A new blog site has opened up in the last couple weeks that features daily lampwork bead posts by lampwork glass bead artists. It's called Glass Beads Daily Be sure to check in often as artists post different beads everyday. Here's a little eye candy of mine!

Mismatched Beads

I often have leftover beads after making a set, so I was inspired to make this bracelet and earrings set with a few "leftovers".I just love this denim color. It pairs well with silver or copper and is very popular right now. Balancing the beads aesthetically and physically is always a challenge when you are working with odd shape beads. Just remember your design basics, line, balance, rhythm, movement, pattern and color. Sorry for the iphone photo!

Bead Soup Blog Party 7

Today is the day...the first reveal in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party! This annual event is divided into 3 reveals. To learn more click on this link: Bead Soup Blog Party My soup this year is from talented PMC artist and jewelry maker Rain Hannnah Here's a link to her blog so you can see what she made with the soup I sent her and be sure to check out her Etsy shop! http://honeyandollie.com/ My soup is very earthy, which I love...and had some whimsical items too, so I decided to separate them and make a necklace and bracelet, 2 totally different styles. For the necklace I made some olive green lampwork lentils to go with the Patricia Healey copper components, lampwork beads by Julie Miller and the Mykonos focal. I had so much fun putting it all together! For the bracelet, I wanted to use the polymer flowers by Elaine Robitaille of Too Aquarius along with the cute enameled butterfly, so I chose some floral lampwork beads out of my orphan box and some peach pixie dust lampwork beads as well as a few green crystals, added a cute flower toggle and voila! A super Springy bracelet! (Perfect for upcoming Mother's Day too) Both of these pieces are available in my Etsy shop. More jewelry blog hopping here: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/03/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-first-reveal.html

I'm having the time of my life at a three day workshop with Andrea Guarino Slemmons in Port Townsend, Washington. Today we made 3 different bead styles. Here's her demonstrating. Tomorrow we make 2 or 3 more styles and learn how to cap and core the big hole beads. Tomorrow is also the Bead Soup Blog Party that Lori Anderson hosts every year, so I will be posting in the morning but unable to comment on other blogs until Monday...(except my Bead Soup partner of course!)

Fun with Tools

I'll admit... I'm a bit of a tool junkie! I have recently purchased a new bead roller from CG Beads Donna makes great tools and I love my stubby bicone shaper. This denim blue color has been so popular lately, I made this set with silvered ivory and fine silver wire. I am learning the trick to these tools is not too much glass to start with. Otherwise the bead gets too wide and you end up loosing your "dimple"

Inspiration

Someone recently asked how I can put together such asymetrical sets (or maybe they were referring to jewelry!)I've always loved monochromatic color schemes. When I had my flower shop, customers would come in just for one of my bouquets made in all pinks, lavenders or peaches. So when I'm looking to create a set of not so matchy-matchy beads, I look for a color palette that will make a pleasing to the eye set of beads for jewelry making. Not all the glass is the same and sometimes even diggerent shapes go into the set. I look for color inspiration in magazines, Google images, clothing catalogues and of course...Design Seeds.

New Pinterest Board

I have created a new Pinterest board called "Jewelry Other People Have Made with My Beads" Here's a link: http://pinterest.com/stonedesigns/jewelry-people-have-made-with-my-beads/ If you have made jewelry with my lampwork beads and would like to be featured in this board, just contact me through my Etsyand I will add you! Meanwhile, here's a new beadwork necklace from me.