Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Earthenwood Summer Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 21:39:00 +0000

Woo Hoo! It's really warming up here in Michigan. It's going to be HOT soon! I am taking a break from studio work (and yard work) to send you this newsletter filled with summery goodies!

The Earthenwood Etsy Bead Store has new stuff! I have added some new colors and designs that I think are wonderful for summer jewelry, like the expanded colors of Nouveau Shield pendants and new Double Kitty Heart pendants! There are also a bunch of pairs of round branch links which make great co-coordinating accents with my pendants for necklaces or on their own for bracelets and earrings.

If you haven't visited the Earthenwood shop in a while, this is a good time!

I am offering 25% off your entire purchase

Just use the code SUMMER25 at checkout for your discount!

Sale ends June 30th.

(Sorry, this offer cannot be used with any other offers or on previous purchases. This coupon code is ONLY good in the Earthenwood Etsy Bead Store, not in any other Earthenwood stores.)

In other news, I designed a new Earthenwood Studio website, where you can find all of my links, stores, portfolio, and show calendar all in one place! The new website is also home to a built-in online store where my new Quote Art tiles and ornaments, like the one shown above, can be ordered. I also added some pieces of my jewelry line to the site. Check it out and click around to see it all!

New Floral Scroll Link Pairs at Earthenwood Studio!

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 17:35:00 +0000

These links have always been popular at shows, I just never took the time to catalog them for the website until now. That just seems fair, since I am not doing as many bead shows these days.

These are a great size (about 5/8") and in eight colors, making them very versatile for linking together into bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

They come in pairs of round and square links, are glazed front and back, and have two holes for all your linky projects! The possibilities are limitless!

Check out the Round and Square Floral Scroll Links on the Earthenwood Studio Etsy Store!

New Bracelet Bars at Earthenwood

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 16:12:00 +0000

I was inspired at Bead & Button by all the great leather and bracelet designs and the new findings to go along with them. Right before the show, I made a small batch of these bracelet bars and everyone seemed to love them! I designed a few pieces of jewelry with them and it became clear these would be good sellers, so I added them to my Etsy Store!

Check out some of the things that can be made with these Floral Scroll Bracelet Bars:

Lots of colors available! I sold out of a few already but am on my way to make some more today, so I will be restocking soon.

I am looking forward to seeing what you make with them!

Bike Ride Necklace in Bead Style Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:38:00 +0000

While I was at the Bead & Button Show, one of the editors of Bead Style Magazine surprised me in my booth with the return of my Bike Ride necklace and a copy of the newest issue of the magazine, which features it in the gallery. I had honestly forgotten about it, so it was a very welcome surprise!

This necklace uses my Bicycle pendant, which comes in several colors, and a few of my Wheelie Links, along with some very cool bottlecap beads from Trinket Foundry. I designed this necklace to remind me of riding my bike with my friends over the summers when I was a kid. We would often bike up to the corner store and get candy and New York Seltzers (do they still make those? I remember they were so good!) The bright colors remind me of my youth and the layers of gears and hardware give the necklace a bit more of a grown up feeling.

Bead & Button Show

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:01:00 +0000

I know I have been very quiet here on the blog for months now, but I wanted to post to reflect a little bit on my return from the annual craziness that is the Bead & Button Show. I had a booth again this year and traveled with my bead buddy Diane Hawkey, as I have for a few years now. For the last few years this show has become harder and harder on me, and Diane has always been so helpful in getting my spirits up and helping me through it. She is such a great friend and artist. But I finally made good on the threat I have been making that this is my last year doing the show. It's just too hard and my heart is not in it the way it used to be. It's a super fun show, don't get me wrong... I am looking forward to ATTENDING and shopping, maybe even next year. That will be a very different experience than vending at it, so I look forward to that.

The show was good for helping me clear out a lot of beads and pendants that I have discontinued. It also helped me focus on what I need to keep as part of my bead sales lineup and how to continue with both my bead business and my jewelry business. My plan continues to be to reduce the amount of beads that I stock on my retail site, vend at fewer bead shows (my plan is to just do my local Bead Bonanza shows right now), and focus more on wholesale to stores and trunk shows.

For all of you who I saw at the show and who shopped with me or dropped by to show your support and give me compliments... Thank You! I really appreciate it. I will try to keep up with the blog more and not be such a stranger. I am newly inspired now! yay!

Sale at Earthenwood Studio website

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:54:00 +0000

Just a reminder, in case you don't subscribe to my newsletter, I have added some fun new skull themed items to the website and am having a sale to celebrate the fresh new site design! Use the code NEWDESIGN at checkout until the end of the month for 20% off your entire purchase! Click here to go to Earthenwood Studio! Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

New work at Michigan Artisans!

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:54:00 +0000

I had a busy couple of weeks on my quest to branch out with my jewelry line and stock up some of the popular galleries and shops that I have been wanting to work with. Another place that you can now find my jewelry in the Detroit area is Michigan-Artisans, located in Detroit in the Historic Eastern Market in the old Germack Pistachio building at 1400 E. Fisher. It's a fun little shop filled with lots of Michigan made goodies. I saw lots of my artist friends' works there, which made me happy! I left them with a scattering of jewelry, heavier on the Michigan/Detroit/auto-industrial themed goods. I am curious to see how it sells there.

These are new, tiny car earrings. I think they are pretty fun! :) Vroom vroom! Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Retired Logo and Rusty Banner

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:32:00 +0000

In the process of editing and redesigning the Earthenwood website, I decided I need a fresh start when it comes to my logo. I have been using the one below for over 15 years. It's a great logo, and it has served me well and has been through many changes over the years. My ex-husband designed it all those years ago, which I must admit is part of the reason I would like to retire it. Over the years, I have changed the colors, worked with it in black and white, and twisted and turned it every way I could think. But that's a long time to look at one graphic, and my business is changing, so I feel the need to change my web style around more often too.

I made the new banner at the top to use for now. It might not stay for a long time, but its new and I like it. It feels fresher and cleaner, lighter and not as heavy handed. I held on so long to the old logo, feeling the need for brand recognition, but maybe the name Earthenwood itself is sufficient. Maybe even my work is recognizable enough without the branding.

My new site (at least at the moment) is mostly white! That's a huge departure for me. I love things that are earthy, dirty, clay covered, rusty. But I think designwise, I overdo it. So I kept it mostly white, put a subtle torn edge frame around all of the product photos, and added my rust into the banner. I used this photo for the background: it's from two huge pieces of rusted metal I found i my backyard a few years ago when tearing down the crazy Kludge fence. The metal is beautiful, rusty, textured, crusty. I toned it way down for the background of the banner, but I wanted it to be something from my life, not just a stock texture.

I am pleased with the site redesign for now. I still need to edit the pages, update my show schedule and links, and redo my About Me page. Its a slow process, but it is starting to feel like I have accomplished something and can move onto the next new things, which I have been researching while I edit the old. It's starting to feel like a fresh start, not letting go entirely of the old, but incorporating it into the new in a satisfying way.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Earthenwood Website Update Progress

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:08:00 +0000

I have been making progress in changing directions with my work to focus on wholesaling jewelry lately. While I am moving ahead and fine tuning my jewelry lines, I am also editing my bead and jewelry component lines. I am not ending that part of my business entirely... not at all. But I am definitely narrowing my focus with beads. My main goal right now is to take a good look at my Earthenwood website, take new photos of my best sellers, and make the site look better than ever and more efficient too. I am about a quarter of the way done with this time consuming process of photographing, editing, and reworking my product entries. Some of the items have never had very accurate pictures, like some of my best selling face stones, so it is good to be going through and getting everything cleaned up and complete. Maybe another snow day or two and I will get it all done!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

New Work at Yellow Door Art Market

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:31:00 +0000

Wow, it's been a really long time since I blogged! I guess the holidays took over my life and then I needed a month to recover. But here we are in early February and I am working on lots of changes in my art and career! My goal has been to focus more on my finished jewelry line and working with galleries and wholesaling. I am making lots of progress there, starting at the local level.

Just a few days ago, I set up at the awesome art market Yellow Door in Berkley, MI. I have loved this gallery, and it's sister stores Catching Fireflies, for many years and am very proud to be a part of it now. I signed up for an endcap space and got some new displays. My theme is rusty colors and gears with a little bit of filigree elegance. I think it pulls together the variety of jewelry items that I have on display. Yellow Door was the push I needed to change directions from my jewelry component business and start to plan for more galleries, so I am excited to get to work now! Hopefully I can stay motivated and begin blogging again... we'll see!

More New Work

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:04:00 +0000

Here are a few of the newest carvings I have done recently. They are studies really, sketches in clay. It's exciting to be playing and exploring new imagery, different clay, different surfaces. I have done test tiles and started a few vessels...mugs that I am really excited about. If I can finish up what I have in the studio this week successfully, I will be showing these pieces at Noel Night at CCS (the college where I graduated) this Saturday for an evening sale. I wanted to have this new work exclusively for the event, but have not been as productive as I had hoped (and also I have sold several pieces already... yay!) so I might have to augment with jewelry. Or decide to pass and stick to Rust Belt for the night. We'll see what the week brings...

"Cherry on Top" ~sold

"Caged Freedom" ~sold

"Contemplations on Service"

What's New?

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

I have been working larger lately. I switched to red stoneware, which is what I use to make my gift tiles. I started making some of my goddess tiles again, too, since I have the clay out. But what I really want is to work with new imagery, not from molds, so I am not repeating the same things over and over so they bore me. I want something more fresh, images and symbols I can explore, that can feed off of each other. I started with the tile format, drawing and lightly carving line drawings into slabs of clay. I did a few shallow little plates, but they seemed impractical for hanging. I did the two large bowls above, which I really enjoyed making, but as an end product, I am not sure how much I will like them, as they will not be functional bowls for eating upon. I am still not sure what format I like best, and I am bouncing between the tile (as it is just a simple blank canvas) and something more functional, to go back to my potter roots. I am even thinking that if I am going for the blank canvas route, why not just paint or draw on wood or other materials, and not bother with all the steps of ceramics. On the other hand, clay is what I know and love most, so if I follow that, perhaps I can explore a highly functional format, in the ceramic tradition, like the coffee/teacup. I have always loved cups and they are items that are easily understandable and easier to display and sell than less functional sculpture. This week's goal is to experiment with a cup or two, to see if that inspires me at all...

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Final Clearance Sale

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:27:00 +0000

I am making some good progress on my clearance sale. I have further discounted a couple dozen more items, which are now priced at wholesale until they are sold out. You can find the Final Clearance section here, if you want an opportunity to get some of these items before they are gone for good!
I am still thinking a lot about what I want to do instead of what I have been doing. It's probably a little backwards of me to close down one thing before knowing my direction for the next, but I think this is just how I have to do it. The timing is pretty good too, as I can give it a lot of thought during the holidays and work on reducing my inventory, so I can start fresh in the New Year. It's pretty scary, I feel like I am leaping without a safety net. But I am a creative, smart, and resourceful girl, I will figure it out... my friends keep reminding me of this. And I need to follow my passion, wherever that ends up taking me. I am so burned out at the moment, it is hard to see things clearly, but I have faith in myself that I will figure it out somehow, hopefully soon. Tomorrow I will share some new work with you... things I am experimenting with and enjoying. Out with the old, in with the new!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Some Halstead Bead Blog Love

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Check out the neat autumn colored, door themed necklace that my friends at Halstead Bead posted on their blog. I love the asymmetrical design and the use of the lock and key to tie in with the door theme creatied by the pendant. the repeating shapes and colors of the accent links really add some interest and detail to this warm and homey design. Check out the Halstead blog to see more creations and read about this piece.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Suburban Girl Spooky Earrings

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Check out these super cute and spooky zombie themed earrings that Diana of Suburban Girl Studios made using one of my green Zombie charms (available at Fusion Beads and Lima Beads) along with one of Joan Miller's creepy charms. I love that they are mismatched ... she did a really great job of balancing the colors and elements in the design... asymmetrical earrings are NOT easy to design! These are funky and fun. Happy Halloween everyone!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Wise Words of Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still.Henry David Thoreau

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Step One in Changes at Earthenwood Studio

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 21:51:00 +0000

I have made some decisions recently about my career that I am really excited about. My plan is to focus less on the beading supply end of my business and move more towards gift and jewelry markets, with a focus on wholesale. This is kind of a scary move, because I have been focused on beads and beaders for over 20 years in some form or other. But it feels right and it is making me excited about my work again. It is unlikely that I will leave beads entirely, especially while I am making the transition (I have a LOT to learn and research to make this change). I have had beads in publications for many years and I have a small collection of things that have always been best sellers, so I am going to pare down my offerings to just those. So the first step in this change is to start cutting down some of my bead catalog on my website and not restocking anymore. I made the first wave of cuts, marking things 25% (or more) off and making a CLEARANCE section. I hope you will check it out and help me with my clean-up process. I won't be making these items for the site anymore, so get them while they last! Thank you all so much for being so supportive in my beading career. I am sure I will have much more to blog about as I start making new work and discover new challenges and questions in this transition. I appreciate all your comments and support!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Whooo's my Bead Soup Winner?

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Congrats to Souls Fire Designs, who was the randomly chosen winner of the Owl Bundle set shown above from last week's Bead Soup Book Tour Giveaway! Thank you all for participating!
For those of you who didn't win but are interested in ordering your own owl pendant (or anything from the Earthenwood shop), I have a code for free shipping for you. Just enter code SOUPLOVE at checkout to receive this offer.

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Studio Tour Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:55:00 +0000

I am focusing on Halloween designs right on time this year... it usually takes me a little too long before the skulls and skeletons start coming out. But its October and I am thinking about pumpkins and stuff!

One of the things that gave ma a little jump start was contributing the prize above for the Art Bead Scene monthly design challenge. I am giving away this toggle, pumpkin charm, and Skully pendant set to the winner of the challenge. Check out this month's artwork inspired inspiration, the painting Revolving by Kurt Schwitters.

I also set up a whole Spooky section in my Etsy shop, to stock back up some of my older Halloween designs, so check that out, and keep checking back as I add more!

Check out what is happening in some of the studios of my beady friends this week:

A Bead A Day
It's time to get your Halloween jewelry and crafts rolling! Have you started yet?

About.com Jewelry Making
Have you been to the Jewelry Making Forum lately? It may be time to catch up.

Art Bead Scene
Brandi shows some color palette options for this month's Art Bead Scene inspiration artwork: Revolving by Kurt Schwitters

Beading Arts
Cyndi gets busy with some tools and materials from ImpressArt, the metal stamping company!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi is continuing to experiment with kumihimo and t-shirt yarn!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
The spooky season is upon us and Melanie is getting ready for Halloween with a free Skeleton Key Necklace project

Resin Crafts!
If you wonder what a fish skeleton looks like in hot red, pop on over to the blog this week to see the funniest necklace I have ever made!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading going on!
A review by Jean of the remarkable PUSH Jewelry, edited by Marthe Levan and curated by Arthur Hash--it's a modern museum collection in a book!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Anne Lichtenstein of Gardanne Beads gifted this amazing goodie bag of enamel and lampwork components to Andrew during a recent workshop!

Skeleton Key Necklace Project

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:41:00 +0000

ooh, it's my favorite holiday season this month... I absolutely love Halloween! My studio is filled with cool little skulls and spooky keys and creepy bones and other scary stuff! I made these adorable little skull links recently so I wanted to design a quick Gothy necklace with them, and I came up with this Skeleton Key design. I have kits available in my Etsy shop for a limited time. Here's how I made it:

1. Open one large jump ring and attach the frame, pewter skull, and bronze key to the bottom hole of the skull link. Use the extra large jump ring to attach the top of the skull link to the hole in the keyhole component.

2. String 1 newsprint bead onto an eyepin. Trim the wire down to about 1/4" and form a simple loop at the top of the bead using round nose pliers to make a bead link. Use 1 medium jump ring to attach the bead link to the loop in one side of the keyhole component. Use 1 medium jump ring to attach the top of the bead link to the pewter bone link. Repeat on the other side.

3. Cut 24" of cord. Fold in half at the center and thread through the bone link, pull through about an inch and open the loop. Thread the ends of the cord through the loop and pull tight to form a lark's head knot. Repeat this step on the other side.

4. Trim the cord to your desired necklace length. Place the two cord ends on one side together inside the cord crimp. Fold the ends of the crimp over and tighten the cord ends inside. Repeat on the other side. Attach the hook clasp to one cord end. Attach a medium jump ring and key charm onto the other cord end.
Materials:1 Earthenwood ceramic skull link1 keyhole component with multiple links2 bronze key charms1 gunmetal frame charm1 pewter sugar skull charm 2 accent beads (these are rolled paper) 2 gunmetal bone links48" of thin faux leather cording1 gunmetal hook clasp5 brass medium jump rings1 large gunmetal jump ring1 extra large gunmetal jump ring2 gunmetal eyepin 2 brass cord ends
Skeleton Key Necklace Kits available in my Etsy shop

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Bead Soup Book Blog Tour Stop

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:47:00 +0000

Welcome to my entry in the Bead Soup Book Blog Hop! I wanted to talk about my experience with Bead Soup and show you a sneak peek from the book. Above is my "soup mix" that was featured in the book. One of my Round Owl pendants, Lumber toggles, and four pumpkin accent beads were given to beadmaker and jewelry designer Jennifer Cameron. She made an amazing piece for the book called Cabin Fever, which used all of these elements along with her own handmade beads. I can tease you with a little peek here, but you gotta check out the book to see the whole thing!

Pretty cool, huh? Her beads are gorgeous! And they compliment mine nicely. I love how she used the pumpkins on their side like that, it's really innovative! That's the really fun thing about the Bead Soup book and blog project for me... seeing how others play with my beads and being surprised by the innovative ways they use them. I am a jewelry designer as well as a bead maker, so I use my own beads in my designs all the time, but its really great to see others use them in ways that I might not think of!

To celebrate Lori's Bead Soup book getting published, I am giving away one of my Nesting Owl bundles! Leave a comment here on this post and I will choose one random commenter to win this prize at the end of the Blog Tour on October 8th! Good Luck!

And make sure you check out the whole tour to see all the fun stories, reviews, and giveaways!

Monday, October 1st
Lori Anderson — http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Rebecca Anderson — http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Barbara Bechtel — http://secondsurf.com/wordpress/

Tuesday, October 2nd
Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Kerry Bogert – http://kabsconcepts.com/wp/
Melanie Brooks — http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cameron — http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 3rd
Lori Anderson – www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Diane Cook — www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com
Malin de Koning — www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Thursday, October 4th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Cassie Donlen — http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic — http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Nan Emmett — http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Lyn Foley – http://lynfoleyblog.com

Friday, October 5th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Brandi Hussey — http://www.brandigirlblog.com
Cindy Wimmer — www.SweetBeadStudio

Saturday, October 6th

Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Melissa Meman — http://www.melissameman.blogspot.com/
Stefanie Teufel — http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 7th

Sharon Palac — http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com
Heather Powers — http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz — http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Bead Soup Book Blog Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:55:00 +0000

I am very excited to be participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Book Blog Tour this week! All week long, some of my favorite bloggers will be posting about their experiences with the Bead Soup project and book and there will be lots of great prizes and giveaways! Check out the calendar of blog posts below and hop around to enter to win and read all about the fun we have all had with Lori and her amazing Bead Soup. All entries will be available for entering until October 8th. Stop back here tomorrow to see my post and giveaway!

Monday, October 1st
Lori Anderson — http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Rebecca Anderson — http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Barbara Bechtel — http://secondsurf.com/wordpress/

Tuesday, October 2nd
Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Kerry Bogert – http://kabsconcepts.com/wp/
Melanie Brooks — http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com
Jennifer Cameron — http://glassaddictions.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 3rd
Lori Anderson – www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Diane Cook — www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com
Malin de Koning — www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Thursday, October 4th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Cassie Donlen — http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic — http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Nan Emmett — http://www.spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
Lyn Foley – http://lynfoleyblog.com

Friday, October 5th

Lori Anderson — www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Brandi Hussey — http://www.brandigirlblog.com
Cindy Wimmer — www.SweetBeadStudio

Saturday, October 6th

Lori Anderson www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Melissa Meman — http://www.melissameman.blogspot.com/
Stefanie Teufel — http://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 7th

Sharon Palac — http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com
Heather Powers — http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz — http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Studio Tour Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 17:49:00 +0000

This week I spent some time writing down my goals and desires for my business. I have so many things going on that sometimes I get overwhelmed with all that I want to do. That leaves me spinning my wheels and not actually getting things done. And there is the perpetual problem I have of not having enough creative time. So I needed some organization. I wrote down the goals and the things I NEED to do and I broke that down into tasks which I broke down into days of the week. I think I have a plan of attack now, one that gives me some creative time. I find that in many aspects of my life, I really need structure to be able to function, as things start to feel too chaotic if I don't have some kind of structure and schedule to hold myself to. This is partially from being self employed, and partially my personality. I am feeling optimistic now, though, so this is good!
One of the things I really need to do more is to spend more time reconnecting with my website, etsy, blog, and social media. So I have scheduled a little bit of specific computer time for being all social and stuff on these here internets! One of the things I thought would be fun is to set up my Instagram to post to Facebook, in particular so I can show off all the fun creations that my customers at Rust Belt maket. If you think that's a fun idea and want to keep up with me, friend me on Instagram (I am earthenwood there) or you can always like my Facebook business page, where I will be posting more often soon. Here's what some of my fellow beady friends have going on in their studios this week:

A Bead A Day
Need a bead or finding at midnight? You might find what you need in a pinch at a 24 hour superstore!

About.com Jewelry Making
There is still plenty of time to make some Halloween jewelry.

Art Bead Scene
Heather shares some tips of the trade for jewelry designers who are interested in wholesaling.

Beading Arts
Cyndi believes that you can never have too many ideas for how to use your lampwork beads...

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows the results of the liquid clay slip application experiments she recently made.

Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi shows you how to glaze a feather with resin!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Bead Soup, the great book by Lori Anderson, has arrived! Enjoy this review about Lori's delicious concoction by jean!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares his latest win! Check out "Night of the Shaman" that top honors in Nina Design's most recent design challenge.

Birdie Branch Necklace Design

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:27:00 +0000

I designed this new quick and simple project using some of my favorite fall components, brass, and waxed cotton cording. I think it makes a fun and casual autumn necklace. This is my favorite kind of jewelry to just throw on when running around, doing errands, and hanging out with friends. It's comfortable and light with some artsy charm and a seasonal theme!

There are kits for the Birdie Branch Necklace available in several color choices in my Etsy shop.Also, for the rest of the weekend, I am having a 20% off sale both on Etsy and my website. Use the coupon code AUTUMN either place for your discount. Good until Monday, Oct 1st.
Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.

Clay Slip Experiments

noreply@blogger.com (melanie brooks) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Remember the experiments I did with liquid clay slip and the slabs that got a little too dry? These are the results of those experiments.

ooh I love that pewter one in the center! It looks just like metal. I really like the organic quality of these pieces. They are all very unique and the way the slip was applied and how the glaze flows over it makes each piece a one of a kind creation.

I will be listing them for sale in my Etsy shop here!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.