February Pinspiration

Beaders, today I am blogging on location from a kids' hamster village - you know the kind with impossible to supervise (unless you're an acrobat) tunnels and trackways? - and have just learned that my son is pretty much big enough to handle it without me. I sort of hate it here, but he loves it and begged all day yesterday to visit. So, in order to distract myself from the notion that he could have some sort of crisis at any moment, but will probably just have a good time, I'm searching for fantastic pins while Dad has a turn keeping an eye on things.

I'm always amazed at just how easy it is to find beautiful and inspiring images on Pinterest - and you don't even have to do a search first. Here are some of my favorites of late...

I seem to be in a pink/red/navy/turquoise kind of mood. Or perhaps everyone else is!

What's inspiring you this week?

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Book Spotlight: Rubber Stamped Jewelry

Most handmade jewelry is unique and even one of a kind, because there are so many ways to combine materials and techniques with each designer’s personal style. Even when we try to recreate something that we’ve been inspired by in a magazine or chain store, the finished piece has qualities that simply can’t be mass produced. It's one of the things that makes creating your own jewelry so rewarding - each piece has a little bit of you in it!

Of all the different styles of beading and jewelry designs that have become popular in the last century, nothing is quite as unique and remarkable as mixed media jewelry. By combining fluid and organic elements like fibers, clays, and ink, designers can create pieces that are completely one of a kind. Even when you reproduce the same steps more than once, the nature of the techniques makes them slightly different every time.

In Rubber Stamped Jewelry,jewelry artist Sharilyn Miller provides a wealth of information to beaders who are just getting started with mixed media, plus a new and exciting avenue for designers who are already adept at combining materials for eclectic jewelry.

The first half of the book is an encyclopedia of mixed media and rubber stamping techniques. The number of techniques covered is almost too many to list. Sharilyn begins with some jewelry making basics like choosing materials and tools, and wrapping headpins. She has even included several tutorials for making your own components like jump rings, headpins and clasps. Readers will also learn how to use stamps, create molds, heat embossing powder, make and decorate polymer clay components, braid and knot jewelry fibers and cord, create unique beads and focals with shrink plastic, and many more fabulous ideas for mixed media jewelry.

There are 20 jewelry project examples to try, each using a variety of the techniques covered in the basics. Though there are no diagrams to guide you through the list of steps, each project includes an index so you can easily find the correct basics section to study before you begin. The designs themselves are so intriguing, it’s hard to believe that they were inspired by rubber stamps!

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
Sharilyn Miller and North Light Books
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Bead Inspired: Spring Swirls

Thanks to the inspirations of soutache artist Amee K., I’ve been noticing soutache embroidery jewelry everywhere lately. The wonderful swirling, curving shapes of this unique beadwork are hard to resist. There’s just something so appealing about all of those beads snuggled into the fibers.

Swirl patterns, especially organic or freeform ones, are always in style. They bring to mind some of our favorite comforting things, like tropical waves, dandelion seeds on a breeze, or just doodling while on the phone with a good friend. When I came across a beautiful pink and blue lampwork bead by Michal Silberberg, I couldn’t resist adding it to a collage. Not only does it have wonderful layers of multicolored swirls, but marching dots of glass - one of my favorite lampwork embellishments.

Spring Swirl by mortira featuring surgical steel earrings

I added some more swirling, soft, and curvy elements, as well as a good dose of stripes. I was so eager to get started that I didn’t spend much time around the shop. There are some even more inspiring designs in amazing color combos. This is one of my favorites, which features a gorgeous contrast of black, lime, and orange:

Rainbow Lampwork Focal by Michal Silberberg

And, while I was at it, I decided to make use of a favorite bracelet clipping from my round up of Pantone inspired emerald goodies. I'm a sucker for chunky bangles when looking for collage ideas, especially transparent ones. Even though I’m anti-plastic in my designs, I can't help but love the look of chunky resin - probably because it reminds me so much of glass, but in delightful abundance.

Dorothy's Lunch Date by mortira featuring lime green handbags

Whenever I see crystal clear emerald green, I instantly think of the scene in Return to Oz, when Dorothy must rescue her friends who have been turned into emerald figurines. It’s a favorite collage and treasury theme of mine -there’s something so great about the combination of ruby red, emerald green, and a chicken.

What’s inspiring you today?

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Red and Pink Jewelry Designs

Just as fashion trends come and go, so too do the ‘rules’ of what to wear. At this time of year, one of the biggest debates has often been whether or not it’s acceptable to combine red with pink. For a long time it was a most definite Don’t, but things are changing. If mixing prints is okay, then so is the combination of two colors that were once thought to clash. The trick is using the right proportions.

Red and Pink Bead Embroidery by Dreams of Charlotte

With color blocking continuing to be a popular trend for garments, pairing bold colors together is almost always a Yes. But what about jewelry? Thanks to the wide variety of finishes and shapes available for beaders, there are a lot of great ways to pair pink and red for romantic and cute spring jewelry. Lipstick red and hot pink are a favorite, but there's also room for scarlet, baby pink, and the orangey shades of coral.

I recently went on a hunt for fabulous pink and red designs. Some of my favorite pieces are those that made use of a third color - something to both anchor and separate the two colors and create a pleasing trio. Some combinations work better than others, and as with all bead palettes, the finish is just as important as the color.

Spring Earrings by Little Apples





Necktie Bracelet by Pistil and Pennyroyal





Fused Glass Heart Pendant by Silver River Jewelry





Valentine Necklace by Sweety Stuff





Red Sorbet Bracelet by Town of Beadrock





Valentine Button Charm Bracelet by randomcreative





Retro Fabric Button Earrings by Hollywood Hillbilly





Double Strand Stone Necklace by Red Chair





Wooden Triangle Necklace by Theia Design





Cherry Blossom Earrings by Verveine Designs





Neon Minimalist Necklace by NES Wedding Garden

How do you feel about this newly approved color combo? Are you using it in your spring designs?

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Time Capsule: Three Short Years

Do good things happen to those who wait? I think this is often the case, although perhaps there’s a little more involved than just sitting idle while that waiting goes on. As I approach my 4 year anniversary of selling jewelry online, I find myself wondering if I should assess just what it means to be successful. To be honest, moving forward and improving in beadwork and presentation are always at the top of my goals list. As long as I can continue to stay in business, I will, even it it’s not making me rich.

Three years ago this month, I debuted my first Egyptian inspired beadwork collar, as part of a series of designs I made based on famous females. It was a great theme, which also included favorite designs like Emily Carr’s necklace, and a fantastic interview with Barbie maven Margaux Lange. Coincidentally, Nefertiti’s collar found its owner this week, and I suddenly realized just how long it’s been waiting.

But is three years such a long time? Even brick and mortar stores have product that doesn’t sell for years. I used to shop at a tiny grocery store that had housewares from the 1970’s, so dusty that you could barely see the labels on the package. I certainly don’t want that to happen to any of my designs. Last year’s jewelry purge was a very rewarding experience, and one I plan to repeat whenever it needs doing.

If you love something you have to let it go - or in the case of jewelry inventory, sometimes you just have to keep it for yourself. One piece of advice that is often repeated by help articles for online sellers is not to get attached to your work. Be critical. Take the crud out. And while I agree one hundred percent, I also think it’s important to persevere when you know that somewhere out there, your design has a mate.

Let’s confess and compare. What’s the longest you’ve had a design in your shop before selling or retiring it?

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