Inspired Beader: Madame Teasley

The tired old expression “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is one that may apply to mixed media artists, but it doesn’t flatter much. For one thing, some of the most amazing artists working with found objects and unique materials are women. As the fairer creatures of our species, we have a unique ability to capture beauty in our favorite mediums; turning cast-offs into couture is one of those special talents.

Heather Teasley, otherwise known as Madame Teasley of le Boudoir Secret, has a passion for rare and unique materials, which she uses in her incredible jewelry designs. Through unique beads, ephemera and embellishments, she creates jewelry that shares a personal side of the wearer. Her philosophy is that jewelry should be one of a kind, because each person is one of a kind.

Inspirational Beading: Has jewelry design always been a passion for you?

Heather: I have a passion for telling stories. So designing jewelry that tells a story is very fulfilling.

Inspirational Beading: What types of things inspire you the most?

Heather: I am inspired by items that have a history or have been used for other purposes.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite color to work with?

Heather: I like gold/copper and patina green.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most unique material you have ever used?

Heather: I have used broken glass and old candy tins to create jewelry. Also, copper pipes are one of my favorite things to use.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

Heather: I hope to inspire those who are filled with a passion for life and a love for the obscure.

Heather is a lover of all things “forgotten, old, broken and rusted”, and is a 2-D artist and graphic designer as well as an assemblage jewelry maker. You can check in with Heather’s latest creations and inspirations on her blog, Living with a Constant Muse, or connect with her on Facebook. Her website, Once Possessed Studios, includes a gallery and information about shows and events featuring her paintings and other works.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading and le Boudoir Secret

Poster Sketch: Red Is Best

This week I was very excited to learn that one of my latest creations, a poinsettia bracelet, was featured on the FoundHandmade.com blog. As many Etsy sellers know, being found and featured is a rare treat, and it inspired me to do some finding of my own.

Getting a treasury spot to showcase one’s Etsy favorites isn’t an easy thing to do. With only a few hundred spots open, and thousands of users, it can be a time consuming affair. Luckily, Etsy has provided us with the Poster Sketch tool, which allows you to create an Etsy treasury template to save until a spot opens up.

Rather than wait for a treasury, I’ll post my recent finds here for you to enjoy. Each of these items fits in with this month’s Inspiration Theme. Can you guess what it is?

Row 1:
Red Chair Necklace - from sushipot
Ragdoll Vintage Textile Necklace - by KatherineCooper
Coral Chaos Brooch - by binkaminka
Red Queen Bangle - by jennyohmygoddess

Row 2:
Big Red Sun - from ArtCreationsByCJ
Red Bangle Bracelets - by Designforest
Imperial Riches - by Rebecca3030
Red Parrot Shoe - by NancyWeidowerArt

Row 3:
Japanese Cherry Flower Pendant - from aPassionforFashion
Coyote Tracks Necklace - by asymmetry
Shirley Necklace - by Feltathome
Happy Dog Wrist Corsage - by LindaVista

Row 4:
Plain or Peanut Necklace - from MosaicSmith
Little Red Bird Necklace - by bunnywithatoolbelt
Scarlet Dream Pendant - by Pookledo
Crane Necklace - by lalageez

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com