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.
This week’s winner is commenter Winchell Clayworks! Congratulations!!
You have won a set of tin components from Lorelei Eurto!
Please forward an email to Lorelei with your address so she can send your items to you!
One of things I try to do is expand on what is already in my bead line. I create original molds for these designs, so it’s a snap to press out a series of beads and play with the colors. New ideas don’t always pop into my head so exploring older ideas helps during these dry times! Well not really dry, I’m just very busy working on jewelry for a show and finishing my book. (Yeah!) These were color combinations I had tucked away in a sketchbook and whipped them up this week.
Alice
November 20, 2010 at 7:07 pmI love your winter-themed pendants!
Since I started making jewelry my 'go-to' items have changed over time. First it was Swarovski Crystals in all colors and styles, next came Sterling Silver components like liquid silver, and now I love the Vintaj Natural Brass–which I can't get enough of.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Alice
SummersStudio
November 20, 2010 at 7:17 pmI stock up on bulk antique brass chain, jumprings in all sizes, and lately I can't stop buying picasso finish opaque Czech glass.
Paige
November 20, 2010 at 7:17 pmYour work is so gorgeous!!! I love the snowflakes!
My stock up findings are headpins…I use soooo many!!! I buy 3 or 4 packs every time I walk into a craft store…even when I go from one right to the next! lol
The beads I stock up on most are crystals–I don't use them nearly as much as I should for what I own…but I just love the sparkle and flashiness and can't stop myself….I want every color, every size, etc.
Erin S
November 20, 2010 at 7:24 pmI always keep a big stash of pearls in various colors and sizes. These are my "go to" accents for everything. Also go through tons of chain in copper and brass. And I always snatch up any semi-precious rondelles I find for a good price.
Love the snowflake pendant!
Erin S
Malin de Koning
November 20, 2010 at 7:55 pmOh, it differs during different periods. Right now it is – just made a rather big order for some handmade earrings findings I really like, from E2SSupplies. And any beads made by HumbleBeads I just can't have too many of …
I have got a lot of colours of 4mm cube Miuyki and Toho beads, and Delicas, and Seed Beads in genereral, but I don't buy so much of them lately. More Art beads nowadays. Oh there is so much I NEED!
I do need your beads Heather ;-), lovely new colours!
Michelle Mach
November 20, 2010 at 7:56 pmLove those snowflake beads!
I always seem to have 3mm round spacers in copper and silver on hand. I also have lot of chain–I can't seem to visit a bead show without buying chain!
SilverNikNats
November 20, 2010 at 10:12 pmLove the snow flake beads!
Susan
November 20, 2010 at 10:13 pmOoh Heather, I am loving these bright snowflakes! Super sweet!
The things I tend to gather in mass quantities are metal eyepins and wood and bone beads. 🙂
Sabine
November 20, 2010 at 10:19 pmLately, I am liking copper chain and turquoise rounds. I like turquoise with a lot of colors so it is my "go to" addition if things aren't coming together.
Ann
mycriticaleye.com
Parudy
November 20, 2010 at 10:51 pmAnything & everything form Vintaj, and, handmade: glass beads & polymer clay beads.
For My Sweet Daughter
November 20, 2010 at 11:33 pmI looked at my bead stash and it seems I like to stock up on beads from Nancy of Round Rabbit. I start to use them and then I buy more!
SHannonC
formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Elizabeth
November 20, 2010 at 11:36 pmI would have to say I covet (hoard) anything turquoise as though the last turq bead was made yesterday.
Kinderhook
November 20, 2010 at 11:49 pmClasps! I seem to have enough clasps to last thru the next century and I don't know how that happened. I see one (some) and think I really need it! HA! I love them all. But I really must stop. buying. clasps!
Coty
November 21, 2010 at 12:44 amI stock up on pearls like crazy! They go with almost any design style, and they're affordable.
sundownbeaddesigns
November 21, 2010 at 12:57 amWell right now…sterling wire. That's a staple for me and it's going through the roof…Youch!
Cillaw
November 21, 2010 at 12:59 amLove these pendants and I see nothing wrong with re-visiting an older idea and re-inventing it. Remember an oldie but a goodie!!
I always stock up on leverback earwires, I guess I think they will stop making them and then I'd be stuck!!
Cilla
rosebud101
November 21, 2010 at 1:33 amI am stocking up on unusual chains. I have added some very interesting pieces of chains to my collection lately.
sasha and max
November 21, 2010 at 3:21 amDefinitely chain, earring hooks, well as wooden beads and far too much lampwork than a gal could every need in one lifetime 🙂
TesoriTrovati
November 21, 2010 at 3:53 amGreat question!
I just stocked up on etched jump rings from Vintaj, and I have an obsession with all types of chain. And I am not picky where it comes from either! And bead caps. I just found some new ones at Hobby Lobby that I can't wait to use all at 50% off!
And apparently I am an art bead hoarder. I have at least 5 full trays in my printers' cabinet dedicated to all my faves. (at least a half a tray is devoted to Humblebeads, by the way!)
Someone will be lucky indeed to win this!
Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Linda Starr
November 21, 2010 at 4:03 amYou've inspired me to make a few more pendants for the holidays, the snowflakes pendants are lovely.
Desert Wind Designs
November 21, 2010 at 4:38 amYour winter pendants are wonderful!
I have random bits of everything. But my main go to items right now are polymer clay, copper wire and waxed cotton beading cord.
Susanm
November 21, 2010 at 4:39 amI collect chain, lucite beads (especially vintage) and beads by Jennifer Heynan (Jennifer Jangles). Can`t have too much of any of them
Lynn
November 21, 2010 at 6:29 amhi – when i look at the 3 colors of you snowflake pendants, i see Christmas presents for my sister-in-law and her 2 daughters. would be nice for them, i think, to have a special family necklace, at least i hope so, because that's my plan. thanks for solving that problem for me! think i'll wrap the boxes in snowflake paper, too!
let's see, in the 3 years i've been learning to make jewelry, i've gone through phases: first was Swarovski AB crystal beads. they really are beautiful and, like a magpie, if it's shiny i'm curious. freshwater pearls were next and i have about 10-12 colors and shapes. right now, i'm stocking up on Picasso-finish beauties and i found a little shop that has some a great selection.
does anybody know why they're called "Picasso"?
thanks for sharing,
Lynn
Imaginative Jewelry
November 21, 2010 at 1:13 pmI think I stock up on everything! I just like to buy beads, findings and anything bead related. 🙂
Higgins Design Studio
November 21, 2010 at 2:08 pmMy stash (hoard) is made up of anything and everything I can afford to buy… I love the bling of Swarovski, I love the artistry in Lampwork and hand made ceramic beads, I love wire & stone & wood & bone…
Your pieces are beautiful!
Thanks for sharing… have a great day!
Elaine
November 21, 2010 at 3:08 pmI tend to stock up on "filler" glass beads and various metal beads and bead caps since they play so nicely with my clay beads. The difference in colour and finish from my regular clay beads is such a good compliment.
By this time of year I'm always running low on them though and can't wait for the bead shows in the late winter and spring to stock up!
Nicki
November 21, 2010 at 5:10 pmI would say for me it is wire. I make anything with wire. I never buy headpins or jump rings, but I just make them. And Kelley's Beads – those are hard to let go…
stacilouise
November 21, 2010 at 7:09 pmI love the snowflakes!
Jennifer P
November 21, 2010 at 10:02 pmI stock up on spacer beads and eye pins!
cspmom at gmail dot com
I LOVE color!
November 22, 2010 at 12:25 amI just love your focus beads. The texture and the colors. Be Blessed
SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com
cw
November 22, 2010 at 12:52 amI love your snowflakes!!!
My idea is to stockpile sterling silver lobster claw clasps, ss split rings, and all sizes and colors of wire. This way, I figure I can make a bracelet or necklace from my stockpile of beads whenever I feel the need to be creative, which is almost daily!
Chris
[email protected]
My Life Under the Bus
November 22, 2010 at 2:44 amThose colors are just stunning!!! I always seem to look for staples like headpins, jumprings and chain and squirrel them away!
Linda Landig
November 22, 2010 at 4:34 amYour new/old pendants are really lovely!
Well, I went out in the snow today to go fetch sterling ear wires. But if you looked in my studio, you'd see that I really hoard pearls and all kinds of focal beads–too many, I guess, but I still want more!
Rod
November 22, 2010 at 5:43 pmI stock up on black ear wires, head pins and clasps. Not gunmetal or black plated, but actual black black. They are difficult to find.
quiltingjewel39
November 22, 2010 at 6:29 pmI love the snowflakes – they are wonderful!! I like so many others, go thru stages. I use a lot of the lever back ear wires and I love chain. I am trying to find a good source for bead caps -if anyone out there knows one.
Susan Z
November 23, 2010 at 5:36 pmI love your beads-especially the sea ones. The snowflakes and nature ones are neat too. I seem to keep buying seed beads. I really don't use them that much but I just love the colors. I really need to use them more.
Susan Z
One Second Needle
November 23, 2010 at 6:05 pmThanks for this post. I love the ones with a snowflake design. I think they're great for the upcoming Winter months.
Birgitta Lejonklou
November 24, 2010 at 6:31 amYou do make incredibly beautiful beads!
In stock I would like to have lots of Your spacers…
…the focus of my collecting changed over time
first it was pearls and seed beads + wire+ Swarovski
now its chains raw brass mostly and stone beads like turquoise (magnesite)different jaspers, quartz, pyrite and more and I try to stock a bit of all those gorgeous handmade things from artists all over the world . Right now my pile of ceramic pendants is growing very quick
Cynthia
November 24, 2010 at 10:15 pmLove the snowflake pendants!! Really cute.
I always buy bead caps whenever I see them. I really think they dress up any design.
And, it's not a finding, but I'm obsessed with Lilly Pilly shell pendants. Whenever I see a sale online (Fusion or Artbeads) I MUST BUY!! I have enough Lilly Pilly pendants to play checkers with (more, actually)! I know, I've got to stop buying them! But they're so pretty!
Liz Hodges
December 4, 2010 at 9:28 pmAt the moment I'm into copper chain, handmade pendants and pearls. Howver, like one the previous comments stated, everytime I walk into a craft store I pick up 3 or 4packs of eyepins or headpins. I never seem to have enough.
gail w.
December 5, 2010 at 2:14 amI try to have alot of silver,chain,spacers,earring findings,clasp.And crytals,jewel colored faceted rondells.And then,for my mom,I try to have a good supply of Humblebeads,she loves them,as much as I do & her friends ask her where she gets her unique jewelry.I told her to tell,but she won't,same way she won't tell us how to make her pound cake.I have 4 boxes of designer pendants,I just can't give them away.And I love your snowflake pendants,they are beautiful.