After 10 years here on blogger the Art Bead Scene finally has a home of own.  Visit ArtBeadSceneStudio.com - bookmark our site, add us to your favorite blog reader and stop by often to see what's new in the world of artisan beads and jewelry. Please update your links if you link to the ABS.  We are super excited about all the new challenges and look forward to welcoming you at our new digs! Don't worry, all your favorite Art Bead Scene posts are now on on our new site.  ..read more

Everyone knows that if you are going to wear a ballgown that you will twirl and twirl in it all night long, reveling in the swishing and sashaying! That is what drew me to this beautiful necklace that Ann Schroeder made. Those sari silks in the artsy handmade tassel have the same effect as those swishy skirts! All the rich colors of their attire is represented in the drops of glass from MayaHoney and Leah Kelly, and the deep dark forest represented in the long strand of black glass beads. I also love the attention to detail in the little bit of rhinestone bling peeking out from the silks, as ..read more

I See The Moon And The Moon Sees Me... Hello from the worktable of The Earring Whisperer...errr, Loralee!  It's late Summer and my mind is already drifting off to my favorite season of Autumn.  I love the colors and the night magic of it all! The two featured rustic moon charms are by Terri DelSignore of Artisticaos.  I've fallen completely for her work, it's charming, warm and rustically elegant! I wanted to keep the focus on the crescent shape of the moons, so decided to wire-wrap very pale yellow crystals around the frame. It makes an interesting pattern, yet doesn ..read more

Are you heading to BeadFest in Philadelphia next weekend? I'm busy working on some last minute creations, can't wait to share them! You can find two of the Art Bead Scene contributors at the show this year. I'm so excited about returning to BeadFest. I'll be bringing tons of new work!  Humblebeads booth 565 Fellow ABS team member Ashley Bonney from Summer Wind Art will be debuting at BeadFest this year. I can't wait to meet Ashley and shop for her beads! Summer Wind Art - Booth 450B Be sure to stop and visit William and Andrew from Allegory Gallery. We love having them as an Art ..read more

We have two very talented artists as our wonderful sponsor for the August Challenge. We will have 2  Lucky Winners this Month! Allegory Gallery Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery creates handmade jewelry, jewelry components and unique art at his studio in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. "We are a creative space that's one part bead store, one part jewelry boutique, one part fine art gallery, and one part gift shop. The aim of Allegory Gallery is to promote artisan craftspeople, inspire the community to explore their creativity, and act as a focal point for classes and artist ..read more

Twelve Princesses on the Way to the Dance Kay Nieslen Published in 1923 Watercolor and ink This month we are delving into the realms of fairy tales and dreams with Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen. Influenced by the theater, the design of the Art Nouveau movement and woodcuts from China and Japan, his stylized illustrations were popular during the Golden Age of Illustration. Which direction will your jewelry take this month? Will you pull from the opulent patterns of the dresses? Play with silk ribbon and floral beads inspired by the Princesses? Will you explore the repetitive elements of th ..read more

Congratulations to the July Monthly Challenge winners!  1 winner was chosen randomly from all the challenge entrants. 1 winner was chosen randomly from the Linked blog entries. Winner of a month of advertising on ABS from the Monthly Challenge Bead category. :::  Our First lucky winner is Alison Herrington/Alison Adorns. She has won an assortment of beads and supplies valued over $50 from Allegory Gallery.  ::: Our Second lucky winner is Jenny Kyrlach/Anafiassa. She has won beads and supplies valued ..read more

Today on Bead Table Wednesday I shared how to whip up silk and wire beads to use in your jewelry creation. I also showed how to put together this pendant featuring a Firefly Studio charm and a Humblebeads lentil bead. A Vintaj hammered ring and jump rings pulls the look together. The last part of the video shows how to create adjustable knots on leather cord. Resources for today's video: Silk ribbon: Design Talented One Hammered rings and jump rings: Vintaj 20 gauge natural brass colored Parawire from Vintaj 19 gauge dark annealed steel wire & Renaissance Wax (BrendaSchweder.etsy.com ..read more

This month's challenge art, Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau, reminds me of this most famous poem. The Tyger BY William Blake Tyger Tyger, burning bright,  In the forests of the night;  What immortal hand or eye,  Could frame thy fearful symmetry?  In what distant deeps or skies.  Burnt the fire of thine eyes?  On what wings dare he aspire?  What the hand, dare seize the fire?  And what shoulder, & what art,  Could twist the sinews of thy heart?  And when thy heart began to beat,  What dread hand? & what dread fe ..read more

Today on Bead Table Wednesday I shared how to create painterly pendants using stencils and Vintaj patinas on brass blanks. You can watch the video here: Resources mentioned in the video: Adornments Retreat Vintaj Vintaj Salvage Tim Holtz Mini Stencils Set 25* Renaissance Wax* Grobet Swiss Pattern File Half Round Cut 2* (*Amazon affiliate links) Vintaj Patinas: Rustic River Finds Vintaj Patina colors used today: chalcedony, coral, green opal, white gold, rose gold The Painter's Garden Pendant  Supplies: 34mm hand-painted brass pendant  Painted leaf pendant 13-15mm polymer cl ..read more