This post began with researching art beads, but then I found Humble Beads by Heather Powers. And I fell in love with this lady's beads. I know there are lots of beads out there in the marketplace, but I think these beads are exceptional.

The Colors
The interplay of colors speaks to my artsy side. And why wouldn't they? Many of them are inspired by impressionist paintings. The colors of the beads coordinate and complement each other beautifully.

Art Inspired Beads
Beads that take their inspiration from Heather's favorite painters and designers. All beads are handcrafted from polymer clay and buffed to a matte finish.


Monet's Garden Bead
Inspired by watery hues and brush strokes of Monet's water lily paintings. This bead can be made into a cuff bracelet or a pendant. Each one is a unique mini-masterpiece.

Cuff Beads
There are six horizontal holes the size of a standard head-pin in the bead pictured above. So you can string a strand of beads or whatever through the holes to make a cuff bracelet, like this:


Raspberry Cuff Bracelet
Bold cuff features a garnet, cream, & purple art bead with six strands of seed beads on memory wire. This cuff opens from the top to wrap around your wrist. The wire will never lose its shape. This design has been featured in Bead Style Magazine, Bead & Button's Beading Essentials, and on PBS' Beads, Baubles & Jewels.

Artist's Info
Heather Powers is an innovative bead and jewelry artist, creating art beads collected by bead enthusiasts all over the world. Her work has been featured on television, in magazines and books. Her mixed media jewelry designs are sold locally at art galleries and markets. Heather graduated from art school with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art & Design. She lives in San Antonio where she is a work-at-home mom, balancing business and family.


Van Gogh's Starry Night Disk Beads
Inspired by the colors and texture of Van Gogh's Starry Night painting. Stars of yellow and gold swirl around the midnight blue sky.

Heather also sells Jewelry Kits, for two of her most popular bracelets and a lariat necklace. Everything you need is included, so you can make your own masterpiece!

Absolutely gorgeous!

Heather is a very generous bead artist. Visit her Tips for Artists and Polymer Clay Bead Making Tips pages for lots of helpful information. I found these articles especially interesting:

Shell Bead Tutorial
Practice Makes Perfect
Translucent Clay
Stamped Beads

For additional information, visit the Art Bead Scene Blog