That Lucille Ball of Beading - Jean Campbell

She is just that crazy and reminds me of Lucille Ball. She's also one of the greatest beaders in the world.

One of my favorite beading books is Jeans's The Art of Beaded Beads, which illustrates so many different beaded beads to learn. I've recently finished a necklace and earring set from beading a bunch of her tetrahedron beads. I'll take a picture this weekend and add to this post.

She has soooo many wonderful pieces and different styles of beading that I'm not able to pick a favorite but I've added her Star of India Necklace below so I can show off her work...

This girl is a Wonder Woman, she has so many projects that should be taking up all of her waking moments, but she always makes time to reply to her many fans on Facebook.

She is also one of the authors of Interweave's Beading Daily site, a brilliant teacher, an author of a mess of art/beading books, you should see her Steampunk Style Jewelry book.



Irina Miech - Metal Clay/Wire Artist

I've of course been meaning to add a few new (to me) artists whose work I admire (more than admire really). Can you say LOVE IT!!!

I think I first saw Irina's work on the Bead & Button's Show site scrolling through the classes being offered.  I've taken art clay silver classes and love it. I have a whole fishing tackle box waiting for me to start some more pieces. I wonder how long the clay lasts ?

She has even added the latest steampunk fashion to many of her pieces, like the one in the picture above which came from Bead & Button's Show site, and that she will be teaching there this year.

Her wire work is also perfect.  Her blog is fantastic...http://eclecticabeads.blogspot.com

She and her husband sell her creations at their site...http://www.ecleticabeads.com

Diane Hyde - WOW!!!...

I always think the last gorgeous piece of beaded jewelry I saw was the greatest piece I've ever seen until I come across the next one. I think to myself..."that is the most beautiful piece and how could any piece be any more beautiful?". The next piece is always more beautiful than the last piece that I thought was so beautiful that nothing could be any more beautiful than it. Does that make sense to you? I hope you get my drift.

My latest finding is by Diane Hyde, and her neck piece "Tangled Up In Time" which placed first in the Crystal Jewelry category. You can find out more from her sites http://www.dianehyde.com.

Besides beautifying each piece with wonderful beads she'll add metal findings, a style we are calling steampunk to her pieces.