Art Bead Scene: September 2017

This month the Art Bead Scene is all about bugs and bright colors!  It's an amazing print with tons of insect action by entomologist and pattern designer Eugene Seguy.  You can read more about the artwork and the artist on the ABS blog HERE.

Insects

Eugene Seguy

Published in 1920

Pochoir Print

Image Credit: Special Collections Research Center at NCSU Libraries

I know that I can only post two official entries for the ABS competition, but I couldn't only make two things with this yummy inspiration!  I made a trio of dragonfly inspired earrings for now... I've got some other designs up my sleeve if I have time to circle back before the end of the month.

First up, a pair of pewter wings from Green Girl paired with some raku rounds from XAZ Bead Company.  The wings are already a decent size for earrings so I wanted to keep things fairly simple.  I just did some messy (for me anyway!) wire wraps around the beads and attached with a jump ring.  I liked the way the raku beads had some of the green tones but also the iridescence of real dragonfly wings.

Next, I just had to play with some copper plated dragonfly wings from Anna Bronze.  (True confession: I bought quite a bit from them at Bead & Button but this is the first thing I've made with my haul so far!)  These wings are so dainty so I wanted to keep any beads I added on a small scale to let the wings really shine.  There are loops at both ends of the wings so I had to add something to the bottom.  I chose some small metallic plated hematite and some crystal rondelles for the tiny dangles.

Lastly, I finally went for some serious COLOR!  I got these wonderful dragonfly charms in turquoise from Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio this summer and knew immediately that they would be perfect for this month's challenge.  (I adore the idea of having the whole year of ABS challenges ahead of time, by the way.)  I'm often guilty of being too monochromatic in my designs, so for this pair of earrings I really wanted to embrace a riot of color.  After looking at lots of different options, I settled on a pair of super bright disc beads from Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  I always like the combination of turquoise and red, so this was just the thing here.  (For some reason, these were really difficult to photograph... and my picture doesn't do them justice!)

Ok, back to work!  Lots more jewelry waiting for me on the bead table today.  Have a great weekend!

Art Bead Scene: October 2016

It's no secret that I adore glass in all its many forms: stained glass, lampwork glass, glass sculpture, mosaics, beads, artwork, and oh so much more!!  Bearing that in mind, you can bet that I was thrilled when I caught sight of the October Art Bead Scene challenge inspiration... it's a gorgeous Art Nouveau cameo glass lamp by Emil Galle.  Seriously, check out this beauty!  You can read more about the artwork and the artist over on the ABS blog HERE.

"Dragonfly Lamp"

By Émile Gallé, late 1800's- early 1900's

French Art Nouveau, Cameo Art Glass

The shades of purple and amber feel a little unexpected to me, but I think it's perfect for fall.  I wish I could see it lit up in person... I bet it gives off a lovely glow!  I recently painted a new batch of large dragonfly focal pendants and I thought it would be perfect to work one of those into a design for this challenge.  Now to just find an art bead to use!  I quickly solved that dilemma by looking in a little box of lampwork beads by Sheila Davis of Stone Designs that my husband bought be for Christmas.  My photos don't do it justice, but the lampwork bead has a luminescent glow to it and includes a mix of the colors present in the lamp.  I added an amethyst and Czech glass bead along with some brass bead caps to complete the pendant.

I may have taken some liberties with the color of the dragonfly focal, but I think that the mix of components works overall.  My normal necklace design uses a plain chain but I wanted something more exciting and colorful for this challenge.  I mixed in some rutilated quartz beads in a pretty yellow/amber color along with some green gemstone rounds.  To bring in more of the purple and to echo the pattern around the bottom of the lamp shade, I added some purple Czech glass maple leaf beads.

Thanks for stopping by!  You can see what other jewelry makers are inspired to make this month (and past month's too!) over on the group's Pinterest board HERE.