Bead Inspirations and Art Collages

Do you ever find yourself getting hooked on things? Perhaps you get tickled by a new bead color or beading technique, and want to use them all the time. Or you find a special treat that you want to have every day. Recently, my favorite indulgence is collages. I’ve always been a fan of clipping and collecting on Polyvore, but adding lampwork beads to the mix has taken it to a whole new level. I hope you like it too, because I think I’ll be sharing them often in the future - at least until I find a new creative fixation.

Yesterday I found an absolutely stunning lampwork focal with daisy-colored flowers on a jet black background, by Sandy Pandy Beads. It was so beautiful, I just had to clip it. I love the way the flower pops against the background, and the absolute black adds a sophisticated, daring feel to the design. It’s the kind of bead that wants to go out on the town for a wild night.

Lunar Eclipse by mortira featuring butterfly stud earrings

You might remember some fun collages that I shared made by another Polyvore fan, which paint pictures using the unique shapes of clothing and catalogue shots. I was even more thrilled to find some amazing ‘paintings’ that use a variety of images in complex layers, by artist kiki. I love the unique shapes and colors of the more abstract pieces, and the clever combinations of images in others. Here are a few of my favorites:

Untitled #261 by kiki925 on polyvore.com

Untitled #258 by kiki925 on polyvore.com

Untitled #245 by kiki925 on polyvore.com

Untitled #248 by kiki925 on polyvore.com

What’s your favorite inspiration of late?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Sandy Pandy Beads and kiki925
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Book Spotlight: Sensational Bead Embroidery

I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a book title more appropriate than Sherry Serafini’s Sensational Bead Embroidery.If you love beads or jewelry of any medium, it’s almost certain that this book will keep you in awe from start to finish.

Part of the Beadweaving Master Class series, this book explores the art of intricate bead embroidery in a way that allows even beginners to give this medium a try. And when your instructor is the talented Sherry Serafini, it’s impossible not to be inspired. Her use of unique materials and color palettes makes her designs stand out from the pack, and she shares exactly how to make them!

The book begins with a detailed overview of materials and tools, including types of beads and how they are used in embroidery. After guiding you through the basics of embroider stitches, bezel techniques and fringes, Sherry covers topics on color and design that will help you to create your own stunning and original designs.

There are 25 projects in all, varying in size and difficulty. Beginners can start with the gorgeous but quick to stitch statement rings, then move on to pendants, brooches, cuffs and elaborate beaded collars. Sherry has incorporated a variety of cabochon and bead styles into the projects, so you can choose your favorites or explore something new. Each project includes a full materials list and step-by-step instructions, with diagrams to guide you through the trickier techniques.

Throughout each chapter are gorgeous full color photographs of Sherry Serafini’s signature beadwork to help inspire you, and show examples of variations on the techniques and materials being used. To add even more sparkle and encouragement, Sensational Bead Embroidery finishes with a gallery of designs from artists such as Heidi Kummli, Laura McCabe, Diane Hyde, and NanC Meinhardt.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Sherry Serafini and Lark Crafts
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Blue Lime Necklace

This week I decided to go ahead and use one of our recent bead color trios. I like the combination of blue and brown Picasso coins with transparent lemon lime so much, that I just couldn’t resist. I changed things up a bit by omitting the aqua blue seed beads, and adding some extra elements. For a focal, I chose a pretty blue carved bone tube bead. Extra accents of olive green cat eyes and rose gold vintage druks play along perfectly with the original blues and greens.

The strand of Picasso coins provided a perfect pattern for the beaded chains. There were two each of every color variation, but only one deep blue, which became the perfect topper for a Y shaped design. I was really intrigued and pleased with the shape of the new looped accents I tried out for my Hunger Games necklace, so I used them again here.

The pattern that I chose, combined with the bead shapes and colors, created an interesting new effect. I placed a topaz 6/o bead to either side of each green cat eye before adding the looped embellishments, and the result looks curiously like peas in a pod. I would love to try this design again, perhaps using some of these pea-like Czech glass beads. I’ve been eyeing these ovals for a long time, with thoughts of more vegetable inspired nature jewelry.

Lime Green Czech Ovals
from Happy Mango Beads

I'm absolutely thrilled with how the necklace turned out. I'm always a sucker for lime green, but the Picasso blue and rose gold make it even more delicious. What's your favorite go-to color combination?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Spotlight: Natural Bone

The art of bead making is hundreds of thousands of years old, and one of the first materials that primitive humans used to create their jewelry and adornments is bone. Readily available, easy to carve, and receptive to dyes, bone was ideal for bead making, and continues to be so today.

Most bone beads available to crafters and designers are made from the discarded bones of domestic animals like cows, camels, and sheep. They can be carved, polished, and dyed to create a wide variety of accent beads and unique focals with primitive, traditional, or modern styles. Here are just a few examples of fabulous bone beads for jewelry making:

Blue Bone Rondelles
From World’s Edge Beads





Bone Dice Beads
From Happy Mango Beads





Natural Bone Rondelles
From FusionBeads.com





Carved Bone Skull Beads
From Hemp Hutt





Yellow Tan Carved Bone Tubes
From Happy Mango Beads





Carved Ox Bone Koi Fish
From Artbeads.com





Elephant Motif Three Hole Beads
From Nepal Beads





Red Bone Oval Frame Beads
From Dragon Bead





Found Fish Bone Beads
From Original Cyn

Most bone beads are created with common bead shapes, and can be used in the same ways as gemstones or glass. Here are some fun project ideas using bone beads, including a few that are inspired by the bones themselves:

Ancient Roman Glass Necklace Tutorial
by Keirsten Giles





Carved Bone Flower Bracelet Project
by Lorri Ely





DIY Pebbles Flintstone Necklace
by Look What Melissa Made





DIY Sparkly Bone Necklace
by Cateaclysmic





Bead Collector's Bone Necklace Project
by Marlynn McNutt and Fire Mountain Gems

Also check out a copper and bone necklace tutorial by Cyndi Lavin at Beading Arts, and how to make a lampwork bone bead on For the Love of Beads.

For the more adventurous designer, carving and shaping custom bone beads is a lot easier than it sounds. Nature provides a great many sources for found bones that can be used as-is - with a little bleaching and drying - or carved and dyed to make unique beads. This Maori hook pendant tutorial by Calvin of Maker Weekend uses pre-dried bones from pet supply stores! If you’re thinking of giving it a shot, remember to wear protective gear, including goggles and a quality dust mask, as the tiny particles from cutting and sanding bone pose a health hazard if inhaled.

Blooming Vertebrae Pendant
By Silentcheesecake

What do you think of bone beads? What’s your favorite way to use them?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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Unexpected Colors

My latest destash mission went through many different stages before I was finally ready to begin. The beads to be used were just a small handful of Swarovski crystals in amethyst, sapphire and crystal golden shadow. A pretty enough palette, but what to do with them?

At first I wanted to use these crystals to embellish a spiral rope bracelet, but I got bored with the idea before it was even begun. Eventually I decided to use them in a St. Petersburg necklace, and that’s where things got weird.

I needed some additional 4mm beads to make chains long enough for a V necklace, so I added the last of my cherry red druks leftover from making strawberry pendants. As usual, I didn’t have enough of one or two 8/o seed bead colors to do a whole necklace, so I paired up each accent color with a different seed bead. It took some time to find a pattern that would use each of the druks and crystals evenly, and once the seed beads were added, the quirky look really came through.

For a focal, I used a Czech glass tile with a Greek key, and added one to each end to extend the length of the chains a bit. The addition of the orangey-topaz adds yet another odd element to an already unusual necklace, but if I was going to do it over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

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From Spain with love

The postlady, who shares my thrills and delight each time she comes carrying gifts from friends
surprised me with a wonderful parcel from Spain.  Carmen - http://lamaisoncarmen.blogspot.com/.
Carmen,  a visit to your beautiful, inspiring blog is a privilege to be grateful for. Getting gifts is an unexcpected bonus.  THANK YOU!!!

I have to show you what this exquisite dress looks from the back.  A perfect finish.  The knitted top is beautiful and so is the matching bonnet. Very delicate lace bordered blue linen, a baby bottle and a silver pacifier, which will be wonderful for the nursary I have in mind.

The list of my followers is growing.  A warm welcome to Lucille, who doesn't have a blog yet.  I am trying to convince her to enter this wonderful world.

Tomorrow is Lag- Baomer Day.  Tonight,  all around us are bonfires and the smell of smoke.  It's a wonderful event for our young children, who for weeks have been collecting wood for the bonfires.
The view of bonfires scattered around for miles, is stunning if you are up on the roof of a tall building.

Blessings to all my friends and a good night 

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Lampwork Inspirations

Yesterday I had some fun making an Egyptian themed fashion collage, and then I played around a bit and made one for my One Zebra Necklace. I was having such a good time that I decided to keep going, and ended up creating some interesting looks based on handmade lampwork beads. I started with just four beads from some of my favorite artists, and added pieces that enhanced their colors and themes.

Bumblebee Dreams by Grace Lampwork Beads
became an enchanted garden:

Lavender Honey by mortira featuring diamond jewelry

Galia by Green Bird Studio
became a tropical beach getaway:

Passion Flower by mortira featuring judith leiber handbags

Juicy Red Flower Spacers from Lampwork by Amy
became a park in spring:

Bowl of Cherries by mortira featuring a zipper dress

Purple Nautilus by Shed Beads
became an underwater paradise:

Jellyfish by mortira featuring aquamarine jewelry

I really enjoyed playing with colors and textures, using beads as a starting point. What do you think?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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