Fabric Beads

A while back, I wrote about some fabric beads that I had made. I wasn't sure what to do with them but loved the way they turned out. Well, I decided to learn a bit more about beading and made this beautiful necklace and earrings. I keep looking at my stash to see what else would make wonderful beads.

If you love Beryl Taylor's work, Interweave Press has a new DVD out called Layer by Layer. Beryl shares her techniques as well as some of her artwork. I enjoyed the DVD and watching what Beryl can do with what others might discard. Her ideas made me want to get to the dollar store!!

This week I am starting a class called Alter Fabrics offered through Joggles.com. I am really looking forward to it. The class was postponed this summer and is being offered now. I had nearly forgotten about it until the supply list came out. Now I am pumped!!!!

IT ALL STARTED WITH A SWEATSHIRT....

My adventure in this project started with a trip to the sewing machine store where I had taken my machine for its yearly checkup. And hanging there was a beautiful embellished jacket. I knew I HAD to have one and, sure enough, a class was being offered. I immediately signed up and so the journey began. It all started with a sweatshirt and 16 fat quarters that complimented each other. I chose greens and purples with a splash of red and coral.

These fabrics were cut into various rectangles and then sewn onto a deconstructed sweatshirt. Then the fun began...I decided to stipple the whole thing. Others in the class used fancy machine stitching around the rectangles. The point was to not have the sweatshirt show.

The final step was to add embellishments (ribbons, yarns, laces etc) and binding. Below is the finished product, front and back. It was a lot of work and there are some steps that I would change but overall I am pleased with the results.

I am now working on a couple of projects that don't involve the sewing machine. After spending hours stippling the sweatshirt jacket, I am ready for something much less involved.

BEAD EMBROIDERY

I have always been fascinated with beads. I love the feel of glass beads dribbling through my fingers. The ping of the glass as it hits the bowl and the light the beads catch as they bounce off the bowl are only the beginnings of the joy I find in beads. BUT then the DH says "So are you taking up another craft? More stuff to put in your craft room?" And then the guilt sets in...should I really venture into another realm? And the answer is a definitive YES!!!! So I am now working on my first major beaded embroidery piece. It is a cuff. The beads above are what I have selected to go with some wonderful cabochons.
The pictures don't do the cabochons justice. There is a beautiful olive green running through each of the stones as well as a hint of purple and of course, browns and beiges. I am not very far along and find that my wrist doesn't allow me to do hours and hours of work on it but I sure am enjoying the process and, for me, that is what it is all about.

BEADFEST BLAST

Beadfest was a blast. I took a polymer clay/wire class with Donna Ray-Kocun and stepped out of my conservative artist mode to make the bracelet pictured above. We used Donna Kato clay which is non-toxic and has a sheen to it when baked. I found the clay hard to work with at first because it tends to crumble but the finished product makes the frustrations of the early clay manipulation well worth it. The class also had us using a Coiling Gizmo. The wire beads are made with this contraption and it is so much fun. I am eager to try other wire works on it.
I was able to shop to my heart's content at the vendors' market and got some incredible deals. The seed beads in all colors made it hard to select a few. As you can see I bought a variety for all the projects that are still in the planning stages.
I also found these fun cabochons and matching beads. I think they will make a wonderful cuff. But then I can imagine them in one of my art quilts as well. We shall see!!
Wire came in all kinds of colors. The above is aluminum and is the base for the polymer clay/wire bracelet I made. It is very pliable. I wonder if it will work on the Coiling Gizmo? Hum.....
This wire is used on the Coiling Gizmo. The colors are outstanding. I already have an art quilt planned using some of the wire, the Coiling Gizmo and, of course, beads.

I wish I could share the excitement and enthusiasm that Beadfest generated. There were so many knowledgeable people willing to share, there were so many ideas taken from the displays, there was so much shopping to do and most of all there was the passion for all types of beading.

BeadFest

I am off to BeadFest this weekend. I am looking forward to a couple of days off from work. In addition, I get to take a polymer clay and wire class and spend a couple of days shopping. Last year I found it almost overwhelming. This year I plan to be more focused...but really, how can anyone focus when there are so many bead projects and so little time.

I don't know why I can't remember from time to time how to upload multiple images into one blog but since I am drawing a blank this time, I will post a second time in one day and show you the fabric beads I have been working on. I was supposed to take a class on fabric beads and how to use them but was bumped from the class and was put on a waiting list....well, the call never came for the class so I decided to try on my own. I think they came out pretty well. And here are some more.

(OK, so adding photos in the text is as easy as moving the photo, or in this case, copying it and placing it where the cursor is and then deleting the original!!! Duh!!! Sometime technology makes me feel so stupid.)

Anyway back to fabric beads....the beads turned out to look nothing like the pattern on the fabric and that is wonderful. Each bead turned out to be unique and beautiful. I suppose if you want uniform beads, you could use something without a pattern. I used a colored Easter egg pattern for the beads at the top of this posting and a star printed pattern for the ones in the middle. I am eager to try to use them in jewelry or in a fringe for one of my art quilts. I used Modge Podge for the glue and, once dry, painted them with clear nail polish to give them some shine. We'll see how they hold up.

New Artwork

So it has been a whole month since I last posted.  The excuses roll off the keys of my computer but the truth is, there really isn't any excuse. I have been playing with the stuff I learned in Carol Murphy's Tempting Techniques class. I have never been one to go over the top but Carol says that there can't be too much of anything on a mixed media piece so here is my over the top cover for my book.
I learned to use transparencies and how to transfer images onto tape and make all different kinds of paper. I still haven't finished the inside pockets of the book but when I can't figure out which project to work on, I am sure I will go back and complete this book AND fill all the pockets with examples of tempting techniques.