Meet Janice Abarbanel (Naftali)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Janice Abarbanel! Janice is the artist behind the Etsy shop called Naftali, which is filled with incredible polymer art beads and jewelry designs.

Janice creates mostly one of a kind beads in a style that is easily recognized as her signature. Her beads, which are made from polymer clay and paint, employ a crackling technique that adds visual interest and detail to each creation. She works out of her home studio so she can be at home for her two children (and her dog, Luca). Having left the corporate accounting world behind when she started her family, she attended school in the evenings that the Rhode Island School of Design to major in interior design. It wasn't long before she discovered that she was more interested in the arts. In 2003 she discovered polymer clay, and she was immediately smitten with the medium.

From Janice: "As an artist, I aspire to creating from a place of no preconceived notions and allowing whatever happens happen. That's when I have the most fun and the most success."

See more of Janice's work (which includes not only her signature polymer clay beads, but also bead crochet and metalwork) on her website, Crocheted Bracelets. Keep up with her on her blog, Exploring the Art of Polymer Clay. And, for pure eye candy, check out Janice's flickr photostream.

Want to see more of Janice's artistry? Here's a sampling from her Etsy shop, Naftali.

Meet Melody Murray (SalamanderHouse)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Melody Murray! Melody's Etsy shop is called SalamanderHouse. Yes, you read that correctly, but we've checked and there's not a salamander to be had! It's just the name Melody has chosen to give to her studio. Maybe if you ask her nicely, she'll tell you why she chose that particular name.

Melody works mostly with tiny seed beads, primarily in peyote stitch, and says that every piece she does represents many hours of intense concentration and love. That becomes immediately apparent when you view the detail and artistry in her work.

When asked to describe herself, Melody's response was, "Curmudgeonly idealist with limpid hazel eyes and lots of beads." Those of us who know her would have a hard time describing her as curmudgeonly (a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person). It's much easier to believe she's an idealist (a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, or goals). And we won't dispute the limpid hazel eyes and lots of beads.

If you'd like to read more about Melody and her bead artistry, check out the Salamander House Studio blog; and you can see photographs of her creations, both in progress and completed works, in Melody's flickr photostream.

After you've finished reading her blog and admiring her photos on flickr, be sure to check out Melody's Etsy shop. Here's just a sampling of the bead artistry you'll find there:

Meet Sarah Kelley (thebeadedlily)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Sarah Kelley! Sarah is the artist behind the Etsy shop called thebeadedlily, and the creator of eclectic jewelry for eclectic people.

Sarah describes herself as a self-taught southern gal with a needle, a pair of pliers and an intense love for art, beads and jewelry. She's been beading for almost 15 years but beadweaving for less than two years. Sarah loves to work with different materials, learn new techniques, and give free reign to her imagination. Her simpler items are as unique as the beads in them, so no two are exactly alike; and anything more complex is likely one of a kind.

From Sarah: "I believe that uniformity and conformity are overrated, that less is less, in the value of the unique, individual, ornamental and simple, and in the humanity of art."

Sarah doesn't have a website (yet!), but be sure to check out thebeadedlily blog and Sarah's flickr photostream.

Here's just a sampling of some of the beautiful work you can find in Sarah's Etsy shop, thebeadedlily:

Welcome to the Bead Art Originals Blog!

The first post in a new blog is always the most difficult. In this case, however, it's not difficult at all, as this first post will introduce you to a brand new Etsy team, Bead Art Originals, and its three founders: Carol Dean Sharpe (SandFibers), MaryLou Holvenstot (time2cre8), and Regina Jiron (BeadJewelryShopgirl).

Why a new team?
The Bead Art Originals (BAO) street team has been created to promote the art of its invited members. BAO includes both creators of art beads and creators of beadwoven art. The team's focus is on the business and artistic growth of its members through on and off-Etsy promotion of the team, its activities, and individual members' achievements.

Who are the founders of Bead Art Originals?

Carol Dean Sharpe, aka SandFibers
Before her life as SandFibers, Carol Dean was a student of rhetoric, teacher of English, professional writer/editor, and an environmental analyst. Now she spends her time creating and playing with beads. Her beaded jewelry and fabric bowls (and occasionally, Carol Dean herself) can be found at the Laughing at the Sun gallery in Mesilla, New Mexico. Her original beadweaving patterns have been featured in Step by Step Beads magazine.


MaryLou Holvenstot, aka time2cre8
MaryLou has spent a lifetime creating in her spare time, and after retiring from corporate life in late 2005 time2cre8 was born. Never satisfied with a single art form, MaryLou's creations include beadweaving, bead crochet, art (drawing), photography, knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, and stationery. With her builder husband, she's even helped to create a few houses. MaryLou's work hasn't been published... yet, but some of her creations are due to appear in a book being published by Lark Books and in Step by Step Beads magazine.


Regina Jiron, aka BeadJewelryShopgirl
Regina is a self-admitted compulsive beader. She finds creative satisfaction in crafting beadwoven pieces, stitching them into artistic treasures to adorn the body. Regina's jewelry has been featured in WickedlyChic.com, CraftRevolution.com, Belle Armoire and Step by Step Beads magazines. Her designs are also featured in 1000 Jewelry Inspirations (Quarry Books, June 2008).


Who are the members of Bead Art Originals? You can see the list of member shops in the sidebar, and over the course of the next few weeks you'll be introduced to each of these incredible artists. Stay tuned!