A Catch Of Thorn

As you may or may not know, I'm also a contributor to the Art Bead Scene blog. Today the ABS editors are participating in a blog hop, sharing pieces inspired by this month's challenge image.

Still Life with Shells, 1640

By Balthasar van der Ast

So, I thought I'd share one of the pairs of the earrings I made here.

I've mixed some Glass Bead Art lampwork and some Slate Studio ceramic spines with some pieces of twig and some vintage copper filigree bails, which I've blackened. I finished them off with trios of scarlet seeds.  You can see the other pieces I made and get links to all the other participants blogs by visiting my blog.  These earrings are available here in my Etsy shop.

A little reminder: tomorrow is the reveal day for this month's We're All Ears blog hop. Have you made a pair yet? - there's still time!

Bye for now, Claire

www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

www.somethingtodo.etsy.com

www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com

The Pepper Mill - Inspired by Van Gogh

Over at the Art Bead Scene we select a work of art for our readers to interpret using art beads and turning that inspiration into an accessory of their choice. I attempted to do all 12 of them last year (I think I managed 10) and this month marks the first time that I have had the time and been inspired to create something in 2012.

I call these earrings "The Pepper Mill" and they are inspired by a painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

{the pepper mill - available on etsy}

I have had these little coppery gingerbread vintage stampings in my treasure trove for years. I bought them when I first started going online to buy supplies from B'Sue Boutiques when she was on eBay. It has been so long ago (maybe 2006?) that I purchased them that I am not even sure that she sells them anymore, but there are other propellers and pinwheels that I found on her site today! A lot has changed for B'Sue Boutiques, a new website coming soon and selling on Etsy, but her fun and quirky style and a vast collection of vintage stampings still exists. Recently I went a little nutty with ceramics from Marsha Neal and lo and behold I have several baggies filled with her charms and pendants. I truly need to use what I have! When I saw these little pinwheels next to some ceramic trapezoid earring charms from Marsha Neal Studio, well, it was a match made in heaven!

Here is the painting that we are inspired by over at Art Bead Scene this month.

{le moulin a poivre - the pepper mill - vincent van gogh}

 We have a monthly blog tour that I curate on March 30th. There is plenty of time to get inspired and join us!

Erin Prais-Hintz invites you to go on a journey of inspiration at her blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere. You can view a gallery of her work at http://www.tesoritrovati.com/ or purchase her new line of 'Simple Truths' in her Etsy shop.