Saturday Share...Design with Me, Part 1

Happy Saturday, AJE!

I have a problem with designing...I think it is a common one.  I collect pieces to put together, maybe create a special component, then put it aside to think about it.  Weeks, maybe months go by, and the components are still in their little tray, collecting dust.  I might pick them up lovingly and wonder if I should use them in something else...or create something totally different than my original thought.  Sigh...  Does this sound familiar?

Here is a collection that has been in a little "lunchables" tray, stewing for months.  I believe I got those totally luscious lampwork beads from Sue Kennedy last September!  The flower components have been cut and enameled since February when I discovered that they perfectly matched the lampwork!

The complete collection, along with various sizes of copper wire I am contemplating and some other components I might or might not enamel!

See?  Perfect match!

Just look at the gorgeousness! 

maybes?

But really, that is as far as I have gotten.  I have sketched out a few things, then just put everything back away.  What am I waiting for?

What about you?  Do you suffer from this terrible procrastination-inducing, can't decide-ive-ness?  Its okay!  I'm here for you!

I am determined to complete this piece by my next Saturday Share post with full details.  Here is my challenge to you...do you have a similar piece in mind, components lonely from non-contact?  Make a pact with me that in the 2 weeks until my next post, you will pull out that tray of half-wired beads or hammered metal and complete your project.  It doesn't have to be the same idea you started with...you may have to take the original unfinished piece completely apart and start again!  Been there, done that!

Okay, who is with me?

Melissa Meman
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love.

Freeform Friday - Austin Texas!

 Last week I was in Austin visiting family. My sister - creative soul, blog authoress, etiquette maven, mother to Jack (age 3) lives there, as do our parents. Our vacation started with a weekend for my husband at the Moto GP races - he is a motorcycle rider and co-author of The Pace podcast. The vacation ended with a party that my 3 siblings and I threw for our parent's 50th Anniversary. Needless to say fun was had by all! Its a pleasure when the whole family gets together! ( I am serious here. For real.)

What does this have to do with artists? beads? jewelry? I hear your questions and will get to the point. I wanted a second reason to visit bead stores. The first reason - to shop - was valid, but I don't NEED anything, and am on a tight budget. So a blog post? A second valid reason? OK!

The first stop was Legendary Beads.  

My thoughts: This is a good basic bead store. It is on the small side but they have some of everything; strands, Czech glass, gemstones, findings, wire, tools, chain. Plenty of loose beads if you need just a little something.(I didn't see many artisan components, but that didn't really surprise me. ) They have a workspace set up, and their website lists small classes (Limit 5) for repair, stringing, private lessons.




Pros: multiple needs met. Helpful staff. Variety.
Cons: small size=limited inventory. Class space tiny, and right at front door.
Rating: Normal- very good.

Second Stop: Bead it!

This store is like a Tardis. (Dr. Who humor - bigger on the inside.)  An adorable bungalow with parking, its located a block or so from Legendary Beads. This is the store that has all the things you never imagined needing because you never knew they existed. Ample quantities of pearls and gems in a plethora of colors. Czech glass modern and vintage. A wall of chain. Antique beads, vintage glass cabs, ribbons, notions... Vintage stampings! Sari fabric on the work tables in the Large and comfy class room! Layer upon layer of eye candy.
(Oh sorry. I don't sound very objective. This store is the mixed media artist's favorite. Could you tell?)

Pros: Unusual finds, huge selection, antique and vintage selection, unusual finds... Great people to chat with... Hip.
Cons: no real seed beads. Spend alot of money.
Rating: Quirky. Fab.

Third stop: Sea of Beads

Seed beaders! Its your store... oh they had great Czech glass and the standard supply of gem strands - anything you could want, but the seed beads here were the win. every shape and color, a diverse class class curriculum, a open yet separate class space... Daggers, lentils, faceted, small, large, triangles, hexes... Very friendly staff - in fact a customer came in while I was there to bead and hang out. The store is spacious, flooded with natural light. Plenty of loose beads as well as strands. Findings - I neglected this category here. Oops. 

Pros: good selection. Sea of seed beads! Friendly people. 

Cons: not as well stocked for wire, metal. 

Rating: Normal. Great. 

And what did I actually buy? Here's my loot - labeled by store for the curious. My mother requested a long green necklace - and Mothers Day is around the corner. So the abundance of green was with her piece in mind. 

Top row - Stampings, vintage and wood blocks: Bead it!
Second row left - seed beads, gems, pearls and Czech: Legendary Beads
Second row right: Czech and kyanite: Sea of Beads

Next time you are in Austin - don't miss the BBQ, the S. Congress St Bats - and the bead stores!

Jenny
www.jdaviesreazor.com

Spring organisation - and some butterflies!

Spring has finally sprung over here in the UK! We're actually having beautiful weather for the time of year, probably nature's way of making up for all the rain we've had over the last year, and even better the forecast says that the weather is due to continue over the Bank Holiday weekend this weekend (we get Monday off for May Day) - although my apologies in advance to our UK readers if I have now jinxed the weather and your planned BBQ gets rained off!

handmade copper beeheart round headpins by KristiBowmanDesign

Spring has also brought out the bulbs in the gardens and the park we walk through on the way to my eldest son's school, and the trees are now suddenly coated in beautiful greens. I even saw a couple of early butterflies in our garden this morning, much to our kittens excitement, and some bees busy pollinating the flowers too - don't worry, they didn't catch them!

bronze patinaed butterfly focal by TheaToo

Spring always makes me look afresh at everything in my life. Everything always looks so much better in the sunshine with the birds singing, and I get renewed energy to organise and generally make my life (and my family's life!) brighter and run smoother. One of the changes that I have made this week to make my Daisychain Extra etsy shop run more efficiently is to change it from a "made-to-order" shop to one where everything listed is ready to ship out. It means that when you put an order in you can be certain that everything will be posted out to you within 2 working days, often that same day, and it also means that I can make batches of designs rather than one or two of a design at a time to fill and order - far more efficient! It has already allowed me the time to create some new clasps that I have had sketched out for a couple of months, and I will have regular shop updates every 10 days or so with new stock and new designs.

oxidised copper butterfly hook clasp by DaisychainExtra

So, I'd like to know what changes Spring makes in your life - do the changes you see around you in nature give you new energy and new inspiration for your jewellery making? Have you made changes in the way you work as I have? And while you're thinking about that I hope that you will enjoy the butterflies and bees I've found in the AJE team members shops!

rainbow stained glass faceted polymer clay beads by TreeWingStudio - these remind me of butterfly wings!

May Component of the Month and Giveaway!

This month I am the lucky supplier of the Component of the Month Giveaway here on Art Jewelry Elements!  You will receive one ruffle disc from the pile in the photo below (please let me pick your disc!).

Here's how the giveaway, challenge, and blog-hop will work (please read all the information carefully!):

• I will give away 1 component to each of 3 winners selected randomly from those who leave comments below this post. 
• Please include your EMAIL address in your comment so that I can contact you ASAP should you win.
• Please (PLEASE) only leave a comment if you can commit to creating a finished piece and blogging about it on the reveal date.
• I'll choose the color, so you'll be surprised!
• The names of the 3 winners will be announced on May 4th in the evening so I can get international packages out if need be!
• The blog reveal will be Friday May 31. 

Ok, so get commenting!  I can't wait to see what you make!