Beaded wine basket

Quick and easy beaded frame

Beaded wire photo holder

Beaded Christmas tree earrings

Pattern for a beaded crystal snowflake

Beaded wine basket

Stacked wire cuff bracelet

Beaded cards

Beaded tree

Vintage button bangle

Gradient button necklace

Paper bead necklaces:

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Fun ways to use beaded jewelry at Christmas on the Bead Jewelry Blog.

How about these darling little beaded wire trees by Fusion Beads?  I know they look like earrings, but they’re for your tree!

Small beaded wreathes for your tree?  These can be made to be elegant or cute, depending upon the beads you choose.

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Victorian beaded Christmas tree ornament

There are many kits available, and patterns that you can buy.  Some beading magazines also have patterns, and if you want to make the really elaborate ones, you’re probably going to have to buy a pattern or kit.  Still, here’s a selection of the free patterns that are available:

Beginner’s beaded ornament cover

Easy netted ornament cover

Beaded ornament cover

Victorian beaded Christmas tree ornament

Fancy crochet and beaded ornament

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Golden beaded pear – not difficult to make but a bit time-consuming.  Can you picture a set of these in a bowl on the table or hanging from your tree?

Star, candycane, and wreath – easy to make beaded ornaments that kids will enjoy helping with.

Safety pin tea lights – I’ve seen lots of flag pins and bracelets made from beaded safety pins, but I’ve never seen tea lights before!

Fuse bead ornaments – another great project to do with the kids!

Beaded wire ornaments – look how many things you can do with stars!

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Art Doll Quarterly is having a special challenge for their next issue: Wooden Dolls.
Wood is one of the earliest known materials used to make dolls because it was easy to carve, sturdy and unbreakable. Most were symbolic and ceremonial figures, often of a religious nature. According to the doll category guidelines set by United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC), the type of doll is determined by the content of the doll’s head. Thus, a wood doll always has a wooden head regardless of the types of materials used in the body construction. With that in mind, we challenge you to create wood dolls and send us your submissions. Deadline for artwork to be received: December 15, 2009.

Submission information

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Usually I profile glass artists who make wearables on this site, but I had to make an exception for Doug, because as you’ll see, his work is exceptional in every way! I think you’ll really enjoy reading what he has to say about his artwork, his process, and his business tips!  He stresses how much hard work goes into building a successful business, and that is true in any creative field.

Doug, how did you decide to simply use your name for your business?
I picked the name of the business because as a High End artist I felt that being a brand with my name is really the only way to go. You speak to so many companies that started in a different name and wish they used their name. It just makes it more recognizable like a signature (no arrogance involved).

What is your creative process like?
The creative process happens by sitting down and coming up with a functional series. I will draw a picture where ever I am my sketch book follows me almost everywhere and from the take the creativity from past experiences and pieces to create new pieces that still have my signature look and appeal. I like my work too not only be fun and creative but festive and usable. The pieces that are created should be enjoyable “conversation piece” and I like them to bring a little brightness to the Collectors day.

When I work it is either for a commission or for product so I pretty much work seven days a week either in my studio or in the shop. Both are different processes. It just depends on how I can plan or budget my time.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
My experience primarily comes form a Man out of Tucson Arizona named Tom Philabaum. He not only gave me the opportunity to learn but also really made me learn the basics. Through this process his staff made me a firm believer in learning the basics in glassblowing. The basics in turn help you to be more creative because you learn how to manipulate the different consistencies of glass itself. I also served in the Marines From 2001 to 2009 partially in the reserve’s and Spend a year in Iraq during the invasion as Part of the first marine divisions push. This gave me the discipline to learn how to actually blow glass at a professional level.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
When times are tough I remain doing the things that work because I know that things will turn around but just don’t know when. To make it in this business you just have to work a little harder. Many people think that artist are “lazy” and the live a free life style. But reality at least from my perspective you are really working almost all the time. Whether it be traveling, Packing, Producing, and Getting new clients and so on. Sure you get gratification but sometimes the work is just work. There is a major difference between being a hobbyist a professional.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
My advice for those who want to rise to a different level are go out there and get it. It is not just going to happen for you. Be yourself and try to find somebody that is a SUCCESSFUL (There are plenty that are not for some reason) artist that can train you and pay you. But typically they are not going to find you. As artists we tend to be passive and not aggressive but the art industry is a dog eat dog world and if you want to succeed you need to go get it yourself. You need to learn from your mistakes try to make the right decisions for you and what might benefit you and make yourself better. Pulling the trigger is hard but learn form your experiences especially in this economy.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Real work for my company and how to better my company For example I do everything like packing shipping, paperwork, PR, and producing. It is hard work. And not very much fun sometimes but that is part of life. It can’t always be fun. That is what my time is pretty much spent doing.

What’s your favorite comfort food and other activities?
My favorite food is whatever is in the fridge; my favorite books are The Dove by Robin Lee Graham and, It’s Not about the bike by Lance Armstrong. I tend to read more motivational stories and stories about perseverance. Real life, interests me. My favorite color is all that uniquely collaborate. Favorite hobby, enjoying new experiences.

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Bead Journal Project for 2008 – 2009 is officially finished!  We’ll be starting up again for our third year in January 2010. I’ll make sure I post about it when I have more news…it would be fabulous to have more folks join in!

Each month, I chose a fragment of scripture from one of the Psalms and used a heart shape to create a little 4 x 4 inch beaded piece that illustrates the feeling of that verse for me.   Here is my piece for August:

Psalm 63:8
My soul follows hard after Thee

Here are all of the completed sets: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer

My previous pieces for the Bead Journal Project
Information about the Bead Journal Project
Bead Journal Project blog

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Each piece is handmade from this antique glass and comes with “The Story of the Glass” detailing what the glass was originally and the age of the piece and mounted on recycled card stock. Most of the pieces are created through coldworking processes, or as in the case of the glass hoops and Christmas ornaments, with some kiln work.

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Kerri Lawnsby is  a designer of fused glass dichroic jewelry and personal accessories from Austin Texas.  She creates a line called FOXY Fusions that includes both wearables and non-wearables.  For personal adornment, Kerri makes pendants, earrings, adjustable rings, bracelets, cufflinks, and belt buckles.  She also creates business card cases, money clips, pill boxes, and wine charms called FOXY Charms.

Kerri writes about her wearable line:

As a designer, what appeals to me and has driven the look of FOXY Fusions is clean-line contemporary design with bold contrasting colors, striking patterns, and interesting textures. The rectangular line integrates linear layers of glass with a tack-fuse to form a built-in channel for the cord, while the circular design leverages longer fusing times to create the initial glass block that is then cored, cold-worked, and fire-polished.

About her non-wearables, she writes:

As a fused glass designer, I am always looking for innovative ways to incorporate glass into gift items or personal accessories. A popular choice by men and women is the card case which can be used for business cards or as a pocket-purse/wallet. Wine-lovers also enjoythe FOXY Charms as artistic stemware markers that compliment the fine wine they’re serving for home parties.

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Each month, I’m choosing a fragment of scripture from one of the Psalms and using a heart shape to create a little 4 x 4 inch beaded piece that illustrates the feeling of that verse for me. Here is my piece for July, which is the second piece in the Summer group (June, July, August).  By this time next month, the entire project should be finished…Yay!

Psalm 119:32
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

We’re talking about doing the project again, for a third year, and I believe that we’re going to be waiting until January 2010 to kick it off this time.  I’ll make sure I post about it when I have more news…it would be fabulous to have more folks join in!

Here are the three completed sets: Autumn, Winter, and Spring

My previous pieces for the Bead Journal Project
Information about the Bead Journal Project
Bead Journal Project blog

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