I’m going to start this Inside the Studio post with a shot taken just outside my studio.
I did my regular artisan market at the weekend. My flat (where I work) is in the town centre, in the market place, so my pitch was just yards away from my studio. As you can see, it was a lovely, sunny day. Here’s a few of the new pieces I made for the event. There are lots of art beads in this necklace.
(ceramic crown – Round Rabbit; ceramic leaf – Scorched Earth; lampwork round – Helen Chalmers; lampwork headpin – Earthshine Beads; patina hoops – Grubbi)
(ceramic rounds – Anne Lidbetter; ceramic drops – Scorched Earth)
(crown pendant – Jade Scott; ceramic bird – Blueberribeads)
Back inside the studio…
…things have been in their usual state of disarray. (I think the slight blur in this image just heightens the sense of disorder.)
This last few weeks I’ve made a point of taking photos of new beads as they arrive – so I can share some post day joy with you – before I try filing them somewhere in that large pile of bead boxes you can see in the earlier picture. Here’s some beads from new-to-me bead makers.
These polymer bicones from Graceful Willow are just so neat and crisp – I love them! And the painted wooden coins are really fun. You’ll probably recognise the other beads as the work of my fellow ABS-er, Mary Harding – I was really chuffed to bag some of her folksy birds. Also new to me, Donna Perlinplim. I’ve had my eye on her shop for a while:
Going from one extreme to the other, here are some lovelies from bead makers whose wares I just can’t resist!:
I just don’t seem to be able to get enough from these makers… And finally, neither new nor totally habitual, but somewhere in-between:
With this post in mind, I challenged myself to come up with some new makes using some of these goodies. I’m almost certain that I’m keeping these earrings.
And here’s a necklace using some of those polymer bicones and and a pendant from that Scorched Earth order.
(Also featured here: lampwork bicone – Helen Chalmers; polymer bail connector – Happy Fish Things; polymer disc – Tree Wings Studio)
And finally, an exciting development in my bead-making. Yesterday I had my first ceramics class. (Well, first since my teens.)
Two hours flew by; I could have stayed all day! I can’t wait to go back. Obviously, these won’t be ready for a while yet and my bead shop is a little empty at the moment, so for this week’s giveaway, I’m offering a $25 gift voucher for either my jewellery shop or my bead shop. The question for today is, whose beads do you find irresistible?
Alice
June 6, 2014 at 12:13 pmThanks for sharing these bead makers. I love finding new placed to buy beads!
Your pieces are just lovely and I can see why you want to keep those earrings!
You asked a difficult question as I love so many of these bead artiste. But since I have to choose it would be Scorched Earth.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Jean
June 6, 2014 at 12:25 pmso lively and exciting to see! Welcome to creativity–I don't see any of the disarrary, I see a great place to design and work on ideas! jean
Sarajo Wentling
June 6, 2014 at 1:02 pmOoh, that's a tough question… there are just so many talented artists that I'm addicted to. If I go by shear volume in my bead stash I have to go with Humblebeads, The Classic Bead, and Round Rabbit. I got my first order from Scorched Earth a couple of months ago and I can see Petra's gorgeous goodies becoming addictive too. But I want ALL the beads!
beadrecipes
June 6, 2014 at 1:09 pmThere is a ceramic bead artisan here in Australia, who goes under the name Peruzi (www.peruzi.net). I love her pendants and beads, she has a great variety. I'm also a sucker for Heather Powers' little works of art, I have quite a collection!
Heidi Post
June 6, 2014 at 2:13 pmSuch beautiful beads and jewelry! I am in love with those bicones too. Going to check out her shop now 🙂
Thanks for showing us your studio – it might be a bit messy, but that's where inspiration lives!
Divya N
June 6, 2014 at 2:43 pmOh such beautiful beads – am having a serious case of bead envy
freshbakeddesigns
June 6, 2014 at 2:44 pmCurrent fav is the talented lamp work artist Julie Cannon of Studio Juls! Love her beads.
Colleen
June 6, 2014 at 4:43 pmFor polymer, Humblebeads. For ceramic, Jangles. Lampwork I really don't even know, so many artists whose work I just love.
Klassy Joolz
June 6, 2014 at 5:52 pmLove all the beads that you shared with us…but I really liked:
DonnaPerlinplim beads.
Thanks for showing us such talent!
Shaiha
June 6, 2014 at 5:55 pmI am addicted to Jul's beads of StudioJuls. I have a hoard of them that I really need to break out and start using.
maryharding
June 6, 2014 at 6:00 pmLove all the new beads you showed us. Thanks so for including mine.
I like your new pieces, especially those earrings you will be keeping for yourself. So tactile and fun!!
Malin de Koning
June 6, 2014 at 9:50 pmFirstly Claire – as always I looooove your new designs. Just gorgeous all of them.
Irresistable bead makers – well, we share some favorites for sure: Jubilee and Joanne Tinley are in my absolute top list. I keep coming back to them time and time again. Some other addictions since long are MissFickleMedia, SecondSurf, StillPointWorks and Gaea. And I found some new names in your post, and I will check them out.
<3
annette bond
June 6, 2014 at 11:19 pmI love all your stuff – it's so unique and you use many different elements which I would never think of and earring that to me don't match (but they do – if that makes sense!) I wouldn't have the courage to do that!!
I must say it love scorched earth! 🙂
Alice Howe
June 7, 2014 at 2:29 amSome great beads in this post. I think I'm smitten with the bicones from Grace Willow. I'll have to head over there.
Deb Fortin
June 7, 2014 at 10:42 amLove the photo of your display so clean lined uncluttered and then Your Studio. Omg I have to laugh- it looks just like mine does. How do we ever get anything done in such chaos?
my fave bead artist is Mary Harding, but i do love Lorelei's metal domes and bluberri beads and scorched earth , Oh Heck I love them all.
Erin S
June 7, 2014 at 4:50 pmI'm a big fan of scorched earth–primitive and industrial, and also very reasonable pricing. And I always drool over Basha beads. I gotta check out those beads by Donna Perlinplim too–I may not be able to resist those!
lindalandig
June 8, 2014 at 5:57 amI'm so excited for you that you are starting to make your own ceramic art beads!!! I am on that same journey too and I'm loving it!
I'd have to say that Bo Hulley is among my favorites, but it is hard, and not quite fair to just pick out one or two people!
lindalandig
June 8, 2014 at 5:57 amI'm so excited for you that you are starting to make your own ceramic art beads!!! I am on that same journey too and I'm loving it!
I'd have to say that Bo Hulley is among my favorites, but it is hard, and not quite fair to just pick out one or two people!
Ann
June 8, 2014 at 5:43 pmI love Round Rabbit! I would also love to get my hands on some Moogin beads – the etched ones.
Lilybeam Design Studios
June 10, 2014 at 3:16 pmLove it! I HAVE to work in chaos; a clean table makes me uncomfortable. MissFickleMedia, Jangles, HumbleBeads, Gaea, Lorilei Eurto, too many to list :-).
Must ask, wherever did you get the "messy" wire focal in the first necklace you show???
Suhana Hart
June 10, 2014 at 10:08 pmHope I'm not too late to enter! I'm soooo looking forward to seeing your ceramic beads. Whose beads do I find irresistible aride from yours. There's Scorched Earth, Ragged Robyn and Moogin.
Love those earrings btw 🙂 xxx