Sherri Haab: Jewelry Inspirations: Techniques and Designs from the Artist's Studio:: REVIEWED by Lorelei Eurto

Author, jewelry designer, teacher, and crafty diva, Sherri Haab has done it again. She paired up with Watson-Guptill Publications and created a jewelry how-to book that is a must have this Spring season. I got my hands on a copy and am quite impressed.

Jewelry Inspirations: Techniques and Designs from the Artist's Studio is an all-inclusive jewelry technique and design book. It covers everything from the basics of wire wrapping, to the more complicated  techniques of metal clay and etching.

Have trouble with organization and creating your own perfect studio space? Sherri also sheds some light on these topics in the beginning chapters. The book is broken up into themes such as Memories, Seasons, Collections, Hobbies, and Blast from the Past. Each section features a couple of different subsections, that take you through the process of a few different techniques. 

I have been asked a couple of times within the past few weeks if I know of any technique books that show fiber and leather techniques. GUESS WHAT!? Sherri features a few different designs that use this technique. Along with others such as wire crochet, Braiding, Lucite flowers, polymer clay, and woven fibers. 

The step by step instructions for each project read easily, and are understandable. But my favorite thing about this book is the photography. It's impeccable. The photos of each project are clear, bright, colorful and eye catching. Each section has a beautiful collage photo in the beginning that is truly inspiring in and of itself.

If you are lacking some new inspiration, I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Sherri's Jewelry Inspirations. It really does deliver: INSPIRATION! TIPS! Step by Step Instructions! and how to find Inspiration in the world around you!

Available for order now, here on Amazon.

I have a surprise for you! Art Bead Scene has a copy to give away here!

To enter, answer the following question in the comments:

What is the oddest source of inspiration you’ve had for a jewelry design?

A random winner will be chosen on Sunday March 14th. One comment per person, please. And PLEASE be sure to leave your email so that we can notify you if you win! 

Pop Culture Inspiration

First, our winner from the Alice in Wonderland drawing is Alice Howe! How fitting! Congrats Alice, please email me your address and I'll send those pendants out to you today.

Today I'm showing some exciting new pendants from Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio.  If you follow Melanie's blog, then you are fimilar with her Song Lore Saturdays.  Each week Melanie takes a song and creates jewelry or beads inspired by the lyrics.  Her latest creations are based on Paul Simon's Graceland, which happens to be a favorite of mine.  You can read the post here and the can find the entire Song Lore series here.

Melanie is offering some of the heart pendants in her Etsy shop.

From Alice in Wonderland to Graceland, beadmakers and jewelry designers can find a treasure trove of inspiration in songs, books, movies and more.  Have you created jewelry based on one of these inspirations?  I'd love to hear about or read a blog post about it, if you have written about a special piece you've created.

Featured Designer of the Week- VerreDesign

 

Blossom Blue Bracelet

 Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries. This week's featured designer is VerreDesign by Patricia Wood.

ABS Editor Tari Sasser of Creative Impressions In Clay has to say about Patricia's design:

"All the elements of the painting are reflected the design of the bracelet. Silver Leaf, blue color of the beads and the wonderful punch of color in the lampworked beads."  

See more of Patricia's work on her blog.

Almond Blossoms by Vincent VanGogh

Sundays with Cindy

Good morning, Beady Readers! Wondering what's going on in the bead and jewelry world? Take a peek at our links and see.....

A Bead A Day
Want to stand out from across a crowded room? These Electric Sparkly Beads ought to do the trick!

About.com Jewelry Making
Turn a little hand-dyed ribbon and shell pendant into a trendy jewelry piece you'll wear with almost everything in your closet.

Art Bead Scene
Got cabin fever? ABS has some beady suggestions so you can get out of the house.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe is avoiding work by showing some pics of recently made creations.

Beading Arts
Cyndi is running a contest on Beading Arts, and the prize is an absolutely free advertisement!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A new spring challenge from Artbeads.com means Carmi has a new brooch!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Squee! Rings N Things sends shell pearls which Cindy mixes with her single color lampwork beads.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Ferris wheels, carnivals, and comedians inspire a new Song Lore Saturday post for Melanie

Katie's Beading Blog
Surf on over to Katie's blog for ideas about making your own chain, layering components, and easy earrings.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
The answers still hold true in this interview that Lorelei had with herself back in 2008.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean made a necklace for a relative. Of course, it had to be perfect. Therefore she turned to Kazuri Beads!

Studio Saturday with Creative Impressions In Clay

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This weeks winner is Cindy Dolezal. Congratulations! 

You have won a pair of Toad Stool charms from the studio of Jennifer Heynen. 

Send Jennifer an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.

This week we visit the studio of Tari Sasser at Creative Impressions In Clay.

Well it used to look like a studio. Now it could be declared a disaster area. 

I can get to my desk and my computer. There is a path, sorta. Yes, it's embarassing but I have to take on the attitude of my coffee mug above so I can get done what little is possible, when you have a mess like this. Blinders are on until you have time to deal with it.

 

The culprit for the standstill is the blue shelf on the left. I measured the shelf and the space and it still won't fit. I guess it helps if you measure the correct spot the includes the countertop. I am determined it will fit. You can see I took a hammer to it but the front lip still won't it fit. I am determined, I will win. The photo on the right is where my little photo booth lives. Now there is loads of stuff piled on it.

I had intended to show a new design today but, I can't find it. Wonder why?

The left side and right side of the studio with a path. You can't move forward till one thing is moved so the next item can be moved and so on. The first thing to be moved it the shelf and it's stuck. I have been living like this for about a month. The good thing or bad (whichever way you look at it) I don't have a lot of orders currently. The time is now available, until the next child needs something and I have to stop. Working at home is both a blessing and a curse. They all think because you are home you are available all the time.

My actual working space where I glaze has shrank significantly. It's the shift and the shuffle when you are working to complete a project.

Piles and stacks are everywhere. I think it's time to ditch the old computer so I can use the space. 
Hope no one tries to fax, it's buried in the corner.
Now that I've aired my dirty laundry...studio, I should probably try to start moving, condensing, rearranging and cleaning my studio. 
Give us dirty laundry, sing it Don!
When I am finished, I am going to have a studio sale. 


My question this week is:

How bad is your clutter? Or working space.

Leave a comment and you could win the 4 buttons pictured. Because I could find them!

Down the Rabbit Hole

White Rabbit Resin Pendant from Humblebeads

Okay, you know where I'm heading tonight!  I've actually been working on Alice themes and jewelry for a while; they just haven't made it online because I've been tucking them away for publications.  So let's chat about Alice, motifs and beads. 

Visually - charms and pendants are plentiful in these designs.

Rabbit :: Tea Party :: Mushrooms :: Hedgehogs :: Flamingos :: Queen of Hearts :: Roses :: Cards :: Cheshire Cat :: Bottles :: Keys :: Keyholes :: Watches :: Mirror :: Roses :: Books

Colors - find accent beads, ribbon, or focal beads in these colors.

Blue - from Alice's iconic dress

Red & White - the queens & the mushroom

Black & White Stripes - thanks to Disney

Phrases - stamp them into metal or clay, print them out and use them in resin pendants or etch them unto copper or brass pendants.

Curiouser and curiouser

We're all mad here

Off with her head

Drink me

Uncommon nonsense

Adventures first

Happy unbirthday

Here is a design by Lorelei Eurto that is a perfect example of putting together these elements tell a story.

Did I miss anything?  Would you add something to the list above? I'd love to hear about it.  Have you made  Alice inspired jewelry that features art beads?

Bonus Giveaway!

Win these two Alice pendants from me.  Leave a comment or a link to your Alice creation and one lucky winner will be randomly picked on Tuesday.

First Signs of Spring

Growing up in Michigan, seeing a robin (our state bird) was always a sure sign that Spring had arrived.  There may or may not be birds chirping outside your window today, but here is a round up a few of my favorite feathery inspired beads to usher in the new season.

Solo Robin Connector from Lynn Davis

Winter Frost ceramic wings from Wondrous Strange

A Robin's Egg by Humblebeads

Red Breasted Robin Charm from Hint

Porcelain Bird from Summers Studio Etc

Wing Pendant from Mamacita Beadworks

Porcelain Nests from Earthenwood Studio