The May 2011 Bead Trends issue is out, have you seen it? You’ll find a pretty, earthy bracelet by Erin Strother gracing the cover. The jewelry and pictures inside are fantastic, oh that fine photography we have come to anticipate from Bead Trends! I was humbled to be this month’s Featured Designer, and would love to share a few of my projects with you here.
In “Wanderlust”, I really just created from the heart….twisting and coiling wire and mixing bead shapes and colors. I knew the issue would be out in the Spring, so I chose a few carved flowers and leaves. It was cold out when I created this one though, the month before Christmas. This is a long necklace, but I included a hook clasp so it could be easily doubled and worn 2 ways.
I’m excited to finally share this next necklace, “Fields of Harmony”. I knew I wanted to include a piece in the feature that would highlight a bead artist that I admired. There are just so many talented bead artists in our community! I contacted Mary Harding and asked her if she would create a pendant and coordinating beads. I was so happy when she designed a custom set just for this project! I love how her ceramic work has a bit of a rustic style to them. I created a textured backdrop for the focal and bead caps out of copper sheet metal.
“Vintage Reverie” is a showcase of my fondness for vintage bits and pieces. I gathered up some of my favorite shank metal buttons – those with great detail, and created dangles. There are some large, sparkly Swarovski crystals and vintage rhinestones mixed in as well. I riveted a fancy filigree to a piece of brass sheet metal that I cut to fit, giving the focal more substance. I love the thick brass chain, what little I still have left from my fun trip to Bead Fest Wire in 2010 (the one where Jeanette and I managed to return home via 5 states!).
I’d love to share a bit of happiness that this issue has given me! Would you like to win a copy?? Just leave a comment & please give me a little feedback – which one of these 3 pieces do you like best? Just curious since these 3 necklaces are each different yet reflect the type of jewelry I like to design. 🙂
*I’ll post the winner on Thursday, May 12th!
For all the Moms out there, I hope your Mother’s Day is absolutely wonderful! While out to dinner tonight, I was surprised by the number of strangers who wished me a Happy Mother’s Day (must be ’cause they saw my 4 guys in tow!). 🙂
– Cindy
P.S. Registration for ArtBLISS 2011 is open! Yippeeee!
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I love them all, but I love the Wanderlust necklace best. I love the beautiful flowers and the wire work. I am have been Beading again for about 3 years now and I can’t wait til I am able to make beautiful pieces like yours.
The first one for the wirework (and because it ha a german name 😉 ), and the second for the soft colors and that compliment the pretty pendant so well. I need to join your art bliss event one day….
Oh wow Cindy!! Congrats!! and my very very favorite piece is “Vintage rêverie”!! so so beautiful!! i have a necklace from you with this tones, you and brass is a real fantastic combo!! hugs and romizous!
Hi Cindy, I love all 3 pieces but must say that I am partial to Fields of Harmony. I love they way you incorporated my cluster daisy pendant into the necklace. It just looks like it was made to be there. What a thrill for me to see this necklace in print. I am so happy we got together on this project. Thanks for such a wonderful blog post about your Bead Trends “spread.” I don’t need to be in the giveaway since I already have a copy of the mag. But just wanted to let you and your readers know how happy I am about this necklace!!
Congrats, Cindy! Can’t name a favorite here – all three necklaces are gorgeous – I am drawn to the wonderful colors of the first; the delicate earthiness of the second; and of course, I adore the vintage vibe of the third.
The next ArtBliss Event sounds to be fantastic – what a terrific line up of instructors!!! You know my heart is bleeding, because I can’t come…
Wishing you a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Congratulations on having three pieces in the Bead Trends Magazine! All three are beautiful, so asking us to choose a favorite is difficult. But I love the third one since it reminds me of a bracelet my mom wore on Sundays with antique buttons like this. As a child I was fascinated with this particular bracelet, and probably spent more time playing with it rathe than listening to the sermon!
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Congratulations Cindy on having 3 beautiful pieces in this new issue of Bead Trends. I also don’t need to be considered for the giveaway as I will be picking it up myself but wanted to comment anyway. Renate echoed exactly how i feel, I love the colors and wirework in the first piece, the victorian elements and filigree in the last but I would have to say overall love the second piece the best, the focal, colors and rustic elements grabbed me. So excited about Artbliss too!
My favorite is Wanderlust…I love the richness of the copper and all the interesting wire wrapped links. This is a tough choice because I love the texture in Fields of Harmony. Every time I stop by your page and see new jewelry, I wish I were close enough to take a class/workshop with you!
I like Vintage Reverie, so lush.
Hi Cindy, all three pieces are fabulous, but I think Fields of Harmony would be my favorite, but Wanderlust is a close second because of the earthiness of both of them. Congratulations on being designer of the month!! I live in Canada and I have tried to get my hands on Bead Trends but haven’t had any luck. I am still on the lookout, I may just have to get a subscription. Happy Mothers Day to you!!! Hope you have a phenomenal day!
I like the first one best for its unusual color combo. would love to see the whole feature. you’re very talented, and I enjoy what you do with a style that is very different than my own.
Cindy, Cindy ,
I love ,no, no, really love your creations
Be Blessed
Congratulations on being the designer highlight for May! Your pieces are just gorgeous and It is so hard to pick a favorite but I think I will go with the button necklace….stupendous!!
My favorite is Wanderlust, then Fields of Harmony……just love the color schemes in both,~ awesome!
Congratulations! I think they’re all really pretty but the second one has got to be my favorite! Thanks for the chance for this giveaway…
myearthlyjewels(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your happiness. My favorite is Fields of Harmony. It’s gorgeous. The others are beautiful too but not so much my style.
Congratulations Cindy! Once again you do not surprise me with your extraordinary talent!! All these pieces are absolutely gorgeous but my most favourite would have to be Fields of Harmony… I just love the mix of Mary’s handmade pendant and beads with those pearls. Such a lovely combination. It’s stunning.
Hope you have a lovely Mother’s Day!
Congratulations on being the featured designer Cindy! All three pieces are so beautiful and I love how different they are. I can see myself wearing Wanderlust – so that is my favorite.
Wow! Congrats, first of all! I love them all, but I think I really like the first one best. I would love to win the mag! Thanks for the chance!
Congratulations on being the featured designer! They are all wonderful pieces and I am torn between 1 and 2. I think I’ll have to say my favorite is Wanderlust.
Have a blessed and super Happy Mother’s Day!
WOW! Cindy. Just WOW! You are so talented you’ve knocked my socks off. Well, you would have if I had any on! I love all three of these pieces and cannot choose one. Sorry. It just isn’t possible to pick one. They’re all amazing and so different that I can’t. I’d love to win the magazine. Hope my inability to decide doesn’t disqualify me.
Congratulations, you Featured Designer you!
WOW! You are a busy lady!!! WOW! ArtBliss!!!! WOW! Wanderlust wins my vote!!! They are all lovely – like their maker! Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
All are gorgeous, Cindy, but Wanderlust is a showstopper!!
I have to pick Vintage Reverie as my favorite. I love the story that it might tell with all the vintage buttons and Swarovski.
Looking forward to attending Art Bliss this year. I already have it marked on my calendar!
Cheers,
Stacy
P.S. Happy Mother’s Day
How lovely your artwork! My favorite is Fields of Harmony, the colors and feeling behind the necklace is pure springtime, love it!
Everything is so beautiful. Difficult to choose a favorite but I will have to say Fields of Harmony. I love the colors, especially the apricot tones with the blue in the pendant. I love copper.
Congratulations!! Beautiful!! I’m going to but the magazine to see the whole article!
your work is gorgeous, congrats!
I would love to purchase this issue if I can find it! Beautiful pieces, Cindy.
Jeanette
I love them all Cindy, but the Vintage Reverie is my favorite! Beautiful jewelry!
Stephanie
I have to agree with many of the others and say each piece is wonderful…but my favorite is Wanderlust…the gorgeous colors and wire work make it so special. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
Wow! All three pieces are each unique and special in their own way.
However, Wanderlust is definitely tops in my book. The colors in it just speak to me and the wirework is mesmerizing. If I don’t win this edition from you, I’m totally going on another tangent looking for it in my local shops. I haven’t been able to find this magazine anywhere. . .so frustrating!
I love all three but my absolute favorite would for sure be Wanderlust. I love the length and colors. This necklace is totally my style and the beads you chose are awesome.
Fields of Harmony will be my choice since you are making me pick. I was really drawn to the colors of Wanderlust and of course the metal work. Vintage because my grandmother started us early on the love of buttons–my favorite time with her was going through all her buttons. Congrats on your feature so very proud for you.
Wanderlust is my favorite!
They are all beautiful in their own way. I am very smitten with the vintage one however! Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Marcia B.
I love everything but my favorite is the last one. I love vintage buttons.
I would love a copy! Wanderlust is the one that catches my eye first but they’re all lovely 🙂
Hello, Cindy! I like the Wanderlust necklace the best. The soft colors and textures are very appealing and looks like something to wear during the warmer months with a gauzy cotton dress. I recently took up wire jewelry on top of stringing and faceting. I am originally from Virginia and was a member of the Gem and Mineral Society of the Virginia Peninsula. I have been to a couple of the Roanoke, VA gem shows where I believe some of your family has worked in the past. I am interested in blending my faceting with wire work. It should be fun.
Thanks everyone for stopping by and sharing your opinions! It’s been so fun for me to read; it’s not often that I get feedback like this. I’m happy to see that it seems to be a 3-way tie so far! 🙂
Cindy, You’ve out done yourself again!.. These are all beautiful. My favorite is the vintage reverie. I love the old buttons mixed with the crystals. And you’ve given me a new way to look at my filigree stash.
You deserve the Spotlight. I’ll definitely need to find this issue.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
It’s a tie between 1 & 2 for me. 1 for the floral shapes & bright unexpected colours of the beads. 2 for the double strands of smaller beads,(brilliant) & the type of colour mood I love.
Happy Mothers Day Cindy!!!
I love the first one for everyday – I am drawn to the mix of flowers and colors. The last however would certainly be my pick for a fancy night out Gorgeous mix of goodies on there!
: ) Patty
Congratulations on all three pieces!! they are gorgeous and very different from each other. I guess I’d choose Vintage Reverie cause I really like the use of the cool buttons and the filigree. Thanks for the giveaway of the mag!!
AND, Happy Mother’s Day to you and all the mom’s reading this!!
~Sharon~
I like them all, but the first one is my favorite. I think it is because of the colors (love turquoise, and the yellow goes well with it) and the wirework. Congrats on getting them all published! I would love to win this issue – almost bought it yesterday, but decided I couldn’t afford it. Also, Happy Mother’s Day!!
All of these pieces are gorgeous, but I particularly love Wanderlust mostly because of the colors and the eclectic combinations!
Congratulations, Cindy!!! I really can’t pick a favorite, they are all beautiful!!
Hope you are having a wonderful Mother’s Day!!!
The instructors and workshops for Artbliss this year are amazing, you and Jeanette are doing such a fantastic job!
Congrats, Cindy! And they are all sooo pretty. But if I have to pick one, I think I have to go with the vintage piece. That necklace has a certain touch. Love it!
Happy Mother’s Day Cindy! I think that I like Wanderlust the best. But Fields of Harmony is a close second for me.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
I just love the Vintage Reverie one! I like the buttons.
Have a wonderful day.
Kolby