Garden Patina - Inspirations

I've been spending a few hours this week playing with some new ideas and styles inspired by my trend research.  Loving metallic accents, patina and geometric shapes like daggers, triangles and coins. 

Here is another version on my ginkgo, I'm slightly obsessed with them for some odd reason.  I think I like the art nouveau feel of them.

I'm finding this shape incredibly inspiring and plan on working up an earring tutorial for the Bead Cruise program booklet - you'll be able to see that at the end of March when I get back from the cruise.  

I'm dreaming of old weathered garden gates, the patina on aged copper, walking in warm places and feeling a connection to the past.  Yep, that's all wrapped up into my beads this week.  It's been a long time since I've just played with clay and made one-of-a-kind pieces.  Some of these beads may become part of my regular line, but getting a handle on the patina to make it do what I want every time is a little tricky.  So enjoy them while they are around!

This is a tutorial I did for the Art Bead Scene a few years ago, I could see it in copper and patina to match these beads!  Hmm, I may have to give that a try.  Click here for the tutorial. 

The whole collection went in my Etsy shop today.  Stop on by to see what's left, they are already flying out the door!