Inspired by Geodes

One of my favorite inspiration blogs, Glitter Guide, recently suggested using geodes to add sparkle around your home. Although they have been known to make great paperweights and end table decorations - not to mention jewelry components - I wondered if there were even more ways to incorporate these gorgeous crystal formations into decor. Perhaps there would even be something for someone who has sworn off rocks and gems!

I wasn't surprised by the number of stunning photographs that I found on Pinterest with a quick search for geodes, but I was delighted with the variety. Here are just a few of my favorites...

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Bead Color Triads: Jurassic Jungle

Dinosaur by *caglarcity on deviantART

Inspiration can come from many different places, and one of the best sources is the people around us. It’s amazing how easy is it is to become interested in something, simply because it is a favorite of someone we love. Many of us even began our obsessions with beads thanks to a friend or relative that introduced us to the craft. I find that my bead helper's interests provide a constant source for new adventures and inspiration. He has helped me remember how much I like Batman and Harley Quinn, and given new meaning to the Star Wars franchise. Lately, our obsession has become dinosaurs. Prehistoric beasts are now the dominating topic in my workspace. I borrow dinosaur books from the library, and have watched BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs and related documentaries many times on Netflix. So when it came time to decide on a color palette for this month’s bead triads, dinosaurs were the first thing that came to mind.

Very little is known about what dinosaurs actually looked like. The images of living dinosaurs that we see in books and movies are based on educated guesses. Scientists take what they can learn from fossils, geology of the time period, and modern animals, and piece things together. The texture of dinosaur skin is the only sure thing, and color is pretty much a shot in the dark. Still, it’s easy to imagine what colors may have been common during the Mesozoic era. Natural, earthy shades of greens and browns are pretty likely. These are the colors that we most often see in dinosaur art, and they are the inspiration behind today’s palettes.

Dragon Garden features an interesting contrast of colors and hues. It started with a strand of dyed wood beads, with a subtle flower pattern in dark brown and pink. I added 8/o seed beads in transparent jade, which blend in nicely. These two colors alone would make a great necklace. A shock of apple green 11/o’s add extra life to the palette. They would make pretty flower accents in a boho inspired design.

Herbivore started with some Christmas green pressed glass leaves with a vitrail finish. Since this would be the darkest of the greens in the palette, I added chartreuse magatamas for the lighter half. The two didn’t exactly fit together until I added the warm transparent rootbeer seed beads. They provide a neutral background that allows the greens to work together.

Finally, we have Lizard. This palette most resembles the dinosaurs we imagine. The shades are subtle and muted, especially the yellow-lined black diamond seed beads, which have a unique olive color. Emerald AB hex cuts add a leafy green to brighten things up a bit. I included two accents here, because I couldn’t part with one or the other. I just had to use tortoise druks, with their irresistible prehistoric vibe, and topaz fire polish were just the right color. Since they are both 6mm rounds, they blend together easily. Do you ever find inspiration in natural history? Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading COLOURlovers.com Subscribe to Inspirational Beading

Inspired Artist: Soapsmith

When you really love your craft, the materials can become an obsession. As beaders, we surround ourselves with the gems and baubles that form our creations. We wear them, decorate our house with them, and shop and search for them wherever we go. Some beaders write and blog about beads, or spend hours sorting and organizing them again and again.

I think most bead and jewelry lovers would be excited to learn that you can even take gems and crystals into the tub. When I first glimpsed the amazing rock and gem creations by Allegheny Hearth - aka the Soapsmith - I was stunned by their realistic beauty, and had to learn more. The artist, Bonnie Bartley, shares a little insight into these marvelous soaps.

Inspirational Beading: When did you become interested in geology and gemology?

Bonnie: I have always found all aspects of nature fascinating – gems and mineral formations are amazing to me. Since childhood I have saved bits and pieces of stone and rocks. I would sit for hours in the summer on a bank near our home that was filled with fossils, picking up rocks one at a time, examining them, saving the treasures. I still have them and bring a pebble home from beaches, forests, and fields where ever I travel.

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

Bonnie: When we moved into our home in 1975, the property was completely outlined with mature pine trees. The first autumn, our yard was covered with pinecones. I picked 21 bushels and decided to make pine cone wreaths as Christmas gifts. Several people who were gifted with the wreaths asked to purchase them for their family and friends. That began my crafting career.

I made my first soap in 1977. This is my 33rd year in business. I am always interested in trying different genres. Soaping was just one of many. I love the history of the craft, handed down through the generations. Modern methods improve on the product but I feel the soul of old time soap makers move my spirit when I create.

When I started making soap, selections of oils and butters were limited to what was available in local supermarkets. Now I can revel in kokum, shea, mango and cocoa butters, coconut, palm and avocado oils. Essential and fragrance oil choices are astounding. My studio shelves are filled with enticing amber and cobalt bottles that I can blend to my heart’s content. Colorants safe for cosmetic use are also readily available.

I dance for joy when the delivery truck brings a box filled with new delights, begging to be concocted into something unique and original that is sure to thrill my customers.

Inspirational Beading: How did you decide to combine these two concepts into one unique idea - what has the journey been like?

Bonnie: The gemstone/mineral formation soaps were first brought to my attention on soap making forums when others were trying to figure out how to make them. I love a challenge, it fuels my creativity. Game on!

That was many years ago, now I teach and demonstrate my techniques and methods to other soap makers on how to create these little gems. There is a full detailed tutorial on my blog with step by step instructions with photos on how to make gemstone soaps.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite stone to admire or create with soap?

Bonnie: I love them all. The great thing is each one is a mini work of art, unique unto itself.

Inspirational Beading: What is your all time favorite color and fragrance combination?

Bonnie: That is like asking me which flower in my garden is my favorite or which of my sons do I love the most – impossible to answer. Lavender is high on my list because it calls to mind my spring garden. The purple hues of lavender inspire a poet’s voice, an artist’s hand and a gardener’s eye, and purple has always been one of my favored color palettes.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have any other favorite soap inspirations?

Bonnie: I find great satisfaction in formulating products that pamper the skin and care for my customers. Working with the many aspects of the craft, I am able to be a mad scientist as well as an artisan. Nature is my muse: my garden, the spectrum of colors, the textures, the herbs and flowers, the trees, the fragrances – all of creation. My home is located on 5 wooded acres surrounded by the glorious Allegheny Mountains, they provide the muse.

More About Bonnie:

In all aspects of my life, I am known for my organization and attention to detail. That attribute greatly contributes to my success in my family life, career, business and volunteer work. I manage my time carefully in order to meet the demands of a busy life. My life in general is my success. I have wonderful family, friends, co-workers and customers. I am able to lead the life style that suits me, in a home and community that I enjoy, with my life’s work fulfilling my dreams. Simple pleasures adorn my day.

My customers are my greatest promoters. They are the greatest. Many of them are so kind to take the time to write me notes and emails thanking me for the results they get from using my products. They sing my praises to their friends and neighbors, which grows my business. I am grateful and dedicate my efforts to them. I draw my inspiration from them. To cultivate that base I am sure to offer the most outstanding customer service I can.

I am dedicated to the advancement of the craft. I am always open to sharing my techniques to others in soap making communities, forums, classes, symposiums and gatherings. For me, soap making is much more than a means of financial gain. I carry the traditions of old time soap makers in my soul married to today’s modern methods. That builds my reputation, thus my business as well.

I am part of a great community of soap makers. I do develop my own recipes and techniques, and I am willing to share them with my fellow soap artisans. We all learned from those who came before us, I try to carry on that tradition.

You can see more unique soap creations and get to know Soapsmith on Facebook. Check out Bonnie’s ArtFire blog for tips on making, using and selecting handmade soaps.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Allegheny Hearth
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A Flicker of Inspiration: Crystals

If you put ten random people into a room, and asked them to define the word crystal, chances are you’d get ten different answers. If one of those people happens to be a beader, they would probably be thinking of crystal beads - maybe even the classic and versatile Swarovski bicone.

Today I thought it would be fun to look at the unique shapes and colors of natural crystal formations. These amazing structures are formed by natural elements under just the right conditions, and have long captured human imagination.

1. Cristalli di Ametista 1, 2. Pyromorphite cavern, 3. Caverns of Sonora,
4. Crystal King, Ohio Caverns, West Liberty, Ohio, 5. Blue Crystals,
6. Ice Crystals #3, 7. Crystal World 2, 8. Amerthyst geode, 9. formation...,
10. Crystal Formation - Smithsonian, 11. formations of organic materials,
12. Quartz Crystal Focus Stack 2, 13. Blue Crystal Formation

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Big Huge Labs
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A Necklace a Day - Ten

Last week I tried using one of my own bead color palettes, and ended up with a pretty nice little peacock pendant. It inspired me to go back and explore some of the possibilities of other palettes of the past.

The first triad I ever created is one that I’ve been wanting to use for a long time. Chemistry Set was made from a photograph of Saturn’s rings, and used purple and green seed beads with fiber optic cubes and rectangles. I always liked the combination, but I never got around to making anything with it.

Recently, I acquired some really pretty matte green druks in a sort of minty shade that perfectly matches my shamrock lined crystal TOHOs. So, I used these to replace the peridot green of the original palette and got to work.

Chemistry Orbs Pendant

I used my old standby, circular brick stitch, to make a pendant of four circles connected in a lazy zig-zag. I have only ever used the design with rivolis, but the brick circles are so much faster to stitch up, and easy to work with. I think I might have to revive the idea on a regular basis.

Eventually I added some purple cats eye beads to the mix as well, to pair off with the druks. They match the seed beads almost perfectly and it worked out really well.

The shamrock green doesn’t give the palette the same industrial vibe as the peridot. I think it’s much more organic now, and the shape of the pendant is like motes of pollen clinging together under a microscope. Somehow it always comes back to nature!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Poster Sketch: The Sky is Falling

Comets, shooting stars, and mysterious objects falling to Earth from outer space. These phenomena have been intriguing and inspiring humanity since the dawn of time. The idea that space rocks contain magical, mythical elements has been the theme behind many fantasy and sci-fi stories. Lovers wishing on a shooting star is a classic romantic hook.

This week's Poster Sketch/Treasury East is dedicated to jewelry inspired by these themes. Whether you're an academic or a romantic, there's no denying the allure of space rocks! To see the entire collection, and learn more about the artists behind these creations, visit The Sky is Falling.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Ice Planet Necklace

The vast variety of beads never ceases to amaze me. They come in so many different materials, colors, shapes and sizes. A bead is basically just an object with a hole, and size isn’t a factor. From tiny vintage 24/o seeds, to giant felted globes - if you can string it, it’s a bead.

The same kind of easy definition does not apply to other round objects that capture our imaginations. In 2006, scientists came together and decided that in order to be a planet, an object in the sky can’t just be big and round. The new, precise definition of a true planet is an object that orbits the sun, is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity, and big enough to collect smaller objects along it's orbit. Because Pluto is not large enough to ‘dominate’ the other bodies in it’s path around the sun, it was bumped from the short list of true planets, and is now one of dozens of dwarf planets in our solar system.

The Inspiration:

Pluto / Charon From Hydra
Image Credit: Dallas1200am.

I wanted to do a piece in a sort of tribute to Pluto - the icy un-planet. It would be a great project to complete as the weather warms up - a talisman against the coming summer heat. As I considered different ways to depict a distant ice orb with beads, I decided to simply use the ice theme and go from there. This is not just due to the fact that it's tough to find a picture of what the surface of Pluto really looks like. Sometimes we just have to use our imaginations!

The Beads:

I started with some wonderfully icy Czech fire polish rounds. These are 4mm in shimmering light aqua AB. I paired them with white-lined aqua 11/o seed beads, and silver lined aqua 15/o’s. Although each shade is slightly different, together they are very icy indeed.

The Beadwork:

Since I had so many wonderful fire polish beads to work with, I couldn’t resist using a little pearl netting. I made four tubes of different sizes, then used right angle weave and a few spare fire polish to stitch them together. With a row of icicles built, I added a strand of fire polish and some sparkling silver-lined crystal 6/o seed beads.

This is one of those pieces that I wasn’t sure would work out until the very end. In fact, even when it was finished I had some doubts about the design. “Is it too weird?”, I wondered. Then I slipped the necklace on and took a peek in the mirror. When worn, it looks great! The pendant has a unique shape, and is just the right size to be interesting but not overbearing.

Blue Icicles Pendant

I would like to thank Beads Direct UK for providing the Czech fire polish beads used in this piece. Inspirational Beading has not received paid compensation for including Beads Direct products or reviews in this blog post. I have shared my honest opinions about the products used in this design.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Poster Sketch: Space Invaders

One of the best things about the science fiction genre is the diversity of it’s characters. Robots and alien creatures are pure fantasy, and they can become whatever a writer, director or artist wants them to be. They can be terrifying, or hilarious. They can be hideous, or beautiful. They often have many human qualities, but they can also be soulless villains.

This week’s Poster Sketch is a tribute to the many faces of the sci-fi world. These robot and alien inspired beads and accessories are wonderful examples of the endless possibilities of imagination and creativity. To see the live collection, or see more work from these artists, visit the Space Invaders treasury. You can also search for these shops by typing the artist’s name into the Seller Search on Etsy.com.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Etsy.com

Morse Code Necklace

A summer Beading Daily blog post on Cellini Spiral describes a finicky sort of beader who buys beads and components for projects in the exact quantities needed - down to the exact number of seed beads and all. Not only does this sound frustrating to a bead collector like me - all those counts and calculations! - but it doesn't sound like much fun either. One of my greatest sources for inspiration is my collection of beads. Each time I pull out my carefully organized trays, I discover a new combination of colors and shapes to use.

The Inspiration:

These pretty blue rectangle shells have been calling to me for some time now, waiting for the right bead partners or color palette to set off my creativity. I have been having so much fun with shell coins and ovals lately that I was determined to finally put them to good use.

As I was mentally sketching different patterns and ideas, it occurred to me that by pairing them with round shells, I could create the dots and dashes patterns used in Morse code.

The Beads:

I considered many different palettes to use with the rectangles, and finally decided on a nautical combination of yellow, white and navy blue. I also added some teal colored 11/o seed beads to tie everything together. For the Morse code dots, I used yellow shell coins, which are roughly the same size as the blue rectangle "dashes".

The Beadwork:

The most obvious pattern choice for a Morse code design is, of course, S.O.S. I strung the circles and rectangles between seed beads, alternating between bright sunny yellow and a combination of white and navy. To make the beadwork strong, and keep it metal free, I tied off the threads in two peyote stitch circles - they bear a convenient resemblance to the portholes on a ship!

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading