Bead Wish List: Flowers

One of my favorite times of year has arrived – the neighborhood is covered with drifts of pretty pink cherry blossom petals, and the light fragrance of flowers is everywhere. I’m especially fond of the way the blossoms look against a cloudless blue sky. The color combination is definitely bead-worthy!

Flowers are one of those special jewelry inspirations that go around and around in a circle. Everyone loves flowers, so there are lots of flower beads and beading patterns out there. Since they’re so abundant, flowers designs are great for inspiration, and they make us love flowers all over again. It’s also easy to use flowers as inspiration because there are just so many options. From daisy chains to orchids, the possibilities are endless.

I went on a search for some of the most exciting and inspiring flower beads available right now. I saw a lot of old stand-bys like chrysanthemum cabochons and such, and discovered a few new things as well. These are my favorites:

The green and blue palette of these Java glass rounds
from Happy Mango Beads are irresistible!





Another great color in a classic Czech glass bead design
from Czech Beads Exclusive. So yummy!





There are about a million variations of Lucite calla lilies out there, all of them gorgeous,
but it was these pretty Lucite daisies from Beadaholique that stopped me in my tracks.





Strawberry blossoms are another personal favorite, and this lampwork cab
by Iveta Linde on Etsy is simply perfect!





Pastels are fabulous in floral motifs, like these Czech glass
opal buttons from Ms. Bijoux Beads on Artfire.





African sandcast beads are always a treat, and the contrast on these
baubles from Artbeads.com is lovely.





Another great focal in lampwork, this pendant from Fire Mountain Gems
features a totally adorable ladybug!





What could be more inspiring than the amazing motifs of Golem Design Studio focals?
I love the colors on this one from FusionBeads.com





Lampwork is really where it's at for flower beads, and these pretty buds
by Solar Salamanders on Etsy don't disappoint.

What’s your favorite style of flower bead? How do you like to use them in your designs?

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading and Friends

Bead Color Ideas: Rainy Days

Here on the West Coast, we don’t get a huge kick out of spring. By the time April showers roll around, we’re already so tired of rain that we can’t wait to start baking in the oven of summer. We don’t even get a lot of rainbows, since the rain is usually accompanied by completely overcast skies. The mild temperatures are nice, of course, but sunshine is definitely a welcome treat.

In the ancient Egyptian tradition of fighting fire with fire – in other words, if you’re going boating on the Nile, wear a crocodile pendant – I thought it would be nice to look for some rainy inspirations and use beads to find the good in rain again. I certainly don’t have a shortage of blue beads to work with, and with gray being one of my favorite colors for fashion, I always have a few bits of it in my stash.

I started by getting out what’s left of my Picasso jet druks – one of my favorite gray finishes. The effect is so like a natural stone and the resulting shade of gray is perfect. I paired these with some patriot blue bugles and robin’s egg seed beads for a cool, smooth palette that reminds me of raindrops on a garden shed or a streaking down a favorite reading window. This palette would be perfect for a cuff bracelet or a twisted multistrand necklace.

Next I found a little mixture of colonial gray and dichroic blue lined TOHO cubes that were perfect for rainy inspirations with their sparkly AB finish – like little reflective puddles. I added some vintage aqua white-hearts for another pop of blue, then calmed things down a bit with a neutral backdrop of bone white. For this palette I’d want to let the cube beads shine, so perhaps it would work with some fringed earrings or a bridged herringbone cuff.

For the final palette I drew inspiration from one of my favorite rain features: petrichor. We don’t get to enjoy the smell of rain much here, since it’s so rarely dry enough to release the dusty-oily smell of petrichor when the skies open up (they’re pretty much always open). I started this scent-inspired palette with some transparent medium topaz for the dust, and some Job’s tears for a hint of gray and their raindrop shapes. Then I finished the palette with a backdrop of storm-cloud navy blue. I’d love to use this trio for a statement necklace – perhaps a collar or a fringed lariat.

What’s your favorite weather for creative inspiration?

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

Cherry Bomb Fringe Earrings Tutorial

It’s kind of amazing what you can recreate with just a little fringe in the right colors. The idea for this super-easy cherry fringe design popped into my head when I was creating earring projects for Ancient Worlds Modern Beads, and it was just too fun not to make. These cherry bomb earrings look great in opaque or transparent colors, but I do recommend going with a bright green to avoid any resemblance to holly berries. On the other hand, you could modify the design a bit to get a cute holiday earring as well!

You will need:

2 black 8-10mm round beads
2 black 4mm heishi or spacers
4 black 8/o seed beads
4 or more red 6mm rounds
4 or more red 11/o seed beads to match
a few grams each green and black 11/o seed beads
2 jumprings and/or earwires
Size D beading thread such as Nymo

1. Attach a stop bead to 1 yard of stretched and conditioned thread, leaving a 6 inch (15 cm) tail. Pick up 1 8/o seed bead, 1 spacer, 1 8-10mm bead, and 1 8/o bead. Slide them down to the end.

2. Pick up green 11/o seed beads in multiples of three until the strand reaches the desired length for your earring – at least 30 beads are needed for the fringe base, but you can go as long as you like. Add 1 red 6mm round, and 1 red 11/o. Skipping the red 11/o, stitch back up through the round bead and the following 9 green seed beads. Pull snug, making sure there is no slack in the strand.

3. Pick up 7 green seed beads. Skipping the last bead added, stitch back through the 6th bead and pull snug.

4. Pick up 4 green seed beads, and stitch back through the first bead added in the previous step, plus the following three beads in the main strand, moving towards the black round. Pull snug to form a leaf stitch.

5. Pick up green seed beads in multiples of three until you have a second ‘stem’ of the desired length. You can make it longer or shorter than the first cherry stem – whatever looks good to you. Add a red round and seed bead. Skipping the red seed bead, stitch back through all of the beads just added, and the following 3 beads in the main strand. Pull snug.

6. Pick up 7 green seed beads and add a second leaf stitch (steps 3 and 4). Stitch back up through the remaining beads in the main strand, and all of the black beads. Pull snug.

7. Pick up 9 black seed beads. Stitch back down through all of the black beads in the base to form a loop at the top of the beadwork. If desired, string on an ear wire or soldered jump ring before securing the loop.

8. Pick up green seed beads in multiples of three to begin a second cherry fringe. Repeat steps 2-6, making your fringes as long or as short as you like. Weave through the black seed bead loop at least once more to add strength, then secure any remaining thread in the fringe and trim.

9. Add jump rings and ear wires as desired, then repeat all of the steps to make a second earring.

Happy beading!

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

Inspired Bead Maker: Serena Smith Lampwork

Whatever new innovations in beads come our way, nothing quite beats the beauty of a handmade lampwork bead to inspire amazing creations. The colors, shapes, and patterns of unique flameworked glass go so perfectly with our favorite techniques and materials. One of my favorite lampwork artists of late is Serena Smith, whose floral creations are a delight to behold.

Inspirational Beading: How did you first get started with lampwork?

Serena: In 1991 I was working my first "real job" after college in Seattle, at a company called TSI that sold jewelry and lapidary supplies. I found out through them about the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle where they were doing all kinds of art classes, including glass. I took the bead making class and not long after I turned my bedroom in my 1 bedroom apartment into a studio and moved into the living room, bought an oxy/propane set up and supplies from Frantz, and started making beads. Not long after that I returned to school to get a degree in glass art from the Rhode Island School of Design. At that time, lampwork was not given much respect in the art world and the department didn't even have a lampworking torch - other than mine. With my degree I learned about all different kinds of glass working, some of which I still do today, but lampwork is my first love.

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

Serena: Not my first bead, but I do remember the first demo the instructors did on sculpting beads. Most of the class was about how to make a round bead with dots on it. But they demo'd a pudgy little bug thing and warned us that sculpted beads were pretty much guaranteed to break so the demo was just a throw away idea. This was back before annealing kilns were on the market, didn't even know about fiber blanket, we used vermiculite in a can and flame annealing was considered a myth by a lot of people. But, once I saw the potential in sculpting glass that was pretty much it for me, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I used vermiculite for years and did in fact have a lot of luck with flame annealing. I still make a version of my first sculpted bead designed after the Venus of Willendorf sculpture.

Inspirational Beading: Where do you look for inspiration? How does it translate in your designs?

Serena: I have a lot of books with flower pictures in them, but I think I get most of my inspiration just from nature in general, as well as the glass colors they make now. I work in my garden and grow flowers. I also go for long walks, and especially when the flowers are blooming I get inspired to get into the shop and try to create some new bloom or color I've never noticed before. That's how the japonica style flower came to me. I saw bushes in a parking lot that had masses of wee flowers and I took a close look to see these lovely vase shaped blossoms I'd never seen before. I looked them up when I got home to find the name (japonica pieris) and started working with the shape. I don't always try to be faithful to the original flower, as you can see in some of my fantasmagorical Lady Slippers.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite color or combination to work with?

Serena: Always, pinks make me happy even though I think my favorite color in general is turquoise blue (I have a terrible time with high metal content opaque turquoise glass). These days there are so many more glass colors to work with, some fantastic pinks from Bullseye glass and not just the ruby pink from Moretti that used to turn brown. It's amazing to me to think back to when all we had was Moretti (Effetre) to now when we have so many manufacturers and some really incredibly beautiful colors to work with. I think one of my favorite new colors these days is from Bullseye, an opalescent blue purple color which is fantastic over petal pink.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite bead style or shape to create?

Serena: That's a tough one. I don't think I do as far as making them, what I like is to be able to have a variety of things to work on so I make things in small batches. It's not fair to the pretty beads I make to feel irritated because I had to work all day making the exact same thing so I try to avoid doing that. Regardless, I am always cheered when I open the kiln and see a beautiful bouquet of flower beads in a rainbow of colors. What could possibly be better than that? As far as shape, I think my favorite flower to look at right now is the tulip. Simple but lovely.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most rewarding moment in your design process?

Serena: I think it must be that "aha" moment when I finally know how to do it, whatever "it" is. Getting the color right, or just figuring out how to create a shape. There is a certain amount of frustration when you first start out something new and you can't "see" or "feel" it, and when it settles down into your hands and they just start making it happen, it is a really good feeling. I've learned not to let those moments of frustration deter me from believing that I can really, truly, figure it out. And the only way to fail is to quit.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most exciting design in your shop right now? What makes it special?

Serena: I have been making a lot of Lady Slippers this month and it has been fun. I designed them a while ago but sort of let them go and hadn't made any in several years when I looked back through some of my history and realized how long it had been, and how special they were! They are a real joy to make, each one comes out different and I am playing with different colors and details and combinations that really makes it fun. I love the moment I open the kiln! Sometimes on my walk from the studio into the house I forget what I'm doing and just stand in the yard looking at each one and smiling.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have any plans for new bead styles or themes in the works?

Serena: I've always been interested in different forms of glass work so I do casting, fusing, pate de verre, etc. always looking for ways to incorporate lampwork. What I have been working on this last 6 months or so is how to make cast beads, and also fused components like cabochons. The cabochons often include a lampworked element, like the heart in this cabochon, and just recently I've made just a couple of lampwork blobs that I want to put in the kiln and fuse and just see what happens. I might try fusing some holes into the cabochons to make them into beads. Not sure yet, just expanding my horizons!

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

Serena: Definitely jewelry makers! But, speaking as a person who likes to try just about every craft, I really would like to reach people who work in areas I might not know anything about, and who might never have considered that their work could include lampwork or glass components. For instance, I also do needle felting and have incorporated my beads into those projects. People think of beads as just for jewelry but they are so versatile and useful and add a wonderful element to any kind of creation.

You can see more of Serena’s gorgeous lampwork beads at the 2016 Best Bead Show in Tucson, Arizona, on her website Serena Smith Lampwork, and on Etsy at Serena Smith and 4GlassCabochons. Follow along on Facebook to see her latest creations and inspirations!

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading and Serena Smith

Bead Color Ideas: Earthy Hanks

For our first trio of bead palettes of the year, I thought it would be fun to change things up yet again. This time around, I started with two seed bead colors, then added an accent bead to coordinate. For the sake of exploring possibilities, I chose the first hank of seed beads – mint green AB – because I have yet to find a project for it. Then I added some transparent medium topaz to make a fresh, earthy palette.

The first accent bead was an easy choice. I still have lots of two-tone ivory and black moon coins for embroidery projects, and they work so well with the topaz. The darker side of the coins also plays nicely with the green. The whole palette has a sort of fairy door feel to it that would be great in a statement necklace or embellished cuff.

I finished the next trio with a strand of polka-dot Java glass. I’ve been dying to use these beads for many months now, but the right inspiration has yet to come along. I hope that the more I experiment with them, the closer I’ll get to the perfect design idea. I like the way that the green and topaz mellows the colors of the polka dots, but I think it washes out the gray too much, which should really pop in whatever design they decorate.

The final accent was a little tougher. First I tried some red bone tubes, but the color looked to garish with the softer seed bead shades. Right next to them I had some ivory bone tubes with a hint of dark purple – an excellent pairing for either brown or green. Like the previous palette, there are elements here that I like, but it doesn’t have the wow factor that I was looking for. I do think this trio would look great in a fringe design with some additional accent colors.

What are you favorite earthy colors for beadwork?

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

Double Winter Bead Palette Ideas

The bead color trio series has been around on Inspirational Beading for a long time, and to keep fresh ideas coming, I’ve changed up the inspiration method many times. Lately I’ve been starting with a single accent bead, then building three palettes around them. For this month’s palettes, I wanted to try out some holiday colors, but I couldn’t decide on just one accent to start with. Instead, I thought it would be fun to come up with the themes first, then choose the perfect accent bead to go with them, followed by some excellent seed bead colors. It turned out to be so much fun that I couldn’t stop at just three!

The very first idea that came to mind, even before I decided to go with a mix of palettes, was snowflakes. There are so many gorgeous decorating ideas that begin with a little glitter in white, silver, and maybe a hint of blue. I started this palette with some shimmery white potato pearls, then added a little backup of opaque white and transparent sea blue. Snowflake Glitter would be lovely in a netted design, or perhaps in a multistrand necklace.

Next I had a vision of a cardinal on an evergreen branch, like something from a classic Christmas card. I started with some dyed horn rondelles for the intense, natural red. Some lustered emerald and a touch of transparent dark topaz complete the woodland look. I think Woodsy Wonderland would work really well in something fringy, or as a chunky double spiral necklace.

For a more lighthearted palette, I couldn’t resist using a strand of multicolored Chrsitmas lights for inspiration. This trio started with a mother of pearl chip mix in tropical colors, with a backdrop of jet black and some transparent mint green. I’d use Deck the Halls for a spiral lariat, or perhaps an embellished cuff.

Of course I had to go with something really classic, so for the next palette I turned to holly sprigs. Big, round, gorgeous red white-hearts provided the perfect pop of red and white. I kept the palette simple with a backdrop of transparent emerald and forest green. Jolly Berries would be great as a light collar, or perhaps a lariat with bead cluster fobs.

I hadn’t yet used a food-themed palette, so I tried to recreate one of my new favorite holiday treats – peppermint bark. First I grabbed a strand of cherry red triangle beads, and some chocolately terra cotta seed beads. Although opaque white would have looked great in this trio, I decided to go with bone white instead, for a hint of eggnog or perhaps toasted marshmallow. Peppermint Latte could definitely make a wonderful spiral rope bracelet, or a pair of tasseled earrings.

Finally, I simply had to do a palette with a hint of gold. I started with some metallic gold freshwater pearls, which have a nice warm look to them. I added some metallic olivine and dragonfly seed beads, creating the perfect trio for a vintage-style glass globe. Heirloom Ornament would be perfect for any earring style, or maybe a pearl-netted statement necklace.

What winter color combinations do you love? Have you ever used them in a design?

Mortira

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Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading

Bead Wish List: Winter Wonders

Although fall is going to last for several more weeks, it certainly feels like winter with the combination of dropping temperatures and an abundance of red and green in every store window. As soon as the heat goes on, thoughts of egg nog and holly berries are sure to follow. This puts me in the mood for woodland themed designs, warm scents like pine and amber, and of course a nice blanket of white snow.

This month I did a little window shopping with natural winter themes in mind. I was picturing a pine bough on snow with a few little winter birds flitting about. These are some of my favorite finds:

1. Winter Birds Lampwork Focal by Laila Strazdina
2. Forest Green Glass Pearls from Smiley Boy
3. Vintaj Copper Pinecone Charm from FusionBeads.com

4. Forest Mix Glass Druks from Artbeads.com
5. Miiyuki Ceylon Pearl Bugles from FireMountainGems.com
6. Swirled Wood Rondelles from HappyMangoBeads.com

7. Bird Decoupage Beads from Artbeads.com
8. Betel Nut Beads from Beadaholique.com
9. Chartreuse Glass Bird Coins from LimaBeads.com

10. Banyan Bay Tucscon Wood Pendant from LimaBeads.com
11. Winter Holly Lampwork Beads by Serena Smith
12. Silvered Ivory Lampwork Beads by Spawn Of Flame

I can practically smell the pine trees and fresh snow! What are you favorite elements in a woodland theme?

Mortira

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Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading and Friends

Inspired Beader: Brass Rabbit Studio

Sometimes it’s easy to see when a beader truly loves beads. The adoration comes through instantly in their design choices, and you wish you could just wear them all. Today’s guest is Mary DeTray of Brass Rabbit Studio, who mixes and matches beads and components in a way that speaks of some serious bead love.

Inspirational Beading: When did you first get started with jewelry design?

Mary: I've been playing with jewelry off and on ever since i was in high school about, 12 years, now. I was never really serious about it till about a year ago, i went through some pretty dark times in my life and the creative process of designing was incredibly therapeutic and healing to me, that's probably why most of my pieces have such an upbeat happy vibe to them, that's what i was searching for in my personal life.

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

Mary: I don't, it was so long ago, it could be anywhere. I do remember my first trip to my local bead shop though, Shipwreck Beads, they were in a much smaller building back then, but they had such an expansive selection that the walls and pillars were literally covered and dripping with strings of beads from floor to ceiling, it was so beautiful to me, I'd spend hours there.

Inspirational Beading: What kinds of beads and materials do you like to use the most?

Mary: I am in love with handmade components. Artisan ceramics are my absolute favorite, enameled pieces, resin pendants and charms, if its handmade i usually love it. I also often incorporate fibers in my jewelry, leather, batik ribbon, Irish waxed cord, those are my favorites, i love the warm earthy look they give my jewelry.

Inspirational Beading: Where do you look for your favorite inspiration?

Mary: I normally don't have to look much further than my stash of art beads, the colors, textures and uniqueness of each one has never ceased to spark my imagination. I also have an inspiration board on Pinterest i visit often, its full of my favorite color palettes, they help too when I'm not sure what to do.

Inspirational Beading: What’s the most interesting or unique thing about your design process?

Mary: Humm, i don't know that i design much differently that the next person, i sit down and begin by pulling beads and components i think would work well together and arrange and rearrange till I'm happy with the overall shape of the piece then i put em all together. I know a lot of designers sketch their designs before they make them, i don't often do that, sometimes an idea may pop into my head while out and about and ill sketch it real quick on my phone so i don't forget about it, but its usually a vague idea, like a unique way to use a component i have, not a full piece.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most exciting design in your shop right now? What makes it special?

Mary: I really like the convertible necklace i listed the other day. Its so versatile! The fringe chain is removable so u can wear it 3 different ways; with the fringe chain it can be long or doubled and without its perfect pendant length. I also really love the green bee bracelet with ceramic focal by Round Rabbit, I like the way the design turned out, this was one of those "ah ha" moments.

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

Mary: Blues and greens have always been my favorite colors, lavender seems to be working its way in too. I also favor brass over silver, i like the warm gold and browns it offers. But I'm really trying to branch out and include some deeper reds and oranges, they haven't really ever been my favorite but i do like how vibrant they are.

Inspirational Beading: What are some of your other favorite materials?

Mary: I've probably listed most of them already but i really like adding something unexpected, a piece never really feels whole to me without that little something extra, like a stray bead in an otherwise consistent stringing pattern, or a little charm in an unexpected place.

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

Mary: Any beader looking to develop new and exciting designs. The artists who inspired me to start designing in the first place were the ones who's pieces were unique and unlike anything I'd seen before.

You can see more fabulous jewelry designs in Mary’s Etsy shop, Brass Rabbit Studio. To see new designs, get the scoop on the latest sales, and find monthly giveaways, follow Brass Rabbit Studio on Facebook.

Inspirational Beading readers are invited to save 20% on finished jewelry at Brass Rabbit Studio with coupon code INSPIRE20 until February 17th.

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading and Brass Rabbit Studio
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Mood Board: Mother’s Day Dandelions

Happy Mother’s Day, beaders! I hope that all of the moms out there are getting lots of love, or that you’re able to spend time with a mom that you care about.

Whenever this special holiday comes along, I always think of a bouquet of dandelions. They are the one bouquet that truly comes from the heart - hand picked by tiny hands for the absolute pleasure of it. Some may think of dandelions as weeds, but we love them at our house. They’re natural, resilient, and beautifully yellow - and they are the first food for bees and other pollinating insects each spring. Not to mention how much fun they are once they go to seed.

Dandelions and Honey by mortira featuring DENY Designs

In honor of dandelions, bees, and all things Mom, I’ve put together a new mood board that speaks of spring delights. With an abundance of greens and yellows, these picks are warm and cheerful. Perfect for an outdoor mother-daughter or mother-son tea party.

Finding beads to create these looks was delightfully easy. It turns out that dandelions and spring greens are a popular inspiration. I combined two-toned beads and materials with dandelion motifs and symbols of friendship. These components would make delightful necklace and charm bracelet sets!

1. Czech Glass Leaves from The Best Beads
2. Dandelion Pendant from Artbeads.com
3. Dandelion Clay Pendant by Summer Wind Art

4. Heart and Flower Lampwork Bead from AuntiesBeads.com
5. Two Tone Fire Polish Ovals from Beadaholique.com
6. Lillypilly Dandelion Disc from FusionBeads.com

7. Golden Honey Fire Polish from Bead Girlz Boutique
8. Green and Yellow Wooly Wire from LimaBeads.com
9. Antique Silver-ton Teapot Charms from Kitsch n'Kaboodle

What flowers are your favorite to give or receive? Do you ever use them in your work?

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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