Featured in The Beading Glass

Leah Curtis of Beady Eyed Bunny is a talented jewellery artist. And she also is the creator and maker of a great and very professional monthly digital/online magazine about bead and jewellery artists. 

The Beading Glass

It's packed with inspiring things. And it's for free! How utterly generous.

The latest issue, features an article/interview about me among a lot of other stuff. All very inspiring. So head on over now and read and look. Below are just representation photos because I am so honored and proud.

Hope you enjoy!
Malin

Designer of the Week :-)

What a treat! Heather Powers has picked my necklace for this week's feature on Art Bead Scene. I am proud to say the least. 

She made that nice photo montage you see above. And she wrote so very nicely about my design:

"I love how Malin color blocked the beads, it leads the eye around the necklace like a little stroll through the French neighborhood in our inspiration painting.  The art beads/focals off to the side add interest and movement.  I love that while the design seems simple Malin managed to use three art beads paired with glass and stones that sets the necklace apart."

It's a bit funny with this necklace, and how the design happened. It was one of those times you know, when you afterwards really can't remember how it went as you were making it, or how you were thinking. It just worked out by itself ... coz it was obviously meant to be. It seems your body, limbs, fingers are moving all by themselves. And when it's finished and done, you take a step back and look at your creation sort of as for the first time. It's almost uncomfortable in a sense. Like you weren't there during the process. But at the same time it's a great feeling. Especially when you are pleased with the final result. And I must admit I really am with this necklace.

It's called "flow"I believe. When you enter that stage of out-of-your-body-feeling whilst in the middle of something. You completely loose sense of space and time. And when you "wake up" again, you notice you are super hungry, and really need the toilet. But you didn't know that for at least a couple of hours or so.

Anyway,
here's the link to my original post about this necklace.
Here's the link to the post on Designer of the Week on Art Bead Scene, ABS.
Here's the link to the Art Bead Scene, ABS flickr group.

All my best,
Malin

Featured - Barbara Lewis - Art Saves -

Check out CrescendoArt Saves today. Barbara Lewis of Painting With Fire is their guest curator for the whole week. Today she is linking to me and how you do when you tell your spouse off ;-) . Barbara has a wicked sense of humor ... And I love her for it.

Check out her whole week at Art Saves and her own blog too.

Hurry, go now!!!!

NOW!!!

:-)

Am I childish?

You should see my face right now. I look just stupid happy. Like a big child I can't hold back. I need to share with you and the world.

Some time ago I was contacted by Joanne Tinley of DaisyChainDesigns. She is a regular contributor to Beads & Beyond magazine of United Kingdom. Would I be interested in having my blog featured in the magazine? Well, what do you think I answered ...

I loooove what Joanne wrote about me! I did not involve myself, and I have not known what she would say, wanting it to be a surprise. Oh, I feel so honored! Thank you Joanne!

I knew the feature was gonna be in the January issue. But when would it be out in the shops? So today I was contacted by a lovely English lady by the name of Anna, who had received her copy today since she is a subscriber, and had found out about my blog via the feature. She then also kindly sent me the photo above. Isn't that just the kindest. I have to mention also that Anna runs an online bead shop by the name of Big Bead Little Bead. I've looked around. And hey, you do not want to miss it. And especially not the art beads section. I am definitely gonna roam around there soon.

And here's a little secret also, or not really actually ... I have sent off a few pieces to submit to a particular magazine today. 6 different pieces it was, to be more exact. That is way exciting for me. First time actually. I am really happy with them all, and I am kind of dying to show them to you, because I am so childlessly proud again. But you know, that is a no no, until I know if they are accepted. And if they are, until the magazine is published.

All my best,

Malin "de Childish" ;-)

My love affair with Art Bead Scene pt 1

Ooooohhhhh! Look! Another interview with me. This time on Art Bead Scene! I'm excited to say the least. Very honoured indeed. Thank you sooooo much Erin!

Art Bead Scene Blog: Meet the Designer :: Malin de Koning

Art Bead Scene has been an inspirational place for me ever since I first discovered them in early 2010. A leading star! I don't remember how I even came across them. Probably from searching for and about HumbleBeads or Heather Powers who I'd discovered on Etsy about a year earlier. I think it was one of the first times I was actually on Etsy, in late 2008, that I came across one of her Dandelion Beads, in a turquoise color she hasn't done for a while now.

At the time I had no idea of the concept of Art Beads, or of Bead Artists. I was looking for bargin deals and as cheap as possible beads, findings and components. Oh yes, I had not yet figured out some very important things about jewelry making. But I fell helplessly in love with these. I'd never seen anything like it. I mean just look at the picture. So I attempted to make a purchase. My first one ever on Etsy. Imagine that, me who wanted to pay no more than 10p per bead, was suddenly prepared to pay 8 dollars! Don't know why, but something screwed up so it didn't go through. I guess I didn't understand totally how to go about it, being a beginner and all. Then it must have sold to someone else very shortly after, coz I remember keeping coming back to Heathers shop ever so often to look if she put some new ones out for sale. And no, I didn't know of custom orders either yet. Otherwise I would of course have contacted Heather, but ...

Then in the summer of 2009 I went into a magazine shop here in Stockholm. I found a whole section of magazines on beading and jewelry. Bought a bunch. One of them was Beads 2009. And there I saw Heathers Turqoise bird. Ooooohhhhhhh! Instant love again! Same artist! Went to her Etsy shop to buy the bird instead. None there. :-( I kept coming back, but no luck. Then somehow I found out BelloModo was also selling Heathers beads. Voila! I made my purchase from them. And early 2010 or if it was late 2009 I had bough my first Art Bead.

That's what I thought anyway. But actually I had bought some other ones before, without even knowing they were art beads. By Maureen Thomas Designs, in May '09. At the time I had gotten a larger sum of sort of backtracked money, and I went a bit crazy with my bead shopping for a period. Building up quite a bit of my stash. But mostly still looking for cheap deals ... (if I'd only known then what I know now, but I gues you can only live and learn). These ones I couldn't resist though. I still have the necklace I made from them in my drawer. I never wear it, and I don't want to sell it either, so maybe it's time to take it apart and reuse the goodie goodie goodies. YUM!

Anyway, back to Art Bead Scene. In early 2010 I first came across the blog. And their challanges. Oh, there were beads one could win. Oh, there was a possibility to be featured. Oh, Heather Powers was one of the contributors. Oh, and Lorelei Eurto too (I will come back to her later). Oh, I really like what people are doing for the challenges. Oh, there is something called flickr too. Discoveries discoveries discoveries! Art Beads!?! What is that? Artisans!?! Learning, exploring, incorporating, expanding. A whole new universe had opened for me. Inspiration! WOW!

WOW!

So I dared! In March '10 I submitted my first piece to an Art Bead Scene Challenge. I was sooooo nervous. I had to open a flickr account. I had to add to the group. Name the piece and tag it correctly to be accepted. I even named the piece "Take A Chance" after a Magic Numbers song. And I wasn't refused! Happy happy happy!

So with my newly achieved confidence, I submitted a new piece again the next month. This was fuuuuuun! It is so great to interact with others. To get feedback, and to give feedback. But guess what happened?! Lorelei picked my piece for Designer of the Week! I was astounded! That was kind of never on my agenda to happen.

She said:

"That curved focal is what draws my eye into this piece, as well as the curved

lines in the Klee painting. I love the bright and happy colors Malin uses to emulate the painting. Bead placement is so great, and draws your eye around and around, so many interesting things to look at here!

Always a fan of mixed media, Malin throws in some soft silk too, and that

addition makes this divine!!"

(Or check here for the featured article on ABS).

So now I was definitely hooked. I had started my own blog in the beginning of 2010, and more people started to visit it regularly. I was in flow sort of. Art Beads, Art Beads and mooooore Art Beads! I just couldn't get enough. I still can't to be honest. Oh, how they make jewelry making fun and exciting. I am collaborating with people from all over the world when I make my pieces. I LOOOOOOOOOVE IT!

Now, I have so much more to tell you about how I feel about Art Bead Scene, Heather Powers, Lorelei Eurto and more things related. I think I will have to make that into a part two of this story.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Don't miss out on reading the interview with me on Art Bead Scene.

And here's a link to another interview with me on A Jewelry Accord.

Please come back soon!

Being featured is such an honor!

Thank you so much Erin and Lorelei for wanting to feature me on your blog A Jewelry Accord. I am truly honoured. And I am also excited like a little child. I wanna shout out to everyone: "See, see! They want to tell about me. ME!"

(Please go to their blog to read the article, this picture below is just a way for me to show off a bit :-))

Erin Siegel and Lorelei Eurto are the runners of the blog A Jewelry Accord. And if you didn't already know, they are quite well known in the jewelry world. Often seen in magazines and other public arenas. I personally get a lot of inspiration from both of them. They are currently working on a book which I believe will share name with the blog. The blog is a way to make it possible for people who are interested to stay updated on the work of the book, and also a way of promoting it of course. Erin and Lorelei are passionate about using fibers, cords and all sorts of textile elements in jewelry. And that's why they are writing the book. To explore the possibilities of these materials, to learn more, and to share their knowledge, new or old, with others who are equally excited (like my self for example). I believe this book will be a great source for inspiration and information.

The blog has recently expanded a bit, and they just started a series of designer portraits, where they will feature jewelry designers they find make interesting use of cord, leather and so on in their creations. So I am number two in this series. Last week you could read about Keirsten Giles, another favorite of mine.

Below is the collage they put together of some of my work.

So did I tell you that I am very honored?! And excited?! Well, I am. Thank you!

I wish you a all great weekend. And a great holiday if yours also start now, like it does for me and my family. I think I will keep making a lot of macrame for the nearest period. Simply because I am currently a bit hooked, and also I can sit basically anywhere doing it, I don't have to be inside in my studio on all these lovely summers days.

See ya!

I am featured on Art Bead Scene Blog: June Monthly Challenge Blog Tour

I can not enough underscore the importance of Art Bead Scene for my creative journey in jewelry making. So when I am featured on their blog I am always exceptionally proud and happy. And now it has happened again! Yihaaaaaa!

Go and check Erin's post and wrap up list that will take you on a very inspiring blog tour indeed, with a good bunch of participants for the challenge for June. I am honored to be one of them.

Here's the link to the blog tour post on Art Bead Scene.

Here's the link to my own post for my contribution.

All my best!