Collections: Beautiful Beads

This week my ArtFire tutorial shop will be closing. In an effort to save a little money - for more beads, of course! - I have decided to let it go. Although I didn’t have much of a chance to establish a regular blog there, I did put together some all-bead collections that I think are worth saving. They also make a wonderful farewell to summer!

If Mermaids Had Torches...




Beautiful Blossom Beads

All of my tutorials are now available on Etsy, and for a limited time, personal use PDFs are on sale for just 5 dollars each.

Happy beading!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Time Capsule: August 2008

It was three years ago this month that Inspirational Beading began, and I started on a journey that seemed so small at first. Four hundred and fifty posts later, I can hardly believe how much this blog has grown. My original concept was simply to share what I was making, what inspired it, and the materials that I had used. But new ideas kept forming, and now Inspirational Beading has so many regular segments that I can barely fit them all in every month.

One of my favorite things about blogging, is creating a stamp in time - a reference to what was happening at that moment. It’s fun, and sometimes a little scary, to go back and review old posts. For me, it’s wonderful to see how much my designs and photography have improved, along with my skills as a blogger.

To celebrate how far Inspirational Beading has come, we’re going to go back and take a look at some posts from three years ago, and how different they are from what you’ll find here today. There were only three posts in August 2008, and all of them were part of the original concept: The Inspiration, The Beads and The Beadwork.

The difference in photography style is very noticeable. Since then, I’ve made changes to everything from backgrounds and lighting, to angles and props. Although I still use metal coasters as bead cups when I’m working on a design, it’s been a long time since I used them for photographing bead palettes. After awhile, the glare off the metal started to get to me. I much prefer the small, clear cups that I use now, which make seed beads look more full, and displaying accent beads loose against the backdrop.

I experimented with a lot of different background materials, including cloth, felt, paper and mirrors. None of them really produced nice photographs, especially with poor lighting. Today I’m really happy with the textured black posterboard and indirect sunlight approach. The third photograph below was taken in April of 2010, as part of the 6th Photo Game. I re-photographed the beads from one of my original posts to show the difference in style and quality. Today, I’m happy to report that I finally used up that bead mixture!

Do you ever look back on old blogs or journals and compare them to today?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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A Flicker of Inspiration: Leaves

It’s not quite time for the leaves to change yet, though some trees are getting ready for it. Today I wanted to take a look at some of the wonderful qualities of leaves around the year. Not only do they come in an amazing variety of colors and shapes, but their patterns and textures are also something to behold. Whether in a cluster, or a single leaf up close, they are some of nature’s most beautiful creations.

1. Sunlight Ignites the Leaves,
2. 274/365: Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.,
3. Day 83 15.10.08 when autumn leaves start to fall..,

4. A very happy leaf in company, 5. Ginkgo Leafs, 6. Leaves,

7. Leaves, 8. Green leaf alien, 9. Leaves,

10. Leaves and Water, 11. Jatropha hybrid - Leaf detail (129 DAS), 12. Single-lobed sassafras leaf,

13. Leaf Macro Texture, 14. Leaf, 15. leaf 2

Do you have a favorite type of leaf? How to you like to incorporate leaves into your designs?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
Flickr Collage by BigHugeLabs.com
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Favorite Techniques: Beaded Washers

Sometimes, the beading techniques that we favor most are inspired by the use of a favorite material. Delica lovers are masters of peyote stitch. Chainmaille and jump rings go hand in hand. Today my guest, Tamara of Vanishing Pearl Jewelry, shares an insight into her favorite combination of technique and material - beaded washers.

Inspirational Beading: What is your all time favorite beading or jewelry technique?

Tamara: I don't necessarily have a favorite beading or jewelry technique. I believe that most designs will dictate the techniques used as you go along. However, I have recently been designing jewelry pieces that incorporate beaded washers! They are made using circular brick stitch with various embellishments. This is my current favorite line of jewelry.

Inspirational Beading: How did you decide to make this combination?

Tamara: I first came across washers as a design element while bored at Wal-Mart in the middle of the night. You can see the entire story behind beaded washers on my blog. Ever since then, I've had nothing but washers on my mind. I had learned circular brick stitch years ago, but it had never occurred to me to use something with a large hole in the middle rather than wrapping thread around a bead and going from there. This was a revelation for me and is still an experimental process.

Inspirational Beading: Of all the creations you’ve made with this technique, which one is your favorite?

Tamara: I'd have to say that Fire Powered Plumbing is still my favorite. This was my very first beaded washer piece and the most challenging to make. It was a finalist in the 2009 Fire Mountain Gems beading contest. This piece opened up a whole new set of possibilities for me, which I am constantly expanding upon.

Inspirational Beading: Can you share any tips for getting started with this method?

Tamara: Actually, I recently uploaded a free photo tutorial on my blog! It includes a material list and step by step instructions for one of many beaded washer designs. You can embellish them in any way you like or look out for more tutorials from me in the future.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite material to use it with?

Tamara: There is no need to just stop at washers! I have used rubber washers and rubber O rings. Go one step further and venture into your bead stash. There is a piece that I made using mother of pearl shell disks. I call it Jasmine Fancy. I plan on using stone donuts, glass donuts, lampwork discs, rondelle beads, and anything else I can get my hands on.

Inspirational Beading: If someone had to choose to learn only one technique, would you recommend this one?

Tamara: I would definitely recommend this as a beginning technique. Although the stitch is very easy, the uses are limited only by your imagination. The amount of variety is endless. I have even changed the color of the thread according to what looks best at the time. I'm sure that patinas and paints could be applied to washers to give them different effects. Plus, washers are lightweight and fairly inexpensive. That's always a bonus in my book!

You can see more unique beaded washer designs and inspirations at Vanishing Pearl on Etsy and Facebook. For more fun beading ideas and to see what’s new, visit Tamara’s blog, Vanishing Pearl.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Vanishing Pearl
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Inspired by Apples

Can you believe that September is nearly here? We say it every year, but where did summer go? It always seems to fly by in a flash. The good news is that with fall comes a steady stream of wonderful inspirations. We can leave behind the beach and think of harvest vegetables, colorful leaves and of course, back to school fashions.

Cafeteria Girl by mortira featuring long sleeve tops

Apple is A ;) by girlyskullsam featuring crossbody bags

Apples are associated with school and teachers for many reasons, with traditions from many cultures and time periods gelled together into today’s practice of putting shiny red apples on teacher gifts and back to school products.



In the early days of classroom education, teachers made very little money, and their pay was often supplemented by gifts of food from students and their parents. Potatoes and apples were a common payment. Apples are also considered to be the fruit of the tree of knowledge, and are a symbol of education in many countries.



Although apples come in a variety of colors, it is the red varieties that we usually think of first. It is very common for red to dominate how we represent symbols that come in different colors, like lipstick, road signs, and berries. Perhaps this is because red is a strong, passionate color, associated with both power and hunger. It demands to be first.





What are your favorite school-themed inspirations?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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