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Welcome Guest Artist: Nealay Patel

Today we welcome innovative designer, prolific author and charming instructor Nealay Patel. Nealay is an artist who crafts in beads and fiber to produce jewelry designs that are striking, colorful and textured. He is a problem-solver who sees his…

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July Monthly Challenge

Tiger in a Tropical Storm Henri Rousseau 1891 Oil Painting About the Art Tiger in a Tropical Storm was the first painting that Rousseau painted in his signature jungle scene in a dream-like style. The painting was first rejected…

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Bead Table Wednesday – Wire Nest Connectors

Today on Bead Table Wednesday I shared how to make these quick and easy wire nests to use in your jewelry designs. Resources: Birds – Humblebeads Leaf Charms – Firefly Design Studio Peanut seed beads – Whimbeads.com or Bellomodo.com I…

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June Monthly Challenge Winners

Congratulations to the June Monthly Challenge winners!  1 winner was chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants. 1 winner was chosen randomly from the Linked blog entries. Winner of a month of advertising on ABS from the Monthly Challenge Bead category. :::  Our First lucky winner is Karen Martinez/Fairies…

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June Monthly Challenge Tour

Hello bead peeps! I am running a bit behind and of course that is when everything runs amuck, right? So I finally managed to pull together the slideshow of the beautifully colorful entries for the June challenge. Without further…

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Designing with Beaded Chain

I have found a new favorite beading supply and I wanted to share it with you.  It’s beaded chain and it comes in endless varieties.  I have seen it made with crystals and gemstones as well as wire tones…

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This and That with Art Beads

Some of my handmade beads that I raku fired last week at the community Raku Firing at the Thousand Islands Art Center. On Saturday July 1, I will be participating in the 10th Annual Mare’s Wares Art Festival.  I…

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Don’t Kill Your Inspiration!

Some of you may know I have face book group “inspiration in everyday” where folks share their inspirations in relation to art beads.  Most share jewelry, I share beads because that is what I make most. The concept is to…

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Perfect Pairings :: SJ Designs + Earth Expressions

This month’s inspiration is all about COLOR! The colors are deep and saturated, yet soft around the edges with intriguing textures. That is what I think these earrings by Sarajo Wentling capture completely. I love these bright polymer clay…