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.
Welcome to the Humblebeads mobile studio. I’m out and about this weekend. If you follow my blog you know that I’m in Michigan for most of July. Of course I packed more beads & supplies than clothes. This is a working vacation for me and I knew I’d have to make beads while I was here. I’m looking forward to working on some ideas that have been rolling around in my head, taking a break from production work. It’s nice to not ‘have’ to make beads but to branch out with some new ideas. My vacation time is always a chance to refill the ‘creative well’. (Above is a simple necklace I made to wear to on my vacation!)
Along with my fun beadmaking we are planning some adventures in resin and metal etching. The we is Rosanne from FabFibers. Rosanne and I have been stashing away supplies for the last few months. I have an awesome collection of bezels to fill from Susan Lenart Kazmer and Vintaj. I have been hunting used book stores for images to use along with tiny starfish, mica glitter and a sundry of goodies.
My mom and I did some bottle caps with diamond glaze earlier this year. It was fun, but I’m not crazy about the bottle cap things, so I’ve kept them under wraps. I used some of my canes that were baked and sliced. I plan to do that again for the new ones.
So I have to ask a question of you, if you had a free week to experiment or work on a new project what would you do? Leave a comment and I will send you one of my experiments from this week’s beadmaking sessions.
mairedodd
July 4, 2009 at 11:26 amfirst of all, enjoy your vacation… new places and faces can get you out of a grind… i would do one of 2 things: the more practical – get in on resin so i could begin to make some of my own charms for my designs… it seems affordable… the more impractical (but fun) – take a 3 day class at my local glass blowing studio…
love your vacation necklace!
m.e.
July 4, 2009 at 11:28 amIf I had a whole week free…
+ extra $$$
I would play with PMC !
I never seem to have the time or money to experiment with this awesome medium !
🙂 m.e.
bellajoya
July 4, 2009 at 11:34 amI think I would experiment with wireworking. I'm fascinated by the wireworked rings with the gemstones. I know how to do basic loops and wraps, but I'd like to learn some advanced techniques. (Of course the biggest obstacle is money!! I'm afraid of how expensive it would be for me to start a new hobby!!)
Lorelei
July 4, 2009 at 12:36 pmYea that's the thing. If I had a week AND extra cash, I'd be trying the whole Susan Lenart Krazner bezels with resin. I have been wanting to try something with Resin for a while now. I might have to just try it out, but start small. I can't wait to see what you end up making this week with Rosanne! Have fun!
peacockfairy
July 4, 2009 at 1:21 pmHope you have a great time here in Michigan! If I had extra time and $, I'd love to try PMC. I think my Art Center is going to offer a class soon so maybe my dream will come true!
Alice
July 4, 2009 at 1:29 pmI love your 'vacation' necklace and the 'shimmer' pendant!
Gosh, there are so many techniques I want to try (cold connections, wire work, resin, polymer clay, PMC, soldering) but don't have the time or money. Right now my time seems to go from doing a show to busy family stuff, to work, to hurry and make more jewelry for the next show, and over again.
If I had no time or money constraints I would start with wire work.
Sounds like a great vacation–I hope you enjoy yourself and return refreshed and inspired!
Alice
MAKUstudio
July 4, 2009 at 1:34 pmHave a great "working" vacation! With time and money…I would work on cold connections with metal work. I would probably play with my pmc a bit more too! Have fun in Michigan!
Jeannie
July 4, 2009 at 1:38 pmMy taste for simple things makes me swoon and my heart thump over your vacation necklace.
Having a week off..no the thought of having a week off…no the freedom to take a week off is scary. I'm a workalcoholic and have not taken a vacation in 24 years. I think I have ADHD..no maybe just ADD..what was the question?
I would make PC canes til my fingers fell off and eyeballs blurred over…or which ever came first..can that happen?
Pamela
July 4, 2009 at 1:41 pmEnjoy the best of both worlds……vacation and creating! I would love to practice making knots and mix that with my beading. I purchased the book "Mod Knots" and haven't had time to work with it yet!!
Gardanne
July 4, 2009 at 1:58 pmI would sit in front of my torch and practice, practice, practice.
Jean Hutter
July 4, 2009 at 2:04 pmIf I had a week and $$$ I think I would like to experiment with PMC -like I need something else to do!!! It looks exciting and I love the look of the beads and charms made from PMC – I am also seeing some neat pendants and beads made from copper clay – something else to try maybe! So many ideas so little time not to mention NO money.
Katie
July 4, 2009 at 2:40 pmThat's a toss-up for me…I want to learn more and do more with polymer clay, but I also love all of the bezeled pendants that I have seen out there…But, I am actually going to get to play with both – I am taking a polymer clay class in August to learn more about techniques and get to play with it more, and I just got a starter kit from Ornamentea to play with making bezeled pendants with resin…
Leslie Gidden
July 4, 2009 at 2:55 pmHello! It would be PMC or metal stamping! I have everything for the metal stamping so I really do not know what I am waiting on!!! Have a great time this week!
Warmly,
Leslie
gail w
July 4, 2009 at 3:08 pmFor several years,I worked with stained glass.I was working on a huge(for me)window,when one day I just quit.The project sat around for a year or so,and then I got into beads.The incomplete window is in the storage shed,and I'm thinking about dragging it out and finishing it.I have the time,but working with beads comforts me,where else,stained glass does not.But I do hope to finish it,I'm just waiting for the right moment!
Elaine
July 4, 2009 at 3:13 pmUpcoming lab time is going to be devoted to some more sculptural beads and pieces for the fall – critters, holiday items. No idea how that will all come out but it'll be a fun change!
Marbella Designs
July 4, 2009 at 5:21 pmI would like to experiment with crocheting with ss or fine silver wire. I'm amazed at the work that can be made with this technique.
RupaB
July 4, 2009 at 6:41 pmif it is hypothetical….with time + money, I would take a class to learn Dale Chihuly's style of working with glass.
In reality, I would love to take a PMC class with Kate Mckinnon or wirework with the talented Barb Switzer.
AJ
July 4, 2009 at 6:44 pmHave a wonderful vacation. I can't wait to see what you make!
If I had a free week, I'd spend it working on a large bead embroidered collar. So far I've only done pendant-sized projects. I want to do a fully embroidered necklace, and I want to have it done for the Bead Retreat I'm going to in October. A free week with no other obligations would really help me along in that goal!
rosebud101
July 4, 2009 at 8:13 pmWow! I'd be working on ceramic glass beads. No question about that!
Anonymous
July 4, 2009 at 9:50 pmI would love to spend a week with jana roberts benzon she is a fabulous polymer clay artist ! And she is a very sweet lady. That would be a dream come true for me and if I could'nt spend a week with her then it would be the artist Heather Powers she is also a mentor to me and spending anytime with either of those ladies to learn new polymer techniques would be so fantastic! I could just ramble on about those two ladies and the wonderful work they do , they are truly inspirational to me ! Happy 4th !
[email protected] Debra
SummersStudio
July 5, 2009 at 2:29 amA whole week? Really? I'd sleep late, have coffee, and sketch while having said coffee. Then I'd head out to my studio and make stamps, mold, models of those sketches. I'd only work for half a day and then I would spend the rest of the day with a good book.
Elizabeth
July 5, 2009 at 2:36 amI would work on cane making. Mainly striped canes and translucent. Enjoy your time.
Janet
July 5, 2009 at 3:30 amI too would do an in depth study and learning of polymer clay! Resin looks might tempting too!
Connie
July 5, 2009 at 6:09 amI would devote the week to working with bronze and copper clays, following hadar jacobsen's tutorials.
…of course, right now I am cleaning and reorganizing my studio, so despite my intentions, I'd probably end up doing that!
bluelapis
July 5, 2009 at 10:06 amI would like to learn more complex wire and metal work techniques. And also get brave enough to try lowfire PMC.
Halina
July 5, 2009 at 2:56 pmI would love to take the time to learn metals really well-how they react, fusing metals, etc., with a really good teacher. It's all fascinating and a good way to enhance bead design.
:-) MaryLou
July 5, 2009 at 5:02 pmHave a great vacation, Heather!
If I had a week to spend focusing on something new… it would be hard to choose, but I think I'd have to take the opportunity to FINALLY try to use some of the polymer clay I have! I bought a ton of it (well, okay, not a ton – but probably 25 pounds), and I haven't done anything yet other than pore over books and drool over the creations of others. 🙂
The Joy of Nesting
July 5, 2009 at 10:03 pmOh to have a whole week in the States to devote to art!! 🙂 I think I would have to take one of Deryn's classes with advance wire wrapping. Then experiment with PMC and copper clay!!I'd love to be able to make the focal pieces and charms I can't get here!! 🙂
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mexico
Hannah
July 5, 2009 at 10:10 pmHave a great vacation! I would work more on riveting, if I had time. I've played with copper for practice, but I'd like to make some actual pieces.
Bead-Mused
July 6, 2009 at 2:27 amOne week and the funds for the week? I'd try either resin or enamel on copper (depending on the amount of funds with which I've been graced). Can't wait to see what you've been doing!
TesoriTrovati
July 6, 2009 at 4:18 amRelax and recharge Heather!
Ooohhhh a whole week?!!?
I would work with metals. (I have been).
Can't wait to see what this revived you comes up with!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Shaiha
July 6, 2009 at 4:26 amI would work more with wire. It fascinates me and I need the time to play with it, to give my self time to make mistakes.
Diane
July 11, 2009 at 2:27 pmI would take a class any class. There are no art classes around here (middle of nowhere) On my own I need more practice on wire work.
Anonymous
July 11, 2009 at 9:02 pmI would take a class on making bezels. I already have ICE resin, but I need odd shaped bezels for my odd objects! If I could make them myself, watch out world!
Mari Aparicio
July 19, 2009 at 1:46 pmEnjoy your trip!!! If I have a week of free time and leisure I will definitely will work on resin!!!
House movers Melbourne
July 28, 2009 at 9:09 amCongratulation Alice! Thanks for the featured studio of the day, its lovely.
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July 28, 2009 at 9:10 amVery nice piece! I love this one it look like antique, very elegant. Thanks for sharing this to us; I really enjoyed reading your post.