What inspires you? What makes you decide to tackle a new craft project, open up an online store, or start collecting a particular craft related item? Inspiration can pop up unexpectedly, or it can grow slowly.
For Cyndi at Beading Arts, though she does not often use patterns from other designers because she has so many wonderful beading ideas of her own, she made an exception recently when she saw beaded pendant designed by Nora Toth. The dagger shaped beads look great in this piece.
Beadwoven Flower Pendant
At the Bead Love blog, it’s been all about patina lately, and that has opened her up to enhancing all kinds of metal stamped pieces. She experimented with a few different methods, most especially focusing on using Mod Podge, and the results were very encouraging. Many of the pieces she was able to add different layers of colors, making the finished pieces look very different than what she started with.
Vintaj patinas in marble and a mixture of moss and seafoam pearl for the green
Anyone looking for some inspiration can usually find it when participating in a craft related challenge, and Allegory Gallery is offering up a chance for that through the Coral Coast Challenge. Purchase the kit through the gallery’s online shop, and then post your beaded creations on its Facebook group by the deadline. To make it a little more interesting, there is a limited number of kits available, so those participating will be joined by a fairly small group of other beaders.
After encouragement from friends and family, the Tappingflamingo blogger opened Tappingflamingo Bling on Etsy. She was inspired to take this big step because everyone kept asking her if she had an Etsy shop, so of course, that meant it was probably a good idea to open one. She has learned a huge amount about branding and marketing and talks about this in a recent blog post.
Tappingflamingo Beaded Shell Necklace
Finally, bugs of all things inspired blogger Andrew Thornton to start up an amazing collection of art beads, all of which include a theme related to beetles, moths, butterflies, and other flying critters. He shares these with his blogging audience and includes some wonderful photographs of each piece. Try not to be too jealous!
Art Bead Collection Anne Choi
