Analogous - Blue-Violet By Jen Judd!

Jen Judd has done it again--- Another Gorgeous entry into our color challenge!Here are a couple bits from Jen's Blog--

I went with the violet and blue analogous color scheme with this eclectic mix of beads. Plus, I created my own wire-worked links to add a little bit more interest to the asymmetry...
And check out this list of materials used in the necklace--
Materials:
- Lovely big "mystery designer" porcelain focal with a great blue-violet finish
On the Blue Side:
- Navy glass ovals (from a bead swap with a friend)
- Blue spotted Kazuri bead (from Off the Beading Path)
- Denim blue lapis square pillows (from Potomac Bead Co.)
- Navy leather finished with sterling crimp ends (from Artbeads)On the Violet Side:
- Dyed purple rough-cut agate nuggets
- Amethyst rectangles & nuggets (from Michael's)
- Blue-violet agate ovals& violet simple cut stones(from Potomac Bead Co.)
- Lampwork glass disks (from HMB Studios)

Beautiful!!!

Check out Jen's Etsy shop here

Beads of Clay Bead Swap

I sent these hearts out about 2 weeks ago for the Beads-of-Clay bead swap. Marti C is our fearless leader this time and she will be packaging them up and sending us each a package in return. They should be in the mail soon. I will be sure to post what I received. And for fun I will dig back into my archive and show you some beads we had in swaps a few years back. By the way, please check out Marti's Etsy store and see what she is up too. Great work.

Celtic Copper 2 By SummerAlyssa on etsy!

Another wonderful entry to our Monochromatic Challenge!I love the wirework on this necklace by Summer Hodgmen!

Celtic Copper 2

Here is Summer's Description--

My entry into the BOC monochromatic challenge. I chose orange;)

The pendant is by Tari Sasser of Creative Impressions in Clay. I sewed a peyote bezel attached to Lacy's Stiff Stuff, then backed it with leather recycled from an old coat.

The chain was the real challenge:) What started as a spool of 20 gauge copper wire turned into a 30" chain of 14 jump rings, 28 links, 56 swirls, and 12 connectors with faced glass beads:)

Analogous Color Challenge

Today is the start of our second Color Challenge! This is the Analogous Color Challenge! The Analogous Section of the Challenge runs for 4 weeks from January 22nd to February 19th.

Analogous Colors are colors which are found next to each other on the color wheel. An example is the Blue, Blue-Violet, and Violet Scheme which I used to create this necklace. Other examples are a color scheme of Red, Orange and Yellow or a color scheme of Green, Blue-Green and Blue. Often one color is chosen as the main color and the other colors are used to accent the design.

I had a lot of fun making this design and I really had a hard time narrowing down my choices to come up with just one example. I could have gone on making more pieces in more fiery colors, or in a purple-red scheme for Valentine's Day. Maybe I will have to try some more designs and stretch my creative muscles? :-)

To enter your work for a chance to win beautiful Clay beads by Beads-of-Clay members, please add your photos to the Beads of Clay Flickr group. Please label your photo with the color scheme you have used. Example: Analogous Blue- Violet This is how I will know that you are playing along!

On Febuary 19th a random winner will be chosen from all the entries in the Analogous color group.
Entries need to include at least one clay bead or button. Entries can be a Clay bead or Button. Entries do not have to be jewelry.

There is still time to Enter your Monochromatic Designs in the challenge. The monochromatic section of the Challenge Closes on February 5th

To see the entire time line and links to great tools to help you choose your colors-- check out this Blog post--http://beads-of-clay.blogspot.com/2010/01/beads-of-clay-blog-color-challenge.html

Monochromatic Prize

Here is a quick shot of the Prize for the Monochromatic section of our color challenge.
The pendant is made by Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay and the coordinating beads are Sodalite.
You still have plenty of time to enter this section of the challenge. The prize will be awarded on February 5th.

Monochromatic-- Our First entries!

Look at these beautiful Entries to our monochromatic Challenge! What a great way to start!
Jen Judd made both of these beauties! The first entry features a stoneware clay and recycled glass Pendant by Artisan Clay (that's me) Jen used Amethyst and pearls and I just LOVE it!

For Jen's second entry she used 2 denim blue porcelain charms by Marsha Neal. I love all the variety in the beads she used to make this pair of earrings! Beautiful!

Check out Jen's Blog to read her blog post about these designs and her Etsy shop for more of her work!

Monochromatic Color scheme Challenge

The first color scheme for our challenge is the Monochromatic Color Scheme. Monochromatic schemes can be considered one color. So pick one color found on the color wheel and stick to it. You may use different tones and shades of that original color. Tones and shades are found when you add either black or white to your starting color. An example of this would be red. If you start with red and add white you will get pink. So a red and pink combination is still Monochromatic because you didn’t add any of the other colors found on the color wheel.

I chose Yellow Green. I used dark beads in yellow green and lighter ones. The challenge I found was to just stick to one color. I had to remind myself to not let Green and Blue-Green into the mix. I love Moss agate and it kept trying to sneak in, but the moss agate I have is a bit on the blue-green side.

So here is my finished piece! I used my Small Style A Cabochons, Agates, glass, and a silk cord.

To enter your work for a chance to win beautiful Clay beads by Beads-of-Clay members, please add your photos to the Beads of Clay Flickr group. Please label your photo with the color scheme you have used. Example: Monochromatic Yellow-Green

On Febuary 5th a random winner will be chosen from all the entries in the Monochromatic color group.

Entries need to include at least one clay bead or button. Entries can be a Clay bead or Button. Entries do not have to be jewelry.

Beads-of-Clay Blog Color Challenge! Guidelines and Timeframe

It’s a New Year with new goals, and I am renewing my commitment to blogging and improving my work by initiating a challenge to myself and to all of you Beads-of-Clay members, followers and bead and button lovers who would like to join in!

Here is the goal: To complete a finished piece of artwork, piece of jewelry, Art Bead or Beads that illustrates each of the following color schemes within the time allotted.

Each color scheme will be open for 4 weeks, and a new color scheme will be announced every 2 weeks. This is a rotating schedule—it’s a little crazy I know, but I think it would be good to finish it up before the busy summer season. I will list the time frame for anyone (like me) who would like to plan ahead!
Here are the guidelines-

1. Fabulous prizes from Beads-of-Clay bead and button artists will be awarded to one of the entries in each of the different color schemes at the end of the allotted time.
2. Each entry on the Beads-of-Clay color challenge must include a clay bead, button, cabochon ect made from one of these materials -- Porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, terra cotta, raku, Egyptian paste, and clay slip – so that means earthen clay only. The entry itself can be a Bead of Clay or Set of Clay beads, or an entry can include a bead of clay. Entries are not limited to wearable arts. You do not have to be a clay bead maker to participate.
3. Entries in the challenge should be added to the Beads-of-Clay flickr group in order to be considered for the Fabulous Prizes!

What do you think? Are you ready to have fun, and stretch your use of color?

Color Challenge Time line
Monochromatic color scheme January 8th-Febuary 5th
Analogous color scheme January 22-Febuary 19th
Complementary color scheme February 5th- March 5th
Split-complementary color scheme February 19th- March 19th
Tetradic color scheme March 5th- April 2nd
Neutral color scheme March 19th- April 16th
Accented neutral color scheme April 2- April 30th
Warm and Cool Color Schemes April 16th- May 14th

Here is a very useful tool that I found to help with the challenge-- http://websitetips.com/colortools/sitepro/
It generates color schemes! I think this is a great tool to visualize different color schemes and help decide which one to choose.

What is a color scheme?

Wikipedia says this about color schemes—Here is a link-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_scheme

I will attempt to define and illustrate each color scheme on or around the opening date for each scheme for those of us who may need a reminder.

Monochromatic color Scheme opens today! I will post a follow-up blog post with some examples!

Do you have any questions?

Ask away!

Or you can contact me via my etsy shop-- www.artisanclay.etsy.com Use the convo or contact button on the site.

Artisans Village in Stringing Magazine

As an Artist I wanted to give a shout out to other bead artists that in the next issue of Stringing Magazine (Interweave Press) they are offering a new advertising section called "Artisans Village".

I wanted to post earlier about this, but having Riley put this on the back burner.

The deadline for reserving and ad material is right now (I think things go to printer on Friday)...

As some of you know, I have been a firm believer in advertising in magazines, but in this economy and with the cost of regular small ads being around $500 a pop, I had to cut my advertising back big time.

Well, this new Artisans Village concept is like a combination of a color ad (you have a picture of your beads in it) and a classified ad (you have your business name, small description, and link to your website or Etsy shop, etc).

And it's only $124 for this ad!

AND they are starting it with only one page, so when it is full, that's it for now.

For more info, contact Dana Groves (my ad rep at Interweave for Stringing) by email:

dgroves (at) Interweave.com

Make sure to replace (at) with the symbol @ and remove any spacing...

Above is the current Winter 2009 Issue available now...

And by the way, I am in no way being compensated for telling you about this, I just really love this idea and think that Stringing is hands down one of the best beading magazines out there... And want you to be able to jump on this opportunity if you have been thinking about trying advertising!

Dana can email you a pdf of what the page layout looks like as well as the specifications for the ad...

See you in the Artisans Village!!!

Calling All Ceramic Bead Artists

It is now time to enter the Bead Dreams 2010 competition which is sponsored by Bead and Button Magazine. This year for the first time there is a new category that is specifically designed to encourage ceramic bead artists to enter this show. Last year and many years in the past there was no category that was suitable for ceramic beads.

This is a real break through for ceramic artists. Last year many of us protested to Bead and Button about the oversight of a category for ceramic beads. Now, thanks to Tanya Davidson, a Beads-of-Clay member and owner of the great online store Whole Lotta Whimsy, there is this new category. Here is the description:

Handmade Buttons or Beads - NEW for 2010 - A unified collection of 4 or more buttons or beads in any media including but not limited to ceramic, raku, resin, bone, etc. (This excludes lampworked, glass, polymer clay, metal clay, and beaded beads.)

The deadline for submissions is April 5, 2010. You can only apply on line. Here is the link.

The price is $30.00 which is for two submissions. You are limited to 2 per category.

This competition is open to any ceramic bead or button artist. Hopefully many will submit so that the category will continue to exist. Let's show them what we can do!!.