Inspiring Links: May 2012

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a round up of interesting and inspiring blogs and articles, and I have some fantastic things to share with you this month. The first is very exciting - the creators at All Free Beaded Jewelry selected Inspirational Beading’s Potawatomi daisy chain tutorial to be a part of their latest beading eBook Seed Bead Patterns and Projects. There are 11 projects in all, and it’s absolutely free to download.

In an excerpt from Margie’s Muse, color expert Margie Deeb discusses the ways that patterns can enhance beadwork and create a unified, eye-catching design.

Cuffs are in! Cindy Caraway of Artful Living on the Bluff shows off some gorgeous freeform cuffs, and how to use a two-color bead soup two ways! And what do you get when you add ribbon to right angle weave? Gorgeous beadwork corset cuffs by A Rose by Name.

New Beginnings by mortira featuring platform shoes

The idea of working with metals might make me cringe, but when another artist does something spectacular with them, I can’t help but appreciate it. This Handy Dandy copper bracelet project from the Artbeads.com learning center really caught my eye!

In honor of their 15th anniversary, Beadwork magazine is hosting a beaded bead bead-along and contest. In each 2012 issue of Beadwork, you can find a new beaded bead tutorial to try. Share a piece of jewelry using one or more of the beads, and you could have your design published in the first issue of 2013!

Neons have been a fashion staple for the past few seasons, and now they are finally part of our bead palettes too! Three new bright and bold Swarovski Elements crystal pearls offer some fun possibilities for summer designs. So far we have hot pink, orange, and yellow to choose from. Check out the Bright Back Atcha Bracelet project from Fusionbeads.com to see them in action.

Source: quiltrobin.com via Mary Anne on Pinterest

If you’re thinking of making some jewelry gifts for dads this Father’s Day, Fire Mountain Gems has some tips for dressing up your favorite guy in sophisticated black and blue beads. And for the bead embroidery lovers, here’s a fun tutorial for making your own sewing tool and pincushion caddy, from Flamingo Toes.

There’s a little something missing from this list of beautiful upcycled light bulb projects on Dishfunctional Designs. Imagine some of them filled with beautiful beads!

What’s your favorite inspiration of late?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
Subscribe to Inspirational Beading
Get inspired on Facebook and Google+