"WHAT INSPIRES YOU?"...Won't You Join Me?

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THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

It was raining yesterday here in southern Oregon, again. The mailman came and went and I decided to wait until a break in the rain to go out and collect the contents of our mailbox.

Later....piles of catalogs, a few bills and a Priority Mail box from Michigan. Ahhh, the few wonderful poly pieces I had just purchased from RachelesOriginals for my own work. And another surprise package!

Rachele and I are good friends. We are also partners in managing The Beadweaving Emporium market which we founded at 1000 Markets. We are also team members together at Etsy BeadWeavers . I have always admired the exquisite work this woman does. And now I am the proud owner of this very generous gift; one of Rachele's magnificient creations!!! More thank yous, Rachele ~ so very much!

See Rachele's creations at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RachelesOriginals

http://www.rachelesoriginals.blogspot.com

http://www.1000markets.com/users/rachelesoriginals

PRODUCT REVIEW CORNER

Kalera Lampwork

Every few months I am privileged to write a product review for Artbeads, a Washington-based full scale bead company. As the artist, I am asked to choose my product, free of charge, from a list of potential items, and give my readers an honest review. This time I choose one of their wonderful lampwork pendants and I designed a simple necklace around 2 of them together.

Company: Artbeads (Artbeads.com)
Product: #1811995 LMP-0054
Description: Hot pink and purple free style KaLERA Beads
Product Link: http://www.artbeads.com/lmp-0054.html
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/cubic-zirconia-jewelry-beads.html

I invite you also to check out Artbeads and their fabulous sweepstake offers:
http://www.facebook.com/artbeads#/artbeads?v=app_28134323652

Measurements: Length 38.5mm,
Width 19-20.5mm
Color: Pink/Purple ~ Hot Pink and Purple Free Style Kalera Bead
Material: Glass
Place of Origin: USA

The intense detail and craftsmanship of this artisan lampwork bead makes it a perfect focal piece for your jewelry designs. Each bead is handcrafted in the USA. Despite the tiny variations between each bead, (I got 3 each) the incredible similarity from one to the next will astound you. There are no sharp edges and colors are accurate and intense. Their quality is indisputable ~ at least, this is my own opinion.

Disclosure: #1811995 LMP-0054, Hot pink and purple free style Kalera Beads, were kindly provided free-of-charge by Artbeads.com, within the frames of Artbeads.com blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

HOLIDAYS IN THE STUDIO

View from the Studio Window

Welcome to Beadazzled's studio! We're pretty busy, especially this time of year, but we invite you to slide into your slippers, get a cup of tea and "Take 5". Mosey through our shop, if you would like more information about anything you see there please don't hesitate to contact me. Often pieces can be altered to meet your own measurements; if not, we love making custom pieces expressly for our clients. It costs no more and you can really designate your color preferences, etc.

Now I hope you're also thinking about the other folks on your holiday shopping list as well! If you don't see something that catches your eye, we can always issue a Gift Certificate for your holiday present-giving. Then, when the holidays are behind us and the decorations are once again back in their boxes, we can sit down with the recipient and create some specialness just for her.

It's a wonderful time of year! Beadazzled wishes you and yours a blessed season full of good health and surrounded by loved ones. Is there really anything else that matters?

Bestest, Dini

HANDPAINTED PORCELAIN from ARTBEADS

HAND PAINTED PORCELAIN and STERLING PENDANTS

Measurements: Height 69mm,

Width: 40mm

Color: Black/Silver

Material: Ceramic (Porcelain)/Sterling Silver

Place of Origin: China

Product #: PB-PEN61

Handpainted Porcelain and Sterling Pendant Black Swirls and Checks - 15% OFF!
This sterling silver and hand-painted porcelain pendant is a must-have item. It is truly wearable art in sterling silver frames. Its black swirls and checks create a unique pattern that is both artistic and captivating. Each piece is handmade in the USA and is the perfect piece to set your designs apart.

Every pendant is large enough for a complicated, multi-strand design, and stunning enough to stand alone with a simple chain or ribbon. Despite being handmade, these pendants are virtually flawless in their similarity. Though the consistency from bead to bead is amazing, there will be slight variations due to the handmade nature. Rest assured that these pendants are extremely high quality and variances will be minimal. Add a small work of art to your designs for a unique, one of-a-kind touch. Use this pendant when you want to create a designer fashion look or even an everyday classic.Save 15% on select black and red jewelry components. Whether you want to create a Twilight®-themed piece of jewelry, or you simply love red and black, you're sure to be inspired by the items in this sale. From beads to links, crystals to necklaces, these stunning items will help you create beautiful jewelry for every occasion. Simply enter coupon code SCW15P-PCS at checkout. Shop now! The quality of this pendant is top notch. This sale ends at 9am (PST) on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

Hand-Painted Porcelain Pendants
Link: http://www.artbeads.com/porcelain-ceramic-pendants.html
HTML link: http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20title="> Hand-Painted Porcelain Pendants

See http://www.artbeads.com/

"WORKSHOP IN THE BARN" - Beverly Ash Gilbert

"Beads on Metal" Luncheon

Workshop in the Barn; October 6, 2009

Classroom; The Barn

WORKSHOP PARTICIPNTS; Washington

Yours Truly

Grants Pass, OR

Each day of the worshop there was a bounty of delacacies having nothing to do with beading and everything to do with friendship. Late every afternoon the wine bottle(s) would come out to accompany the absolutely wonderful hors d'oeuvres made by Beverly. One day Beveraly treated us to a wonderful luncheon - exotic salads, fresh fruits and a dessert to die for. One evening when we worked (beaded ~ is that work?!) until 9, she created a fresh salmon meal for us ~ the wafts of her kitchen expertise wandered up the stairs to the barn above where we all were gathered. The Saturday brunch was another milestone - her dining table set like it came right out of Bon Apetit magazine.

Carol Sween

Gig Harbor, Washington

Carol is a "newbie" at beading - she was hosting Adrienne during her stay here from Wales and never anticipated even participating. No one else was really surprised when she ended up creating some wonderful beading on metal. Her excitement was contageous ~ here she works on her free-form wandering with color necklace in blacks and deep blues ~ I would love to see it finished and Carol wearing it to her son's upsoming wedding!

"Wander with Color" by Kerstin Martin

Bellingham, Washington

Kerstin was one of the few "locals" attending - a professional photographer by trade, Kerstin's sense of color lit up the room! Here she worked on a free-form bracelet using Dark Chocolate, Grass, Tropical Punch, Fuchsia Bead Soups.

"BEACHCOMER Pendant" by Betty Hensley

Betty flew in from North Carolina to join us in the "Workshop in the Barn". A vibrant woman, Betty's personality added spark and pizazz to the entire unit. Not intimidated by the use of color, this rich piece of Betty's was one of her "blander" pieces. She encompassed this beach glass piece in Hydrangea Bead Soup. For some reason, the only photo we have of Miss Betty is during our luncheon so look for her there.

"WORKSHOP IN THE BARN" ~ Kirkland, WA

Beverly Ash Gilbert is one of those extraordinarily talented spirits that lights up the room before she even enters - she shared some of her many talents with a handful of us "hungry" beaders during a weeklong workshop that she held in her barn in Kirkland, Washington. After my own year of challenges with 4 hand reconstruction surgeries and a mountain of physical therapy, I was so ready to indulge myself with the pleasure of spending a week with other "like enthusiasts" who spoke the same "Bead Language" that I did. It was far more than I ever anticipated and the memories continue to linger on, and on,...already thinking and planning next year's reunion.

Beverly travels and teaches as well ~ if you ever get the chance to fit one of her classes into your life, I encourage you to make it a priority. See her traveling schedule at: http://www.beverlygilbert.blogspot.com. She is the creator and author of "Eye for Color"; a unique collection of interchangeable templates and color wheel system and a "must-have" for any beader.

She is the creator of "Bead Soup", (with the assistance from one of her sons) a unique, broad blend of colors, textures, and sizes of beads and gems neatly packaged in a see-through plastic box. It is a feast for the eyes and they are inspirations for the soul. You can find them on her website: .http://www.gilbertdesigns.net/beadmixes.html. I invite you to take a look and drool!

Tomorrow I will introduce you to the eclectic group of beaders who I spent the workshop week with; talent from all corners of the world: literally. See you tomorrow.

USE THE MUSE III CONTEST

This is a photo of the colors and items in the next Use the Muse III contest.

The only item that is missing is "the Muse" itself. Be sure to stay tuned to see

what Beadazzled does with the items above. Deadline: Oct. 19, 2009.

The fabulous Use the Muse beading design contest is back for another exciting round of competition.

Scarlett Lanson has selected another mystery muse component from Artbeads' artisan designer collection that will provide inspiration to hundreds of jewelry designers from around the world, all sworn to secrecy until the "Big Reveal."To compliment the muse component, Scarlett has selected an assortment of TOHO seed beads, Swarovski crystal beads, Swarovski pearls, Swarovski crystal yarn and a number of copper-plated pewter components from our co-sponsor TierraCast.

Everything is elegantly assembled in the Use the Muse contest kit available from Scarlett for only $30 plus shipping ($5 U.S. / $10 international). The Use the Muse contest is the brainchild of Scarlett Lanson who has a regular column in Beadwork magazine and has won some prestigious contests herself. She placed first in the 2009 KGI Wordwide Design Contest and fourth place in the 2007 Swarovski "Create Your Style" competition. Scarlett's goal was to create a competition with a shortened timeline that would offer a big payoff for beaders, stringers, bead weavers and embroiderers.

http://www.Artbeads.com is once again proud to sponsor this wonderful beading competition which provides inspiration for so many jewelry designers. The popularity of this contest continues to grow with this round of contest kits selling at a record pace. If you're up for the challenge, we encourage you to order your contest kit today before they sell out. Take a look at the past "BIG REVEAL" to see the designs that won the Grand Prize, 2nd Place, 3rd Place and each of the 10 Category Prizes. You can also see the entire gallery of designs from all the contest participants along with the comments from each designer regarding their creation and how the muse component inspired them.

Join me ~ it's such fun!

EBW JUNE CHALLENGE: "HUMOR"

Etsy BeadWeavers' June Challenge: "Humor"

Length: 27" Pendant: 4.5" wide

This is my current entry in the Etsy Beadweaver's June Monthly Beadweaving Challenge. The subject of the challenge is: "HUMOR". Beadazzled is a proud member of this international creative, beadweaving group.

While recovering from recent hand surgeries, when I wasn't able to actually bead, I made the wire mesh chicken pen and attached this fabulous hand-blown glass lampwork chicken pendant. I tossed it into my "unfinished" basket. When this challenge subject was presented, my mind went right to that piece ~ and I decided this unique beadwoven necklace just had to be Mexican! Pizazzy in all the primary colors, this necklace is a OOAK (one-of-a-kind) piece that will encircle your neck comfortably and turn all heads with a wonderful chuckle. And we can all use more laughs, can't we?

The entries for the challenge are in and you are in for a real treat! Twenty Etsy Beadweavers have the talent and took the time to create these exciting and humorous challenge pieces! Please take the time to visit each entry and read their story about how their piece relates to the theme "Humor.

Using tiny little beads with a needle and thread and incredible patience, EBW bring these selections to you to vote and choose your favourite.You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece! Cast your vote, June 9th thru the 15th!

1. Adios Pollo - BeadazzledofOregon

2. HOUSE for RENT with Garden View - enchantedbeads

3. Jolly Jester - ArtfulAr

4. WEED Necklace - HauteIceBeadwork

5. Riot of Color Sparkly Rope Necklace - roseworksjewelry

6. Curly Black Rock Bacelet - SpringColors

7. inside jokes - thebeadedlily

8. Clown Fish Join the Carnival - beadsandblooms

9. Where's Waldo - Oops... I Mean Where's Lizard - fashionsfrome

10. Tartan Scottie Dog beaded cuff - Crownrosegems

11. Gone Fishing---Cat and fish bracelet - vanishingpearl

12. HERE'S LOOKIN' AT YOU Blown Glass Eye Pendant Set - caraway

13. Curiosity killed the Toilet Paper - LiciaBeads

14. Where Is My UFO - binkaminka

15. NOT My Mother - PfordCustomJewelry

16. Money doesn't grow on trees Necklace - CieloDesign

17. Harlequin - Free Form Beaded Cuff - ThreeFatesDesign

18. Punch-Line Bracelet - FrancescasFancy

19. Pond Frog Bracelet - savoystudio

20. Harlequin - jmackgems

Voting begins on Tuesday June 9th and ends midnight June 15th. You can show your appreciation for the efforts of these EBW artists by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic on our EBW blog site below where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to vote! Many thanks to Ann of Francesca's Fancy for creating a beautiful mosaic of the Challenge pieces.

VOTE @: http://www.http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

WHAT IS: USE THE MUSE?

Sponsored by: Artbeads and Rainbows of Light.

A Creative Contest

for the playful artist, the inspired stringer and the patient beadweaver.

Produced by fellow beader, Scarlett Lanson (Use the Muse)

In Scarlett's own words: "The USE THE MUSE Beading Contest is a design competition that I created for people who have a love for beads and jewelry making. I have garnered a certain level of recognition in the beading world for my participation in several major beading contests and Beadwork magazines' "The Challenge". Entering these competitions has pushed me to grow further as an artist and experiment with materials that I would not usually work with. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for these events challenging me to participate and develop my skills as a beader.

Through my communications with beaders of all skill levels, from novice to advanced, I have learned that many of you would like to enter a contest, but are discouraged or intimidated by the grand scale of some of the other entries, or the expansive timelines. I wanted to provide a fun and creative outlet for those beaders! I wanted to create a sort of competition that I would want to enter.... that fills the voids that are so apparent in all the other contests. I wanted to create a competition for all types of beaders... stringers, beadweavers, and embroiderers - that had a shortened timeline - and a BIG PAYOFF!

My contest only runs ten weeks, and winners are announced just two weeks after entries are submitted. And the

PRIZES are big! They are tangible, visible, and very desirable! I selected each prize package with my sponsors Rainbows of Light and Artbeads.com and designed it with the winners in mind. Every part of this contest was carefully thought out to create the most exciting and inspiring event possible.

SO WHAT IS THE MUSE ANYWAY? The MUSE is the central component in my contest! Each participant will purchase a contest kit, with an assortment of stunning beads, from crystals, to pearls, to silk, to seed beads, and more. From this kit, they will create their own design entry. They are allowed to use as much or as little of the kit as they choose, and are encouraged to incorporate their own beads and elements to create the most unique piece possible. The main rule however, is that they must USE THE MUSE. The MUSE is a mystery component that participants do not get to see until their kit package arrives in the mail! It is a design element that is carefully chosen to be interesting and usable by both stringers and beadweavers. The element complements the rest of the contest kit and may be a focal, pendant, art bead, or unique design component.

Details of the MUSE component are not to be revealed or discussed publicly until the "BIG REVEAL" at the end of the contest, when the winners and entries will be posted on this site. This is to preserve the mystery and the fun of having a SURPRISE design element, for both participants and onlookers. What I can tell you, is that the MUSE is a beautiful and versatile mystery component from drumrolll please.... Lillypilly! Please help keep the secret! Keeping the MUSE a mystery is essential to the fun!

I invite you to participate in the first International USE THE MUSE Contest and share it with your friends! To learn more, judging criteria, deadlines, and prizes will be blogged about right here at Beadazzled of Oregon in a few days!"

Scarlett's Blog: http://www.thebeadersmuse.com/

I'm taking the challenge ~ sounds exciting and fun to me! How about you?

THE EXCITEMENT HEIGHTHENS....

My good friend, LOUISA MEECE (Beaded Extravagance) has recently entered one of her fabulous beadweaving neck creations in the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads annual conpetition and just this week she was notified that her "gem" has been accepted into the second judging.

"I finally heard from FMG! Martian Queen's Necklace has been accepted into the second round of judging. Now I have to pack her up and ship her out your way. I'm a little nervous about that seeing as it is my most expensive piece but I'll be sure to insure it. It's just that it's not replaceable and I'd hate to lose it! It was one of those necklaces that I didn't like in the beginning but I went with my gut and finished her off and fell in love! I've decided that I'm going to make a cuff and a pair of earrings to match and sell them as a set- if I can. I've found that when I make a set with a very expensive necklace customers are willing to buy the less expensive parts of the set... I guess to have a part of it or something.

P.S. Well, I'm off to research Locks of Love. I made a drastic change yesterday and had 16 inches of my hair cut off! My husband isn't too happy with my decision, but I just had to get rid of all that hair! My daughter says I look like a 'young mom' now! LOL! It feels so much cooler and healthier!"

You GO GIRL! We are all so behind you ~ wish we could all vote for that fabulous piece!

See Louisa's crreations at: http://www.beadedextravagance.etsy.com.




NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

BEADAZZLED Featured on MY SHOPPING CONNECTION!

Etsy BeadWeavers AND Beadazzled of Oregon

Featured on "My Shopping Connection"

The Etsy BeadWeavers is a group of extraordinarily talented artisans who create intricate and detailed pieces of one-of-a-kind jewelry and art. The BeadWeavers take hundreds or even thousands of tiny beads and transform them into a woven work of art. Each piece can take hours, weeks or months to complete.

The Etsy BeadWeavers blog is incredibly active, and each month many of the members participate in a challenge to create a new piece based on a given theme. If you spend time browsing the blog and the members' shops, you'll be amazed by the incredible detail and artistry that goes into bead weaving!

From left to right: Smadar's Treasure, Haute Ice Beadwork, Triz Designs, Cielo Design, Jodi Horgan, Beadazzled of Oregon, Savoy Studio, The Beaded Bear and BeadCatcher.

A huge thank you goes out to My Shopping Connection for the great article featuring the EBW team and spotlighting several members' work. We were lucky enough to be one of them! Click the photo above to check it out!

See them at: http://www.myshoppingconnection.com/

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

BEADWEAVING EMPORIUM NOW LIVE...

...AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND NEW MEMBERSHIP

Well, we're pretty excited!! The Beadweaving Emporium beadweaver's market at 1000 Markets) is now LIVE and open to the public for business and for new member requests. We currently have 13 beadweaving shops open with more joining every day.

If you are a beadweaver and already have a shop at 1000 Markets and are interested in joining our market, come and see us at:

http://www.1000markets.com/groups/bem. See you there!!

PROPOSAL: ACCEPTED!!!

The BEADWEAVING EMPORIUM @

1000 MARKETS:

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!

Our proposal for THE BEADWEAVING EMPORIUM has been stamped: APPROVED as a new market at 1000 Markets!! We submitted our proposal to their management yesterday afternoon and received a "Well Done" acceptance email from CEO Matt at 10pm last night. We are all very excited and now look forward to getting our actual electronic marketplace created, post each of our shops there and look forward to inviting all beadweavers across the country (and soon to be international) to apply for membership in our group. This move allows us to spotlight our own particular kind of unique beading to be showcased in it's own entity which we believe will make it easier for the public to find us. Until now, beaders, beadweavers, bead makers, lampwork bead makers, etc. at 1000 Markets have been bunched together under "jewelry".

These shops are the hard-working Founding Members of the Market:

Beadazzled of Oregon
Rachele’s Originals
Conlin’s Creations
Beaded Extravagance
Beadsforever
The Beaded Lily
Cigar Box Beads
Hiding Place Beadery

Come and see us! Or come and join us at 1000 Markets!

INVITATION:

If you are a beadweaver and are interested in membership, we invite you (at this time) to contact either me (Beadazzled of Oregon) or Racele Dagley (Rachele's Originals). We are compiling a list now. Soon we will have our own 1000 Markets link to membership and I will post that here so watch for it!

NOTE: Double click on graphic for close-up view.

PROPOSAL ON THE WAY TO 1000 MARKETS!

THE BEADWEAVING EMPORIUM

Beadazzled of Oregon started it's own shop at 1000 Markets, a new selling venue sincerely based on "quality not quantity" just a few weeks ago. After a week of being open, still posting my inventory (and haven't finished that yet!) I spent some time investigating my way through the marketplace there. It occurred to me that all beaders were glomped together: stringers, beadweavers, lampwork artists, bead makers, etc.

That insight gave way to the initial idea that we beadweavers should have our own marketplace that just showcased our art. So, OK, you know the rest... Inviting anyone who might be interested in such a venture, within a handful of days there was a solid group of 8 of us who have spent the entire last week, pioneering our way through writing up our proposal, choosing our name and tag line, establishing our vision of the market we wanted to establish and deciding on a final banner graphic. We will call ourselves: The Beadweaving Emporium.

Today we spit and polish and make sure all those "i's" are dotted and submit it for consideration by the 1000 Markets jury. Regardless of the outcome, (though obviously we hope it's a positive acceptance) this last week has been a wonderful, non-stop experience by 8 devoted, hard-working entrepreneurs, teamed together for a common purpose. Great job gals!

Mumblings in the outside beading world that this proposal is in the works surfaced. Now my list for other beadweavers who are ready to join us is growing daily. And, that's exciting too! Any beadweaver reading this now, if you are interested in joining this group, please send me your name AND email address and I'll keep you postes on our progress. Stay tuned for the outcome.

NOTE: Double click on photo for close-up view.

2009 SPRING COLOR CHART...

...according to Margie Deeb, bead artist, and the Panatone fashion color report. Margie has a wonderful site/newsletter where she talks about all kinds of "art of color for bead artists" and you'll find issues of Margie's Muse at: http://www.MargieDeeb.com/muse. She has some wonderful, very useful information and ideas on the use of color - some wonderful, detailed examples of suggested palettes from different cultures. She examines color and dominance, living color, among a few. Margie has 2 downloadable PDF's choked full of wonderful and very useful color information. You'll find them listed and available on her website: http://www.margiedeeb.com.

Other resources from Deeb are: BLOG: http://www.colorforbeadartists.com and NEWSLETTER: http://www.margiedeeb.com/newsletter.