Studio Saturday with Humblebeads

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.

Cynthia has won a blue bird resin pendant from Miss Fickle Media! Congrats! Email Shannon your mailing address to to receive your prize.

Welcome this week to the Humblebeads Studio.  I'm in the midst of preparing for my first national bead show, Bead & Button! (Booth 1212 - make a note!)  I'm hoping to be knee deep in beads by June, there is so much to do get ready for an event like this.  First there is stocking up on your best sellers and then there is designing new and exciting pieces for your loyal fans who will be seeking you out to see what's new. 

I have been designing the new line of toggle clasps and pendants based on willows, trees, forests and nests for the show.  I've gone though many trails and errors working up the prototypes.  It's true, beads do not just fly off the table perfect at the first try.  There are many experiments and tests before the ones you actually see online.  With the line fleshed out and streamlined, I'm now in the production phase.  There is nothing quite as fun as seeing a big ol' heap of your beads. I just want to grab them and staring petting them, saying, "My precious."

   

Okay, so here is the part where I ask a question and dangle beads in front of you!  What is the biggest leap you've taken with your business or creative journey?  Maybe it was submitting to a magazine for the first time, approaching a gallery, entering a show or taking a class across country where you didn't know anyone.  Share your story with me and one random winner will be picked from the comment - the prize: a set of my new willow branch disk beads, shown above.

A few toggles and pendants can be found in Etsy shop.