Louise Nelson Bird Beads

Hello cuteness! 

I recently discovered Scottish glass artist Louise Nelson and just had to share her wonderful birds with you.  I could see them paired with brass branches, leafy chain and Czech glass leaves and flowers.

She has a very limited offering in her Etsy shop, but maybe if we buy her out today that will spur her on to share more of her feathered friends with us!

Do You Dream in Color?

Do you dream in color?

Do you dream of beads in all their magnificent glory?

(Beads by Clayfulmingles)

Well then.  Do you ever get stuck for an idea, even though you're surrounded by colorful beads?  It's like the saying, "Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink."

Sometimes I get tired of looking through my color inspiration books, full of photos of flowers and fabric patterns and the like.  Sometimes I really do just want to be surrounded by colorful beads, even though it's the beads that are eluding my creativity.  This is when I take a random trip through Etsy.

My favorite trick is to type in a search term (being careful to also type in "NOT jewelry" so I only get beads) and then randomly choose a page.  Sometimes I'll start on page 50.  Sometimes I'll sort prices high to low.  You never know what you'll find that will cause that spark of creativity to turn into a blazing inferno of beading frenzy.

For instance, check out this ultra-cute peace bead by Cocobeads:

It makes me want to pull out a bunch of colorful seed beads -- or maybe some tiny pink, blue, and orange lampwork spacers?  Maybe even find some more flower beads to add as an asymmetric accent along one side of a necklace?

How about Earthenwood Studio's lovely toggles?  I always say the clasp of a piece of jewelry should be as beautiful as the rest of it.  How can you go wrong with this?  The bracelet can be made with a simple strand of beads, allowing this toggle to shine all on its own.

Or how about these gorgeous polymer clay beads by Stories They Tell?  I imagine pulling out fiber and making something wildly three-dimensional with beads as exotic as these.  Strips of kimono fabric, sari cloth, silk ribbon -- the possibilities are endless.

So what do you think?  If a bead show doesn't happen to be in town the day your creativity plays hooky, take a visit to my personal favorite online store for handmade art beads -- Etsy.com.  I guarantee you'll get lost in all the colors and designs and possibilities.  And your creativity just might not be able to resist coming back to play.

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for Lori Anderson Designs and writes the blogs Pretty ThingsAn Artist's Year Off.  She lives in Maryland.

Sponsor Spotlight: Lyn Foley

Lyn is a glass beadmaker who primarily sells her gallery quality jewelry.  Last year she started branching out selling her beads online, which are exquisite!  I could see her beads matched up with layers of gunmetal chain, onyx or labradorite or crystals in black dorado and fiery magma.

I could see each one of these in pieces to match this month's challenge theme.  Our challenge this month is such a fun one, I can't wait to see what you guys make!

 Lyn's color palette spans from earthy and dark to bright and playful.  Visit Lyn's website to purchase beads and to view her blog.