Bead Surprise Inspiration from Blueberry Cove Beads

New inspirations are a constant quest for beaders, and one of the best ways to find them is to try out new materials. But whether we shop in a store or online, the choices can often be overwhelming. It can be difficult not only to choose a few new beads from the thousands available, but also to coordinate our choices in a way that will make a great piece of jewelry.

At Blueberry Cove Beads, a lot of the guesswork in finding new beads to try is done for you, and comes with the added bonus of a delightful surprise. This new bead subscription service offers hungry beaders with gorgeous ensembles that are perfectly coordinated, in quantities that allow you to make multiple pieces with a variety of techniques. When you subscribe, a box of gorgeous beads will be sent to you each month, featuring a fun theme with materials that are easy to mix and match. Subscriptions are available in 3, 6, in 12 month packs. You can also purchase single boxes from past months, or a mini box featuring a few essentials from each theme.

Each month’s box is reasonably priced, and you get a lot of beads to mix with your stash. Pictured here is just a small sampling of the pieces from the September 2015 pack “Autumn”. The combinations of orange, yellow, dark red, brown, and copper are totally mouthwatering. When I opened my packaged I wanted to drop everything and start creating! There are several types and sizes of beads included, as well as findings that perfectly evoke the month’s theme. My favorites from this pack are the orange shell pendants and the amazing strand of orange glass beads.

The full contents of each month’s bead box aren’t revealed until after they’ve shipped out to subscribers, so you’ll get a wonderful surprise whenever your package arrives. Your beads come in a pretty drawstring bag, ready to use however you like. You’ll also get a pretty postcard to match the theme, which also contains a beading challenge. If you make something with your beads that fits the challenge, you can enter it in a draw to win your next month free!

Want to give it a try? Purchase a box or subscription from Blueberry Cove Beads by November 3rd to get the next available pack. When you subscribe, payment for each new themed bead box is deducted on the 3rd of each month, so you’ll never miss a batch of inspiration!

I would like to thank Blueberry Cove beads for allowing me to sample one of their amazing bead boxes. Inspirational Beading has not received compensation for including products in this post. Subscriptions are currently available for Canada and US residents.

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading and Blueberry Cove Beads
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Beads: An Exploration of Bead Traditions Around the World

Over the past decade or so, I’ve read dozens - possibly hundreds - of books about beads, jewelry, and bead crafts. Some are better than others, and many have made their way into my list of personal favorites. Titles like Mastering Beadworkand The Beader’s Color Palette come to mind. The more information contained within the pages, the more precious a book is to new and experienced beaders alike.

Although technique and inspiration books are invaluable, I particularly enjoy titles that increase my knowledge of the materials we use in our work. For anyone that enjoys learning about the history of beads, and the origins of our favorite bead materials, I have good news. I have found the perfect bead book.

Beads: An Exploration on Bead Traditions Around the Worldis quite possibly the best encyclopedia of beads ever written. Janet Coles and Robert Budwid provide a wealth of information that is not only easy to digest, but a pleasure to read. The book is also filled with hundreds of color photographs of beads, artists, antique and modern jewelry, and indigenous peoples from around the world, dressed in traditional beadwork that is sure to inspire.

Beads is divided into five chapters, each representing a different area of the globe: Europe and the Middle East, Africa, The Indian Subcontinent, The East and Oceania, and The Americas. With exquisite detail, the authors highlight some of the characteristic and traditional beads and jewelry materials from each area, such as glass and jet from Europe, or jade and Thai silver from Asia.

Readers will be delighted to learn about both ancient and modern bead making techniques, and which styles and materials have been passed down from early civilizations. Janet and Robert don’t skimp on the details, or gloss over the grittier facts of bead making, such as the perils of mining Afghani lapis from land-mine territory. Beadweavers will really enjoy the section on how Japanese seed beads are created, from start to finish. Every bead lover or collector will enjoy the bead maps that introduce each continent, and highlights some of the signature beads from the region.

Each chapter includes necklace projects - plus earrings, a belt, and a square-stitch Delica bracelet tutorial - using beads and jewelry styles from each region. The projects are inspired by genuine jewelry from exotic locations, many of them vintage or ancient pieces that were borrowed from private collections for the book. The instructions include a full materials list, and tips for finding or replicating the beads used, plus step-by-step directions and diagrams.

If you adore beads, or just want to learn a lot more about your favorites, you will love curling up with a copy of Beads: An Exploration on Bead Traditions Around the World.

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
Janet Coles, Robert Budwid and Simon & Schuster
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Blue Ivory Lampwork Pendant

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to start trying new beads. Particularly unique beads, like handmade lampwork pieces. My goal is to try something new every month, and make something fun with these new treasures.

In January, I purchased three gorgeous pieces from Silver River Glass Works. I immediately fell in love with this gorgeous focal bead. The layers of ivory, and black, accented with cool blue are so pretty. I wanted to pair them up with some cute blue and green spacers, but when I saw the focal up close, plans changed.

I wanted to really highlight the simple palette of the pendant, and I thought that adding green into the mix would make things a little too busy. So I’m saving them for later - perhaps they’ll make a great bracelet. To go with the focal bead, I chose a palette of seed beads and fire polish in blue, black and light beige. The jet lined crystal seed beads fit it perfectly!

The dilemma with such a great focal piece, is deciding between an elaborate design that will do it justice, and a simple design that will let it stand out without becoming unaffordable. I eventually decided that simple was best, and added a twist to my new favorite pendant design.

Instead of adding just a single ring of seed beads around the fire polish accents, I went back for a second round, and caged the fire polish within four rows of beads. The results are so much different than the typical “reverse daisy chain”. I love the way the beads seem to orbit together.

Now to find just the right method for the blue and green spacers!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
and Silver River Glass Works
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Beading Tutorials: Peyote Tube Beads

Making beaded beads is a skill that most bead weavers hope to develop. There’s something so exciting about creating your own unique components using your favorite beads. The easiest and most logical place to start is with peyote tube beads.

These simple and versatile beaded beads are very easy to make once you get the hang of flat peyote stitch. The best thing about them is that you can adjust the size of your beads simply by increasing the number of peyote rows and columns. They are great for mixed media designs that use wide cords and fibers, like hemp macramé.

To make a basic peyote tube, start by weaving a panel of even-count peyote:

Cut a comfortable length of beading thread, and string on a stop bead, leaving a 6 inch tail. Stitch up through the bead again and pull the thread tight to lock the bead in place. Peyote stitch relies on a sturdy stop bead, so if it’s too slippery, try adding a second stitch.

Pick up an even number of seed beads, and slide them down to the stop bead. These beads will make up the length of your peyote tube.

Flip the thread so that the stop bead is facing away from you. Pick up one seed bead. With your off hand, hold the first strand of beads gently with your thumb and forefinger, with just enough room to needle through.

Skip over the last bead strung, and stitch through the next bead in the strand. Gently pull the thread snug, while holding the beadwork, until the new bead clicks into place. Your bead strand should now have a little ‘foot’ of two beads, side by side.

Pick up one seed bead. Skip the next bead in the stack, and stitch through the following bead. Pull the thread snug. Continue adding one bead at a time to every other base bead, until you exit the other end of the stack. Don’t worry if the beadwork seems to be curving a bit. It will straighten out as you complete the next two rows.

Flip the beadwork again, so both threads are facing you. Pick up one seed bead. Stitch up through the first raised bead - the last bead added in the previous row. Pull the thread snug, so the new bead clicks into place.

Continue adding a new bead between each raised bead, and exit from the other side of the beadwork. Add each new row with the same method, until your panel has reached the desired width. Periodically roll up the sides of the panel to see how wide your beaded bead is.

The sides of the panel must be even to continue. Your peyote strip is finished when the working thread exits from the opposite side as the tail thread.

To zip up the sides of the panel, hold the beadwork in your off hand, with the working thread facing your stitching hand. Gently fold up the sides of the panel so that the edges meet. You should be able to see how the “up” beads alternate on either side, like interlocking teeth.

Stitch through the first raised bead on the opposite side of the panel as the working thread, and needle through the following raised bead on the first side. Gently pull the thread snug.

This zipping motion follows the same thread path as your previous stitches, but instead of using loose beads, you are using those already in the beadwork.

Continue this zig-zag motion across the gap in the tube, two beads at a time, until you exit from the opposite end.

Flip the tube so that the threads are facing you. You should be able to see the gap between the last beads in the zipped rows. Stitch up through the bead next to your thread to close this gap, and retrace the thread path along the bead tube.

Weave in both threads, and trim them as close to the beadwork as possible.
Now you have a peyote beaded bead!

Peyote tubes can be made with any bead you would normally weave with. Both 11/o seed beads and Delicas can make fantastic tube beads. Try experimenting with different patterns and colors to make your own unique components.

Happy beading!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Inspired Beader: Averilpam Design

Being able to create your own beads and components for jewelry making adds a whole new element to handmade designs. The beading bead maker isn’t limited by the selection of ready-made materials - though it’s a pretty big selection - but can create with an extra level of imagination and inspiration.

At Averilpam, polymer clay artist Pam mixes her handmade beads with jewelry techniques for truly one of a kind designs.

Inspirational Beading: How did you first get into bead making?

Pam: I've been making jewellery for a couple of years and started to notice polymer clay jewellery in other shops, blogs etc. I really liked the look of it and started to look at books, then decided to jump in the deep end.

I bought a couple of books and researched some online tutorials, then bought myself a pasta machine and lots of clay and started to play! My main motivation was to make jewellery that was more original and not just with the same beads that lots of other makers could buy.

Inspirational Beading: Do you remember your first project? Where is it today?

Pam: I started off with a very simple jellyroll cane in turquoise and yellow which I reduced and sliced up into little beads. My first blog post was about making them: New Ideas. I sent the beads to my granddaughter in the USA. She loved them, but I don't think she made anything with them!

Inspirational Beading: Where do you like to look for new inspiration?

Pam: I'm not sure how to answer this as I don't use anything obvious for inspiration, taking it mostly from the materials I use. I do get inspired when I look through books and see other artists' work. I never copy but may get ideas for colour combinations, techniques etc.

I make a lot of canes from the techniques I learn, then see where they take me! I do have quite a few beads I've made but when I came to make something up with them the idea I had doesn't look as good as I'd hoped, so they are bagged up and sit waiting for inspiration to hit - or I may decide to just sell the beads.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite clay to work with?

Pam: No not really. I've more discovered what I don't like working with.

If clay is too hard I have trouble conditioning it even with a pasta machine - you have to get the clay softened up a bit before you can put it through the machine. My hands are pretty weak and I had to discard some Kato clay as it was crumbling up as I cut it.

I do really like Cernit's nature range, it is a lovely stone effect in several colours including a beautiful terracotta.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite color or color combo?

Pam: My favourites keep changing! I love black and white, and love metallics, especially copper. Colours I love at the moment are pinks and purples.

Inspirational Beading: Who would you like to inspire with your work?

Pam: I am very proud and pleased to have inspired my granddaughter (she's now 10).

Both my grandchildren took to playing with the polymer clay on my last visit and Emily showed wonderful ability to make mini sculptures. She created a range of little aliens - all shapes and colours, very inventive. I'd like to hope she'll continue with it.

Other than that I'd be delighted if I could inspire anyone to try something new and get pleasure from it.

More About Pam:

I have always been creative and loved to make things. I worked full or part time until 5 years ago when I retired, and since then have been able to concentrate on my creative efforts.

My given names are Averil Pamela though I've always been called Pam. I chose Averilpam for a username when I first went online and this seemed the ideal business name when I set up shop.

To begin with I sold handwoven scarves I made from my homespun wool and alpaca. I still sell some now and spinning remains one of my passions. I also make bags but since I discovered polymer clay it has become something of an obsession and scarves and bags have fallen by the wayside for now.

I live in Lancaster in the north west of England. As I now have chronic health problems I spend a lot of time at home so selling online is ideal for me. I enjoy my garden and feed the birds, and am fortunate there is a canal in close walking distance where I go to feed the ducks and take photos.

To see more unique creations, visit Averilpam on ArtFire and Folksy. You can also catch up with Pam’s latest inspirations on her blog, Averilpam, and on Facebook, or browse a gallery of her designs on Flickr.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Averilpam Design
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Poster Sketch: Round and Pointy Shapes

The dice have been thrown, and the lucky winner of my color lined cubes giveaway is Julie, who shared an inspiring story of teaching kids to bead and discover new ideas with shape and color. Thank you so much to all of my readers, and everyone who shared their favorite bead shapes in the contest!

Julie’s favorite seed beads shapes are 11/o rounds and bugle beads. To celebrate finding another home for some of my favorite beads, I have a fun collection of items with round and pointy shapes - just like seed beads and bugles!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Bead Giveaway: Color Lined Cubes

I have always been a sucker for color lined beads, even before I discovered how much fun it is to weave with them. Many years ago, I discovered that the mixed lots of vintage beads at my local craft store occasionally contained batches of 4mm plastics cubes lined with blue, purple and pink, and I simply had to have them all.

I purchased every package of beads I could get my hands on, and spent countless hours sifting and sorting through them until I had a pretty nice collection of these color lined cubes. They were by far some of my favorite finds ever.

I wasn’t quite so attached to them that I refused to use them in art projects. I even used a bunch of them to wire wrap a decorative fruit basket, and then gave it away as a gift. It was hard to part with them, but I had so many that it seemed like I would never run out.

And sure enough, I decided that I no longer wanted to bead with plastics, making a statement about the origins of the materials that we use in our everyday lives. So now I have all of these pretty little beads and they’re not being put to good use. It’s time that they found a new owner!

How to Enter:

If you would like to get your hands on these gorgeous cubes, just answer the following question:

What is your all time favorite seed bead shape?

Leave a comment on this post with your answer, along with your email address (beadlover AT yourmail.com) and you’ll be entered in the draw! One lucky winner will receive all of the pink, purple and blue beads shown - about 80 grams in all.

The winner will be announced on Friday, October 15th. Good luck!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Poster Sketch: Needful Things

I recently reached an important milestone - 100 active Etsy listings. It’s been one of my major goals for a long time now, and it’s a great feeling to finally have it in the bag. Now that I have that matter taken care of, I’m going to be working on something very special for my fellow beaders, which I hope to reveal later this year.

It’s a very time-consuming project, and I’m feeling totally swamped, especially with so many great holidays to prepare for in the coming weeks and months. I have to figure out how to make a mom-appropriate Catwoman costume on a teeny, tiny budget. Wish me luck!

So today I decided to take it easy, and take a few moments for myself. For a semi-professional beader, that means shopping! Just a little window shopping, mind you, but it was relaxing all the same. Here’s what I found:

Check out my full Shopping List on Etsy to see more! Happy crafting!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Poster Sketch: Bead Soups

There is something so exciting and liberating about working with a mish-mash of bead sizes, shapes or colors. When you’re working freeform, you really do feel free. Even if you’re a bit afraid to take big risks, a little whimsy goes a long way.

Today’s Treasury East collection features some amazing jewelry and art made with mixtures of assorted beads. The playful, organic quality of bead soup creations always has instant appeal. To learn more about the designs featured here, visit Swimming in Beads.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

One Ring Circus

Ring # 21 - Kaleidoscope Clown

At the end of this year, I plan to do a complete overhaul of my inventory and bookkeeping methods. It’s a dirty job, but it has to be done. In order to prepare, I’ve been planning to use up some older beads and clean out my stash. The real cleanup will have to wait until I’m done making rings, but I have managed to make a little time to get a head start.

The Inspiration:

I have had these multicolored seed bead mixtures for what seems like an eternity. They’re so pretty, but I never know what to do with them because they don’t really go with anything. And although they look great in the vial, they’re not all that sophisticated, so I’m always stuck for inspiration.

Finally, I decided that no epiphany was needed to use them. I would just make something with them and not worry about what it could look like, or what the name of the piece would be. This would be necessary beadwork!

The Beads:

Once I had put my foot down about not keeping these beads around, I felt totally free to just go with it and use them up. I didn’t have any doubts about combining them into one project - whatever would be would be.

One of the mixes is made up of matte Czech seed beads - some opaque and some transparent. The colors are very muted, with shades like peach, thyme, and cranberry. The other mixture is all shiny opaque seed beads. It includes all the classic colors like black, white, red, and blue… plus a few zingers like turquoise, pink and brown.

The Beadwork:

With two such chaotic bead palettes to work with, I decided to keep it simple and use spiral rope to make a pretty bracelet. It’s an ideal technique not only because it would look nice with the beads, but it would allow me to use them all up quickly. I started with the clasp, then just stitched spirals until I ran out of beads. I had hoped to get three ropes, but two was all I could get out of the mixes.

Today’s Ring a Day design was created with the last of the leftovers. I used the matte finished beads and a red druk to make a button focal, then added it to a black herringbone band. I like the playful, circus-like quality of the colors. And now I have two more empty spaces in my bead stash. Only several dozen more to go!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Poster Sketch: Clown Fish Ring

Ring #4 - Clown Fish

Back in April, I had the opportunity to play the 6th Photo Blog Game. I rehashed not only an old bead photo, but the beads themselves. My 6th photo had been of a tray of multicolored transparent iris seed beads. Ever since then, they’ve been on my mind, calling out to be used.

I decided to use the mixture in today’s ring, but I couldn’t decide how to go about it. Well, when all else fails, I say “Put a starfish on it!”. I thought an orange starfish bead would work really well with the mixture, and draw all of the colors together. The cherry-orange really complements the reds and browns, and makes a nice contrast for the assorted blues.

I have named this ring “Clown Fish” because the colors really remind me of a clown. I think it’s the white mixed in with the other bright colors. I liked the concept so much, that it inspired this week’s Treasury East collection, Big Top Under the Sea.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Bead Color Triads: Saturn’s Rings

Many beaders are currently hard at work, creating their entries for the 2010 Fashion Colorworks contest hosted by My Lovely Beads. This challenge is based on the Pantone color selections, chosen as the top trends for the year. Participants are asked to create a piece of beadwork using one of the three color triads created from this year’s top shades.

I had a great time working out a design for this challenge. I started by selecting a palette that I liked, then took every single bag, box and vial out of my bead cupboard and picked out all the matching colors. With the beads laid out before me, I pushed them around, mixing and matching until I had a palette that I liked, with beads that would work well together in a design.

Although I don’t think I’ll have the time to create a piece for the contest, I had so much fun finding the beads that it has inspired a new Inspirational Beading segment. Using a single image for inspiration, I’ll explore different bead and color possibilities, and perhaps create some interesting beadwork along the way.

Radio Occultation: Unraveling Saturn's Rings
Image Credit: dcorking.

For the first ever Bead Color Triad, I found this amazing NASA image of Saturn. The white, green and violet stripes aren’t quite what we imagine when we think of Saturn’s rings. They don’t look dusty, but they do look wonderfully cosmic. I also think of sports socks when I look at this picture. Something about colored stripes on a white background, I suppose. It would be interesting to see what other images this color trio could inspire.

After using my colored paint swatches to create a basic palette, I searched through my bead stash for similar colors that would work together in a single piece of beadwork.

The Night Tide triad is made with green shell coins, creamy white mother of pearl chips, and indigo colored 11/o seed beads. Although the original inspiration is from outer space, the palette was easily transferred to an aquatic theme. I like the deeper, almost muted shades here. These aren’t your typical ocean colors, but they still have an unmistakable ocean quality.

Chemistry Set uses white cat’s eye cubes and rectangles, transparent violet seed beads, and white-lined peridot seed beads. Although each of the colors could be considered organic on it’s own, together they have a modern, man-made look. These are the colors you might find in a space station science lab. I can see them being used for a quirky, edgy bracelet or necklace.

Moon Jewels is my favorite by far. I started with a packet of Czech fire polish rounds in the Green Tones mixture, and removed the olive beads. Then I added fuchsia lined violet 8/o seed beads, and opaque white 11/o’s. This palette is vibrant and sweet - great for a summer project. The colors seem cool and warm all at the same time, like a splash of water on a hot summer day.

All three palettes are so interesting, I can’t decide which one to use first!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

The 6th Photo Game

Cindy Caraway of Artful Living on the Bluff has invited her readers to play along in the 6th Photo Game with her. The fun begins when you search through your earliest blog posts and find the sixth photo that you ever uploaded to share with your readers. The next task is to critique your own photo, and explain what you would do differently, then pass on the challenge to ten bloggers.

When I saw Cindy’s sixth photo in my blog reader, I wouldn’t have guessed that it was an archived picture. It looks great! I knew even before I started searching through my first posts that I would not be so lucky. I was prepared to cringe.

I didn’t have to go far to find my first 6 images. My second post ever was in August of 2008. It was about a multicolored peyote stitch rope, and contains my 5th, 6th and 7th photos. They’re all terrible! I thought about cheating and sharing the 7th photo, since it’s by far the worst one of the bunch. You’re welcome to check it out for yourself, but beware!

The actual 6th photo is a shot of the beads I used to create the necklace. Until around March of 2009, I always photographed beads for my inspiration stories in a shallow metal dish that is actually a gourmet coffee coaster. I much prefer the four little beads cups that I use today - especially because I don’t have to sort the beads after photographing them. I only wish I had more of them.

This photo was probably taken on my kitchen table, with a 60 watt bulb glaring overhead. If there’s any natural light present, it’s minimal. The glare and the yellowish tinge to everything is my least favorite thing about it. Today, I wouldn’t dream of taking a photograph under anything but sunlight.

I also over cropped this photo, since you can barely see what it is. If there weren’t a bead story to go with it, once could mistake it for colored sand, or crayon shavings! I just happen to have a few of these beads still in my stash, so I rephotographed them. I think today’s version is world’s better, but I still have much to learn about the art of photography.

I’m passing on the 6th Photo Challenge to:

A Bead a Day
A Little Bit of Everything
Beadlust
Beadwright
cabin + cub
Capturing Creativity
daxdesigns bead art
KSK Designs
The Art of Zen Crochet
Three Fates Design

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Inspired Beader: Ema Kilroy

How many times have you had an amazing idea for a piece of beadwork, and had no idea where to get the focal bead necessary to create it? It happens to all of us from time to time, which is why the handmade marketplace is such a great tool for designers. Artists that create beads provide us with so many inspirations that the big manufacturers just can’t deliver.

Ema Kilroy’s lampwork beads are the perfect cure for beader’s block. Each one is a work of art, just crying out to be balanced with the right accents. I stumbled across her shop, Ema K Designs, while on the hunt for fun spring inspirations, and was not disappointed!

Inspirational Beading: How did you become interested in bead making?

Ema: I began making glass beads when my youngest child began school full time. I had been making jewelry for a number of years and decided it was time for me to explore a new direction in my work. My starting point was hearts. I have always loved to use hearts in my jewelry but I had trouble finding hearts which fulfilled the jewelry designs I wanted to create. I decided that if I took lampworking classes I could make my own hearts. What a wonderful adventure lampworking has become for me. I had no idea it would lead me in this direction and to all the wonderful people I have come to know.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite source for inspiration?

Ema: My inspiration can come from anywhere. I have a background in quilting. During a conversation with one of my quilting friends she made a matter of fact comment as to how she can look anywhere and be inspired to create a quilt. At that moment it occurred to me that this did not hold true for me and although I enjoyed quilting I knew I had not found my passion.

I can now say I fully understand my friend's matter of fact comment. I can literally find inspiration for beads everywhere I look; a magazine, a printed advertisement, a TV show, quilt fabric, nature is a never ending source of inspiration, and the list can go on and on. I have found my passion.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite color to use?

Ema: My favorite color is blue. It has been since I was a little girl. I have to stop myself from using blue all the time but generally I create beads by going with my own flow, unless it is a custom order.

Inspirational Beading: If you could master any new technique, what would it be?

Ema: I am working on creating a smoothness and flow within my beads. I currently use a soft glass referred to as soda lime glass. I think in order to generate the smoothness I am trying to achieve I may have to try a different type of glass, boroscillate. I have never used this type of glass but would love to give it a try.

Hot glass is unlike other art mediums, such as paint - it reacts differently than we are used to seeing. You can't just combine yellow and blue to make green, well not always anyway. Glass is a different medium and various types of glass, when combined together, can react in ways that are not always predictable. This can also be a very exciting part of the lampworking process.

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

Ema: First and foremost I hope to inspire jewelry designers. When I create a bead I often see how it will accent a finished jewelry piece. I don't always have time to create the finished jewelry but I hope other jewelry designers will find similar inspiration from my beads.

I also hope to inspire children, especially girls. I think the process of lampworking is really cool. I work with a torch, propane, oxygen, a 1200 degree flame and hot molten glass. I can do anything I want to do. I want girls to know they can too.

Ema Kilroy is a glass artist living in Central Massachusetts with her husband, three boys and her favorite female companion, her dog. Ema began lampworking in 2005, taking classes with Liliana Glenn at Worcester Center for Crafts. After learning the basics and setting up her custom workshop, Ema began developing her own style and designs as a self-taught beadmaker. For 2010, Ema has been working on fun Spring themed butterfly beads and some especially popular OM beads.

Ema sells her work in the form of beads and finished jewelry. She can be found at local craft fairs in and around Massachusetts, a schedule of which is available on her website, EmaKDesigns.com. Additionally, Ema's pieces can be purchased online from her Etsy shop, Ema K Designs, and followers can become a fan on her Facebook page. Ema belongs to the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), and is an Associate member of Rollstone Studios in Fitchburg, MA. She also participates in an online community of glass bead artists who strive to support each other in the development and marketing of their art: The Fire Divas.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Ema Kilroy