Meet Amy Kinsch (AKDlampwork)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Amy Kinsch! Amy is the artist behind AKDlampwork, where you'll find beautiful lampwork beads that Amy says she creates in her "spare" time.

Amy's glass addiction began a few years ago when, after seeing her drool all over the pretty beads and gorgeous colors she found online, her husband Wally bought her a torch so she could make them herself.

A self-described animal lover, Amy lives in California surrounded by cats and lots of other critters. You can read all about Amy, Wally, their critters, and their business(es) on The Chatterbox.

In addition to managing her Etsy shop and making lampworked beads, Amy and Wally own a rubber stamp company called Beeswax.
Visit Amy's Etsy shop, AKDlampwork, to see more of her bead artistry.

After you've finished drooling over Amy's work, stop back here to wish her a happy birthday! It's only a couple of days away, but I'm sure she won't mind receiving an early greeting or two.

BAO Items of the Week (Aug 11 - 17)

It's Monday, which means it's time to announce the

Bead Art Originals Items of the Week!

Enjoy!




SalamanderHouse presents Beguiling Beadwoven Art Deco Miniature Oil Lamp

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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thebeadedlily presents hamunaptra cuff.

Receive a free pair of simplicity earrings when you purchase this.

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thejadedog presents Perpetual Darkness A Fringe Beaded Bead

Receive free first class shipping with delivery confirmation and a surprise gift when you purchase this.

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SmadarsTreasure presents Antique-Gold and Greens Bracelet

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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CieloDesign presents Sand Spiral Necklace

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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MAKUstudio presents Ring of Fire

Receive a free pair of matching earrings when you purchase this. Enter BAOIOTW in Notes to Seller.

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malodora presents Nudibranch Ornament - Wrist or Ankle

Receive a surprise gift when you purchase this.

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arosebyname presents Linked to the Sea Necklace

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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time2cre8 presents Limeade Orange Swirl - Peyote Beadwoven Bracelet

Receive a free matching triangle pendant when you purchase this.

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SandFibers presents Hot 3x3x3 Anything Goes Peyote Bracelet

Receive a free matching pendant when you purchase this.

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Naftali presents Snow Geese Pendant

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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Stay tuned for next week's BAO Items of the Week!

Meet Marianne Kasparian (MAKUstudio)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Marianne Kasparian! Mak (she said we could call her that) is the artist behind MAKUstudio; and she specializes in funky, down to earth, eclectic ceramic raku beads, pendants and jewelry.

Mak, who currently resides in Arizona, is of Armenian heritage and grew up on the East coast. Inspired by the cultures of the world, she loves anything down to earth, funky, and eclectic. Mak's work with clay began in the early 1980s, but it wasn't intil 2001 that she first fell in love with raku pottery. Her main focus has been on raku beads and pendants for her own jewelry creations and for creations by other jewelry designers. Mak says she's inspired when people love what she does and when one of her pieces evokes a feeling of inner peace and beauty for them.

When asked to tell us ten things that would give us more insight into her as an artist, Mak gave is this list. It's as varied as her raku pieces!

1. Genuinely kind and caring
2. A loving mom and wife
3. Funky, down to earth, eclectic
4. Armenian
5. I love a good party, the theatre and concerts
6. An ex bartender
7. I love sushi and green tea and I’m a coffee fiend
8. Love meeting cool people and hearing their stories
9. Drove across country by myself
10. I’ve lived in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, California, Hawaii and Arizona

You can see more of Mak's work on her personal website, www.MAKUstudio.com (where you can also sign up for her mailing list to receive word of special sales events. To get a look at more of her raku work, check out Mak's flickr photostream and her blog.

Last, but not least, here's a sampling of wares from the MAKUstudio Etsy shop:

BAO Items of the Week (Aug 4 - Aug 10)

Bead Art Originals is introducing a new feature: BAO Items of the Week.

Starting today, every Monday we will highlight a select group of creations by our Bead Art Originals members. Look closely: some of these have great offers associated with them!





arosebyname presents Moonlight and Shadows Necklace

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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CieloDesign presents Summer and Sun Necklace

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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MAKUstudio presents Avocado Pearl...Raku Pendant...Raku Jewelry

Receive a free pair of earrings when you purchase this and mention the BAO blog in the Notes to Seller.

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MistyRidgeBeads presents Sapphire Blue Bracelet with Dichroic Bead Embellishment

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Naftali presents Aztec Two Step

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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SalamanderHouse presents Poseidon's Deep

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SandFibers presents Art Deco Cuff: Purple Medallions on Copper

Receive a free matching pendant when you purchase this.

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SmadarsTreasure presents Natural Stones, Quartz Bead and Beadwoven Necklace

Receive free shipping when you purchase this.

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thebeadedlily presents Ocean of Storms Cuff

Receive a free pair of handformed sterling hoops when you purchase this.

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time2cre8 presents Yellow Windowleaf - Peyote Beadwoven Bracelet / Cuff

Receive a free matching pendant ($24 value) when you purchase this.

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Triz presents Purple Graces

Receive free registered shipping to anywhere in the world when you purchase over $100 and mention BAO in the Notes to Seller.

Stay tuned for next week's BAO Items of the Week!

Meet Lisa Peters (LisaPetersArt)

Bead Art Originals welcomes Lisa Peters! Lisa's Etsy shop is called LisaPetersArt, and within its virtual walls you will find handmade ceramic buttons, beads, pendants and tiles, primarily using the Raku method of firing.

Lisa's works are made from several different clay bodies, such as stoneware and porcelain, and fired using a variety of methods. Formed by hand, all pieces she creates are unique and have been described as sophisticated with a somewhat primitive or earthy feel. A multimedia artist with a BFA from The School of Visual Arts in NYC, Lisa began her artistic career as a commercial still life and editorial photographer. After years of feeling the tug of using more diverse mediums, Lisa experimented until she found clay.

When asked for a ten-word description of herself, Lisa's response was, "Indescribable - It changes every day."

Visit the Lisa Peters Art website and her flickr photostream to see examples of Lisa's work. You can see a sampling of her work in Lisa's Etsy shop.