Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge: March 2015

Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge:  March 2015

Haida Totems, 1912

By Emily Carr

Watercolor on Paper

76mm x 55mm

BC Archives, Canada

For more information on this piece and the artist, please visit ABS.

A while back, I created this polymer clay pendant using a rubber stamp design and layering with metallic acrylic paints.   

If I say so myself, it's one of my favorite pieces I've made with polymer clay.    It immediately came to mind when I saw this month's Art Bead Scene (ABS) challenge.

 I would love to try it again in colors more closely matching the watercolor painting, but not sure time will permit me this month.   So I'll offer this piece, and if I can get another art bead entry finished by the end of the month, I'll add to this!

Or, perhaps I'll attempt to create something using this piece.  Time is running out!  We'll see!   

I encourage you all to join in the monthly Art Bead Scene challenges.  There are 2 now, one for handmade jewelry using one or more art beads, and one for bead artists.   Take a look at this month's entries:

Jewelry Entries for March 2015

Bead Entries for March 2015

Happy Creating!

Sharyl

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Good intentions, bad timing

It didn't take me long to blow my blogging trend, did it?   Well, my intentions were good, but I caught an ugly germ and that knocked me out good for a couple of weeks.   And now that I'm just getting back to normal, I'm going to be away for a little while again.  

When I last wrote, it was was early in January, and I was so happy that it was starting out so well!   I had several really lucky things happen in a row that I wanted to share with you.  It's a bit late now, but I'll share anyway!  

First, I had some of my polymer clay beads included in two Etsy treasuries, both curated by Chris P. from DunroaminFarmDesign:

Country Charm

'Round Here

The next big thing that happened to me was that I entered the ABS Dec. challenge.   Not only did the necklace sell to one of my "new good friends" overseas... 

..but I won a random drawing for a $50 gift certificate donated by Stone Designs by Sheila!

Lucky me!  I had been admiring Sheila's work and was so pleased to go for a spending spree in her shop!   I couldn't decide what to get though, and spent a couple of days trying to make up my mind!   In the end, I added just a little bit more to Sheila's extremely generous gift and got these awesome beads!

I photographed them together with her lovely cards, but to fully appreciate these beads you must see each one close-up!

My sincere thanks to Sheila and to ABS for making the start of my 2015 such a good one!

While I'm still on the topic of Art Bead Scene, I'm so excited about the January challenge!   I hope some of you will participate!

I had beads already made I hoped to put in my stores that I thought would be great for this challenge!   But alas, my good luck ran a bit short.   First the germ, and now I need to take some time away for a week or two.   

Here is my plan for the stores:

Metapolies on ACM will be closed with expected reopening Jan. 30.

The other 2 stores are open for sales, but shipping may not occur until Jan. 30. If I can ship and/or reopen sooner, I will.   

For links and the most current updates please visit Metapolies.com.

Best wishes to each of you for the coming weeks! I hope they are good ones for you!

~Sharyl

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photos by sharyl

Clipart by wpclipart.com

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ABS Monthly Challenge: Dec. 2014 Cathedral Arches in Polymer

It may be hard to imagine how a painting of a nearly empty building could inspire in so many ways.   But when I first saw the latest piece of art for the monthly Art Bead Scene challenge, I was immediately drawn in!   It's no ordinary "empty hallway."  It's a painting of an amazing piece of architecture, full of history, with interesting shapes, and many variations on the color gray!

Some of you know, I used to frequently participate in the ABS monthly challenges, but have taken a self-imposed break from blog hops for a while.  Then I saw this, and couldn't stay away!

Choir of Sint-Bavokerk, Haarlem" 1635
by Pieter Jansz Saenedam
Read more about this painting on the ABS page.

Once I saw the photo, I couldn't get it out of my head!  It reminded me of some of the  architecture we saw this Spring in Europe! 

Notably terrible photography on this one,
but look at the similarities!

So I immediately went to work on a design!

I'd like to claim that I made each of these beads just for this challenge, but it's not true.   I've been into a "gray" mood lately and making lots of polymer clay beads in shades of gray and a granite-like glittery gray.   Some I leave as is, some I paint with metallic acrylic paints, then seal.    I made this batch and more just before seeing this month's Art Bead Scene Challenge photo.

I had intended them for pairs of earring charms, but looked at them all spread out on my counter and started picking the ones that reminded me of the curves in the architecture, the arches, the round pillars, and the multiple shades of gray.

 

I strung the beads on gray Irish waxed linen thread (from WhiteCloverKiln, Mary Hubbard), some with antiqued brass jump rings. There are dark metallic seed beads used as spacers.  Then I added a bit of antiqued brass chain in the front.    

A lovely soft bit of gray Sari ribbon for the back.   (The ribbon crosses through another handmade polymer bead in granite working as a tube bead so that the length is adjustable, and can be tied to keep in place.)  This lovely soft Sari ribbon comes from TheJewelleryQuarter (Anne Betenson, Cardiff, Wales, UK). 

I used Wooly Wire by Eleanor Thomas on the pendant and at the rings where the ribbon loops through the large jump rings. Wooly Wire is also in shades of gray and serves a practical as well as ornamental purpose.   

I just loved this month's challenge and also that's it's now posted on Pinterest too!   It's inspiring and so much easier now to share our creations!  Thanks to all involved with ABS!   

I made this pair of earrings too,
using many of the same beads and materials.
It doesn't have the "sleek lines" of the painting,
but could be worn with the necklace!

I am proud to say that I think this is the first challenge where
I've made all the beads myself!

Listed in my Metapolies™ store on Etsy!

UPDATE 12/31/14:
Challenge recap and video now on
ABS page!

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Beads, jewelry design, and photos by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Metapolies™, Dec. 2014.

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This-n-That, 6/17/14

I brought back a nasty little bug (virus-type, not as cute as one in image) from Europe but I'm slowly improving.   While I continue to catch up on things, thought I'd share a few bits of "This-n-That" with you today!

1)  For fun, let's start with flowers currently blooming in my yard!  :-)

Large hosta in bloom in the front yard.

As many of you will know,
hydrangeas are one of my favorites each year
and keep their blooms much of the summer!
These grow on the North side of the house
and provide me with color inspiration!

2) I've been working on metal components for the store recently.   I did a custom order for altered metals last week and made some extras for the store.  These and more are already listed.

Samples of newly added altered metals.

Items in this section are typically raw brass pieces

I purchase and treat with layers of color patinas & sealants

for a unique look.

Now I'm at work on handmade metals and hope to get those sealed, photographed, and added to Sharyl's Jewelry this week.   Below is a "sneak-peak!"

Items in the Handmade Metal Components section
start with metal disks or sheet metal I cut,
then emboss, punch, shape, colorize, and seal.

If you would like to see how other designers have used my components in their own handmade jewelry, please visit my Pinterest page!  

Here is a sample of what you'll find there--a recent pair of elegant earrings made by Catherine of ShadowDogDesigns:

Turquoise Brass Fans Handmade Earrings Czech Glass Swarovski Jewelry

3) Finally, for those who can't get enough fix-up ideas for workrooms, visit the Art Bead Scene post on storage from 6/16/14.   There are some wonderful, artistic storage ideas there!

(If you missed our own "Clean-up/Fix-up" Challenge, 3/1/14, click here to see the results! Thanks again to all who participated!)


I'm hoping to post more vacation photos soon! In the meantime, have a great day!

~Sharyl

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Images:

Bug: http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/bugs/a_bug_icon.jpg

Photographs by Sharyl, 2014

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Pearls, Polymer, and the April Art Bead Scene Challenge!

Do you remember this "sneak peak" from my last blog post?   This will be the last of 3 items I made using glass pearls from Lisa Lodge's "Spring Pearl Challenge!"


The art from this month's Art Bead Scene challenge ...

Swaying Dancer (Dancer in Green), 1877-79

by Edgar Degas

...in particular, the dancer with black hair and her costume, inspired my polymer clay pendant for this piece.

I made the pendant from polymer clay 

and used a square rubber stamp I have. 

Then I cut it in an oval shape with a small

cookie-cutter type device.

I painted the center black

to match the dancer's hair

and the petals to match the dancer's costume--

 aqua acrylic paint (though it looks more blue here)

with copper mica powder on the edges.

Above the pendant are two lampwork beads

that remind me of the aqua color and shapes in the painting.

The rounded blue bead and

the green bicone bead are lampwork by EricaBeads.

There are also two sage-gray lampwork spacer beads just above those

in the bead strand.  Those were made by 

Serena Thomas of Taneres on Etsy.

You can get a glimpse of the green glass pearls here.
 I also used some of the synthetic sea glass Lisa Lodge sells.
There are blue and green Czech glass cathedral beads I purchased from MayaHoney.
Some of my "Funky Flat Poly Beads,"
bronze-looking glass seed beads, and more are also in this mix!
I also added a bit of multi-color (blue, aqua, brown)
hand-dyed silk ribbon with glitter edges
from Abby&Ellie as a nod to the swirl the ballerina skirts.

Handmade clasp by me.
I love these little bead caps, again reminiscent of the ballerina skirts.

 

Full view!

See other entries on the ABS Flickr page!  

Thank you to Art Bead Scene, Lisa Lodge, and the artists whose hand-make art beads were used in this necklace!  It's so nice when opportunities collide and something fun comes of it!  

Continued happy Spring to all!

Sharyl
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Art Bead Scene Inspires me Again!

Those of you who have been with me for a while, know that for a long while I regularly entered the monthly challenges from Art Bead Scene.   I found such inspiration in the selected art pieces, and the challenges pushed me to do my best jewelry designing using artisan-made beads. 

  

July 2013 entry

A few months ago, I put myself on a "challenge break."  Too many things happening at once as holidays approached, and I felt like I was not being as creative at it anymore.   In the last year, I've also turned my attention more and more to making metal components, and in the last few months have gotten busy with polymer clay.   

Beads alone cannot be entered into Art Bead Scene challenges, only jewelry made with art beads.   But last month I found myself working and working on a pendant for this piece of art: 

Winter Landscape by Wassily Kandinsky, 1909 

Trivia:   I made the windows using a tiny metal stamp that says "HOPE."

The pendant turned out to be more of an education than a work of art, so I didn't turn it into a necklace.  I'm still really glad I did it.

When I looked at the artwork for the January 2014 ABS Challenge...

Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928? by Lois Mailou Jones

I was inspired all over again!   But not to do jewelry design. Suddenly it gave me all kinds of ideas for beads and components, and I decided to try out more techniques with polymer clay...and make a few altered metal pieces which I have been neglecting.   

I've had great fun and finally finished and listed them in my Sharyl's Jewelry Artfire studio.   I wanted to share a few of them with you!

Some of the polymer pieces were made using molds, a first for me.  Leaves are the main theme, but you'll find a few flowers too!     Others are free-form beads with colors or shapes that seemed to fit the art this month.    I used a lot of metallic acrylic paint on these, and added mica powders to some for a raku look.   

There are also what I'm calling "donut" beads in coordinating colors for many of these.  

And I was in such a mood to make leaves, I made some altered brass components in several sizes and styles.

You'll find these and more in my store.   I hope you will go take a browse and see what's new since you last looked!   Window-shopping is perfectly acceptable!   

If anyone does make a piece using my beads, please let me know!   I would love to feature your work here on my blog and also on my Pinterest page! 

Hope some of you will join the ABS challenges.  My thanks to all the people who make that web site possible!   I find it challenging whether I'm designing jewelry or not!    

Sharyl

Art Bead Scene July 2013 Monthly Challenge Reveal: Olga in Armchair

Portrait of Olga in the Armchair, 1917

Pablo Picasso

Oil on Canvas 130 × 88.8 cm

(Please note this art is copyrighted and is to be used only as inspiration.)

From Art Bead Scene July Monthly Challenge

For this month's Art Bead Scene challenge, 

I wanted to design with the colors 

found in Picasso's painting of Olga, 

incorporating some of the lines and shapes, 

more than specific objects, such as the flowers 

(although that was tempting too!)

I focused on the dark green,

the grayish blue, the faded pink, and the amber.

Design, wirework, and clasp by me (Sharyl McMillian-Nelson).

Art beads by Natalie Pappas and Serena Thomas.

Handmade pottery focal bead by Natalie Pappas, NKP Designs.

The lines on the bead remind me of the folds in the dress fabric of the art piece. 

 The color is also similar to the fabric.

This long focal dangle also is reminiscent of the climbing flower vine 

on the chair in which Olga sits.

The copper-plated leaf component was purchased, but I added a coat of black patina to it to darken and better go with the lines in Natalie's bead.

It echos the lines and shape of the leaves in the vine design found on the chair.

I used a copper headpin to wire wrap this handmade lampwork spacer bead

 by Serena Thomas of Serena's Beadery, aka Taneres to this copper filigree metal.

More beads from the colors of flowers and vines represented in the painting:  
muted grayish greens and blues, pink, and amber.
Along with several types of stone and copper beads,
are transparent amber and gray lampwork spacer beads  
from  Serena's Beadery.

The front and side parts of the necklace are linked with large copper hoops

 and a small bit of soldered copper chain.

The beads that make up the sides and back of the necklace 

are Dragons Blood Jasper in deep red and forest green 

with accent beads of copper and African Turquoise Jasper rondelles.

I handmade a simple copper hook for a back fastener.

There will be an ABS BLOG TOUR HERE

on Wed., July 31.

Just click the link above on that day to get the guided tour!

Thanks for stopping by!   Your comments are always welcome! 

Special thanks to ABS and to bead artists, Natalie and Serena, for their inspiring beads!

~Sharyl

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For those participants in the upcoming blog hop, below is the final list you can paste into your entries.  It has not changed from the one sent the last time.  Many thanks!  ~Sharyl

Blog Hop Participant List:

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson     Sharyl’s Jewelry    (Host)

Kashmira Patel   .....    Sadafulee...always in bloom! 

Lisa Lodge   .....   A Grateful Artist - Pine Ridge Treasures 

Tanty Sri Hartanti   ....   TJewellicious by Tanti      

Kathy Lindemer ....  Bay Moon Design    

Laren Dee Barton ... Laren Dee Designs      

Melissa Trudinger  ... Beadrecipes    

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