October Monthly Challenge Recap

Ohara Koson gives us the perfect inspiration for October. It speaks to the fall, the growing darkness of the nights, the crisp clear star-studded sky, the mysterious sounds in the woods. It is Halloween inspired without being kitschy.

We had some amazing owl designs pulled from this month's painting rendered in glass, seed beads and even wood! Distinctive gingko leaves, some hand created, some perfectly purchased from artists. And moons from painted designs to beads to crescent shapes - marvelous! Check out the beautiful designs!

Your turn! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Perfect Pairings :: Jill Palumbo + Palumbo Polymer Jewelry

When looking at the Koson picture for the challenge, everyone is first drawn to the owl that dominates the space. But what I notice is the sliver of a crescent moon. That shape is something that I am drawn to, and it is my favorite sort of moon. 

This necklace is entirely a crescent, and has so many interesting folds and layers that I just want to reach out and touch it!  Do you see the owl on the wing landing on the branch? This is a substantial statement necklace that gets more beautiful and intricate the closer you look at it. 

Jill Palumbo is a polymer clay powerhouse and is the designer and the bead artist. Her designs are very organic and inventive. She is all about texture, and she tells that this was central to her design. I love to learn how a design came into being and you can read more of this stunning torque necklace on her blog. 

Featured Designer :: Jill Palumbo

Featured Art Beads :: Palumbo Polymer Clay Jewelry
 

Remember to share the name of the art bead artists in your description of the picture so that I can include that in the weekly Perfect Pairings, now on Wednesdays!
 
Join me here on Thursday, October 31st for the Monthly Challenge Recap
with a picture gallery and InLinkz blog hop!

Amuse Your Muse Mondays with Rebecca of Songbead

Hello there Art Bead Scene-rs! I am writing to you today from the Land of the Pharaohs - yes, that's right, Egypt. I am taking in some Autumn sunshine for a week with a friend and am having a wonderful break. I'm staying right by the Red Sea, and from the coast, we can see Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Apparently the only place in the world where you can see four countries from the same vantage point - rather amazing! Loads of colour and textural inspiration, as you can imagine. 

This week, for our last Art Button week, I wanted to share a link that Mary Harding shared with me 2 weeks ago - about a button swap she took part in last year, organised by Cindy Wimmer.  She was paired up with metal artist Stacie Florer, and was sent these gorgeous buttons:

Here's what she turned them into - loads of inspiration for different ways to incorporate art buttons into your designs:

...as a clasp...

...as a decorative element/bead...

....and another clasp....

Mary always combines art beads/buttons and bead-weaving in a way I find particularly inspiring, having a background in bead-weaving originally myself. 

And here's a peek at the buttons that Stacie received from Mary. Aren't they gorgeous? 

Next month we are due for a new theme.....and as it's November, and we'll be thinking ahead to the holidays, it's got to be holiday beads! Yes, December is just around the corner, so we want to see snowflakes, fir cones, stars.....share your links in the comments below. I would love to see what you have created or stumbled upon! 

And now for the Bead Blogger Links:

Art Bead Scene
Take a peek inside Heather 'Humblebeads' Powers' studio - and be in with the chance to win a $20 voucher to her store! 

A Bead A Day
Have you ever held a crafting slumber party? Lisa shares her latest craft night projects made with wine corks!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Join Jean as she shares an email from Beading Daily with some awesome previews and jewelry projects ahead of time!

Resin Crafts Blog
Do you remember Betsy McCall? These sentimental resin filled bezels will be perfect for both the young and older women in your life.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Sometimes a wonderful childhood book character can come back to you in the form of jewelry - come see the Pinocchio necklace!

Beading Arts
What do you do when the beadwork on a prized dress falls apart?

Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer, currently living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. You can read more about her and her work at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com. She also has a supplies shop at thecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com.