Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. Last weeks winner is Lucky Designs Jewelry, Congratulations! You have won two swirl heart buttons from Creative Impressions in Clay. Send us an e-mail with your address and we will get it right out to you.
Come on it to the Humblebeads Studio this week, well it’s more like a factory than a studio at the moment. We are high-gear-production-mode making more Van Gogh beads than you can shake a stick at.
And why am I so busy this week? In part thanks to Lorelei’s amazing Van Gogh necklace design that is in the current issue of Bead Style magazine. (I’m also in Stringing, Bead Star and Bead Trends this month!) This is such an original take on using my spacer bead. I had originally designed these beads to use as a spacer/focal bead for multi-strand bracelets. The etched copper is from Jennifer Stumpf, love it!
Bead Style this month is packed full of artsy goodness. The editor paired quite a few projects inspired or relating to famous paintings. I’m telling you, there is a trend there. Go check out a few art history books this week if you are need of some jewelry inspiration! So my question for the week: I currently offer my Van Gogh beads in cuffs and disks, what other shape/style of bead would you like to see in this design? Leave a comment to win a Van Gogh cuff bead.
Tari of claybuttons
February 7, 2009 at 4:26 pmCongrats on being published! In so many publications too!
How about making the cuff bead into a pendant with just one through hole?
Beadliotheque
February 7, 2009 at 4:39 pmI love the inspiration for these beads! There is a lot to learn from these painters and not just their palette. I know that the pillow shape is common but it gives great dimension to beautiful patterns and is not as common in other materials like gemstones, glass and metal.
SueBeads
February 7, 2009 at 5:14 pmI would love it in a lentil shape!
Congrats on all your work!
Hannah B
February 7, 2009 at 5:26 pmBeautiful beads! I would love to see them in round or cube shapes.
Lorelei
February 7, 2009 at 5:36 pmOoooo La La!
I’d like to see/use your Van Gogh beads in a large round (lentil) pendant shape OR I would also love to see/use just plain 8-10mm rounds with this pattern!
Bead-Mused
February 7, 2009 at 6:05 pmCongratulations on being everywhere right now!
How about some nice long beads for dangly earrings or lentils? I’d love to see those!
Theresa
Gail W.
February 7, 2009 at 6:11 pmI,too,think a pendant would be great.With 1 hole,but I’m not sure which way the hole should run.And every where I go,your name pops up.Is there a book in you?I would think so.You have the magic touch.
Anonymous
February 7, 2009 at 6:17 pmThe flat surface really captures the beauty of the ‘starry night’. So I suggest a larger rectangle, large square, large round edge square, or large circle with silver loop for stringing.
Congrats, too, on all the publications!
sandi/chgo
Sharon
February 7, 2009 at 7:29 pmHow about a long tubular, tapered bead based on the shape of your Kiss beads. That would be awesome!
Gail W.
February 7, 2009 at 7:33 pmI love that Van Gogh pattern!I,too, think it would look good as a pendant.
KatieN
February 7, 2009 at 8:41 pmI would like to see the Van Gogh bead in a different kind of shape…The obvious (or cliche…depending on how you look at it) would be star-shaped pendant…But, I definitely like the idea of a pendant-type bead – that way, you can incorporate it into different pieces like Lorelei’s necklace (which is beautfiul and a neat way to use the bead!).
No Easy Beads
February 7, 2009 at 8:55 pmMy thoughts went to an oval bead. Like the branch beads you made me the crocheted lariat. I see the bead taking the shape of cabochon with bead embroidery around it. Thanks for being a great inspiration to us all!
HINT Jewelry Design
February 7, 2009 at 9:08 pmAmazing bead and wow I loved how Lorelei’s imagination works!
D'Arsie Manzella
February 7, 2009 at 9:15 pmI would love to see it in a donut shape with a large hole removed from the middle! Congratulations!
peacockfairy
February 7, 2009 at 10:01 pmI would like to see a large, flat round with one hole to use as a pendant.
FrankandRox
February 7, 2009 at 10:36 pmWonderful to hear of so many publications. Fruits of all your labour coming through…
I love all your work and the consistant sytle. Thinking of your original inspiration I have always loved the movement of the swirl of sky across the centre. I’d love to see a swirl/snail type. Can’t wait to hear eveyone’s suggestions
Gaela
February 7, 2009 at 11:01 pmThe Van Gogh beads are very pretty, I love the colours! I think that the Van Gogh design in a 22mm X 25mm tall tabular shaped bead would make a very awesome focal bead. Congrats on all of your recent publicity too!
Lisa Gatz
February 7, 2009 at 11:12 pmthat is such a beautiful bead. I saw the Van Gogh in it right away. how about an oval bead that could also be used as a drop?
Christine Damm
February 8, 2009 at 12:15 amI’m noticing a lot of large bead strand necklaces lately– how about a 22mm round bead?
Beth
February 8, 2009 at 4:01 amI saw the necklase in Bead Style.
Your beads are beautiful. I think you should have them in in lentil also.
Debra Gibson
February 8, 2009 at 4:09 amHeather what can I say your work is so inspirational to me ! I could maybe hope you could pair some of your Van Gogh beads with some copper chain for a bracelet or earrings what ever you do will be crazy beautiful ! Can’t wait to get some of my own! Thanks for the chance to win one of those beauties! Debra
[email protected]
Shaiha
February 8, 2009 at 6:49 amI would love to see it as a large oval pendant.
bluelapis
February 8, 2009 at 11:44 amWould it be possible to make a more freeform bead with this design? Same size and hole placement, but maybe more curvy to follow the feel of the pattern. Just my 2 cents. I love these btw. Great work.
geraldine
February 8, 2009 at 3:00 pmi really like the peapod shape.
i love, love your van gogh beads. i’ve done a couple of starry night canes and have wanted to make a book out of them. you’ve inspired me to use them.
cindy
February 8, 2009 at 3:17 pmI was actually thinking about this before. I would like to see a vertical hole, so they could be used as earrings. Rectangular, mayber a little bit smaller.
cindy
http://www.devinedesignsjewelry.etsy.com
Lucky Designs Jewelry
February 8, 2009 at 5:00 pmI would love to see 8-10mm rounds. I saw this in the current issue and was really impresses!
http://www.luckydesigns.etsy.com
Valerie C.
February 8, 2009 at 5:38 pmI think a disk shape would be just awsome. Try it, I think you will like it too.
Leslie Todd
February 8, 2009 at 9:21 pmI’d like to see it as a pendant, round or rectangular, with a hole running through from top to bottom so dangles could be added if desired. The colors and design are fantastic and would look wonderful in a larger flat surface.
Pamela
February 9, 2009 at 12:44 amI would like to see your work in a fan size focal bead to be used as a pendant. You and your work has helped me to start looking at my beading in a different way! Thanks!!
Jenny J.
February 9, 2009 at 2:35 amI was so excited when I saw this Van Gogh bead in Bead Style! Congrats on the great month in the bead world! I’ve read through the other comments and I agree with a couple…a big lentil to use as a pendant or even a big freeform shape that picks up the flow of the design. I love it!!
Jen
http://www.jenjuddrocks.com