Read this post and win a prize... maybe.

I've gotten a bit behind on my blog partner duties with Artbeads.com so I've been hammering my face off trying to get these pieces ready for show and tell.

First up is a bracelet I made using this sterling silver beading bangle. I wanted to do something a little less predictable with it so first I threaded sterling silver wire through the provided loops and balled each end. Then I made a zillion hammered copper paddles in various lengths and attached them all the way around. I finished it off by threading these beautiful opaline alexandrite/Picasso Czech glass beads on oxidized copper wire, hammering the ends so the beads wouldn't slide off, and attaching them to the bracelet. Then I "dirtied" up the the shiny copper a little with some alcohol inks. All done!

It looks pretty cool all fanned out.

Believe it or not it's actually a very comfortable wear. Lightweight and shimmery. Like a big fishing lure for your wrist. ;)

I fell in love with these Hill Tribe etched bead caps instantly. My goal was to give them a little more spotlight than they would usually get so I turned them into sweet little blueberries.

I made a matching pendant using a slightly larger fern stamped bead cap. FYI, I oxidized the bead caps in liver of sulfer and then sanded them a bit with some fine steel wool to bring out the design.

Lastly, I made another pair of earrings by pairing vintage glass beads and copper headpins with these Hill Tribe sterling silver hammered cones. They were very simple to put together but I think they make a nice modern statement.

OK, so now we get to the prize portion of this post! The good folks over at Artbeads.com have generously donated a $25 gift certificate as a prize to one of my readers!
Artbeads.com Beads and Jewelry Supplies

All you have to do is a leave a comment (just one pretty please!) telling me what person has been most influential to you in your creative life. It can be an artist you admire, or simply someone who once gave you some great advice that you have carried with you. I will do a random drawing on Wednesday, February 3rd at noon EST. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was sent these products free of charge in order to review them. I was not paid to do so.

Comments

Mari said…
My daugther!! She is my every daily inspiration!!!
TesoriTrovati said…
Wow. That bracelet is out of this world!
Just one person?
My friend Rainy...
Naomi said…
Wow, very unique and beautiful bracelet!
The person who most inspires me in my creative life right now is my friend Melissa, who is struggling with a chronic illness but still always finds time to brainstorm ideas, and look at, talk about and love my jewelry <3
Kella said…
I can't remember anything inspiring my creative side as a child and teenager I just knew I loved to create.

Durng my young adult years I put away that side of me for a while due to bad circumstances and people but with the pregnancy of my first child my creativity returned ten fold and some. So I would have to say my first born is the basis of my re birthed creativity.

And that braclet is so cool.
SueBeads said…
Love the bracelet - amazing! Mike Mangiafico "Fig" at the Pittsburgh Glass Center really encouraged me when I took my first workshop. He told me he thought I'd be selling my beads in less than a year (from when he told me this) and I was!!!!
Julie said…
My older brother. When we were kids he always told me I had the best ideas. Love the bracelet!
sandi m said…
Very cool pieces!!
My sister...
My mom because when I use to say that I wasnt good at anything she reminded me that I was. Thanks to her I'm now following my dream.
Stephanie said…
My Father. He always encouraged me in any form or expression of creativity in art or craft. He taught me the need for excellent craftsmanship. He was a musician and very old school. He taught me that I could practice my craft and make money to live on and I could practice my art for my soul to live on. (can you tell i have my daddy on a pedestal? LOL)
Love those green earrings and the metalwork bracelet Nancy ! Influential creative - David the silversmith who I undertook school work experience with as a 15-year-old - I went into architecture instead of silverwork but hey, decades later and I'm doing jewelery too:)
Luna said…
My parents...:)
Juliette said…
Hello! Your bracelet is gorgeous! Great work :) My first painting teacher told me something I've never forgotten - that I had a unique way of expressing motion, and that I should continue to learn from it. That phrase still inspires me!

I'll always remember her. :)
Anonymous said…
Love that bracelet! Great idea! Hard to narrow it down to one. But, my high school art teacher was a very big influence, many years ago.
Katie said…
Gosh...just one person? I guess I would have to pick my friend Kim - she started beading first, and I kept her company at a craft fair. While watching her, I realized I could do that, and a monster was created :o) She even says that I've taken it SO much farther than she ever has...

Currently, I find inspiration all over the place - there are so many people who make so many neat things...

And I love the bracelet and earrings :o)
Silver Parrot said…
I just LOVE that bracelet - it's fantastic!

Oddly enough, my 7th grade art teacher who gave me a failing grade in her class has been my inspiration. Yep, that's right, I failed 7th grade art - because I couldn't draw a bunny rabbit correctly.

It pissed me off so I determined that I would always do creative things no matter what - just nothing involving actual drawing :)
Dani said…
My friends mom Martha K. She is an amazing artist and lead me through my youth incouraging me!
allyson of http://www.silverandgems.com . I bought earrings from her for a decade , just enjoying her creations , then one summer she let me tag along to a gem show near our home and I was hooked. She is always a wonderful positive influence and inspiration.
My mom! She introduced my sister and me to creative projects as soon as we could touch the supplies without eating them. She also taught us important lessons like "fabric scissors are only used to cut fabric."
*jean* said…
amazing! that bracelet is fantastic! i was lucky to have a great aunt who served as substitute grandmother (mine were gone) and amazing roll model...her name was ruth, she was a single, strong woman her entire life and an art teacher...she let me paint with oils when i was 8...she trusted me and taught to have no fear when it came to expressing myself with art... lucky little girl me!! thank you for the chance to win!!
The bracelet is very creative and beautiful. I think that my Mom was a big influence on my creativity. We always did craft projects together when I was growing up and later.
Judy said…
I would have to say my Sister, Susan. She is such a strong vibrant women. She stays so positive and upbeat even with all the health struggles she deals with each day.
Nancy,

The bracelet screams I'm so fun to wear. A nice feminine look without all thr frilly fru fru!!!

In just a word my Mum!

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Alice said…
I've always like art and creating, but it's my mother-in-law that actually inspires me. She is so in touch with all sorts of art and encourages me to stretch my wings and take new directions in my work.

That bracelet is just amazing!!!!!

Alice
mairedodd said…
the positive - killer bracelet and earrings...
the negative - one person? seriously?
ok, an art history professor who i did a year long honors thesis with (i have tremendous admiration for him)... when i once asked him a question, he replied 'i don't know, let's find out.' for me, that was revolutionary... i go thru art and life now like that... i want to try something i don't know how to do, i find out how and do it... he freed me...
Sharon said…
That bracelet rocks! I would say my Uncle Zem who was an artist in oils. He gave me lessons when I was a teen and said I had artistic talent and to work at it, which I never did until now, ha! Better late than never!
Hey !!!
I Like ....It's very nice
Lynn P said…
Love love love the bracelet!
Jenny said…
Reflecting on the question as I skimmed the other responses - for me it was my Mom. She taught my sister and I to embroider at like 8 years old, and was always responsive and encouraging to my drawing. Even the picture of Atlas - naked - holding up the world. Drawn in 2nd grade. Hee Hee
Unknown said…
Beautiful bracelet!

As for my inspiration, its hard to pick one, I was blessed with a lot of supportive people around me as I was growing up but I think I would have to say that they way my dad never left his love of art behind; despite working a desk job with long hours he still makes the time to really enjoy his watercolors.
Mellisa said…
Different people for different creative endeavors but I have to say that the incredibly talented Lynne Merchant opened my eyes to the possibilities of silver wire which has heavily influenced the directions I've gone.
Mel Mel said…
I am inspired by childrens books, enchanted fairy tales mostly but I also love the bright colorful silly ones. I admire the work of Lorelei Eurto, she makes me say "oh my gosh" everyday. I am constantly amazed by all of the artists in this blog community, yourself included. That bracelet is AWESOME!
Susan Marling said…
That braclet is fantastic!! My grandmother made jewelry way,way before it was fashionable.They use to travel to CA and AZ and she would come back with great stones and make jewelry.She also sewed, knitted,crocheted.
Jean Hutter said…
great bracelet and even greater earrings - so creative.

My artistic inspiration is my friend Sheila - always there to help me over my little creative slumps!
Cindy said…
I love those hammered paddles!
I read through the comments, trying to figure out who to pick as my inspiration, and I realized that it had to be my mother. She sewed all my clothes when I was little, took me to fabric and craft stores, taught me how to knit, crochet and embroider, and so much more that I'm sure I've forgotten.
Thanks for the chance at a giveaway.
Cindy R.
lelah said…
My Grandma! Even those she passed away and lost her sight many years before that, she taught me to sew and cross stitch when I was little. She even let me make clay figurines she would fire in her kiln. I have a lithograph of hers hanging in my living room and every time I look at it, I am thankful she brought crafting into my life. I love you and miss you, Grandma!
Bijoutery said…
Pretty bracelet!

My mum, because she was the one who first introduced me to art. She had wanted to be an artist herself, but felt the need to get a 'regular career' since she had me. But that didn't stop her from continuing to do art at home, and when I got old enough she started letting me play with ink prints, pastels, oil painting, just to name a few. Eventually I discovered beadwork at a Native American fair oh, around 5th or 6th grade I think, and she bought me my first kit of materials. I've been making jewelry ever since!
My sweet hubby! He inspires and encourages me.

I love the blue berry earrings and pendant.
Linda B said…
I would say Tim Adams on Etsy has given me and others some terrific advice about promoting on Etsy.
Lois Moon said…
I have to say my mom, but not for the encouragement she gives me. Instead it is because she signed me up for classes at the Cleveland Art Museum when I was a little girl. My classes took us around the museum looking at the art and making various projects such a 3x5' painting of an oriental carpet. I leared to love pattern, color, and Asian art (Cleve, OH has a great Asian collection). We also had many art and decorative arts books in our house and I loved looking at them.
I would have to say my mom since she was the one who encouraged me to be creative and taught me how to be artistic. She supports me in everything I do and has taught me that there are no limits to what I can do. Thanks for the giveaway...I can always use more beads!!
Artisan Clay said…
That would be my girl Debra!

Hanging out just being creative, Halloween costumes, Painting in Sheds through hurricanes, working in attics in snow storms....

Your bracelet is total Awesomeness!
One person? There have been several. The one that has been most supportive is my husband ;o)
Our family friend, Sandy, who has been gone now for over twenty years. As I was growing up I spent a lot of time with her; she was well read (she could have been a 5 time champ on Jeopardy, she knew everything), and she was so talented at all the crafts she attempted. I still find myself working on something and thinking "Wow--Sandy would have LOVED this."
Filomena said…
Keep warm! I had the same thing happen a couple years back...brrrr!
Good luck to you and the buns :)
Pink Velvet Bird
amy said…
My dad, who did woodworking and had a fantastic eye for shape and form.
It's gotta be my fiancé, the poor darling...cuz he's always honest.
Him: "That looks like junk."
Me: "No, it's supposed to look like that!"
Him: "It's supposed to look like junk?!"
Me: "Alright, dangit, you're right, it looks like junk."
I'm really "likin" both of your new pieces Nancy!! I like tht you have created a lot of "motion" without it being totally choatic!

Oh for sure my Mum :)

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.
Chrissy said…
I love the silver and copper together. At the moment, YOU are providing lots of inspiration!!
silver leaf said…
My mother is a versatile artist--She knits, quilts, sews, crochets, crafts of all kinds. Creativity is in our blood!
Anonymous said…
Your jewelry is beautiful! You're a girl after my own heart! I would have to say that I really am having a difficult time picking one person! I'm lucky enough to have a group of friends/artists that support me creatively everyday! But I guess I would have to give the award to my husband, he's the reason that my creativity soars beyond limits everyday.
Sally
www.wireworked.blogspot.com
CdnYankee said…
I guess it would be my aunt Joann. She might be in her 70's now, but has sewn almost all of her own clothing for as long as I can remember. I would go to her house and find the scrap cloth bag and make purses as a kid.
kbetta said…
All of your pieces are lovely! I'd have to say the earliest inspirations were my sister and my aunt who are both incredible artists.
Magimom said…
Wonderfully made pieces! Breathtaking! My muse and inspiration is my son, just turned 22 and has been and continues to be my everything!
Love the bracelet. It looks so fun to wear.
I would have to say three people have been the most influential in my art. My mom because she is behind me all the way and my two professors at school; metals professor and ceramics professor. They both push me to think outside of the box even when I don't want to.
Tricia said…
My children, ages 4 and 6, are my everyday inspiration. I look at them and want to fill their worlds with love, peace, and creativity.
Cindi said…
Very nice pieces!

My husband, Dan... he's been encouraging me to do something fun (and creative) for years.
StarJewelry said…
I love your bracelet and the way you mixed metals. My early inspiration were my grandmothers: one was a professional seamstress, the other extremely crafty - oil paint, crochet, knit...
Anonymous said…
beautiful work, love your creativity! my friends give me encouragement and inspiration every day!!
Connie said…
my friends give me inspiration and support all the time
World Traveler said…
My mom always made my sister and I do something creative and introduced us to many fields. I got into jewelry making and stuck with it,
alli said…
Edgar Degas is the artist that inspires me a lot! I love his paintings!

northssclub at yahoo dot com
Kirsten said…
Hi Nancy, Love the bead caps you used on your Blueberry inspired jewelry! My Mom was my greatest influence...were it not for watching her paint and draw when I was a little girl...I likely never would have put alot of effort into developing myself as an artist.
Oh that would be Grandma! She is amazing and I definitely attribute my love of creating to her!

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