LamplightCrafts

We don't have a Christmas tree or decorations in our home, because for us, it's all about the giving. We give all year round to family and charities too!  But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate other people's decorations.  I have been so busy this month, I didn't realize Art Bead Scene Blog was having a hop until early, early, early this morning.  So here is my Christmas ornament/charm for the holidays.  The art bead is from HolyFritBeads (Etsy). Please stop by ABS to see some beautiful ornaments ( click here ).                                              Seasons Greetings!

When I read about this challenge, I was hooked.  Ravens for inspiration.  Ravens are often depicted as mysterious and all knowing, supernatural guardians, or harbingers of bad news.  I just like them. A couple of years ago, I made this art doll using a pattern by Cindee Moyer for inspiration. At the time, I didn't have any little black birds for her to hold.  I will have to get her out of storage an take an updated photo of her with the blackbirds.

View of the Pond at Charleston, East Sussex by Vanessa Bell,  c.1919 Oil on canvas, 79.8 x 84 cm Collection: Museums Sheffield Vanessa Bell, English painter and interior designer, was a member of the Bloomsbury Group and surprisingly, she was the sister to Virginia Woolf!  Her painting (above) was the inspiration for the ABS September Jewelry and Bead Challenge .  This watercolor painting scene is so serene. A peaceful setting for the end of summer.  Watercolor, watercolor, that's all I could think about.  So I went through my stash and found a few pendant tiles from Ceramic Watercolor by Faith Ann Originals .  Her ceramic tiles and jewelry components are so much like the painting.  Snapshots of life and nature.  Stop by her shop sometime for some gorgeous eye candy.

The summer issue of Creative Spark is out, and a few of my designs are featured starting on page 55!  I chose a garden theme using those beautiful orange, red, green, and golden cultured sea glass beads from ZnetShows .  I had a lot going on this summer so I was late to post for the blog hop.  So much to keep up with and there is only one me.  The link below will take you to the zine.  Enjoy the beautiful designs.  Thank you Hope for hosting and editing a wonderful publication for jewelry designers to showcase their talents. Renetha

Summer Thunder by Hosteen KlahWeaving, Wood This textile is a wonderful inspiration for August.  The colors, so earthy and warm, make me think about the upcoming fall.  For this month's challenge, I knew I was going to use beads by Pat Antonick of Heliotrope Studio.  Pat has a studio which is about a 15 minute drive from my home.  She doesn't have an Etsy store, but she recently started a Facebook page .  Pat sells beads in order to purchase supplies for several of her endeavors.  She makes jewelry, ceramic beads, portrait quilts, and assemblage art to name a few.  If you are ever near Dayton, Ohio, be sure to stop by her studio. Due to time constraints, I went with earrings this time around. Lampwork Fossil Beads by Donna Millard Ceramic Leaf Dangles by Pat Antonick Lampwork Saucer Beads by Melissa? (Ebay) Ceramic Turtle Dangles by Pat Antonick My Favorite Ceramic Beads and Spirit Man Dangle by Pat Antonick I had a lot of fun with this challeng

Hope of Crafty Hope sent out emails to beaders who want to prepare their wonderful beaded creations for the Summer issue of Creative Spark . Each designer gets to chose which beads to work with. Here is what I will be working with.... But this is what ZnetShows sent: WOW! Thank you Hope for keeping us on task.   Thank you ZnetShows for such a lovely selection of beads. Stay tuned for the unveiling of the latest issue of Creative Spark. Let the creativity vibes flow.

This month's Art Bead Scene Challenge is to create jewelry or art beads using this untitled painting by Augustin Lesage for inspiration.  This painting made me dizzy.  There are so many little details, it becomes hard to focus on one aspect of the painting.  But I do have to say, Lesage was extremely talented to have composed this and other works from start to finish.  This photo is only a small part of the entire abstract composition.  Abstract is the focus of my design for this challenge. What jewelry components do I have that are abstract?  A whole stash of lampwork beads.  But I wanted a lot of color and detail.  Then the idea hit me!  Fabric.  Here are the beads I made for this challenge. There you have it.  Beads with lots of abstract details!  Now for the jewelry created using these fabric beads.  Are fabric beads considered art beads?  Not too sure.  But here is my design. The ceramic beads were a surprise!  I won them for the Frida cuff I made for April's

I know I am late posting what I made with some of the beads I received for this swap, but I was in kind of a slump...creatively.  But now I have found some bead mojo and managed to crank out a couple of bracelets.  These are for you Kathleen Breeding! This is what I received from my partner for the Bead Peeps Hop and Swap.  However, I didn't get around to making anything, but will soon.  Thank you Tami Norris for the beads.

Frida Kahlo.  All I could think about is the thorny hummingbird necklace.  To me she wears the necklace like a badge of courage.  It says people might think she is a delicate woman on the outside, but know that she is in constant pain. Here is my design for the Art Bead Scene Challenge inspired by Frida's painting. I made a polymer clay hummingbird cab and added it to a beaded cuff.  I'm not happy with the cuff, but I really like the dragonfly pendant and cabs I made.  I might redo the cuff sometime...... Renetha Stanziano

Photos by (clockwise from left)  A Guy Taking Pictures ,  Darwin Bell . Moyan Brenn ,  Deborah Cardinal  &  Rachael Towne . Look at the challenge colors!  How could I resist?   OTTBS has a Facebook page for beaders, with the goal of using all the beads we collect and hoard.  This month's challenge was sort of Bollywood with a twist.  Here is a look at my finished bracelet adapted from a tutorial by VCArtisianOriginals .

Last month, Indigo Turtle Art , hosted a cabochon giveaway!  The cabs are handmade porcelain.  All you had to do was sign up.  So I did.  One of the requirements was that I had to make something within the next few months.  I love challenges because they get the creative juices flowing. I used picasso seed beads with pinks, browns, and greens which reflect the colors of the cab.  Just a hint of bronze seed beads were also used.  The final touch, a crystal golden shadow Swarovski 2-hole square bead. This design is called Desert Rose. Thank you Carol for hosting the giveaway/challenge.  Thank you James for the beautiful cabochon.  To everyone else, stop by Indigo Turtle Art's Etsy shop for more of these beautiful cabochons!

The Facebook Group, Bead Peeps, is hosting a swap and hop.  The big reveal is May 2nd!  I am so excited about this!  My partner is Tami Norris of Jewelry by Tami .  Tomorrow is the day her bead soup starts its journey to Wisconsin.  Here is a sneak peak of what I sent to Tami. Don't forget to stop by on May 2 for the big reveal.

As most of you know, I love challenges.  So here is a giveaway and challenge.  Indigo Art is looking for beaders to showcase their beautiful porcelain cabochons.  The post below is directly from their FB page and has all the guidelines.  There is still time to sign up if you are interested! Indigo Turtle Art It appears that posts / events show up differently on a PC vs a mobile device... Here are the details for the Cabochon Giveaway, for those who cannot access the event from their device.... Please e-mail us your information - that is how you enter the contest. Indigo Turtle Art is launching a new product line ~ Contemporary Porcelain Cabochons ~ perfect for your wire/metal/PMC/bead work or mixed media projects. To kick off this new product line, obtain design feedback and additional visibility ~ we are giving away 20 cabochons to 20 lucky artisans who incorporate cabochons into their work. The contest is limited to artisans within the United States, unless you

Introducing the latest issue of "Creative Spark"!  Once again, the 2015 Winter issue is filled with inspiration and beautiful jewelry made by talented designers from all over the country. Inserting self-promo here:  My first tutorial is featured on page 57!   This issue features several tutorials featuring gorgeous beads from ZnetShows !   Our hostess and "Creative Spark" Editor, Hope Smitherman , told us pick out three types of beads to work with.  Here is what I picked: Links: Cultured Sea Glass Bottle-Curved Pendant, Black Chinese Crystal Designer Glass Fan Beads Cultured Sea Porcelain Triangle Pendant Set After I received my beads, Hope said we could only make one pair of earrings for our tutorial.  So here is the other pair I made using the Chinese Crystal. Thank you Hope for once again putting together an incredible issue of "Creative Spark".  Also, thank you ZNETSHOWS for letting us play with your beautiful beads! Renetha S

Every once in a while, I come across something that touches my heart.  The story about this dad and his Leo is just one.   Here is the Link.   Their story brought up memories of my Leo's birth. I have a Leo with CP.  While recovering from the emergency C-section, I received a call from a nurse asking me if I wanted my Leo to be resuscitated? Of course I said yes!  He is the bright light in our lives today. Raising a child with special needs is not easy.  There will be days he will cry, yell, question, doubt, and worry. But when that child smiles..... I wish them well. Have I said that I love challenges?  Well I do.  Raising a child with special needs is exactly that--the challenge of a lifetime. My Leo http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dad-refuses-give-newborn-son-syndrome/story?id=28756025&cid=fb_abcn

This month's challenge is to create a jewelry design using the Pantone color of the year:  Marsala.  This color reminds me of merlot or cabernet sauvignon wines.  Very rich. The most challenging part of this challenge was the weather.  Everytime I wanted to go out and get beads, it was too cold, to wet, or to icy.  So I went to my stash and found a few Marsala beads from Halcraft: I planned to make a wrap bracelet, but with school delays and closings, time just got away from me.  However, I did manage to finish two designs. Bracelet made with 4mm and 10mm dark ruby red rounds and 2-hold sliders with rhinestones. This necklace was made with some leftover chain, Czech dark siam drops, and crystals. If I get the wrap bracelet finished, I will post it later.  I would like to thank Halcraft and    Erin Prais-Hintz   for hosting the Pretty Pallettes challenges.  They are a lot of fun.   Here is a link to other participants:   Marsala!

Today I was talking with my 19 year old son, Victor.  He was telling me of his day at the local college he attends.  In addition, he tells me of his day on the job, which is also at the college.  He is in his element.  I felt so proud of him when he said how good it feels to actually have an answer to the question "what do you do for a living?". He proudly "flexes" and says he is a student and he builds guitars.  He gives tours of the building he works and attends classes in.  He was feeling so happy that he now co-teaches with his boss, showing students from local high schools how to build guitars. I knew he was going to grow up, but it hit me hard today.  He really is and adult, he's happy, he's employed, he's getting a great education, and he's learning what's out in the world.  I am so proud of him that I am giddy and tearful at the same time. Have I said that I love challenges?  Well I do, and raising kids is just one of many. Reneth