Ziggurat

This bracelet was an experiment in free-form weaving.  Not free form as in absent warp and weft, but free form as in design.  I had no plan when I started, other than it should be dark and goth-like.

It was intended as a gift for someone, but alas, I have not yet perfected sizing my loom pieces, and it fell short of her wrist.  Pooh!

That said, I remain pleased with it.  The clasp is pleasantly hefty and solid, the woven band is nicely tactile.  With the sizing exception, it turned out well.

The black background highlights the Mardi Gras colored design, with it’s peaks and ogees.

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Forget Me Not

This bracelet reminds me of the small forget-me-not flowers I used to see as a child.  They were always one of the first harbingers of Spring, popping up to remind one there was sunshine and warmth and longer days ahead.

The green base is bead woven on a loom.  I liken it to the stems and leaves of the flowers.  It was then enhanced with matte periwinkle circles, each one dotted with a yellow center.  A tiny blue picot surrounds the edge, and protects the warp and weft from wear.  (Try saying that three times fast!)

Shhh!  Don’t tell, but this is a birthday present for a dear friend who is an awesome gardener.  I hope she likes it.

Elko

I admit to having been a bit of a blog slacker these past couple weeks.  BUT I think I have good reason.I was getting ready for a show!  Wow!  I still can’t believe it, and I was there!

I spent the week before deciding on which additional pieces to bring – Something new?  Something blue?  And of course, Something Completely Different!

First, for those who don’t know, Elko is a fair sized town in Northeastern Nevada, about a six hour drive from Carson City, the state capital.  Predominant business there is mining.  Nevada isn’t called “The Silver State” for nothin’.  This weekend also happened to have a mining convention, as well as high school graduation, so it was a hopping place.

The Museum is absolutely fantastic.  While I tend to think of Elko as a small town (shame on me for that) the Museum is top notch.  The permanent exhibits are exceptional – Ansel Adams and Edward Westin to name just a few.  And me!  Not that I’m rubbing display areas with the likes of them.  Ha!  Ha!

For the reception they decorated an antique display case, and positioned it right up front as you entered the Museum.  I got to sit next to it, and show additional beadwork.  I brought some pieces that were in progress so visitors could see they really are created One Bead at a Time.

It was a Grand Time.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Museum staff and visitors.  Everyone was delightful, attentive and personable.  If you’re ever in Elko, be sure to stop by!

Articulated

Ah yes, all those bright beaded pieces. Where ever have they gone?

This bracelet is a thank you gift for someone who helped me out a while back.  She has a darker more goth sensibility.  I hope she likes it.

Two different types of purple two-hole crescent beads, mixed with black crescents and bars.  The magnetic clasp is gunmetal.

The bracelet is simple stringing, though you have to be careful to keep the crescent beads properly aligned.  Those curvy little devils like to turn backwards, which I usually don’t discover until I’ve gotten several more beads away.  Who me?  Pay attention?

Statice

Purple, Magenta, Green.  The first flowers poking through the snow.  Days are getting longer.  The sun is rising earlier, setting later.

More experimentation with the bead loom.  The base of the bracelet was woven using 10° delicas.  It was fun both because it went quickly and helped expand my horizons.

The little flowers are matte green o-beads and sparkly magenta 15°s.  The magentas also make up the picot edge.  The whole band is wrapped through a pair of hammered gunmetal D rings, snicked with a magnetic clasp.

Interlock

Interlocking two holed beads, a mix of bar and crescents, create a sea-glass colored bangle.

This was a lot of fun to make, though it would have to be worn by a large-boned person.  Truth be told, I got a little carried away.  I kept beading and beading and beading then realized  still needed to wrap the tail to the head.  In short – A Big Bangle.

Even though it’s composed of tiny little beads, the overall bracelet is quite substantial.  It’s not floppy at all, but instead quite structural and solid.

Hot Ziggety

For Christmas Prince Charming gave me a bead loom.  Given my textile background, when I started reading about them, they became most interesting.

I present the initial bracelet.  I must say, once the first two to three rows are in, projects work up very quickly!  Until the last two rolls, which take a bit of coercion.  Not bad for a first attempt using size 8° seeds.

This one doesn’t fit me in the least, being waaay too large.  But it will fit someone.  I learned a lot, which was the whole purpose.  I can see beading this way as being a much quicker means to an end; creating beaded bases on which to embellish.