - emotional empowerment
# Spiritual Lesson - forgiveness, unconditional love, letting go, trust, compassion

Makes you see green in a different light doesn't it?

I have a lovely new piece of art jewelry full of personal meaning - thanks to Miss FickleMedia.

Are you wearing a piece of jewelry thanks to someone?

Take It Tuesday Winner....

...Elisabeth! Congratulations! Please send an email to me with your email address so I can send you the millefiore beads!

Thanks for commenting everyone! New giveaway next Tuesday!

Mad for Monday.....Lotus Flowers

The lotus flower is rich with symbolism. According to the ancient Egyptians, "the seed of the Lotus flower contains perfectly formed leaves as miniatures of what they will become when the Lotus blooms. Reincarnationist religions believe that, like the Lotus flower, every person is already perfect and the model of perfection is already formed inside each being, awaiting the opportunity to emerge when one reaches the condition of being aware of his perfection."

I like the idea that we have perfection inside of us, we just need to let the natural state shine through. Handcrafted lotus flowers remind one to let who you are shine through. Here are a few of my favorites:

Block Party's Black and White Lotus Flower Necklace

Lotus - Zen inspired charms from Hint

LaLaDesigns Studio's Wireworked Temple Lotus Necklace

Is there a symbol or theme that's on your mind today?
(Thank you for the use of the white lotus flower picture.)

Sunday Photo

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures


A Bead A Day
Need help embracing seasonal change? Lisa uses a bit of swarovski sparkle to make the leap!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has a collection of crafting Halloween project ideas as well as an adorable monster pin for you.

Art Bead Scene
A free jewelry project by ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe 's finally a Cover Girl!

Beading Arts
Are you interested in adding found objects to your bead embroidery? Cyndi has just released the fourth chapter of her e-book, which shows you how to go wild!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi takes a companies ribbon sampler and turns it into wearable art!   

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
It's time to get educated and Cindy provides some stats along with rainbows.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Check out the goodies Melanie found at an antique mall...What would you craft with these items that are full of history?

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is teaming up with designer Erin Siegel, to write their first beading book! Come on over and learn how you can sign up to submit work for the book!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean has contributed a one of a kind jewelry piece which she made to help raise funds for Andrew Thornton's medical bills. She is delighted to help, on behalf of her family. Please come and see the piece and consider bidding. Thanks so much!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Three of Andrew's necklaces are amongst the gorgeous finalists in Soft Flex Company's "Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest". Check out all of the Steampunk-inspired designs and VOTE today!

Wednesday Wire: Gray Sky

Using the surprise beads I got from Elaine Ray, I've made another wire wrap ring to today's Wednesday Wire. I've used a blue gray glass ring finding for wire wrapping that I've developed and paired it with her washer beads

Likey?

Take It Tuesday: Winner and Help Me Clean Out!

Thank you to everyone who commented on last Tuesday's post.

The lucky winner is, Quilting Jewel 39! Please send an email to me with your email address so I can send the ally charm to you!

Here are the little gems I'm going to give away next week:

So I'm starting to get into a bit of a rhythm with this now. I looking to clean out my studio so you can help me by commenting on this post. I'll enter your name twice if you blog about it on your blog, come back and leave another comment letting me know you blogged about it.

One caveat, folks, remember to come back next Tuesday to see if you won.

Mad for Monday: Art Bead Surprises

Today I'm mad for a lovely surprise package of handmade art beads from Elaine Ray. They are a nice little jolt of inspiration. I'm already working on something with some of them.

If you're mad for them too, then you can purchase Elaine Ray Ceramic Beads at Ornamentea.

Sunday Photo and Links

A Bead A Day
Are you inspired by food? Lisa would love to hear about your jewelry projects that were inspired by your favorite foods!

About.com Jewelry Making
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/b/2010/10/11/katiedids-my-sew-passionate-pendant.htm

Art Bead Scene
For the October Monthly Challenge, Art Bead Scene editor, Cindy Gimbrone chooses a piece of "jewelry" hanging on the front of New York City's Radio City Music Hall.

Beading Arts
Sparkling rivoli's work up quickly into this beadwoven pendant!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi takes a companies ribbon sampler and turns it into wearable art!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy needs some help in this week's Wednesday Wire, come take her poll to help her make a decision.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie mixes new textures in ceramics and glass like resin to make new window inspired pendants.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is teaming up with designer Marie of Skye Jewels, on a collaboration project.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is thrilled to host a book giveaway! The book is 30 Minute Necklaces, by the brilliant designer Marthe Le Van. There are 60 projects in this lovingly photgraphed book published by Lark to incite your creativity. Come see how you might be the lucky winner and get your copy!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her piece "Words of Love" that was juried into the finals of the 2010 British Bead Awards

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Inspired by the Fall 2010 Pantone Color Report, Andrew creates a necklace for Artbeads.com's Colors of Fall designer gallery.

Gettin' Edumacated, Rainbows and Allies...

I'm not usually very political in my posting, this is an art blog after all (which I will get to near the end of the post) but in in the wake of the gay teen suicides, I'm encouraging everyone to get educated. As a society, we don't want teens, any teens killing themselves. The statistics will shock you, they did me.

• Nine out of 10 LGBT students (86.2%) experienced harassment at school; three-fifths (60.8%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation; and about one-third (32.7%) skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe (GLSEN National School Climate Survey 2009).
• LGBT students are three times as likely as non-LGBT students to say that they do not feel safe at school (22% vs. 7%) and 90% of LGBT students (vs. 62% of non-LGBT teens) have been harassed or assaulted during the past year. (GLSEN From Teasing to Torment 2006)
• Sexual minority youth, or teens that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, are bullied two to three times more than heterosexuals. (Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 2010)

Shocking. We need to pay attention to this. People have a right to debate, people may not accept but I ask for tolerance. Let's not push others over the edge, teens are especially vulnerable.

Rainbows are a symbol of LGBT pride and I've selected a few of my favorites up for sale on Artfire.

Lara Lutrick's beautiful Rainbow hearts

My Lampwork Garden, Set of Christmas Lights

The Pink Martini's Groove Thing

My art usually has a meaning for me and I choose to be an ally. So for this week's Tuesday giveaway, up for grabs is a Grunge Ally charm. Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win.

Sunday Photo

It's Friday and link time but first on a serious note....

Art Bead Scene
Always looking to inspire, Art Bead Scene offers up another fabulous finding to use in your handmade artist bead designs!

Beading Arts
Are you an animal lover? Cyndi designs a piece to remind her about the importance of slowing down and making time for the small ones in our life!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi fashions a new choker out of felt and a spectacular yard of ribbon.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Sewing is the hottest trend in crafting. Cindy shows how she incorporates sewing into her jewelry designs in this week's Wednesday Wire.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie picks up some treasures during an antique shopping weekend, some of which will be useful for craftiness!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is hosting a beading challenge using some cool beads from Michaels, read the post to and learn how to participate! The More the Merrier!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
What inspires you? That is a question very near to Jean's heart. Therefore the latest competition from Artbeads is very exciting to Jean and will be to YOU, too! Furthermore, you could win five hundred dollars in beads! Check it out on Jean's blog!

Wednesday Wire: A Poll

The past couple of weeks, I've been showing off rings. I created a new ring finding that I used in the ring above. I've proposed Ringalicious as a class for Beadfest Philadelphia next August. If it doesn't get accepted there, I'll create a downloadable tutorial for my readers and newsletter subscribers.

This leads to the poll I've put up, what would you pay for a Ringalicious kit including the tutorial?

For me, it was Tuesday....

when I gave away the last set of beads. I've decided that Tuesday will be a regular giveaway for as long as I've got stuff to give away!

Last week, I was miffed because beads were/are still sitting on my design table unclaimed. I'm a little late but it's still Tuesday. These lovelies are the re-giveaway from last Tuesday.

The lucky winner is, Courtney! Congratulations, Courtney and thank for you for coming back! Please send an email to me with your email address so I can send the beads to you!

Please visit next week to see what I'll be giving away!

Mad for Monday and Missing Links

Since I've been so crazy from rings lately, I'm mad for rolled edge bezels too. I find the best selection at Metalliferous where they come in all sizes and where I borrowed the photo.

Trying to keep myself busy, I find I've made myself too busy and have less and less time for myself and keeping up with the blog. So here are the missing links from Friday. Lots of inspiration in them!


A Bead A Day
Take a trip down "memory wire lane" as Lisa remembers discovering this versatile beading staple.

About.com Jewelry Making
For those who like immediate gratification jewelry, there's a new line coming to your local Michael's called Trinkettes.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene Carnival Bloggers write about renewal for September.

Beading Arts
Auntie's Beads supplied some wonderful faux sea glass beads for Cyndi to use in a new design!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi's new BELIEVE necklace starts out with a beaded embroidery.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
To badly paraphrase Shakespeare, "the ring's the thing!"

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie mashes up two songs about school and growing up and uses it as inspiration for a mixed media necklace.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei was able to watch a couple of cool videos from Ronna Sarvas Weltman, and reviews them this week on the blog.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a VERY cool DVD all about metal work, which is super great for beginners AND super inspiring for old hands at this type of jewelry creating and designing!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew has another great Thursday Giveaway! Find out how you can win a Halloween-themed Trick or Treat Trios set of flexible beading wire from Soft Flex Company!

Sunday Photo