Bonjour mes amies! Today, let’s take a trip over to Gaul – well, selected parts of Gaul at any rate! Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron and Roman ages (anyone else read Asterix when they were wee?) encompassing not only France, Belgium, Luxembourg, but most of Switzerland, and parts of Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. As our monthly challenge is beautiful Van Gogh rendition of Montmartre, and also as I recently returned from a very lovely trip to Paris, I thought it would be apt to create a treasury of French art beads and buttons. I must say, I struggled a little so opened the doors to include Belgium and Luxembourg. Some very lovely and unusual pieces I’m sure you’ll agree – some are tiny lampworked sculptures, not technically beads – but can’t you just see them wire wrapped into a beautiful and unusual piece of jewellery?
‘French, Belgian and Luxembourgish Bead Artists’ by songbead
 Lot of 6 pcs 3 pairs handmad…
$4.90
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 Two Ceramic Charms/Beads Owl…
$8.00
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 Set of 20 handcrafted bulb P…
$24.99
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 hippie flower – handmade cer…
$5.80
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 big blue ceramic butterfly p…
$14.00
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 Handmade lampwork glass bead…
$25.00
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 Modern Polymer Clay Pendant …
$25.00
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 Millifiori polymer clay butt…
$8.00
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 Glass handcrafted garden SNA…
$12.00
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 Lampwork beads by jimmy sr…
$69.00
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 kaleidoscopes polymer clay b…
$15.99
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 Three Ceramic Charms/Beads D…
$10.00
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 kaleidoscopes polymer clay b…
$15.99
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 Glass Copper Cherries
$15.00
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 Three Ceramic Charms/Beads m…
$12.00
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 Glass elephant HANDCRAFTED
$8.00
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{OK, I cheated a little. Two of these are technically finished jewellery, but as they were a simply strung pendant and lampworked earrings made from start to finish by the artist, I thought you’d let me off sneaking them in here!}
And before you ask, yes, I did go bead shopping in Paris! I had my trusty little guidebook maps marked up with a couple of bead shops I thought I could find under my own steam, both veritable treasure troves (although sadly no art beads). One was a stand at a very old flea market – Les Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt – which sold the most amazing vintage beads and findings. If you are ever in Paris I do recommend checking it out! Just look at these delicious vintage lovelies.
Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer and singer, currently living in Manchester, England. You can read more about beads and singing at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com.
Laura
March 13, 2012 at 10:33 amThanks, Rebecca, for featuring my charms (beads) in your lovely collection, three times, no less!
I'll have to check out the flea market in Paris for vintage beads, next time I'm up there.
Sherri
March 13, 2012 at 1:16 pmRebecca, what a beautiful collection of beads! I would have bought some of everything if I had visited that shop in England!!!
Sharyl
March 13, 2012 at 2:11 pmI've been designing a Celtic-inspired collection. I wish I had known about these bead artists, but I'm so glad to know now! Thanks for doing this article!
Jagna
March 13, 2012 at 4:32 pmRebecca, thanks for fitting my 'cheated' bead into your collection!
And I really enjpyed reading the whole post, will be coming for more 🙂
Love, Yesterdays
March 14, 2012 at 4:16 pmOh my goodness…you must have had a blast in that shop! Wish I was right there along side you 🙂