Favorite Beads: Faceted Glass

Amber Verdigris Necklace

Today my guest, Caroline of Dark Ride Jewellery, shares insights into one of her favorite beading materials.

Inspirational Beading: What is your all-time favorite bead? Why do you like them?

Caroline: You’d think this’d be any easy question. Well, I can’t choose! There are too many glorious beads out there! I’m crazy about translucent faceted glass beads, though, with Picasso finishes and/or a fire polish. I like the rusticity and the diversity among beads of a similar type. For example, the beads in both my Amber Verdigris Necklace and Amber Verdigris Earrings are from the same series, but they really exemplify the range within one series.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite technique or method to use them?

Caroline: Most often I embellish with either a very simple bead cap or just a wrapped loop. I hate to cover even a millimetre of them! I also tend to use them as charms, so that they can move and catch the light.

Pond Drops Bracelet

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

Caroline: I really like the Pond Drops Bracelet and would probably wear it everyday if it wasn’t in my shop. For nighttime glamour, though, I’d choose the Moss Green Choker. Actually, these two pieces also display another aspect of Picasso finishes that appeals to me -- on one hand they can be appear rustic and earthy, and on the other they can be glamorous and elegant.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have any tips for making the most of these beads?

Caroline: I’m a relative newcomer to jewellery making, so I feel I’m in the taking tips stage, not giving them! I tend to follow my own design instincts.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite bead or material to pair these with?

Caroline: I work almost exclusively with antiqued brass or bronze chains and findings. I’m drawn to vintage or period styles, and these materials, combined with gorgeous glass, allow me to access those vibes.

Inspirational Beading: If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could have only one kind of bead with you, would you choose these?

Moss Green Choker

Caroline: I’d definitely choose a Picasso finished and fire polished bead so I could rearrange them and pretend they were different everyday. Some of them are even translucent enough that they could be rigged into a signaling device (like, if the island was boring and I wanted to leave).

Inspirational Beading: In your opinion, what is the best source for these beads?

Caroline: Etsy! I do occasionally purchase beads from a local store, but this is generally the result of a beading emergency, and not the norm. I have a couple of Etsy shops that I return to over and over again, and I have always been more than satisfied by the quality, the value and the speed of delivery. Two of my favourites are Arte Bella Surplus and Treasures by Karen.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Dark Ride

Book Spotlight: The Beader’s Color Palette

I recently borrowed Margie Deeb’s The Beader’s Color Palette from the library for the second time. I wasn’t at all surprised to discover that it was just as inspiring as the first time I read it. Of all the beading books I’ve read over the years, this one is the most exciting.

Unlike a typical beading book, The Beader's Color Palette can never really become obsolete. Even if one master’s all 20 of the projects, the amazing color combinations and ideas are always there to eliminate beader’s block.

Margie’s 220 color suggestions offer invaluable inspiration for all types of beadwork, expertly designed with a professional eye for color. Each of the palettes uses standard Delica colors, and includes the numeric color values to make shopping a breeze. And with helpful tips on creating and adjusting color schemes, it’s easy to add accents like glass and gemstones for endless design possibilities.

In the introduction, Margie Deeb tells us “Color is so many things: an energy, a language, a means to discover yourself, a vehicle for expression, pure magic. Above all, color is, and should be, fun.”

The first chapter of The Beader's Color Palette gives effective instruction on understanding the combinations given in the book, how to create and adjust your own palettes, and how to translate the colors into beadwork. Margie guides the reader through the process, all the while encouraging us to trust our instincts and experiment.

The 220 beading palettes are organized into 5 main categories, with 28 delightful sub-categories to suit any taste or style. My personal favorites are Elemental Fire, Ancient Egypt, and Tropical Rainforest. The step-by-step projects help readers to understand how to combine the palettes with shape and form. Contributors include Heidi Kummli and Robin Atkins.

The final pages of the book are just as valuable as the rest. There is a gorgeous gallery of color-inspired beadwork designs, helpful beading tutorials, and shopping guides. In addition to an alphabetical index, there are also indexes for Delica colors and gemstones, so you can find palettes and projects for the materials you’d like to use.

Reading and understanding this guide is only half the fun. There are so many ways to use the palettes for inspiration. Sometimes all you have to do is close your eyes and pick one, to imagine your next great project.

The Beader’s Color Palette is published by Watson-Guptill Publications.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading, Margie Deeb and Watson-Guptill

Wear It Twice: Peridot Paradise

An everyday necklace is really only as good as the number of things you can wear it with. When we spend our hard-earned money on something, we want to know that we’ll be getting a lot of use out of it. So a necklace that can go from work to dancing to brunch, is a good investment.

Today I thought I would examine the versatility of a simple birthstone necklace. August’s birthstone, peridot, has such a fresh green color, and it begs to be paired with other pure, exuberant shades. After finding a pretty strand of peridot beads, I started to see a palette of beachy colors - green, white, aqua and gold.

Peridot Paradise by Mortira featuring Arden B Tops

For the first outfit, I started with a fun asymmetrical ruffle tank top in a vibrant, almost peacock turquoise. I added a pretty white pencil skirt, then topped it off with gold strappy wedges and a pair of vintage Dior sunglasses - perfect for a day on the boardwalk.

To create a more casual ensemble, I found a lovely belted tunic in white, and added a cute pair of sandy denim shorts. Teal gladiator sandals and a floppy sunhat complete the look, for a lazy day at the beach.

And of course, you can get these looks - or something like them - on Etsy!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Polyvore.com

Bead Spotlight: Shell and Pearl

Summer is a wonderful time of year for the found object beader. The weather is perfect for spending hours combing beaches for beautiful sea glass, stones, driftwood and shells to use in jewelry. These little treasures are even more wonderful when found at a favorite vacation spot, and make for great keepsake designs.

The difference between beach shells and typical shell beads is that the latter is usually man made, and created from the inner layers of certain shells. Mother of pearl, or nacre, is a common material for jewelry, not just as beads, but also as inlay for elaborate luxury components.

Shell and pearl beads come in an amazing array of sizes, shapes and colors. Most natural and man made types of shell can be bleached and dyed to achieve any color, giving beaders an endless supply of inspiration and design freedom.

Shell Bib Necklace
by Leanne Designs

Because we can instantly recognize mother of pearl by it’s iridescent finish, shell jewelry in any color palette often has a summery feel to it. We see a strong emotional connection between shells, and beaches, and sunshine.

Here are a few fun projects to try using different types of shell beads and pearls:

Something Blue Bridal Hair Pin from The {NewNew}
Falling Water Necklace from paper n stitch
Pearl and Starfish Necklace by Irina Miech and Bead Style Magazine

Happy beading!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Leanne Designs

A Flicker of Inspiration: Sunsets

August is here, and that means summer is nearly over. Although we may rush to try and fit in a few more summer activities, the days will grow shorter, and lazier. One of the most telling signs of summer’s end is our reluctance to head indoors. Sitting around the campfire or on the patio until the sun goes down is a great summer tradition, and makes for some beautiful memories. Perhaps these colorful sunsets will inspire your next great beading palette!

1. Post-storm sunset, 2. Palm Tree Sunset, 3. Purple Sunset over Toronto,
4. Pirate Ship Sunset, 5. Spring Storm, Sunset, 6. Fiery Sunset Over Snow Fields,
7. Field at Sunset - HDR, 8. Field Sunset, 9. Mountain Sunset,
10. Simien Mountain Sunset, 11. Mountain Sunset, 12. Gun Beach Sunset, 13. Landscape

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and Big Huge Labs