Art Bead Ornament Love

I love making Christmas ornaments with art beads! I thought I'd show you some that I have made, and maybe give you some ideas!  I have a habit of hoarding art beads I can't part with, so this is a good way to hold onto them forever!

 These owls were made with polymer owls I made from a tutorial by Heather Powers.  I used the handmade felted beads for an interesting effect!

 These ones were made with polymer hearts I purchased from Martha Eason - she no longer has her shop open.  I liked matching my own lampwork beads to the colors in the hearts!

 These were made with my own lampwork baroque beads and chandellier crystals.  You can do these with the clear ones too - they are awesome for ornaments!

These ones were made with ceramic beads from AJE's own Jenny Davies-Reazor and Karen Totten.  I used my own lampwork beads again, to provide some accents.

 The fox and deer ornaments I made for my boyfriend, with AJE's Kristen Stevens' black beaded ring; I made my own beaded ring for the deer ornament.  The polymer fox is by Summer Wind Jewelry on etsy and the deer pendant is my Blu Mudd. 

 Another polymer pendant made into an ormanent by Summer Wind - I used a snowball bead I made, and my favoriate color czech faceted rondelles!

Finally, a really cute ornament with a candy birdhouse by Rejetta Sellers - the peppermint candy was an extra, and I used it as a little dangle on the ornament hook!  By shimmer beads are a great accent to the snow!

To get an ornament hook tutorial, check here!

What about you - do you have art beads you just can't give up?  This is a good way to use them, and then you can really appreciate them once a year!  

Susan Kennedy
SueBeads Etsy Store
SueBeads Web Store

Its all about the sequins.

Sequins transport me back to my Grandma's house. My maternal grandmother made many of her Christmas decorations. She had lived through the Depression, and was a consumate saver... but also a very crafty woman. My sisters and I all have a love of embroidery - passed down to us from our mother, from her mother. My older sister has chosen embroidery as her primary medium and has taken it to a whole new level. ( You can see her work here.) I think Grandma would be tickled.

Grandma loved sequins, but didnt really feel the need to follow any set directions. Her colors and patterns are exuberant to say the least. Between Grandma and Mom, my siblings and I all had handmade felt stockings to hang on the mantle, beaded and bedazzled and sequined.  I  have a few of her felt embroidered ornaments on my tree every year.

My Mom - also an extremely creative one! She loves embroidery and can sew a mean streak. As a kid this was our Christmas tree topper. He was a puppet, and carries jingle bells - very merry!

After my siblings and I grew up and set out to households of  our own, Mom made a stunning announcement. She was giving up the iconic Snowman in favor of a commercially purchased angel?!!??! Well - I am happy to say, the Snowman now tops MY tree every year!

The love of sequins has been passed down to me as well. Mom gave me this kit she was no longer interested in... and it was a labor of love, I must say. But it is now one of my favorite holiday decorations!

And I sequined and embroideed a stocking for my nephew before he was even here! So the tradition continues...

All these posts sure are stirring up the holiday excitement for me. Its Thanksgiving Day, glorious smells are wafting up from my sister's kitchen, my nephew is racing cars downstairs... So many things to be thanksful for.... I hope your holday is festive!

Thank you for stopping by our Holiday Open House! And please feel free to browse our shops. As the season starts today with Black Friday we have many sales and tempting treasures... You can find all the details at our Holiday Open House page.

Days til Christmas?

I know it is flying by and normally I am opposed to any talk of Christmas until after Thanksgiving dinner but the one thing I do tend (although I have as yet to start) to think about before is ornaments.  Over the years I have made most of the ornaments that decorate our tree.  Mostly they are cross stitched or quilted as those were my hobbies prior to picking up my seeds.  So as thinking what would I make if I were to actually find the time this year so I picked some of my favorites to show you.



Helena's stars are amazing! Check out her shop



Oh and click here if you want to spike it up
 

I totally fell in love with this little ball by Skunk Hill Studio!

I love this one from Violetbead.  I always wanted to find a use for these flattened bulbs.

And finally from ChristmasCreation I would love love love to make this one!

Do you make your own ornaments?

 

Kristen