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Welcome to the Humblebeads Studio today. And on my bead table and what I’m obsessed with at the moment? Spring and gardens! In particular, fresh blooms in delicate hues paired up with items that are weathered and full of rich patina. Don’t you love coming across an old garden piece or architectural detail that has aged beautiful?
This pendant can be found as a free project in my latest newsletter – check it out here.
I’ve been working with some of my favorite beads that I make and adding patina finishes to them – they look like there were buried under ferns and over-grown hedges in a forgotten garden.
My other direction I headed in created pieces with metallic finishes and after some trend research last month I was really drawn to this dagger shape. These make awesome earrings.
And speckled wobbles treated with the same metallic finish. These look like eggs to me. I love them!
Skye
April 20, 2014 at 2:04 pmMy current inspiration is family. the pieces I'm working on right now are for the BSBP and are centered around birds and flying. My grandmother just passed very recently and thoughts of her are behind each piece. My next projects are already calling to me, and they're also family / nostalgia inspired pieces centered around some beautiful Humblebeads pendants 🙂 Last year my work seemed to be heavily inspired by weather and season… this year seems to be family and memories 🙂
bairozan
April 20, 2014 at 3:32 pmI found the ABS monthly challenge and a couple of other challenges while looking for inspiration earlier this year. I'd never used ceramic or clay beads before but, browsing through new blogs and shops, I fell in love with them, especially the birds and houses and how the artists make one piece of jewelry with multiple different components & findings. This is my new inspiration even though I don't have a big ceramic bead stash but I am trying to buy some and use the other beads I have in a new way.
Becky Pancake
April 20, 2014 at 4:28 pmMy current bead table inspiration is the beads that I received from my Bead Soup partner. I am working on finishing my pieces for that challenge. Beads that someone else picks for me always inspire new ideas and she was very generous.
Maneki
April 20, 2014 at 4:37 pmLove the pendant in the third photo! It's got a great patina'd finish. And the flowers (last pics) are always so yummy and this colourway is no exception.
As for my current inspiration, well, apart from seedbeading on leather, I'm playing with yarn on one hand and paint on the other right now. (I just remembered that I have a bead experiment I need to take a look at: decided to see what it'd be like to fill the depressed pattern on a czech pressed-glass bead with fantasy paint.) In general it's techniques that inspired me at the moment, especially crochet and knitting nancy/loom techniques, but also albion stitch as I recieved two books on the subject this week and painting techniques as I'm pretty rusty when it comes to paint.
Erin S
April 20, 2014 at 4:45 pmMy current bead table inspiration is MONEY! Specifically, using pieces of real dollar bills on mixed media pendants and charms. The artwork on paper money is beautiful, but I admit, it's very weird to "sacrifice" a dollar bill, rip it up and glue pieces of it onto stuff.
Ann
April 20, 2014 at 4:47 pmI don't know if I have a particular bead table inspiration, besides spring. I finally am back to the bead table after finishing the writing on my thesis! I have not beaded in so long, but it was like getting back on a bicycle.
I love your coral daggers with the gold. And the furled blossom is fantastic!
Berina RGA
April 20, 2014 at 5:57 pmbeautiful beads!! love each one of them!! bead table inspiration – pinterest!!
-Berina
Moxie Craftie
Lecia Woessner
April 20, 2014 at 6:20 pmGood morning ladies! Thank you Heather for such an inspiring post! I also love the natural weathered, rustic look that comes from years of being out in the elements. You've done a great job recreating that look in your pieces. I totally love the daggers, so cool! I think I'll get out my polymer clay and see what I can come up with!
Kathy Lindemer
April 20, 2014 at 7:28 pmMy current bead table is covered with gorgeous crystals and silk ribbon. I am making some wedding jewelry and I am pleased with how it is turning out. I haven't done much with crystals before so it has taken me a few weeks to get some ideas for designs. I seem to be on a roll right now.
Shaiha
April 20, 2014 at 11:39 pmRight now it is waxed linen. I tend to use it a lot because I prefer the drape but today I am playing with using it as a design element. Just finished a bracelet following a tutorial by Lorelei Eurto I found in BeadStyle.
beadrecipes
April 21, 2014 at 1:06 amWell, I am needing to get moving on my BSBP pieces, so I have been looking regularly at my beads in the hope that inspiration strikes!
Patti P.
April 21, 2014 at 2:55 amMy inspiration just happens to be a beach house bead from Humblebeads that I just purchased! I am working it into a necklace with a wonderful old key! Guess I am wishing for a summer getaway!
lindalandig
April 21, 2014 at 9:15 amFlowers are inspiring me now too. I love all the flowers in our garden. I love to make floral arrangements and I love designing jewelry with floral beads and pendants. I have a coral colored ceramic flower by Marla James on my work table now and I'm dreaming up some hand-dyed ribbon accents to go with it.
Kristen
April 21, 2014 at 11:03 amMy newest inspiration has been some drawing pencils and art paper I bought. At first it was intimidating to start sketching but the ideas came and I've been drawing ideas for enameled pendants with a more modern look.
Armored Mermaid
April 21, 2014 at 1:07 pmThese are lovely! I'm inspired my by new Hot Head torch! I'm learning to make torch fired enamel beads. (:
Cory Tompkins
April 21, 2014 at 11:40 pmI am making lots of birds, owls and flowers right now…so, I guess nature is my inspiration right now.
KayzKreationz
April 23, 2014 at 12:51 amI'm not sure what my inspiration is right now. I'm working on several pieces for challenges and none of them seem to be similar or necessarily inspired by anything in particular. Although, usually nature is my biggest inspiration.
kaythomerson(at)hotmail.com
Despina
April 23, 2014 at 2:07 pmI seem to be making lots of wire-work earrings, with yummy gemstones in shades of fuschia, teal, mint green and tangerine 🙂
Also, lots of floral desings – I guess it's spring 🙂
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