Inspiration Monday: Spring Break!

It's officially Spring Break season and we all know what that means: the beach! Get ready to relax and have fun in the sun.  One of the things I love about spring, besides the break of course, is that it's the perfect time of year for a revival of inspiration. For me, being near water is the best spot to get my creative juices flowing; as far as water goes the ocean is second to none. In all of its vast beauty, the ocean holds an array of colors and shapes. Just look at the definition and texture of coral, the fluidity of the fish, and the mystery that surrounds the creatures of the deep.

Marrakesh Market

When I am on vacation I always make a trip to the sundries store or the local market. It's the best place to get some local culture.  These markets are a mecca of hidden gems. Look at this one from Marrakesh; I am in awe of all the beautiful colors!  If you get a chance to walk through an open air food market, do it.  Walk through and take in the textures, smells and tastes of all the richness in everything you find.  Talk to the locals, they are a wealth of stories and secret places to explore.  And as always, be safe and smart in all of your travels.







Here is one of my favorite pictures of the beach.  The purple, orange and pink is such a different color scheme than the blue, aqua, green that we usually think of when we think of the beach.  Be inspired by the range of color palates that the beach has to offer. Take in a sunset. Drink in the glow of the afternoon sun. Watch the first break of the morning sun peeking over the horizon.

Reconnecting with the nature around you is a wonderful place to look for inspiration. Enjoy all aspects of your vacation by really soaking in everything around you. The food, the people, and the sights. Even if you are not traveling to far off lands, you can find inspiration in nature.






Even if you can't make it to a beach this spring, you can still bring home some keepsakes from your travels to use in your jewelry or crafts. Using found objects is the perfect way to make your jewelry more personal. As for gathering souvenirs for all your friends and family, don't give them they old stand by key chain or silly t-shirt. Make them something with what you picked up on your journey. Did you find a really neat shell or take an interesting picture of something you know they would like? Put it in a pendant then use resin or glass domes to keep it safe. To save time while you're getting back into your post-vacation routine, use a finished chain to complete your gift. You can use all sorts of items to complement your found treasures: sea glass, pearls, nautical charms, or my favorite: glass bottles.

Where are you traveling to this Spring Break? Share with us in the comments below. We'd love to see pictures too!

-Kat

Inspiration Monday: Game of Thrones!

Are you a television buff? I know I am. And if you're like me, you know how easy it is to be consumed by the plot, characters and atmosphere of a good television show. And while there might be a handful of tv shows we look forward to on a weekly basis-- there is always that one special show we are most excited about.

For me, that show is the epic and exciting, Game of Thrones. And since television can play an important role in what we make, it is a wonderful source of inspiration for jewelry making. The wardrobe, the themes, the color schemes and the characters encompass so many different styles and looks. This fantasy drama has a completely unique look of its own; it combines fantasy and history in a way that is a complete feast for the eyes. And there are many fun and unique ways to celebrate and incorporate this into your jewelry making!

For starters, why not make a necklace reminiscent of Jon Snow and the Night's Watch? You can incorporate a cool ceramic crow bead or this antiqued silver plated wolf charm into your pieces. Just string them onto a long chain or cord or maybe even make a charm bracelet. A crow ring using a pretty tempered glass oval cabochon in a bezel setting would look very feminine and pretty. Or how about a dragon-themed pendant necklace in honor of Daenerys, the Dragon Queen? Kat's been working on a piece that uses this pewter dragon focal bead from Green Girl Studios and it's so pretty!

A few other cool symbolic charms you can incorporate into your Game of Thrones jewelry are sterling silver sword charms and spooky skull and bone shaped Czech glass beads. The possibilities are limitless and you can have fun adding different types of chains, chords and accent beads to each piece you create.

With the holidays coming up in a few months, why not plan ahead and incorporate these jewelry components into gifts for your favorite Game of Thrones fan? They're simple, unique pieces that you can transform into personalized treasures. Remember to always gather inspiration from your favorite things, including those television shows you look forward to each week. They can offer up a whole new world of inspiration.

-Karlin

Inspiration Monday: La Belle Époque & Art Nouveau

One of my favorite things to do is look through old photographs and admire the styles of the past. And like many of you, I have a favorite era I'm naturally drawn to - an era whose style and mood inspires my creativity. My era of choice is Paris' Belle Époque, also known as the “Golden Age."

La Belle Epoch was such a beautiful time in history. Gorgeous paintings, amazing jewelry and ornate architecture was everywhere. The art, the fashion, and just the city, as a whole, was so eye-catching. The Belle Epoch was a period characterized by hopefulness, a greater appreciation for literature, theater, music and the arts-- basically, all the things I hold dear to my heart. Visually, it was a feast for the eyes.

My favorite art movement of the Belle Époque era is Art Nouveau. I love the way the images flow with such movement and ease. One of my favorite painters of this era is Mucha, who incorporated beautiful figures, nature and lots of line work into his pieces.

I think that in one way or another, we all draw inspiration from history. It's hard not to be swept away by the beauty that comes from the past. Needless to say, a lot of the things I make are inspired by this era. If I could jump into a time machine and visit Paris in the late 1800s, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Do you have a favorite era that inspires you?

-Karlin

Inspiration Monday: Beaded Crochet Bags

Inspiration Monday could not have come at a more perfect time. Sometimes I'll get a sudden urge to start a new project (like a food craving, thankfully without any caloric consequences) and this time around it's for beaded crochet. There's nothing more therapeutic than planting myself in a peaceful setting and crocheting my heart out. 

Victorian Miser's Bag 

Coming up with a project idea can also be a task in itself; there’s just so much out there. All it takes for me is a quick Internet search and the virtual journey begins, and I’m almost overwhelmed by the possibilities. But time after time, it doesn't take too long for me to fall back in love with a challenge I have yet to conquer, the small beaded crochet bag or purse.  

The beaded bag alone seems to have an ever-evolving history…dating as far back as the 1800s - and even further. Originally the techniques and patterns used to create these handmade treasures were guarded as family secrets passed down through generations. However, it wasn't long before these old world accessories hit the marketplace and took on a life of their own. 

1920's Flapper Purse

A boom seems to have taken place during The Roaring 20s, and understandably so...I can only imagine what a perfect accessory the beaded bag must have been to the dedicated flapper of the day. But the evolution of the beaded bag didn't stop there. New variations and styles continue to change and develop even today as much as our imaginations can allow. I have managed to find pieces from almost every decade and pulled a couple of my favorite finds to share with you. I also found a great book titled Clark's 100 Crochet Designs for Bags originally published in the 1920s. 

So take a step back in time with me, and check out these beauties from history.

-Marie

Inspiration Monday: Halloween

As I shared with you on Saturday, fall is my favorite time of year!  A big part of that is the start of the holiday season.  I am a totally obnoxious little elf around the holidays, and for me, the fun begins as we enter the Halloween Season!

Halloween has always been at the top of my list for fun times.  When I was younger, and I used to go out for Halloween, I would start working on my costume in August, no joke.

These days I'm more into staying in and handing out candy, but I still draw so much inspiration from the festivities around me!  I've traded in my elaborate costumes for cute seasonal jewelry and accessories.  Here at Beadaholique, we carry a ton of fun Halloween items, and I've been having a grand time making spooky little projects to celebrate the season!



One of my favorite Halloween appropriate items are the Czech seed beads that glow in the dark!

I used them in my project: The Graveyard Shift Bracelet, which has fun glow in the dark skulls and crossbones.  I think it would be so much fun to wear out on Halloween night.  Can you imagine seeing it glowing on someone in the dark?



We just got a bunch of new cameos in, and a couple of them were right in time for Halloween!  Specifically, the Lolita Skeleton cameos and the cameos with little black cats on them are perfect for showing your Halloween "spirit".  I've used both in projects that would help you celebrate in a more subtle way if showing up to work in a full costume isn't an option for you.  Check out the Little Miss Midnight Cocktail Ring and the Kitty Noir Headband tutorials for step by step instructions.

We also carry lots of cute little charms and lampwork beads that are just waiting to be hung on a necklace, an earring hook, or a cell phone strap.  You can see how to do this in some of our quick and easy Halloween projects like the Boo! Earrings or the Batty Cell Phone Charm.

What is your favorite Halloween look?  Do you go all out with a costume, or keep it to wearing festive pieces to celebrate the holiday?

-Megan

Inspiration Monday Book Review: Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies

Beadweaving is my favorite medium in jewelry making, and as an avid beadweaver, I was thrilled with Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies from Lark Crafts.  This book boasts instructions for 30 gorgeous projects, and I honestly would love to try each and every one of them.

Sabine does a lot of really amazing and different things with beaded bezels, and the way she combines and layers different stitches is as interesting as it is beautiful.  She's got the kind of projects in here that leave me saying, "How did she DO that?" and that is always a fun reaction for a seasoned beader to have.

Les Fleurs by Sabine Lippert

The projects in this book are ornate and intricate.  They are hopelessly romantic and very feminine, and perusing through them will leave you itching to grab your beads and get started!  Perhaps the best part is that as daunting as some of these beauties may look, Sabine gives very clear instructions.  The step by step how-tos and detailed illustrations break it all down into digestable bits, and make these projects quite doable.

You can get a preview and try out one of the patterns in this book for free at the Lark Crafts website.  Once you do, and you get hooked, you can grab your own copy of this amazing book here.


- Megan

Inspiration Monday: Nail Art!

I'll always be the first to admit that I'm a total girlie-girl.  I love pink, I love glitter, shoot, I even have little pink bows tattooed on my body.  So, with that in mind, it's a no-brainer this new trend of DIY nail art that I'm seeing everywhere makes me ridiculously happy.

Shine Like a Star by nailside

Chic Chevrons by nailside

Explosion Manicure Tutorial by nailside

We designers here at Beadaholique tend to keep our manicures pretty low key.  Clear polishes, or a subtle nude really work better when you're taping an instructional video.  I am left, therefore, to live vicariously through others when it comes to these amazing new ideas.  My favorite way to do this is by browsing nailside, a blog that's all about nail art.  Jane from nailside has oodles of incredible photos, reviews, and even free tutorials on her blog.  It's a girlie dream come true, and I highly recommend checking it out.

At first, it might seem like the only outlet for this manicure mania of mine would be absolutely fantastic toe nails.  Not so.  Don't get me wrong, I do have fantastically painted toes most of the time, but this is not the only way that I have been inspired by the goodies that I have found on this site.

Abstract 80s by nailside

Art Deco Chevrons by nailside

The color combinations and shapes that Jane used in these manicures evoke a whole style.  They're just asking to be the jumping off point for other creative ventures.  I would love to design the outfit that goes along with them, and definitely the jewelry that would complete the look.  From shocking 80s color pops to glamourous art deco chevrons, these manicures really paint a picture!  Which one would you like to wear this week?

Malificent Lightning Bolt by nailside

Inspiration Monday Book Review: Vintage Jewelry Design

Vintage Jewelry Design, by Caroline Cox

In all of my creative ventures, I find myself endlessly inspired by the past.  I especially have a weakness for vintage jewelry.  I want to wear it, collect it, and make my own creations based on the ways it inspires me.  Imagine my pleasure, then, in perusing Vintage Jewelry Design: Classics to Collect and Wear, by Caroline Cox.  This book gives a fantastic overview of jewelry trends and innovations over the last 100 years, with lots and lots of gorgeous pictures to drool over as you read.

Beginning with La Belle Epoque and continuing through the 1990s, Caroline Cox has collected a wonderful history of modern jewelry in this book.  In chronological order, the book goes through the last century.  In each section, we are given an introduction to the time period, an explanation of what influenced the trends in jewelry, key designers and trendsetters, beautiful examples of pieces from that era, and finally a concise visual summary of key looks from the decade.  This is a volume that you can come back to again and again for inspiration and for knowledge on the different modern design movements.

Cox also includes information on shopping and collecting, with advice on finding the true vintage jewelry treasure and how to spot a fake.  If you are a lover of jewelry, or of all things vintage, I highly recommend this book.  Find this gem of a book here, and improve your knowledge of jewelry history, gain insight into the world of vintage jewelry collecting, and most of all, be inspired!

-Megan

Inspiration Monday Book Review: Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue

The latest addition to Lark Crafts' Beadweaving Master Class series: Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue is simply stunning.  I had the pleasure of perusing this breathtaking book, and I have to say, it's left me charmed and inspired.

The first thing I noticed when browsing through this book was the striking visual aesthetic of the photography.  Each project is shown on the same model.  She is lovely and classic-looking, and appears in black and white.  The jewelry she wears is in full color, and stands off the page in an eye-catching contrast.  It's a really beautiful way to showcase the jewelry.

And oh, the jewelry!  Sonoko Nozue has used beadweaving to create some of the most delicate, feminine and beautiful pieces of jewelry in this book.  It feels like such a treat to look through the pictures and know that the instructions provided will enable us to recreate these exquisite pieces.  It left me with my fingers itching to pick out some beads and get to weaving!

The projects range from simply beautiful one stitch pieces to more intricate, advanced skill level pieces.   But even these harder projects are built upon basic stitch foundations which have been combined in very interesting ways.  The instructions are mostly visual, with clear, easy to follow diagrams, and just a bit of written guidance to bring you step by step through the project.

Beadweaving is one of my favorite jewelry making techniques.  So all of the books in the Beadweaving Master Class series are particularly inspiring to me, and this one is especially lovely.  If it looks like something you might also enjoy, pop on over to Lark Crafts' website, where you can download a free PDF of one of the projects in the book: the beautiful Crystal Rose Necklace.  You can get a taste first hand, and you may just become as big a fan of Sonoko's work as I have.

-Megan

Inspiration Monday - Butter Bridal Shoes

I am in the middle of planning my wedding, so quite a lot of my free time goes to looking at pretty things on the internet.  It's really not a bad way to spend time, and I keep running into ideas and images that inspire me to create.  

One of my favorite things that I have come across in my wedding web travels is Butter Bridal Shoes.  I was stunned by this collection of gorgeous, retro style shoes.  Most of the shoes in this collection are adorned with fantastic embellishments on the toes, such as flowers, crystals, or bows - my favorite!

I was inspired by the definitive style that all of these shoes exude.  I want to make bridal jewelry to match!

But more than matching jewelry, I was inspired to make something that could add that kind of flair to all of my everyday shoes.  I've been seeing shoe clips around a lot (which I mentioned in a post last month) and these shoes made me want to get to work on trying my hand at my own shoe embellishments.

I made several pairs of shoe clips, but the pair most directly inspired by Butter Bridal Shoes were these Bridal Bow Shoe Clips, below.  I loved all of the bows and wanted to bring an elegant, shimmery touch to them in my take on a bridal shoe clip.

Since I found the Bridal by Butter line, I've been trying to justify the hefty price tag in my small wedding budget.  But my bridal shoe clips turned out so nicely, I think I may just make myself a pair for my wedding day!

You can check out all of my shoe clip projects on our website and get step by step instructions for making your own pair!

-Megan

Inspiration Monday - Erté

When I studied costume design in college, my professor introduced me to the work of Erté.  I can't thank her enough!  Over the years I have been endlessly inspired by his amazing art and designs.

Romain de Tirtoff lived from 1892 - 1990 and worked under the pseudonym Erté during his illustrious career in art, fashion, and costume design.  He is very well known for designing over 200 covers for Harper's Bazaar and for his costume work in films such as Ben Hur and The Mystic.

Erté's art most commonly depicts women in lavish, outlandish, and extraordinarily creative ensembles.  Many of the garments in his art are not actually possible to produce, and others are like a puzzle to figure out.  But we don't have to be able to pattern and sew an Erté gown to be inspired by his style!

Looking through these images makes me want to play with strands of beads, tassels, knot work, vintage style metal stampings, rhinestones, and chains.  That's quite a list, but trust me, it doesn't stop there!  Art deco is one of my favorite styles, and Erté did it best!  How do these images inspire you?

-Megan

Inspiration Monday: Seasons - Fall & Winter

For many people, Fall and Winter can be the hardest seasons to design and be creative in. In most parts of the world, both seasons signify dark, cold, and rainy times. They also are the busiest seasons in terms of holidays and events on your social calendar. So how do you find that spark of creativity? For me, the inspiration is in the fact that the weather has changed, the color palette is darker, and there are so many places to be.

With it being cooler outside (or rainy or snowy), I no longer feel guilty staying at home on a Saturday and designing. This time of year I like to sit at my table with a warm blanket on my lap, our dog snuggled at my feet, and a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate waiting to be sipped. Some days I will not leave the house at all and I will get so much done! 

For designing, I use the colors of the season. Fall is captured in tones of rust, olive green, mustard, and burnt umber. Winter is striking with its dark and brooding colors of grey, deep blue, and black, which can be contrasted with pure white, silver, and glistening pearl. 

As to what to create, I look outside for inspiration: a pile of dried leaves with their textures and layers, pumpkins growing in a field, a lone red flower peeking up through the earth, or even a frozen over lake (wouldn't Swarovski Crystals be gorgeous to represent glistening ice!). 

Pumpkin Fun Earrings

You can also design for the holidays coming up - make something Halloween specific, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, etc. There are a number of great charms available (nutcrackers, wreathes, pumpkins, stars, etc.) and you can make instant holiday-themed jewelry by hanging them on earring hooks or a chain. 

Lrg. Round 38mm Filigree

One of my favorite tricks for finding inspiration is to build a jewelry design around an outfit. With all the holiday parties to go to, pick out your attire early and then spend time creating original designs to match. For instance, if you have a little black dress with jet beading and a lace cut-out design along the hem, perhaps make a black velvet choker with an Ezel filigree which you bedeck with Swarovski jet black flat back rhinestones. 

If your dress is gold and black, try making some beaded beads in gold and black seed beads then pair them with Swarovski faux pearls in black.  When designing around an outfit, pull out the colors of the clothing, take into consideration the neckline and sleeve, and decide if you want to make earrings, a bracelet, and/or a necklace. 

Fall and Winter are beautiful seasons, embrace their diversity and their potential for creativity. Have fun playing with colors you might not have worked with before and show off your jewelry to friends by wearing it to holiday parties. You will find that these two seasons can be your most productive time of the year - embrace them and have a blast doing so! 

- Julie 

Inspiration Monday: Pearls

Freshwater Pearl Mix

Pearls are a classic and timeless jewelry design element. Usually they are paired with a formal or tailored outfit, but as seen with the Tin Cup necklace, they can be dressed down as well. If you are a jewelry designer who is stumped and looking for a burst of inspiration, challenge yourself to do something creative using one of the many sizes, shapes, colors, and styles of pearls available. 

Most people think of pearls and instantly envision a classic single row of round white pearls knotted together to form a necklace. While this is a lovely piece of jewelry, pearls offer so much more fuel for your creative fire.  

Available in colors ranging from neutral tones of pale cream, golds and browns all the way up to vibrant peacock hues like purple, green, and blue, pearls blend well with any color palette. Further expanding your design choices, pearls come in all sizes and shapes - including unusual shapes such as stick, coin, potato, keishi, and faceted. 

Swarovski Petrol Crystal Pearl

Some designers prefer not to deal with the natural variations characteristic of freshwater pearls.  For the perfectionist, beautifully uniform Swarovski faux pearls are availble in dozens of colors in rounds, pear shapes, twists, baroques, and even half pearl cabochons. Newly released is the vibrant "Petrol Crystal Pearl" color - a striking deep blue. Since underneath the glowing, natural looking coating is genuine Austrian Swarovski Crystal, you know these pearls will stand up to the test of time and wear. 

To inspire you on your designing journey, here are a few of the projects we have come up with using pearls: 

Vintage Wedding Necklace: Here we have used Swarovski faux pearls, Baroque shape, in Vintage Gold. Since the pearls were used sparingly, this does not look like a "pearl necklace" but instead a romantic interpretation of a vintage wedding which happens to use a few pearls as a carefully chosen design element.

Classic 16" Knotted Pearl Necklace: This is the classic! So simple yet so pretty. Round white pearls have been knotted using Griffin Silk and attached to a sleek gold box clasp. If you like this style but want a less formal look, try using some vibrantly colored pearls or even some unusually shaped ones. Pearl knotting is an addictive jewelry making technique, which to me feels very relaxing, much like knitting. 

A Midsummer's Night Necklace: taking full advantage of the vibrant heliotrope purple cultured coin pearls, this necklace is bursting with life. This same necklace design would have been very interesting to see in peacock blue coin pearls. It would have muted down the boldness of the piece but still have kept it's originality and uniqueness. 

I think my next pearl project will use some stick pearls paired with a mixed-media resin piece, something organic and salvaged looking. What will you make?

- Julie