I named this necklace Vintage Candy because when I saw what the muse was I immediately knew I was going to make a spiral. I started experimenting with different crystals,pearls,and seed beads that when I finally found one I loved and looked awesome with the butterfly it reminded people of rock candy they used to get when they were kids back in the 50's and 60's. I wanted to use the butterfly as the clasp but I wanted it to be in the front and I love having clasps or stones off to one side. Its absoutely stunning!

The autumn colors made me think how I will turn fifty next year and that made me reflect upon how my life has not turned out exactly how I expected. My beading is like that sometimes too, so I wanted to make this project a challenge, like my life has been. The bead embroidery, beaded flowers, and the painted fabric were all firsts for me. In fact, I had never before trimmed a hat, but now that I have I guess the Red Hat Society better get ready because I might just start beading red hats next!

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

Deep in woods there's nary a sound, Even tho' flora and fauna abound. Right in the center's a magnificent tree, With arms to the heavens and roots to the sea. Is this the home of a gigantic bear? A family of elves who haven't a care? Or maybe a herd of deer with tails white, who sleep by day and forage at night. No. This is the home of lovely winged creatures, with multiple colors and multiple features, Who quietly flit from here and from there, while sun drops set their colors aflare. This is the place that I long to be, Dreamily sitting by the Butterfly Tree.

See my entry for USE THE MUSE II

I just started beading in June, so this piece represents both the butterfly and me! My summer was spent taking classes, and I've discovered I am simply crazy about beading! When I saw the muse and the components it made me think of a class for caterpillar bracelets. The bracelet combines peyote stitch, straight stringing, and attaching little bobbles to make it into "sort of" a caterpillar! I used my own Czech hex beads for the peyote. The clasp is under the muse, so going all around your wrist is the life progression of a butterfly. Hence, metamorphosis!

This kit just screamed asymmetrical and I've never created an asymmetrical piece in my life. I love the fall colors and added a Swarovski crystal that I had from my stash with some dangles of other Swarovskis and copper leaves throughout. The copper butterfly is positioned halfway up the side to draw the eye up. The spiral stitched strap combines copper beads, triangles and the seed beads with a clasp positioned at the dangle in the front as an accent to the entire design. The name is a reference to a park I loved to walk through in the fall.

W Jewelry Designs Blog

The jagged purple mountain ranges, crystal blue lakes and streams, dense green forests, and the beautiful changing golden colors of the aspen groves are forever etched in my treasured Montana memories. The colorful array of seed beads and Swarovski crystals represent the rich gem and mineral deposits and scenic beauty of the “Treasure State.” To represent Montana’s treasures, I wired two copper nuggets to the backside of the butterfly muse. I laced copper wire with richly colored Swarovski crystals and copper beads to enhance the transformed copper nugget pendant. The butterfly’s antenna serves as the bale for the copper pendant.

The muse and the color palette had me thinking of what a forest fairy might wear to celebrate the coming of fall. I used a branch from my yard to support the beaded fringe and made polymer leaves to match the oranges and yellows of changing leaves. I used leather for the neck strap and copper wire to secure it. The beads that secure the neck strap are polymer clay, as well. I'm a stringer, not a bead weaver, so working with seed beads was new. I even tried a little basic peyote stitch to fill out some of the fringe. I had fun with this project and have been inspired to try out different bead weaving techniques.

This piece was inspired by a granddaughter, who used to tell me, “Grammy, use your ‘magination.” I have been creating with copper wire and components for some months now. I decided to design a coiled support structure for the muse and then to create the Swarovski diamonds as a sparkling contrast to the copper. Another granddaughter and I found the cloudy orange lampwork beads at a bead show. The dangles behind the muse, of crystals and Delicas, add some depth, movement and tinkling sounds against the muse when it moves. Simply elegant, I will wear this with jeans on Thanksgiving.

I created a beautiful beaded habitat for the Muse. To achieve this goal it was imperative that I kept the design as free flowing, light and organic as possible. The Muse’s home consists of St Petersburg stitch leaves with crystal berries, twigs and vines. Copper Crystal Swarovski modular beads, dotted with crystal pearls, form the centrepiece symbolising the eternal, circular aspect of nature. The symmetrical structure of the necklace is softened by the organic inspired elements. The end result is a visually pleasing, wearable necklace that celebrates the beauty of nature yet has enough sparkle to be considered evening wear.

Chantel's Main Gallery Page

My eldest niece loved butterflies when she was little. We would search high and low for butterfly themed gifts for her. My younger brother, a talented artist, made her a framed colored pencil drawing of a butterfly resting on a flower. Jo-Ann is now a gorgeous young woman in her third year of college. She still has that framed picture from her uncle in her room. My family, their talent, their gifts, their love, is my muse. Here is my version of that picture in the form of a broach made completely with components from the kit except the pin closure on the reverse side.

thelaughingmoonnyc

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

Here in New England, we’re experiencing Indian Summer – the leaves have turned and have even fallen to the ground. But the air is warm and there are critters still buzzing about, happy to have a few more weeks to prepare for winter. As I was making this piece, I found some glass leaves to add to my collection of copper – I was thinking that this piece could be worn by the Indian Summer Fairy. It’s the perfect time for my daughter and me to gather a few more acorn caps and leaves for the fairy houses in our yard.

Bead Chaos

My first glimpse of the Muse III bead selection envisioned falls’ transition. I started with the green pearls to represent the orderly, harmonious green hues of summer bursting into the copper chaos of fall. The butterfly is caught in the seasonal transition and juxtaposed on swirling discs outlined in traditional seed beads. The fall color palette bursts with striking Swarovski Crystals and other beads, moving into a red sunset catching a late spider web. The season wraps up with leaves gently spirally to the ground. Thanks for the opportunity to visually portray the Sassiness of Fall.

When I first found out that crystal-encrusted copper yarn was included in the kit, I knew I wanted to include a section of kumihimo (the art of Japanese braiding). I didn't want it to be the whole necklace, so I decided to do a collage of beads attached to the kumihimo section. The end result is "The Dance of the Butterfly".

Like a moth to the flame I'm drawn to beads. Especially seedbeads. When I first saw the Muse, it reminded me more of a moth than a butterfly and the title of the piece came to my mind before everything else. I had this beautiful fire crab agate cabochon in my stash and used it to symbolize the flame. The flame that burns in me and in every beader around the world. Bead embroidery is one of my favourite techniques and I just learnt how to include cabochons in my work. And here is my UTM III entry! Enjoy!

Kokopelli Design

Yellow and red leaves floating down carpeting the grass with vibrant splashes of colors. Among the plethora of colors flies a Fire Moth, floating upon the Autumn sunbeams. Beaded doll form made into a wearable brooch.

Dot's blog

It was the first day of Autumn and hotter than heck here in California as I stepped out to meet the post man I noticed one lone Butterfly fluttering around. To my suprise The Muse lll arrived that day too and The Muse was a Butterfly! I had the name for my piece even before I began any Bead work. As with any challenge that has a kit, I try to use at least some of every bead or component. I can truly say that almost everything in the kit was used. The Last Flower with a Rivoli center is connected to the clasp. The strap is a modified Peyote St, that is off set with a ring of 3 Rivoli's at each end. A multitude of fringe connect the two halves, and the Muse swings freely. The Challenge was there, and I let the beads talk to me. It just seemed to evolve. I thank the last butterfly for the inspiration.

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

When I opened the kit, my first thought was I have to put the butterfly on a flower. I wanted to do a large peyote flower by increasing in the round. Then I saw the red adventurine donut. I used peyote, RAW and netting to bezel the donut, rivoli’s and the sun. Butterflies mean transition among other things. This piece was a transition for me in designing it. I used most of the copper beads and the rings. I used the 15 copper beads and added 11 of my own. See my blog for information on the sun.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

When I received the lovely muse, I looked up butterfly habitats, and discovered that one plant that butterflies like is the Coreopsis. I bead embroidered a variety called Gold Nugget, and strung a pearl vine to which the butterfly is attached to the plant. I then put a pin back on the piece so it can be worn as a brooch.

Susan's bead blog

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

Watching the copper colored butterflies flit around the grasses in the garden landing on the individual stalks gave me this idea for using the little muse,I wanted it to appear to dance among the different grasses each strand is a different grass and behind the floating butterfly lies a hidden magnetic clasp which gives the piece a seamless look.

With the gorgeous autumn tones and the colour of the copper butterfly I wanted to keep it simple letting the sparkle of the beads speak for themselves and the Muse to stand out. I only added some bronze seed beads in the peyote band. I chose a hand flower design because they are an elegant jewellery piece and each bead and technique is on display.

As soon as I set eyes on the Muse, I thought of 'Autumn' because of the colour and 'Garden' because of the butterfly. So I was inspired to design a necklace symbolising a wild garden of beaded hedgerows and scattered copper coloured leaves - a garden abandoned to nature turning to winter with its earthy hues and warm golden, amber tones. It is representational of my garden here in England - and even though there are no butterflies in sight, the butterfly in this piece symbolises the glowing beauty of the changing season.

Use the Muse III

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

I am inspired by the transformative meaning butterflies, but wondered how to capture that feeling in the work. A simple fold and the RAW net that once intended to capture the Muse instead created a repetition of the Muse with a playful feel. African Helix, peyote, and pearl knotting finish off the stitches. Recently we let our 16 year old soulmate ButchPoodle go. This piece is filled with the love ButchPoodle gave us through the years. I hope she has completed her transformation and is playing in poodle heaven now, young, bouncing and healthy again.

What a lovely butterfly! She needed a vibrant garden to play in, but the colors in the kit spoke autumn rather than spring or summer. And the inspiration in my little corner of the world drew me even further into an autumn frame of mind. So I decided to create a beaded garden for her to enjoy before the harshness of winter forces her into her cocoon. This little garden is made using peyote, ndebele, and freeform beadweaving techniques. The closure at the back of the piece reveals a snap underneath the maple leaf connecting the two copper rings.

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

This muse didn't speak to me for quite a while. There she sat, looking sad and lonely among a collection of beautiful beads. So I decided to weave her a friend out of seed beads, crystals, glass beads, and pearls. Reinforced by multiple layers of seed beads, this beadwoven butterfly maintains its own rigidity and form. I placed both friends on a branch of wirewoven French beaded leaves, and surrounded them by drops of color to create this whimsical brooch. This piece can also be used as a closure for a winter cloak or a fastener for a warm scarf.

See more of Cindy's beadwork at her website, www.beadorigami.com

Autumn in Japan was my Muse. I tried to incorporate a japanese technique "Kumihumo" to represent the limbs of a tree and the beads to represent the last flowers of the year and the vines and remaining green leaves. It was a challenge for me to use techniques I had never tried before. As a new beader I really enjoyed this project.

When I opened the box to the muse, I was pleasantly surprised to find the muse in shades of my favorite time of year...fall! Living in Arizona, I miss this time of leaves falling, festivals, pumpkin farms and wagon rides. Being from the midwest, this is a hard time to be away from home. I decided to draw out all the colors from the muse using various shades of orange, greens, copper, and rust. I also went "out of the box" and did a piece asymmetrical, something I don't normally do. The left side is strung with an extra woven strand going through it, while the right side is a double strand of DNA spiral. When I couldn't find cones to fit, I made them out of right angle weave and they worked beautifully! The muse compliments the piece with dangling crystals and butterflies. Just wearing this piece holds all my memories close to my heart.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

The colors in the kit inspired me as much as the Muse. I started by working the pearls, larger crystals, and copper links from the kit into a silver chain that was a souvenir from Ravenna, Italy. The heavier, solid copper chain gave the piece the substance required for a belt. The third chain - copper circles, silver ovals, more pearls and crystals - balances the design. Round copper links that match the copper ovals make the belt adjustable. The Muse adds a touch of personal style, for me as a designer, and for the person who wears it.

We had an early frost in Colorado and I noticed how some flowers, while still blooming, had dried in place next to others whose leaves were changing to browns and oranges and dropping. I approached the piece with this change in mind - a blooming plant (which houses the magnetic clasp in its stem) is connected to its fall transformation (a peyote covered stick) via branches and roots. The butterfly, a symbol of metamorphosis, alights on the stick, preparing for its next transformation.

The copper color of the Muse is a richer version of my hair color, and I surprisingly have never made something beaded for my long hair. Butterflies belong amidst flowers, so I made some flowers, and settled the Muse on the largest bloom. The flowers are constructed using peyote, brick, herringbone, and netting stitches. Except for the yarn, I used all of the components provided in the kit. All of the completed elements are mounted onto a large barrette that works wonderfully in my hair.

Dulcey Heller

I didn’t see the Muse yet when I already decided the name of my piece "Indian Summer”. The content of the Kit reminded me the most colourful period of the autumn. I used the content of the Kit and I added some seed and glass beads and the Rivolies from my own set. The pale yellow glass beads like the autumn sunshine, the extra seed beads like the colours of falling leaves.

Ilona's blog

Fey : Having or displaying an otherworldly, magical, or fairylike aspect or quality: created for my daughter Faye. I used some of everything from the kit, added some more seed beads and some copper daisies, a little ribbon and a lot of love.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

A soon as I saw The Muse, I realised she needed a garden to play in so I set out to provide plenty of flowers with which to amuse the Muse. Czech flowers and leaves, freshwater pearls, swarovski pearls and Toho seed beads come together to create "A Musing Garden".

Inspiration hit when I remembered a story about a butterfly that landed on a gentleman and stayed for a few hours. My imagination led to the use of techniques I didn’t expect to use – hammering and shaping wire, sewing with silk ribbon and beads, filigree base embellishment. So here it is, a necklace of a butterfly that’s landed on the shoulder of a lady holding fall flowers. Many consider a butterfly landing to be good luck that will bring good fortune. I think one would be lucky indeed to experience something so special.

Autumn Monarch necklace is a delectable confection of yummy fall colors. It consists of beaded beads, copper beads, pearls with filigree bead caps. Each beaded bead is uniquely shaped in all ranges of fall colors. I used right angle weave to create these beads and then embellished them with copper pringles, crystals, pearls and seed beads.

Please visit Aasia's wesite for more jewelry items.

Rebirth ~ the butterfly is the renewed life given to a chrysalis after completion of its transformation stage. Wings expand as life blood is pumped into them. A little warming from the sun and it flies off into its new world. Gazing upon the Muse I saw it dancing on invisible tufts of air, making its way happily through life. The copper advises the Autumn of life approaching, yet the Muse escapes capture and brings joy. My Mother passed in February 2009 and the Muse reminds me it is but another phase of my life with beauty and joy waiting.

When I received the packet of beads I just knew that the butterfly needed to fly free. It needed flowers and I love the fringe that sets it all off.I used netting, embroidery and love to do this piece up. I have been beading about 25 years and I am addicted. I could feel fairies around me urging me on what to do as I worked on this piece. Thanks for the opportunity to stretch my imagination!!

The piece reflects my thoughts about a close friend who is coming to the end of her journey against cancer. She is fluttering above the flowers of her life in the autumn of that life looking toward the stars. Techniques include bead crochet, peyote and embellishment.

The muse instantly inspired the imagine of her flitting amongst blossoms in an aumtumn toned garden. The colours felt welcoming and warm, inviting the muse to stay a while, and she did, helping me create a piece fit to grace any lady. I used herringbone weave & peyote stitch to create a base of three stars, which I joined together. I stitched each flower petal individually and attached to the base, then embellished with the copper bead cap, crystals & 15s. The chain is St Petersburg, a new stitch for me. I love the way this stitch drapes around the neck.

Although Autumn is generally thought to be the death of the life and beauty of summer, it's also a time of new beginnings-on the Hebrew calendar it's a new year. Using Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls,copper findings, shell leaves & beads, I've created a resting place for this newborn butterfly before his new year's journey. Adding iridescent enhancement to the muse, I built my piece with various threading techniques, following the path that Autumn Genesis led me on until complete. The strand of Swarovski cord meandering through Autumn Genesis was braided with other iridescent threads for sparkle and life.

Capri's New Site of Artwork

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

A definite hippie-60's/70's vibe. I have used a large square polymer clay art bead of my own design to help expand the butterfly inspiration. 5 round polymer beads drop below the square art bead to frame the square. Lastly, I used to bronzy polymer impressed focal beads to help establish some weight and balance.

I was initially inspired by the fall colors in the kit & when I saw the muse I wanted to find a way to incorporate the beauty of autumn with the precious transformations of Spring. I began to weave some of the crystals and out came a beautiful body suit for the Butterfly. I made some critter friends to acompany the MUSE and added my own folliage creations, berries, and finished it off with four copper plated natural leaves and crystal flower links.

Visit my Jewelry web-store!

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

This piece came from a need to escape into a fantasy/earthy/Medieval garden. There are stones to remind one of dirt or moss, a stone that turns from pinkish to green to brown, (much like the phases of a flower or the seasons), and there is the coppery butterfly appearing with green pearl-like eyes that look into our soul in a bit of an unsettling way – all of which take our attentions away from all of the tragic events of life... of which there has been too many of late in our community. Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this contest. It was quite cathartic for me. Almost as much as being in a magic garden...

I enjoyed working with this butterfly piece. I love the earthy colors in the kit and the rustic look of the copper. The muse seemed to be most at home in a natural environment. That is why I wanted to include natural materials such as leather and wood. I chose glass leaves and created acorns from the crystals and bead caps. I chose a copper chain with geometric shapes and angular patterns to emphasis the angular pattern of the muse. I placed the muse center and intertwined in the necklace to represent a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.

This necklace seemed to design itself. When I first saw the Muse, my mind registered the colour copper. Upon playing with the Muse over time, my eyes saw it as more rose gold. It had transformed itself right in front of me! So I ran with that theme, of which the butterfly is so appropriately symbolic. The strand starts off with the warm golds of late summer, moves through brown/rose tones until it reaches a warm topaz by the other end. The cloisonne beads I had on hand seemed to be a pre-ordained fit!

I initially didn't intend to enter the contest. The bead colors were so inspirational, I ordered the kit just for the beads. However, when I saw that the muse was one of my favorite designer's beautiful handmade butterflies, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I am a metal clay artist and had just recently started to work with copper clay. The butterfly whispered in my ear and asked to be a cuff bracelet. The copper cuff was fired three times then wire wrapped using the beads from the kit.

The muse dictated the predominantly copper color pallet for this amulet bag. The crystals, green pearls and copper nugget beads from the kit are used in the fringe. To emphasize the metallic finish and colors of the muse I crafted a three dimensional flower out of twisted fine copper wire. The butterfly appears to alight on the flower and they are set on a background of copper beads. The bag is edged with circular peyote tubing. The strap combines a gold tone chain with a strand of mixed metal seed beads and a strand of cranberry metallic cube beads.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

In the piece New Beginning, I made a caterpillar with the copper rondelles and small yellow crystals, and a cocoon with beaded wire wrapped in a coil on the lower strand. Then you follow the bronze crystals up to the butterfly. The two strands have been strung to hang asymmetrically. I chose the title to reflect how I feel about my life right now. The muse showed up just when I needed it to. Karma?

When I first saw the kit online, with the warm autumn colors, I thought of falling leaves. When I received my kit, and found the muse to be a beautiful butterfly, I needed to make those once fallen leaves, into a blooming floral. Using a combination of stitches including Peyote, Ndebele / Herringbone, Russian Leaf, and Embellishing. From the climbing vine, to the accenting acorns, to the bold floral center. This piece has nature woven through out. Thank You Scarlett for this opportunity. Enjoy!

GASP! I didn't like the Muse! Then the right beads fell into my hands like magic. The piece seemed to assemble itself as I kept remembering things taught to me by various excellent beading teachers over the past three years. Now Odyssey is among my favorites. I hope my teachers are pleased with my progress. I am posting a free pattern for Odyssey on my website, because I like to share this experience. This was so much fun! Thank you, Scarlett, for pushing me out of my comfort zone!

Free pattern for this bracelet.

I loved the kit and succeed in using everything. I wire wrapped the muse onto a Jade donut with copper wire and lots of fringe. For the main necklace I decided to make a peyote strip with the triangle beads and 11’s, a spiral variation with the pearls and 15’s and a crocheted copper wire with crystals and other beads in the kit. Now here comes the fun, I braided all three strands together for just the right effect. I added a beaded crystal butterfly so the muse wouldn’t be lonely. My grandson Jack thinks it is beautiful.

Linda's website and kits

Opening the kit, it was clear "transformation" would be my theme. Green leaves of summer transform to fiery colors just like this green caterpillar eventually becomes the fiery butterfly. Kambaba Jasper's patterns echo butterfly wings, and the shapes readily become caterpillar segments. Adding to the metaphor, the coral crystals don't just resemble the color and shape of the Muse's wings, but also look like legs! The chrysalis appears via cone shapes, but mainly with the bead near the top. It's painted to match the Muse, "cocooned" in copper, which rests on a leaf I've accented with green to offset it.

More of Leslie's work on Etsy

"Butterflies instead" :: Song by K's Choice. This song was my inspiration. When I make jewelry I usually start with creating small elements, which I connect to make a piece. I used the entire kit to make the 5 different elements, including a totally freeform beaded bead. Then I got stuck... After 5 days I came up with the leather centerpiece, stamped with the words from the song, adorned with the Swarovski-yarn. I connected all the loose elements with flowerlike connectors and copper rings, used leather straps for a tieback closure and called it a day. I had so much fun!!

Kusz Jewelry & More...

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

I lost my Mom this year and butterflies were one of her favorite things. So when the kit arrived and the butterfly was the muse I knew I would be compelled to participate fully. I pulled her favorite aqua colors and complemented them with the copper of the must. I chose the freedom of 'freeform' peyote to set off the lightness of the butterflies flight.

Marcia DeCoster's Site

Butterflies are friendly insects, but they are not the only ones. Bumblebees and dragonflies share our admiration. I used various wire wrapping techniques. Please note the realistic detail of the dragonfly. I made peyote beads and used wrapped loops throughout the design. I used the two oval rings to make a toggle clasp. I felt that the purity of the piece depended on my not introducing beads from my collection, but using only those provided with the muse. Notice the thread for the tassel. The only elements I added were wire, thread and creativity. The whole piece measures 30 inches.

Expert Costume Designer

A small bead embroidered pouch, this is dedicated to a special youngster experiencing a profound change in his life much like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. It was inspired by the amulet bag project found in “Beaded Embellishment” by Amy C. Clarke & Robin Atkins. It measures just over 3 inches tall not including the fringe and includes fresh water pearls, vintage sequins and various seed beads added to the contents of the kit. The base is a beautiful batik fabric and is fully lined with soft gold Ultrasuede. The beaded necklace chain measures 25 inches.

GraceBeading

See my entry from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

The Swarovski yarn was the main driver for my piece. As I had not tried macrame I thought I would do so and incorporate different strands to provide the texture that would be seen by an adventurous butterfly.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

I wanted my necklace to have a sense of movement and sparkle while carrying out the copper theme. The butterfly is linked to swing freely in front of a green stone donut wrapped with copper wire. The crystals and pearls were made into dangles using varied combinations of copper bead caps, head pins and handmade wire spirals. For the body of the necklace I made short lengths of Byzantine chain, and linked them with larger jump rings adorned with dangles. A few additional dangles hang below the butterfly focal for extra sparkle and swing.

Welcome to my ‘Rainforest Hideaway’ –a secret oasis for the beautiful butterfly (the ‘Muse’), many other rainforest creatures, and rich plant life. See how many you can find ;-) My first thought on opening the kit was to create a polymer clay & crystal miniature world for the copper Muse – along with many other materials – gems, beads, pearls, & copper wire the Rainforest Hideaway has become an epic adventure. I began with a fairly simple pendant of leaves and a flower for just the Muse but this soon expanded to become a complex multi-component neckpiece full of colour and joy. What fun!! Much of my polymer clay sculpture work has been inspired by the artwork of Christi Friesen – cforiginals.com

Flying Into The Unknown Necklace. LIfe is always changing. The butterfly component in the Use the Muse project kit came at a perfect time for me. I am flying into the unknown as my life is once again changing. No fear, just going for it allows me to bloom in unexpected ways. The spiral represents the path inward. The butterfly is freedom and the flowers are representative of blooming when fear is tossed aside and change is embraced.

Jeannette Cook of Beady Eyed WomenTM Workshops, Kits, Beads, Books

As part of my annual trip to the Renaissance Festival, I was inspired to create this diadem that was reminiscent of the mythical stories of fairies and elves. The piece was inspired by the drawings of Linda Ravenscroft with an emphasis on the muse and the design representative of the comma butterfly habitat. I used nearly everything in the kit with some elements, like the feathers, taken from my stash. I wanted it to be a spirited piece that I could wear with my fairy outfit. (I’m still young at heart and want to have fun!)

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

The thicker, longer centre chains represent a trees trunk, the outer copper chains its bare branches. Seed-bead & pearl fringe hint at the last leaves, turning colour before they too fall. Crystal bicones linger on the bare branches like dewdrops in the morning. Camouflaged, but glorious, a butterfly catches the first light of the morning, ready for a brand new day. Other items include soft flex beading wire, bead thread, copper beads & findings including stamped flat diamonds, lobster clasp, extension chain, and split rings. I handmade the copper wire headpins.

Maxine's website

The inspiration of this beaded, wire worked cuff came from my backyard. We plant our garden and slope with butterfly friendly plants and flowers. In Southern California, butterflies still flitter during the Fall, but are harder to see because their colors tend to be muted. Occasionally, they can be spied resting on foliage, and appear to be “hidden”. The gorgeous color palette of the beads and the Muse instantly took me into the back yard of my mind, and the idea began to churn. Copper is always my wire of choice. I love the warmth of its color.

Visit with Kat

I’ve been enjoying working with copper recently, so when I saw the muse I was excited to challenge myself in this ancient medium. I knew I wanted to do something large and sculptural, with clean, contemporary lines. And I wanted the butterfly in a natural scene in a fresh way. For inspiration I poured through art history books and found myself drawn to the fabulous collars ancient Egypt. Many wrought in copper, many adorned with birds. From here the piece unfolded in my mind and I sketched my design – the majestic butterfly in migration, high over an autumn landscape.

See more of Rhonda's designs here

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

In the fall Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer climates in the mountains of Mexico. Millions of Monarchs start appearing in Mexico around November 2, the Day of the Dead. Legend says that the Monarchs are the souls of ancestors returning to participate in the festival. I have been lucky enough to witness this event personally on several occasions. The migration is so spectacular that everyone should be able to witness one during his or her lifetime. My creation for Use the Muse III is a tribute to the Monarch and their remarkable display of courage and beauty.

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

Every fall, a magical event takes place and the Monarch Butterfly graces our shores on its path home. The Muse with its fall colors inspired me to place this fall visitor in a natural setting amidst a grouping of flowers, floating on a drape of right angle weave seed beads. I wanted to continue the flow with a resting place of flowers and leaves, completed with a vine leading to the closure of the neck piece. The idea was to create a flowing, floating atmosphere to showcase the Muse.

To view other examples of my work, please visit my website.

The butterfly symbolizes rebirth, springtime, hope. Winter, which is bleak and neverending, is coming. The black, gray, and crystals represent winter, ice and death. The focal was created with a vintage enameled flower. I fused a dichro dot for the center. I didn't like the original color of the butterfly and used several colors of alcohol inks then wire wrapped the muse to the flower. The strands of necklace are attached to the focal with handmade hooks so it may be worn as a brooch. The strands are shell, czech glass, and cinnabar along with handmade sterling coils.

Jennifer's Blog

My submission makes me think of butterflies hovering over a beautiful field of flowers therefore I named my necklace "Butterfly and Flowers". When I opened my package from Scarlett, I was instantly inspired to use a set of lampwork beads I had from Australia that seem to be a perfect match for the Butterfly & the rest of the Use The Muse III kit. My entry is comprised of the Muse, Swarovski crystals, and seed beads simply strung into a double-strand necklace focusing on the Muse being an off-center focal point. Thank you again for this inspirational opportunity once again.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

The colors of the Muse reminded me of the sunset. I was immediately drawn to the magentas and salmons hiding within the patina. Mixed media chain had been on my mind for a long time, and when I saw the tiny copper links, it all came together in my mind. Beaded links, copper links, and lucite links all joined together with a soft landing spot for the butterfly. Techniques used include: peyote stitch, herringbone, and netting. The back of the piece is finished off with a small length of copper chain and a copper toggle.

Francie Broadie's Site

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

As summer’s colors begin to fade, the brilliant reds and golds of autumn take the forefront. The last of the butterflies sits among the foliage enjoying its final taste of the autumn chrysanthemums before departing on the long journey to warmer climates. This muse offered more of a challenge for me as the color palette is not one that I would typically select. As the muse inspired my design, I found it was much easier to incorporate the wonderful beads and surprising colors in the kit than I had anticipated.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

The color palette and the Muse inspired me immediately. The very colors of fall- burgundy, gold , orange, sienna- draw up memories of simple joys - the smell of pie baking, warm cider, leaves twirling down from the trees as the seasons begin to shift again , continuing the ongoing dance of life. My muse took flight with the sparkle and life of the crystals and briolettes that lay on my worktable. My necklace is not overly complex , reminding me that sometimes the most beautiful things in life are the simplest.

I was introduced to the art of Beading by my sister-in-law. Since I could no longer crochet or knit. It was love at first bracelet. I love to do the most complicated patterns. The bracelet I am entering on the contest (Muse III) is named “Copper fields”. I was inspired by the copper butterfly and the color scheme. The vision of a butterfly landing on vines came to mind. Using a vintage button along with some of my own collection of beads and 90% of the contest beads; I created the Copper field Bracelet. It has been an exciting experience.

When I saw the muse, I knew I wanted to play with the asymmetry and symmetry that is present in nature in a butterfly's wings. My favorite place to wear butterfly themed pieces is in my hair so I decided to try something new and make a hair clip. I named it after a childhood television program from Israel about a butterfly.

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

Inspired by a dream of a Three in One Detachable necklaces. The Larger Druk beads can be worn alone or with the Butterfly attached. Second choice is to add the strands of Crystals and Green and Amber strands of Crystals on cotton. The Copper Hammered Rings can be moved along the strands to hang the butterfly or worn above. Third, the Trio can be worn as one necklace.

The Muse III has been a fun journey

When I first saw the muse I wasn't sure about it. Not a color I would normally use. Turns out I had some flower beads that complimented and with the crystals with the cord, I thought of bushes, flowers and twines.

See Marianne's new fused glass pendants

See my entry from USE THE MUSE I

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

As a child in Upstate New York, each Fall I found colorful treasures on my lawn. Deep greens as backdrop for rich bronze, purple and cranberry maple and oak tree leaves. I'd gather my jumble of colors and wax them to keep throughout the long season of winter white. The Muse rekindled that memory so I preserved these Fall colors by weaving them in a jumble of colors using a Kumihimo technique that incorporates MUSE offerings,Swarovski crystals and pearls,vintage German beads and a suspended Swarovski rivoli as the Muse last memory of her Autumnal Flight.

I was absolutely thrilled with the muse when I opened my kit! I love butterflies. But it was quite a challenge using it to create a piece I was happy with - something simple but enough to balance the weight and size of the muse. I have paired it with lots of crystal copper and a simple bead soup spiral rope interspersed with the lovely copper spacers. I think the simplicity of this piece allows the Muse to speak for itself.

Rebecca's Blog

See my entry from USE THE MUSE II

Butterflies alight on a tree limb in an enchanted forest. Copper mesh ribbon and copper embroidery floss trace the butterflies’ flight. Seed bead leaves, crystals, freshwater pearls and copper embellishments adorn a right angle weave ruffle. Iridescent moss and plum ribbons echo the butterfly wings and leaves. The fantasy collar is finished with a beaded crystal embellished clasp.

See my winning design from USE THE MUSE II

I was just starting my second bead embroidery necklace ever, and was thrilled to find the Muse kit fit into my plans perfectly. I was able to use almost all of the beads. I wanted to create a fantasy garden with the butterfly hovering over it. I was able to do this by passing a wire through the ultrasuede and gluing it between the two layers, so the butterfly is suspended above the garden. When worn, it will seem as if the butterfly is flitting about looking for the perfect flower.

Cat's creation will be sold here

The moment I open the package I knew. The memories it brought back from my childhood and from times spent with my children and grandchildren brought a smile to my face. Could it be hereditary? It certainly seems like it. We come from a long line of caterpillar collectors, cocoon watchers and butterfly releasers. The release of each butterfly is always accompanied by the joyous cry "flutterby butterfly".

When I saw the kit, the first thing I thought of was Autumn. When it arrived and I saw the gorgeous Muse, it just fit. I found a tutorial for leaves and set about creating a fitting resting place for the Muse. I endeavoured to use the whole kit and with the exception of a few seedies, I did just that. I used the pearls and crystals in a spiral rope and added some copper findings that I found in leaf designs. I also used some of the seed beads, crystals and pearls in a 5 strand section at the back.

Lyndsay's Creative Journey