When Inspiration Strikes...

When inspiration strikes, it apparently happens all at once!

Haiti, Bead Cruise 2015

I've been in a creative drought for quite some time but apparently with Bead Cruise 2016 creeping up on me, the inspiration faerie has decided to return.

Left: Chunky tropical necklace  Right: Batik factory, St. Kitts

It seems that with the need to have some tropical accessories, I suddenly found myself inspired again! It all started with that big, chunky polymer focal from ArtyBecca. It reminded me of my trip to St. Kitts last year and the beautiful batik factory. Thanks to my recent studio upgrade, I was able to easily locate lots of beads that would coordinate nicely. 

Left: Driftwood necklace  Right: Bermuda

Back in July, I took a trip to Bermuda with my husband to celebrate our anniversary.  As I was going through my bead collection I came upon this strand of painted driftwood from Nature Scavenger and they reminded me of the gorgeous beaches in Bermuda.  Turns out, they matched perfectly with some wood chain I had from Priscilla Beads.  A little wire and some waxed linen and BOOM, another tropical necklace complete!

Wood and bone necklace

The final of the cruise-inspired pieces came about on its own.  As I was sorting through my collection choosing beads for the other necklaces, I pulled some of these beads out and made a pile. After playing around and moving beads here and there, the full necklace came together.

Beach Treasure Necklace

I'm very excited about this necklace!  Back in November when I was attending the bead retreat with Jenny and Sue, I found this green sea pebble while beachcombing.   Jenny took it home with her and then set it in a fabulous copper bezel.  I paired it with some prehnite nuggets, czech glass and a drilled river stone.

Purple and green bowlerite pendant

It isn't just simple, beaded jewelry inspiration that is back!  I've also been working on bead embroidery again!  One of the promises I made to myself this year was to buy less beads and use more of what I already have.  I selected this bowlerite (bowling ball) cabochon by David Rowland and used all beads I had in my stash.  In fact, the silver and large purple beads came from the 2015 Bead Cruise goody bags!

As soon as I finished this pendant, I started selecting cabochons and beads for my next several projects.

Greenman Pendant/Brooch

This is my most recently finished piece.  The polymer cabochon is from Jenny.  I sewed a pinback with attached bail on to the back to make it a more versatile piece.  

Seashell pendant in progress

Here's what I'm currently working on.  This is my first time using a real shell (found on a prior cruise) in my bead embroidery.  I'm hoping to put shell or coral fringe around the outside as I've never done that before.  Lots of learning going on!

Now I just need to get myself back in the ceramic studio and start making beads again.  Baby steps.

Have you been struck by the inspiration faerie recently?

Creating for Cosplay

It's no secret.  I love cosplay.  This weekend I'll be heading out to The Steampunk World's Fair for three days of creative cosplay fun!  I don't sew but I do enjoy making the jewelry for my costumes.  For this years SPWF, I've made the jewelry for two of my three outfits.

Necklace for the butterfly collector cosplay

I've been hanging on to this fabulous metal and resin butterfly pendant by Lynn Davis for several years.  Well, I'm bringing back and revamping my butterfly collector costume this year so I finally had the inspiration to work with this piece.  I added some citrine, coral, carnelian and Vintaj charms and chain to complete this necklace.  It will also look great paired with the leather butterfly cuff that Lindsay posted about yesterday!

Fit for a mermaid

The other outfit I needed jewelry for was my ocean/mermaid-inspired steampunk cosplay.  

Fabulous enamel focal by Gardanne Beads

I knew when I saw this enameled seashell in Anne's booth that I had to have it.  It matched portions of my costume perfectly!  I paired it with some porcelain Suburban Girl seashell charms, Swarovski pearls, faux coral branches and aquamarine rondelles.  

In addition to using art beads for my cosplay, I also like to spread the love by introducing art beads to people who might not know about them.  In 2013, I started hosting the trinket swap at SPWF.  Participants create steampunk-inspired wearable trinkets that we swap with one another.  The first year I created wearable porcelain gears.  Last year I made stoneware keyhole pendants.

Stoneware Keyhole Pendants

This year I decided that mustaches would be my theme.  

Porcelain greenware mustache charms

I found a 3-D printing service and had them create some mustache cutters in an assortment of sizes.  I thought the tiny size was the best fit for my trinkets so I made about 25 in porcelain.

Glazed but un-fired porcelain mustaches

These charms were glazed but un-fired at the time I wrote this post but I should be unloading them from the kiln sometime today.  After I inspect them, I'll add a jump ring and put them on a ball chain.  

I'm looking forward to swapping them on Saturday AND to introducing more people to the wonderful world of art beads!

Happy Beading!

Seven Day Giveaway-Day 1!

 Back on June 9th, our AJE Facebook page hit 1,000 likes!  To celebrate this event, we wanted to have a really fun giveaway to thank all of you (full details can be found here).

Today is the first day of this event and these are the two components we will be giving away...

A pair of porcelain seashell charms by yours truly (Diana P./Suburban Girl Studio) and...

A gorgeous copper clay component from Kristi Bowman-Gruel!

So here is what you need to know if you'd like a chance at winning this pair of handmade components:

The details:

• The giveaways start on today.

• The giveaways run 7 days with a different prize of 2 art jewelry elements each day.  

• Each day of the contest will feature something from two different AJE contributors 

• For a chance to win that day's prize leave a comment on each day's blog post AND MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE AN EMAIL FOR US TO CONTACT YOU!

•  We will draw a winner daily, so don't forget to comment each day. 

•  ALL winners will be announced on Monday, June 23rd.

• This giveaway is open to anyone living on planet Earth.

• Each person is eligible to win once. Unless you're on the AJE team. Then you cannot win any of the days. 

Good luck!

Diana P.

Suburban Girl Studio LLC