Accidentally on Trend

 

A week or so ago I spotted the Pantone Color of the Year for 2016. My first reaction to the baby blue and pink, uh - no thank you. And then I saw the spring color palette. Not for me.

But then, as I started seeing the colors everywhere, I couldn't help but notice how trendy and fresh the colors were feeling and that I hadn't really given then much of a chance. I remember feeling the same about Marsala last year. 

But then it hit me as I was looking at some of the entries for the Art Bead Scene's monthly challenge. Our inspiration painting this month was totally on trend in the color palette and color of the year for 2016. Kinda shocking considering the painting was created in 1951 by French artist Maria Helena Vieira de Silva. 

And later that same week I created these winter inspired wobbles and blam, totally the colors of our challenge and hey - is that Serenity Blue and Rose Quartz subconsciously stuck in there. Why yes, I think it is. And then I really started to look into the Color of the Year and spring palette with a new perspective and found a wealth of inspiration.

Here are two more color palettes I pulled from the inspiration painting. I went for a mix of grey and muted colors to balance out blue and pink.

For this palette I would focus more on blue/yellow combo with the pink and rust as small accent.

The HOLY GRAIL Pinterest Board 

for the Pantone Spring Colors for Jewelry Designers

2016 Spring Trends

100 pins of color combinations, patterns, art, fashion, jewelry and beads

I know it's not even really winter yet and I'm already jumping ahead to spring. But in a few weeks everything is going to be new year, new goals, new designs and you'll be so happy to have some spring colors to play to use in your jewelry.

So for this weekend only I'm having a flash sale on my website.

Use code COLORFLASH for 30% off your order. Sale ends Monday.

But check out the Pinterest board first for your inspirations!

www.humblebeads.com

So what do you think of Pantone's Colors of the Year? 

Did you take a look at my Pinterest board and have any different reactions? 

Calling All Bead Nuts!

If you are nuts for art beads it's time to squirrel away a few new Humblebeads! 

We are having a moving sale this week. Use code MOVINGSALE for 25% off your orders until Friday at midnight.

http://www.humblebeads.etsy.com

http://www.humblebeads.com

This is our lovely new home - the whole bottom level will be my studio. I'm beyond excited! It's on the outskirts of our sleepy little town near the river and woodland trails. We are almost packed and will be working through the move. I'm looking forward to feathering our new nest!

Grab Bag Project Inspiration

Happy Saturday!!! My weekend is going to be filled with three things: beads, blueberries and birthdays. 

Beads because every spare minute is now crunch time for Bead Fest. (Booth 559A) Oh my, oh my, do I have some amazing things for this show. I'll be posting tons of picks next week. Follow me on Instagram for a behind the scene peak at prepping for a national bead show. (@humblebeads)

The other two B's - it's Blueberry Festival in my hometown and I love playing tourist. Checking out the craft show in the park, sidewalk sales, eatin' some berries, etc, etc. And birthdays, well for my nephew and my bday is on Monday and I like to celebrate it for a good 2-3 days!!! 

Back to beads - that's why you are here right? I'm having a huge clearance sale making way for all my new goodies. 

You can find 40% off grab bags in my Etsy shop. They are bright and cheerful and start at $25!!! 

It's a great way to stock up on focals and find some rare Humblebeads. 

Here is a free project as an example of what to do with those round focals: 

Dahila Necklace

Check out all the grab bags in my Etsy shop: 

Have an awesome weekend!!!

Big Sale and March Schedule

Hello Friends!

March is whizzing by and I'm making my final Bead Cruise preparations which means winding down my production schedule and putting my shops on vacay next week.

I will traveling on the Bead Cruise from the 20th until the 28th. (Don't hate me!)

Humblebeads will be open until March 18th. 

Shipping Schedule:

Etsy

Etsy orders will ship daily until March 18th.

www.humblebeads.etsy.com

Website

Website orders placed before Thursday 3/13 will ship out by Monday 3/17. 

Please note: website orders placed after the 13th will ship April 2nd.

www.humblebeads.com

Stock Up Sale - Click on over to my Etsy shop and save 25% off your order with code SAILAWAY until Friday.  This includes new items, sales and bead bundles - everything! These items are in stock and ready to ship.

Shop the Sale Now! www.humblebeads.etsy.com

Humblebeads' Customer Gallery

Today I wanted to feature some of the amazing creations my friends on Facebook have been sharing with me!  These are just too fantastic, I want to show them off to everyone! Designers just blow my mind with how they use my beads, always so creative and clever.

Let's start with my all time favorite Van Gogh creation from Gloria Ewing, Starry Night Necklace.  I would have never in a million years thought to use one of my spacer bar beads that way.  Just when I think I should retire my Van Gogh series someone comes along with a brilliant idea and I fall in love them all over again. 

You can see more of Gloria's innovative designs in her Etsy shop at Chrysalis Too.

I had to pull out this design to show you how different two artists can design with the same bead! This necklace is one of my all time favorite designs from Lorelei Eurto and was published in BeadStyle magazine in 2009.

Lorelei has such an eye for color and texture.  This fun piece caught my eye a few weeks ago and I love, love the asymmetrical design with the disks opposing that generous heaping of silver chain - they play so nicely off each other. The tassel is so sweet I can barely stand it, but there are some tiny touches that catch my eye in this bracelet too - like the little dash of color of seed beads and the leather for part of the clasp. Lorelei used my woodland disks in Blooms and Bark. 

You can see more of Lorelei's jewelry designs on her website and in her Etsy shop.

Next up is my friend Rebecca Anderson of Songbead and boy does she ever make Humblebeads sing! Rebecca has a sophisticated eye for color and creates jewelry that leaps off the computer screen.  This pendant features one of my Hibiscus flowers paired cleverly with enameled bead caps with a great use of waxed linen to add in a little pop of color. The whole pendant has a magical quality that draws me in!

You can see more of Rebecca's beautiful work at SongBead on Etsy. 

And congratulations to Rebecca on having two pieces of jewelry featuring Humblebeads published in Beads and Beyond. These adorable house earrings pair my Willow House beads with some fancy wire and seed bead accents

The second piece is a necklace that paired up a Petal headpin with a keyhole pendant from Green Girl Studios.  There is definitely a story going on here with this design!

And another big hearty congrats goes out to my sweet friend Kaushambi Shah who had this fun pair of Peacock Headpin Earrings published in the Spring issue of Jewelry Stringing Magazine.  Love them Kauashambi - the well chosen accent beads bring these art nouveau inspired headpins to life!

Visit Kaushambi's Etsy shop Ornament Lounge to see her art bead infused jewelry.

A gift for you!

And if you are feeling inspired and need to add some new Humblebeads to your bead stash now, I want to also share a little gift with you! 

Use code 5FREE for a $5.00 gift certificate to use on any purchase of $20 or more.  If you order is more than $50 use code 5FREEPLUS for 10% off your entire order. 

This can be used at both Humblebeads.com and Humblebeads.etsy.com.

Sample Sale

I am making way for spring designs and new plans for 2014.

I have a collection of amazing artisan jewelry featuring beautiful handmade beads, each with a story to tell.  These designs are timeless but my creative energy is boundless, I need to make space for what lies ahead!

My gift today: 35% off all orders from my Etsy jewelry shop which features my one-of-a-kind designs and some of the most popular pieces from my jewelry line. 

Use discount code WINTER for 35% off your order this weekend.

I've been considering for a while that 4 shops is just too many, so after this sale I will be closing out my Etsy jewelry shop.  You'll still be able to find my jewelry on my website.

5 Beaded Ornament Tutorials and Holiday Sale News

This is it, the start of all the holiday hustle and bustle.  I'm a fan of the merry making, the decorating, the gift-giving and the magic of this time of year.  What I'm not a fan of is that every where I go I feel like my holiday is overrun with commercials and in your face advertising. Hello jingle bells, if you know what I mean!  I do love a good sale, but I want it mixed in with nostalgia or warm fuzzy feelings, not the pressure to perform by giving the perfect gift.  I'm also more likely to buy handmade or support my local businesses.  We live in a very small tourist town and they need all the support they can get this time of year! 

If you haven't read How to Unplug the Christmas Machine, I highly recommend it for finding ways to add more meaning back into your holidays, no matter how you celebrate them.  It's all about honing in on what makes this time of year meaningful and special to you and your family and how to unplug from commercialism, other people's expectations and your own unrealistic expectations to create that mythical 'perfect' holiday. It's a good how-to on bringing more peace and joy into your celebrations this year and I'm all about that!

The start of our holiday is always an ornament making party, sometimes it's just Jess and me and other times it's a full blown fete with the whole gang.  This weekend we will enjoy a big to-do with aunts, my mom,  sisters, daughters, cousins and nieces.  I will be scouring Pinterest today for a project that we can all create.  Last year we felted ornaments.  I'm thinking maybe owls will take over this year, but we will decide tomorrow during our Thanksgiving dinner - because hey, they family that crafts together, stays together! 

Here is a round up of past Humblebeads Ornament Tutorials:

Winter Forest Ornament

Woodland Ornaments

Holly and Ivy Ornament

Beaded Ornaments

Nest Ornament Project

If you are starting your holiday shopping or gift making this week I am offering 20% off all my shops until Monday. This weekend I'm sharing a few new projects and inspirations so stop by on Saturday before you head off to enjoy your day or subscribe to my blog through BlogLovin or like my Facebook page. 

Humblebeads Etsy Shop - Here you will find holiday beads and best sellers here.  I will also have a few new beads on Monday.

Humblebeads.com - Shop my entire line, most beads are made-to-order.  

HumblebeadsJewelry.com - See my latest collection of jewelry and one-of-a-kind designs.  We put together a few handy gift-guides on the site.

Humblebeads Jewelry on Etsy - Here you'll find some of my best sellers along with sale items.  I will be adding sale items on Monday for a huge sample sale!

The details: Use discount code MERRY20 at any of the above shops.  If you order from more than one shop, the excess shipping will be refunded. Sale orders will ship out on Monday and Tuesday.

Sale goes through Monday and cannot be used for custom orders or past orders. 

In case you are wondering I have returned here to blog again, it's too complicated keeping things separate.  You'll find beads, crafts, jewelry, trends and a little bit more about my life - because gosh darn it, I actually got away from the bead table this year and starting enjoying more of the world around me.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Cyber Monday Free Projects & Givewaway

Welcome to my Cyber Monday blog party!  Grab a cup of cocoa, put on some Christmas music on Pandora, enjoy the inspiration here and the holiday shopping and deals in my Etsy shop when you are done!

I have a trio of holiday inspired projects for you using some of my new leaves and berry beads.  Perfect for the holidays, but nature-inspired enough you can wear them long after December.  The best part, these simple designs whip up in a matter of minutes and would make fast and easy gifts for the nature-lovers on your list.

Frosted Leaf Earrings

Supplies:
2 leaf charms
10 5mm brass jump rings
10 3mm brass faceted cubes
2 7mm brass jump rings
2 15mm brass jump rings
2 28mm brass kidney earwires

1. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.  Repeat 19 times.
2. Attach the 7mm jump rings to the leaf charms.  String the leaves unto the 15mm jump rings.
3. String five of the cube jump rings on each side of the leaf.  Close the 15mm jump rings and slide them unto the loop at the bottom of the earwires.  Squeeze the bottom earwire loop with the chain nose so the jump rings can't fall off.

Leaves: Humblebeads.  Brass: Vintaj.  Brass cubes: Rings & Things

Winter Bird Pendant

Supplies:

Pewter bird

12mm polymer clay disk

32mm polymer clay leaf

2 15mm brass jump rings

4 6mm brass jump rings

10 5mm brass jump rings

1 2" eye pin

6 2mm silver beads

6 3mm brass faceted beads

28" gunmetal chain

1. Create a jump ring rosette with the three of the 6mm jump rings. 
2. On the eyepin string the polymer clay disk, jump ring rosette, bird and brass cube. Create a simple loop on top.
3. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.  Repeat 4 times.  Repeat the same process with six silver beads on six jump rings.
4. String the bird pendant on a 15mm jump ring, string on 3 jump rings with silver beads and 2 with brass beads, alternating beads.  Repeat on the other side of the jump ring.  Attach the two ends of the chain and close the 15mm jump ring.
5. Attach the 6mm jump ring to the large leaf, add a brass cube before closing the leaf.  String onto the other 15mm jump ring, attach the jump ring to the bottom of the bird pendant. 

Holly and Berry Earrings

Supplies:
2 polymer clay leaf charms
2 polymer clay berry beads
2 5mm brass jump rings
2 6mm brass jump rings
2 1" brass eye pins
8 4mm brass faceted cubes
2 28mm brass kidney wires

1. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.
2. Attach a 6mm jump ring to the leaf, slide on the 5mm jump ring with the cube before you close the jump ring.
3. On the eyepin string the berry bead and create a simple loop on top. Attach the leaf to the bottom of the berry dangle. 
4. Slide the leaf and berry on the earwire, close the bottom loop of the earwire with chain nose pliers.  String on three brass cube beads.

Supplies: Leaves and berry beads: Humblebeads.  Bird: Green Girl Studio. Brass Cubes: Rings & Things.  Brass findings: Vintaj.

The Giveaway:


The winner will receive this beaded holiday ornament that Jess created and a $20 gift certificate to my Etsy shop!

To enter share this blog post on Pinterest, twitter or Facebook.  Leave a comment below letting me know you shared these fun projects and spread some holiday cheer!  Make sure I can contact you if you are the winner.

You only have one day to enter, the winner will be picked tomorrow morning!

The Sale:

20% off in my Etsy bead shop until Midnight.  Use discount code THANKS20.

30% off in my Etsy jewelry shop until Midnight!  Use discount code HOLIDAY30.

Book Launch Party

This weekend kicks off my official book launch and I'm celebrating like my book will be the only one in the store.  I mean, come on - how often does one have a book launch?  Over the top celebrations are certainly in order!  If you are in the West Michigan area I hope you'll stop by to celebrate with me.

And what's a party without presents?  I will be sharing some tips for blogging for creative businesses and we are doing a Make & Take project sponsored by Vintaj with these lovely dragonfly pendants. (Make & Take for the first 30 attendees.)

The Grand Rapids Press wrote up a great article last weekend about my return to Michigan and the book launch - you can read it here.

I will also have some of the jewelry from the book on display. 

Book Launch Party


1 p.m. Sept. 10

Barnes & Noble at Woodland Mall

Grand Rapids, MI

(Cupcake photo credit: Theresa Thompson via Flickr's Creative Commons.)

And finally, my gift to you:

20% off all orders from my Etsy shop!

Use discount code: Celebrate

Ends Saturday at midnight.

Not for use on custom or special orders.

(Present photo from Pinterest)

Stocking Stuffer Sale

Today through Sunday at midnight - stock up on beads and gifts with 20% off in my Etsy shop.  Use discount code LASTMINUTE20 when you check out.  This is my last sale of 2010!  Check out this post with some gift ideas for the bead-obsessed on your list!

Holiday Freebies

'Tis the season!

Now through Tuesday you can get the following deals in my Etsy shop:

All orders: free shipping

Orders over $25: free Willow Charm (shown above)

First 10 orders over $50 - free snowman bead. 

These are limited editions that I'm no longer making!

Free gift wrapping for all jewelry purchases.

Free Gift Idea!

Use one of my tiny charms like the mushroom, willow or starfish charms to create a sweet little pendant for preteens or teens on your gift list.  Attach the charm to the 18" gunmetal chain with a 6mm jump ring.  (You can find them at Rings and Things or your local Hobby Lobby.)

Adorable!  Aren't my nieces going to be lucky this year!!!

Add a little bead on a sterling silver wire-wrapped bail and a sterling silver chain for a more sophisticated look.  Stocking stuffers anyone?

And the last freebie of the day - win this Modern Forest toggle clasp! This design was featured in Handcrafted Jewelry Magazine. Tweet or facebook about my Etsy specials (with a link to this blog post) and leave a comment letting me know you did - I will enter you in a drawing for Tuesday and will pick one random winner. 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day.

And a really big thanks to those who purchased during the Plumber sale!