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: