Inspired By Nature.

The wait is over. Heather Power's "Inspired by Nature" book has arrived! It is filled with gorgeous jewelry projects, divided into three categories: Woodlands (my favorite), Gardens and Sea. She lists the materials needed for each project with beautifully illustrated instructions. The design layout reminds me of a sketch journal. She also has a side bar giving insight into the inspiration behind each piece (my favorite part)!

One of the reasons for my interest and excitement about "Inspired by Nature" is that I too am immensely inspired by nature. Nature's beauty has always captivated me. It leaves me in awe every time. Whether it is hiking in the Adirondack mountains, walking beside the Atlantic ocean, admiring the beauty of the Autumn season or observing the woodland animals in my backyard, nature speaks to me and I relay it's message through my art.

This weekend, Heather is hosting an Inspired by Nature retreat along the shore of Lake Michigan. If I didn't have to prepare for an upcoming Arts and Music Festival, I would so be there! Sounds like an awesome weekend filled with inspiration, creativity, and making new friends. I can't wait to see what the attendees of the retreat create!

Inspired By Beauty

An amazing girl that I went to school with grades 6-12, suffers from Chiari. Chiari is a serious neurological condition that causes debilitating pain and life threatening symptoms. To date, there is no cure. In an effort to bring awareness of the disorder to western New York, where she lives, Agnes organized Buffalo's first Conquer Chiari Walk Across America in 2010. The nation-wide annual event, being held this year on Saturday September 17th, is helping to raise awareness of Chiari, as well as raise money for research.

16 karat gold plated brass square link chain, bronze Czech glass beads, vermeil s-hook clasp.

I wanted to make a contribution to the Buffalo event, in honor of Agnes, so I created this necklace for the auction to help raise money. Inspired by her beauty, inside and out, I designed a modern piece that I felt would appeal to most women. I choose gold and bronze because it has a nice warmth to it, perfect for the upcoming Autumn season. I hope it brings in some good bidding! For more information: Conquer Chiari

Love and Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Yesterday morning, my husband wanted to make sure I was well fueled for the bead show I attended, Northeast Bead Exstavaganza, in Severna Park. So he made me whole wheat Mickey Mouse pancakes, complete with Morning Star Farms soy sausages! I went to the show because there were some vendors in it that I missed at Bead Fest. I was able to find the items I was looking for and a few other goodies. It is one of the smaller bead shows that I have attended, but a decent selection of vendors.

My husband has been quite the savior lately. Last week, my computer pretty much bit the dust and he ordered me a new one. Being married to a computer geek does have it's benefits! It is so cool-everything is built into the flat screen monitor! With a 21.5" inch screen, it is much larger than my old one, which is perfect for photo editing. Perfect timing as I have a lot of photo editing from weekend assignments (in case you all didn't know, I am also a photojournalist).

So, to my amazing husband: thank you for all that you do! And not just because you make me Mickey Mouse pancakes, but also for just being wonderful you.

Woodland Bracelets

I have been spending almost every spare moment creating pieces for an upcoming Arts and Music Festival in Annapolis. I am working on different themed collections; Inspired by the Sea, Tribal Arts, Woodland and Winter Solstice. I just completed several bracelets that will be added to my Woodland collection. I really enjoyed working with the soapstone beads. I have had them for several years, waiting for inspiration. After spending time in the Pocono Mountains a few weekends ago, I returned to my studio with a collection of tree bark that had fallen to the forest floor. The variations in the soapstone reminded me of the color and texture of the bark.

I am super excited about my new designs and thought I would share them with you!

Soapstone, hematite, blown glass, antiqued silver twig toggle and pine cone.

I used black cotton cord instead of wire to string the beads, keeping with the rustic feel of the bracelet.

My favorite part is the twig toggle with the pine cone dangling from it!

 Pineapple quartz glass, lamp worked glass, antiqued brass square links, toggle and bird.

I love the element of surprise added by the green glass bead and the bird.

Recycled glass, siamese cassia tree stick bead, ceramic, palm wood, 

laminated wood barrel, antiqued copper wavy discs, toggle and pine cone. 

Reminds me of an autumn sunset!

Hurricane Irene

To everyone on the east coast: have a safe weekend!

Treasures From Bead Fest.

I have returned from Bead Fest with knowledge in soldering, after taking a metalsmithing class with Kieu Pham Gray, and a bag full of treasures! The class with Kieu was very educational and entertaining. After getting over my anxiety of using a torch, I created this fun spiral link bracelet that Kieu designed. I am very excited about my new skill! I even bought a soldering kit that her shop Urban Beader was selling. I can't wait to create with it!

This is the bracelet I created in Kieu's class!

The rest of my time at Bead Fest was spent shopping! The one thing I regret is not starting at the back where the artisan vendors were. I started in the front and was left with little time to check out all the wonderful creations they were selling. Here are some of the lovely artisan treasures that I purchased...

top left: toggle clasp from Earthenwood Studio

top right: pewter pendant and toggle from Green Girl Studios (I love the owl and twig toggle)

bottom left to right: 

ceramic beads and pendants from Firefly Design Studio

creamic beads from Elaine Ray at Ornamentea

flameworked glass from Nitabeads

Once I made my way to the artisan area, I started out at Ornamentea where I met Tracy Thomasson and the Uber talented Elaine Ray. I am now absolutely addicted to her beads! I had a really wonderful time talking with both ladies. Bead people are so awesome!

Check out all those gorgeous ceramic beads! 

I also purchased a gorgeous toggle clasp from Melanie Brooks at Earthenwood Studio. I don't think I will be able to part with the clasp, so the design I create will have to be added to my personal collection!

A lot of her creations were sold out. Mental note for next time: start with the artisan vendors!

One of my favorite vendors is Clever Treasures. Treasures, I certainly found!

The last stop was Silver Silk. The only reason it ended up being the last stop was because I couldn't find their booth. I kept getting turned around in the square maze of vendors! Did anyone else have that problem? I normally have a good sense of direction, but not this Bead Fest. I blame it on the new location. That is my story and I am sticking to it! By the time I made it there, they were sold out of everything I wanted. But Becky gave me some samples of their gorgeous new burgundy and bronze knitted wire. Both have been added to my must buy list!

The awesome Becky Machinski cleaning up after a busy weekend of selling.

This year, I was drawn to teal, earth tones and beads that had a tribal characteristic to them. 

Here are some of the highlights...

recycled glass from African Beads

dyed faceted rectangle agate from Star's Clasps

dyed fire agate from Commercial Resources (NJ) Corp

pyrite from Chico Silver

panganto wood from Priscilla Marban 

agate from Commercial Resources (NJ) Corp

agate and antique soo chow jade from Bead Plus Silver 

giraffe pattern agate from Commercial Resources (NJ) Corp

porcelain cubes from Cherry Tree Beads 

trapezoid shaped wood from J&M Gems and Things

colored lava rock beads from Cherry Tree Beads

Some of my fun findings:

 decoupage pendants from Prascilla Marban

polyester link chain in gray and olive from Beadalon

knitted wire in bronze and burgundy from Silver Silk

brass leaf pendants from Sonoran Beads 

words and leaf pendants from Lipstick Ranch

Metal beauties:

Thai silver, brass, silver brass and brass heishi from Hands of the Hills

sterling silver plated copper chain and rhodium plated copper rectangle beads from Bead Palace

patterned chain from Primitive Earth Beads

Another year, another shopping trip gone by all too fast! But I am giddy with excitement over my new treasures!

Bead Soup Block Party Beads Have Arrived!

The extraordinarily talented Maria Clark of Sweet Willow Designs, my BSBP partner, sent me the most amazing bead soup! I am not a fan of texting shorthand, but OMG are they gorgeous! My eyes widened, my jaw dropped and ideas started spinning in my head as I opened the lovely pouch she mailed them in. I am so doing the Snoopy dance right now!

The focal and accent beads, two of which were used to create a really cool clasp, were all created by Maria. Wow! She also sent some really cool dyed serpentinite jasper rondelles, copper beads with a turquoise splash, oxidized copper round beads and a variety of bone beads too. What a gorgeous combination-turquoise and copper! It reminds me of summer changing to autumn.

Now, onto creating...

Bead Fest Adventure.

In a few hours I will be making my way to Bead Fest Philadelphia-woohoo! Three days of shopping and learning-what more could a bead addict, I mean jewelry artist ask for! I am finalizing my list of favorite vendors to visit. Any last minutes suggestions? What are some of your favorite vendors?

For those of you attending, have safe travels and a wonderful weekend in beadland!

Bead Soup Block Party.

This is the first time I am participating in the Bead Soup Block Party, hosted by the ultra talented Lori Anderson. I am very excited about being paired up with Maria Clark of Sweet Willow Designs. She creates gorgeous jewelry with mixed media and polymer clay. I have been wanting to create with polymer clay for some time (bought all the materials, just need to get started) and think Maria will inspire me.

  I mailed out Maria's bead soup yesterday and hope she finds inspiration in the mix!

I am really looking forward to not only creating with the bead soup Maria sends me but also blog hopping and getting to know other artists in the beading community. I can't wait to see what everyone creates-what fun!

Beads of Clay Giveaway!

I recently started incorporating clay beads and pendants into my designs. I spotted this giveaway while blog surfing and had to share it! I would love to win these gorgeous ceramic treasures, wouldn't you? The artists that are sharing their creations are: Pam Cresswell, Elaine Ray, Dana Sieben, MaryAnn Carroll and Yolanda Miramontes. The drawing will be held on August 17th, so you still have some time left! You can enter and read more about it at Beads of Clay .