Coming up Next...

My inspiration comes from all sorts of places: mother nature, current fashion, other jewelry artists, other artists in general and photography. My next project/design is based on current fashion and the interest and fascination in owls. May I just say that owls (especially this one) are just GORGEOUS.

Courtesy of Jen Hall

So it's safe to say that this magnificent and elegant bird will be the source of inspiration for my next piece and maybe more than one.  This particular piece will be a bead embroidered pendent, I already have the design and color scheme worked out, I just need to sit down and bead.

The beginning of the bead embroidered owl

The color scheme, as of right now, is dark, deep blue with black/purple accents.  His belly will be a black onyx stone bead.  There will definitely be beaded beads to accent the chain.

Speaking of which, I'm also working on a Berry Beaded Bead Tutorial to share the love (it will be free).  I can see why tutorials aren't free through, they're hard work.  Thankfully pictures are worth a thousand words.  The reason I am against selling tutorials (no offense to those who sell tutorials, this my personal view) especially for basic techniques is because there are beaders out there like me who are too frugal to pay a small fee and end up tirelessly searching the web for little snippets of information to then cohesively compile and digest to make a simple beaded bead.  It's very discouraging.  Literally it took me months (exaggeration... maybe) to find enough information to attempt making a beaded bead.  So to all those poor beaders who are searching, I will hopefully end your pain.

On another side note, I'm also going to do a series on gemstones.  Fun facts, myths, and general information regarding many different gemstones. Stay tuned, a lot is coming your way...