Thursday, May 23, 2013

Update and Spring




This is a completed piece, from my free pattern a few weeks ago.
It is always interesting to see what direction a particular piece of beadwork decides to go. I thought this would be a nice bracelet, and it would, for someone in cooler climes, or who doesn't sweat like a racehorse! I was afraid the dyed purple Delicas would not stand up to it.
But I just couldn't stop. There was all that warping that would be wasted, and the nit-picky needling through the beads, avoiding the warp threads. Soooo
One day, it struck me! This is to be a bit for the center of a piece that will be a wedding gift. It will be sewn to a fabric-fronted piece of heavy Pellon, then bead-embroidered around the edges of the loom piece, then open space all around, then bead around the edges of the Pellon. Sort of like a double frame, is how I see it. My DH will do some nice calligraphy with their names and wedding date on a piece of hand-made paper, and that will be appliqued to the bottom, and bead-embroidered around.
Now came the fun part; picking the beads that will embellish this.
Why, oh why do I always want to pick the beads at night, when it's dark in the house, no matter how much light I shine?? At least I had sense enough to go to bed afterward, and play Let's Triage This Project's Beads in the morning on the deck.
This is what I started with- lots and lots of colors and styles I thought would work.
This is what was left after triaging, and will probably be further culled, but I like that each of the colors in the loomed piece is represented in each seed bead size.
I can't show you what the fabric looks like, because I used a spray glue to attach it to the Pellon, and it needs an hour to dry, so that will be later.

But, in case you thought this was all I was doing, here are a couple more projects;
A pair of wire and lampwork earrings- Sharon 'Harry' Solly made the lampwork- I did the rest. Tracy Smith of the UK designed the original. I played with it, and made these from her photo.
Also did a bracelet from one of the bits that got torn apart in my cleaning and clearing frenzy!
Embellished it to within an inch of its life!

Then, there is the 3-4 mile walk around our loops every day with TippyDogg, who also got a bath and a haircut. Lots of wildflowers to see and learn where they are. Here are just a few- more at another time.







I know these are the more common ones, but they are the only ones I have ready to go!
Happy Beading, Walking and I hope your Spring is wonderful!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Snip-snap! Free patterns out of all the cut up beads!


Just click on each photo to make them singular for printing, and full size, so you can see the beads. The top one is about 3" wide. The bottom onw, who know? Probably best for an amulet bag cover.
They both came from a pattern I found on the internet of free Moroccan patterns.
Here it is:
I had a bunch of beads that just wouldn't behave to be lengthened from a flat pendant into a bracelet. Sigh. That odd count peyote with cutouts and straps is best done all at once.
So came up with this pattern, using those colors.
The purple is Delica 1345, the bright pink is Delica 56, the softer pink is Delica 1066 (matte), the green inside the 'skirts' and hearts is Delica 122, The white is Delica 883(matte), and the background is Delica 332(matte).
I think it looks like a magic carpet. Hope it takes you for a nice ride!!
Hppy Beading!
Aryd'ell